49
Perhaps sensing the invisible pressure radiating from Bian Xun, Ning Ye dreamed of a scene that night.
It was far in the future, in an even larger house. The garden lawn there was meticulously arranged, and the villa behind it looked like a cute, colorful children's castle. A family of four lived here.
A father, a mother, a little boy, and a little girl.
The woman looked incredibly happy, entirely satisfied with her life now that she had both a son and a daughter.
The man had a cool gaze, but he stood among them with a gentle look in his eyes.
Today was the two children's birthday.
The adults were going to celebrate it for them together.
At this moment, the little girl walked into the castle's courtyard. She looked confusedly at the birthday decorations around her, as well as the large three-tiered cake. She walked up to her father and scratched her head.
"Daddy, today isn't my birthday, is it?"
In the eyes of the public, these two children were already recognized as boy-girl twins. The hostess claimed she would treat both children equally and love the little girl as her own, so she had carefully selected very expensive birthday gifts for both of them.
But the children weren't actually born on the same day. In a family with both a son and a daughter, how should they celebrate their birthdays?
The woman smiled and squatted down, holding the little girl's shoulders. "Be good, Taotao. Now you and brother Zixun are real siblings. Because brother Zixun's birthday comes earlier, you two will celebrate it together from now on, okay?"
Ning Zhitao didn't think it was okay. Her eyes turned red, and she pouted.
Why was it like this? In the past, when she was at home, her mom and dad would start preparing for her birthday long in advance. They would pick out so many gifts. Every time her birthday came, she was their one and only darling.
But now, she had to share her birthday with someone else.
It wasn't even her actual birthday.
Ning Zhitao really wanted to cry. She wanted to find her own mother; her mother would comfort her when she felt wronged.
"As long as Taotao is a good girl, you can see your mommy," the woman coaxed softly in her ear.
Ning Zhitao blinked her wet eyes. But after hearing those words, she tried her hardest to hold back her tears. She rubbed her little cheeks to make her expression look very obedient, and then she started clapping and singing the birthday song.
"Happy birthday to you~ Happy birthday to you~"
In the dream, Ning Ye watched all of this powerlessly.
The child's nose was red, and teardrops hung on her chubby cheeks as she sang the birthday song for someone else on her own "birthday."
Perhaps because she often accompanied Taotao to vocal lessons, she heard it so clearly in her dream. It was her own child's voice, choked with sobs yet forcibly restraining them, all because she had to be "good."
Ning Ye's heart felt like it was being sliced by a knife.
She desperately wanted to step into the scene and shatter the plot, but it was as if she were isolated on the outside, unable to break through the barrier.
She suddenly realized that this was after the ending. After the woman had completely gone public with her partner, their family of four lived a happy life, achieving a happy ending until old age.
Ning Ye just watched as Taotao clapped hard, singing the song over and over again, hoping to see her mother once more.
But the female supporting character in the plot would never appear again.
Ning Ye tried to tear open the invisible barrier before her eyes, kicking and clawing, yet there was always a layer of blank space separating her.
The plot was like the operating law of this world. This unshakeable feeling sent chills down her spine, leaving her desperate and terrified.
What happy ending? What perfect family with children growing up healthily? It was all at the expense of her child!
Ning Ye's throat went sour. She could only wave her fists in vain, smashing against the invisible wall again and again.
It wasn't until one of her punches hit something solid that she suddenly jolted awake.
She slowly opened her eyes.
A few teardrops had actually seeped from the corners of her eyes.
She stared blankly at the cold face inches away from hers.
Bian Xun was half-pressed over her. One of his hands pinned her wrist, and his legs clamped down on either side of her knees. The pectoral muscles visible through his collar had just taken a full-force punch from her—
"Who did you dream of to be so full of hate?" he asked leisurely.
Ning Ye stared at Bian Xun for several seconds. Suddenly, she reached out both hands and grabbed his neck.
Just now in the dream, he had turned a blind eye too.
He had just watched their child cry!!
Even though it was just how things played out in the plot, Ning Ye still felt a deadly amount of grievance on Taotao's behalf.
