OFCC – Chapter 91

When Yi Wulan saw Mu Yanxi’s message on WeChat, she didn’t immediately understand the phrase ‘Sit properly’ until a familiar voice reached her ears. Only then did she notice Mu Yanxi and Bai Yu’an at the adjacent table.

As she turned her head, her gaze met Mu Yanxi’s. Mu Yanxi tilted her head, smiled sweetly, and gestured toward her phone.

Yi Wulan slowly lowered the hand holding her phone, and her posture became a little more upright.

At the same time, Yin Fengxia, who was beside her, also saw the phone in Mu Yanxi’s hand and immediately became vigilant.

“President Yi, the people at the next table are my university classmates. They seem to have a good relationship.”

Yin Fengxia’s intention was to tell Yi Wulan that the people at the next table were a couple, so she shouldn’t be so easily persuaded by Mu Yanxi to give out her contact information.

But Yi Wulan just nodded. Of course, she knew their relationship was good. So good that they had to hire so many sultry internet celebrities to accompany them to the golf course, so good that they booked out an entire nightclub for a trip to Feicheng. But it was limited to the affection between friends.

Yin Fengxia’s words made Yi Wulan subconsciously feel repulsed, but she didn’t show it on her face and turned her gaze to the stage.

Yet, whether Yin Fengxia truly couldn’t read people’s expressions or was just used to throwing herself at others, the smile on her face grew even brighter as she forced small talk. “President Yi, what was it in the brochure that caught your eye earlier?”

Yi Wulan answered concisely, “Diamonds.”

Yin Fengxia’s interest was immediately piqued. The starting bid for the last two diamonds at this auction was five hundred million. Yi Wulan had decided to come and buy them after just a glance at the brochure. Although Yin Fengxia had associated with many people before, she had never seen such extravagance.

Besides, her father had hinted to her many times that this business deal was extremely important. After cleaning up their image, the Yin family’s development had been restricted. If they could successfully partner with Rongjia Group, they would not only establish themselves in Hong Kong but also have a chance to enter the upper echelons of the mainland’s social circles.

At yesterday’s dinner, Yin Fengxia had observed that the married Yi Wulan’s hands were bare.

She wasn’t even wearing a wedding ring and was still buying diamonds. You could figure it out with your toes that they weren’t for her original spouse.

Since she was going to give them to a lover anyway, why not give them to her?

Even if Yi Wulan gave no response, Yin Fengxia could carry on a one-sided conversation, her words hinting at her love for the two diamonds.

Yi Wulan was used to hearing Mu Yanxi’s incessant chatter and thought she had grown accustomed to it.

But at this moment, Yi Wulan realized that anyone other than Mu Yanxi talking nonstop beside her would only make her feel it was extremely noisy.

But she had to endure the noise.

It wasn’t out of respect for President Yin, who had come with them, but because that little ancestor of hers hadn’t given her permission to change seats.

The scene at Yi Wulan’s table was clearly visible to the people in the adjacent booth. Bai Yu’an had already complained to Mu Yanxi countless times, “Xiao Xixi, why aren’t you doing anything? Look at Yin Fengxia, she’s about to stick to her!”

Mu Yanxi glanced over and said faintly, “Isn’t President Yin still between them?”

Bai Yu’an was speechless for a moment before reminding her, “That’s still very close!”

The auction was halfway through. The collectibles were just as they appeared in the brochure; though none were particularly novel, they were all exquisite. As the auctioneer’s gavel fell again and again, many people successfully bid on the items they wanted.

Although Mu Yanxi was there for the diamonds, she always loved to join in the fun and wanted to buy other things to drive up the price for others.

But she wouldn’t bid herself; she had to be dramatic.

She pulled Bai Yu’an along to look at the item on stage, and a sentence suddenly escaped her lips, “That painting looks like the work of a famous master.”

“That little bitch Yin Fengxia actually raised her paddle? Does she even understand this…” Bai Yu’an was halfway through her sentence when she looked at Mu Yanxi and immediately changed her tune. “You like it too? Oh, well, it seems this bird painting is actually not bad.”

