Then the auctioneer's voice shifted slightly.
"And now, a particularly special item."
An assistant wheeled out a display case.
Inside sat a tea set.
The auctioneer smiled.
"Lot 47. A complete Yixing zisha tea set from the late Ming dynasty. Six cups, one teapot, and one serving tray - all original, all authenticated."
He paused for effect.
"The craftsmanship is exquisite. The clay work shows the distinctive style of the Yixing masters. And most remarkably, the set has remained intact for over four hundred years."
Murmurs rippled through the audience.
"Starting bid: 800,000 yuan."
Lin Feng's eyes fixed on the tea set.
That's the one.
A Yixing zisha set. The pinnacle of Chinese tea culture. Something any collector would treasure - especially an old man who appreciated tradition.
Perfect for Chairman Zhao.
A paddle went up. "850,000."
"900,000."
"950,000."
The bids climbed steadily.
Lin Feng waited.
There was no need to jump in too early. He let them gauge each other's pockets.
"1.2 million."
"1.3 million."
The pace began to slow. Several bidders dropped out.
"1.4 million."
"1.5 million."
It's time.
Lin Feng raised his paddle.
"1.8 million."
A wave of whispers swept through the hall.
The auctioneer's eyebrows rose slightly. "1.8 million from the young gentleman. Do I hear 1.9?"
Silence.
One of the remaining bidders - an older man in a gray suit - studied Lin Feng for a moment.
Then he raised his paddle. "1.9 million."
Lin Feng didn't hesitate.
"2.2 million."
More whispers. The jump was aggressive.
The older man frowned. He conferred briefly with someone beside him.
Then he shook his head and lowered his paddle.
"2.2 million going once," the auctioneer announced. "2.2 million going twice..."
No one moved.
"Sold! To the young gentleman for 2.2 million yuan."
The gavel came down.
…
Chairman Wu glanced at Lin Feng with raised eyebrows.
"A Ming dynasty tea set," he remarked quietly. "I didn't know you were a collector."
"I'm not," Lin Feng replied. "It's a gift."
"Oh?" The chairman's interest was piqued. "For whom?"
Lin Feng smiled faintly but didn't answer.
The chairman studied him for a moment, then chuckled.
…
After the auction, Lin Feng looked at his system for the damage.
[Infinite Money System]
[Total System Balance: ¥404,567.00]
[Available System Balance: ¥404,567.00]
[Personal Balance: ¥1,905,868.00]
Damn.
He was back to being broke again.
Money leaving his bank account, it really never got any easier.
Then he exhaled deeply.
He had been saving up for the auction and refrained from spending much. Now that he had finally settled that matter, it was time to put his plans into motion.
…
Thursday, December 10th.
The commercial building stood tall in the Qianjiang New City business district.
Lin Feng walked through the glass doors and into the lobby. The interior was modern and well-maintained - marble floors, high ceilings, the faint hum of air conditioning.
A young woman in professional attire approached him with a practiced smile.
"Good afternoon, sir. Welcome to Qianjiang Commerce Center. How may I assist you today?"
"I'm looking to rent office space," Lin Feng said. "Show me what you have."
She nodded and gestured toward a seating area.
"Please, have a seat. I'll go over our available options."
They sat across from each other at a polished table. She pulled out a tablet and began scrolling through listings.
"Currently, we have several units available." She turned the screen toward him. "On the 12th floor, we have a 200 square meter unit. Monthly rent is 30,000 yuan. It's suitable for small teams - perhaps ten to fifteen people."
She swiped to the next listing.
"On the 8th floor, there's a 450 square meter space. Monthly rent is 67,500 yuan. This one has a nice view and comes with basic furnishing."
She continued scrolling.
"And on the 15th floor, we have a full floor available - 800 square meters. Monthly rent is 120,000 yuan."
Lin Feng studied the screen.
"The full floor," he said. "Tell me more about it."
Her eyes lit up slightly at his interest.
"The 15th floor offers complete privacy and flexibility. Open floor plan, floor-to-ceiling windows, excellent natural lighting. You'll have full control over the layout and design."
She paused.
"It's one of our premium offerings."
Lin Feng nodded slowly.
"I'll take it."
She blinked.
"The full floor?"
"Yes."
She recovered quickly, her smile widening.
"Excellent choice, sir. For the lease terms, we require a two-month security deposit plus the first month's rent upfront."
Lin Feng did the math in his head.
Two months deposit plus one month rent. That was 360,000 yuan.
"Is that all?" he asked.
"There's also a property management fee, utilities setup, and administrative costs," she added. "All together, the initial payment comes to 500,000 yuan."
Lin Feng pulled out his phone.
"I'll transfer it now."
The saleswoman's composure slipped for just a moment.
Most clients negotiated. Asked for discounts. Requested payment plans.
This young man didn't even blink.
A few minutes later, the transfer was complete.
They signed the lease agreement, exchanged copies, and shook hands.
"Congratulations, Mr. Lin," she said. "The space is yours. When would you like to begin moving in?"
"After renovations," he said, standing up. "I'll be in touch."
…
The contractor's office was smaller and more modest - a cramped space filled with blueprints, samples, and the smell of sawdust.
A middle-aged man sat behind a cluttered desk. He had rough hands and a no-nonsense expression.
"So," he said, leaning back. "What kind of work are we talking about?"
Lin Feng laid out his requirements.
"Soundproofing for the entire floor. Professional-grade wiring throughout. A dedicated server room with proper cooling and ventilation. And a recording booth - fully isolated, broadcast quality."
The contractor listened, occasionally jotting notes on a pad.
When Lin Feng finished, the man let out a low whistle.
"That's not a small job." He scratched his chin. "Soundproofing alone is going to cost you. And a proper server room? Climate control, raised flooring, fire suppression - that adds up fast."
He did some quick calculations.
"For everything you're describing... I'd say around 450,000 yuan."
Lin Feng shook his head.
"Too high."
The contractor frowned.
"I'm already giving you a fair price. The materials alone…"
"300,000," Lin Feng said flatly.
"300?" The man laughed. "Kid, I'd be losing money at that rate."
"Then meet me in the middle. 350,000."
The contractor studied him for a long moment.
This young man didn't look like he was bluffing. And 350,000 was still a decent profit margin if he managed the suppliers right.
He sighed.
"350,000 it is."
They shook hands.
"I'll have my team start next week," the contractor said. "Should take about two weeks if everything goes smoothly."
Lin Feng nodded and headed for the door.
…
He stepped out onto the street and took a deep breath.
Everything is in order.
The office space was secured. The renovations were arranged. The pieces were falling into place.
He pulled up his system and looked at the balance.
Then he sighed.
Well, except for my bank account.