Chapter 155
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Chapter 155: The CEO Persona Has Gone To His Head
Not long after, a young woman holding a microphone walked up to the host’s podium.
Her face was so pale and thickly caked with makeup, it looked like several layers of plaster had been smeared on — utterly devoid of any vitality.
Ye Xiao glanced at her once and immediately lost interest.
God knows what she looks like without the makeup. Besides, the system didn’t react to her at all — she wasn’t a target.
Another woman followed the host onto the stage. Her looks were about an 8 out of 10. She seemed familiar — maybe Ye Xiao had seen her on some poster before — probably a celebrity of sorts. But compared to that gossip-prone starlet Jiang Shuyan from earlier, this woman’s appearance and aura fell far short.
“Honored leaders, dear tycoons, good evening everyone!”
As soon as she spoke—
The whole room burst into laughter.
Though her face was so heavily powdered it could be used to plaster walls, her hosting style was actually kind of entertaining.
To use the term “tycoon” in such a formal setting was certainly a bit comical.
Still, everyone was tired of the usual stiff and formulaic presentation styles.
“Thank you all for attending tonight’s charity gala. I am…”
As hosts of the event, the two MCs mainly talked about positive, heartwarming topics.
After going on for over ten minutes, they finally shifted the focus to the charity auction.
“Everyone, I won’t waste more words. Next, please welcome our professional auctioneer, Mr. Wang Gang. He will be representing several major banks, the municipal government, and various charity patrons in conducting the auction for tonight’s items!”
As the host’s words ended, a man in his fifties wearing traditional Chinese attire walked up to the podium.
As soon as he stepped on stage, staff began placing the first auction item on the display table.
All the charity auction items would not only be displayed on the table but also introduced on a PPT screen that showed each item’s background and estimated value.
Watching the auctioneer come up, Ye Xiao nearly lost it — this Mr. Wang Gang really lived up to his name: he looked just like Heshen!
She was genuinely worried he might smash the auction hammer onto an item and declare it a fake.
Thus, the auction officially began.
However, as the event progressed, Ye Xiao gradually started to lose interest.
Not because the items weren’t attractive — far from it.
Originally, she thought of herself as a little rich girl, but the very first auction item brutally reminded her that she was still just a broke nobody.
The first item: “Heart of the Ocean” — sharing its name with the blue gemstone from the film “Titanic” in her past life.
Ye Xiao looked into it and discovered that this world also had a supposedly unsinkable luxury liner that hit an iceberg on its maiden voyage and sank in the North Pacific.
The ship was named “Titanic” as well, but unlike her previous world, no one here ever made a film about the tragedy.
Legend had it that there was also a blue sapphire called “Heart of the Ocean” aboard that ship.
But in reality, this gem wasn’t salvaged from the wreck, it was a jewelry company’s fabrication — a cleverly marketed legend.
At first, Ye Xiao thought, without the dramatic, undying love story from the movie, this Heart of the Ocean was just a regular piece of tanzanite. At most, it might be worth three hundred yuan.
Clearly, she had underestimated how absurdly wealthy Binhai’s elite were — not to mention the auctioneer’s sky-high sales pitch.
Even without a movie, the auctioneer wove an elaborate love story around the gem, enchanting many socialites and young ladies present.
Even Feng Yin was tugging on Li Yansheng excitedly, urging him to win the gemstone.
In the end, the Heart of the Ocean was bought by Ye Chen — for a staggering 400 million Huaxia yuan.
Li Yansheng only bid up to 200 million. Even factoring in sentimental value, that piece of rock wasn’t worth it — he just wanted to make his wife happy.
Besides, there was no point offending a young master from Yanjing over a stone.
Then came Ye Xiao’s moment of true disbelief.
Normally, auction items are distributed after the event ends — once payments are confirmed.
But Ye Chen, that bastard, actually stood up on the spot and tried to take the Heart of the Ocean out of its crystal display box.
Mr. Wang Gang immediately stopped him. “Sir, this is against the rules.”
“This thing’s already mine. Isn’t it?” Ye Chen said.
“But sir…”
“Don’t forget your place. You’re just an auctioneer! What — are you afraid I can’t pay up?”
Mr. Wang Gang still tried to stop him, but Ye Chen had already opened the display case and picked up the gem. He pulled out his phone with the other hand.
Helpless, Wang Gang could only have Ye Chen transfer the funds directly to the auction’s official account.
Once payment was received, the auctioneer had no choice but to let Ye Chen have his way.
Surprisingly, many of the ladies present were completely taken in by Ye Chen’s behavior.
“So handsome! So overbearing! I love it! If I could marry Young Master Ye, how happy I’d be!”
“Hmph, look at yourself in the mirror. You think Ye Shao would be interested in you? If he’s marrying anyone, it’d be me.”
Ye Xiao covered her face. These brainless women — how is this in any way “handsome”?
To her, Ye Chen just looked like an absolute dumbass. He already won the bid — could he not wait a few minutes?
Only these delusional airheaded socialites would find this attractive.
As for the city officials and prominent figures in attendance, their impressions of this young master from the Ye family visibly worsened.
But out of respect for his identity, they didn’t say anything aloud.
Next, Ye Chen — with the Heart of the Ocean in hand — strolled over to Liu Nanxi.
“All the finest things in this world belong to me — whether it’s this gem or anything else.”
As he spoke, his eyes locked onto Liu Nanxi. Anyone could see who his real target was.
Standing before her, he tried to place the Heart of the Ocean around her neck.
This was a clear gesture of staking his claim — publicly announcing that Liu Nanxi was a woman favored by Young Master Ye of Yanjing, and not to be touched by anyone else.
Liu Nanxi had already frowned as soon as she saw Ye Chen approaching.
Now he was trying to get physical — of course she wasn’t having it.
“Mr. Ye, please show some respect. I will not accept such an extravagant gift.”
Her rejection was firm and unambiguous.
It was no joke — everyone knew Liu Nanxi’s close ties to the city’s top leader. Her position was sensitive. Accepting something like this in public would be handing people leverage against her on a silver platter.
“I’ve never experienced what it’s like to be rejected before. Excellent. You’ve officially caught my attention.”
As Ye Chen said this, Ye Xiao felt secondhand embarrassment so intense her toes could dig a three-bedroom apartment out of the floor.
Dude. Did you already forget how that girl slapped you across the face at the movie theater a few days ago? What, goldfish memory?
Ye Chen had fully CEO romance novel protagonist brainrot at this point.
Everyone else just watched on as if enjoying a drama. No one stepped in.
Whether it was the Ye family or Liu Nanxi, neither were people the average guest could afford to offend.
Ye Chen had made his intentions clear — he was after Liu Nanxi.
If it somehow did work out, anyone who intervened now would only be remembered as a nuisance.
When that time came, this would be considered a “family matter” — a personal affair. Who were outsiders to comment anyway?
