The auction hall was silent, the air thick with tension, and everyone dared not breathe, afraid that Jiang Zirong might suddenly lash out in anger, affecting them.

"Mr. Jiang, what do you mean by that?" An Yiqing asked with a faint smile.

Everyone was bewildered, wondering how she could still manage a smile at this stage.

What on earth did she have up her sleeve?

Everyone was puzzled, naturally oblivious to An Yiqing’s resources. However, Li Yuphei was fully aware. His long, narrow eyes flashed a hint of amusement, and when he thought of Jiang Zirong, his attractive lips slightly pursed. Jiang Zirong was being too arrogant.

"Miss, don’t you know what I mean? I, Jiang Zirong, fancy this piece of land. I have no objection to you bidding against me, but why outbid me by just one dollar? Are you deliberately trying to provoke me?" Jiang Zirong’s smile was grim, exuding a menacing aura that filled onlookers with dread, afraid he might pull out a gun any second.

An Yiqing looked deeply at Jiang Zirong and shrugged innocently. "Mr. Jiang, may I ask, is it prohibited to raise the bid by one dollar at this auction?"

Jiang Zirong was momentarily speechless. Indeed, in Flower Island International Auction Hall, there’s no rule stating how much a bid increase should be. Raising it by one dollar, ten cents, or even one cent is permissible, but the elite present wouldn’t engage in such petty bidding.

They felt it was demeaning.

But An Yiqing didn’t think so; the essence of business is maximizing profit with minimal investment, right?

Jiang Zirong was rendered speechless by An Yiqing. Could he say raising a bid by one dollar was not allowed?

Is there a rule? Do you disdain one dollar?

If he voiced this, An Yiqing might have a hundred retorts ready for him. Helpless, he scoffed and turned away.

"Two hundred and forty million!" Jiang Zirong raised his number card, speaking coldly.

"Two hundred and forty million and one dollar!" An Yiqing replied seamlessly,

The auctioneer’s face turned pale, his knees trembling, barely able to stand. Inwardly, he begged An Yiqing, wishing he could kneel before her to implore her to stop.

However, An Yiqing clearly had no such awareness; she was determined to secure this land!

Jiang Zirong sat sternly, his cold laughter increasing, his aura growing ever more intense, yet he said not a word.

The auctioneer awaited Jiang Zirong to up the bid, but after waiting expectantly for ages, he only saw Jiang Zirong slam the table, lift his feet, and stride out of the hall.

His table slam startled everyone nearby, their hearts pounding, nearly causing some to faint in shock.

With Jiang Zirong gone, the play couldn’t go on. Ultimately, An Yiqing won the land with her peculiar bid of two hundred and forty million and one dollar.

Receiving the land, An Yiqing was in high spirits, a slight smile on her face, her dimples appearing particularly charming under the lighting. However, no one in the hall was in the mood to appreciate this beauty and scenery; instead, they felt regret, a bit sorry for An Yiqing. Such a fine young lady, who knows if she’ll survive tonight.

An Yiqing was unaware of the crowd’s thoughts, and even if she knew, she wouldn’t care. Besides, Li Yuphei heard the others’ whispers but merely smiled and paid them no mind. Those wishing the girl wouldn’t survive tonight might end up outsmarting themselves.

The subsequent auctions were much calmer; An Yiqing successfully acquired several more plots of land. The more she bid, the stranger people found it.

Is her family in banking? Even bankers don’t splurge like that, right? Counting carefully, An Yiqing had bought five plots of land by night’s end, needing at least five to six billion in cash. Where did she get such money? Which family elder would dare allow a young person to splurge like this?

After the auction, An Yiqing became quite the sensation. Though they didn’t know her name, everyone saw her leaving the auction hall with Li Yuphei. Thus, everyone knew An Yiqing was acquainted with the Li Family.

That night, countless people secretly sought information about An Yiqing, but the data they acquired was scant. It seemed her identity was deliberately hidden, and no one could find out anything.