Chapter 7
1070 Words
On Wednesday evening, Yousijia rode in a Rolls-Royce adorned with dual license plates, bound for Hong Kong.
Seated comfortably in the smooth rear cabin, she leafed through the auction catalog in her hands. Tonight, at Christie’s, a ten-carat diamond necklace would be put under the hammer. Its hue was rare and beguiling—a delicate shade of violet-pink.
Wasn’t summer the very season to adorn oneself with such radiant, resplendent jewels?
“Second Sister, is there anything you fancy? I’ll buy it for you tonight.” Yousijia’s eyes never left the glossy pages as she addressed the woman beside her.
Compared to Yousijia’s vacation-styled gown, which was in fact a discreet couture piece from Vrkil, You Kuiqing’s professional attire appeared almost commonplace.
“No need,” Kuiqing answered flatly, not even glancing up. In the family, the prodigal was Yousijia; she herself much preferred the art of making money. At present, she was clasping her tablet, still engaged in a video conference.
Her trip to Hong Kong had not been for her elder sister’s sake—rather, she was meeting a client the following morning.
Yousijia pouted at the rejection but nonetheless began pondering what she might buy for Kuiqing anyway.
When the sisters arrived at the auction hall, Kuiqing finally concluded her business. She pressed her fingers against her temple and asked, “What are your plans for tomorrow? I heard from Father that you’re meeting Meng Weiyuan this weekend?”
The announcement had come swiftly. The evening after their family banquet with the Gu household, Yousai De had formally declared that both families would meet the following week.
It meant, barring any unforeseen mishaps, the Yu family and the Meng family would soon be bound in marriage.
Yousijia merely murmured, “If it’s a meeting, then let it be.”
Her younger sister studied her carefully. “You seem…different.”
She knew her elder sister well: though outwardly petulant and spoiled, Yousijia had never dallied in romance. Her heart had always belonged to Gu Yu, her mind set firmly on marrying him. Yet now, not only had she so quickly abandoned the idea of an alliance with the Gu family, she seemed equally indifferent to marrying into the capital.
“Did Gu Yu bully you?” Kuiqing pressed on before her sister could reply.
“…” Yousijia faltered briefly, then broke into a mischievous grin, reaching out to push Kuiqing’s face aside. “Not at all. I just suddenly realized it’s rather tiresome to chase after a man. Why shouldn’t he be the one chasing me?”
Seeing her sister’s expression so natural, without a hint of falsehood, Kuiqing finally relented, muttering, “Someone’s already pursuing you. You’re the one who isn’t interested. Still, it’s just as well. Men are hardly worth the trouble. Stay at home if you like—I’ll support you.”
At that, Yousijia cupped her sister’s face in her palms, ignoring Kuiqing’s half-hearted struggles. “Second Sister, you’re the best!”
Kuiqing rolled her eyes skyward, surrendering. She had long since grown accustomed to her elder sister’s childish antics.
The auction commenced swiftly, and Yousijia spotted several familiar faces among the crowd.
The violet-pink diamond necklace she desired was not the evening’s centerpiece, yet the competition proved fierce. A telephone bidder matched every offer relentlessly.
Her limit was two hundred and fifty million HKD. She had barely raised her paddle when, lips bitten in frustration, she heard the rival bidder instantly counter, adding another fifty million without hesitation.
“Who on earth is this?!” she hissed, tugging at Kuiqing’s sleeve, seething.
Her sister, far calmer, stroked the ruffled “little peacock” beside her. “If you want it, then bid higher. I’ll buy it for you.”
Unlike most families where the younger sister yielded to the elder, in the Yu household the roles were reversed. Blessed with extraordinary intellect, Kuiqing had advanced swiftly through her studies, becoming the one to shield her pampered elder sister. Protecting Yousijia had long been second nature.
So when her sister coveted the necklace, she raised her paddle without hesitation.
The price soared instantly to 260 million HKD.
Once again, the unseen rival countered.
“Doesn’t that man ever consult his client before bidding?!” Yousijia fumed, glaring at the stage.
Seeing Kuiqing about to raise her paddle again, she quickly restrained her. “I don’t want it anymore! I’ll be in New York next month for Fashion Week—Sotheby’s will hold a sale then. If not, I’ll just buy some haute joaillerie pieces instead.”
Kuiqing arched a brow. “Didn’t you come here precisely for this necklace? If you like it, take it.”
“It’s only ten carats,” Yousijia huffed. “Not worth fighting over. Hardly rare enough.”
Her sister was speechless. This sudden streak of frugality was baffling.
In the end, the necklace was claimed by the mysterious phone bidder at a staggering 300 million HKD.
Yousijia thought it was over, but the evening’s theme was “Jewels and Jade.” She had also set her heart on a delicate pink diamond bracelet.
If she couldn’t gift her sister the necklace, then a bracelet would do. After all, pink diamonds, like rose quartz, were said to beckon love—and she refused to let Kuiqing turn into a workaholic with no time for romance.
Yet once again, the rival bidder challenged her at every turn. When Yousijia pushed the price to 320 million, Kuiqing, realizing the bracelet was meant as a gift for her, firmly pressed her sister’s hand down.
“What are you doing!” Yousijia snapped, her round, cat-like eyes flashing with indignation. “I’m not short of money!”
“…Funny how you didn’t say that earlier,” Kuiqing replied dryly.
“How is this the same? This is a gift for you!” Yousijia frowned, as if scolding her sister for her ingratitude. She hadn’t even indulged herself, and here Kuiqing was refusing!
“I don’t need it,” her sister said softly. Unlike Yousijia, she had never been enamored of beauty or jewels. From childhood, she had instead offered her own savings, buying her elder sister new dresses, simply to watch her shine.
As the sisters quarreled quietly, the auctioneer’s gavel fell with a decisive thud, his voice ringing out—
“Congratulations!…”
“!!!” Yousijia’s eyes widened in disbelief.
- Writer
