Chapter 25: The VIP Card

Zhang Tianyou glanced around and whispered, “Actually, the Zhu family has been developing a health supplement, aiming specifically at the wealthy. You know, once people have money, they start fearing death. There are some health products on the market, of course, but their effects are negligible. So they've invested a lot of effort to create something truly effective, which is why they keep buying rare medicinal ingredients for experiments.”

“Oh.” Chen Yuyi merely smiled at this.

Zhang Tianyou hesitated for a moment before suddenly saying, “Honestly, you’re about to graduate, and finding a job these days is tough. Zhu Family’s Taiqing Pharmaceuticals is the leading company in Jiangzhong. You've seen how Young Master Hui treats me; if you want, I could put in a good word for you when the time is right.”

Chen Yuyi understood Zhang Tianyou’s good intentions and smiled, “I’m working now, don’t worry. If things really go south for me, I’ll come find you.”

Seeing his response, Zhang Tianyou didn’t press further. He pointed to a passage leading from the main hall. “That’s the auction area. There’s a major auction today. Let’s go inside!”

With that, the two headed in. Along the corridor, armed bodyguards stood on both sides, exuding a stern and deadly air. Zhang Tianyou walked cautiously, while Chen Yuyi strolled along at ease.

Passing through the corridor, they entered an even larger hall. The space was vast, enough to accommodate nearly a thousand people, but it seemed divided into two distinct sections: one at the front, one at the back. The seats at the front were numbered, spaced comfortably apart, while those at the back had no numbers and were packed more densely.

The hall was already filled with people, and the distinction was clear. Those seated at the front, eligible to bid, all held VIP cards and sat with decorum. The rear seats were occupied by relatives, followers, or simply wealthy onlookers, sitting much more casually.

Armed guards in black stood in every corner, maintaining a constant state of alert. Everyone present was wealthy beyond measure; the guards not only kept order but also safeguarded these magnates, sometimes even escorting auction winners home.

As Chen Yuyi and Zhang Tianyou entered, they drew unusual glances.

To be precise, all those gazes were directed at Chen Yuyi.

Dressed in faded, casual clothes, with nothing marking him as someone of status, he mystified the wealthy guests. Some even reached for their lockboxes, a strange suspicion stirring—could he be a thief? Of course, no thief could slip into this place; the thought was just their attempt to rationalize his presence, as no one admitted here ever looked as out of place as Chen Yuyi.

Others simply felt uncomfortable, just as the security guard had predicted—his attire unsettled the atmosphere.

In the selection area earlier, people hadn’t paid him much attention, as those browsing there weren’t true elites. But here, in the auction zone, the genuine wealthy gathered, and their scrutiny was more exacting.

Some only chuckled and dismissed it, but Chen Yuyi saw all this and cared not at all. He was here to find something; why bother with others’ opinions?

“Zhang Tianyou, why did you bring him here?” Zhu Shaoqi, seated in the rear, stood up angrily. She felt this wasn’t a place for Chen Yuyi; a glimpse outside would have sufficed.

They were here merely to watch, so they sat at the back. Zhu Shaohui had already taken his place among the bidders at the front.

The bidding seats were arranged by wealth and status; the closer to the front, the more distinguished. Zhu Shaohui’s seat was somewhat toward the rear. He’d noticed Chen Yuyi and Zhang Tianyou but ignored them. Now, seeing his sister making a scene, he raised his brows slightly.

“Tianyou, since you’ve brought him in, just find a seat and don’t disturb others,” he said coolly.

Zhang Tianyou bent slightly, smiled awkwardly, and led Chen Yuyi toward Zhu Shaoqi’s area.

“My brother let you bring him over, so you do it. Aren’t you afraid people will laugh?” Zhu Shaoqi sat with arms crossed, frowning, full of disdain.

“Ah, Young Master Hui is too tolerant. If I were him, I’d have told you to get rid of him long ago!” snorted Tao Qiang, a young heir beside them.

He Chao shook his head, “A person needs self-awareness, but some just don’t get it!”

“Forget it, Shaohui said he could stay. What’s the point in arguing?” said Lu Manman and Liu Mengjie, two young ladies, not defending Chen Yuyi, but simply respecting Shaohui’s authority—he was a paragon in their eyes.

