NOVPUBAs Ye Yu pulled open the curtain, the laughter inside the room abruptly ceased. He stared at the scene before him, his eyes narrowed with jealousy.
Ye Lingxuan sat gracefully on a plush couch, her beauty as captivating as ever. Beside her, Ye Qian sat demurely, her figure subtly alluring, her bosom more ample than her sister’s despite her younger age.
The two sisters, their beauty a harmonious blend, were accompanied by a handsome young man.
Silence descended upon the room as Mu Zhi’an looked up at Ye Yu, sensing his envious gaze. He calmly set down his teacup, feigning ignorance. “Did you invite someone else, Miss Ye?”
Ye Lingxuan shook her head, smiling politely. “Is there something you need, Brother Ye Yu?”
He glared at Mu Zhi’an, his voice laced with anger. “Why are you with him?!”
“Sister Lingxuan and I have never been to an auction before, so we wanted someone to accompany us,” Ye Qian explained softly. “We asked you a few times, Brother Ye Yu, but you were always busy cultivating, so we didn’t want to disturb you.”
She had indeed invited him before, but he had always declined, claiming he was busy cultivating.
He had considered accompanying them a waste of time, and their lack of interaction during his “crippled” years, followed by their sudden interest after he regained his talent… it had made him suspicious. 𝖓𝔬𝔳𝔭𝔲𝔟.𝖈𝖔𝔪
As for Ye Lingxuan, she was too proud to ask for help. If not for Ye Qian, she wouldn’t have sent that invitation to Mu Zhi’an.
Ultimately, he didn’t want his cousins to… drift away from him, but he also didn’t want to invest time and effort in their relationship.
He glared at Mu Zhi’an, who seemed relaxed and at ease, his voice low and menacing. “You shouldn’t be with him! He’s not a good person!”
Ye Lingxuan frowned, but maintained her composure. “Brother Ye Yu, Young Master Mu is my guest. If you have nothing else to say, please leave.”
He was her guest. Even if they had a conflict, it was inappropriate to cause a scene in public.
He frowned. “If you had asked me, I would have made time for you. You’re my cousins. It’s not a waste of time.”
He had always assumed they would remain within his grasp, but seeing them with Mu Zhi’an sparked a sense of urgency.
Mu Zhi’an, who had remained silent until now, almost burst out laughing.
Ye Yu might not be a fool, but his emotional intelligence was lacking.
Spending time with his cousins was a “waste of time”?
Even if he thought so, he shouldn’t say it out loud. He wanted their affection, but he didn’t want to invest any effort. Did he think he was the protagonist, destined to be pursued by adoring women?
And girls like Ye Qian and Ye Lingxuan had countless admirers. If he didn’t step up, someone else would.
Ye Lingxuan was clearly displeased. “Please leave, Brother Ye Yu. Qian’er is safe with me. And besides, Young Master Mu will escort us back to the Ye Manor later.”
“Yes, I’ll personally escort them back after the auction,” Mu Zhi’an said, smiling as he ruffled Ye Qian’s hair. “Your carriage is still waiting outside. It’s a bit small, but you two are both petite. It shouldn’t be too cramped.”
His words struck a nerve, and Ye Yu imagined them squeezed together in the carriage. His anger intensified.
“One thousand seven hundred Spirit Stones! Are there any higher bids?” Feiying’s voice echoed from the stage.
After a few more bids, the price of the Dragon Soaring Tendril had reached one thousand seven hundred Spirit Stones.
The announcement snapped Ye Yu out of his jealous rage.
He had almost forgotten why he had come here.
The Dragon Soaring Tendril, it was more important than anything else. No matter how lecherous Mu Zhi’an was, he wouldn’t dare touch his cousins.
He had to acquire that herb.
That fool doesn’t even know its true value. He looked at Ye Lingxuan. “Lingxuan, do you have any extra Spirit Stones?”
She frowned, glancing at Mu Zhi’an.
She knew he also wanted the herb. If she lent Ye Yu money.
He noticed her hesitation, then glared at Mu Zhi’an. “It was you, wasn’t it? You were the one bidding against me!”
Mu Zhi’an smiled. “I’m also interested in that herb.”
Ye Yu’s expression turned icy.
Interested? He was clearly targeting him!
But there was nothing he could do. He couldn’t match Mu Zhi’an’s wealth.
