The onlookers who had previously mocked Leo began to chatter again.
“What do you think, guys? Why is a wastrel son-in-law sitting in the auction area? Could it be that he wants to participate in the villa bidding?”
“If he participates in the villa bidding, I’ll live-stream myself eating a chair!”
“I guess he must have become a lackey of some big shot in the auction area, that’s why he’s allowed there.”
“But that doesn’t make sense, how could a lackey sit in the auction area, let alone in the front row?”
Until the auction was about to start, they couldn’t make sense of it.
Athena, seated beside Gilbert, kept her gaze fixed on Leo. If looks could kill, Leo would have been pierced by a thousand arrows.
Her face was her most important asset and her means of survival in this world. It had been brutally assaulted by Leo’s three heavy slaps, and it pained her deeply.
Mr. Hudson, Mr. Richards, Mr. Evans, and others took their seats. They sat in the front row of the visitor section.
“What do you think, Mr. Church, can he compete with that useless son-in-law?” Mr. Hudson couldn’t help but whisper.
Mr. Richards chuckled, “It’s hard to say. Do you all remember that day? Leo left quite an impression on me. This auction promises to be quite a spectacle.”
“I don’t think Mr. Church can outmatch that son-in-law. After what happened that day, I had someone investigate Leo secretly. His capabilities go way beyond what you know.” Mr. Evans, playing with a bracelet in his hand, had a mysterious smile.
This statement left Mr. Hudson and Mr. Richards somewhat astonished. Mr. Richards quickly inquired, “Evans, what did your investigation reveal? Don’t keep us in suspense; tell us.”
Mr. Evans paused for a moment and then said slowly, “The information I have in my possession indicates that Leo owns a cosmetics manufacturing company, operates a traditional Chinese medicine clinic, and has connections with the Chairman of Azure Cloud Group, August Browne. His bank account holds no less than two hundred million in savings…”
This revelation left Mr. Hudson and Mr. Richards gasping for breath, their faces filled with incredulity.
“How is it possible for such a thing to happen to a freeloading son-in-law? Evans, are you sure you didn’t make a mistake in your investigation? If he’s really like you say, why would he accept being a son-in-law in the first place?” Mr. Hudson expressed doubt after recovering from his initial shock.
Mr. Richards agreed, “Right, there are many people with the same name. The Leo you investigated might not be the same Leo.”
“I didn’t make a mistake. It’s him!” Mr. Evans slapped his chest, looking confident. “You’ll see in a moment. Villa number nine is definitely going to be won by Leo, if nothing unexpected happens.”
“One thing I don’t understand is why Leo is keeping his identity secret,” Mr. Richards wondered.
“That’s simple,” Mr. Evans explained. “Think about it. If he revealed himself as the son-in-law of the Henley family before the auction, he’d be putting himself in a difficult position. Keeping his identity secret shows that Leo is very shrewd.”
As they finished their conversation, they looked up to find Leo had disappeared.
The bystanders and Gilbert also noticed Leo’s absence. This relieved the tension that had built up within them.
“Look, Leo’s gone! I knew it; that wastrel was just here to show off. The auction hasn’t even started, and he’s already run off.”
“I bet he bribed the security team to get in, and now he’s here just to take pictures and post on social media for attention!”
“That must be it! We almost fell for his act!”
With just two minutes left before the auction was set to begin, the bidders for Villa Number Nine finally arrived.
Leading the way was Mr. Church, followed by a man in a T-shirt wearing a mask.
The mask was large, covering most of his face, with only his eyes exposed, as if he didn’t want to be recognized.
Behind the masked man, there were no others. Clearly, there were only two bidders for Villa Number Nine: Mr. Church and the masked man.
Undoubtedly, the masked man was Leo-the one who had kept his identity a secret.
Everyone’s gaze focused on the masked man, curious about his identity.
The moment Leo sat down, a female voice exclaimed, “That figure… it’s the Piano Man!”
“Piano Man? No way…”
“It’s definitely him. That figure, I’ll never forget it my whole life!”
“He’s so handsome. I can’t believe the Piano Man is so wealthy. I suddenly want to marry him…”
The masked man was Leo, of course. To conceal his identity, he had to change his appearance temporarily.
This auction was attended by various major Langstel media outlets. Leo’s identity as the Henley family’s son-in-law was something he needed to keep hidden. If exposed, it would bring trouble and complications, not just for himself but also for Sophia. So, staying low-key was the best approach.
Two minutes later, the auction for Cloud Dream Mountain Villa Number Nine officially began. The host took the microphone and stepped onto the stage.
“Ladies and gentlemen, today is a grand day. The highly anticipated auction of Cloud Dream Mountain Villa Number Nine is about to commence! As you all know, Cloud Dream Mountain is the most picturesque place in Langstel, and the villa area on Cloud Dream Mountain is situated in the best location. Owning a villa here is the dream of many prominent families, and it’s a symbol of achieving top-tier status! The auction for Villa Number Nine has two bidders. Who will emerge victorious? Let’s wait and see!”
“Before we begin the auction, we have invited experts to conduct a market valuation. The starting price is fifty million! Now, I announce that the auction for Cloud Dream Mountain Villa Number Nine has officially started!”
As the host’s voice fell silent, Mr. Church raised his paddle and declared, “One hundred million!”
“Mr. Church being Mr. Church, so domineering, he directly increased the bid by fifty million!”
“What do you think, Piano Man, how much will he increase the bid?”
The host was initially waiting for Leo to raise the bid. However, after waiting for a while with no response, he awkwardly smiled and began to count down, “Bid from Mr. Number One: one hundred million! Going once, going twice…”
Leo raised his paddle and calmly stated, “One hundred and one million.”
“Wow, what’s with this pace? While others increase the bid by fifty million, he only adds one million. Is he being petty?”
“Look at your Piano Man; he’s here to crack jokes, a complete clown!”
“I’ve never seen this kind of bidding style before; it’s interesting…”
Mr. Church couldn’t help but turn his head and give Leo a glance, his gaze reminiscent of a world’s wealthiest individual looking at a beggar in tattered clothes on the street-disdain mixed with pity.
Leo’s gaze remained calm and profound. From his eyes, there was no visible emotional fluctuation, like a tranquil sea.