Although Gu Baotian had given his advice, Jiang Mo still felt a bit nervous. "How much should I raise the bid each time?"
Gu Baotian squinted his eyes. "This auction follows a 258 increment pattern. Just raise your paddle—the auctioneer will announce the price."
With Gu Baotian’s guidance, Jiang Mo gained some confidence.
When the Colombian emerald diamond earrings went up for auction, encouraged by Gu Baotian’s gaze, Jiang Mo finally raised her paddle. But after bidding once more, she didn’t continue.
After all, it didn’t seem like Gu Baotian particularly wanted the diamond earrings.
If she were honest, compared to diamond earrings, she preferred antiques that had been passed down through generations.
Gu Baotian shared the same sentiment. When the Song Dynasty Ru kiln porcelain was presented, his eyes lit up. "This Ru kiln plum vase—we’re getting it."
Jiang Mo tensed up. "Okay."
Unexpectedly, the Song Dynasty Ru kiln plum vase was far more sought-after than the earrings. After raising her paddle three times, the price had already soared past four million.
She leaned in and whispered, "Grandpa Gu, should we keep going?"
Gu Baotian replied calmly, "No problem. Keep bidding."
In the end, Jiang Mo raised her paddle twice more and secured the vase for nearly six million.
When the gavel fell, she quietly exhaled in relief.
It was thrilling and exhilarating. She was used to haggling fiercely with shopkeepers—never had she experienced the rush of casually raising bids like this.
Just like that, six million was spent. Was this how the wealthy lived so lavishly?
No wonder people online said that spending tens of thousands on a meal for the rich probably felt the same as an average person spending a few hundred.
"How do you feel?" Gu Baotian asked cheerfully.
Jiang Mo placed a hand over her chest. "Nervous, but excited. Grandpa Gu, was this price… worth it?"
Gu Baotian smiled. "If you like it, then it’s worth it."
As they spoke, Jiang Mo noticed an elegantly dressed middle-aged woman glancing her way. The same woman had also looked back at her during the bidding for the diamonds and the vase.
She didn’t think much of it, assuming the woman was just taking a longer look at her out of regret for losing the items.
There were many auction items, but none of the later pieces caught Gu Baotian’s interest. By the end, they had only won one item.
Still, this auction broadened Jiang Mo’s horizons. Some seemingly ordinary items had shockingly high price tags—the most expensive piece sold for over twenty million.
"Alright, let’s head out. Grandpa will take you to eat," Gu Baotian said as they left the venue. He went to the restroom while Jiang Mo waited in the lobby.
As she sat scrolling through auction videos on her phone, a woman in sleek black heels with slender legs approached. "Where’s Old Master Gu?"
Jiang Mo looked up—this woman looked familiar. Wasn’t she the one who had been watching her earlier?
So she knew Gu Baotian. She hadn’t been looking at Jiang Mo after all.
She stood up and explained, "Grandpa Gu went to the restroom."
"Oh, I see. I’ll wait here then—I’d like to greet him when he comes out."
Jin Yingying sat on the nearby sofa and, noticing Jiang Mo’s youth, casually asked, "I don’t think I’ve seen you before. Are you a relative of the Gu family?"
"No, I’m their housekeeper," Jiang Mo replied.
"Oh?" Jin Yingying raised an eyebrow, her tone laced with amusement. "The Gu family’s changing their ways? Since when did they hire such a young, pretty housekeeper? Did Aunt Wang quit?"
Jiang Mo scratched her head. "Ma’am, my mother is still working for the Gu family. She hasn’t resigned."
Hearing this, Jin Yingying scrutinized her more closely, her eyes gleaming with interest. "You mean… you’re Aunt Wang’s daughter?"
Jiang Mo nodded sheepishly. "Yes."
"How interesting. How long have you been working as the Gu family’s housekeeper?" Jin Yingying pressed.
"Not long—about four or five months," Jiang Mo answered, unsure why the woman was asking. Maybe just small talk to pass the time.
She observed that this lady was dressed impeccably, her outfit easily worth hundreds of thousands.
After spending time around Su Yunjin, Jiang Mo had gradually learned to recognize luxury brands and their price ranges.
Jin Yingying smiled. "That really isn’t long. It’s rare to see young girls working as housekeepers. I assume Aunt Wang brought you into the Gu household?"
"You guessed right, ma’am," Jiang Mo said.
Jin Yingying then instructed, "Open your phone’s QR code for adding friends. Let’s connect."
"Ah?" Jiang Mo was taken aback. Why would this lady want to add her? There was no need.
Still, she obediently pulled up her QR code.
Jin Yingying successfully added her, barely suppressing a smile as she sent over a red envelope.
"As an elder who knows Old Master Gu, consider this a greeting gift."
Jiang Mo hurriedly declined. "Ma’am, you’re too kind. This isn’t necessary."
She tried to return the money.
"If you don’t accept it, you’re disrespecting me," Jin Yingying said, watching her movements.
