The countdown was almost halfway through.
On the stage, the host introduced the next car - a sky - blue Porsche 918 Spyder.
With its elegant and clean color scheme, perfect body shape, hybrid electric - gasoline engine, it was a revolutionary work and a symbol of the transformation of the automotive industry.
It was also a symbol of what collectors regarded as a "future antique".
It was really beautiful. Zhu Ning had bid on many black, white, and silver sports cars, but this was the first time she had seen this color scheme. Immediately, she raised her bid card.
"I'll take it!"
A male voice interrupted, "I want it too!"
Zhu Ning was surprised. Looking up, she saw Liu Hong on the opposite side also raise his bid card. His face looked rather grim, but there was still a hint of provocation in his eyes.
Duan Zimo asked from the side, "What does this mean, President Liu? Are you going to bid against Miss Zhu?"
"I've also taken a fancy to this color of Porsche, so I'm raising my card to compete." Liu Hong glanced at him, "What, Young Master Duan, are you going to suggest to Young Master Song to change the rules and not allow bidding?"
Song Ya stared at him, "The rules have already taken effect. Of course, I can't modify them. But is President Liu really interested in this car?"
I'm afraid the real intention was not to bid but to make things difficult for Zhu Ning!
Liu Hong said, "Of course. Why would I raise my card if I didn't want it? Young Master Song, don't be so suspicious."
Song Ya kept a straight face and said nothing.
Liu Hong sneered contemptuously, then looked at Zhu Ning.
"Miss Zhu, I've also taken a fancy to this Porsche. I like it very much. I'm afraid I can't part with it. How about we compete fairly?"
Zhu Ning raised her eyebrows, "Sure. I respect the rules. President Liu, please make the first bid."
The malice in Liu Hong's eyes suddenly became more intense. "The selling price is 31 million. My family fortune is not as wealthy as Miss Zhu's. So, I'll add one million first."
This was the basic routine of adding price to make trouble in an auction.
First, give you a number within a certain threshold, making you think you can easily catch up. Then, use the method of boiling a frog in warm water to figure out your bottom line, and either overtake you or trap you.
Liu Hong admitted that he had been shocked by Zhu Ning's generous spending before.
But even a mountain has its end. Could her wallet be bottomless? Could she keep spending?
Song Ya and Duan Zimo were probably right. He was here to raise the price and make trouble. He wanted to see what expression Miss Zhu would have after spending far more than the value of this car.
Surely, it would be quite a show!
Thinking like this, the malice in his eyes became even more intense. But Zhu Ning just glanced at him and then let out a soft laugh.
"Does President Liu look down on me, or is he here to play a childish game with me? One million? How dare you call that raising the price?"
Liu Hong's face changed slightly.
Zhu Ning twitched the corner of her mouth, raised her bid card, and said, "I bid 40 million."
"President Liu, are you going to follow or not?"
The whole audience was in an uproar.
An auction with a one - time increase of tens of millions in bidding, they had only seen it for some rare treasures.
To encounter such a high - level price increase for a super - car was unprecedented.
Zhu Ning was looking at Liu Hong, and the eyes of the surrounding guests also involuntarily fell on him.
Liu Hong's face turned red and then pale under everyone's gaze. Gritting his teeth, he said he would follow, "Then I bid 45 million."
Zhu Ning scoffed, raised her bid card, and said, "60 million."
"Wow!"
Another round of commotion. The guests were in an uproar.
Was this Miss Zhu crazy?
Wasn't she afraid that Liu Hong was setting a trap for her?
Raising the price so high, it was she who would suffer!
Or did she really have so much money that she didn't care about mere tens of millions?
Liu Hong's face had turned white.
Zhu Ning's arbitrary behavior, which completely deviated from the script, made him feel a strong sense of panic at this moment.
Should he follow the bid?
If he didn't, he couldn't trap her.
If he did...
What if she was setting a trap for him?
Did she really have 60 million in available funds on her?
Liu Hong's heart was pounding like thunder, and a cold sweat broke out on his back.
Zhu Ning asked, "What's wrong, President Liu? Do you not have enough funds?"