But even so, he would make him pay.
He looked at Ye Lingxuan again. “Lingxuan, please… can you lend me some Spirit Stones?”
She frowned.
His request put her in a difficult position.
Lending him money would be a direct challenge to Mu Zhi’an. But refusing also felt wrong. They had grown up together.
A wiser person wouldn’t have asked.
But Ye Yu, blinded by jealousy, his pride wounded by Mu Zhi’an’s repeated victories, seeing his cousins with him… he wasn’t thinking clearly.
She felt a warm hand gently clasp hers beneath the table. Her heart skipped a beat, and she glanced at Mu Zhi’an, her eyes flashing with annoyance.
He met her gaze, nodding almost imperceptibly.
He wants me to lend him the money. She stared at him, surprised, then, after a moment of hesitation, retrieved a small box from her storage ring and offered it to Ye Yu.
“I have two thousand Spirit Stones here. You’re welcome to borrow them, Brother Ye Yu,” she said, her voice cool and distant.
Ye Yu’s frown softened, and he glanced at Mu Zhi’an, hoping to see a flicker of anger, a loss of control.
But Mu Zhi’an remained calm, sipping his tea leisurely, seemingly unconcerned.
Trying to impress them with your wealth? They’re not interested in money. He chuckled inwardly, accepting the box. “Thank you, Lingxuan. I’ll repay you when we return to the Ye Manor.”
He knew Mu Zhi’an would continue to bid against him. He was borrowing the money to make him pay, and to send a message: I’m the one they truly care about.
Between him and Mu Zhi’an, Ye Lingxuan and Ye Qian would choose him.
It was a petty attempt to wound his pride.
He returned to his seat and raised his voice. “Two thousand three hundred Spirit Stones!”
As expected, the servant beside Huang Manting bid again. “Two thousand four hundred Spirit Stones.”
He smirked, deciding not to raise the bid any further.
Ye Lingxuan turned to Mu Zhi’an, her eyes filled with apology. “I’m sorry. I made you spend almost two thousand extra Spirit Stones.”
She had simply wanted to acquire some Luminous Soil and enjoy the auction. She hadn’t expected to cause such trouble for their companion.
Ye Qian also looked at him apologetically.
He set down his cup, shaking his head. “I told you, my issues with Ye Yu have nothing to do with you. Don’t worry about it.”
“I’ll repay you when we return,” Ye Lingxuan insisted.
She was intelligent. She knew he had taken the loss for them.
“If spending two thousand Spirit Stones can bring you two closer, it’s worth it,” he replied with a smile.
He had seemingly lost two thousand Spirit Stones, but… it wasn’t a loss at all.
He glanced at Ye Lingxuan, then at Ye Qian, who seemed a bit downcast, and smiled.
He poured them each a cup of tea. “Don’t be so gloomy. If one thing can upset you, why can’t another thing cheer you up?”
Ye Lingxuan’s expression softened.
He was right. While lending Ye Yu money had been frustrating…
But someone had taken the loss for her, willingly becoming the “fool”. His kindness, subtle yet undeniable, warmed her heart.
She would repay him later.
Two thousand Spirit Stones was nothing to her.
Ye Qian felt a hand gently touch hers beneath the table. Her heart skipped a beat, and she glanced at Mu Zhi’an, his profile handsome, his nose straight, his aura as comforting as a neighbor’s older brother.
She blushed, glancing nervously at her sister, but didn’t pull away.
As he had initially assessed, she was a naive and innocent girl, easily swayed by charm and kindness.
Meanwhile, the Dragon Soaring Tendril was sold to Mu Zhi’an for two thousand four hundred Spirit Stones.
Ye Yu looked up at the private room, a smirk on his lips. “Two thousand four hundred Spirit Stones for a useless trinket… how extravagant, Young Master Mu.”
Mu Zhi’an, who was currently enjoying the feel of Ye Qian’s soft hand, chuckled inwardly.
That fool thinks he’s won, but his house has been robbed.
Then, realization dawned on him, and his smile vanished.
Oh shit. I forgot…
Normally, this would have been a complete victory.
However—
He heard a curtain being pulled open, footsteps approaching. A cold dread washed over him.
Ye Yu had won this round.
His presence at the auction house with the Ye sisters… it was about to be exposed.