Bian Xun raised an eyebrow slightly, letting her strangle him. His voice was low and hoarse. "Seems like you dreamed of me."
Ning Ye didn't actually squeeze. She just grabbed his neck, shook him twice, pushed him away, and hopped barefoot out of bed to go to the little room.
Although Mom and Dad each had their own worries that night.
Little Ning Zhitao slept very soundly.
She was sprawled out on her small bed, like a little kitten safely exposing its soft belly beside its parents. The sunlight shone on her little toes that had kicked off the blanket, and she was still fast asleep.
Ning Ye's heart softened. She tucked the little one back into the blanket and stepped out.
Bian Xun followed her. He lowered his eyes to her pale, light-pink toes, bent down, and placed a pair of slippers next to her.
Ning Ye came out of the child's room with a solemn expression.
She had to completely break through the plot!
The scenes she had dreamed of were the life Taotao would have faced originally after transmigrating.
She would be forced to join someone else's family, doted on by Xu Lanyi in front of outsiders, with no one knowing what kind of childhood she would endure in reality.
They called it equal love, but as long as it wasn't her own mother, love always had a baseline price.
Ning Ye looked at the two auction tickets on the entryway cabinet.
The feeling of sitting by and watching the plot happen without being able to make any changes was too terrifying.
The original plot was heading toward its ultimate climax. How could she break through?
Bian Xun sighed helplessly. He bent down, reached out, and grasped her slender ankle, stuffing her cold foot that was stepping on the chilly floor into a fluffy slipper before standing up straight again.
He knew why Ning Ye had reacted like that just now.
She had mentioned before that she received the plot through dreams. She had most likely just dreamed of a bad scenario involving Taotao.
And in the plot, he was probably completely useless.
Bian Xun had been so provoked by Ning Ye's talk of working part-time last night that he couldn't sleep.
Letting her work to support the family was absolutely impossible.
So he absolutely could not go bankrupt.
Bian Xun looked down at the balance on his digital watch.
After the continuous daily drain over this period, various large expenditures, and spending money to buy freedom from the plot, his tens of billions had visibly regressed.
However, no matter how Bian Xun suggested to his brain to maintain a poverty mindset, his brain's threshold for lucidity was physiologically increasing, and thus the cost per unit of time became increasingly terrifying.
He couldn't just sit around and eat away his fortune.
While using the black card to invest and cash out could indeed accumulate capital quickly, aside from his own company's stock where he had reliable inside information, all other cryptocurrency and investment activities carried risks. It wasn't suitable to pursue immediate, rapid, massive profits, or else he might end up losing a huge sum instead.
But if he wanted to make money, there wasn't a lack of other methods.
He spent last night pondering life.
A sinister idea appeared in the capitalist's mind.
Ning Ye had also snapped back to reality by now. She grabbed Bian Xun's sleeve. "How about we try our best to avoid the plot? At every major plot point, as long as we don't participate, it's also a way to change things."
Besides, the ultimate goal of today's auction was for the female lead to obtain the "token of love," further pushing their romantic progression. As long as they didn't show up, that would be the simplest and most direct method.
But after a night passed, the CEO looked into her clear almond eyes, and the corners of his lips slowly revealed a hint of dark, malicious intent.
"We have to go."
If they didn't go, there was no way to make money.
The collectibles that made it to a grand auction were all of extremely high value.
The profit margin was also, therefore, extremely large.
...
Right before leaving the house, Bian Xun lowered his eyes and checked his bank card balance.
Now his time cost was getting higher and higher. The CEO lowered his eyes and pondered for a long time. Just to be safe, he gritted his teeth and swiped a massive amount from his future black card.
Then, a clear five hundred million flowed out of his card to buy his freedom for today.
Five hundred million.
The CEO stood still for a moment, letting his brain chill to the core.
His dark eyes stared numbly into the distant sky.
He had invested in this project himself. If he didn't make a massive profit back, he would be ashamed to call himself a capitalist.
Today was the weekend, and the time of the auction happened to coincide with Ning Zhitao's children's vocal class.
Ning Ye and Bian Xun first dropped the little one off at the choir. Whenever Ning Ye thought of the child clapping and singing the birthday song to himself, her heart ached. She forced herself to resist the urge to make Bian Xun sing a makeup song for the child right then and there before leaving.
