Hidden Assassin 146

“Fifty million.”

The meaning of pure numbers is easy for anyone to understand. However, when transformed into money, its weight is enough to suffocate many people. The necklace, which was already worth over ten million yuan, was raised to a high price of thirty million due to a fit of pique. Then, suddenly, a number like fifty million popped out. For a moment, many people thought they had misheard.

Amidst the hushed whispers around them, Fang Yusi stared dumbfounded at Marilyn next to her. Joseph had the same expression of astonishment. With Marilyn’s background, she could afford fifty million yuan, but such a high-profile attitude was truly unlike her usual self. Did she really like the necklace that much? But… if it wasn’t a gift from a man, what was the point of buying it herself?

His thoughts shifted, and he began to worry if Marilyn was angry because of his retreat, deliberately bidding that price. He had been pursuing Marilyn for years, and since Tang Jingyao’s death, the blonde woman, who seemed to have relaxed and interacted with others, was no longer as inaccessible as before. She had participated in some of the family business and had become more talkative with him. He subsequently felt that he might have a chance.

Over the past two years, Marilyn had been his assistant, and they had been practically inseparable. As Marilyn’s smiles towards others grew more frequent, their cooperation became more harmonious. He had reason to believe that he was the most special one among them all. Therefore, at this moment, he suddenly felt a bit worried. If Marilyn was truly unusually interested in the necklace, and he had backed out at seventeen million, would she see it as a sign of cowardice?

Noticing Joseph’s expression, Marilyn merely shrugged lightly, giving a soft smile. During their partnership, Joseph had seen this expression countless times. It usually meant “Don’t worry, it’s taken care of.” Here, it was truly baffling.

No matter how Joseph tried to figure it out, he couldn’t possibly imagine that Marilyn’s current feeling was simply liking it. It was similar to her maternal love for Heidi, and also similar to her past infatuation with Tang Jingyao.

She couldn’t analyze or categorize her feelings for Jia Ming, this boy. He seemed like a child—now a teenager. But no matter what, there was an insurmountable age gap between them. Yet, he seemed more mature than anyone else, as if he could understand everything and do everything unimaginable. He had saved her, and she had sworn and promised him that she would devote her life to him. They had had a physical relationship, but it was different from simple lust. She even missed the kind of unhindered exposure and touch they had had in the beginning. But was all this love? Or was it dark desire? It was hard to say. In the end, perhaps liking was the most realistic term.

However, while the reasoning might be complex, the practical level was quite simple. She belonged to this boy. She shouldn’t cause him any trouble. She should listen to him and make him happy. That was all she needed to do.

When Heidi relayed Jia Ming’s words, she was indeed startled by the number. Rationally, she wouldn’t pay that much for a necklace. Fifty million yuan, over six million US dollars. Even though her family was said to be a mafia, engaging in robbery, drug trafficking, and human trafficking, their wealth couldn’t possibly compare to the few prominent families in Jiang Hai City. To pay fifty million, without a doubt, she would also find it quite difficult. Of course, from the very beginning, she had naturally assumed that she would be the one paying.

However, after a moment’s reflection, everything became irrelevant. Since he wanted to act foolishly, and she had the means to accompany him in his foolishness, then the most important thing was to make him happy. After all, since Tang Jingyao’s death, her only purpose in life was to live anew. Wasn’t it?

With a light raising of the number plate, the crowd’s astonishment, and the blonde woman’s gentle smile, no one seemed to realize that Si Zi, who had once relied on Tang Jingyao for survival, with her strong exterior and no longer melancholic and withdrawn, hadn’t actually changed in essence. She was even more thirsty, drawing power from the symbol of her mental dependence.

Even if it was somewhat deformed, its flower was so beautiful.

**********************************************************

The necklace’s price had been raised to thirty million, and it was estimated that both the fat nouveau riche and Lü Guangyi had some hesitation. When Marilyn entered the bidding at fifty million, the two parties began to retreat naturally, no longer calling out higher prices.

After three strikes, the deal was settled. The auction continued, but the remaining items were all exquisite and ornate but not very valuable. People occasionally looked towards Marilyn. Fang Yusi was naturally one of them. Marilyn occasionally chatted with Heidi and Jia Ming. As it approached eleven o’clock, the auction came to a close. As Marilyn, Joseph, and the other two went towards the back with the staff to pay and collect their items, someone suddenly called out, “Jia Ming, what are you doing here?”

Looking back, it was Huang Bingwen, the playboy of the Huang family, who was walking towards them, arm in arm with a beautiful woman. Jia Ming was holding Heidi’s hand, and he nodded with a smile, “Uncle Five.”

“Hehe, are these your friends?”

