Chapter 63: Thank You, Husband

Seeing that Kong Lingxin remained silent for a long time, Meng Zexiao asked again, "What is it? Did none of the auction items catch your eye?"

To be honest, there really wasn't anything that Kong Lingxin particularly fancied. She was not short of jewelry and accessories, had no interest in memorabilia from sports or entertainment stars, and lacked the appreciation for master calligraphers' ink and brushwork. However, she had no intention of missing out on this opportunity to do some good deeds using the Meng family's money. She casually pointed at a beaded necklace that looked somewhat similar to the jadeite one her mother had given her, except that while hers was made of natural lavender jadeite, the auction item was made of natural emeralds.

Meng Zexiao was startled at first, and then he praised, "As expected of my woman, you certainly have an eye for quality. That happens to be the most expensive lot of the night, and you actually managed to set your sights on it."

The vice mayor's wife, sitting next to Kong Lingxin, leaned over and chimed in, "So the Second Young Madam has her eyes on this jadeite. It truly is a magnificent piece."

The vice mayor looked at Meng Zexiao and said, "It seems the Second Young Master Meng is going to dig deep into his pockets for his wife tonight."

A vibrant sparkle flashed in Kong Lingxin's dark eyes. She looked at the vice mayor and his wife, saying, "When all is said and done, it is all for the sake of charity."

Others at the table echoed the sentiment, "With Dingsheng Group's financial prowess, it is entirely possible for you to become the highest bidder tonight. Young Master Meng gets to contribute to a good cause while winning the beauty's favor—killing two birds with one stone!"

Someone else added, "Is there anything else Mrs. Meng fancies? Whatever you ask to be acquired tonight, Mr. Meng will surely grant your wish."

Anyone with a discerning eye could tell there were hidden implications in those words.

Kong Lingxin smiled demurely, then looked at Meng Zexiao with a deeply affectionate gaze while remaining silent. To outsiders, they looked like a deeply loving couple, though these people had seen plenty of such social performances. Still, they continued to eye the two recent focal points of internet gossip with eager curiosity.

Seeing that the young couple did not take the bait, the others dropped the subject, and the conversation naturally shifted back to the auction item itself.

Someone pointed at the emerald necklace in the auction catalog and said, "I heard this was donated by Song Siyuan, the China region president of the King Group. It is supposedly an antique. Not long ago at Christie's Hong Kong, a beaded necklace of nearly identical quality to this one fetched a high price of twenty million Hong Kong dollars."

Twenty million? Hearing this figure made Kong Lingxin's liver tremble. The mere thought of having Meng Zexiao spend twenty million to buy this necklace for her was simply unimaginable.

Transitioning from a salary of two thousand to buying a twenty-million-dollar item on a whim, Kong Lingxin still found herself struggling to adjust. She leaned close to Meng Zexiao's ear and whispered, "I was just saying it casually, please don't take it seriously. My dad won't even let me wear my own necklace; if you spend this much money to buy this thing and bring it back, my dad might actually get angry."

Since everyone at the table already knew that Meng Zexiao's wife had taken a liking to this set of jadeite beads, how could Meng Zexiao easily back down? Besides, to him, twenty million was roughly equivalent to two mere yuan; twenty million was absolute pocket change for the Dingsheng Group.

Once all the distinguished guests had arrived, a host frequently seen on television stepped up to the podium with a microphone. In standard Mandarin and professional broadcasting tones, the host introduced the theme of tonight's charity gala, the attending guests, and finally, the bidding rules.

Following that, the auction officially commenced.

The first items up for sale were autographed sports jerseys—one from a renowned basketball player, and the other the battle gear worn by a famous track and field athlete when winning their first Olympic gold medal. Because both items possessed scarcity and uniqueness, they fetched quite a handsome sum.

The auctioneer did everything possible to encourage the guests to raise their paddles and drive up the bids. Many of the people present were not short on money; what they lacked was the network of interpersonal connections to cultivate. Therefore, the atmosphere of the auction had remained lively throughout, and Kong Lingxin gradually immersed herself in the scene, watching the excitement unfold.

Yet amidst the spectacle, her gaze drifted from time to time toward Huang Xiaoyong, who was seated two tables away. Huang Xiaoyong was sitting alongside top-tier domestic film directors, surrounded by a table of film stars and auteurs. Female starlets never missed an opportunity to gain exposure, each trying their utmost to grab attention through their attire and makeup.

