As the saying goes, know your enemy and know yourself, and you can fight a hundred battles without defeat. Qi Fei and Guan Yingying had certainly done their preparatory work to the letter.

After his identity as the "King of Hype" was exposed, Guo Jiandeng’s demeanor clearly shifted. He understood that his opponents had already researched him before they even met, which meant the baseline price for this transaction had just significantly increased.

In the film and television industry, Guo Jiandeng was renowned as a master manipulator of publicity, but in the collecting world, his initial acquisitions were unceremoniously dismissed by industry insiders as the work of a "fool with too much money."

A piece of calligraphy and painting valued at half a million, he’d audaciously bid eight hundred thousand for it. Bronze artifacts that everyone agreed had limited appreciation potential, he scooped up just as the market peaked. When experts commented, they would often chuckle, saying that Boss Guo had been leading trends in the entertainment world for years, earned more than enough money, and was now finally foregoing luxury cars and mansions to accumulate cultural depth.

Though phrased politely, everyone understood the underlying implication: they looked down on Guo Jiandeng’s blind collecting, mocking him as an upstart trying too hard to appear refined.

However, some people did the math for Guo Jiandeng and discovered that everything he bought had subsequently appreciated in value shortly thereafter. Upon careful calculation, even though his methods were ridiculed by industry peers, he was undeniably making real money.

Slowly, the mocking voices faded, and people finally began to take the moniker "King of Hype" for Guo Jiandeng seriously. A question arose in everyone’s mind: Could this Guo Jiandeng be a genuine dark horse, whose talent for promotion wasn't just effective in the film industry but could sweep over the collecting world as well?

The industry’s opinions on this nouveau riche’s behavior were mixed. But regardless, Guo Jiandeng had managed to build a minor reputation in the collecting circles. Anyone who had heard of him knew his two defining traits: first, he was incredibly generous with his spending; second, anything he collected was guaranteed to rise in value.

In other words, if he took a shine to your item, you should prepare to start counting your money.

Wang Zhuo had anticipated a drawn-out haggling session, perhaps ending in a breakdown or a stalemate requiring time for both sides to reconsider. He never imagined the entire process would take only three minutes!

Guo Jiandeng opened with an offer of twenty million. This price was essentially the going rate for that piece of jade rough. Logically, the buyer should have tried to lowball the initial offer, but Guo Jiandeng skipped that step entirely, demonstrating the sheer depth of his financial power.

Since the buyer had made an offer, it was naturally the seller’s turn to counter. Wang Zhuo intended to stay back and hold the final position, so Guan Yingying stepped forward first. She itemized the market conditions, quality, reputation, and other advantages, arguing that the jade was worth at least thirty million.

“Thirty million is too steep. Bring it down a bit,” Guo Jiandeng said this without even closely examining the jade yet.

Exchanging a glance with Wang Zhuo, Guan Yingying continued, “But this is old-pit material, sir. It can’t be compared to the new-mine stuff they’re bringing out now. Mr. Guo, you know as well as anyone that the old-pit mines are long exhausted. All the rough material we have left is years of inventory. Maybe we’ll never be lucky enough to pull out such a fine piece again. I think we can only lower the price by two million at most; we can’t go any lower.”

“It really can’t go any lower?” Guo Jiandeng looked toward Wang Zhuo.

Wang Zhuo naturally needed to support Guan Yingying, nodding vigorously. Business was about asking high and settling low, negotiating slowly.

“Twenty-eight million. Still a bit high…” Guo Jiandeng pondered for a moment, then stood up. “All right, then.”

Just as everyone expected him to refuse the deal and walk away, the man smiled at Wang Zhuo and asked, “Do you prefer cash or a check?”

...

Guo Jiandeng handled matters with surprising speed. The two experts he brought along advised him to reconsider, but he remained firm in his decision.

It wasn't until he was in the private banking suite and received the transfer of twenty-eight million that Wang Zhuo was still somewhat unclear about the situation. Weren’t they scheduled to meet with a delegation of Taiwanese collectors and two groups of jewelry companies later today? And it was already sold?

Guo Jiandeng left in his extended Hummer. From beginning to end, he only looked at the jade once, after the money had been exchanged. He held it, tossing it lightly to gauge its weight, which made his two experts instinctively reach out underneath, terrified that the treasure might slip and smash onto the floor.

When the four of them returned to the clubhouse, Guan Yingying said with a hint of hesitation, “Did we price it too low?”