The two of them then drove to the International Hotel where the auction was being held.
Bian Xun seemed to be planning something, but there was no communication between them, and Ning Ye knew nothing of his intentions.
Mainly because Bian Xun couldn't explain it.
Any issue involving money was a puzzle he had to solve on his own, like some sort of capitalist curse.
Resting his hands on the steering wheel, the man let out a melancholy sigh.
Soon, they arrived at the entrance of the International Hotel and took the special driveway entrance.
Those who received invitations to this grand auction were all socialites with previous auction experience and verified assets of over ten million. Someone like Bian Xun received an enthusiastic reception from the valet the moment he appeared.
The two were respectfully led into the International Hotel's banquet hall by a waiter. A massive, exquisite crystal chandelier hung overhead. All attendees received a mask before entering to ensure absolute privacy and anonymous bidding.
Bian Xun and Ning Ye were taken to the private box area that encircled the second floor of the banquet hall. They entered a private box with an excellent view, directly facing the exhibition stage below.
Inside the box were leather sofas, a small table with whiskey and roses, and the bidding paddle for this room.
Ning Ye felt faintly uneasy about all this special treatment.
After all, they weren't really here to bid.
In the original novel, Bian Xun and Xu Lanyi suddenly engaged in a bidding war across the room. In the end, Bian Xun won and gifted it to her. Ning Ye didn't understand this rich people's game; she only knew that with Bian Xun's current financial situation... he probably couldn't do it, right?
He had looked very poor lately, and last night he was unusually desolate.
Ning Ye was genuinely starting to consider making money to raise the kid.
"Anyway, we are here to observe the plot," Ning Ye looked around. The second-floor boxes were open-air, so she didn't dare speak loudly and leaned close to him. "If you can't afford to bid, don't pretend..."
"?" Bian Xun lowered his eyes and saw the mask on her face.
Fine pearlescent shimmer outlined the curves of the mask, circling her eye sockets. It was a half-fox mask, lively and charming. Below her nose tip, the breath between her lips carried a faint jasmine scent.
Yet the words she spoke were incredibly cruel: "Don't push yourself; our family doesn't have the means."
"..." Bian Xun paused, took a breath, and let out a long-suffering "Mm."
He was going to make some money right now.
Guests were gradually entering the first-floor main area as well. The asset verification standards there were lower, while the second-floor boxes were reserved for the low-profile tycoons.
Before bidding, the guests had already registered accounts on the auction's official website, completing real-name authentication and binding their bank cards to pay the deposit and final balance.
Bian Xun slightly narrowed his eyes.
Ning Ye saw that people had arrived in several boxes diagonally opposite within her line of sight. The lights dimmed, making it hard to see the specific guests clearly, but Ning Ye noticed a large group of people in one of the boxes, bustling around one person sitting in the center.
That should be Xu Lanyi.
Recalling the scene from her dream, Ning Ye's heart grew slightly cold.
The boxes on both sides were also occupied, and faint conversation could be heard, so Ning Ye kept her mouth shut and said no more.
She kept thinking, thinking of a true breakthrough, an opportunity to tear apart the entire plot.
Before long, the auction officially began.
It was Ning Ye's first time attending such an event. She listened to the auctioneer introduce the collectibles with an observational mindset, looking quite serious.
As she listened, the man beside her leaned in slightly and asked softly, "See anything you like?"
Ning Ye's ear tickled. Having a physiological reaction to his deliberately lowered voice, she quickly dodged away.
"Stop acting tough, just listen properly."
Ning Ye didn't know exactly how much that jade ornament Old Master Bian had always wanted was worth, but the previous collectibles were already extremely expensive.
They were either rare ancient books worth hundreds of thousands or heirloom seals and coins worth millions. Every time a collectible was carefully pushed forward, experts would let out low gasps of amazement, followed by whispered conversations.
During this time, the female lead didn't seem to raise her paddle. It appeared she only cared about the meeting gift that would make Old Master Bian fall in love at first sight.
With this kind of mindset, she was generally bound to win it.
