Chapter 32: "Beloved"

The air seemed to freeze for a moment.

Hearing Mo Shaoshang's words, Wen Yinong's eyes flew wide open, and her entire mind went blank.

Girlfriend? What was he talking about?

The probing, scrutinizing gazes around them grew denser and more frequent, but at this moment, Wen Yinong had no attention to spare for them. She only felt a buzzing in her ears, blood seemingly rushing to her head, then draining away completely in the next instant.

She had never imagined that Mo Shaoshang would unilaterally assign her such a "new identity," without giving her any time to prepare or any room to negotiate.

Meanwhile.

Director Li was clearly taken aback as well, surprise flickering in his eyes. But he was, after all, a great figure accustomed to grand occasions. His thoughts turned quickly, and in the next moment he smoothly broke into a smile again, saying respectfully to Wen Yinong, "So it's Miss Wen. My apologies for not recognizing you. You two are truly a perfect match—a talented man and a beautiful woman, a match made in heaven."

The conversational ball was thus tossed to Wen Yinong. She stood rooted to the spot, her gorgeous, alluring face alternating between red and white, caught between responding and not responding.

Director Li didn't rush her, still smiling warmly at the young woman before him.

Wen Yinong hesitated and weighed her options on her own, while the guests present quietly observed the scene from afar, each with their own thoughts.

One had to know that the host of this auction, Director Li—Li Yuanliu—was not only the founder of the nation's top art salon "Yungu Studio," but also a broker and appraiser of considerable renown in the domestic collecting world. The treasures that had passed through his hands were countless, and his connections ran deep through political, business, and cultural circles both at home and abroad.

Guests who could receive Li Yuanliu's personal welcome, and with such deference, were few and far between.

"Hey, Lao Gao." The speaker was a noblewoman in a moon-white qipao.

Her gaze lingered on the tall figure in pure black in the distance, her eyes full of amazement. Then she leaned slightly toward the husband beside her and lowered her voice to ask, "What's that young man's background? He looks like he's of mixed heritage. Really handsome."

The sharply suited middle-aged man frowned slightly at her words, racking his brains for a good while before finally shaking his head. "No idea. I don't think I've seen him before."

The woman was puzzled. "Judging by Director Li's attitude toward him—all that reverence—he's definitely no ordinary person."

The middle-aged tycoon rubbed the jade thumb ring in his hand, pondering a while longer, when his eyes suddenly shifted as if something had occurred to him. "Right, I remember now. I looked at tonight's invitation list. At the very top of the list was Mo Shaoshang. The one who truly calls the shots in the Mo family's generation."

The woman drew in a soft breath, the round fan in her hand freezing. "The Mo family's... crown prince who exists only in rumors?"

"Nine times out of ten, it's him."

The tycoon nodded, his tone certain but laced with a hint of amusement. "I know Li Yuanliu very well. When he holds these auctions, his real interest is never in the wine—holding auctions is a pretense; weaving a web of connections is the truth. All these years, Director Li has never stopped sending invitations to the Mo family, but that one, they say, has never once graced an event with his presence."

The more the woman listened, the more confused she became, frowning. "Since you say Mo Shaoshang never sets foot in these kinds of occasions, why would he come today?"

The tycoon's gaze turned slightly, landing on the slender figure across from Li Yuanliu. He slowly set his teacup back on the table, smiled, and said meaningfully, "Who knows."

The distance was too great, so Wen Yinong naturally couldn't hear the discussions around her.

Across from her, Director Li was still waiting with exceptional patience.

Wen Yinong's mind was in chaos, her emotions churning; she had no idea how to respond to his "match made in heaven." Just a second before she moved her lips trying to make a sound, unexpectedly, the cold, stern man beside her made the first move.

Mo Shaoshang looked at her, then suddenly hooked an arm around her slender waist and pulled gently, drawing her into his embrace.

The force at her waist was restrained and gentle, as if afraid of hurting her, yet contradictorily domineering and impossible to defy.

Wen Yinong stumbled slightly on her feet. Amid her turmoil, she felt her chin tighten—gently pinched by two fingers and lifted up.

"What are you spacing out for? Director Li is speaking to you." Mo Shaoshang's blue-black eyes watched her, his expression calm, but his tone unbelievably gentle. "Are you feeling unwell somewhere?"

"..."

Wen Yinong practically wanted to scratch him with her claws.

She finally realized this man was doing it on purpose.

