Chapter 241: Ning Rongrong’s Father, a Father-Daughter Encounter at the Auction
Chapter 241: Ning Rongrong’s Father, a Father-Daughter Encounter at the Auction
As Lin Qingmo and the other three chatted and laughed, the silver masks were already fitted to their faces, the edges giving off a cold metallic feel.
"Honored guests, please come inside. I will lead you to your seats."
The staff member bowed, gesturing with his right hand, his tone carrying a well-trained respect.
The four followed him inside.
Behind them, the heavy gilded doors slowly closed with a dull thud, completely cutting off the hustle and bustle outside.
Replacing it was a wafting scent—a base of luxurious sandalwood.
The unique metallic scent of gold coins was mixed in, along with a faint, almost imperceptible pressure of spirit power.
Like some sleeping beast lurking in the shadows.
Lin Qingmo’s lips curled slightly: "This auction is quite interesting."
---
They passed through a long corridor covered in a dark red carpet.
Every three steps along the corridor walls, a night-luminescent pearl was embedded, its soft glow stretching their shadows long.
The staff member pushed open a carved wooden door, and the four’s vision suddenly opened up.
The entire auction hall was carpeted in dark red velvet; stepping on it was silent, and it felt as soft as walking on clouds.
The crystal chandelier hanging from the vaulted ceiling was ridiculously massive.
Every facet refracted light like shattered gold, illuminating the entire hall as bright as day.
Even a single strand of hair falling on the floor could be seen clearly.
The front rows were neatly arranged general seating, with upholstered chairs large enough to sink half a person into.
On the small mahogany tables in front of each seat, the bidding paddles were polished to a shine.
A cup of hot tea sat beside each one.
The tea was clear, and steam rose in curls.
Circling the second floor at the back were individual VIP private rooms.
One could see the gold-stamped number plates hanging at the doors of the private rooms, a symbol of prestige.
The staff member led the four to a four-person seat near the edge of the front row, bowing deeply with a very humble posture:
"Honored guests, these are your seats."
"If you have any needs, just ring the bell to call me at any time."
"The auction will begin in fifteen minutes. Please wait a moment."
After speaking, he bowed and took three steps back before turning to leave, very efficiently and without a single wasted word.
Xiao Wu plopped into her seat, sinking into the upholstery, and swung her legs comfortably.
Her gaze swept across the entire hall, like she had entered the Grand View Garden: "Wow! This place is huge! Look at the private rooms upstairs, there are so many!"
"Naturally."
Ning Rongrong sat beside her, took a sip from her teacup, and tilted her chin up slightly, putting on the air of a well-traveled Young Miss.
"The Heaven Dou Auction House is the largest auction house in the entire Heaven Dou Empire, bar none."
"Not just the nobles and Spirit Masters of Heaven Dou City, even people from the surrounding kingdoms will time their arrivals to participate in the auctions."
She put down her teacup and pointed her finger toward the private rooms on the second floor, her tone carrying a hint of disdain: "The VIP private rooms upstairs aren’t somewhere you can enter just by having money."
"You must be either royalty, from a Sect, or a powerhouse."
"Ordinary wealthy merchants can’t even get close; the threshold is higher than their heads."
Zhu Zhuqing sat in the innermost seat.
Her back was ramrod straight, like an unsheathed short sword.
Lin Qingmo sat in the outermost seat, his movements very casual as he sat down.
In his perception, at least three VIP private rooms concealed powerhouses with unfathomable spirit power.
Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at Ning Rongrong, who was looking around.
Just then, Ning Rongrong suddenly nudged Lin Qingmo’s arm with her elbow.
Her fingertips tugged at his sleeve and shook it, her voice lowered to a whisper, filled with a bit of a gasp and an unhideable guilt: "Brother Qingmo! Look at the third private room from the right on the second floor, it’s my father and Grandpa Sword!"
Lin Qingmo looked up following her gesture, his gaze falling on that private room.
Two figures were sitting there.
One was gentle and elegant, like a piece of warm jade.
One had a sharp Aura, like an unsheathed sword.
They are Ning Fengzhi and Grandpa Sword?
Lin Qingmo realized: That’s Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin!
Ning Rongrong’s hand had just reached mid-air when it quickly retracted as if stung by a scorpion.
Her cheeks puffed out as she shrank into her seat.
She wished she could crumple herself into a ball and stuff herself into the cracks of the seat, terrified of being caught by the people in the opposite private room.
"What’s wrong, Rongrong?"
Xiao Wu leaned in curiously, her head tilted, and whispered, "You seem very uncomfortable."
Ning Rongrong made a bitter face, her voice even lower, like a thief: "It’s nothing, I just saw... an acquaintance."
Xiao Wu suddenly understood and giggled while covering her mouth: "It’s okay. We’re wearing masks, after all."
"..."
Ning Rongrong didn’t speak.
What use were these masks?
She didn’t think these tiny masks could fool the eyes of her father and Grandpa Sword.
But she still couldn’t help glancing toward the private room, only breathing a sigh of relief after confirming no one was looking over.
Listening to their conversation, Lin Qingmo’s lips curled into a half-smile.
He had already noticed the gazes of Ning Fengzhi and the Sword Douluo sweeping over.
Unsurprisingly, Rongrong had already been recognized.
...
Inside the VIP private room on the second floor.
Chen Xin held a white jade wine cup.
His fingertips rubbed against the cold wall of the cup.
The amber liquid in the cup swayed gently, reflecting tiny glints of light.
His gaze fell on Ning Rongrong’s direction downstairs.
He said nonchalantly, "Fengzhi, should we bring that girl Rongrong over?"
"This girl is getting bolder and bolder. Not only did she run away from Shrek, but she even dared to sneak into the auction house on her own."
Ning Fengzhi held a cup of warm tea, his posture relaxed.
His gaze rested on Ning Rongrong, his eyes filled with an indelible doting, like looking at a treasure he had cherished for many years.
He shook his head gently: "No need."
His voice was gentle, like a clear spring flowing over stones.
"This girl has been wild for so long; it’s rare that she’s willing to sit quietly. Let her be."
"We’ll see each other sooner or later anyway, there’s no rush."
He wore a moon-white robe, as elegant as jade. Even just sitting there quietly, he exuded the composed Aura of a superior.
Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, the wealthiest person on the continent...
These identities attached to him, yet he didn’t have a sharp Aura at all.
He only seemed gentle and approachable, like an ordinary elegant scholar.
In reality, all the calculation was on the inside; otherwise, he wouldn’t be called an old fox.
Only, in the next second.
His gaze slowly shifted away, landing on the youth wearing the silver mask beside Ning Rongrong.
His eyes, which originally held a smile, narrowed slightly.
According to the intelligence brought back by the Bone Douluo, Gu Rong, Rongrong had dropped out of Shrek and transferred to the Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
Her previously arrogant and domineering personality had been restrained quite a bit, no longer acting willfully by relying on her status as she used to.
All the turning points were inseparable from a youth named Lin Qingmo.
What kind of ability did an obscure youth have to so completely change his precious daughter, whom he had pampered for over a decade?
(End of Chapter)
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