Ning Ye couldn't help but look back at Bian Xun. The man leaned his neck back slightly, his eyes half-closed, looking extremely aloof and unworldly.
Finally, a translucent jade Maitreya Buddha slowly made its appearance.
It was a glass-type imperial green jade statue of the Maitreya Buddha, sitting on a pearwood base. Besides the excellent quality of the jade, its special feature was that it was a standing Maitreya Buddha. Holding a gold ingot, his face was pure and carried a faint smile. His Buddha belly was appropriately round, and the color was intense and harmonious. It carried excellent implications of longevity and prayers for peace, exuding an image of open-mindedness and compassion.
The starting price was three million.
The Buddha itself wasn't large, so the price wouldn't reach the top tier. However, perhaps to highlight the preciousness of the male and female leads fighting over it with heavy sums, as soon as the introduction of this collectible was finished, there was quite a commotion in the venue, and people in the main area immediately started raising their paddles to bid.
"3.5 million."
"3.8 million."
After a few rounds, a paddle in a second-floor box was raised. "5 million."
The guests in the main area all looked toward the second floor. They couldn't see the person speaking, but they could hear it was a female voice, very elegant, and seemingly a bit familiar?
As soon as Xu Lanyi made a move, she raised the price significantly.
And her gaze looked with secret anticipation toward the center position on the second floor, waiting for something.
"Five million! Five million going once—"
"Five million going twice—"
A cold, low male voice rang out, "8 million."
An uproar swept through the crowd.
Xu Lanyi's heart instantly started pounding wildly. It was Bian Xun; Bian Xun had really come.
Ning Ye suddenly turned her head, lowering her voice, "Are you crazy?"
Why are you actually following the plot?
Bian Xun had only been playing along for two seconds before he had to soothingly wrap an arm around her shoulder. "Don't panic."
The onlookers at the scene began to discuss excitedly, feeling that the two people on the second floor must be big shots. A man and a woman bidding against each other from afar was incredibly eye-catching.
Aside from the bids of these two, there were even Asian collectors calling in to participate in the game.
The atmosphere of the venue was instantly hyped up.
Xu Lanyi knew what would happen next. She knew that no matter what, Bian Xun would win this Maitreya Buddha statue and reluctantly part with it for her. And the higher the price, the more it would show Bian Xun's current attitude towards her.
So, suppressing her inner thoughts, Xu Lanyi raised her paddle again. "8.88 million."
An uproar echoed through the room.
Beside Ning Ye, the aloof and indifferent man raised his paddle. "9 million."
This time, Xu Lanyi felt even more certain in her heart, simply throwing out, "9.99 million—"
Bian Xun withdrew his hand, knowing this was her highest expectation.
"9.99 million! Our jade Maitreya Buddha holding a gold ingot has reached the high price of 9.99 million, just one step away from entering the ten-million-tier collection category—"
"May I ask if the lady upstairs is willing to reveal the reason for your affection for this jade?"
Xu Lanyi stood up proudly, her gaze directed toward the private room. "To gift to an important elder."
As soon as her voice rang out, Bian Xun would definitely know who she was and her purpose for coming: to find a beloved item for Old Master Bian.
The auctioneer offered a flurry of compliments. "Alright, 9.99 million going once!"
Xu Lanyi smiled.
"9.99 million going twice!"
"9.99 million going three times—"
Xu Lanyi paused.
"Sold!"
"Let us congratulate this lady for bringing home this piece of filial piety for the price of 9.99 million..."
Ning Ye: "?"
She turned her head in shock, seeing the man who had kept his eyes half-closed suddenly open his dark eyes and begin typing rapidly on his phone, as if he had been waiting all night for this exact moment.
On the other side, Xu Lanyi was completely stunned. Bian Xun actually didn't fight her for it and just let her buy it? Was he just here to drive up the price? How could that be...
Just then, the door to her private room was suddenly knocked softly. A waiter bowed and walked in carrying a POS machine, smiling slightly.
Having coordinated all the information, Bian Xun lightly tapped the edge of the table.