Then, the auctioneer’s gavel fell, and the painting was sold to someone else.

Mu Yanxi deliberately didn’t lower her voice, letting a faint sentence drift out, “Those are mandarin ducks.”

Yi Wulan, who heard this…

Yin Fengxia, beside her, also looked quite regretful. She hadn’t been willing to compete with others, and her face was full of pity. “That painting just now was so well done. If you look at it from a slightly different angle, it’s as if you can see the mandarin ducks in different forms. Truly worthy of a famous master.”

Hearing this, Bai Yu’an couldn’t help but roll her eyes again. “A different angle, a different form? Anyone who didn’t know better would think the painting could move. What’s she pretending for?”

This time, Yin Fengxia clearly heard Bai Yu’an’s words and quietly clenched her fists.

The next auction item was quickly displayed. It was a set of the Four Treasures of the Study, said to have belonged to a certain royal family before ending up overseas and reappearing here by a twist of fate.

Yin Fengxia’s eyes instantly lit up. She whispered to President Yin beside her, “Dad, the set of brushes and ink you gave me three years ago, I’m still using it. It’s getting a bit old.”

President Yin couldn’t recall it for a moment and thought he had actually given it to her. He complained to Yi Wulan, “My daughter is good at everything except for her lack of interest in managing the company. I just gave her a set of brushes and ink, and she won an award for me. It was the same when she learned dance and musical instruments before. It gives me such a headache.”

Yi Wulan could ignore Yin Fengxia’s words, but President Yin hadn’t done anything out of line, so she still replied, “She is very outstanding.”

President Yin’s face instantly bloomed into a smile, and he looked at Yi Wulan as if she were his own daughter. “Then, taking President Yi’s words, I’ll get her a new set of brushes and ink.”

President Yin gave Yin Fengxia a look, but before Yin Fengxia could be happy for more than a few seconds, she heard Yi Wulan say, “The value of brushes and ink isn’t in whether they’re new or old. What you’re used to is what’s most suitable.”

Just as Yi Wulan’s words fell, the little ancestor next to her slowly piped up, “The dragon and phoenix carved Duan inkstone my elder sister gave me is already covered in dust.”

Yi Wulan…

This time, Yi Wulan finally understood.

The moment the bidding for this set began, she raised her auction paddle.

Mu Yanxi wasn’t too excited, but the Yin father and daughter exchanged a look, the smiles in their eyes deepening. Yi Wulan had just said that the suitability of an inkstone wasn’t about being new or old, but then she turned around and raised her paddle for the first time tonight at the auction. Her mouth said no, but her hands were very honest.

The auction continued.

Gradually, Yi Wulan figured out what Mu Yanxi was up to. As soon as the little ancestor opened her mouth, she would immediately raise her paddle, regardless of the item. In just a few minutes, she had spent over thirty million.

The little ancestor in the next seat was instantly beaming with joy, and even her tone when commenting on the auction items became much lighter.

Yi Wulan glanced at the little ancestor and raised her paddle again.

It was precisely because of this behavior that the auction became quite lively. Yi Wulan would raise her paddle every few items, and there was no pattern to the collectibles she bid on. But as long as she raised her paddle, she had to win the bid, even if someone else drove up the price.

For a time, she attracted a lot of attention.

It wasn’t just Mu Yanxi who was happy about Yi Wulan’s frequent purchases; Yin Fengxia, sitting with her, was also thrilled. Even though Yin Fengxia had never lacked for money growing up, it was the first time she had seen someone buy things at an auction like this.

Yet Yi Wulan’s face remained calm, without the slightest hint of forced composure. Yin Fengxia’s eyes sparkled as she watched. If her father hadn’t been sitting between them, she might have already pounced on her.

Perhaps because Yi Wulan had been so extravagant in the latter half of the auction, when the final pair of pink and blue diamonds was displayed, some people who had intended to test the waters decisively gave up the fight after seeing Yi Wulan raise her paddle.

