Chapter 98 continues to deceive the mentally challenged

Not good! I was so focused on setting traps for others that it seems I’ve overplayed my hand. Han Yan also realized this—if Yuan Tianbo were to give up now, it would be as if she had dug a hole only to bury herself. Oh damn, I need to salvage this situation quickly. Yuan Tianbo, this dimwit, can still be strung along.

Zirong and Huayue weren’t lacking in perception either and both looked towards Mu Hanyan.

Zirong was waiting to enjoy the drama; in all this time, he had never seen Mu Hanyan come off worse.

A twitch formed at the corner of Huayue’s mouth—was their young master about to screw himself over?

"What’s the matter, out of money? Do you want me to lend you another thousand taels? Trying to outdo me in wealth, you must feel pretty stupid right now," Mu Hanyan said to Yuan Tianbo with derision.

Beneath the mockery, both her words and her expressions exuded overwhelming confidence and a determination that she was bound to win.

And believe it or not, Yuan Tianbo was indeed out of money. He had been prepared to give up, but Mu Hanyan’s taunting words ignited his anger.

Being bullied by those of better family backgrounds was one thing, and henchmen being too pathetic to help when he was getting a beating was another, but to not be able to outspend Mu Hanyan with silver was just something he could not swallow.

No way, even if he was indeed going to give up, he couldn’t allow others to look down on him. He had to fight for his dignity. Even if it meant letting Mu Hanyan have the Fire Orchid, he would make her bleed silver severely first.

"How much money do you have on you? Take it all out; consider it a loan from me for now," Yuan Tianbo said to several of his subordinates. The rules of the auction house were cash-payment only, regardless of how high one’s status or substantial one’s wealth—if you didn’t have hard cash, you were out of luck, and he certainly wasn’t an exception to owing money.

Although his henchmen were reluctant, they didn’t dare disobey and took out some broken silver.

"That’s all? Do you think I’m an idiot? Over the years, I’ve given you no less than ten thousand taels, and you’ve just squandered it all?" Yuan Tianbo flew into a rage and started slapping them on their heads one by one.

"But young master, we have families to feed too," one henchman said pitifully, but nevertheless he dutifully took out a few silver notes.

Seeing this, the others followed suit and brought out their own personal stashes. When added together, it amounted to just over a thousand taels.

"4,200 taels," Yuan Tianbo declared fiercely, betting all his accumulated wealth.

He could tell that Mu Hanyan was determined to win today. Although he didn’t know where she got all that money from, Yuan Tianbo was no longer willing to continue the contest with her. He added 1,200 taels all at once, taking a gamble on his pride and also forcing Mu Hanyan to pay out heavily, hoping to regain some face in the process.

The onlookers surrounding them all shook their heads. They, of course, could see Mu Hanyan’s determination and could tell that the two were having a battle of egos. But with someone already bidding 4,200 taels, they wondered what outcome such a wager on pride might bring. Surely Playboy Mu wouldn’t impulsively call out five thousand taels?

For a Fire Brocade Flower worth only a thousand taels, only someone with a fried brain would do such a thing, right? Looking at Playboy Mu, with his face full of arrogance, bravado, and smugness—as if the word "show-off" was about to be literally written on his forehead—one couldn’t help but think that he really seemed as if his brain had been fried.

"Um... congratulations, I don’t want it anymore," Mu Hanyan said, nonchalantly propping up her chin, even as everyone was waiting for Playboy Mu to explode in a fit of rage.

What, she doesn’t want it anymore? Everyone was stunned and looked at Mu Hanyan as if she were a stranger.

And Yuan Tianbo was completely dumbfounded.

She doesn’t want it? Why not, when just moments ago, she seemed determined to not give up on the Fire Orchid? Why had she suddenly changed her mind?

And to even offer congratulations? That didn’t seem at all like Playboy Mu’s style, right? At a time like this, shouldn’t he be infuriated, desperate, and fuming with rage? Wasn’t he supposed to flip tables, throw stools, and make a huge scene?

Yuan Tianbo was utterly flabbergasted.

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