Chapter 34: Shen Family Old Residence, Secret Room — Plot Nodes Disordered, Protagonist Gong…
“Next item, jewelry bracelet ‘Magnolia Love’, starting price 2 million.”
Lu Xunye perked up. Just as he wanted to raise the paddle, the auctioneer in front suddenly said: “Number 6, bids 2.1 million. Any higher?”
“Number 18 bids, 2.2 million.”
…
Time passed minute by minute. The two were deadlocked.
At first, Lu Xunye watched them bid with detachment, casually scrolling through his phone.
A message from a stranger popped up: Young Master, you should bid.
He looked around. Those few people hadn’t come in. How did they know he hadn’t raised the price?
At this moment, the auctioneer said: “Number 6 bids, 10 million.”
Lu Xunye: “?”
Lu Xunye: “!”
He turned back to look at Number 6 diagonally behind him. A man about thirty years old, short hair, ordinary appearance.
Lu Xunye’s mind was full of: No, seriously? Something with a starting price of 2 million might not even be worth that much, and you bid 10 million! He just spaced out for a bit, adding by 100k, 100k, how did it jump to 10 million?
This time Number 18 stopped bidding too.
“10 million going once.”
“10 million going twice.”
The auctioneer raised the hammer high. “Going for the last time, 10 million, so—”
Before her small hammer fell, Lu Xunye withdrew his gaze and hurriedly raised his paddle.
“Number 1 bids, 11 million. Any higher?”
“11 million going once.” The auctioneer paused. “Number 6 bids 12 million.”
Lu Xunye: “…” Still following, still following! Not buying it anymore, let it rot.
This thought just sprouted in his heart when it was attracted by a bank deposit SMS.
Holy crap, 50 million! Total balance 100,025,000.
In the end, Lu Xunye successfully won it at the price of 25 million.
Number 6, whom he couldn’t shake off, finally stopped raising the price. He was a bit unaccustomed to it.
After the auction ended, Lu Xunye held the exquisite small box preparing to leave, but was blocked by someone.
Seeing who it was, he was surprised. Buyer Number 6?
“Hello Sir, my friend likes this bracelet very much. He asked me to presumptuously ask you, can I take a picture of it for him?” The man spoke first.
【Hidden plot “Death of the White Moonlight” unlocked 10%】
The mission is related to this bracelet or this person? Lu Xunye raised an eyebrow, twirled the jewelry box in his hand, and spat out two words lightly: “You can’t.”
【Plot exploration -10%, current plot unlocked 0%, countdown 342 days 6 hours. Please complete the mission within the stipulated time.】
Lu Xunye silently handed the box over, the meaning obvious.
The other party was stunned, not expecting him to agree so quickly after refusing. He swallowed the prepared words and hurriedly took it: “Thank you.”
Lu Xunye saw he wasn’t in a hurry to take photos. Instead, he observed the bracelet carefully back and forth, frowning from time to time. Suspicion rose in Lu’s heart: Could this be a fake?
The man seemed to see something. After leaning in to confirm, his brows relaxed. Then he took a photo and returned the item to him.
Lu Xunye: “…”
After the man left, he also looked inch by inch. Finally, he found a string of extremely small special symbols on the inside of the clasp, and a scratch on the surface of the pink diamond next to it.
“…” How dared this defective product start at 2 million?!
He didn’t know that after he was “escorted” away by three bodyguards, Number 6, who had left long ago, was watching him from behind a pillar at the corner. The un-locked phone screen displayed a photo, which was surprisingly a profile shot of Lu Xunye.
Fingers moved slightly. A message was sent to the chat box opposite: It’s a Lu family member.
…
【Plot exploration +10%, current plot unlocked 20%】
?
Lu Xunye sat in the car, the notification sound popping out unexpectedly. He poked the system: 【System, why did the unlock degree suddenly increase?】
【Sorry Host Dada, hidden plots generate independently, exceeding original plot settings, cannot answer oh~】
“…” Lu Xunye felt a lump in his throat. He tilted his head to look at the man beside him who focused all attention on the laptop on the small table, and reached out to place the bracelet box next to the laptop.
He didn’t understand. Bodyguards have side hustles these days?
The man closed the computer calmly, picked up the item, and handed it back to Lu Xunye, smiling meticulously.
The smile on his lips seemed forever frozen in that one arc: “This is a gift from the Family Head to you, Young Master. You just keep it.”
Do you hear yourself? This is women’s jewelry.
Lu Xunye’s mouth twitched. “Your Lu family really doesn’t give gifts based on preference, hehe.”
“The Family Head said, ask you to keep it well. It might come in handy later.”
【Random Mission Released, “Cruise Ship Danger” plot opened. Please go to the neighboring city for the banquet. Note: This plot point will make the Protagonist Gong realize his feelings for the Protagonist Shou. Mission countdown: 58 hours.】
Missions are a bit frequent lately.
Lu Xunye just took it. The driver slammed on the brakes, then yanked the steering wheel wildly.
Several people were almost thrown everywhere by inertia. Tires skidded on the ground, making harsh, unpleasant sounds.
The next second, Dong———— a crash into the Porsche in front.
Luckily it was a minor accident; even the airbags didn’t pop. The two in the front exchanged a glance: “It’s the Shen family.”
Shen family?
Lu Xunye frowned: Is it Shen Yunqian’s uncle… ah呸, eldest uncle… Shen Qizhao?
The driver’s door of the car in front opened halfway, then closed for some reason. Then a person got out from the back seat, walked over, and knocked on the window next to Lu Xunye.
His eyes slanted slightly, seeing the fawning face clearly. This person was as sycophantic as ever, dead set in his ways.
The glass of the front passenger seat rolled down. The bodyguard was cold: “Rest assured, lawyers from Lu Corporation will contact you regarding follow-up compensation issues.”