“Yeah, they invited me to the auction. This is Heidi, this is Marilyn, Heidi’s mom, and this uncle, uh…”

“Hello, my name is Joseph.” Seeing that Jia Ming couldn’t remember his name, Joseph smiled and stepped forward, extending his hand.

“Oh? You’re Mr. Joseph from the American Salo Company? Haha, I’ve heard a lot about you, I’ve heard a lot about you. I heard you’re here in Jiang Hai to investigate development prospects…”

Although he was called a playboy, he was still from a prominent family like the Huang family. He immediately struck up a conversation with Joseph, and there was another round of small talk. Standing behind Joseph, Marilyn suddenly felt something move. Looking down, she saw Jia Ming gently opening the zipper of her handbag and putting a bank card inside.

“Huh?”

“Swiss Bank, the password is 12345. There’s ten million US dollars in there. Remember to ask them for change.” Leaning close to Marilyn’s ear, Jia Ming then chatted with Heidi about where they could find cotton candy, explaining the production process and scientific principles of cotton candy. Ten million US dollars seemed less interesting to him than a string of cotton candy.

Marilyn opened her lips slightly. After a moment, she pursed her lips like a little girl and laughed.

****************************************************

Fang Yusi lay lazily in her seat for a long time, until everyone had left and the staff had begun to clean up. She swayed out of the auction hall. A man in a suit came over and asked if she needed any help. She lowered her hat brim and declined.

This was the fifteenth floor of the hotel.

The outer corridor was enclosed by huge glass windows, offering a clear view of the city’s neon lights. It was drizzling outside, but the wind at fifteen floors above ground had a slightly chaotic feel. Wrapping her clothes tighter, she felt cold.

The intoxication came like a landslide, every part of her body ached and felt suppressed, then it felt as if her body was hollowed out, leaving only emptiness that could be seen and touched. Only this time, the sobriety came too early.

The happiness of others often reminds one of their own misfortune. She wasn’t necessarily unfortunate, but in the face of those fifty million, she felt like a beggar. She begged her former boyfriend to write songs for her, begged the entertainment company to make her famous, and pretended to beg the audience to spend money on her albums. Who was she? Fang Yusi, the big star. It seemed like the name Fang Yusi was a golden signboard, but only she knew how fragile she was. Once the entertainment company put her on ice, she wouldn’t have a chance to rise again. Her voice wasn’t actually that good. When her boyfriend broke up with her, she realized how difficult it was to find a song suitable for her, one that she could feel. She had traveled all the way to Jiang Hai City to find a suitable composer. But the other party had actually threatened to blacklist her.

Of course, without a boyfriend, without this person here to write songs for her, she could still find plenty of people willing to write songs for her. But if she sang those mediocre songs, she would probably be forgotten in no time, forever squeezed out of the top female star position. After years of hard work, she had earned enough to make her feel secure, over a million yuan, which she had once thought was an astronomical sum. But once she had it, she realized she wanted more. But she vaguely understood that she probably wouldn’t be able to casually throw out fifty million just to buy a necklace.

However… who was that boy who sang “Only-you”? The way the Dongfang siblings and Zhang Jingfeng acted that day seemed to suggest that his identity was not simple. This time, he was being incredibly close to the woman who bought the necklace.

How envious… fifty million… rich people… my head hurts…

*******************************************************

At one in the morning, in room 1602 of the hotel, Joseph knocked on the door. After a moment, Marilyn opened the door, wearing a white nightgown. Inside, there was still a scene of feverish activity.

“Beat him! Beat him! Beat him!”

All sorts of snacks were piled up on the floor, and Heidi was excitedly playing a game on the carpet in front of the big TV, shouting slogans. The unfamiliar boy was beside her.

“Joseph, what’s wrong?”

“Heh, nothing much. Just wanted to say goodnight. That… Gu Jia Ming? Is he going to be staying here too?”

Looking back at the two people battling in front of the TV, Marilyn smiled and turned back. “He didn’t say, but I’ve already booked an extra room for him at the hotel.”

“He… uh… he’s Heidi’s friend? I mean, how did you two meet…” He smiled, carefully choosing his words. Even though he had a general idea of Jia Ming’s identity from his conversation with Huang Bingwen, he was still very curious about Marilyn and her daughter’s previous experience in China. However, the one who could kill Tang Jingyao and a whole group of people couldn’t possibly be the young boy in front of him.

“He’s a friend Heidi made when she went to China last time.” Marilyn smiled. “But I guess she wouldn’t like someone being so concerned about her private matters.”

“Uh, sorry. I just thought…”

“Good night. Don’t worry, he’ll be fine.”

“Uh, I wanted to…”

With a radiant smile, Marilyn gently closed the door. Her hand rose in the air. Joseph let out a soft sigh. He still found the ten million US dollars she had taken out to pay incredibly mysterious. Where on earth did that ten million come from…?

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