Lou Qingwu felt a shadow fall beside her as she tilted her head to the side, meeting the phoenix-tail masked manâs expectant peach blossom eyes.
She furrowed her brows and spoke straightforwardly, âWhy are you here?â
But after she spoke, she instantly regretted asking.
Heâd just appeared at the entrance of the auction, so obviously he was here for the auction.
Her question really was the same as nonsense.
The masked man pitifully leaned closer, âLittle fox, you agreed on drinking tea with me after the auction ended.â
âWhen did I agree?â Little fox? What kind of freaking way of addressing?
Following his eyesight, she felt the fox mask on her face and decided not to say anything, sheâd let it go, it was just a way of addressing her.
âJust then, you said, if your master agreed, itâd be fine.â
Lou Qingwu coldly raised a brow, âHow can you be so sure that my master would agree?â
The masked man c.o.c.kily smirked, âLittle fox, donât worry, the person that would reject this gentleman, still hasnât appeared yet.â
âOh, really?â
She shrugged, and didnât bother continuing the conversation.
At this time, a girl appeared on the stage.
She wore a bright red long brocade gown, the outside of the gown was wrapped in a layer of light gauze.
As she walked, it floated and gave off a floating fairy type of beauty.
The girlâs features were also intricately carved, apart from the sharpness in her eyes and eyebrows.
She looked around her as she laughed brilliantly, softening the sharpness in her eyes and adding a few degrees of flirtiness.
âWelcome to the men, women, gentlemen, misses, the annual auction is about to begin. The first piece to be auctioned is a first rate jewelry piece from the number one Jinsi building, called âtwo birds flying togetherâ. Itâs the only one of its type in the world. The rules will be the same as always, the highest bidder wins. Now, weâll ask the number one Jinsi buildingâs shopkeeper to reveal âtwo birds flying togetherâ.â
The girl spoke as another seductive woman with an alluring body walked on stage.
She wore an embroidered golden gauze gown, and was around 35-36 years of stage with an ordinary face.
This was the number one Jinsi buildingâs shopkeeper Jin.
Everyone who knew her knew that this shopkeeper Jin was the famous Jianghuâs Jin Sique.
Her pair of nimble hands could turn something rotten to something magical.
It was 10 years ago, that she created âwhite headed phoenixâ and became renowned everyone.
However, she disappeared afterwards and just as everyone was about to forget her, she reappeared suddenly in the Jianghu three years ago to become the hundred year old number one Jinsi buildingâs manager.
And this number one Jinsi building was even more mysterious.
It suddenly rose up three years ago, instantly sweeping up the whole Dongyu country and in only three years, had branches nearly everywhere that almost monopolised the jewelry market.
Shopkeeper Jin walked leisurely forward, standing to the girlâs side and clapped her hands.
Immediately, a maid presented a tray which held an intricately and luxurious jewelry box.
Shopkeeper Jin held up the jewelry box for everyone to see before putting it down and opening the golden clasp.
Instantly, all the madams and misses at the marketplace felt their eyes stare fixedly at it.
Theyâd never seen such a gorgeous yet elaborate and elegant set.
It was a set that contained a head piece, earrings, necklace, bracelet and ring.
The pieces were all set out in neat rows, so beautiful that they couldnât bear to tear their eyes away.
Nie Zhenâer, of them all, only hated that she couldnât get even closer to see the pieces even more clearly.
Behind her, Lou Qingwu watched this scene with shining eyes that held an unknown depth.
Her eyes watched the jewelry box as she lifted up her index finger, lightly and slowly picking the golden hairpiece in her hair down.
She bowed her head as her nimble fingers picked at it.
As she picked, the golden hairpiece slowly changed, changing into an unknown totem.
After finishing her work, she placed the golden hairpin back into her hair.
At this time, shopkeeper Jin saw it was about time before smiling, sweeping her eyes through the audience.
Just as she was about speak, her eyes fell on Lou Qingwu and froze.
Lou Qingwu slightly narrowed her eyes and nodded almost imperceptibly.
Shopkeeper Jin saw and nodded before soundlessly, moved her eyes away.
âThis is Jinsi buildingâs newest jewelry set for this year, called âtwo birds flying togetherâ, the starting price is 1000 silver taels, the auction -- begins now!â
*
TL note:
The t.i.tleâs translated literally but the meaning is more like two hearts beating as one, as if the birds were flying so close that they could be together as one? I'll be going out tonight so I'll reply to comments + update links later later tonight