Chapter 467 - 463: For Good Luck

As Mr. Young spoke, he secretly observed Cecilia Sterling’s reaction.

Seeing she showed no particular expression, he continued, "His son is also outstanding. After graduating, he joined Rion and secured a major contract worth over a hundred thousand in less than a year."

"Of course, new energy projects are always large in scale. But what I’m trying to say is that Mr. Vance and his son are both exceptionally brilliant. In that respect, you and your mother are very much like them."

Listening to Mr. Young, Cecilia Sterling’s gaze shifted to her mother, who was chatting with Mr. Vance not far away.

Just then, Mr. Vance seemed to say something amusing, and her mother covered her mouth with her hand, her smile exceptionally bright and radiant.

Cecilia Sterling nodded lightly. "If that’s the case, let’s just observe for now. But I know my mother. She hasn’t started a new relationship in all these years. I’m afraid she has more on her mind than we children might think."

Seeing Cecilia Sterling relent, Mr. Young breathed a sigh of relief for his good friend.

"How things develop from here is up to them, after all," Mr. Young said cheerfully. "A challenge has its own rewards. Director Vance is a man who can withstand a test."

Cecilia Sterling simply smiled without a word.

’Men. Who doesn’t get swept up in the heat of the moment? But she had no comment on how long that impulsive passion could possibly last.’

’She had always believed that the essence of love was a consumable, a non-renewable resource. Everyone’s capacity for love was finite; once it was used up, it was gone. It was just that some people received more, and others received less.’

Walter Lane was chatting and laughing with a friend, but Mrs. Lane, beside him, couldn’t stop observing the activity around Cecilia Sterling.

When she saw Director Vance and Jasmine Sterling chatting happily alone, she couldn’t resist secretly nudging her husband. "Honey, look! There’s definitely something going on between Director Vance and Cecilia’s mother."

Walter Lane followed her gaze, and his brow furrowed the very next second. He discreetly gripped his wife’s hand and warned in a low voice, "This has nothing to do with us. Mind your own business."

"How can it have nothing to do with us? If those two really get together, then Cecilia..."

Before she could finish, a furious glare from Walter Lane silenced her.

At times like this, Walter Lane’s resentment toward his wife grew stronger. If she hadn’t insisted on meddling in their son’s relationship and forcing the two to break up, the two families wouldn’t be like fire and water today.

If Shawn and Cecilia hadn’t broken up, then now...

But there were no ’if onlys’.

The banquet lasted for about an hour. When most people were done eating and chatting, the host walked back onto the stage. The bright stage lights flared to life, creating a sharp contrast with the warm ambient lighting of the hall.

"Distinguished guests, our event is about to enter its next major highlight. Our old friends who have attended Jandon’s charity events before will be familiar with this. For our new friends joining us for the first time, allow me to introduce the main event."

The event was reaching its climax, which was also the most important part of the foundation’s fundraising efforts—the charity auction!

As the audience listened to the host explain the proceedings, Cecilia Sterling said to her mother, "Mom, if you see anything you like later, just bid on it. The money will all be donated to the foundation as a charitable contribution anyway. Think of it as doing a good deed, so don’t worry about the cost."

This was Jasmine Sterling’s first time at such a charity auction, and she had no idea what kind of items would be presented.

"Let’s see first. I wonder what kind of nice things they’ll have."

Beside them, Julian Summers toyed with the bidding paddle in his hand and said with a smile, "Ma’am, charity auctions usually feature smaller, more meaningful items. They’re quite different from formal auctions, so you won’t see things like antiques."

Jasmine Sterling nodded in understanding just as the first auction item was wheeled onto the stage.

It was a piece of calligraphy featuring four words: Heaven Rewards the Diligent.

The brushwork was fluid and unrestrained, flowing like clouds and water.

The host announced, "Today’s first auction item is a piece of calligraphy from the well-known veteran artist, Mr. George Lowe..."

The host had barely begun his introduction when Heather Keaton, sitting in the audience, couldn’t help but roll her eyes and mutter, "Dirty old man!"

That’s right, this piece of calligraphy was personally written by that same George Lowe from her film crew.

Although George Lowe was not present today, his calligraphy and paintings were widely circulated in the country. The market price was typically between ten to several tens of Dollar, with one piece even auctioning for over a hundred Dollar.

Besides being a well-known actor in the country, he was also a very famous master of calligraphy.

Connie noticed Heather Keaton’s reaction and discreetly patted her hand. She had long heard about George Lowe’s reputation, which was why she had already instructed Heather Keaton to take good care of Lily.

Heather Keaton said to Connie, "I can’t believe people are bidding high prices for something from a scumbag like him. Aren’t they afraid of being tainted by his bad luck? It’s disgusting."

Connie gently shook her head, signaling for Heather Keaton to be careful with her words.

George Lowe was, after all, a major tycoon in the entertainment industry. If someone with ill intentions overheard these words and they got back to him, Heather Keaton would be in for a world of hurt.

Heather Keaton understood this, but she couldn’t help but vent.

In the time it took them to speak, the calligraphy was sold for a price of 78 Dollar, followed by a round of applause from the audience.

Immediately after, the second auction item was brought on stage. When the red silk cover was unveiled, a pair of Imperial Green jade bracelets with exceptional translucency appeared before everyone’s eyes.

"Next up is our second auction item: a superb pair of Imperial Green jade bracelets from Jandon Group’s Crow Mountain Jade Mine..."

The moment the bracelets were revealed, the eyes of every lady present lit up.

The texture of the bracelets was incredibly moist and translucent; one could tell just by looking that they were no ordinary items.

Sure enough, when the host announced the starting bid of "four hundred Dollar," everyone’s reaction was calm. Most of the upper-class guests understood jade and knew that such an item would not be cheap.

"Mom, this is nice. We’re getting this."

The bidding hadn’t even started, yet when Cecilia Sterling spoke, it was as if the item was already in their grasp.

She had bought her mother a lot of jewelry—gold, platinum, and diamond pieces, not to mention her mother’s beloved pearls—but jade was the one thing missing.

This was because Cecilia Sterling didn’t understand it, and the world of jade was full of intricacies, making it easy to be deceived. That’s why she had never bought any for her mother.

But any jade appearing at the Jandon charity auction was bound to be of the highest quality. She could buy it with confidence.

And so, while others were raising the bid by twenty or thirty Dollar increments, bringing the price up to five hundred Dollar after a few rounds, Cecilia Sterling slowly raised her paddle. "Eight hundred eighty-eight!"

Her calm, light voice drew the gazes of everyone in the room. They turned to see Cecilia Sterling sitting composedly in her seat, a smile playing on her lips as she looked at the crowd and said, "For good luck!"