Now Jiang Mo was stuck—accepting felt awkward, but refusing seemed rude.
After a pause, she murmured, "Then… thank you, ma’am."
Just then, Gu Baotian returned from the restroom.
Spotting him, Jin Yingying stood and greeted him warmly. "Old Master Gu, it’s been a while! I didn’t get a chance to say hello inside. How have you been? Keeping busy?"
"Ah, Jin Yingying," Gu Baotian replied. "I thought the person in front of me at the auction looked like you. Did you win anything you liked today?"
"I got two pieces—the emerald diamonds for my daughter. I hope I didn’t snatch anything you wanted?" Her tone held no real apology, just polite conversation.
Gu Baotian knew this was mere social nicety. "Those diamonds are lovely. Perfect for your daughter."
"Glad I didn’t take your favorites," Jin Yingying said cheerfully. "You look in great spirits—much better than my old man."
Gu Baotian nodded. "I heard he’s been unwell recently..."
Jiang Mo quietly stepped aside to give them space, waiting at a distance.
Their conversation lasted about ten minutes before Jin Yingying excused herself after a phone call. Before leaving, she cast another glance at Jiang Mo.
Once she was gone, Jiang Mo asked, "Grandpa Gu, who was that lady? She added me and sent me a red envelope."
"That’s the Lin family’s daughter-in-law, a friend of Su Yunjin’s," Gu Baotian said, puzzled. "She sent you money?"
Jiang Mo nodded. "Yes. I tried to return it, but she insisted."
Gu Baotian shrugged. "Maybe she found you endearing. Keep it."
With that, he led Jiang Mo off to satisfy their hunger.
The car pulled into the serene private restaurant, and Jiang Mo remained silent, though her smile was practically overflowing. Based on her many experiences of tagging along for meals, the restaurants chosen by the Gu family were almost never disappointing—quality and price were always on point.
Her current state could be described as being "on duty." Being on duty was great—good food and fun included.
After parking the car, Jiang Mo turned to Gu Baotian and said, "Grandpa Gu, I’ve recently started driving on the road. Once I get a bit more practice, if you ever want to go out, you can call me."
"That sounds wonderful," Gu Baotian replied. "Alright, I’ll look forward to riding in your car."
The server led the two inside, and since they didn’t request a private room, they were seated at a quiet table in a less crowded area.
As Jiang Mo and Gu Baotian walked over, she casually glanced around and noticed a group of well-dressed men in suits dining nearby.
Another glance—was that Pei Ting among them?
Just as she noticed him, Pei Ting also looked up, and their eyes met.
Since they’d run into each other, it was only polite to greet him.
Jiang Mo leaned in and whispered, "Grandpa Gu, I just spotted a friend here. I’ll be right back."
"Go ahead, go ahead," Gu Baotian waved her off, settling into a seat at their table about five or six meters away.
"Senior Pei, what a coincidence—you’re here for lunch too?" Jiang Mo walked up to Pei Ting and his colleagues, smiling and nodding at the other two. "Hello."
Pei Ting stood up, having noticed earlier that Jiang Mo had arrived with an elderly gentleman. "My colleagues and I just finished some business at the courthouse nearby."
"I’m out shopping with Grandpa Gu and decided to grab a meal while we’re at it," Jiang Mo replied cheerfully. "I won’t disturb your lunch any longer. I’ll head back now."
Pei Ting nodded.
Once she was gone, Pei Ting’s two colleagues couldn’t resist prying. "I heard her call you 'senior'—so she’s your junior? She’s quite pretty. Is there something going on between you two...?"
When Jiang Mo returned, Gu Baotian shifted his gaze back to the menu.
"That friend of yours in the suit—what does he do?" he asked, feigning nonchalance.
"He’s my senior from the same university and major. Now he’s a lawyer," Jiang Mo explained as she poured tea for Gu Baotian.
"Oh, a senior, huh?" Gu Baotian drawled, elongating his tone. "Seems like quite the outstanding young man."
He had taken a look earlier—though there was some distance, the guy was tall, with a well-proportioned face, and seemed mature and steady.
Jiang Mo chuckled. "That’s right. Senior Pei is quite well-known in our local legal circles. His family is also involved in law. If we ever need any legal help in the future, I can ask him for assistance."
"Well, well, seems like you’ve got some connections, little girl," Gu Baotian teased.
From the sound of it, this senior of hers was quite the catch.
Gu Baotian suddenly felt a pang of worry for his own grandson. Honestly, how could Gu Ye possibly compare?
Shaking his head, he sent Gu Ye a message: "You. Are. Doomed."
Gu Ye, receiving this abrupt and cryptic three-word warning, replied with equal brevity: "Grandpa. What’s up?"
Gu Baotian’s concern lasted all of one minute. Once the food arrived, he promptly forgot all about Gu Ye.
Gu Ye waited and waited, but no further explanation ever came.
