Chapter 108: Jiangling's Helplessness

There were five days remaining until the auction. They had arrived this early specifically to avoid any unforeseen complications. Before setting out, they had already commissioned an investigation into their competitors for this event.

At the moment, Jiang Ling and Mu Yinyin were having a meal. Both appeared quite solemn.

Mu Yinyin frowned slightly and said, "From what we can see, there are a few people we need to guard against and negotiate with, but this Mr. Gao..."

As she spoke, her brow furrowed even deeper, and her expression darkened.

Jiang Ling’s eyes sank as well. He finally spoke, "As it stands, he is our greatest competitor and the enemy we must be wary of. It seems he is absolutely determined to secure the Green Bamboo."

Both spoke in low tones, clearly troubled by this particular rival.

Mu Yinyin’s gaze flickered. "We must settle things with him before we can even consider those who pose less of a threat."

Jiang Ling remained silent, his brow still furrowed. While he agreed with her assessment, they both understood the reality of the situation. Those who came to auction here were not ordinary people; they were wealthy, single-minded, and would stop at nothing to acquire the items they desired. To convince someone like that to back down, one would need to offer sufficient sincerity—or perhaps something even more valuable than the item itself.

Yet, they did not possess an abundance of precious materials. If they were to negotiate...

Mu Yinyin paused, her eyes steady. "I could use my identity as Yama to negotiate with them, but... I am not certain if they would be swayed."

Gao Zhusheng. He was their primary rival. He was a foreigner with a volatile temper; once he made a decision, it was final, as immovable as a mountain. Furthermore, he was known for his strange eccentricities, the most prominent being his intense hatred for men. Consequently, there were almost no men in his inner circle, save for one assistant whose professional capabilities were so exceptional that Gao could not function without him. This assistant’s presence doubled the firm's efficiency, which was the only reason Gao Zhusheng tolerated him.

Moreover, the assistant was delicate in appearance, almost feminine. Gao Zhusheng had many perverse habits and would occasionally mistreat him, but the assistant endured it all for the sake of money.

Mu Yinyin had clearly considered this. She frowned slightly and said, "I suppose I am the only one who can handle this."

Jiang Ling’s expression darkened. "No. Gao Zhusheng is a man of many eccentricities and a difficult personality. I fear for your safety."

Mu Yinyin hesitated. "I understand, but you cannot deny his hatred for men. If he sees you, he may refuse to negotiate entirely. Little Qi’s condition cannot wait any longer. We must secure the Green Bamboo this time, or else..."

She truly had no other way to obtain the Green Bamboo. If she lost Little Qi, she would be consumed by grief and regret for the rest of her life. No matter what, she had to win it, at any cost. At any cost!

"Yinyin..." Jiang Ling parted his lips, but those two words were all he could manage; he was at a loss for what else to say.

Mu Yinyin’s gaze remained resolute. Looking at him, she said, "Let’s first scout the situation and see if we can arrange a meeting with him."

Jiang Ling’s expression grew increasingly complex. Gao Zhusheng was known to be lecherous, and Yinyin was so beautiful—he would surely harbor ulterior motives. If he made unreasonable demands, what would they do? At that moment, he felt a profound sense of helplessness and anxiety.

Mu Yinyin smiled. "You don't need to look so tragic. Things won't necessarily turn out the way you imagine."

She had, in fact, guessed most of what Jiang Ling was thinking. But given the current circumstances...

"How can I not be worried?" Jiang Ling looked at her, his eyes filled with endless concern.

Mu Yinyin’s gaze flickered, and she offered a small smile. "Let’s take it one step at a time. Perhaps he won't have those kinds of thoughts. Let’s see what he demands first, and then we can decide what to do, all right?"

Right now, her priority was to steady Jiang Ling’s nerves. She feared that if his anxiety spiraled, the mission might fail. She wanted to save Little Qi, but she also knew that Jiang Ling could not bear the thought of anyone harming her.

Jiang Ling pursed his lips and remained silent. He had lost his appetite for breakfast, but seeing that Mu Yinyin had no intention of putting down her utensils, he continued to eat. The room fell quiet, save for the faint clinking of cutlery.

After the meal, Mu Yinyin instructed her assistant to look into the matter, while she and Jiang Ling continued to analyze the other competitors.

They could only identify those who were visible on the surface. In truth, the situation was difficult. There was no telling how many others might be bidding from the shadows. Furthermore, this auction was not strictly fair; it was not merely a matter of who had the most money, as there were hidden rules in play.

Last year, they had implemented a lottery system where each bidder drew a tag with a numerical ratio. The casino claimed this was a benevolent policy to save everyone money if a bidding war reached a stalemate. They would compare the numbers drawn, and the higher one would win the item. It was presented as a matter of luck in the face of an impasse.

But in reality, everyone knew it was rigged. If one truly wanted an item, one could bribe the organizers in advance to ensure they drew a tag with a high ratio, guaranteeing success. Of course, the casino never lost; this was merely a "benevolent" facade to offer favors to their own people when a bidding war became too intense.

Jiang Ling hesitated before speaking in a low voice, "I will go communicate with the casino to see if we can secure a favorable ratio tag."

Mu Yinyin paused, then nodded. "Go, but be careful."

"I will," Jiang Ling replied, then rose to leave. He primarily wanted to get some air; the conversation with Mu Yinyin had been suffocating. The thought of her meeting Gao Zhusheng without him present left him in a state of agitation. He would likely be waiting outside, unable to see or hear what transpired within, and the mere thought of that helplessness was unbearable.