Deliberately setting a trap for her, deliberately hoisting her up in front of everyone, leaving her riding a tiger with no way down.

A moment later, under that calm yet silently oppressive gaze from above, she could only curve her lips and force out a smile, reaching out to pry back the hand Mo Shaoshang had placed on her waist and gripping it firmly.

What was he touching around for?

"It's not that I'm unwell." She curved her eyes and brows, answering in the most composed and gentle voice of her life, "It's that Director Li's place here is so classically elegant and tasteful that I got a bit distracted."

When her words landed, Li Yuanliu immediately laughed, saying cheerfully, "Miss Wen flatters me. This is a humble abode, but with you and Mr. Mo gracing it with your presence—a small temple housing great Buddhas—you've brought glory to this humble place."

Wen Yinong smiled. "Director Li is too modest."

After the brief pleasantries, Li Yuanliu raised his hand in a gesture, respectfully inviting the two to their seats of honor.

Seeing that Director Li had been dealt with, Wen Yinong quietly exhaled, her nerves finally relaxing a few degrees. Just as she was about to withdraw her hand from the crook of Mo Shaoshang's arm, the other party casually hooked his arm and once again trapped her waist.

Tightly, confining her, airtight.

The ladylike smile on Wen Yinong's face nearly cracked. Both embarrassed and angry, she finally couldn't hold back anymore. She opened her eyes wide and lowered her voice, saying, "Mr. Mo, please conduct yourself with dignity. I haven't even settled accounts with you for inexplicably calling me your girlfriend."

Mo Shaoshang's lips quirked ever so slightly as he said indifferently, "Teacher Wen, forgive my bluntness, but in a place like this, you truly do need a clear identity to be treated properly."

His tone was calm without the slightest ripple, purely stating a fact. "The identity of 'girlfriend' is the most convenient and most appropriate. It means you are my person, under my protection, and it can shield you from a great deal of unnecessary trouble."

Hearing this, Wen Yinong's eyelashes trembled lightly, and she froze.

Almost as an instinctive move, her gaze shifted, sweeping unobtrusively across the surroundings.

The venue was filled with distinguished guests like clouds, and all kinds of gazes fell vaguely upon her and Mo Shaoshang. Beyond simple curiosity, most of these gazes carried a measuring scrutiny, and the shrewd appraisal of those evaluating her worth.

Beneath the fragrant finery and the laughter and pleasantries, silent undercurrents and calculations seemed to surge.

In just a few short seconds, the anger and embarrassment in Wen Yinong's heart abruptly cooled.

So...

Mo Shaoshang calling her his girlfriend wasn't to deliberately tease her, but to use this method to erect a barrier for her in this den of wolves and hawks, this battlefield of fame and fortune. It was to protect her?

Thinking this, an strange feeling couldn't help but well up in Wen Yinong's heart. She withdrew her gaze and looked again at Mo Shaoshang's cold, hard profile, momentarily lost in thought.

Noticing her gaze, he turned his eyes back to meet hers, simultaneously bending down and leaning close to her. "What is it?"

"..." Wen Yinong's face warmed slightly, and she hurriedly turned her head to look elsewhere, not responding.

This interaction, in the eyes of outsiders, appeared all the more intimate.

Li Yuanliu led the way in front.

Wen Yinong, holding Mo Shaoshang's arm, followed him toward the VIP seating.

Suddenly, a rich, sweet fragrance swept past Wen Yinong's nose—like roses in full bloom mixed with honey and lychee, invading her senses with extreme aggression.

Wen Yinong's steps paused slightly, and she instinctively looked up.

Before them, at some unknown point, a graceful figure had come to stand, blocking the path ahead.

It was an extremely exquisite beauty. Long black hair cascaded like a waterfall in elegant waves; she wore a high-fashion pink-crystal strapless evening gown, her makeup bright and striking, chin slightly raised, carrying the pride of one spoiled by a lifetime of universal adoration.

At this moment, the other party stood gracefully, her gaze passing over Li Yuanliu, who was leading the way, and landing directly on Mo Shaoshang.

What a beautiful girl.

Wen Yinong sighed inwardly in admiration. Just as she was guessing who this beauty might be, she heard Li Yuanliu up ahead speak with a face full of smiles. "Miss Qiao, the auction is about to begin. Are you heading out?"

"No."

The girl's gaze didn't waver, still fixed on the tall man in the ink-black suit. The proud haughtiness between her brows melted a few degrees, replaced by threads of shyness and delight, and even her voice softened several notches. "I came over specifically to greet Mr. Mo."

