Finally, the auction reached its climax: the bidding for the "Starry Light."
Even though the actual jewel had already been stolen by Cifera, everyone understood that this made the auction even more meaningful!
While the jewelry itself was beautiful, the story behind it was equally valuable. The Starry Light already possessed a legendary aura, but after tonight's magnificent and earth-shattering magic show, its mystique had been further enriched.
Not only the on-site bidders, but countless collectors around the world who had followed the event through live streams or news reports but couldn't attend in person, pounded their chests in regret for missing this historic auction.
The bidding war was fierce, with prices skyrocketing at an astonishing pace. Many business tycoons who had publicly declared their determination to win the jewel were quickly forced to concede defeat.
In the end, the hammer fell on the Starry Light at a staggering 3 billion Chinese Yuan (approximately $419 million USD)—undoubtedly a severe premium.
However, considering the charitable aspect and the legendary narrative woven around the jewel tonight, this premium seemed entirely justified.
Yet, the astronomical price wasn't the most shocking revelation of the night!
What was even more astonishing was that the winner of this peerless gem—destined to be etched in the annals of jewelry auction history—turned out to be an unassuming, even somewhat awkward young man holding a "Cifera" fan sign, a Cat Fan!
By all appearances, he seemed like just another zealous fan attending the auction to soak in the atmosphere and catch a glimpse of his idol. Could he possibly be a hidden "Oil Baron" seeking to flex his wealth and humiliate his rivals?
The entire venue erupted in uproar!
Yet when the mysterious buyer was granted a brief interview to the on-site media, he wore an innocent and bewildered expression, claiming he was merely acting on orders. His company boss had suddenly called, instructing him to secure "Starry Light" at any cost. He was simply a soulless tool tasked with raising the bidding paddle.
Initially, he had wondered if his boss had lost his mind. Even if the boss himself had attended, let alone a recent graduate employee like him, they couldn't have afforded a fraction of the winning bid!
But later, he realized the truth: his boss had a mysterious benefactor behind him—the true buyer—pulling the strings. This revelation allowed him to live out a real-life rich person fantasy, complete with face-slapping humiliation and triumphant displays of power!
Starry Headquarters later confirmed that the young man's funding sources were legitimate and reliable, but the true buyer wished to remain anonymous for the time being. They promised to reveal their identity during the subsequent handover of "Starry Light" and expressed a desire to take a photo with Cifera herself at that time.
Clearly, the mastermind behind this was also a devoted Cat Fan, sparking another frenzy of speculation across the internet about the mysterious tycoon's identity.
Finally, Liu Ruyan, as the initiator of the event, took the stage to announce the total funds raised at the charity auction—approximately 8 billion Chinese Yuan!
An astronomical figure that would thrill any charitable organization.
This undoubtedly slammed the faces of the "experts" who had doubted Cifera before the auction into the ground and rubbed them raw! Their humiliation was complete!
Those who had dared to challenge her earlier had now vanished without a trace, like rats scurrying across the street, knowing they would face righteous retribution if they dared to show their faces again.
In closing, Liu Ruyan, representing all the children who would benefit from this generosity, expressed her sincerest gratitude to every generous guest who had contributed.
And so, the Charity Night concluded with a complex mix of emotions: disappointment, excitement, wonder, and satisfaction.
After the auction, "Aya" undoubtedly became another focal point of attention.
Fashion moguls, talent scouts, and various parties acting on behalf of others swarmed around "Aya," eager to arrange meetings, secure contracts, or obtain her contact information.
"Aya" maintained an elegant and composed demeanor, politely declining each approach. After posing for group photos with the models and staff, she retreated backstage with Lu Yue to remove her makeup and change.
Starry insisted on gifting the magnificent gown—the showstopper of the night—to "Aya," declaring that it rightfully belonged to its creator. The blatant attempt to curry favor was unmistakable.
"Aya" accepted the gesture gracefully but offered no firm commitment, merely expressing her anticipation for future collaborations.
Outside the Starry Headquarters Building, the night had deepened.
"Aya," now back in her casual attire and carrying the gown in a cloth bag, stood on the sidewalk with Lu Yue, who had also changed back into his sportswear.
The pair politely declined various offers for rides from both men and women, choosing to make their way home independently.
Lu Yue gazed at the "adult version" of Little Ya beside him, his initial aversion and apprehension long since giving way to admiration and respect.
Ever since "Aya's" insightful words had shattered his preconceived notions about cross-dressing, he had overturned his previous stereotypes about her.
How could a mature woman so wise and eager to help younger generations possibly take orders from that pretentious show-off Little Ya and act like a childish prankster, deliberately making things difficult and playing pranks on me?
Meeting "Aya" today must have been a wonderful stroke of fate!
Why hadn't I ever discovered Little Ya had such an exceptional older sister all these years?
This must have been Little Ya's doing!