Step one: Have the auction house staff get Xu Lanyi's consent. He could directly pay the 9.99 million on his end, and ask if she was willing to have her purchase funds refunded into Bian Xun's bank account.
The first reason this could work was that the Buddha statue itself was meant as a gift for Old Master Bian.
The second reason was that as long as Xu Lanyi knew the plot, it was impossible for her to refuse.
Sure enough, when Xu Lanyi, who was immersed in disbelief, heard the waiter's inquiry, an uncontrollable smile slowly rose on her lips. "Of course."
So that was it... Bian Xun was actually giving her face!
On the surface, he let her buy it, but in reality, he would buy it himself in private.
She knew everything she foresaw would come true.
Feeling sweet in her heart, Xu Lanyi took out her card and paid.
Step two: Bian Xun paid. Using an actual price of 9.99 million, he leveraged a return of 9.99 million that flowed into his bound future black card, turning it into an investment.
If it was a ten-thousand-fold interest rate...
Bian Xun slightly closed his eyes.
Step three: Bian Xun actually paid, signed, and took away the Maitreya Buddha statue.
Then this was his ^^
He could resell it for another ten million.
It was only then that Ning Ye snapped back to reality. Wait, in the blink of an eye, Bian Xun suddenly had an extra 9.99 million in his hands??
Thinking carefully, wasn't that Xu Lanyi's 9.99 million??
"It's not over yet."
Bian Xun led Ning Ye out, verifying their identities at the auction entrance.
The 10,000 deposit paid would also be refunded to the card.
And when he paid, he used his own card.
The bound refund account was the future card.
Passing from his left hand to his right hand, he gained another hundred million.
Ning Ye barely managed to keep up with Bian Xun's train of thought. Her brain was already working quite fast, and she had sorted out the actual flow of the money.
So Bian Xun... basically freeloaded a Maitreya Buddha statue from Xu Lanyi?
Thinking carefully, there seemed to be nothing wrong with this logic. Xu Lanyi bought it to give to Old Master Bian, and what belonged to Old Master Bian belonged to the Bian family, and the Bian family entirely belonged to Bian Xun.
Ning Ye was shocked for quite a while.
So shady, how shady is this?
But if this was the plan, why couldn't he communicate with her? Just now, Ning Ye had been on edge, terrified that he had really started passively following the plot.
Bian Xun gave her a deep look.
The moment they stepped out of the auction hall, a deposit notification popped up on Bian Xun's phone.
An astonishing string of zeros.
Bian Xun paused his steps, the malice in his eyes finally appeased.
It was done.
99.9 billion.
Plus 100 million.
That meant, tonight, using a cost of 9.99 million—
He had leveraged 100 billion.
...
The CEO slowly raised his sharp eyes.
The anxiety of consecutive days finally turned into a breath of pent-up frustration and was slowly exhaled.
He regained his reserved demeanor.
This move was insidious, but highly effective.
The only problem was that he had cashed out so much that his brain's threshold would likely increase, making him start to feel like money wasn't money anymore.
But at least, money could bring a temporary sense of security.
Bian Xun raised his dark eyes, his brow relaxing a bit. Regaining the calm bearing of the world's richest man, he asked Ning Ye if there was anything she wanted.
Ning Ye only wanted to go to the restroom.
...She had been so nervous just now that she kept drinking water.
She actually had doubts in her heart. Even though they had freeloaded a Maitreya Buddha, it didn't really break the plot. But Bian Xun didn't explain his actions further, so she could only bury her doubts for now.
And when Ning Ye came out, she suddenly saw Bian Xun standing with another person in the distance.
The scene had an inexplicably eerie feel to it.
Bian Xun's back seemed stiff, his eyes lowered. Looking closely at the person across from him, it was actually an assistant of Xu Lanyi's.
This scene looked exactly like something out of the original novel: after the auction, the CEO magnanimously gave the item he had won at a high price to Xu Lanyi, turning it into a sky-high-priced token of love.
Ning Ye didn't make a sound, quietly sneaking around from the side.
Getting closer, she also heard Bian Xun's voice.
The voice was familiar, but the tone was stiff.
The content of his words also had an inexplicable sense of incongruity.
"Thank... her for her filial piety. Old Master Bian... will definitely like it."
