"Mr. Zhao." Upon seeing the newcomer, everyone nodded and greeted him.
The man was wearing a plain white shirt, his hair streaked with silver, and his face was etched with wrinkles, yet he exuded vitality.
He walked with steady steps in a pair of old Beijing cloth shoes to stand before Huo Rou and Qin Ningyi.
"It seems Xiao Qin still gives this old man some face. You know, coming here is one thing..." Mr. Zhao chuckled heartily, looking at Huo Rou with a hint of teasing, "but you even brought a little wife."
Qin Ningyi was very respectful towards Mr. Zhao. He smiled politely, "Mr. Zhao, please don't tease me."
"Xiao Qin's wife, could you lift your hand so I can have a look at your bracelet?" Mr. Zhao's smile was kindly.
"I only heard them talking about it earlier, sounding almost miraculous. To dare to do such a seemingly unnecessary carving on such expensive material, the craftsmanship must be extraordinary. It might not have truly lost its value."
Before coming, Huo Rou had been told by Qin Ningyi that the host of this charity auction was none other than Mr. Zhao. For years, he had consistently engaged in charity work, helping many people, and his character was highly respected.
She raised her wrist and slowly turned it, allowing Mr. Zhao to see clearly.
When Mr. Zhao saw the carving hidden on the bracelet, his eyes lit up.
As his expression changed, everyone around held their breath.
"Could there really be something peculiar? Mr. Zhao does have some research into jade carving."
"That shouldn't be the case. Everyone knows that jade bracelets are usually carved to avoid flaws or cracks. Why would someone do this for no reason?"
"But look at Mr. Zhao's expression, he seems quite excited."
"Where is he excited? His expression now looks rather regretful."
"He clearly seemed excited just now..."
The crowd whispered their speculations, with all sorts of theories arising.
Meanwhile, Mr. Zhao looked up, carefully observing Huo Rou's face, then glancing at Qin Ningyi and An An beside her.
After a long pause, he sighed.
The light from the crystal chandelier shone on the bracelet, making it radiant and translucent. It was a pure heart, indeed.
His grandson had already missed his chance.
"Little girl, may I ask presumptuously, this carving..." Mr. Zhao spoke softly and slowly, "the person who gave you this bracelet, was it Qiao Yushan?"
Huo Rou was somewhat surprised. How could he discern it was from him with just these few strokes of carving?
Mr. Zhao chuckled, "You don't need to be surprised. I am very familiar with that young man's calligraphy. This handwriting is clearly his."
"Only he would do it without regard for cost or value, carving so freely on such material."
He asked with a hint of regret, "Does your name contain the character 'Rou'?"
"Yes. Mr. Zhao, my name is Huo Rou."
"Do you like orchids?"
"I like to grow them."
The information revealed through their brief exchange shocked everyone.
Qiao Yushan was a highly sought-after jade carver in the country, possessing exquisite skill and youthful ingenuity. Jade carvings from his hands were not only popular domestically but also entered the international market.
Consequently, he was hailed as a pioneer who successfully brought jade carving to the world.
Qin Ningyi also fell into deep thought. The mountain sculpture he had purchased a few days ago was also his work.
If he knew Huo Rou, then the "Flower Fairy" that so closely resembled Huo Rou might not be a mere coincidence, but was carved in Huo Rou's likeness.
"You must be the little master he mentioned to me." Mr. Zhao looked at Huo Rou with affection. "That boy who couldn't stay still before, it's thanks to you that he has achieved what he has today."
Huo Rou hadn't expected they knew each other. She smiled the kind of obedient smile that elders liked and said humbly, "Mr. Zhao, please don't tease me. Xiao Shan is talented on his own."
"I am his maternal grandfather. I know what he was like before, so you don't need to be modest." Mr. Zhao's gaze towards Huo Rou was complex, but mostly filled with tenderness.
"You don't need to be so formal and call me Mr. Zhao like them. You can call me Grandpa Zhao."
Mr. Zhao was direct and decisive, and Huo Rou didn't hesitate. She followed his suggestion and called him that, which deepened Mr. Zhao's smile.
He turned back to look at Chen Qinqin, who had stirred up trouble earlier, his eyes instantly becoming sharp and authoritative.
"I taught Qiao Yushan his calligraphy myself. It's not modesty when I say that this calligraphy, and this entire skill, are indeed worthy of this bracelet."
"And you don't need to belittle this little girl. Her capabilities far surpass those of a parasite like you."
Chen Qinqin knew who she couldn't offend. While Mr. Zhao had dedicated his life to charity, he wasn't entirely soft-hearted.
Someone who could show such an expression, someone who had reached such a position, was not simple.
Chen Qinqin nodded without arguing.
Mr. Zhao seemed much more satisfied. He stepped onto the stage, smiling warmly, but his words carried an undeniable weight, "Today, I, Zhao Yuanming, make a promise in front of everyone."
"If little Huo Rou decides to sell this bracelet in the future, she can come to me anytime, no matter when. I will purchase it for over two hundred million."
This statement immediately set the price of the bracelet at over two hundred million.
There were people present who knew of Qiao Yushan. They could all see that with Qiao Yushan's achievements, his works would only become more valuable, especially with such top-grade material as the base.
Huo Rou inwardly gasped. Two hundred million. She truly had to work harder. After arriving in Yuchang City, she felt embarrassed to even mention the small sum in her bank account.
Qin Ningyi did not feel the envy from those around him. With Mr. Zhao's words, Huo Rou would become a hot commodity.
Wearing two hundred million on her hand, her safety when going out would require extreme caution.
"Two hundred million! Mom, is this bracelet really that valuable?" An An was somewhat surprised.
Huo Rou casually touched An An's head with the hand now wearing the bracelet worth two hundred million, "Silly boy, if I never sell this bracelet, it's just a piece of jewelry without a price."
An An thought for a moment, and it seemed to make sense. His cautious gaze receded.
"But Mom, isn't Qiao Yushan the jade carver of the ornament Dad bought that day? Why would he send a bracelet?" After speaking, An An realized something and looked at Huo Rou with wide eyes.
"That's your Uncle Xiao Shan. He used my likeness to carve a work, this is his apology." Huo Rou shook the bracelet on her hand.
Her casual gesture made Mrs. Li next to her clutch her heart, fearing she might accidentally knock it and lose two hundred million.
"When you get back, take the bracelet off and put it away." Qin Ningyi leaned in and whispered into Huo Rou's ear, his voice a little stern.
"Why?" Huo Rou didn't mind not knowing the hidden secrets within the bracelet. Now that the calligraphy on it was what she liked, and the flower was also what she liked, why couldn't she wear it?
"Walking around with two hundred million, you'll be in danger." Qin Ningyi looked away, avoiding Huo Rou's gaze.
"I won't." Huo Rou didn't intend to listen to him. "What does it have to do with you?"