At auctions, it was rare for people to deliberately raise the price just to be difficult, like in TV dramas. Those who could sit here were all financially well-off. Their business interests could intersect at any time, so they wouldn’t easily offend someone.

Therefore, the diamonds that the auction house thought could be bid up to eight hundred million had the bidding stopped at five hundred and eighty million.

Although the fifty million increase wasn’t much, the starting price of five hundred million was real. Yin Fengxia was so excited that her eyes darted back and forth between Yi Wulan and the diamonds on stage, her gaze fiery and undisguised.

The auctioneer, wearing white gloves, was about to bring down the gavel. “Five hundred and eighty million, going once.”

“Five hundred and eighty million, going twice.”

She even provocatively raised her chin at Bai Yu’an, looking like a victorious fighting cock.

Bai Yu’an was furious. Just as she was about to complain to Mu Yanxi, she saw the Second Miss Mu slowly raise her auction paddle. “Six hundred million.”

As her voice fell, the entire hall was in an uproar.

All eyes turned to Mu Yanxi’s table. Since her table hadn’t raised a paddle all night, people couldn’t gauge Mu Yanxi’s financial strength for a moment.

Especially since previous bid increments were only five million, yet Mu Yanxi had directly raised it to six hundred million!

At a moment like this, when the auction was about to be finalized, it was obvious she was deliberately snatching the item. Everyone showed expressions of watching a good show.

However, Bai Yu’an, who knew the inside story, first reacted by looking at Yi Wulan’s expression. After all, Mu Yanxi was competing with her own family; that twenty million was quite unnecessary. If she had done something like that, her father would probably have broken her legs.

But Yi Wulan’s profile showed no change in expression, not even a hint of surprise. It was unclear whether Yi Wulan was good at controlling her expressions or if she had anticipated Mu Yanxi’s move all along.

It was exceptionally indulgent.

For Yin Fengxia, Yi Wulan was someone she had brought, so her bidding on items brought her glory. In contrast, Mu Yanxi, as someone Bai Yu’an had brought, was competing with her, which was like Bai Yu’an embarrassing her.

Yin Fengxia looked at Yi Wulan nervously and urged, “President Yi, I’m so sorry. The people at that table are my friends, they’re probably here to cause trouble. I know you came specifically for these diamonds, but that person seems to have come prepared too. What if we can’t outbid her?”

It sounded like she was comforting Yi Wulan, but in reality, she was provoking her.

But Yin Fengxia’s plan clearly backfired. Not only was Yi Wulan not provoked, but she also very calmly put down her auction paddle and replied with a simple “Mm.”

Yin Fengxia: ???

Shouldn’t you be shouting seven hundred million right now to show off your domineering president power?

Amidst the astonished gazes of the entire hall, Mu Yanxi successfully won the pair of diamonds for six hundred million, which nearly made Yin Fengxia die of anger.

However, it wasn’t over yet. When a long line of waiters from the auction house brought the items over and asked for payment, Mu Yanxi’s gaze naturally flickered to Yi Wulan at the next table.

When Yi Wulan noticed, she shifted her gaze back to the two diamonds that had been delivered, and then slowly revealed a familiar, resentful look.

Yi Wulan…

The auction was over, so Yi Wulan naturally didn’t have to keep sitting there as per Mu Yanxi’s text message. She stood up and walked towards Mu Yanxi’s table.

Yin Fengxia quickly followed, standing beside Yi Wulan and looking at Bai Yu’an with her head held high. “Bai Yu’an, you guys didn’t do this on purpose, did you? You knew I wanted it, so you deliberately snatched it from me? Ah, don’t tell me you don’t have the money to pay for it?”

After speaking, Yin Fengxia looked at the unused card machine in the auction house waiter’s hand, her smugness growing. “Failing to pay for an item won at an auction also incurs a penalty. Bai Yu’an, don’t you even know this basic rule?”

