Chapter 162: Backing? Who Are You Looking Down On? I Have It Too

So he said flatly, "Miss Gu."

"Aren’t you questioning the integrity of our Golden Phoenix Pavilion? Since that’s the case, why should we give you a discount! The original price was over one hundred million. You will compensate us for the full amount!"

"If you won’t pay, we’ll see you in court! The Golden Phoenix Pavilion has nothing to fear!"

His words were firm and resolute.

But by now, Zhang Sanwang and Li Bai had caught on.

Zhang Sanwang immediately thought of the perfect solution.

He plopped down on the floor. "Hey, hey, stop all the shouting. We’re trying to raise the money, you know? Don’t pay any mind to Gu Shengsheng. We’ll get you your money."

"It’s just... raising the funds is a bit tricky... We’re definitely going to need that discount."

As he spoke, Li Bai understood. ’He’s just trying to play both sides, isn’t he?’

He sat down on the floor as well. "I’m also going through a complicated process over here."

Zhang Zhengyi found the whole thing rather amusing and leaned back, saying nothing.

Director Wang Yu, too, relaxed. He felt that since Gu Shengsheng had taken charge, they didn’t need to worry.

Then, Gu Shengsheng shot Wang Yu a look, and only then did he hurry to contact the experts in Anxi City.

As for her... after a moment’s thought, she decided to contact Mr. Ryan.

About half an hour later, the venue host spoke up again, his voice dripping with contempt. "What on earth are you people doing? Are you just trying to stall for time to contact experts?"

"The experts from Anxi all went to Lishan City for a conference. It’s impossible for you to find anyone!"

Zhang Sanwang pointed at him. "You people are truly vicious! You’re just trying to screw us over, aren’t you?"

"Get up! Stop wasting time here. Pay up or get out!"

Zhang Sanwang retorted, "I’m not getting out. I’m going to sit right here and piss you off!"

"I’m not calling any experts! I’m raising money. So what? You people from the Golden Phoenix Pavilion were singing its praises to high heaven before, and now you’re showing your true colors!"

The man was speechless. "You’re the ones who are ridiculously shameless!"

Li Bai shot back, "What does us being shameless have to do with you? Are we eating your rice or something?"

"..."

With negotiations at a standstill, there was nothing more to be said.

Eventually, they stalled long enough for the experts to arrive.

The experts had rushed over by plane, looking travel-worn, and their hair was a complete mess.

These old-timers were not young, and most didn’t have much hair to begin with. Their current expressions and appearance were as unsightly as could be.

The venue host was stunned. "What’s going on?"

"Esteemed experts, thank you for coming. Please help us examine these black pottery jars and determine if they are authentic or fakes."

"Miss Gu, we only came as a favor to Mr. Ryan. Do you have any idea? I’d just taken a single bite of my dinner when I was whisked away to a plane to get here."

"Same here, Miss Gu..."

Gu Shengsheng went to each of them, offering words of comfort and politely saying all the things elders love to hear.

Just as expected, their moods immediately improved.

The appraisal began. As the old experts were about to pick up the shards, Zhang Zhengyi produced a small jar. "To prevent the Golden Phoenix Pavilion from pulling any tricks, I made sure to save a control sample."

It was the instinct of a professor accustomed to daily experiments to always keep a control sample.

The experts were a bit stunned. "Wait, didn’t the Golden Phoenix Pavilion have a very good reputation before?"

Gu Shengsheng replied, "Their reputation was only good because no one had exposed them yet."

"For now, we’ll have to trouble you gentlemen to see if this item is real or fake."

After she spoke, the experts began their appraisal, and the venue host couldn’t say a word.

He took the opportunity to sneak upstairs to find someone.

He was going to get Huang Bai. He really couldn’t handle this anymore.

Before the appraisal was even finished, Huang Bai came over, leaning on a cane.

Looking frail, his lips pale, he addressed them. "Director Wang Yu, Professor Zhang, Miss Gu, and our business associates, my deepest apologies."

"I fainted from all the excitement just now. I hear my subordinates have been running their mouths, is that right?"

"Please, don’t take it to heart. I will launch a full investigation."

’I’ve long been immune to these kinds of tricks,’ Gu Shengsheng thought. But there was nothing to be done about it.

She could only force a polite smile. "Mr. Huang, no need to worry. The appraisal has already begun. If these items are genuine, we will certainly compensate you."

"Oh my, how could we possibly ask you for compensation! Don’t listen to the nonsense my people are spouting!" he said, shooting a glare at the venue host.

Zhang Sanwang was speechless. "If everyone were as good an actor as you, Mr. Huang, would there be any normal people left in the world?"

"You faint when we’re in trouble, but now that you’re about to be in big trouble, you suddenly appear? How ridiculous."

Everyone knew exactly what was going on, but no one said it out loud.

A moment later, the experts’ expressions turned grim.

"The other Liangzhu artifacts are authentic," one announced. "But these fragments on the floor... after our appraisal, we have determined they are fakes."

At this declaration, gasps erupted from the crowd.

"So it really was Boss Huang trying to scam people! Who would ever dare come to the Golden Phoenix Pavilion again?"

"Isn’t this Golden Phoenix Pavilion just a predatory den? And to think we were invited guests today."

"..."

Gu Shengsheng chimed in, "Exactly. If this is how they treat invited guests, I can only imagine how they’ve cheated others."

"In any case, the Golden Phoenix Pavilion owes everyone an explanation."

Huang Bai said, "I know. As the owner of such a large enterprise, I will naturally give everyone an explanation and get to the bottom of our internal problems."

Gu Shengsheng said coldly, "That won’t be necessary. I’ll be contacting the court myself. We’ll face each other there."

"And I won’t be accepting any out-of-court settlements. We’ll let the judge see exactly what the Golden Phoenix Pavilion is all about."

"A moment ago, you were the ones threatening to take this to a judge. You’re not angry with me now, are you?" Gu Shengsheng asked.

"..." Huang Bai looked like he was about to grind his teeth to dust. "Of course not. Miss Gu, you are the customer. Please, feel free."

’I’d love to strangle her,’ he thought, but for now, he had to keep his words pleasant.

Gu Shengsheng folded her arms and, with the click of her high heels, walked toward him step by step.

A slight smile touched her radiant face. "Boss Huang, I’m not going to let this matter of your collaboration with the He Family go."

"The He Family is your backer. Have you ever considered that I have a backer too?"

He finally started to panic. The color drained from his face, and his forehead broke out in a cold sweat.

"Who on earth are you?"

’Mr. Ryan isn’t here,’ Gu Shengsheng mused. ’Why not borrow some of his might for myself?’

’Besides, this Huang Bai doesn’t know Mr. Ryan personally. The main thing is to make him think twice if he ever considers causing trouble again.’

’All in all, this has moved beyond the world of antique appraisal and into the realm of corporate warfare.’

Gu Shengsheng deliberately kept her words ambiguous. "Mr. Huang, the experts here today... Mr. Ryan helped me find them."

"I assume you know who that is?"

Huang Bai clenched his fists. The He Family was currently being suppressed by Ryan and couldn’t do a thing, which was why they hadn’t dared to touch Gu Shengsheng in Beijing City.

’He’d thought coming to Anxi would be different, but he never expected Ryan’s reach to be this long.’

’Still, the mere mention of that man struck fear in him. If Ryan got involved, the Golden Phoenix Pavilion could face a major crisis... ’

"Are you Ryan’s lover?" he asked.

’This woman is stunningly beautiful; it would make sense if she were Ryan’s lover.’

Gu Shengsheng’s eyes curved into a smile. "More than that."