To maintain her superiority over me, she deliberately kept me from learning from an exemplary senior like "Aya," plotting to keep me under her heel forever!
Just as expected of that "evil" brat from the Cat's Eye Clan!
Ugh... I think I just insulted "Aya" too... Forget what I said earlier—
Just as expected of that "evil" brat!
Hmm, that sounds right!
Just as Lu Yue was about to part ways and muster the courage to ask "Aya" for her WeChat ID, a cold, resolute voice rang out from behind:
"Miss Aya, please wait!"
Lu Yue and "Aya" turned simultaneously to see Nie Bing striding toward them, her gaze still sharp and fixed on "Aya":
"I apologize, Miss Aya," Nie Bing said, her tone utterly earnest, bordering on desperate:
"Personally, I still can't completely rule out the possibility that you are Contestant Cifera."
"I know this is incredibly rude, even unreasonable... but tonight, would you allow me to come home with you and stay the night?
"I'd like to meet your sister, Little Ya, and your family, and have a conversation with them.
"Perhaps only then can I completely dispel my suspicions about you... Are you willing to accept this challenge once again?"
Beside her, Lu Yue's eyes widened instantly. He couldn't help but press his hand to his forehead and whisper in disbelief, "Oh my god! Officer Nie Bing! You haven't given up yet?!
"I understand your determination to catch Contestant Cifera, but going this far is utterly unreasonable and unacceptable!"
As Lu Yue scolded, the live stream's Bullet Comments exploded:
[My god! Little Bingbing is serious!]
[Old Liu and the others have already withdrawn. I thought she'd come to her senses and was here to apologize, but she's here to raid the house?!]
[Staying over at their house?! This is way too hardcore!]
[She's obsessed! Little Bingbing is completely obsessed! Old Liu's words were wasted on her!]
[Actually, Nie Bing's approach makes some sense. If Aya is an imposter pretending to be Cifera, she wouldn't dare visit the real Aya's home and face her family. It would expose her immediately.]
[The logic is sound, but... Nie Bing has already personally frisked Aya head to toe, right? What obsession keeps her from letting go of poor Aya?]
[Hehe, I see Little Bingbing's true motive isn't about Aya at all. This whole thing is just her way of meeting the parents!]
[Holy shit! You win the internet today! That's the most twisted angle I've ever seen!]
[Wait a minute... considering the yuri vibes, suddenly everything makes sense!]
[Cifera: ??? I just went for a walk in the forest, and now I'm cucked?!]
Apart from a few abstract jokes, the bullet comments overwhelmingly accused Nie Bing of acting absurdly.
Yet, this "absurdity" that others saw stirred a ripple in Cifera's heart.
Little Bingbing... she's gone this far?
Why is she so convinced I'm Cifera?
To be honest, this was only the second time Cifera had been genuinely surprised since Little Ya had tricked her the first time.
It couldn't be helped. No matter how clever or observant Cifera was, she couldn't have imagined Nie Bing would trust her intuition so completely.
It could only be said that Nie Bing's sixth sense was practically a cheat code.
After the massage? After you've touched every inch of my body? And you still suspect I'm pretending?!
Little Bingbing, your thought processes are positively bizarre!
I know you're meticulous, but there's clearly nothing left for you to scrutinize! What's the point in being so persistent now?
Yet, strangely enough, Nie Bing had stumbled upon the truth by pure accident.
Although Lu Yue and many others now believed Cifera was Little Ya's sister, the problem remained: Little Ya's family was absolutely certain this "Aya" was an imposter.
Even if Cifera could use her Authority of Trickery—allowing the publicly recognized "Little Ya's sister" to "steal" relatively easily obtainable information like the family's address—the moment she brought Nie Bing to meet them, her disguise would crumble instantly.
Cifera's plan hinged on Little Ya's cooperation. But how could she expect help from someone she had silenced and whose appearance she had impersonated?
The chances were slim to none. It would be a miracle if Little Ya didn't actively sabotage her.
Cifera had brazenly impersonated Little Ya's sister on the show because she knew Little Ya was the "Pursuit Team Expert on standby." Bound by her professional ethics, Little Ya couldn't publicly expose or denounce her as an outsider.
It seemed... she had no choice but to resort to her backup plan: revealing her true identity ahead of schedule.
After all, trying to deflect suspicion with excuses would only deepen Nie Bing's suspicions.
What a pity. She'd been hoping to keep the suspense until the moment she returned the Starry Light.
Not that Cifera feared being unmasked by Nie Bing. Unless she deliberately let her guard down, Little Bingbing stood no chance of capturing her.
She simply found it less entertaining this way, lacking the dramatic flair she'd hoped for...
Just as Cifera was about to reveal her identity, a crisp, melodious voice, tinged with impatience, rang out nearby:
"Sister! You're finally done with work? Your little sister has been waiting forever!"