Bai Yu’an was originally filled with righteous indignation, but thinking about the tacit cooperation between Mu Yanxi and Yi Wulan just now—one praising, one buying—she was now completely relaxed and just wanted to watch the show.

Sure enough, Mu Yanxi took a step toward Yi Wulan and, in the same affected, pinched voice as Yin Fengxia, said, “Do you like that pair of diamonds too?”

Yi Wulan didn’t know what the little ancestor was up to, so she could only nod in cooperation.

As expected, in the next second, Mu Yanxi’s smile immediately brightened. She even boldly hooked Yi Wulan’s belt and gave it a gentle tug. Using the belt, she pulled the person closer. Her skirt fluttered as she moved in front of Yi Wulan. “Then how about I give one of them to you?”

Seeing this, Bai Yu’an’s eyes lit up. She forked a piece of cantaloupe from the luxurious fruit platter and began munching on it with a crunch.

Meanwhile, Yin Fengxia, who had been deliberately fawning over Yi Wulan due to her coldness, was initially prepared to see Mu Yanxi get pushed away. But to her surprise, Yi Wulan actually nodded again?

So Yi Wulan was actually into this type?

For the first time, Yin Fengxia felt she had misjudged. But then she remembered that the married Yi Wulan didn’t wear a wedding ring and was buying diamonds for a lover, so it made sense that Yi Wulan would like someone passionate and unrestrained.

Her mind instantly flashed with countless passionate and seductive methods for the next few days, planning to try them all on Yi Wulan after leaving the auction.

Just then, a waiter approached again with a good attitude to inquire. Mu Yanxi turned a deaf ear to the request for payment, her head lowered as she toyed with Yi Wulan’s belt, wrapping it around her hand again and again.

Yi Wulan could also see what Mu Yanxi meant and said in a low voice, “I’ll go pay. You wait for me here.”

“Thank you, Elder Sister.” Mu Yanxi immediately beamed, nodding obediently. But her hand didn’t let go. Only when Yi Wulan turned to leave and was held back by the belt did she innocently release it.

Yi Wulan glanced at her, then quickly went and settled the payment for all the items she had just won.

Mu Yanxi watched with a grin as the great President Yi spent money like water, smiling so much that her little fox tail was about to stick up to the sky.

This series of actions left Yin Fengxia, who was standing nearby, completely stunned.

She had seen people buy things at auctions to give as gifts, but she had never seen someone win a bid and then hit on someone to make them pay for it. It completely overturned her perception of Yi Wulan.

When Yi Wulan returned after paying, Yin Fengxia was about to approach and remind her about their business partnership, but Mu Yanxi didn’t leave her any chance at all. She flew straight into Yi Wulan’s arms. “Thank you for saving me, Elder Sister. Otherwise, I was afraid they were going to arrest me.”

Yi Wulan pinched the back of Mu Yanxi’s neck and gently kneaded it, expressionlessly peeling Mu Yanxi off her body. She stuffed the box of diamonds into her arms. “Shall we go?”

Mu Yanxi, who had been so excited about bidding for the diamonds just moments ago, didn’t even glance at them now that they were in her hands. She just leaned against Yi Wulan again and asked pitifully, “I have nowhere to go. Can you take me in, Elder Sister?”

Her voice gave Bai Yu’an goosebumps. Just as she was about to pull Mu Yanxi back and tell her to tone it down a bit, another person couldn’t stand it anymore. The clicking of her high heels was sharp. “President Yi, my father would like to invite you to discuss the partnership again later. What do you think…”

That’s right, Yin Fengxia, banking on the potential partnership between their two families, was trying to ruin the night for Yi Wulan and this little vixen who had appeared out of nowhere. She even glanced at Mu Yanxi with contempt. “Someone who sells themselves should have some self-awareness. Can’t you see we have proper business to discuss?”

“Proper business?” Mu Yanxi let out a soft laugh, not even bothering to spare her a glance. She just looked at Yi Wulan and asked pitifully, “Am I not your proper business, Elder Sister?”