Miss Qiao?

Wen Yinong's thoughts stirred, and she immediately recalled the Qiao family young miss whom the flight attendant Linda had described on the private jet as "hugely temperamental and hard to serve."

This was Old Master Qiao's precious granddaughter—Qiao Mingyi?

She blinked and continued observing quietly.

Over there, Qiao Mingyi stepped closer in her high heels, facing Mo Shaoshang with a smile blooming like a flower. "Mr. Mo, it's been a while since we've met. My grandfather was just mentioning you a few days ago, saying he wants to play chess with you."

Mo Shaoshang's expression didn't change. He merely curved his lips in a perfunctory courtesy, his tone flat and distant, without a trace of warmth. "Once this busy stretch is over, I'll pay a visit to the old gentleman."

"Really? That's wonderful. Grandfather will be so happy."

The smile on Qiao Mingyi's face grew even brighter. Then, with a sweep of her peripheral vision, she finally noticed that there was another figure beside Mo Shaoshang.

Soft, slender, delicately charming, almost half-hidden by the man's tall frame.

Qiao Mingyi frowned slightly and looked Wen Yinong up and down.

As if deeply displeased by the intimate posture of the two, the shyness and joy in her eyes faded, replaced by pickiness and appraisal. Then she asked tentatively, "Mr. Mo, who is she?"

Mo Shaoshang's answer was concise and to the point. "My girlfriend."

The smile on Qiao Mingyi's face froze abruptly, and she blurted out, "Girlfriend? Since when? How come I didn't know anything about this?"

The instant her words fell, Qiao Mingyi felt an icy gaze.

The expression between Mo Shaoshang's brows darkened at a visible speed. His blue-black eyes swept faintly toward her, devoid of any emotion, yet causing the surrounding temperature to plummet below zero.

In that fraction-of-a-second exchange of gazes, a fine layer of cold sweat broke out across Qiao Mingyi's back. The intense pressure sobered her, making her realize she had said the wrong thing.

The Mo and Qiao families were old family friends with deep ties. The fathers of the two families interacted frequently, and when the Mo family's old master was still alive, he had even half-jokingly proposed a marriage alliance, wanting to draw the two families closer still.

Qiao Mingyi knew this perfectly well. She wasn't averse to it—in fact, deep down, she secretly looked forward to it.

After all, Mo Shaoshang was handsome and powerful, both walking authority and the very embodiment of wealth. Marrying into an alliance with him was practically the dream of every socialite in their circle.

Now, an unknown woman had suddenly appeared at his side, and he had directly declared her his "girlfriend"? This turn of events made Qiao Mingyi both furious and frantic, which was what led to her thoughtless overstep in her shock.

But no matter what, Mo Shaoshang was absolutely not someone she could freely question or offend.

Thinking this, Qiao Mingyi drew a breath, forcibly suppressing the surging anger and resentment in her heart. She piled a smile back onto her face, her voice softening with an air of damage control. "I'm sorry, Mr. Mo. I didn't mean anything by it. It's just... it felt so sudden. I was a bit surprised."

Mo Shaoshang paid Qiao Mingyi no further mind. He reached out and pulled Wen Yinong into his embrace, and in a posture of complete possessive protection, strode away.

Li Yuanliu was the shrewdest of the shrewd. Seeing this scene, he naturally knew which side could not be slighted. He smiled faintly, left Qiao Mingyi with a "Miss Qiao, please make yourself at home," and asked nothing more, turning to hurry after them.

Qiao Mingyi stood alone where she was, feeling countless gazes cast upon her, some probing, some mocking. Her face burned, and she trembled with rage.

She had thought that, with her status as the Qiao family's granddaughter and the friendship between the two families, even if Mo Shaoshang had no interest in her, he would at least maintain surface courtesy and gentlemanly grace.

She never imagined he would show her no mercy at all, directly walking off and leaving her behind in full view of everyone...

Enormous humiliation and anger surged like a tide, drowning Qiao Mingyi. She clenched her fists tightly, her diamond-studded nails nearly digging into her palms. After a long moment, she finally stamped her foot hard, turned, and strode away.

Entering the restroom, Qiao Mingyi locked the door behind her, pulled out her phone, and dialed a number.

It rang a few times, then connected.

"There's a woman beside Mo Shaoshang," she said furiously. "Find out who she is!"

On the other side.

Wen Yinong had already taken her seat at the central main position of the VIP section.

