Chapter 11: Yang Ning's Grand Blueprint

“Little handsome guy, come on, spill it. There’s a reward if you do,” Dongfang Fei'er's coquettish voice echoed in his ears, making Yang Ning feel like his soul was floating away.

Instinctively, he wanted to blurt out that she was the prettiest, but Lin Manxuan suddenly coughed, snapping Yang Ning back to reality, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

Always the hunter, yet now pecked by the prey—Yang Ning was furious, and the consequences would be severe.

His eyes darted around, and he quickly came up with a solution. Wiping away the earlier embarrassment of sweating bullets, Yang Ning smirked, “A golden nest or a silver nest can’t compare to my own doghouse. I still think the wife at home is the most beautiful.”

Dongfang Fei'er hadn’t quite caught on yet, but Lin Manxuan kept walking toward the front hall, muttering under her breath, “Boring.”

Dongfang Fei'er finally got the hint, giving a half-smile, “Oh, I didn’t expect that. Little handsome guy already has a wife. What a pity. I, your big sister, won’t steal someone else’s love.”

Yang Ning shook his head, “No wife yet. If big sister is willing, we could discuss it a bit.” He grinned, eyeing Dongfang Fei'er playfully.

“That’s something we could explore. But haven’t you considered Manxuan? Or do you think I’m a better fit?” Dongfang Fei'er's smile carried a hint of slyness.

“Fei'er is quite suitable. No need to consider anyone else,” Yang Ning’s eyes lit up as he spoke.

“So, are you admitting I’m prettier than Manxuan?” Dongfang Fei'er's smile grew even more fox-like.

Holy shit!

This goddess of an elegant lady had set another trap for him!

“Cough, cough… I’m just talking about discussing marriage,” Yang Ning put on a calm and composed facade.

Dongfang Fei'er patted Yang Ning’s shoulder, her smile teasing, “Look, Manxuan’s already walked off. If you admit I’m prettier, she won’t hear it. Who knows, if I’m in a good mood, I might just agree.”

Yang Ning felt his bones turn to jelly. Yeah, Lin Manxuan was far away—could she even hear?

At worst, he’d just whisper it.

Yang Ning lowered his voice, “Fei'er is the prettiest, sincerely.” Then, shamelessly, he added, “How about we start discussing it now?”

“That’s more like it.”

Dongfang Fei'er patted Yang Ning’s head, then lifted her delicate chin, pinching it as she mused, “By the way, didn’t Manxuan ever mention that I used to dislike guys younger than me?”

Dongfang Fei'er spoke casually, but Yang Ning, hearing this, was anything but calm. Being younger was now an obstacle?

Mom and Dad, couldn’t you have met a few years earlier?

This was all because of those late marriage and late childbirth policies. Yang Ning thought bitterly.

“Little handsome guy, don’t be too upset. Didn’t I say that was in the past? Times change. Maybe one day I’ll toss aside that old habit, and you’ll still have a chance.”

With that, Dongfang Fei'er patted Yang Ning’s shoulder, smiling contentedly as she walked off.

Yang Ning’s face darkened considerably. From start to finish, he’d been led by the nose, completely played!

Angry? Unwilling?

No!

This was called playing the fool with great wisdom, okay?

When dealing with a top-tier beauty who loves to tease, you have to let your intelligence be suppressed. That way, the beauty feels a sense of accomplishment, enjoys teasing you, and that’s how you get the chance to build a relationship beyond friendship.

What? You don’t get it?

Damn it! Deserve to be single forever!

But speaking of which, why does this Dongfang Fei'er remind me a bit of the scheming Bodhi Patriarch from Journey to the West?

Lin Manxuan’s cooking was indeed impressive. Yang Ning devoured three huge bowls of rice.

In front of the two stunning beauties, Lin Manxuan and Dongfang Fei'er, his table manners were atrocious. The speed at which he shoveled food and grabbed dishes could only be described as a whirlwind, scaring Little Loli into incessant shrieks, yelling, “I haven’t eaten yet, you pig, slow down!”

After the meal, as if to prove she wasn’t just a burden in the kitchen, Little Loli volunteered eagerly, sticking to Dongfang Fei'er like a little tail, toddling along to help wash the dishes.