Yin Fengxia was so angry at Mu Yanxi’s thick skin that her face was about to contort, but with Yi Wulan present, she tried hard to suppress her temper and maintain her persona.

But her eyes looked like they were about to eat someone.

A little internet celebrity that Bai Yu’an brought from who-knows-where, thinking she’s all that just because she has some looks?

Yin Fengxia arrogantly commanded the nearby auction staff, “Why haven’t you thrown out this person who’s disrupting the auction rules? Or is your auction house really this undisciplined?”

Mu Yanxi?

Words are one thing, but why are you getting physical?

If you’re going to talk like that, then I’m really getting into it.

It just so happened that Mu Yanxi also felt it would be a bit embarrassing if word got out that she, the original spouse, was here to catch a cheater. So she decided to play along and continue acting as the little internet celebrity Yin Fengxia described.

She quickly hid behind Yi Wulan, then peeked her head out and complained to Yi Wulan with deep affection, “This person is so mean. Save me, Elder Sister, boo hoo hoo.”

It was affected, bitchy, and pretentious.

Mu Yanxi had been in the entertainment industry for nearly three years. Although her acting wasn’t particularly professional, playing such a malicious female character was second nature to her.

Yi Wulan didn’t speak, just expressionlessly pushed Mu Yanxi’s peeking head back, then looked at President Yin. “President Yin, I have something to do tonight.”

Although President Yin was unwilling to have his daughter’s target snatched away by what she called a “little internet celebrity,” he was ultimately more composed than Yin Fengxia. He held his daughter back, only able to watch as Yi Wulan left with the person.

For the next few days, President Yin waited for news from Yi Wulan, but none came.

At first, he thought it was understandable for Yi Wulan to indulge in a lover’s embrace on a rare business trip. He waited for Yi Wulan’s passion to cool down, planning to have Yin Fengxia try again.

But he didn’t expect that this time, Yi Wulan would refuse so directly and decisively. So decisive that even the partnership was off the table?

President Yin’s mind went blank. He couldn’t even process what had happened. How could a well-negotiated partnership suddenly be gone?

As the president of Rongjia Group, would Yi Wulan really be so muddle-headed as to disregard a partnership just to stand up for a little internet celebrity?

Wasn’t Yi Wulan afraid of her original wife causing a scene?

President Yin went to great lengths to inquire about this matter. After much digging, he finally got some news from a tycoon who had already expanded into the mainland.

It wasn’t that he found out the reason, but when he mentioned Yi Wulan cheating with a little internet celebrity, the tycoon didn’t believe it at all and then showed him a photo of the Second Miss Mu.

She looked exactly the same as the little internet celebrity from the auction!

President Yin collapsed. Connecting all the information, he finally realized that the problem lay with his daughter.

Yin Fengxia had solved many business problems for him over the years, but he never expected her to stumble at this critical moment of expanding into the mainland, turning all their preparations into nothing.

President Yin had originally wanted to ask that tycoon for help, hoping to apologize in person and negotiate again, but the tycoon rejected him outright.

That tycoon’s mainland business was based in Yuncheng, so how could he not have heard about the marriage alliance between Rongjia and Xinyu? Not long ago, Mu Yanxi had even represented Rongjia Group on the red carpet at a financial summit. One could imagine her status in Yi Wulan’s heart.

Furthermore, Mu Yanxi had a rather bad reputation in Yuncheng’s high society circles, and few people would actively provoke that ancestor. One reason was that Mu Yanxi was said to have a bad temper, and the other was the protective Xinyu behind her.

As one of the top commercial banks in the country, how many business people would dare to truly provoke Xinyu? How many enterprises had sufficient liquid capital?

Who would dare to pat their chest and guarantee they would never need a loan from Xinyu in their lifetime?

In the business world, interests are intertwined. If Xinyu really wanted to squeeze your funds, they had countless ways, from pressuring your partners to targeting various related projects, until they drove you to bankruptcy.