The seat was soft, the view superb, and beautiful attendant girls brought over delicious tea and refreshments—enough to show the host's thoughtfulness and regard.

The tea in the cup was elegantly fragrant.

Wen Yinong lifted the cup and took a shallow sip.

As she drank, she suddenly recalled Qiao Mingyi's ugly expression and the fury in those beautiful eyes that had seemed ready to burst forth.

Wen Yinong frowned slightly. After a moment of silence, she ultimately couldn't hold back. Leaning slightly toward Mo Shaoshang, she lowered her voice and said, "Mr. Mo, Miss Qiao looked really angry. Nothing bad will come of this, will it..."

"An irrelevant person," Mo Shaoshang cut off her words, his tone without the slightest ripple. "Don't bring her up again."

The rest of Wen Yinong's words lodged in her throat.

She had originally felt that, since the other party was, after all, the daughter of a family friend, Mo Shaoshang's direct cold-shouldering and walking off was rather too face-slapping and could easily create enmity, and she'd wanted to advise a few words about "harmony being precious." But seeing his indifferent attitude, she knew more words would be useless, and could only swallow all her counsel back down.

Forget it.

She lifted her teacup and took another sip, thinking silently: the one giving offense wasn't her anyway. If the Qiao family's young miss wanted to hold a grudge, she'd hold it against Mo Shaoshang. What was she worrying herself over here for?

Wen Yinong quickly adjusted her mindset, deciding to "hang high the matters that don't concern her."

After eating another piece of mung bean pastry, her gaze swept casually across the venue, and she noticed that although quite a few guests had come in pairs, there were also no small number who had come alone.

And so, curiosity bubbled up again.

Wen Yinong turned sideways once more, leaned close to Mo Shaoshang, and asked in a volume only the two of them could hear, "By the way, Mr. Mo. I see there are also many people in the venue who came by themselves. It doesn't seem like bringing a companion is mandatory. Why did you insist on having me come?"

Mo Shaoshang was browsing the auction catalog. Hearing this, the corner of his mouth hooked very faintly, and he said carelessly, "Don't rush. You'll know very soon."

Wen Yinong grew even more suspicious. She blinked, completely unable to guess what medicine this man was selling in his gourd.

Just at that moment, the lighting on the stage adjusted slightly, becoming more focused and bright. Immediately after, an auctioneer in a sky-blue qipao walked gracefully onto the stage.

Her bearing was elegant, her makeup impeccable. With a smile on her face, she bowed slightly to the guests below.

"Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, good evening." The auctioneer's voice carried through the sound system to every corner of the venue, clear and pleasing, steady and full of infectious energy. "Welcome to this year's Yungu Studio Annual Treasures Auction. Tonight, we gather here not only to appreciate artistic gems that span the ages, but also to jointly witness a feast of taste, heritage, and discovery. Every piece about to be presented carries the splendor of history and the warmth of craftsmanship. May you all find your heart's desire and not waste this fine evening. Now, the auction officially begins!"

With that, the auctioneer paused briefly and turned to gesture.

The lights illuminated the first display platform.

"Tonight's first lot is a 'famille rose hundred-flowers vase' from the Qianlong period of the Qing dynasty. This vase is regular in form, with a lustrous glaze, its entire body decorated in famille rose with various flowers, symbolizing a hundred flowers presenting auspiciousness, wealth and honor filling the hall. The painting is exquisite and refined, the colors brilliant yet not vulgar—a fine piece among Qianlong imperial kiln famille rose porcelain, in excellent condition. The starting bid is ten million yuan."

Bidding calls immediately rang out in the venue.

The bidders raised their paddles in an orderly fashion, with appropriate increments.

This was Wen Yinong's first time personally participating in such a high-caliber auction, and she found it all quite novel. As she was looking left and right observing the bidders, a familiar voice suddenly sounded—cold and low, brushing lightly past her ear. "Do you like it?"

"Hm?"

Wen Yinong was bewildered. She turned her head to look at the handsome profile so close at hand, not reacting for a moment. "Like what?"

Mo Shaoshang casually lifted his chin, indicating the vase currently being bid on. "This."

Only then did Wen Yinong understand—he was asking about her preferences regarding the lot.

Then she took a serious look at that vase with its intensely saturated colors and patterns so dense there was barely any empty space, and shook her head very honestly. "It's too busy. It makes my eyes dizzy looking at it. My aesthetic sense is limited. This kind of thing... I can't quite appreciate it."

