As Liao Yifan's resolute words echoed, all eyes in the hall turned to Ying Chen.
Logically, anyone capable of making Han Shixi and Ma Zhiyuan so subservient would possess at least three hundred million.
Yet, Ying Chen remained silent.
It seemed as if he truly couldn't produce the three hundred million!
"What's going on?" people couldn't help but exclaim in astonishment.
"Is he just putting on a show, like a pig stuffing its nose with green onions to look impressive?"
"That makes no sense! If he were just a minor figure, why would the Han and Ma families treat him with such deference?"
The assembled crowd was plunged into deep confusion.
Just then, a sneering laugh broke the silence.
It was Min Ziqiong's mother speaking!
"You think the Han and Ma families are fawning over him? They're fawning over his master behind him!"
"He's nothing more than a dog by his master's side!"
"Didn't you hear the Ma family patriarch repeatedly call him 'Old Ancestor'? That 'Old Ancestor' is his master behind the scenes! That's the real big shot! Others are merely adhering to the principle of 'even a dog needs to consider its master before striking,' not wanting to offend him."
"It's just..."
Min Ziqiong's mother paused slightly, her sneer deepening.
"I didn't expect this dog to get out of hand! He's painted himself into a corner!"
"Originally, he could have used his master's influence to bluff his way for a long time, and no one would have noticed. Now, he insisted on playing the role of a hidden big shot himself, naming such an astronomical price, and he can't back down!"
"Do you really think his master will willingly fork out eight hundred million for him? A dog is still a dog, no matter how pampered or favored. When a dog commits an unforgivable mistake, it still can't escape a beating."
"So... he's doomed today!"
Min Ziqiong's mother declared with certainty.
"What? There's such a thing?" Everyone listened, their eyes wide with shock.
So, after all their speculation about Ying Chen's background, he was merely a dog to a behind-the-scenes magnate?
And the Han and Ma families were merely being polite to Ying Chen out of respect for his master?
And Ying Chen himself was utterly incompetent, all because he was good at being a dog?
Instantly, the gazes of everyone in the hall turned to Ying Chen with contempt and disdain.
Being a dog, who couldn't do that?
If they were to do it, they'd surely be better than Ying Chen!
It's just that they had their principles and wouldn't stoop to such a shameful, family-disgracing act!
"One minute is up. Answer me, will you pay the full amount, or apologize and admit defeat, and leave the venue!"
Liao Yifan pressed aggressively, speaking sternly.
At the same time, he secretly glanced at Qu Jianping in the distance.
Clearly, Qu Jianping was also paying attention to the unfolding events.
This meant that as long as Ying Chen was successfully forced out of the venue, his score in Qu Jianping's eyes would immediately plummet to negative!
Not to mention that Liao Yifan had vaguely overheard Min Ziqiong's mother's words. With a little more instigation, Ying Chen would instantly become synonymous with "fraudster" in Qu Jianping's mind!
Facing Liao Yifan's relentless pressure, Ying Chen frowned slightly.
This turn of events had exceeded his expectations.
He had originally thought that by pointing out that Shi Boqiong was not genuine, he could avoid paying the eight hundred million.
However, Liao Yifan had seized upon a loophole in the auction process and turned the tables on him.
Thus, the current predicament arose.
Without paying, he couldn't dismantle Shi Boqiong to prove it was fake;
If he paid, he couldn't come up with eight hundred million.
"Never mind," Ying Chen shook his head and reached for his waist, preparing to remove another Mingyue Liusu pearl.
Others might not know, but that overseas magnate who was willing to bid four hundred and thirty million for Shi Boqiong would be ecstatic upon seeing the Mingyue Liusu pearl and would try every means to obtain it.
Although it might result in a slight loss, it would at least resolve the immediate crisis.
"Speak up! What, chickening out? If you're chickening out, immediately admit your mistake, apologize, and get out of here!"
"Don't you even know what kind of place this is, daring to touch the porcelain of our Jiade Li Auction House! Ptooey!"
Liao Yifan spat on the ground and said.
Just as Ying Chen's fingertip touched the Mingyue Liusu pearl, about to detach one, the auction hall door was suddenly pushed open with a bang.
Someone entered.
Upon entering, the person walked directly towards the auction stage.
As they walked, they said, "Jiade Li Auction House? So what? Why can't it be touched?"
"A mere eight hundred million, I'll take it!"
Wow!
The scene erupted in an instant.
Everyone stared dumbfounded at this uninvited guest, disbelieving their ears.
A mere eight hundred million?
And "merely"?
How much fake wine must one have drunk to utter such an audacious claim!
Who did he think he was?
The richest man in Longguo, or one of the prominent magnates of Longguo's business world?
Liao Yifan's brow furrowed upon hearing this, and he instinctively looked at the newcomer.
He saw a man dressed in plain cloth, wearing simple-soled shoes, with no hint of nobility about him. He looked like a complete old man from the countryside.
And he dared to speak so boastfully?
Liao Yifan snorted coldly and immediately called to the security guards: "Security! What are you doing? You can't even guard the entrance! If a country old man can get in today, will beggars and vagrants be able to get in tomorrow?"
"Get him out of here immediately!"
"What bad luck!"
The security guards apologized and stepped forward, about to escort the strange old man out.
Just then, Qu Jianping suddenly stood up, her almond-shaped eyes wide, and exclaimed in surprise, "Grandpa Yan? Why are you here?"
After speaking, Qu Jianping left her seat and scurried towards the old man!
Her demeanor was as if she had seen her own grandfather!
This scene stunned the crowd.
It stunned Liao Yifan even more.
A look of intense confusion flickered across Liao Yifan's face. The next second, he was struck as if by lightning, freezing on the spot.
His voice became stammering, "Yan... Grandpa Yan? Could he be... Yan Yang?"
Boom!
As these two words were uttered, it was like a bomb dropped onto a calm lake.
The entire hall exploded.
Everyone's pupils contracted violently, and they looked at the old man in disbelief.
Some even took out their phones and started searching for information on Yan Yang, comparing it with the old man present.
Finally, people were convinced – this old man who seemed to have drunk fake wine and spoken boastfully was indeed Yan Yang!
The founder of Longguo's largest business association!
If anyone else said "a mere eight hundred million," they would be roasted, but when Yan Yang said "a mere eight hundred million," it was perfectly fine!
Because the name Yan Yang alone was worth far more than eight hundred million!
Not to mention the immense wealth that Yan Yang possessed!
"I know! I know!" Min Ziqiong's mother, also in a state of shock, suddenly cried out as if she had discovered a secret.
"He is the owner of that villa on the mountaintop in Shouyang Mountain!"
"He is the master behind the surname Ying!"
"No wonder the surname Ying was so arrogant and overbearing! It turns out he had such a great Buddha behind him!"