“I don’t think so,” Qi Fei frowned slightly.

Despite selling for such a high price, none of the four looked particularly elated. The transaction had been too bizarre; Guo Jiandeng had paid far too readily.

“He bought the jade without even giving it a proper look,” Qiu Lu murmured. “This is the first time I’ve ever encountered someone who buys jade like that.”

Guan Yingying managed a wry smile. “No wonder people say he’s a fool with too much money! I feel that way now, too!”

“Oh, right!” Wang Zhuo suddenly slapped his thigh, startling the other three. “I should have transferred your shares right then! I completely forgot!”

Qi Fei quickly waved his hand. “Wang Zhuo, we can’t take this money, truly.”

Qiu Lu added, “We shouldn't accept rewards for no effort. If you insist on giving something, just a small red envelope to show goodwill will be enough.”

Guan Yingying simply rolled her eyes at him. “We’re friends, aren’t we? Talking about money makes us strangers!”

Wang Zhuo remained unmoved, insisting stubbornly, “Then I’ll withdraw the cash tomorrow and deliver it to each of you personally.”

Guan Yingying burst out laughing. “Have you been watching too many Hong Kong/Taiwanese gangster movies? Ten thousand yuan weighs 115 grams; one million is 11.5 kilograms. Do you think you can carry two point eight million in a small box?”

Wang Zhuo was taken aback. Qi Fei covered his mouth, chuckling. “Two point eight million weighs about thirty kilograms! Don’t give it to me; I can’t lift that much.”

Qiu Lu also waved his hands dismissively. “Don’t look at me. I’ve never done any heavy lifting; my arms are weak as straw.”

“I refuse to believe anyone is actually afraid of the weight of money!” Wang Zhuo feigned a huff and pulled out his phone. “I’ll call my relationship manager and have him prepare the cash.”

“Go ahead and call,” Guan Yingying said, her face blooming into a smile. “One-tenth each for the three of us—that’s eight point four million, about one hundred kilograms. Let’s see where your relationship manager finds that much physical cash for you.”

“The relationship manager will definitely advise you to transfer it, I bet,” Qiu Lu laughed. “He’d be thrilled if you didn’t even need to transfer the funds; bringing in over twenty million in deposits means his monthly bonus will be substantial.”

“Stop joking,” Qi Fei sobered up, though a slight smile still played on his lips. “Wang Zhuo, we really cannot accept this sum. Just send us three sizable red envelopes instead.”

“Fine, I’ll prepare red envelopes for you then.”

Seeing their sincere attitude, Wang Zhuo had no choice but to drop the insistence. After all, making the red envelopes large enough would achieve the same intended effect.

“Oh dear, we forgot the main business,” Qi Fei suddenly took out his phone, a wry smile on his face. “We had appointments with other collectors and jewelry companies. We’ll have to apologize and cancel now.”

...

Inside the Hummer, Guo Jiandeng was puffing away on his cigar again. Zhao Meng was scrutinizing the jade with a magnifying glass, while Ma Zhongbai said with a touch of regret, “Mr. Guo, that price was truly a bit high. We probably could have bargained another million or two off.”

A million or two was his diplomatic way of putting it; in his own mind, twenty-two or twenty-three million would have been sufficient, and perhaps less if there had been no competition.

Guo Jiandeng smiled faintly. “It’s fine. Twenty-eight sounds auspicious; I like it.”

“This… this is just throwing money away,” Ma Zhongbai chuckled wryly. “That’s not twenty-eight, that’s twenty-eight million.”

Guo Jiandeng shook his head. “Spending ten thousand more now means someone will give me twenty thousand more in the future. Since being generous benefits everyone, why wouldn’t I be pleased to do so?”

Zhao Meng lowered the magnifying glass and chuckled from the side. “With Mr. Guo’s skill in promotion, combined with the existing fame of this jade piece, this venture is guaranteed to yield substantial profit.”

“I’m not promoting it; I’m simply uncovering value that others couldn’t see,” Guo Jiandeng laughed quietly. “In the eyes of a mediocre person, this jade is only worth a little over ten million. In the eyes of an expert, perhaps around twenty-five million. Take a guess, what is it worth in my eyes?”

“We can’t guess,” the two shook their heads together.

Guo Jiandeng slowly took a drag from his cigarette, exhaled a smoke ring, and said leisurely, “Its fame is priceless.”