Chapter 127: A Heart of Pure Sincerity

She did not expect Lu Sinian to say this, or to give Li Ze such an obvious "hint."

Li Ze fixed his gaze on Mu Yinyin. If he couldn't tell that Lu Sinian was vying for this auction item because of her, he would have to be a fool. However, he was here to bid on several items, and he didn't know which one Lu Sinian was referring to. As an intelligent man, he knew that since Lu Sinian hadn't specified for whom he wanted it, he wouldn't ask; besides, now that he had arrived at the answer, there was no need to pursue such an unnecessary question.

After a pause, he looked back at Lu Sinian and said with a smile, "I wonder which item you would like me to give up, Mr. Lu?"

Lu Sinian smiled and, without hesitation, replied naturally, "The Green Bamboo."

"The Green Bamboo?!" Li Ze’s complexion shifted, his voice dropping to a heavier tone than before. He had come primarily for the Green Bamboo. He could make concessions on the other items, but the Green Bamboo was of vital importance to him. A family member was suffering from a critical illness, and he had heard that the Green Bamboo was a miraculous substance capable of extending life and rejuvenating the body. If he could provide it to his family member, their recovery might accelerate, perhaps even offering a glimmer of hope. His mother was quite elderly, and she could no longer endure any further distress. This Green Bamboo might be the very thing that saved her life. He could not forsake his own mother's life for the sake of profit.

A complex expression crossed Li Ze’s face, and deep worry was evident in his eyes. Mu Yinyin observed the man and naturally noticed this. Her gaze flickered, but she remained silent. Lu Sinian, unhurried, continued to place food onto Mu Yinyin’s plate. The three people at the table each harbored their own thoughts, their expressions vastly different: one was silent, one composed, and the other… flustered and conflicted.

After struggling for a long time, Li Ze said with difficulty, "Mr. Lu, I truly intended to bid on several items this time. If it were anything else, I could yield, but the Green Bamboo is just too important to me. I need it to save a life."

Lu Sinian raised an eyebrow slightly but said nothing.

Li Ze continued, "My elderly mother is critically ill and may not survive this ordeal. My father abandoned us when I was very young; she raised me all these years on her own, never remarrying, sacrificing so much for me. I cannot just give up on her… Although I value my interests, I…"

Lu Sinian raised an eyebrow again, watching the man’s conflicted expression. He said slowly, "When I brought this up, it wasn't to put you in a difficult position. If the Green Bamboo is the only way to save a life, then I certainly won't force you to withdraw."

Li Ze looked up, surprised, staring at Lu Sinian in confusion. What did he mean by that? For a moment, his mind began to spin with possibilities; hearing this from Lu Sinian, he actually felt a spark of hope. After all, Elder Lu had once suffered from a severe illness—perhaps even worse than his mother's—and yet he had recovered. That was because he had consulted the "King of Hades."

At that moment, Li Ze looked at Lu Sinian as if he were a savior. He opened his mouth, wanting to speak but hesitating, afraid that if he asked, he would displease the man, or worse, that his hopes would be crushed if the answer wasn't what he expected.

Lu Sinian curled his lips slightly, not following that train of thought. Instead, he continued, "You must understand that the Green Bamboo is merely a hope you are clinging to. It is not a guarantee that the elderly lady will be cured upon taking it; it is nothing more than a gamble."

Li Ze’s eyes trembled. He sighed and said, "Yes, it is a gamble. But I cannot do nothing and just watch my mother pass away before my eyes. I... I truly cannot do that." He had always shared a close bond with his mother. If he could, he would have lent her his own years of life so she could enjoy her twilight years in peace.

"You must also understand one thing: since I have chosen to support Yinyin in bidding for this Green Bamboo, I will spare no effort to help her win it. Mr. Li, you cannot outbid me."

Li Ze’s expression changed drastically. He looked at Lu Sinian in a panic. "Mr. Lu, I… I have no other choice… this is my last resort…" His voice was near pleading. He no longer cared about the business partnership; he only wanted the Green Bamboo. Even if it meant bankruptcy, he only wanted his mother to live.

The man reached up, subconsciously touching the black mole on his right cheek—a habit he only displayed when he was nervous and at a loss. He usually avoided touching it because he detested it. In the past, he had wanted to remove it, but his mother had said it was bad luck to alter his face, so he had endured it for her sake.

Mu Yinyin spoke calmly, "I know something about your mother's illness. She can be cured without the Green Bamboo."

Li Ze looked at Mu Yinyin in shock. "It can be cured without the Green Bamboo?" The doctors were at their wits' end; it was they who had suggested this remedy in the first place. The doctors he had consulted were not ordinary practitioners, but professors of high standing from abroad. Everything they said was worth believing, yet now, Mu Yinyin claimed it wasn't necessary?

A moment ago, Li Ze had been full of anticipation, but now, deep disappointment flickered in his eyes. Perhaps he had just been overthinking. Mu Yinyin likely just wanted to secure the Green Bamboo and was using this rhetoric to make him back down. She might be talented in her work, but at the end of the day, she was just a young girl; how could she possibly understand such complex medical matters? He had to trust the professors; how could he believe an outsider like her?

A profound sorrow crossed Li Ze’s eyes. He sighed, "Mr. Lu, I understand that I shouldn't go against you, especially when you have already offered me such great benefits. But… I suppose I am being ungrateful. I really don't want my mother to leave so soon. After all her years of hardship, I still want her to enjoy a few more years of comfort. So… even if it means bankruptcy, I must bid for the Green Bamboo… I’m sorry…"

Mu Yinyin’s gaze shifted. Li Ze did not appear to be a hypocritical, scheming merchant like others; he possessed a sincere heart. It was truly rare for a businessman to maintain such a disposition.