The party had begun. This was a charity auction, with both valuable and less valuable items all being sold to raise money for the orphan relief fund maintained by KT Group.
Speaking of finances, Jin Ru had none, so she spent the entire evening intently focused on the man sitting at the first table – Chen Jiancheng.
Many times, she had thought, perhaps she should stand in front of him and tell him everything, tell him that she was the one who had been in love with him.
She really wanted to hug him.
“Next is an item brought by the chairman of KT Group. This is a painting personally drawn by Chairman Chen Jiancheng.
The painting is titled [There’s the Sea, There’s the Sky, and There’s You].”
Hearing this, Jin Ru’s heart tightened. When the MC unveiled the painting, her eyes involuntarily reddened.
The entire scene of that afternoon replayed in her mind. It was a scene she had tried not to forget over the years; it was the happiest day of her life.
The painting depicted a sunset enveloping a calm coastline. In the center of the painting was the back of a girl in a white dress, her skirt fluttering in the sea breeze. The beautiful scene moved others as well.
“The starting bid is 5 million.”
Someone raised a paddle: “10 million!”
Since the MC had specifically named Chen Jiancheng, more people wanted to seize the opportunity.
“12 million!”
“15 million!”
Jin Ru didn’t care about those prices. Her nose stung as she looked at Chen Jiancheng.
“50 million!” Huang Taikang next to her raised his hand.
“51 million!” Another person quickly outbid him.
“Hey, why don’t you participate!” Taikang tapped the table, speaking to her.
She glared at Taikang and said, “I don’t have money!”
“80 million!” Chen Jiancheng’s clear voice rang out.
The atmosphere suddenly fell silent. No one dared to bid against him.
The MC finalized Chen Jiancheng’s bid, then invited him onto the stage to receive the painting and say a few words.
“Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen, this item is very important to me, so in my eyes, it is very precious.
Originally, I wanted to bring it here to raise funds, but in the end, I couldn’t bear to part with it.
My sincerest apologies to everyone!”
Chen Jiancheng just smiled after speaking, and everyone applauded, as if to say it was alright.
Unconsciously, he looked at Jin Ru, who was sitting at a distant table. He only saw her looking down, not meeting his gaze.
The auction ended on an unhappy note. Jin Ru left, wandering aimlessly, not rushing to catch a car.
She didn’t understand why she felt so wronged and vulnerable at this moment.
“Beep!”
A car horn sounded, and a white Audi stopped in front of her.
Taikang opened the car door, smiled at her, and said.
“Hey, don’t tell me you don’t have money to get home!”
Jin Ru was too lazy to pay attention to him. She continued walking without looking.
But the person in the car was patient enough. He continued to drive slowly behind her, and after a while, he asked.
“Do you want a ride? I’ll take you home.”
“I don’t know you!” Jin Ru refused outright.
“You’ll get to know me after one ride.”
Taikang smiled.
Jin Ru felt annoyed. She frowned and quickly walked away from him, secretly cursing, wondering where this guy came from.
Taikang saw her walk faster and also sped up, a smirk on his lips.
“Ah!” Her voice rang out.
Suddenly, she sat down, out of his sight. He immediately stopped the car, opened the door, and got out to check.
Stepping out, he saw Jin Ru sitting on the ground, clutching her ankle.
"What's wrong, Miss? I drive very safely, I didn't hit you!"
"I'm not joking with you, get out of my sight!" Jin Ru said loudly.
Suddenly being yelled at, Cai Kang was momentarily stunned. Seeing her contorted expression, he hesitated before approaching.
"Are you alright?"
She didn't answer.
"I'll help you up!"
"I can't stand, my ankle is sprained!" Seeing his attitude soften, she also felt embarrassed to keep grimacing at him.
Cai Kang fumbled for a while, his hand unsure where to help her from. After all, she was wearing a dress, and he was just a stranger; he couldn't just casually touch her leg.
But he also couldn't leave her sitting on the road like that.
Cai Kang thought for a moment, then went to open the passenger seat door.
He took off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders, then helped her up by her shoulders and guided her to the passenger seat of his car.
Jin Ru limped along, cooperating.
After settling Jin Ru into the seat, he took the jacket from her shoulders and pulled it down to cover her legs. He knelt down and asked:
"Let me take a look for you!"
"Then I'll trouble you!"
Hearing this, Cai Kang slowly took off her high heels. Partly because the shoes were too high and she had been walking fast, she had fallen carelessly.
Her feet were soft and fair under Cai Kang's hands. She didn't notice that his ears had turned bright red.
Cai Kang rotated her ankle, and Jin Ru whimpered in pain.
"Ow, ow! Turn it gently!"
"If I turn it gently and your pain doesn't go away, and you don't have money to see a doctor, it'll be even worse."
Cai Kang smirked.
"I'm not joking with you, you know."
Jin Ru said unhappily.
As she was frowning at him in discomfort, Cai Kang suddenly twisted her ankle joint. Jin Ru cried out, intending to scold him, but he spoke first.
"Alright, done. Your fee is to treat me to a meal."
She rotated her own ankle and felt as if the pain was indeed subsiding. She made sounds of approval, as if praising him.
Cai Kang picked up her high heel, put it on her foot, and then stood up.
"Put your foot in, I'll take you home!"
"Oh, no need!" Jin Ru immediately refused.
"You got into my car and then got out. If I then drive away and leave you behind, what will others think of me?"
"Then I'll pay for your ride."
After a moment of thought, Jin Ru replied.
"As you wish!" Cai Kang closed the car door, quickly returned to his driver's seat, and drove off.
Not far from there, a black Porsche was parked by the road, exhaling a puff of smoke.
Through the open window, he could see the entire incident.
He extinguished the cigarette in his hand and slowly drove off, following behind.