Compared to those starlets, Kong Lingxin appeared all the more dignified, noble, and poised.

Because Kong Lingxin's name had dominated entertainment headlines lately, overshadowing many stars currently promoting new films, her name and face were hardly unfamiliar to these celebrities. Having finally secured an opportunity to attend an event alongside Kong Lingxin, those stars naturally paid closer attention to her every move.

Consequently, Kong Lingxin's occasional distraction from the auction to fix her gaze on Huang Xiaoyong did not go unnoticed by the others.

As the auction paused for a brief intermission, a time for guests to mingle, Huang Xiaoyong—urged on by those around him—walked over to Kong Lingxin holding a glass of wine. Looking at Meng Zexiao, he said, "Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Meng, I am Huang Xiaoyong."

Meng Zexiao had previously heard from Wan Si that Huang Xiaoyong was the celebrity Kong Lingxin used to fangirl over. Now, the man had walked right up to him without a care in the world to cozy up to his wife. Naturally, Meng Zexiao felt deeply displeased, though he suppressed his anger for the sake of the public setting.

Meanwhile, Huang Xiaoyong had been told by his manager that Dingsheng Group's entertainment subsidiary had been inquiring about his schedule a few days prior. Both the manager and Huang Xiaoyong deduced that Dingsheng Group intended to poach him. Coupled with the fact that the Second Young Madam of the Meng family had previously appeared at his movie promotion press conference, and had kept looking at him throughout tonight's auction, Huang Xiaoyong remained completely oblivious to the displeasure radiating from Meng Zexiao's eyes.

Although she had not spent a long time with Meng Zexiao, Kong Lingxin was already able to discern his moods and temperaments through his words, actions, and even a single glance. Not wanting to implicate an innocent Huang Xiaoyong, Kong Lingxin quickly linked her arm through Meng Zexiao's, rested her head against his shoulder, and said, "Darling, this is Huang Xiaoyong. The movie he stars in was released just a few days ago, and Wan Si accompanied me to his promotional event."

Creating the illusion of a loving couple for the benefit of another man—while it made her own man feel gratified and left the other party with no ulterior thoughts—was a masterstroke. Although Meng Zexiao was the young scion of a multi-billion-dollar dynasty, he was, first and foremost, a man. The tactic worked wonders. Seeing Kong Lingxin nestling against him like a timid little bird, his confidence soared, and he stopped dwelling on Huang Xiaoyong's abrupt intrusion.

Huang Xiaoyong said, "Thank you for your appreciation, Mrs. Meng. Have you had a chance to watch the film yet? If not, I can have two tickets sent over to the two of you tomorrow."

Meng Zexiao replied indifferently, "Thank you, but if my wife truly wishes to watch it, I would rather consider renting out an entire screening hall for the two of us."

Huang Xiaoyong froze, then awkwardly said, "Then thank you, Mr. Meng, for contributing to our film's box office."

Though a smile hung on the corners of Meng Zexiao's lips, his gaze was ice-cold as he retorted, "Whatever my wife likes, I am more than willing to do for her."

These words instantly drew the envy of every woman in the vicinity.

Kong Lingxin did not let Meng Zexiao down either. Gazing at him with tender affection, she said in a sweet, sugary tone, "Thank you, hubby!"

Several cameras at the venue were trained on the night's focal point. A top-tier male star was chatting and laughing with B City's wealthiest elite; before the lenses, Meng Zexiao displayed boundless affection for his beloved wife, while Kong Lingxin showed unwavering devotion to her husband right in front of her handsome idol.

Kong Lingxin then turned to Huang Xiaoyong and said, "I've been rather busy lately dealing with matters of public amusement and acclaim, so I haven't had the time to watch your movie yet. Once my husband has some free time, we will definitely go and show our support."

Amidst the roaming media reporters, Kong Lingxin used lighthearted phrasing to address the exact questions reporters found most captivating, displaying the magnanimity of a high-society matriarch to absolute perfection. Those around her could not help but look at her with newfound admiration, though lingering doubts remained in their minds—the Second Young Madam of the Meng family was far from the pushover rumors made her out to be!

Though she weighed every word and action with care, Kong Lingxin's primary energy was not focused on elevating her own image. At that moment, her mind was entirely consumed by how to make contact with Gu Yiming. She couldn't ask directly, so she could only make polite conversation with Huang Xiaoyong, familiarizing herself with him to bide her time and wait for an opportunity.