343: Sketch of rare birds

As soon as the bell rang for the end of class, Lei Jun quickly stuffed her textbook and notebook into her bag, her movements crisp and efficient.

Before the surrounding students could react, she had already stood up and headed for the door.

Lei Ying followed immediately, shielding her side without straying half a step. Her cold gaze swept over the restless crowd, forming an invisible barrier.

Lei Jun only wanted to leave as quickly as possible and find a quiet place to stay.

“Sister Lei, wait for me!” Lin Xiaoya's voice came from behind. She hurried to catch up while clutching her books, but was blocked by the surging crowd.

Many students held up their phones and crowded forward, shouting things like “Lei Jun, let’s take a photo!” and “Your pink hair looks so good!” Others squeezed to the front trying to get a closer look, turning the scene into a chaotic mess in an instant.

Seeing this, Lei Ying paused slightly, stepped in front of Lei Jun to block her, and spoke to the surrounding people in a serious tone: “Move aside.”

Her naturally cold and hard aura, combined with her tall stature and sharp gaze, made the crowding students instinctively stop in their tracks. They backed away one after another, barely making way for a Xiao Lu.

Lei Jun took the opportunity to quicken her pace, following the Xiao Lu out of the lecture hall.

The sounds of discussion and photography continued behind her, but she didn't care at all, thinking only of getting to her car and leaving campus as soon as possible.

She would go back to check on Pet Name, then handle some system missions. As for this crowd and the gossip, it would naturally die down in a few days once everyone's curiosity faded.

Lin Xiaoya finally managed to squeeze out of the crowd. Seeing Lei Jun’s figure about to disappear at the end of the corridor, she hurriedly chased after her again: “Boss! Wait for me!”

Hearing the voice, Lei Jun paused her steps and waited for Lin Xiaoya to run over. “Boss, you’re walking too fast, I almost couldn't catch up.”

Lin Xiaoya said while panting, her gaze landing on Lei Jun’s pink hair, unable to help but admire it again.

“Boss, everyone’s eyes in the classroom were on you just now.”

Lei Jun gave a faint “Mm” and said, “I’m going home first. You should head back to the dorm early too.”

“Okay, Boss!” Lin Xiaoya said quickly.

Lei Jun said no more and walked to the parking lot with Lei Ying, driving back home... Upon arriving home, Su Qing immediately came to greet her: “You’re back. A package just arrived; it’s an invitation from Christie’s Auction House.”

“Christie’s?” Lei Jun raised an eyebrow and took the invitation Su Qing handed over.

Christie’s is a world-renowned auction house with a long history, and most of its items are rare treasures. She hadn't expected them to take the initiative to invite her.

Lei Jun opened the invitation, which invited her to attend a special antique auction in three days. The wording was respectful, and it specifically noted that a VIP seat had been reserved for her.

She immediately understood the reason why Christie’s would invite her; it boiled down to two points.

First was her status. As a major shareholder in three trillion-dollar companies—Xiaomi, Alibaba, and BYD—her financial power was beyond doubt, making her the kind of top-tier client an auction house most wanted to court.

Second, someone had likely spread word of her interest in collecting antiques. Although she didn't usually collect them intentionally, she occasionally paid attention to antique calligraphy and paintings; she hadn't expected Christie’s to find out.

Lei Jun pondered to herself that since there was nothing important to do over the next few days, it would be fine to go check out the auction. Perhaps she would encounter a treasure that caught her eye.

Furthermore, attending an auction counted as a form of socializing, and it might even trigger a system mission, so why not?

She tucked away the invitation and said to Su Qing, “Understood. Remind me in three days.”

“Yes, Miss Lei Jun,” Su Qing replied.

Pet Name ran over then, rubbing against Lei Jun’s leg. Lei Jun bent down to pick it up and sat on the sofa, gently stroking it, already feeling a bit of anticipation for the auction... Three days later, Lei Jun wore a simple black long dress with her pink hair draped casually over her shoulders as she headed to Christie’s Auction House accompanied by Lei Ying.

As soon as she reached the entrance, a well-mannered manager in a suit came to greet her with a respectful smile: “Ms. Lei Jun, hello! I am the Person in Charge of this auction. I am very glad you could come. This way, please; your exclusive seat is ready.”

The manager personally accompanied her the entire way with a humble attitude, introducing the auction's details as they walked.

“This special session mainly auctions antique calligraphy, paintings, and porcelain from the Ming and Qing dynasties, as well as several rare items returned from overseas. The finale item is a partial handscroll of Emperor Huizong of Song’s ‘Sketches of Rare Birds’ from the Song Dynasty. This is the third known surviving partial handscroll; it is in perfect condition and very rare.”

Lei Jun nodded, having gained an understanding of the situation.

She knew a bit about Emperor Huizong of Song’s work. As an emperor of the Northern Song Dynasty, his achievements in calligraphy and painting were extremely high. Very few of his works survived, and every single one was a rare treasure.

Particularly regarding ‘Sketches of Rare Birds,’ the complete scroll had long been lost. The few surviving partial handscrolls had each been auctioned for astronomical prices.

She suddenly felt interested and wanted to see exactly what this handscroll was like.

The manager led Lei Jun to a VIP box on the second floor. The interior was luxuriously decorated and offered a wide view, allowing her to clearly see the auction stage below. The box was stocked with tea, snacks, and dedicated service staff on standby.

“Ms. Lei Jun, please rest for a moment; the auction will begin shortly. If you have any needs, feel free to command us,” the manager said respectfully, then gently closed the door and withdrew.

Lei Ying stood in the corner of the box, her gaze vigilantly scanning the surroundings to ensure there were no security risks.

Lei Jun sat on the sofa, took a sip of tea, and began calculating in her mind.

If that Emperor Huizong of Song handscroll was indeed worth collecting, she would bid for it.

With her financial resources, securing the handscroll wouldn't be difficult; the key was whether the treasure truly suited her fancy.

The auction soon began.

Items appeared on stage one after another—blue and white porcelain from the Qing Dynasty, calligraphy works from the Ming Dynasty—each sparking intense competition among the wealthy individuals below. Prices climbed steadily, and the auction house staff were all smiles, clearly very satisfied with the scene.

Lei Jun did not make a move the entire time, simply watching quietly.

She had little interest in these items; she was only waiting for the finale, the partial handscroll of ‘Sketches of Rare Birds.’

Finally, the moment for the finale item arrived. The auctioneer carefully carried a brocade box onto the stage. Opening the box revealed a yellow silk lining holding a yellowed scroll of calligraphy and painting.

The auctioneer picked up the microphone and introduced in a stirring voice: “Ladies and gentlemen, the next item is the crowning jewel of this auction... the partial handscroll of ‘Sketches of Rare Birds’ by Emperor Huizong of Song, Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty.

This handscroll is approximately eighty centimeters long and thirty centimeters wide, depicting three rare birds. The brushwork is delicate, and the colors are perfectly preserved. Authenticated by authoritative experts as a genuine work by Emperor Huizong of Song, it is rare and holds immense collection value.

The starting bid is fifty million, with increments of no less than one million!”