Alice Carter's heart raced when she heard the bidding price of $200 million. She was instantly exhilarated.
But when she saw the person who made the bid, she froze in disbelief.
It was him?
The young man was none other than the one who had wanted to buy her Spring Blossom Restaurant.
Could it be that he was really her admirer?
Well, whatever. Even if he were, she could always refuse him later.
Still, he was really handsome. And quite easy on the eyes.
...
The crowd in the hall looked at Jack, the one who had made the bid, trying to figure out which wealthy heir he was. Jack was just too young, far removed from the typical successful elite.
But when they saw the man walking behind Jack, Buck Niu, they began to get uneasy.
While Jack himself was unfamiliar, Buck Niu was the chairman of Buck Group, a true big shot in the business world.
To have such a powerful figure trailing after Jack, almost like a devoted follower, made everyone pause and think.
The more they thought about it, the more they grew worried—this young man was far too formidable.
Jack found an empty seat and sat down, with Buck Niu settling beside him.
The onlookers couldn't help but glance over periodically, clearly intrigued by the duo.
Alice Carter snapped out of her stupor and cleared her throat. She spoke up, "Is there anyone willing to offer more than $200 million?"
Her question was more out of formality.
"Congratulations to this gentleman for winning the chance to have dinner with me," Alice said with a smile.
"Thank you for your donation and your support for this charity event," she continued.
"Now, we come to the final item."
At this point, Alice Carter paused.
She had initially thought a simple dinner wouldn't raise enough funds, so she had prepared a backup plan.
But now that enough funds had been raised, she was left uncertain about how to wrap things up.
With a deep breath, she continued, "The last item is... my silk pajamas, which I wore just last night."
Alice, despite her strong mental fortitude, couldn't help but feel embarrassed at her words. Her face flushed a bit, the color of her red dress complementing her rosy cheeks.
The crowd erupted in excitement at hearing that Alice Carter's silk pajamas were on offer—and that they had been worn just the night before.
"My god, it's Alice Carter's pajamas! This is insane!"
"Wait, they were worn last night? Does that mean they still carry her scent?"
"I've got to have these pajamas."
"I absolutely must win this bid."
People eagerly vied to make a higher offer, almost ready to brawl over the pajamas.
In their minds, they pictured a beautiful scene, each one imagining themselves owning the intimate garment.
Everyone instinctively clenched their fists, determined to win the bid and claim the item for themselves.
Jack, meanwhile, couldn't help but admire Alice Carter's red dress. The woman was made to wear a qipao. It perfectly showcased her stunning figure—slender yet curvy in all the right places.
She was truly a mesmerizing beauty.
Jack couldn't help but reflect—no wonder she was called the "Fiery Rose" of Riverstone City. She was like a blazing fire, radiating heat and allure.
The system, which had been quietly observing, chimed in at that moment.
System: "Host, you're going to let that silk pajamas go to someone else?"
Jack raised an eyebrow, a smirk forming on his lips. He didn't respond aloud but instead conversed with the system in his mind.
Jack: "Why? Do you have an issue with me bidding?"
System: "Not at all. But it's a rare opportunity. Do you not want to collect this one-of-a-kind item? It could make a great addition to your collection. Plus, it would show your generosity and help with your influence."
Jack didn't need any more encouragement.
He looked at Alice, his gaze shifting back to the item on offer—her silk pajamas. He had to admit, the thought of owning something so intimate of Alice Carter made his heart race, and the price didn't seem like a deterrent.
He spoke aloud, his voice firm and confident.
"The starting bid is $100,000," Alice said quickly, hoping to finish the auction quickly amidst the growing noise.
Instantly, bids began pouring in.
"I bid $110,000."
"Only $10,000 more? I'll go with $130,000."
"$200,000."
"$500,000."
...
"$2 million."
Within moments, the bid had already reached $2 million, demonstrating just how irresistible Alice's silk pajamas were.
"$3 million."
When the bid hit $3 million, the room fell silent. Paying $3 million for a pair of pajamas—this was getting out of hand.
Just as the winning bidder thought they had secured the item, Jack spoke up, his voice echoing through the hall.
"Two hundred million."
The room froze. Jack's bid left everyone stunned. Now that was a true millionaire.
System: "Host, are you sure? That's quite the hefty price tag for a pair of pajamas."
Jack: "It's a worthy price. Think about it—the attention I'll get, the impression it will leave, and the possibilities…"
Buck Niu, sitting beside Jack, was equally shocked.
He knew Jack had money, but this was beyond anything he'd ever imagined. To spend two hundred million for a dinner and then another two hundred million for a pair of pajamas?
He couldn't even fathom it. He knew he had to stick close to Jack—this was one mighty "big leg" to hug.
Alice Carter, too, was dumbstruck.
She never imagined that her silk pajamas would fetch such an astronomical price.
Could it be that he was really bidding for her?
Looking at Jack's handsome face, she suddenly found it hard to continue thinking. She pictured him holding her pajamas later that night, and quickly looked away, feeling her face flush.
She gathered her composure and spoke once more, "Is there anyone willing to bid higher than $200 million?"
She knew no one would bid any higher—$200 million was already an astronomical amount, and she only asked out of politeness.
System: "Host, you're making an impression, but be careful of how much you spend. You need to keep your assets in mind."
Jack: "Don't worry. This is just the beginning. The system will help me find more ways to increase my wealth."
"Since there are no further bids, this pair of silk pajamas belongs to this gentleman," Alice said with a smile.
The crowd, now merely spectators, watched in awe at Jack. He was truly impressive—nothing less than a top-tier heir, and they couldn't help but feel like mere ordinary people in comparison.
"Thank you, everyone, for attending this charity auction," Alice said, wrapping up the event.
"With that, all the auction items have been sold."
"We will regularly report on how the funds are used, ensuring every dollar is allocated to those who need it."
"Once again, thank you all for your participation."
The applause was deafening.
Soon, everyone began to leave in an orderly fashion, and Buck Niu followed the crowd.
Jack was called backstage.