17: I speak plainly, but if you don't listen, I also know a little bit about martial arts!

How could Ye Chen have expected that his first time using his X-ray vision would spiral out of control, and his gaze would drift to places it shouldn't have?

"What's wrong with you?" Bing Lan was startled by his appearance.

Ye Chen's entire face flushed red. He scrambled to cover his nose, his voice muffled: "N-nothing, I might just be a bit overheated..."

As he spoke, he tilted his head back, trying to stop the nosebleed.

But his gaze involuntarily swept over the raw stones on the stage.

"The jade inside that stone isn't big, just the size of a fist. The color is dull; it's green, yes, but it looks like a piece of matcha cake."

He spoke stumblingly, using nothing but layperson's terms.

Yet Bing Lan listened intently, resting her finger lightly against her chin as she fell into thought.

She had limited knowledge of raw stone appraisal, but she was well-versed in the market value of finished jade pieces.

Based on Ye Chen's description, this was highly likely to be oil-green glutinous jade, and estimating from all aspects, it could produce at most three bracelets, with a market value definitely under three million.

If Ye Chen was right, then whoever won this stone was destined to suffer a huge loss...

While she was pondering, Ye Chen had already squeezed his legs together, covered his nose, and scrambled through the crowd in a sorry state, fleeing toward the restroom.

As soon as he left, the auction for the first raw stone was settled.

After Lin Jianren shouted the high price of three million, no one else at the venue bid higher, just as expected.

The auctioneer brought the hammer down.

"Congratulations, President Lin! This raw stone, numbered A001, is yours!"

"Would you like to have it cut on-site, or will you take the raw stone with you?"

Lin Jianren glanced triumphantly at Bing Lan and waved his hand grandly: "Cut it on-site! Let everyone open their eyes and witness the combined discernment of Master Ji Boduan and Master Wang!"

The stone-cutting master quickly took the stage, secured the grey-skinned, pine-flower patterned raw stone, and made the first cut.

"It's green!"

With the first cut, green was visible at the window; although the color wasn't top-tier, the translucency was decent, and a gasp of surprise rippled through the venue.

The smile on Lin Jianren's face grew wider.

Ji Boduan and Master Wang also stroked their beards and smiled, everything under their control.

The stone-cutting master adjusted the angle, and the second cut followed immediately.

"It's green again!"

"Looks like it's quite a big piece!"

"The two masters truly live up to their reputation!"

The surrounding compliments rose one after another, as if they had already foreseen a massive profit.

Lin Jianren listened to the flattery, feeling increasingly elated.

However.

When the stone-cutting master completely stripped away the jade meat and washed it with clean water, the clamor at the venue came to an abrupt halt.

It was green, truly green. And it was real jade. But the material was only the size of a fist, the color dull, looking exactly like a piece of matcha cake.

Wasn't this just oil-green glutinous jade?

This kind of material was fine for making small pendants, but its value definitely couldn't support three million.

Even if someone was unscrupulous, it wouldn't sell for 1.5 million...

Lin Jianren's smile vanished, his face turning an ashen grey.

He whipped his head around, glaring furiously at the two masters, his eyes practically spitting fire.

Damn it! I wined and dined you two old geezers last night, and this is what you let me spend three million on?

The two masters broke out in cold sweat, stammering and not daring to meet his gaze.

They were puzzled themselves; how did they misjudge it?

Could it be that the dancers from the song and dance troupe last night twisted their waists too vigorously, leaving them dizzy even now?

Just at this moment, Ye Chen finished dealing with his nosebleed and returned to his seat as if nothing had happened.

Bing Lan looked at him, a glint of surprise flashing in her beautiful eyes: "What you said just now was spot on."

"Just a guess, just a guess." Ye Chen rubbed his nose.

Bing Lan didn't press further, only lifting the corners of her lips into a faint smile.

She suddenly felt that this Little Driver beside her was becoming more and more interesting.

For the next few raw stones, Ye Chen had learned his lesson. Every time he used his X-ray vision, he only took a fleeting glance before immediately closing it, avoiding getting overheated again...

"This one looks big, but the inside is full of cracks like bean dregs."

"This one has green inside, but the color is very scattered, and it has black moss patterns."

"This one leans towards blue, and the tone is very deep..."

Bing Lan listened carefully, and combining it with her own understanding of the jade market, she found that although Ye Chen's terminology was crude, he always hit the nail on the head.

And the few pieces he looked down upon all had high starting prices; even if they could produce jade, the profit margin was extremely limited, and they might even lose money.

Consequently, Bing Lan didn't raise her paddle even once.

Instead, Lin Jianren, under the professional guidance of the two masters, bid on two more.

One produced jade meat full of cracks, only good for making small ring faces.

