RMWDS -Chapter 276 The Auction

Seeing that the other party clearly didn’t dare to provoke her, Miao Yunyou actually found it a bit boring.

Just as she was getting so bored that she had already opened a match-three mobile game, a well-dressed etiquette lady walked over carrying a stack of booklets.

According to the rules, every attendee would receive a specially bound auction catalogue.

The booklet was clearly high-end—the cover had gold foil embossing, heavy in the hand, and looked expensive at first glance.

Inside were high-definition images of each item. Materials, era, and starting price were all clearly listed. On the side was even a QR code that could be scanned for more detailed views.

Miao Yunyou casually took one, flipped through two pages, then lost interest and shoved it directly into Luo Xinglan’s arms.

“Help me check if there’s anything interesting. I don’t understand all these vases and jars—you pick something fun and explain it to me.”

She truly knew nothing about antiques. She couldn’t even tell whether something was from the Shang or Zhou dynasty. In her eyes, all old things looked the same.

Luo Xinglan accepted the catalogue helplessly and patiently flipped through it for her page by page.

Most of the items were porcelain and calligraphy paintings—ancient, intricate, and none particularly famous. Miao Yunyou quickly grew drowsy listening.

Until later, they saw a bottle of decades-old red wine. It was a global limited edition of only a few hundred bottles, with a starting price of 300,000.

Miao Yunyou said, “Let’s just buy this. We’ll take it back for Hua Yuezhan to try—maybe it’ll give her some new inspiration.”

Honestly, she just wanted to try bidding herself. Since she was already here, it felt like a waste not to experience it.

And the wine didn’t look particularly special—surely no one would compete with her. She should be able to win it easily with just a couple of bids.

Luo Xinglan smiled and nodded. “Alright.”

Not long after, the auction officially began.

On stage, the auctioneer controlled the pace skillfully, introducing items in catalogue order. The process—starting bids, incremental raises, and final hammer strikes—was smooth and seamless. The guests bid calmly and rationally, without chaotic overbidding. The restraint and elegance of a high-end auction were on full display.

The first few antiques were fiercely contested by wealthy bidders in the front rows, while Miao Yunyou’s group quietly watched.

Then the red wine came up.

She immediately raised her bidding paddle.

As expected, no one really competed with her. Only two people made symbolic increases in price. Miao Yunyou bid decisively each time and finally secured it for 450,000.

Winning her first bid, she was delighted—feeling like she had finally become an “NPC” in a drama. It was oddly satisfying.

The nineteenth item that followed immediately caused a sensation.

It was the award-winning piece from yesterday’s embroidery competition champion, Wen Xiuning—the double-sided different-image embroidery titled “Beloved.”

Although the competition organizers had invited them to the auction, participation was optional; whether to contribute their winning work was entirely up to the artist.

Even the organizers hadn’t expected Wen Xiuning to donate her piece. After all, the double-sided “different-image” embroidery technique was god-tier, its value immeasurable. No top artisan would easily part with such a masterpiece.

But Wen Xiuning agreed.

To her, although the work had taken immense effort, the technique was already deeply mastered. If she wished, she could reproduce it at any time. Since the auction proceeds would be donated entirely to children in impoverished regions, she saw it as a simple act of goodwill—an effortless good deed.

A transmission of love, so to speak.

When the staff displayed the embroidery on stage, the entire audience straightened in their seats. News of her championship had already spread widely in elite circles, and everyone wanted to see—and bid on—this unique masterpiece.

Bidding escalated rapidly, far surpassing all previous antique lots.

In the end, a graceful middle-aged woman seated in the VIP front row purchased it for 7 million.

She was a long-time embroidery enthusiast who deeply admired Wen Xiuning’s skill and character. She bought it purely out of appreciation, not for investment.

The 7-million final price set a new record for the auction so far.

Thunderous applause filled the hall as everyone celebrated the extraordinary work.

Wen Xiuning remained calm, showing little reaction to the number—treating it simply as a successful charitable act.

Just as the atmosphere began to settle again, the auctioneer changed tone.

“Next up is Lot 20, a special item donated by an overseas friend free of charge.”

“Here, I would like to express special thanks to Mr. Hawkins from the United States. Mr. Hawkins has long been committed to promoting cultural exchange and public welfare between China and the United States. He has generously contributed a private collection item to this auction. All proceeds will be donated to out-of-school children in impoverished regions of China to improve their education and living conditions.”

The auctioneer gestured toward the front row.

“Let us give a warm round of applause to thank Mr. Hawkins for his charitable contribution!”

Since it was a genuine donation, the audience politely applauded.

Hawkins immediately stood up, wearing a standard warm smile. He bowed slightly to the crowd, maintaining a humble and courteous posture. He deliberately slowed his movements so cameras and guests could clearly capture his expression, perfectly performing the image of a friendly, charity-minded international figure who loved China.

Miao Yunyou rolled her eyes, thinking inwardly: As if this guy is really that kind-hearted.

As the applause faded, the auctioneer continued:

“This item is a Northern Song Dynasty bronze turtle paperweight. It has a simple yet heavy design and was commonly used by scholars as a desk object in ancient times. The starting price is one million.”

Miao Yunyou looked over curiously. It was a palm-sized bronze turtle, with simple cloud-like patterns carved into its shell. At first glance, it just looked like an old piece of scrap metal.

She pouted and whispered to Luo Xinglan, “This thing actually starts at one million?”

But Wen Xiuning beside them frowned slightly and studied it carefully.

“This doesn’t seem like an ordinary paperweight,” she said softly. “It looks more like something used as a burial object.”