Were they about to watch someone show off only to get slapped in the face? Honestly, everyone was looking forward to the fallout. The tension in the private box was thick, flavored by the bitter scent of Jing Shu's instant coffee and the lingering musk of the pigs.
"Hahaha, come on, hurry up. I can't wait to see her face when they check her account."
"We can shout a bit too, right? Someone is going to raise the bid anyway. It doesn't cost anything to yell."
"Hmph, you guys know there are people outside whose job is to record every bid, right?" Lan Shao walked over, carrying a giant platter of food. No one knew how much pride he had swallowed to run all over the place begging people to sell it to him at the last minute, but clinging to Jin Baba's thigh was worth any price. He adjusted his glasses with a stiff finger. "If they get bored and decide to check your assets afterward, and it turns out you were shouting fake numbers, the consequences are serious. They don't take kindly to people wasting their time."
Everyone hissed, the sound a collective intake of breath. So strict?
"There's still a chance though, right? They won't check every single person, haha." Jiang Changke talked like he was born to contradict others, his lanky frame leaning against a chair.
No one wanted to bother with Jiang Changke anymore because Xiao Liu had already raised her sign. Her voice wasn't loud, but it was steady, like she was talking about something trivial. "Three mansions, eighty thousand virtual coins each."
The whole group behind her almost let their jaws drop to the floor.
"Holy shit, she really dared to shout that number. Damn, the courage alone deserves ninety-nine points."
"Isn't she scared of a check? Even if she is Jing Shu's bodyguard, there's no way she has that kind of money on her."
Lan Shao pushed his glasses up his nose. "If someone guarantees the bid for her, she is allowed to participate."
"The question is, does Jing Shu really have that much money?"
"Yeah, seriously. Where would she even get it?"
Jin Baba ate the food Lan Shao brought over, his lip curling as he chewed. He was holding back every complaint he wanted to hurl at Jing Shu. That woman was richer than anyone he knew. He still felt a phantom itch of jealousy when he remembered the supplies she had once taken out of her stash. God knows how much she had hoarded by now. Still, he couldn't lose face. He had to appear stronger than her.
Eighty thousand for a mansion was an impossible dream. The prices for the ten mansions shot up fast on the digital board, stopping around a hundred and ten thousand each as the bidders grew more cautious.
Xiao Liu kept raising the bid by exactly ten thousand every time her sign went up, landing the final price at a neat one hundred and ten thousand, just a hair lower than the other mansions.
"Number 567, three mansions, one hundred and twenty thousand each." Jing Shu smoothly added the final raise, her voice clear. She pushed the price right to the perfect point where anyone who added more would immediately suffer a loss on the value.
Even Jing Shu had to admit Xiao Liu's calculations were precise. Sure, she could have waited until the end and shouted a high number to secure them, but having someone set the stage for her saved her a significant chunk of virtual coins.
Her classmates behind her slowly opened their mouths. This was serious? She had actually done it? Three mansions at one hundred and twenty thousand each? What was she planning to do with all of them? Even if you are rich, isn't one enough to live in?
Lan Shao frowned, his brow furrowing as he looked more confused than ever. Something about this whole situation felt outside his understanding of how the world worked now.
"May I ask something…" Lan Shao's posture dropped, his shoulders slumping as he lost all the smug superiority he had shown earlier.
Xiao Liu stood straight, her hands clasped professionally. "Since you know it's rude, don't ask."
Lan Shao: "…"
Everyone: "…"
Damn, she looks badass.
Someone quickly sent this moment straight into the university group chat with live commentary, their thumbs flying over the screen. "Jing Shu is taking three mansions."
Jin Baba covered his mouth with his hand, trying not to laugh. Lan Shao was one of his people after all, but seeing someone get crushed by that woman's casual arrogance felt amazing.
"I told you she is a big shot. None of you listened. Do you know how rich the vice president of the Pharmaceutical Association is? Do you know how expensive medicine is now? How could she not be loaded? I am telling you, it's already too late to ride her coattails, hahaha. It's a good thing I did it early." Jiang Changke tried to babble on, but one look from Jing Shu shut him up instantly.
While they were waiting, the host's voice crackled over the speakers again. "One mansion at a hundred and eighteen thousand was passed down to the last bidder. After checking the records, Mister Li's food supplies were insufficient to cover the bid. He has been handed over to the town office for immediate action."
It's a tiny incident, but it made the students behind them perk up with renewed suspicion.
"You think Jing Shu's food might not be enough either? Three hundred and sixty thousand worth of food—do you know how much that is?"
"Who knows."
"Maybe it's medicinal herbs. Herbs are insanely expensive. A few ginseng roots are a fortune."
"That sounds like corruption to me."
Xiao Liu cleared her throat, the sound sharp in the quiet box. "Who said that? Say it again. I will record it and take legal action for defamation."
There was instant silence. Not even the sound of breathing could be heard.
Jing Shu smiled and shook her head. She had never cared about this petty gossip. Their status gap was too big, like an eagle soaring over an ant. But having someone care enough to defend her honor wasn't a bad feeling.
Finally, her turn came.
With a soft, hydraulic hiss, the door swung open and more than a dozen staff members walked in. To speed up the process, each had their own specific task. Their faces were blank and official as the leader stepped forward. "Miss Jing Shu, please scan your face to confirm your identity and prepare the supplies. We will start counting the weight now."
The whole room fell silent. Only the two pigs in the corner kept snorting and shuffling in their cages.
Someone whispered in the back, "Ba-ge really is amazing. Those people came in smiling at him so hard their cheeks were practically folding."
Beep.
The lead staff member froze as he looked at the handheld tablet, his eyes widening.
The whole room tensed up. What happened?
"Did she… fake something and get caught?"
The next second, the staff leader's face broke into a huge smile, the kind where you could see every crease around his eyes. "Hello, hello. Your profile only shows clearance, but it doesn't show what kind of food you are trading today."
Her permissions were too high. They couldn't see anything. Which meant she was a real powerhouse.