Chapter Seventy-Five - The Auction (Part Two)

My Rebirth Legend Without Pop-Up Windows

The moment she mentioned Su Xin, I couldn't help but feel a bit downcast. For some reason, ever since Su Xin returned from her trip to Hong Kong during National Day, she seemed to have changed. She wasn't cold towards me, but I often saw her alone, quietly sighing. Whenever I asked what was wrong, she refused to say. I've been busy with my own plans these days, so I haven't had much time to care for her.

Since that incident, Chu Qitong's attitude towards me had completely transformed; not only had she reconciled with me, but she seemed to have patched things up with Su Xin as well. So, when I heard her mention Su Xin, I hurriedly asked, "Chu... ah, no, Qitong, tell me, what's really going on with Su Xin lately? Sometimes she looks unhappy, but I can't get a straight answer from her. I asked if it was about Song Jie the last time, but she said it wasn't. What on earth is happening?"

Chu Qitong blinked and glanced around before replying softly, "I don't know the exact reason, but I think I heard my father mention that something big has happened to the Su family recently. Maybe that's why she's unhappy."

Seeing my anxious expression, she seemed a little uneasy and continued, "Xiao Qiang, I really don't approve of you and Su Xin being together. She comes from an official family, and in the future she'll definitely have to act for her family's interests..."

"Enough!" I knew what she was trying to say and immediately cut her off, my face cold. "No one, not even the King of Heaven, can take away my woman! I love Su Xin, and I won't let her suffer the slightest harm!"

Chu Qitong nodded silently, saying nothing more. The atmosphere between us seemed to drop to freezing point. I glanced at her and sighed, "Sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you. Thank you for telling me this."

She shook her head gently, her mood seeming to improve, and smiled softly. "It's alright. You almost lost your life for me—how could I be angry over something so trivial? Xiao Qiang, you're a real man. I admire you. Keep going."

"I will. I definitely will!" I clenched my fists, answering with conviction. Yes, I could be indifferent about other things, but Su Xin was someone I had to fight for. I would win her heart through my own efforts. If a man can't even accomplish that, then even if he conquers the world, he's still a coward and a useless person.

"By the way, why are you here at the auction today?" Chu Qitong finally seemed to remember her own question, laughing charmingly. "It's a pity Su Xin didn't come; she's gone with her mother to the provincial capital to visit her grandfather."

"Haha, I know. She told me. I was introduced here by a friend—mainly to take a look at this development project. My home is in the old city district." I had just said this when several government leaders and guests in suits appeared on the rostrum. I immediately realized the project conference was about to begin, so I stopped talking and focused my gaze ahead.

For the first time, I saw Xia Fugui's younger brother, the current deputy leader of City C, Mayor Xia Guomin. He was a short, stout, middle-aged man with an official air about him. Unlike Su Guohui, the top leader of City C, Xia Guomin's demeanor carried the flavor of old-school bureaucracy. Whether it was psychological or due to his appearance, Su Guohui looked sharp and energetic, like a seasoned national cadre. Xia Guomin, on the other hand, seemed slick and shifty, and compared to him, instantly appeared rather sleazy.

"Hmph, if this guy is an honest official, then there's a ghost. He looks much more like a corrupt one." I muttered under my breath, but Chu Qitong heard me and burst out laughing. I was a bit dumbfounded—was what I just said really that funny?

After the officials took their seats, I spotted Chu Qitong's father, Chu Zhengsheng, among the guests. The Chu family was already nationally renowned, and I had some ideas in mind. If Chu Zhengsheng was genuinely interested in digital products, I could have his company join the Sunshine Group. Though, I doubted he'd agree. Even if acquisition wasn't possible, cooperation would still be good. After all, the Chu family was powerful, and for Sunshine Group to quickly establish itself nationwide, it needed such backing.

I listened as the host—a district-level leader of City C—announced the official start of the bidding conference. All the enterprise representatives and invited county and township officials below erupted into enthusiastic applause. I clapped along, but quickly lost interest. Actually, the beginning of this bidding conference was nothing special; as usual, the leaders were spouting platitudes. The real excitement would come later, when the winner of the entire City C old district redevelopment project was revealed—that was the dramatic moment!

Listening to Xia Guomin on stage spewing the same old clichés, I felt sleepy. In my previous life, I'd often experienced the torment of endless meetings; it was no wonder officials would doze off or get distracted during them. It's not that they don't want to be serious—those empty words are so familiar they could recite them with their eyes closed.

I was bored, and so was Chu Qitong beside me. Barely five minutes had passed before she lost interest, pulling me aside to whisper. Honestly, it was lucky she reminded me; otherwise, I wouldn't have realized the national computer competition was about to begin. I'd been so busy lately I'd completely forgotten that I'd won first place in the City C division. Turns out, the top three from City C would head to the capital at the end of the month for the real national competition. That meant Chu Qitong, myself, and the beautiful senior Fu Ming would be going together.

"Haha, I'm so happy! Although I've been to the capital several times, it was always with my father and grandfather. This time is different—it's just the three of us," Chu Qitong beamed, her delicate, beautiful face radiant with joy. I could hardly believe that the girl sitting beside me was once the 'witch' of the Devil's Castle...

"Qitong, you've got it wrong—it’s not just us three, the teachers are coming too," I said awkwardly, teasing her a little. Sometimes, bantering with her was really fun. Honestly, I wondered if I was becoming a bit eccentric.

"Bah, the supervising teacher is just the chaperone. Xiao Qiang, when we go to the capital, let's climb the Great Wall together, okay? Oh, and I've never been to the Temple of Heaven—let's go there then!" At that moment, Chu Qitong was like a running faucet; once she started talking about something she liked, she couldn't stop, her voice growing louder and louder. I tugged her arm, signaling her to quiet down.

"Miss Chu? What are you doing here?" Suddenly, from the row behind us, a man's surprised voice rang out. The voice seemed familiar, so I turned to look.

The sight made me instantly turn away. The man was none other than Zhou Zisheng, the one who deliberately bullied Zhang Jing that night—her ex-boyfriend! Zhou Zisheng was obviously in cahoots with Xia Fugui; it was this man who ruined Zhang Jing's family fortune. I'd worried about bumping into him and risking my identity being exposed, and now, as the saying goes, speak of the devil and he appears.