143: Cao Lang is sitting in the last row?

Time flew by, and just as everyone was wanting more, a beautiful lady holding a microphone appeared on stage.

"Distinguished guests, good evening!"

The noise from the crowd died down significantly as everyone turned their gaze toward the stage.

"I didn't expect tonight's host to be Zhao Liying, Sister Ying!"

"The Bvlgari gala is indeed extravagant, having Sister Ying host this auction. It seems the jewelry up for auction this time is of a very heavy weight class!"

"That's for sure. Did you see the necklace around Zhao Liying's neck? That one alone is worth a small goal."

Soon, Zhao Liying picked up the microphone and began hosting.

"Thank you all very much for attending the Bvlgari gala auction. This auction is a charity auction, and ten percent of the proceeds will be donated to build Hope Primary Schools. Thank you for your support of charitable causes! Now, please move to the side hall; we will see you shortly."

The main hall where everyone was located was a place for socializing. The actual auction hall was set up in the side hall, where seats had already been arranged. Everyone just needed to find their seats and wait to raise their paddles.

Cao Lang and Li Meng walked into the charity auction's side hall.

Although it was called a side hall, the space was not small at all!

It could easily accommodate a thousand people, and the magnificent decor was refreshing to the soul.

It felt as if anything sold here would be worth whatever price was paid!

On the prominent warning signs, there were also explicit regulations prohibiting photography and video recording.

It seemed that tonight's auction might not only feature jewelry but perhaps other things as well.

Indeed, many top-tier auctions have such regulations, as they inevitably involve some private assets.

After all, many things are still inconvenient to report on.

It wouldn't be very pleasant if some reporters sneaked in and ruined the mood of the financial tycoons!

This charity auction had a seating order.

The more distinguished the status, the further forward the seat.

Cao Lang had come in at the last minute, so his seat hadn't been arranged in advance!

Qin Cheng naturally sat in the first row. Looking at Cao Lang, who had yet to take a seat, he felt a sense of disdain in his heart.

Could this kid be sitting in the very last row?

Unluckily, that manager was nowhere to be found at the moment, probably busy with something else and having forgotten about the auction seating!

Cao Lang had come just to join the fun and didn't care much about the seating. The venue was large but not crowded, with many empty seats in the back. He took Li Meng and found two seats without names to sit in.

Qin Cheng even stood up specifically, making a hand gesture like he was looking into the distance, peering toward the back.

Then he cast a disdainful look.

"Tch, I thought he was so impressive, but his seat is in the back. Buying a thirty-million necklace on a whim? It seems he really is just putting on a front!"

Qin Cheng chatted comfortably with Yang Mi beside him.

"Sigh, really anyone can come to an auction these days. He can't even manage to get into the first row!"

Yang Mi smiled without a word, simply looking ahead quietly.

Many real estate moguls and tech giants also cast casual glances back. Seeing Cao Lang sitting in the very back, their assessment of him dropped significantly.

It seemed he was just a junior putting on an act.

Tian Xiwei and Zhou Ye happened to be sitting in front of Cao Lang. As two female celebrities, it was normal for them to be placed in the back; after all, they were just there for the spectacle and wouldn't actually buy anything.

Zhou Ye was somewhat surprised, wondering why Cao Lang was sitting so far back.

"CEO Cao, why are you two sitting here? Was it a mistake by the staff?"

Meeting Cao Lang here, Tian Xiwei didn't think much about the reason; her heart grew excited in an instant!

She had seen many female stars greeting Cao Lang earlier, but she hadn't found the opportunity.

"Hello, CEO Cao, my name is Tian Xiwei. Could you not find your seat? Why don't you take mine?"

Tian Xiwei stood up somewhat awkwardly. Her seat was in the last row with a name on it, but it was still better than a seat without a name.

Because her seat came with drinks, desserts, and the small paddle used for bidding in the auction.

"Oh, no need. I'm fine sitting here."

Looking at Tian Xiwei in her long pink dress, Cao Lang's heart quickened slightly.

Up close, the woman's looks were truly sweet—a face the size of a palm, delicate skin, a pair of watery eyes, and two sweet dimples. No wonder she was called the 'representative of the post-95 sweet girls'!

The design of the long dress, in particular, made Tian Xiwei look gentle and elegant!

It was no wonder she had captured so many loyal male fans and quickly become a first-line star; at the very least, her beauty and figure were top-tier!

At the same time, Tian Xiwei also felt an inexplicable fluttering in her heart for Cao Lang.

She peeked at the 'CEO Cao' in front of her; he was even more handsome than the top-tier male stars she usually acted with!

But Cao Lang's refusal left her momentarily speechless, not knowing how to respond.

"How about this: you stay in your seat, and let me use your bidding paddle? I'll bid using your name."

Cao Lang spoke up at the right time, making Tian Xiwei sit back down.

"Okay, here is my paddle."

Tian Xiwei handed her number paddle to Cao Lang.

Zhou Ye also gave Cao Lang a slight smile, her mood a bit complex. She felt like her best friend was losing her composure a bit upon seeing a handsome guy.

Her mind was more meticulous than Tian Xiwei's. Even after receiving a 30-million necklace, she still maintained a degree of wariness toward Cao Lang.

Cao Lang's flirting skills were also very clever! He made people feel very comfortable while chatting!

No wonder Ye Wanqing could be won over!

At this point, Zhao Liying took the stage to begin hosting the auction.

"Distinguished guests, wealthy tycoons, and colleagues, good evening. We meet again. I am Zhao Liying. I'm sure you all know me, and I have good friends in the audience, so I won't do much of an introduction."

"Sister Mi, you must buy a few more necklaces tonight. Remember to bid for that finale treasure! Then you can lend it to me to wear!"

"Ten percent of our auction income tonight will be donated. The entire flow of funds is supervised by the government and witnessed by major banks to ensure it is legal and reasonable, and to reject money laundering! (Three thousand words of positive energy omitted here)"

A light chuckle rippled through the crowd of tycoons, clearly satisfied with Zhao Liying's hosting style.

The guests at an auction of this level were mostly familiar with each other.

Everyone understood these tedious procedures.

What was truly interesting were the collection items!

"Alright everyone, I won't waste any more words. Let the auction officially begin!"

"The first item is a piece of top-tier luxury jewelry crafted by Bvlgari, the heart of egypt!"

"I'm sure everyone has heard of this necklace. It is a highlight of our auction, carved from the largest pink diamond produced in the Middle East, surrounded by various precious gemstones and using the world's top craftsmanship! It symbolizes supreme power. I believe the lady who wears this necklace will be as elegant and charming as an Egyptian goddess, possessing infinite wisdom and courage! The starting price is..."

"This necklace is the only one of its kind in the world, a Bvlgari out-of-print masterpiece with top-tier collection value. The starting price: one hundred and fifty million!"

Nowadays, diamonds no longer symbolize love; they have started to symbolize power.

This was all part of the top-tier marketing tactics of capital.

After all, there were many top-tier wealthy women present!

If it were said to symbolize love, they would likely dismiss it with a sneer.

But if it symbolized career and power, it would certainly hook the interest of those wealthy women!

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