Hearing the voice, Shen Qizhao ran to the front to smile obsequiously: “Oh oh oh, of course.”
Seeing the person clearly, a trace of impatience flashed across his face, quickly returning to a smile. He kept turning sideways, craning his neck trying to see the person in the back seat. Unfortunately, after trying for a long time, he could only see the bodyguard in the back right seat.
And this person wasn’t a bodyguard but Lu Feng’s secretary. Then the one next to him must be Lu Feng. Shen Qizhao rejoiced secretly.
Since last time, he had inquired about the Lu family’s situation. Three years ago, there was an illegitimate son driven out of the house. Rumor had it he was incompetent, extravagant, and useless.
But who didn’t know the Lu family’s wealth and status today were not what they were decades ago.
This kind of aristocratic family valued bloodline the most. Especially with the Lu family’s thin population, even an illegitimate son wouldn’t be easily driven away.
Maybe they found out there was no blood relation, and said that for the sake of face.
Every time he woke up at midnight, Shen Qizhao regretted not finishing off this bastard who disrupted his plan to associate with noble families and made him lose face.
Since that time, he was mocked in the circle. Negotiated partners refused cooperation for various reasons. Strangely, no matter how he checked Lu Xunye’s whereabouts, he couldn’t find anything.
Like he vanished into thin air.
Thinking of this, he suppressed the growing hatred in his heart and restrained his emotions. “Last time Mrs. Lu was frightened at the banquet, it was our Shen family’s lax supervision. Didn’t expect sigh…”
He feigned grief: “Didn’t expect Young Master Lu to trespass the banquet, insult my wife and son. Ruining the banquet was one thing, but disregarding Madam’s face, humiliating Madam in public and sowing discord between you and Madam.”
“He even proclaimed Old Master Lu, you are getting old and can’t carry the Lu family. Finally, he wanted to attack Madam. Luckily I brought people to stop him.”
“You tell me. Although this is your family affair and I shouldn’t interfere, if Young Master really uses your name to cause trouble everywhere, it’s not good for the Lu family’s reputation.”
He seemed to hesitate for a long time before daring to say this.
Shen Qizhao deliberately treated Lu Xunye as a Lu family member to say this, wanting to push the boat with the current, not piercing the Lu family’s intent, and conveniently climb up the relationship ladder.
His face was sincere, but he snorted in his heart: A bottom-feeder exposed and driven away dares to swagger around sucking blood using the Lu family’s name. Must be furious, right?
This lane had long been blocked tight due to their accident. Other vehicles could only switch lanes.
Soon, only their two cars remained on this lane.
A sarcastic sneer broke his clever pretense.
“Is that so? If you didn’t say it, I wouldn’t know my character was so despicable.”
Shen Qizhao turned his head. The previously closed car window had rolled down at some point. Lu Xunye had one arm resting on the window edge, looking at him with amusement.
Shen Qizhao’s face stiffened, eyes widening. “Why is it you!”
This car belongs to Lu Feng. Why is he inside? Then what he said just now… For a moment, Shen Qizhao’s ears buzzed.
Lu Xunye: “You are very surprised?”
“Since I can do such unfilial things, robbing my grandfather’s car is naturally nothing. You…” Lu Xunye paused, hooking the corner of his mouth, “What are you afraid of?”
Shen Qizhao’s face turned pale, anxious to defend himself: “Young Master Lu, there is a misunderstanding between us. Things are not as you imagine. I didn’t target you. You are a big person with a big heart. For the sake of your friendship with Yunqian, can you be lenient?”
Thinking of this nephew now. Didn’t you say you wanted to remove him from the Shen family?
Lu Xunye scorned: “Yo, I’m not a jianghu swindler anymore?”
Shen Qizhao wiped his sweat, swallowing broken teeth into his stomach. “How could that be? That day I was lucky to have you read my face.”
If the traffic police came later, time would be wasted. Lu Xunye’s gaze swept down from his head, landing on the Buddhist beads in his hand. He froze for a moment. A string of agarwood beads with two small beads dangling, red as blood.
“Nice Buddhist beads.”
【Emergency Mission Released. Plot nodes disordered. Protagonist Gong’s current hatred value 80%. Please go to the abandoned Shen Family Old Residence on Qianfu Road immediately to save the Protagonist Shou.】
Hearing Lu Xunye’s words, Shen Qizhao’s hand trembled, his face flushing. He lowered his head and silently hid the beads. “If Young Master Lu likes it, I’ll send you a better string in a few days.”
When he looked up, the car in front was gone.
————
Shen Family Old Residence
Lu Xunye got out of the car and ran to the iron gate. The iron lock and seal on it had been removed. He didn’t expect this place to be so big.
Estimating it should be within range, Lu Xunye: “System, location.”
Basement
Shen Yunqian never knew there was a basement here. Inside were no windows, extremely dim. The circuits aged, lights wouldn’t turn on.
Flashlight shining around, spider webs everywhere. The beam inadvertently illuminated a spot revealing a huge iron cage.
Shen Yunqian felt cold all over. He reflexively took a step back, bumping into something with a creak. Behind him, things fell to the ground with a clatter.
The atmosphere was oppressive, making him breathless. Adjusting his breathing, he gripped the flashlight tight.
Illuminated by white light were various blood-stained things that could be called torture instruments.
Time passed, blood turned reddish-brown and dried on them like rust.
Shen Yunqian panicked. His hand touched the wall, and the wall suddenly rotated. He lost balance and fell in.
Another secret room.
The flashlight slipped from his hand and fell to the ground, illuminating blood spatters on the grey wall. He picked up the flashlight. A noise from behind; he shone the light abruptly.
Si Jinyan’s cold, gloomy face appeared by the secret room door.
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