Liu Hong's face turned even paler and angrier, but he didn't say a word.
The host began to ask Liu Hong if he still wanted to continue bidding. Since Liu Hong didn't respond, the host started counting down.
"60 million for the first time, 60 million for the second time, 60 million..."
Zhu Ning looked at Liu Hong on the opposite side, who was slow to respond. She felt a bit disappointed.
She sighed inwardly that it was so boring. If she had known he would give up so quickly, she should have spent more earlier.
Song Ya's heart was in his throat.
"President Liu, you missed out on 0001 because of bad luck. If you can't get the Spyder, it means you lack the strength!"
Liu Hong glared at Song Ya fiercely. Looking up and meeting Zhu Ning's bored eyes, all the blood in his body rushed to his head.
What kind of look was that? Did she take him for a clown!
Overwhelmed by emotions, he suddenly stood up and shouted with a desperate tone, "70 million!"
"70 million! Mr. Liu bids 70 million!"
The host shouted excitedly. The looks of the guests at Liu Hong changed again and again.
After shouting, Liu Hong felt his head go blank. When he came to his senses, he was full of regret.
What had he done? Spending more than twice the price to bid for a sports car he didn't even need?
If this got back to his family...
Liu Hong didn't dare to imagine what would happen to him.
He was full of remorse, but Song Ya was grinning from ear to ear.
This was right!
This money should be spent by that bastard Liu Hong!
"70 million for the first time, 70 million for the second time, 70 million..."
The host's repeated confirmation echoed in the venue.
Everyone's eyes turned to Zhu Ning's direction.
70 million.
Surely, she wouldn't bid anymore.
Spending 140 million in less than ten minutes, even if her family was rich, they wouldn't let her squander like this!
Everyone was certain.
Zhu Ning didn't dare to follow the bid anymore.
Some people even began to congratulate Liu Hong on getting the precious car.
Hearing the compliments from around, Liu Hong felt mixed emotions, but he tried hard to squeeze out a look of pride on his face.
"I'm determined to get this car!"
But as soon as he finished speaking, the next second, a clear female voice echoed throughout the car show.
Zhu Ning raised her bid card and smiled.
"90 million."
90 million?!
The whole venue erupted!
"What did she just say? 90 million? Is it 90 million?"
"Yes, it's 90 million, three times the original price of the car!"
"Is she crazy? That's 90 million!"
Song Ya immediately stood up from his chair. "Zhu Ning, you're joking, right? Are you sure you want to spend three times the price to buy this car!"
His tone was serious, and his eyes were full of hints for her to withdraw.
Liu Hong immediately turned around. "Song Ya, what do you mean! Are you blatantly showing favoritism? Is this how you do business! If she regrets, she can withdraw. Then, if the rest of us regret, can we also get a refund!"
Someone started to boo, and immediately others followed. "Young Master Song, you can't do business like this!"
"Exactly!"
Song Ya clenched his fists. The veins on his forehead were throbbing with anger. He ignored the surrounding noisy voices and repeated to Zhu Ning in a trembling voice, "Zhu Ning, are you sure you weren't joking just now?"
Zhu Ning looked around at the expressions and eyes of the people. There were looks of worry, those of watching the show, looks of nervousness, and malicious looks...
Suddenly, she smiled. "I was joking just now."
Song Ya felt relieved. "Then I..."
Liu Hong suddenly exploded. "Ridiculous! This is the most ridiculous thing! In an auction, once the bid is made, there's no going back. Do you want to open the back door in front of all of us! Song Ya, are you making a joke of business integrity!"
Zhu Ning must be out of money!
He was sure of it!
Otherwise, why would Song Ya want her to retract her bid in public!
This was a great opportunity to shift the burden on himself to Zhu Ning and bring her down. Liu Hong would never let it go.
"What, Miss Zhu doesn't have enough money, so she wants to play a rogue with President Song? If Miss Zhu doesn't have enough money, she can just say so. Call me good brother, and I'll lend it to you, okay!"
With a provocative look in his eyes and putting a high - hat on her, Zhu Ning just lifted her eyelids.
"President Liu always likes to hear only half of what others say? I do regret, but not because I bid too much, but because I bid too little."