He was forcefully restraining something, actually pausing repeatedly as he spoke.
Ning Ye quietly looked at him, only to realize that his forehead was already covered in cold sweat, his veins slightly bulging.
"Collections have a price, but affection... is priceless."
The more Ning Ye listened, the more wrong it felt.
The man's veins were popping out even on the side of his neck, as if he was trying his hardest to endure it, not wanting to say the next words.
But Ning Ye heard them anyway.
"Old Master Bian... has always... liked, boys. I... do too..."
Ning Ye abruptly widened her eyes.
The assistant was also surprised. The meaning behind President Bian's words could be said to be extremely clear!
President Bian only had a daughter, while Ms. Xu only had a son.
As Xu Lanyi's confidante, she naturally knew what Ms. Xu dreamed of the most. With a face full of ecstasy, she bowed repeatedly, eager to relay this information back.
After the person left, Bian Xun remained standing in place, tightly gripping the stair railing, his chest heaving.
Until the alarm on his phone rang, and Ning Ye's phone rang in sync.
That was the alarm they had set; it was time to get ready to pick up Taotao from class.
Along with the ringtone, a bill popped up on Bian Xun's phone. It was an automatic large payment he had set aside just in case, which finally allowed him to break free from the state of being unable to control himself just now.
His body stiffened as he slowly turned around.
Ning Ye was standing a few steps away, holding her phone.
She had heard all the words he had just spoken out of his control.
But Bian Xun couldn't explain.
His face suddenly turned even paler than before. His dark eyes, as bleak as the Dead Sea, stared fixedly at her.
The anxiety in his heart was like a stormy sea, more terrifying than going bankrupt.
That wasn't his true intention. How could he possibly think a boy was better?
In this lifetime, he only needed their daughter, this one child.
In order to break free from that restriction, a metallic taste of blood even rose in his throat, yet he still couldn't speak.
Meanwhile, Ning Ye slowly walked up to him, thought for two seconds, and suddenly looked up. "Bian Xun."
Bian Xun's bangs were soaked with sweat, his voice burning. "I..."
Ning Ye, however, shook her head. "I'll ask, and you just answer with your eyes."
"Were you just following the plot?"
Bian Xun's pupils suddenly shrank.
Ning Ye immediately understood.
"You were... forced to follow the plot? Are you being controlled?"
The man's body beneath his suit began to tremble slightly, his dark eyes burning like torches.
Ning Ye finally understood.
Of course something was wrong!
Those lines were absolutely not something the child's father would say!
Moreover, with Bian Xun's personality, it was impossible for him to return the 9.99 million collectible he had just gotten for free!
But the most crucial point was—
He had actually gripped the outside railing just now.
Was this something the normal Bian Xun would do?
As a severe germaphobe, he would never allow himself to touch such unsterilized public facilities!
In conclusion, the Bian Xun from just now was definitely not the normal Bian Xun.
Bian Xun held his breath, just looking deeply at her with his dark eyes, the shirt under his suit already soaked.
In those short few seconds, it felt like a rebirth.
It turned out that the hundred billion he had just raked in couldn't save him.
...Only she could.
Ning Ye breathed a sigh of relief. Her mind worked fast enough, and she finally understood the source of Bian Xun's pressure all this time.
Being controlled by the plot was indeed terrifying. However, when Ning Ye thought about it from another angle, her eyes suddenly lit up.
"Bian Xun, I know how to break this deadlock!"
It was a risk, but also an opportunity!
The man in front of her, however, carried a trace of rare vulnerability.
He still looked as if he was being controlled, stiffly lowering his head to get closer, his tone broken. "Right now, I really need, some comfort."
Ning Ye froze for a moment, then came to her senses.
Bian Xun lowered his head toward her as if he couldn't control himself.
Ning Ye saw through it at a glance, her tone soft and light. "No you aren't. This part isn't in the plot."
He was still pretending.
Only then did Bian Xun curl his lips, finally smiling as he looked down at her.
"Then can you consciously, voluntarily, give me a kiss?"
He really needed it.
It's coming, it's coming TT, ahhh mom and dad go for it!