President Yin had a background in organized crime and had always been rather arrogant. As he was just about to expand into the mainland, he naturally hadn’t looked into these matters clearly.

However, by the time he realized it, it was already too late. Yi Wulan’s attitude was firm; she wouldn’t even meet with him, blocking all his paths.

The tycoon President Yin found expressed his sympathy, but he also sighed at Yi Wulan’s behavior of giving up a partnership for her wife.

Yi Wulan, the person in question, didn’t feel it was a pity. That night, after Mu Yanxi said goodbye to Bai Yu’an, she held the box of diamonds and felt a little guilty. She followed Yi Wulan wherever she went.

It rained in Hong Kong that night, and the temperature dropped sharply. Back at the hotel, seeing Yi Wulan take off her coat, Mu Yanxi scurried to the bathroom to lay out a disposable bathtub liner.

The hotel’s service was excellent. The bathroom had been restocked with new toiletries, and even the cabinet next to the bathtub had been replenished by the hotel staff. Mu Yanxi fawningly pulled Yi Wulan inside, standing by like a servant at her beck and call, being incredibly obedient.

Yi Wulan frowned, took a few steps forward, and started to undress Mu Yanxi. As Mu Yanxi’s face grew redder and redder, she reminded her helplessly, “You were just out in the cold wind. Don’t catch a cold.”

Mu Yanxi’s tightly clenched hands paused as she realized how dirty her thoughts were. She quickly tried to remedy the situation by smiling at Yi Wulan. “No, no, let me help you.”

Just as Yi Wulan was about to speak, Mu Yanxi, as if afraid she wouldn’t agree, added, “I promise to be good tonight.”

Yi Wulan took off the last piece of her clothing and ruffled her hair. “I’m not blaming you. Hurry up and get in, take a bath, and rest well.”

Mu Yanxi grabbed Yi Wulan’s wrist. “Then… then I want you to join me.”

A hint of helpless laughter appeared in Yi Wulan’s eyes as she explained, “Although the Yin family has cleaned up its image, they are far from as prosperous as they appear on the surface. I was already hesitant when we were discussing the partnership today. I can find another partner who can handle the entire collaboration, which would also be more convenient.”

These words swept away all of Mu Yanxi’s previous worries, and her mouth started running off again. “I knew President Yi was deeply in love with me and wouldn’t be swayed by those little vixens outside.”

Yi Wulan led her into the bathtub and cast a helpless glance at her.

“Yi Wulan, I’ve discovered that you’re the one who attracts all the bees and butterflies. If I catch you again next time, I’ll, I’ll…” Mu Yanxi thought for a moment, her gentle expression suddenly turning fierce as she threatened, “I’ll lock you up at home!”

Yi Wulan was used to Mu Yanxi’s flirty talk, so she wasn’t too surprised. She just nodded in cooperation. “Mm, lock me up.”

Mu Yanxi was still talking, her words getting more and more out of hand. “I won’t let you see anyone, and then I’ll go to Rongjia in your place and usurp your position while you’re gone!”

Yi Wulan gently scooped water onto Mu Yanxi’s body, washing her. “Mm, usurp my position.”

Mu Yanxi chattered on for a while. Seeing Yi Wulan being so perfunctory, she started throwing a tantrum, taking her frustration out on the water. She slapped the surface hard, splashing a lot of water out of the tub. “Yi Wulan, how can you be like this?”

Yi Wulan let Mu Yanxi vent her anger on the water. Only when her movements slowed down did she look up. “Are you done?”

After looking into Yi Wulan’s eyes for a long time, Mu Yanxi instinctively felt that this gaze was a bit dangerous. Her initial arrogant momentum immediately died down. “I’m… I’m done. Haha, I’ll take my bath now, I’ll take my bath now.”

After speaking, she even gave Yi Wulan a placating kiss on the lips.

But who knew that just as she was about to pull back, Yi Wulan’s arm wrapped around her lower back, and a voice fell by her ear, “Didn’t you say you wouldn’t hide?”

“Mmph!”