The other had only a tiny bit of green on the surface, with nothing but stone underneath, and the losses made his expression grow darker and darker...

The two masters were already sweating profusely, only able to secretly blame the song and dance troupe from last night for being too enthusiastic, draining them of every last drop.

Not long after, another raw stone was brought up.

This raw stone was quite large, but its surface was rough, with neither pine-flower patterns nor python-like bands, making it appear exceptionally ugly among all the other raw stones.

Lin Jianren glanced at it, and seeing the two masters shake their heads in unison, he completely lost interest and prepared to watch the show.

As it turned out... the starting price announced by the auctioneer was pitifully low: "Five hundred thousand, does anyone bid?"

Now even fewer people wanted it. The venue was silent, with no one responding.

Seeing this, Bing Lan decided to give up as well, but still habitually looked at Ye Chen, wanting to hear his opinion.

She saw Ye Chen with his eyes slightly closed, then suddenly open them! His vision pierced through the rough surface, and the sight inside made his heart jolt violently!

He immediately withdrew his gaze, and a slight sense of dizziness washed over him.

But he couldn't care about that much; he immediately leaned into Bing Lan's ear.

His warm breath brushed against her sensitive earlobe, bringing a trace of tingling itchiness.

Bing Lan's body stiffened slightly, and she actually forgot to pull away.

Ye Chen's voice followed: "Miss Bing, trust me, bid on it!"

"Are you sure?" Bing Lan turned her face, the distance between them extremely close.

Ye Chen nodded. "Sure!"

"It's very green inside... I've never seen such a beautiful green!"

"There isn't a single impurity; it's as clean as a large piece of solidified deep pool water, and it's even shimmering!"

"I feel like this stone might be worth more than everything we've looked at so far combined!"

Ye Chen's description lacked any professional terminology, yet it made Bing Lan's delicate body tremble violently!

If it was truly as Ye Chen said, that was definitely... imperial green! Glass type!

Either term was enough to trigger an earthquake in the jade world!

She hesitated no longer! Amidst the awkward atmosphere around them, she raised her number paddle. "Five hundred thousand!"

Swish! Everyone's gazes instantly fell upon them, full of surprise.

Good grief! Is there really a sucker who would bid on it?

This stone was clearly leftover stock, brought out to fish in troubled waters...

Lin Jianren sneered: "President Bing, is it that you have no one to use, so you've started to give up and let things slide? You even have your eye on trash like this?"

Bing Lan ignored him completely. Spending five hundred thousand to gamble on an imperial green—not a loss!

The auctioneer felt relieved and immediately began the countdown. This hot potato had finally been offloaded...

Soon. The hammer fell, and this unremarkable raw stone belonged to Bing Lan.

After paying the bill, the two prepared to leave.

"Yo, leaving already?" Lin Jianren swaggered over with the two masters, blocking their path.

"President Bing, spending five hundred thousand to buy a lesson isn't too expensive; after all, for you, this bit of money is just pocket change!"

The two masters, Ji Boduan and the other, behind him also emitted contemptuous laughter, shaking their heads repeatedly.

Ye Chen frowned, stepped forward, and shielded Bing Lan behind him: "Good dogs don't block the road."

"Brat, who are you calling a dog?" Lin Jianren's face instantly darkened.

Ye Chen looked innocent: "Whoever answers is who I'm calling one."

"Damn it! You don't know what's good for you!" Lin Jianren was thoroughly enraged and waved his hand at the two Bodyguards behind him, "Take him out for me, I'll take responsibility if anything happens!"

The Bodyguards revealed a ferocious look, approaching from left and right, reaching out to grab Ye Chen's shoulders!

Ye Chen's eyes turned cold; his body didn't move, yet he had already kicked out twice!

"Bang!" "Bang!"

The tall and sturdy Bodyguards didn't even see Ye Chen's movements clearly before they were sent spinning through the air and smashed to either side, as if hit by a heavy truck!

One crashed into a beverage stand, juice spilling all over the floor. The other flew directly into the crowd, causing a wave of screams.

The entire venue was dumbfounded! Everyone looked at Ye Chen as if they had seen a ghost.

Lin Jianren's eyeballs were practically popping out. His two Bodyguards were retired boxers hired at a high price, yet they were kicked away by this unremarkable brat, one with each kick?

Ye Chen lightly twisted his ankle and said, enunciating each word.

"I speak human language; if you won't listen, I also know a thing or two about fisticuffs."

"If I injure you, I also know a thing or two about medicine."

"If I accidentally treat you to death, I also know a thing or two about Feng Shui."

"And if you still won't rest in peace after dying, then I also know a thing or two about ghost-catching."

"President Lin, do you still want to continue?"