Mo Shaoshang said nothing more.

Before long, the Qianlong famille rose vase was won by a real estate developer from the south for thirteen million.

After the auctioneer's smiling congratulations, the second lot was brought onto the display platform.

It was a violin case, within which lay a violin of lustrous coloring and beautiful form.

"The second lot up next is the 'Voice of the Starry Sky' violin, made in 1715 by the master luthier Antonio Stradivari. Its tone is praised as 'the sigh of an angel,' and the wood grain of its body flows like a river of stars..."

The auctioneer introduced the history of this legendary violin. Wen Yinong was listening with keen interest when the man beside her spoke again, flatly, "Do you like it?"

Wen Yinong had no particular fondness for musical instruments and continued shaking her head.

...

The auction proceeded in orderly fashion. Paintings and calligraphy, porcelain, jewelry, rare ancient books and other treasures appeared one after another, each won by different buyers at high prices.

Wen Yinong gradually grew somewhat dazzled by it all, marveling inwardly at this numbers game that casually dealt in tens of millions, even hundreds of millions.

Who knew how much time had passed when another lot—a Ming dynasty tianhuang stone seal—fell under the hammer.

At this point, the host Li Yuanliu personally walked up onto the auction stage.

The smile on his face held a few degrees of mystery. Facing the entire venue, he announced in a clear voice, "Thank you, honored guests, for your enthusiasm for the preceding lots. The piece about to be presented is extremely special, and I shall personally conduct the bidding for it."

When his words landed, Li Yuanliu clapped twice, and four staff members wearing white gloves emerged from backstage. With utmost care, working hands and feet together, they pushed a specially made bulletproof glass safe to the center of the stage.

Li Yuanliu personally entered the combination and opened the safe door.

The spotlight poured down.

On the black velvet padding lay a necklace.

Like the depths of a starry sky, and like the faint light of dawn.

The venue fell abruptly silent. Everyone held their breath, captivated by that supremely dazzling lot.

The main body of the necklace was an oval star sapphire weighing over twenty carats. The gem displayed a rich and pure royal blue, and under the direct light, a clear six-rayed star bloomed as if a star had awakened within it, radiance flowing.

Even more astonishing was that when Li Yuanliu rotated the display platform and slightly adjusted the angle, a halo of pinkish-orange light emerged at the center of the star, like the first ray of sunlight at dawn illuminating the horizon, complementing the azure starlight around it.

Breathtakingly beautiful.

"This necklace is called 'Beloved.'" Li Yuanliu's voice rang out again, echoing through the silent venue. "Its legend began with a grand duke in seventeenth-century Europe. To win the favor of his beloved, this grand duke searched the world over for rare treasures, and finally, in a faraway ancient eastern land, found this one-of-a-kind sapphire containing the 'starlight of dawn' within. He commissioned the finest craftsmen of the era to fashion this necklace as a token of betrothal."

"The grand duke and his duchess were deeply devoted to each other, companions for a lifetime. Their love story became a much-told tale across the European continent, passed down to this day along with the necklace, becoming the most perfect interpretation of the word 'beloved' in people's hearts. It is not merely a piece of jewelry, but an eternal vow that transcends time and space."

"The starting bid is eighty million yuan."

Wen Yinong simply couldn't tear her eyes away.

The necklace was truly exquisite beyond compare. The gem's deep blue and the warm pink-orange light within it complemented each other, as though hiding endless stories and tenderness.

She took out her phone, aimed it at the display platform, adjusted the focus, and took several photos in a row, her eyes full of amazement.

At that moment, the low voice beside her sounded for the umpteenth time—the same three words: "Do you like it?"

Wen Yinong finished taking her photos and looked at the magnified gem details on her phone screen. Hearing him, she nodded very naturally and said offhandedly, "This gem is just too beautiful. Deep blue mixed with pink, like dawn in the deep sea. Magical. The story of the duke and duchess is really romantic too."

Mo Shaoshang listened quietly to her, his gaze lingering for a moment on the girl's focused and gorgeous little face. Then, his eyelashes lifting slightly, he glanced toward his side and rear.

At this, Lin Ke, who had been standing in attendance at his side all along, immediately understood.

He raised the bidding paddle in his hand, smiled faintly, gentle and refined, his voice ringing clear through the entire venue: "For this 'Beloved' necklace, Mr. Mo Shaoshang lights the sky lantern."

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Author's note: Momo: buying a pretty little gem for wifey

Nongnong: ...

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100 random red envelopes