Chapter 298: Watching the Plot

Fate Value: 180,000

Archetype: Hidden Heir

Secondary Archetype: Ancient Martial Inheritor

Current Cultivation: Early Inner Core

Shen Tian raised an eyebrow.

Not bad.

Then...

Another line.

Special Fate Opportunity Tonight: Ancient Jade Pendant

Potential Fate Gain: +15,000

Xu Ning looked toward Shen Tian.

[Here we go.]

But Shen Tian didn’t move.

Instead...

He looked toward Qin Hao.

Qin Hao’s entire demeanor had changed.

Still smiling.

Still calm.

But his attention...

Completely locked onto Chen Mo.

Shen Tian smiled.

There it was.

The actual plot.

Qin Hao’s system opened inside his mind.

[Original Plot Event Activated.]

Chen Mo attends Qin Family banquet through invitation from Elder Su.

Original Qin Hao publicly mocks Chen Mo’s clothing and status.

Conflict begins.

Host Recommendation: Avoid original villain behavior.

Qin Hao almost rolled his eyes.

Obviously.

Then...

Another prompt.

Optional Villain Counterattack Mission

Seize Ancient Jade Pendant before Chen Mo.

Reward: 12,000 Villain Points

Chen Mo Fate Loss: Estimated 8,000

Qin Hao smiled.

That...

He would do.

No public humiliation.

No stupid conflict.

Simply take the opportunity first.

Clean.

Efficient.

Smart.

He looked toward the auction display on the far side of the ballroom.

A small antique showcase had been arranged for later.

Inside...

Several donated pieces.

One was an ugly old jade pendant.

Worth almost nothing according to its listed appraisal.

Qin Hao knew better.

Chen Mo would recognize the hidden martial inheritance inside.

Then...

His eyes shifted.

Shen Tian was looking at him.

Again.

Qin Hao froze.

Shen Tian’s eyes slowly moved toward the auction display.

Then...

Back toward Qin Hao.

A smile.

Qin Hao’s heart sank.

No.

No way.

He doesn’t know.

He can’t.

Qin Hao forced himself to smile.

Shen Tian lifted his glass.

Again.

Qin Hao stared.

His system warned.

[Host heart rate elevated.]

Shut up.

. . .

Chen Mo moved through the ballroom.

He knew almost nobody.

Didn’t care.

His invitation had come from Old Su.

He’d helped the old man several days earlier after a medical episode.

The old man insisted.

So...

Here he was.

Surrounded by rich people.

Wonderful.

Then...

His eyes moved toward the stage.

Chu Zijin.

He recognized her.

Everyone did.

Beautiful celebrity.

Then...

He saw the group around her.

His gaze paused.

Gu Qingya.

Tang Meilin.

Chi Lingxi.

Rose.

And...

Shen Tian.

Chen Mo frowned slightly.

Something about Shen Tian made his instincts react.

Strong.

Very strong.

He couldn’t determine the realm.

That alone...

Was concerning.

Then...

Shen Tian looked toward him.

Their eyes met.

Chen Mo felt pressure.

Not actual cultivation pressure.

Something instinctive.

Like standing before a predator that wasn’t currently hungry.

Chen Mo’s expression became serious.

Shen Tian smiled politely.

Chen Mo nodded once.

Then...

Continued walking.

Xu Ning blinked.

[He didn’t immediately hate you.]

Shen Tian raised an eyebrow.

"Why would he?"

[Protagonists usually do.]

"Maybe he’s normal."

Xu Ning stared.

[That would be new.]

. . .

The auction began an hour later.

Guests gathered around the central stage.

Most items were donated.

Paintings.

Jewelry.

Antiques.

Wine.

Collectibles.

Money would go toward medical charities.

Shen Tian sat in the front section.

Chi Lingxi beside him.

Rose on his other side.

Gu Qingya and Tang Meilin sat nearby.

Chu Zijin had changed after performing and slipped into the row behind

them.

Qin Hao sat across the aisle.

Chen Mo farther back.

Everyone waited.

Finally...

The jade pendant appeared.

Starting bid.

Twenty thousand yuan.

Chen Mo’s eyes sharpened.

His ancient martial inheritance reacted.

There.

Something inside the pendant.

His heartbeat changed.

Qin Hao noticed.

His smile appeared.

Exactly like the plot.

The auctioneer spoke.

"Twenty thousand."

Qin Hao lifted his paddle.

"Fifty thousand."

Chen Mo looked toward him.

Qin Hao smiled politely.

No mockery.

No arrogance.

Just bidding.

Chen Mo frowned.

Then...

"Sixty thousand."

Qin Hao immediately answered.

"One hundred thousand."

Murmurs.

The pendant wasn’t worth anywhere near that.

Chen Mo’s expression changed.

Qin Hao knew something.

Impossible.

Chen Mo raised again.

"One hundred twenty."

Qin Hao smiled.

"Two hundred."

Chen Mo stared.

The room became interested.

Rose leaned toward Shen Tian.

"Why are they fighting over ugly jade?"

Shen Tian smiled.

"Treasure."

Rose blinked.

"You know?"

"Yes."

Qin Hao heard him.

His body froze.

Slowly...

He looked across the aisle.

Shen Tian smiled.

Then...

Raised his paddle.

"One million."

Silence.

Qin Hao stared.

Chen Mo stared.

The auctioneer froze.

Then...

"Young Master Shen bids one million!"

Whispers exploded.

Rose looked toward Shen Tian.

"You don’t even want it."

"Correct."

"Then why?"

Shen Tian looked directly at Qin Hao.

His green eyes gleamed.

"Curiosity."

Qin Hao’s face almost cracked.

This bastard.

Chen Mo looked between them.

Something was definitely happening.

Qin Hao’s system immediately warned.

[Unexpected third party interference.]

No shit.

Qin Hao raised his paddle.

"One point five million."

Shen Tian immediately answered.

"Five."

The ballroom erupted.

Gu Qingya stared.

"Five million?"

Tang Meilin looked toward Shen Tian.

"Do you even know what subtlety means?"

"No."

Rose smiled.

"I knew that."

Qin Hao stared.

Five million for a pendant worth twenty thousand.

He had the money.

Obviously.

But...

This wasn’t about money anymore.

He needed the pendant.

Mission reward.

Fate suppression.

First stolen opportunity.

He raised.

"Six million."

Shen Tian smiled.

"Twenty."

Silence.

Qin Hao’s eye twitched.

Twenty million.

Chen Mo slowly lowered his paddle.

He wasn’t stupid.

Whatever was inside the pendant...

It wasn’t worth revealing himself over.

Not yet.

Qin Hao looked toward Shen Tian.

Shen Tian looked relaxed.

Completely.

Then...

Qin Hao understood.

Shen Tian wasn’t bidding against Chen Mo.

He was bidding against him.

Specifically.

Why?

His system flashed.

[Suspicion toward Shen Tian: 94%]

Qin Hao stared.

Then...

He smiled.

Fine.

If Shen Tian wanted to burn money...

Let him.

Qin Hao lowered his paddle.

"Pass."

The auctioneer looked around.

"Twenty million once."

Shen Tian smiled.

"Twice."

Qin Hao watched.

"Sold!"

Applause.

The pendant belonged to Shen Tian.

Xu Ning’s panel instantly appeared.

[Opportunity intercepted.]

Original target: Chen Mo

Secondary plunder target: Qin Hao

Chen Mo Fate Loss: 6,000

Qin Hao Fate Loss: 4,000

Supreme Villain Authority Bonus Applied

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(Author’s Note: IMPORTANT!)

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