29: Chapter 29 Win-Win

However, amidst the crowd's flattery, Chen Chen, who had just experienced a rollercoaster of emotions, did not lose himself. After calming down, he first carefully sealed the low-numbered Curry patch-auto card in his hand with protective film, then placed it into a hard plastic case.

After completing the protection work, Chen Chen solemnly handed the card back to Chen Sheng without hesitation or regret, saying, "Buddy, I didn't let you down!"

“I always believed you could do it.” Chen Sheng took the card, looking curiously at this piece of cardboard worth over ten thousand yuan.

Alright! Forgive him for truly not understanding; he really couldn't see why this card would be worth over ten thousand.

But the necessary procedures still had to be followed.

For example, taking out his phone for a selfie.

As for whether to post it on his Moments?

That was a must!

After finishing the selfie, Chen Sheng opened a second-hand platform, preparing to upload the card's information to find a buyer.

Despite its high market price, based on the intel he gathered in the shop earlier, this thing was actually quite difficult to sell.

However, today seemed to be an exception.

Just as he was about to list the card on the second-hand platform, Chen Chen's voice rang out, "Wait! Buddy, you're going to sell a rare card you just got? Aren't you going to keep it and enjoy it for a while?"

“No! The value is too high; I'm afraid I'll damage it while playing with it.” Chen Sheng made up a random excuse.

“Don't do that~” Chen Chen reached out and grabbed Chen Sheng's hand as he operated his phone. "Buddy, if you really want to let it go, sell it to me!"

Chen Sheng stopped his movements and looked at Chen Chen somewhat blankly, "You want to buy it?"

“I absolutely want to buy it. This card is my lucky star. If you really plan to sell, sell it to me. I'll take it home and enshrine it.”

He had already planned it out: he would pray to this card every time he opened a pack, and even place it in the most prominent position during his live streams. Wouldn't that create a great talking point!

Seeing that Chen Chen really wanted to buy it, Chen Sheng asked, "Then brother, how much are you offering?"

Chen Chen didn't immediately give a quote but asked back, "Buddy, how much are you looking for?"

Until now, Chen Chen... no, everyone present regarded Chen Sheng as a veteran card collector. After all, in their understanding, only a veteran would buy a card box priced at 3,000 yuan.

Similarly, only a veteran enthusiast who had stepped into countless pits, weathered many storms, and returned with their original passion intact would remain calm and composed when facing a 3,000 yuan box that could result in a total loss.

It's just like how in the eyes of Fishing Buddies, catching nothing is a normal occurrence; it's only abnormal if you don't come home empty-handed one day.

When "exchanging" cards between collectors, usually the card owner gives a quote, and then the buyer counter-offers.

Unfortunately, Chen Sheng was not a veteran collector, nor even a collector at all. Thus, he didn't understand the intricacies. Seeing Chen Chen push the question back to him, he thought for a moment and said, "You should name a price. As long as it's fair, I'll sell it. I trust you."

The moment the phrase "I trust you" came out, Chen Chen's entire body shook involuntarily.

His thoughts went back to the card opening just now. Every time he was about to give up, every time he was about to step into the abyss, Chen Sheng would say that phrase: "I trust you."

Those four words were like... no, they truly were a beam of light that allowed him to break free from the abyss, see the light again, and more importantly, live once more in a world filled with flowers and applause.

After thinking for a moment, Chen Chen said decisively, "Buddy, the market price for your card is over ten thousand, but to sell it for over fifteen thousand, you'd need to have it graded and put up for auction."

“How about this: for all the cards combined, I'll give you 16,800. I wish you prosperity all the way. What do you think?”

Chen Chen quoted a price that Chen Sheng hadn't expected.

“Brother, I can't let you take a loss.” Chen Sheng gave a subtle reminder.

Inwardly, however, he was secretly delighted.

The investment from earlier was now paying off.

“I'm not losing out, not at all!” Chen Chen leaned in and whispered into Chen Sheng's ear, "Buddy, you know I'm a streamer. Buying this pile of cards for 16,800 is because I want to use it as a gimmick~"

Chen Sheng nodded, extended his right hand, and smiled, "Deal!"

The two shook hands, both smiling happily and with satisfaction.

Ding~

As the phone notification rang, confirming the receipt of the transfer, Chen Sheng handed all the cards to Chen Chen. "Brother! Thanks, and I wish you prosperity too! I see everyone is waiting for you to open cards, so I won't delay you. I'll treat you to dinner another day."

Chen Chen, who originally wanted to keep Chen Sheng for a meal, looked around. In just this short time, five people had already gritted their teeth and bought the same 3,000 yuan NBA star card gift box as Chen Sheng. They were currently waiting with bated breath for his currently "golden hand" to pull a rare card for them.

Thinking about the netizens who had flocked to his live stream after hearing about the ten-thousand-yuan card, he could only say with a wry smile, "Today really isn't the best time. Another day, I'll treat you another day."

“Whether I treat you or you treat me is fine; we'll keep in touch on green bubble.” Chen Sheng didn't push it. If they really became friends, it wouldn't matter who paid.

Bidding farewell to Chen Chen, Chen Sheng left the card shop coolly under the envious and expectant gazes of the crowd.

Card shops were like lottery shops; after someone pulled a high-value card, they would usually buy some cigarettes or milk tea to share with everyone in the shop, letting them share in the good fortune.

If the card's value was high enough—for example, a foreign collector who pulled an ultra-rare card worth a million dollars in a shop—they might even shout that classic line: "All of today's expenses are on Master X."

Unfortunately, their expectations were destined to be unfulfilled.

Setting aside the fact that there were quite a few people in the shop, with only ten thousand yuan of good fortune, how much would be left for himself if he shared it?

Furthermore, he wasn't a real collector. If he didn't receive similar intel in the future, he didn't plan on entering this circle.

So...

He didn't have that kind of awareness at all.

Finally, having just returned to his car, Chen Sheng immediately took out his phone and posted the photo he just took to his Moments, accompanied by a humble-bragging caption.

“First time pulling cards. They say it's worth over ten thousand, but I have NO idea!”

As soon as it was posted, someone replied instantly. Who even remembered the card shop incident?

“They're lying to you; it's not worth anything at all. Since you don't play cards anyway, just give it to me!”

“I'm so busy my feet don't even touch the ground, and you're getting pies falling from the sky~ You really deserve to be cursed!”

...

Even a broken ship has a few nails left. Having lived in Shu City for ten years, he had close friends who roasted him and even more casual acquaintances. However, the replies from these people could be summarized in one sentence: "Friends are afraid you'll suffer, but they're even more afraid you'll drive a Land Rover."

Not only that, seeing that he had come into money, they immediately came knocking to take a share of the spoils.

Case in point, Old Yu's video call came straight through. As soon as the video connected, the first sentence was, "I'm not saying anything else. You're treating. You MUST treat. Without a barbecue meal, my wounded soul cannot be healed."

...