Time flew by, and the eighteenth day had arrived. The location: the Cloud Dream Mountain sales center.
The once deserted sales center was now bustling with people. Most of the attendees weren’t there to participate in the villa auction but rather to witness who would eventually acquire Villa Number Nine.
According to insiders, there were two powerful contenders for the auction. One was Mr. Church, while the identity of the other bidder remained a well-guarded secret.
This led to discussions among those present regarding the mysterious bidder’s identity.
“Today is the auction day for Villa Number Nine, and apart from Mr. Church, the identity of the other bidder is still undisclosed. Could there be some underhanded dealings going on?”
“I don’t think so. Public auctions like this one are based on financial prowess. Perhaps the secretive bidder just wants to discreetly purchase the villa. Many wealthy individuals enjoy playing these low-key games.”
“What do you think the final selling price for Villa Number Nine will be?”
“The bidding threshold is fifty million, but I believe the final price will easily surpass one hundred and fifty million!”
Auction preparations had been made in the small hall adjacent to the sales center. It was divided into two areas: the VIP section and the bidding section.
To enter the hall and witness the auction, attendees needed to present an invitation.
Leo had driven to the parking lot, where the chubby security guard who had previously obstructed him was replaced by a tall and lean one.
The new guard, upon seeing Leo’s face, immediately raised the barrier with a remote control.
This tall, lean security guard remembered Leo vividly due to their previous encounter. A smile was forced on his face as he watched Leo drive in.
The once-empty parking lot was now nearly full, and most of the cars were high-end vehicles-Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Maseratis, you name it.
After finally finding a parking spot, Leo parked his car. On his way to the sales center, he crossed paths with Gilbert, who once pursued Sophia. Gilbert had a woman on his arm, heavily made up and wearing a white figure-hugging skirt that exuded sexy allure.
Gilbert, seemingly having forgotten about Leo kicking him away, couldn’t resist a taunt. “Leo, what brings you here when you’re not busy doing laundry and cooking at the Henley Manor?”
Leo didn’t bother to look at him. To Leo, Gilbert was nothing more than a clown.
The woman beside Gilbert curiously scrutinized Leo and asked, “Gilbert, who’s this guy?”
“This guy has quite a reputation. He’s famous in Langstel as the Henley family’s renowned ‘freeloading son-in-law’ Leo, also known as the ‘King of Freeloading.'”
“King of Freeloading?” The woman couldn’t help but laugh. “So, you are the useless son-in-law of the Henley family. Nice to meet you in person.”
“Gilbert, we don’t have an invitation. I heard you have to buy a ticket to enter the auction, and each ticket costs a hundred thousand,” the woman said, snuggling up to Gilbert seductively.
A hundred thousand wasn’t a significant sum for Gilbert, but it could have gotten him several sessions with models at the club. That’s why he was somewhat reluctant.
If it weren’t for this woman he’d just dated, who was adamant about attending the Cloud Dream Mountain villa auction, Gilbert wouldn’t have bothered coming here.
To ensure the woman would serve him well later that night, Gilbert gritted his teeth and said, “Well, it’s just a hundred thousand. No big deal! Some waste probably thinks he can freeload here, not realizing he won’t even get through the door!”
Leo continued to ignore him. In Leo’s eyes, Gilbert was nothing more than a clown.
“Gilbert, the useless son-in-law definitely won’t get in. What do you say we toss some desserts his way after we’re inside? After all, it’s quite pitiful for a freeloading son-in-law to travel all this way,” the woman chuckled.
Her name was Athena, and although she didn’t know Leo, she held men who relied on women in contempt. She didn’t mind joining Gilbert in ridiculing him.
Gilbert cleared his throat and continued to mock Leo. “Good idea. We’ll try that later.”
Before entering the auction hall, people had to wait in long lines. Those without invitations were queuing at Entrance A, while Entrance B was reserved for those with invitations, ensuring a swift entry.
Gilbert, accompanied by Athena, joined the line at Entrance A, where they’d have to buy tickets to enter the auction. Gilbert wasn’t particularly interested in the auction itself, but he was curious about the bidders for Cloud Dream Mountain Villa Number Nine. He wondered about the identity of the contender competing with Mr. Church and why this person’s identity hadn’t been revealed yet.
In essence, this auction boiled down to who had more money to spend-the one willing to splurge the most would ultimately claim the villa.
After waiting in line for over ten minutes, Gilbert purchased an entry ticket for a hundred thousand dollars and entered the auction hall.
Before settling in the VIP section, attendees had to go through ticket inspection, similar to airport security checks.
“Sir, please show your invitation or entry ticket,” a ticket inspector suddenly extended his hand to stop Leo.
Not far behind Leo, Gilbert and Athena exchanged glances and openly ridiculed him.
“What a pathetic freeloader! Does he really think he can get in here? Must be the result of a lifetime of leeching off women, severely damaging his brain!” Gilbert’s words were intentionally loud. He believed that this was a rare opportunity, and he’d never forget Leo’s earlier kicks on him.
Gilbert stepped forward, waved his entry ticket in front of Leo’s face, and continued to taunt, “Hey, freeloader, don’t you know you have to spend a hundred thousand for an entry ticket? If there’s something wrong with your brain, I can recommend a visit to the psychiatric hospital.”
Athena leaned against Gilbert’s shoulder, joining in the mockery. “Maybe this guy doesn’t have a brain at all.”
“You’re absolutely right. A man with brains would never choose to freeload and become a universally despised waste,” Gilbert wholeheartedly agreed, nodding his head.
“I think he looks familiar. Did you say he’s a useless son-in-law? Whose son-in-law?” a curious bystander interjected.
Gilbert cleared his throat and raised his voice, “I almost forgot to introduce him properly. He’s Leo, the famous ‘freeloading son-in-law’ of Langstel’s second-rate family, the Henley family!”
“Oh my, a waste of a freeloading son-in-law! What’s he doing here? Is this even the right place for him? Could he be trying to freeload here, not realizing he won’t even get through the door?”
“I think he’s here to seek some attention. Everyone here is wealthy, and someone like him, who relies on women, can never become rich. So, he’s probably here with the hope of a better life in his next reincarnation.”