Bid too little?
Liu Hong's face showed a moment of stupefaction, and then he said, "Miss Zhu, it's better not to be too vain."
"90 million is already an extremely high price, three times the price of this car."
"If this is still too little, then what is too much?"
"If you don't have money, just say so. I'll lend it to you!"
Song Ya was anxious beside her. "Zhu Ning, think it over. Don't be impulsive!"
The people around were whispering, and their looks at Zhu Ning carried a hint of mockery.
Liu Hong was very proud.
90 million was still too little.
Well, he wanted to see how she would get out of this!
People around had all kinds of looks and expressions. Zhu Ning glanced around and just twitched the corner of her mouth into a smile.
"Keep your money for yourself. I can't afford it."
After saying that, she ignored Liu Hong's ashen face and spoke to the crowd.
"Everyone, as the saying goes, one should not be too greedy in life, but should strive for perfection in doing things. We are all here together, drinking the same wine and sharing the same feast. It's all a good fate from our past and present lives. 90 million, 90 million. They say nine times nine returns to one. So, I, Zhu, have decided to take out another 10 million to make it a full 100 million, for a good omen. I hope everyone can have a great time here, and I also wish President Song a successful car show and prosperous business!"
After saying that, she directly took out her card without any hesitation and was about to pay.
Silence, complete silence filled the whole venue.
What did she just say?
Not 90 million for the Spyder, but 100 million?!
What a joke!
Did she really treat money like paper?
The guests could only stare at Zhu Ning in stunned shock and couldn't react in any other way.
"Zhu Ning! What kind of joke are you playing!"
Liu Hong couldn't believe it.
90 million was already too much, but she actually wanted to spend 100 million, and pay on the spot!
"Don't pretend. Do you really have that much money in your card!"
The people around were whispering. They also didn't quite believe that Zhu Ning could freely spend 200 million.
But Zhu Ning sneered. "It's just pocket money. Why can't I pay?"
The countdown in her mind was almost over. Zhu Ning directly reminded the host to start the confirmation. "I don't have much time left. 100 million. President Liu, are you going to follow or not?"
The host quickly came to his senses. But because he was too excited, the microphone in his hand almost fell to the ground. He quickly caught it and then shouted in a hoarse and trembling voice, "Miss Zhu bids 100 million. Does anyone else want to raise the price? President Liu, are you going to follow?"
The whole venue was dead silent. Everyone looked at Liu Hong in unison.
His face was flushed red. He clenched his fists tightly and gritted his teeth to utter two words, "No, I won't follow."
Zhu Ning clicked her tongue.
Liu Hong felt humiliated. Gritting his teeth, he stared at Zhu Ning. 100 million. He wanted to see if she could really take it out.
"100 million for the first time."
No one said a word.
"100 million for the second time."
The whole venue held their breath.
"100 million for the third time!"
Two seconds passed, and no one dared to respond.
The host banged the gavel heavily.
"Congratulations, Miss Zhu, for successfully bidding 100 million for this world - renowned limited - edition car."
"Congratulations!"
The onlookers involuntarily stood up and looked at Zhu Ning with shocked and speechless eyes.
Zhu Ning just smiled and handed out her card.
100 million was nothing.
If it weren't for the fear of being mistaken for money - laundering and attracting unnecessary trouble, she would have wanted to spend all the 1.4 billion in her card!
The accountant took Zhu Ning's bank card.
Her hands were shaking constantly, her breathing was unstable, her brain was congested, and her vision was a bit blurry. She respectfully presented the POS machine, waiting for Zhu Ning to enter the password and press the confirm button.
Processing...
Loading...
Transaction successful.
Zhu Ning withdrew her hand. The next moment, the system's prompt sound came.
【Ding! The countdown is over. Congratulations, host, for successfully spending 100,000,000 yuan. You have received a ten - fold rebate of 1,000,000,000 yuan!】
With the sound of the successful transaction,
Those who were originally in a daze in the venue immediately burst into thunderous applause and strong cheers!
Liu Hong immediately turned pale and slumped into his chair.
200 million in ten minutes.
How could she be so rich!