Zhang Tianyou kept smiling nervously, not daring to say much, and tried to reassure Chen Yuyi with his gaze. Seeing Chen Yuyi unfazed, he relaxed and prepared to find seats.

Suddenly, Zhu Shaoqi’s eyes flickered and she smirked at Chen Yuyi, “I really don’t know where your confidence comes from, showing up here. We’ve been saying all this, but you don’t react at all. Do you dare sit next to me?” She pointed to the empty seat beside her.

Women sat on one side, the other remained vacant. Even Tao Qiang and He Chao kept their distance, as if these heiresses formed an invisible aura that few men dared to breach.

“Why wouldn’t I dare?” Chen Yuyi smiled and prepared to sit.

Zhang Tianyou hurriedly pulled him back, “Yuyi, let’s sit elsewhere. Miss Zhu, forgive my friend—he’s not used to these circles, please don’t mind him.” He apologized anxiously to Zhu Shaoqi.

“Shaoqi, he actually dares to sit!” Lu Manman exclaimed beside her.

“Haha, this guy really doesn’t get it. Doesn’t he know what goes with what? Our Miss Zhu isn’t someone just anyone can sit next to. Doesn’t he see his own status?” Tao Qiang laughed, shaking his head. As a mid-level heir himself, he wouldn’t dare sit beside Zhu Shaoqi.

He Chao laughed so hard he nearly choked, “Calling him a toad would be too much of a compliment. I don’t even know what to call him, haha.”

Liu Mengjie’s laughter was less exaggerated, but her eyes revealed a clear pity, as if watching a fool.

Zhang Tianyou felt equally awkward, as if their laughter was directed at him. Suddenly he recalled the card Chen Yuyi had received earlier, “Yuyi, where’s that card someone gave you? Check if it has a seat number?”

Chen Yuyi hadn’t truly intended to sit—Zhu Shaoqi’s provocation was just a game to him. He could ignore these people, but Zhang Tianyou couldn’t, so he let it go. Hearing Tianyou’s suggestion, he remembered the card and took it out.

“Ha, does he really have a VIP card?” mocked He Chao.

“Does he look like someone who’d have a card like that?” Tao Qiang’s face was full of disdain.

“Haha, everyone knows VIP cards are gold. The one he’s holding is black—how hilarious!” Lu Manman laughed brightly.

“Who knows where he picked up that card? Trying to pass it off as a VIP card?” Liu Mengjie covered her mouth, giggling.

Zhu Shaoqi rolled her eyes, “Go find a seat, stop embarrassing yourself!”

Just then, a staff member approached—the same man who had given Chen Yuyi the card earlier. He looked like a senior manager, followed by several others.

“Sir, would you like some assistance?” he asked respectfully.

Zhu Shaoqi knew the staff here were unfailingly polite, so she wasn’t surprised by their manner toward Chen Yuyi. Still, she was eager to have him gone, so she said to the staff, “You’re just in time. Please get rid of this person. He’s holding some odd card, trying to pass it off as a VIP card and causing trouble here.”

He Chao and others agreed, “Yes, the VIPs here are feeling uncomfortable. Please remove him!”

Even some of the wealthy seated further back cast approving glances. If not for their status, they might have called out themselves, “Get rid of him!”

Zhu Shaohui shook his head inwardly. It wasn’t about Chen Yuyi—he was less than a random passerby in Shaohui’s eyes, beneath contempt. Rather, he felt his sister’s outburst was damaging her own reputation.

Zhang Tianyou grew anxious; he regretted asking Chen Yuyi to show the card.

But the staff member remained respectful, “Sir, may I escort you to your seat?”

Chen Yuyi stroked his chin, a hint of amusement in his eyes, “This card has a seat?”

Hearing this, those seated in both the numbered and unnumbered sections looked over in confusion.

At that moment, even the prominent figures seated at the very front took notice, curiosity piqued.

Their expressions were markedly different from the others—no disdain, only genuine interest.

“In your dreams,” Zhu Shaoqi and her friends scoffed at Chen Yuyi.

Zhang Tianyou tugged at him, whispering, “Yuyi, let’s just leave.”

“This card certainly has a seat!” declared the staff member.

With his words, the hall fell suddenly silent…