Chapter 283: The White-Robed Knight (Part 3)

Zheng Qian had done Jiang Yanran such a huge favor, so naturally, she didn't want him to lose face.

Furthermore, if the white knight was successfully auctioned, it would be a collaboration with her.

Therefore, she would provide as much support as she could.

She couldn't just come unprepared.

Every extra bit of money meant an extra bit of chance at winning.

Seeing the smug, confident expressions on Tang Xingyu and his group's faces, it was clear they had come fully prepared.

She didn't feel that standing on the same side as Zheng Qian was betraying her own interests.

Business is business.

Since time immemorial, auctions have always gone to the highest bidder.

There is no such thing as showing off.

If you have the money, you can do the same.

To put it bluntly, this was just a revenge plot organized in the shadows by a group of petty people.

Jealousy of the human heart!

Zhang Lekang and Fan Minxue had long since decided to latch onto Zheng Qian.

Appearing at this moment best demonstrated their sincerity.

As long as Zheng Qian saw that they were attentive, then in the future, the Qianhe Group would be their backing.

Zheng Qian would be their boss.

What Qijinyi Alliance? It's all bullshit!

Sticking with the right boss is the only way to go!

Zheng Qian was stunned when he heard these three people wanted to offer him money.

Did they really not believe in his strength?

However, it was quite heartwarming.

Whether they were sincere or not was another matter.

At the very least, the fact that Zhang Lekang and Fan Minxue insisted on taking his side made Zheng Qian feel pretty good.

They were leagues better than that Sun Taining from earlier.

As for Jiang Yanran.

From her eyes, Zheng Qian could tell she had no ulterior motives.

Hearing this, Song Yaxian finally breathed a small sigh of relief.

Fortunately, Zheng Qian still had some allies to help him.

He wasn't fighting alone.

She didn't know how much capital Zheng Qian had on hand, but the amount available in the company's account was indeed limited.

So far, Song Yaxian hadn't heard Zheng Qian call the finance department.

He probably didn't want to use the money in the company's account.

But thankfully.

With this 1.2 billion, Song Yaxian felt a bit more at ease.

"Thank you all, but it is not necessary."

"I can handle it alone."

Zheng Qian said indifferently.

Song Yaxian: ???

Fan Minxue: ???

Zhang Lekang: ???

Jiang Yanran: ?????

We went to such great lengths to scrape money together for you.

And you say you don't need it?

You can handle it alone?

This...

No wonder the other side says you are arrogant!

Only then did Jiang Yanran feel that Zheng Qian was truly a bit arrogant.

But shouldn't a man be arrogant?

Besides, Zheng Qian was such a wealthy man!

Was he really that confident?

Fan Minxue and Zhang Lekang were both stunned.

"President Zheng, why don't we still transfer it to your card? In case they bid just a little higher and you don't have enough money in your account..."

Before Fan Minxue could finish, he was cut off by a sharp look from Zheng Qian.

"I said no, so no. Can you not understand?"

Fan Minxue was instantly frightened by Zheng Qian.

He shuddered all over, sweat beading on his forehead.

Too overbearing!

Zheng Qian's confidence was not at all inferior to those people in the Jiangnan encirclement group.

Even Jiang Yanran was stunned.

She had seen Zheng Qian looking playful, and she had seen him looking cold, but she had never seen him angry.

To be honest.

Zheng Qian was actually quite handsome when he was angry.

As expected, a man is most handsome when he's serious!

Afterward, Zhang Lekang and Fan Minxue obediently shut their mouths.

The auction was about to begin.

Everyone took their seats, except for Sun Taining, who couldn't find a place to sit.

If he sat on Zheng Qian's side... they would despise him.

If he sat on the side of the Jiangnan big shots... they despised him even more.

In the end, he had no choice but to find a secluded spot to sit down...

Auctioneer Wang Xiaoqi was wearing a special gown today.

After stepping onto the stage, she was stunned for two seconds.

Why were there so many people today?

Almost all the major media outlets were there.

The guests sitting in groups of three or five were also several times more numerous than the previous two days.

Relying on her solid professional skills, Auctioneer Wang Xiaoqi quickly regained her composure and began her opening remarks: "Distinguished guests, I am today's auctioneer, Auctioneer Wang Xiaoqi. Good afternoon, everyone!"

Immediately after, she began introducing the specific data of the white knight.

"Everyone, as you should all know, the white knight was put up for auction by Yuese Company on short notice. This modern large merchant ship can carry up to 25,000 containers, and a single trip to North America is enough to break even!"

According to custom, the auctioneer would always hype it up first.

The people in the audience were already impatient.

This wasn't an antique; everyone had definitely researched it beforehand and knew more than she did.

Just start already!

Auctioneer Wang Xiaoqi knew when to advance and retreat. Seeing the strange expressions from the audience, she immediately ended her introduction.

She then announced: "Ladies and gentlemen, the starting bid for the white knight is: 1 billion!"

"The auction begins now!"

Unlike before, the white knight opted for a direct and clear bidding method.

There weren't as many twists and turns as a blind auction.

