"Eighteen million." Landon placed the bid calmly, raising the price by three million. His voice cut through the auction hall, bringing instant silence. The spotlight shifted from the Eldermaran businessman who had offered 15 million, now focusing entirely on Landon. All attention turned to him. Landon offered an elegant smile. "This jade goes wonderfully with our lead designer, Ms. Lewis." With those words, Chloe became the focal point of everyone's gaze. Her light green gown shimmered under the lights, its color seeming to mirror the jade on display. Suddenly everyone understood Landon's reasoning.It wasn't just about the color—the mysterious aura matched perfectly. From her entrance, Chloe had carried an air of elegance and enigma, much like the legendary jade itself. People found themselves drawn to look at her repeatedly. Yet there was something cool and distant about her presence—completely beyond ordinary reach. Landon's brief explanation made his position clear. The Eldermaran businessman who had bid earlier simply smiled and made a gracious gesture of withdrawal. He wouldn't be continuing the competition, clearly yielding to Landon. "Eighteen million, going once!" The host beamed, raising her gavel, prepared to close the bidding. Maintaining his relaxed demeanor, Landon glanced at Chloe. "Ms. Lewis, you created the Four Seasons collection for us. Everyone's eagerly anticipating it. Consider this jade our gift to you. Beautiful treasures belong with beautiful people."Chloe responded with a soft smile, choosing to remain silent. She had planned to bid herself, but Landon's intervention worked perfectly. If she could acquire the jade this smoothly, that would be ideal. "Eighteen million, going twice!" The host's voice echoed through the hall, her gavel lifting slowly. The room remained completely hushed. No other bids emerged. It appeared the Sleep-Soothing Jade would go to Landon. "Mommy, your boss is really impressive. I'll make sure to protect their systems from now on. Getting the Sleep-Soothing Jade was so effortless. We should celebrate later!" Robert's voice came through her earpiece. "My treat!" Oralia added enthusiastically. