The auction started soon.
Quiana Sutton lazily gazed at the auction items below, showing not the slightest bit of interest.
Seeing her lack of enthusiasm, Alexander Skylane naturally didn't pay attention either, focusing wholly on slicing fruit for her.
The auction host then spoke: "Next up for auction is a bracelet, designed by the legendary genius jewelry designer, Twilight 8844, with a starting bid of five million."
Upon hearing this, Quiana lifted her eyelids and glanced down a few more times.
Alexander noticed that Quiana finally reacted, thinking she was interested in the bracelet. "Quiana, you've got a good eye. This bracelet is designed by Twilight, which reportedly caused quite a stir back then. It's a pity there are so few Twilight works. Truth be told, Twilight's talent is said to surpass even mine."
The entire necklace is composed by linking the numbers 8844, which is the height of the Himalayas. Using these numbers, Twilight named the bracelet 8844, presenting a notion full of majesty and ambition.
He occasionally regretted never meeting Twilight in his lifetime. In fact, he considered Twilight as his enlightening mentor.
When he first saw this bracelet, he immediately developed the impulse to become a designer.
This bracelet, he wanted it.
"Six million."
Upon hearing his bid, Quiana casually tucked her hair behind her ear, seemingly carrying a different nuance:
"Do you like this bracelet?"
Alexander nodded.
Appearing slightly embarrassed, he had never told anyone about this, but he didn't want to hide it from Quiana.
"Actually, I'm a fan of Twilight."
Quiana: "..."
She paused before speaking up: "Then I suggest you'd better not like Twilight."
Confused, he asked: "Why?"
She lightly pinched her index finger, her voice carrying a hint of chill, "The name Twilight carries a tragic color, stepping one step forward leads to dark night, never able to approach the light. All she can do is to pray her fall is slightly slower. Her life has been full of misfortune. To like someone so unfortunate, beware of yourself falling into hell too."
Alexander slightly frowned: "Why do you sound like you know a lot about Twilight? Do you know Twilight?"
Quiana suddenly realized she had said too much. Her fingers fell onto the armrest and entwined unconsciously. After a moment, she spoke: "I don't know them."
A lazy voice suddenly came from the top level room: "Ten million."
Oliver Gale looked at Durrell Landon with great interest, "Durrell, are you interested in this bracelet?"
Durrell spoke indifferently: "Not interested, but I'd rather not let Alexander Skylane get it."
He chuckled softly, this was… jealousy…
He found it increasingly intriguing.
In his entire life, it was the first time seeing Durrell Landon being jealous.
Alexander Skylane reluctantly added: "Fifteen million."
The lazy voice echoed again: "Twenty million."
Alexander hesitated a bit. He really liked this bracelet, but he also intended to buy the Sea of Starry Gems for Quiana, fearing spending too much on this bracelet and losing to competitors for the Gems later—it was better to let it go.
The final bid was twenty million.
The bracelet's valuation was five million, and the host didn't expect the price to soar to twenty million, finding joy in such a windfall.
A few more items were auctioned afterward, none fetching too high a price.
Finally, it was the Sea of Starry Gems' turn, starting bid at five million.
Alexander Skylane voiced:
"Twenty million."
Other attendees were a bit shocked, immediately quadrupling the price. Though initially uninterested in the Sea of Starry Gems, they were now intrigued.
Before their excitement could settle, the lazy voice resounded from the top floor's private room again.
"Fifty million."
The crowd: "..."
Alexander Skylane hadn't anticipated someone would oppose him again, but this time he was determined to win:
"Seventy million."
"One hundred million."
Alexander Skylane: "..."
Was this person holding a grudge against him? Why did the things he liked have to be snatched away?
This time, however, he wouldn't let them succeed.
"One hundred and fifty million."
The opposing voice lazily continued: "Two hundred million."
Alexander Skylane: "..."
Now he really felt like losing his composure.
He had only prepared two hundred million, confident it would secure the Sea of Starry Gems. Who knew someone would bump heads with him?
Alas, since auctions require immediate payments, otherwise he would sign an IOU.
Quiana seemed completely unconcerned, playing with the teacup beside her, speaking expressionlessly:
"If he wants it, let him have it. The second son of the Landon Family naturally has deep pockets. We can't compete."
Alexander Skylane realized: "You mean the person in the top private suite is Durrell Landon?"
She nodded.
Alexander Skylane contemplated Quiana's remark, no longer voicing another bid.
The final price for the Sea of Starry Gems was two hundred million, even the host was slightly amazed.
It was his first time seeing a property priced at five million auction for two hundred million.
Julian Haworth smirked: "Spending two hundred million for a single Sea of Starry Stars is a bit of a waste, isn't it?"
Oliver Gale patted Julian's shoulder: "You don't understand, it's called spending money to buy happiness."
Didn't he see just now, when Alexander regretfully gazed at Quiana, that Durrell's lips involuntarily curled into a smile?
...
After the auction, Quiana had no interest in staying any longer and prepared to leave with Alexander Skylane.
Seeing Quiana and her group about to leave, Durrell Landon also got up, unexpectedly running into Evelyn Windsor.
Though she had seen Durrell Landon's face countless times on TV, encountering him again easily stirred ripples in her heart.
She walked over and gently called, "Durrell… didn't expect to see you here."
Looking him up and down, she added: "Is your injury healed?"
Durrell Landon glanced nonchalantly at Evelyn Windsor, showing no desire to converse further, merely responding with: "Fine."
She sensed the distance in Durrell's demeanor towards her, felt a twinge of loneliness, but hid it well, only asking:
"Durrell, it's rare to see you, shall we gather?" Fearing rejection, she glanced at the nearby Oliver Gale, Julian Haworth, and Charles Foote, "Would the three young masters mind gracing us with their presence?"
At this moment, Quiana and Alexander Skylane approached; as she lifted her head, her eyes locked directly with Durrell's.
She instantly had a sense of being caught in the act.
Quickly, she thought she overreacted.
Oliver Gale followed Durrell's gaze and saw Quiana standing not far away, softly clicking his tongue, knowing this was indeed a Shura—a tale of battles—but he was more optimistic about little Quiana.