Chapter 25: Tit for Tat
Evening, seven o’clock.
This was Ye Fei’s first time sitting in a convertible Ferrari.
As the wind howled past his ears, he cursed inwardly: Money truly is power!
Beside him, Chen Yu wore a pure white shirt and three-quarter shorts, her usual mature allure replaced by a youthful charm.
“The place we’re headed is a gala hosted by a foreign business association,” she explained as she drove.
“It’s called the Tenglong Association.”
“The main goal is to expand our network, and at the same time, get a sense of the business climate here in Hangzhou.”
“As for the antiques up for auction, most are shrouded in mystery—things like jade seals lost for centuries.”
“And I’ve heard they’ll even auction off some magical artifacts once used by ancient cultivators.”
“Magical artifacts?” Ye Fei echoed, puzzled.
He’d heard his grandfather mention such things in passing—a kind of object that required spiritual energy to wield. After mastering the Nine Dragons Divine Art, using such artifacts would feel natural. But he had never actually seen one.
Was Chen Yu talking about the same kind of magical artifact?
“These so-called magical items are mostly tricks made by charlatans,” Chen Yu said with a laugh, noticing his interest. “They claim to ward off misfortune and bring peace to households, but in reality, they’re useless. My second uncle once paid a hefty sum for one, then threw it away in the end. So, don’t get your hopes up.”
“As far as I know, there’s only one purpose for this auction.”
“What is it?” Ye Fei sensed something was off.
“To move funds into Hangzhou as quickly as possible, and then…” Chen Yu’s voice was calm, “to acquire the renowned Everlasting Group of Hangzhou.”
“Acquire?” Ye Fei’s face darkened. “What do you mean?”
“It’s quite the coincidence that Lin Qiqing is your senior apprentice sister. The world really is full of surprises.” Chen Yu didn’t answer directly; instead, she smiled. “Looks like you’ll have nowhere to sleep tonight, little brother Ye Fei.”
“How much more do you know?” Ye Fei shot her a glance.
“Not much,” Chen Yu replied softly. “We’re here.”
The car came to a stop.
Before them stood a seaside villa covering over two thousand square meters.
The auction gala was held here, in a tranquil setting.
As Ye Fei and Chen Yu got out, they saw the square in front of the villa packed with luxury cars.
BMWs, Audis, and Mercedes were nowhere to be seen. The lowest-tier vehicles here were Lamborghinis. Ye Fei even spotted a Rolls-Royce Phantom with a license plate of all eights and a front grille forged from pure gold—worth at least sixteen million, and clearly not a local car.
After Chen Yu gave her name to the gatekeeper, a host greeted them respectfully and led them inside.
The villa’s interior was lavish, almost entirely Western in design. Stepping in felt like entering high society.
The brightly lit hall was filled with well-dressed business magnates.
Of course, there were also plenty of young heirs and socialites, clustered together in small groups, clearly here to broaden their horizons under the wings of their parents.
There was hardly anyone dressed as plainly as Ye Fei, who wore a cheap tracksuit. So, the moment he walked in, he drew plenty of attention.
“Ye Fei?”
“What are you doing here?”
A cold, sharp voice rang out.
Ye Fei turned instinctively, only to see a beautiful face.
“Sun Shiyun?”
“It’s you?”
Standing behind him, Sun Shiyun wore an elegant, form-fitting cheongsam that accentuated her figure and drew every eye. Her style was a stark contrast to Chen Yu’s fresh look, and many young heirs couldn’t help but glance their way.
Hearing Ye Fei call her name, Sun Shiyun’s body trembled; she gritted her teeth. “Who allowed you in here?”
Ye Fei replied with a faint, mocking smile, “What, the eldest daughter of the Sun family can be here, but I can’t?”
Seeing his expression, Sun Shiyun remembered how Ye Fei had broken off their engagement in front of everyone just days before. Anger made her shoulders shake as she glared at him. “Get out. You’re not welcome here!”
“If you say so, does he have to leave? He’s here as my guest—who do you think you are?” Chen Yu interjected with a smile.
Everyone nearby turned to look.
“Aren’t those the eldest daughters of the Chen and Sun families?”
“What’s happening?”
“Are they arguing?”
It seemed so.
The auction had two main social circles: on the left, the out-of-town business tycoons, deep in conversation about industry futures and policy trends—deals worth tens or hundreds of millions could be settled with a word. On the right and toward the back were the young people who’d tagged along with parents or friends.
Their attention was fixed more on beauties like Sun Shiyun and Chen Yu.
“Who’s that guy?”
“No idea. Dressed so cheaply, he can’t be one of us.”
“Must be an outsider. But why’s he so close to Miss Chen? They look intimate—could he be her boyfriend?”
“Seriously? What does she see in him?”
“Yeah, with looks like that and clothes from the bargain bin, he’s not even as well dressed as my dog.”
“Damn it, some outsider dares to chase girls in our circle? Are we supposed to put up with that?”
When it was suggested he might be Chen Yu’s boyfriend, many eyes turned green with envy.
After all, in their circle, Chen Yu’s beauty was unmatched.
Countless people coveted her, and her family background was second to none.
Usually, none of the young heirs ever got close to her.
Now, with Ye Fei’s appearance, jealousy was inevitable.
Sensing the strange looks, Sun Shiyun’s expression tightened. She took a deep breath, regaining her composure, sipped her red wine, and, after a long look at Chen Yu, said, “You must be Chen Yu?”
“You know me?” Chen Yu smiled. “Funny, I don’t know you.”
“I’ve long heard of you, Miss Chen,” Sun Shiyun replied with a bright smile, unfazed. She glanced at Ye Fei. “But isn’t it against the rules to bring someone without an invitation?”
“Perhaps you don’t know, but this auction is hosted by the Chen family,” Chen Yu retorted with a hint of mockery. “I can bring in whoever I please. Who are you to question me?”
“You…” Sun Shiyun was at a loss for words.
Only then did she recall who stood behind the Tenglong Association.
And this woman before her, named Chen Yu, was precisely that person’s descendant.