Only Lin Manxuan and Yang Ning remained in the living room.

“Appraisal Tournament?”

Yang Ning frowned slightly, “You’re asking for my help—don’t tell me it’s to participate in the Appraisal Tournament?”

This guy actually looked a bit disappointed.

“What else?” Lin Manxuan glanced at Yang Ning.

“I thought you had feelings for me, wanting me to marry you or something,” Yang Ning laughed shamelessly, “At the very least, I could be your personal bodyguard or something…”

Yang Ning’s voice grew quieter and less confident as he spoke, especially when he caught the fleeting cold glint in Lin Manxuan’s eyes. He immediately shut up.

Rolling her eyes inwardly, Lin Manxuan said in a low voice, “Do you have confidence in winning the competition?”

“Is it important to you?”

“Very important.”

Yang Ning nodded decisively, his expression serious, “Yes, absolutely.” Then, the seriousness vanished, replaced by his usual carefree attitude, “Winning the championship—any rewards for that?”

“You think first place is that easy to get?” Lin Manxuan replied irritably.

Yang Ning rubbed his nose, “So little faith in me?”

A flicker of hesitation crossed Lin Manxuan’s icy face, “Looks like I need to give you a rundown on the Appraisal Tournament.”

Seeing this cold beauty looking so serious, Yang Ning temporarily set aside his playful demeanor.

The Lin Family controlled three auction houses, a significant source of income for the family.

Of course, unless it’s a monopolized industry, any profitable business field will inevitably attract numerous competitors.

The Lin Family was no exception.

So, how could they stand out among the many competitors, win the trust and favor of customers, and attract them to auction their collections through their company?

Simple—the Appraisal Tournament!

The Appraisal Tournament was jointly organized by over a dozen non-governmental organizations, including the Antique Association, Jade Association, and Collectors Association. Although most of these associations lacked official backing, no one dared question their authority in their respective fields.

Every Appraisal Tournament drew collectors from all corners of the country. Anyone with skill would vie for a spot to compete. Achieving a high ranking guaranteed fame and a skyrocketing reputation.

Those who ranked high would also be heavily courted by major families and corporations with lucrative offers.

For the corporations, if their representatives placed well, their reputation would soar, becoming the talk of the industry.

For instance, in the last tournament, an auction house in Yanjing City spent a fortune to recruit a talent who took second place. In the following year, that auction house’s performance increased sixfold!

This propelled the auction house from a second-tier business straight into the top tier!

The company’s total value grew at an astonishing rate, increasing by a staggering thirty billion in just one year!

For this reason, the competition in this year’s Appraisal Tournament was fiercer than ever, with hidden dragons and crouching tigers. Every company was giving it their all, determined to either stay silent or shock the world with a single feat!

“Now, do you still have confidence in winning the championship?”

Lin Manxuan glanced at Yang Ning, seemingly trying to spot traces of hesitation, unease, fear, or anxiety on his face.

Unfortunately, she was disappointed.

Yang Ning appeared serious, but deep down, he wasn’t fazed. With the Supreme System to help him solve any problem, as long as he didn’t encounter another freakishly exceptional existence like himself, winning first place in the tournament would be as easy as taking candy from a baby.

“How about a bet?” Yang Ning mused.

“Bet on what?” Lin Manxuan raised an eyebrow.

“If I win first place, you agree to be my wife.”

Lin Manxuan stared coldly at the boastful Yang Ning, wondering inwardly if this guy could ever be serious.

Sighing to herself, she wasn’t sure if letting him compete was the right decision.

But then again, this guy was just a student about to take the College Entrance Examination.

Lin Manxuan didn’t respond, but Yang Ning didn’t mind. He seemed deeply immersed in his role, unable to pull himself out as he began to lay out the grand blueprint he’d constructed in his mind, “If you don’t agree, that’s fine. Isn’t there still your little sister? I could take her as a child bride. It might seem like a loss now, but after raising her for six or seven years, wouldn’t her value skyrocket? If it’s you, you’d already be old. Women past twenty-five are worth half as much, and the older they get, the less valuable they become. But your sister is different—she’s got at least ten years of potential growth. If developed well, she could even…”