You knew exactly how much the other party was bidding.

If you want it, you raise the bid.

If you don't have the money, you just have to give it up.

The white knight was a highly profitable merchant ship.

Besides Zheng Qian and Tang Xingyu's groups, there were many industry insiders who had heard the news and urgently flew into Jiangnan, wanting to bid on it.

"1 billion."

"1.1 billion."

"1.3 billion."

"1.5 billion!"

Tang Xingyu lightly raised the paddle in his hand.

At the same time, he glanced at Zheng Qian out of the corner of his eye.

The fact that he hadn't bid yet surprised Tang Xingyu.

"President Zheng, why aren't you bidding?" Song Yaxian asked curiously.

The other three also wanted to ask Zheng Qian this question.

"Isn't it too early to bid now? Let them drive the price up first."

"It's not like only he and I are competing in this auction; there are others!"

Zheng Qian felt that raising the paddle now was just a waste of breath.

Raising the price by hundreds of millions at a time was pointless.

Let's wait and see.

"1.5 billion once!"

"1.6 billion!"

Soon, Tang Xingyu was outbid.

"Bidder 45 offers 1.6 billion. Is there any bid higher than 1.6 billion?" Auctioneer Wang Xiaoqi worked hard to organize the bids.

"1.7 billion!"

"1.9 billion."

"1.92 billion."

"2 billion!"

After the price reached 2 billion, the bidding wasn't as intense, and it kept increasing by tens of millions.

Most people were still quite rational.

Beyond 2.5 billion, it wasn't worth buying.

Most people still wanted to make a profit, and many put down their paddles once it exceeded 2.2 billion, stopping their bids.

However, there were still some who wanted to take a gamble.

Like that bidder 45.

He was a new face who had flown in from Danzhou.

He kept bidding until it reached 2.54 billion.

"Bidder 45, 2.54 billion once!"

Tang Xingyu was a bit puzzled.

It had already been raised to 2.5 billion.

Zheng Qian hadn't even placed a single bid.

What was the meaning of this?

Was he not buying it?

Was he just putting on a show for them today?

"What exactly is this Zheng Qian up to? Why hasn't he placed a single bid?"

"I don't know, let's ignore him for now."

"He probably just chickened out."

"Hilarious, he probably couldn't even scrape together the starting bid, which is why he hasn't made a single offer!"

The several presidents beside Tang Xingyu had already begun to gloat.

That Secretary Ding smiled and said to Tang Xingyu: "Young President Tang, even if Zheng Qian isn't fighting us, we can't just let it go like this."

Tang Xingyu nodded.

"2.54 billion twice!"

Just as the hammer was about to fall, Tang Xingyu raised his paddle again: "2.7 billion!"

Bidder 45 looked back at Tang Xingyu, shook his head helplessly, and finally put down his paddle.

This price completely exceeded his psychological budget.

"2.7 billion once!"

"Are there any other buyers bidding?"

On stage, Auctioneer Wang Xiaoqi pushed even harder.

The higher the price, the higher her commission; anyone who didn't work hard would have to be crazy.

"2.7 billion twice!"

"Don't miss the opportunity, it won't come again!"

In the audience.

"Young President Tang, since Zheng Qian doesn't intend to compete, let's leave it at that."

"What a coward, I thought he had some real capability!"

"Raise the bid again, raise it to 3 billion!"

Secretary Ding said with a smile.

Everyone: ???

No one else is raising the price!

Raising it against himself?

Isn't this just throwing money away for nothing?

"That's right, that's exactly what I mean."

"This is what President Zhu instructed me to do before coming."

"Throwing 300 million away can win back Jiangnan's face."

"This deal is worth it!"

Tang Xingyu was a bit hesitant.

It wasn't that he was stingy with the money.

He was just curious, why did Zheng Qian refuse to bid?

Before Auctioneer Wang Xiaoqi could bring down the hammer.

Tang Xingyu raised his paddle again.

"3 billion!"

Auctioneer Wang Xiaoqi was completely stunned.

The audience was also stunned.

Even some amateur reporters and media personnel let out hisses.

They all frantically clicked their shutters, recording this moment.

Buying the white knight for 2.7 billion was already a huge premium.

Why did he raise the price by another 300 million himself?

Most people in the audience understood.

There were also many who didn't quite understand what kind of maneuver Tang Xingyu was pulling.

Jiang Yanran glanced back.

She naturally understood the intentions of this group.

They were really pretentious.

What she despised most were people who liked to show off.

"Sir, no one is bidding against you?"

Auctioneer Wang Xiaoqi kindly reminded him.

"3 billion!"

Tang Xingyu repeated it firmly and decisively.

Suddenly, the voice of the auction house's leader came through Auctioneer Wang Xiaoqi's earpiece, reminding her that they were buying face and not to meddle in their business.

"Alright, this gentleman bids 3 billion! Is there any higher price?"

"3 billion once!"

"3 billion twice!"

Just as Auctioneer Wang Xiaoqi was about to bring down the hammer.

A person who had never placed a bid before announced his first price of the day.

"4 billion!"