Chapter 2642 — Fierce Competition

This auction item was rather unusual, and it had stirred considerable controversy when the student council first reviewed it—but since it was only a safe kiss through glass,

the student council had consented in the end. The atmosphere at a university was, after all, still quite open, and a safe kiss would not cause any untoward consequences.

One million yuan! To buy a kiss from the campus belle—even the wealthy magnates present felt it was a bit steep. Gu Mengyao was, after all, no great star, merely a school beauty; no matter how beautiful she was, they still thought a million for a kiss was a touch too high.

And that was only the starting bid—who knew what the final price would be!

Of course, these magnates were hardly about to go up on stage and kiss in public. If their wives ever found out, would that not blow up into a huge row? Even a safe kiss was not entirely safe!

As for the unmarried students attending the auction, though their hearts were stirred, who among them had that kind of money? Frankly speaking, this auction was really just a way to get the social elite to donate; the students who could genuinely take part were very few. How many were as rich as You Panhu, Zhao Qibing, or Kang Zhaolong?

"One million two hundred thousand!" Zhong Yongliang began bidding. Zhong Fabai's company did not have much money, but Zhong Yongliang himself was wealthy—these funds all came from the Tomorrow After Tomorrow Sect, being the monthly allowance given to Zhang Naipao. In the sect, every disciple received a monthly allowance; only the amount differed from person to person.

Registered disciples received the least, a few thousand yuan a month. Zhong Yongliang belonged to this category; that money was not even enough to cover his travel expenses for a single trip down the mountain. Outer sect disciples received around twenty thousand yuan a month.

Inner sect disciples received considerably more—about a hundred thousand yuan a month! The best off, of course, were the direct-line disciples. Someone like Zhang Naipao, being among the very highest of the direct-line disciples, a disciple of the sect master, the elders, and the patriarchs, was of the most exalted standing: a million yuan a month in allowance, and when there was a need, he could draw funds at will. So long as it benefited cultivation, no sum was too great for the sect to produce!

The Tomorrow After Tomorrow Sect was a notorious demonic sect of the martial world, producing all manner of strange and eerie goods: items that instantly boosted one's strength, poisons, drugs, and all kinds of bizarre magical treasures. These could fetch enormous sums, so the Tomorrow After Tomorrow Sect was never short of money.

Zhang Naipao cultivated on the mountain and had no use for money at all, so his monthly allowance, together with various bits and pieces of reward, had already accumulated two million in savings. Apart from a fixed sum sent home each month, the rest he simply gave to Zhong Yongliang.

It had to be said: although Zhang Naipao was Wei Zhao's enemy, he was utterly loyal and true to his leader Zhong Yongliang. Otherwise, given his present standing, he could easily have set himself above Zhong Yongliang.

"Two million." Wei Zhao raised his bidding paddle with great obligingness.

Zhong Yongliang had wanted to challenge Wei Zhao from the start, so naturally he could not afford to lose momentum now. Though he was furious that Wei Zhao was competing with him, he bid again: "Three million!"

"Four million," Wei Zhao went on.

"Five million!" Zhong Yongliang was now flush with funds and full of swagger. Zhang Naipao had told him that if he ever ran short, he need only call, and he would go draw some from the sect—which put Zhong Yongliang's mind greatly at ease.

The bidding price climbed at breakneck speed, frightening everyone present! Was this not merely a safe kiss from a campus belle? How had it sold for such a price? Could it be that both bidders were suitors of the school beauty, rich young heirs from the university?

That was the only possible explanation. Otherwise, who would bid so high for a kiss from a campus belle? They were certainly suitors, beyond a doubt.

So the price was driven, in the blink of an eye, all the way up to ten million!

Even Wei Zhao himself was startled by that figure. He had only casually raised the price, never expecting Zhong Yongliang to be so flush—actually spending ten million on a kiss? Since when had his family been so wealthy? Could it be Zhang Naipao's money?

On reflection, that really did seem possible; otherwise, however rich Zhong Yongliang's family was, they could not spend with such abandon. Only ancient sects with deep reserves had such financial power.

"Eighteen million." Wei Zhao made his final bid. He dared not push the price higher, afraid that Zhong Yongliang would not follow, in which case he himself would have to go up and kiss Gu Mengyao... Though, to be honest, this kind of safe kiss was nowhere near as thrilling as an indirect kiss...

"Twenty million!" That was Zhong Yongliang's limit. Though he could keep asking Zhang Naipao for money, it was simply too much trouble. So Zhong Yongliang glared at Wei Zhao through gritted teeth, hoping he would not bid again.

Sure enough, Wei Zhao did not bid again, and Shen Yushu, seeing Zhong Yongliang's limit, hastened to say, "The gentleman with paddle number 82 bids twenty million. Is there any higher bid? Oh... it seems there is not. Twenty million, first time; twenty million, second time; twenty million, third time—sold! Congratulations to gentleman number 82 on winning this item. A beauty's kiss is worth a thousand in gold. Now let us invite gentleman number 82 to the stage, to conclude this auction with one final kiss. A round of applause, everyone!"

"Whoosh—" Thunderous applause erupted through the auction hall. Twenty million for a kiss—that was big news indeed. Everyone was curious, and more than that, envious.

Amid the cheers, Zhong Yongliang strode proudly toward the stage.

"And now, let us welcome Gu Mengyao, the campus belle of our Economics Department!" Shen Yushu invited once more.

"Whoosh—" This time the applause was even more enthusiastic. The campus belle was clearly more popular than Zhong Yongliang, that fool with more money than sense.

Blushing slightly, Gu Mengyao walked gracefully onto the stage. Though she already knew Zhong Yongliang could not possibly kiss her, she still felt somewhat embarrassed—especially before the whole student body.

If not for the wish to raise more donations for the orphanage, Gu Mengyao would never have played along with Shen Yushu's little show! But she had learned that at Yu Xiaoke's place, dozens of abandoned infants were sent there every day, many of them with congenital diseases, and the follow-up treatment for each infant could cost as much as a million. It was a bottomless pit—yet one could hardly stand by and watch them die, could one?

So, for the sake of these sick children, Gu Mengyao, though reluctant, had grudgingly agreed.

"Yaoyao..." Zhong Yongliang was somewhat overcome. This was the goddess of his dreams—from his first year of high school to now, he had secretly loved her for more than three years, and this was the first time he had a chance to taste her lips.

"Gentleman number 82, this is safety glass. Please hold it carefully and be sure not to break it—otherwise you will not be able to kiss, and you will lose this precious opportunity," Shen Yushu said, handing Zhong Yongliang a sheet of glass prepared in advance.

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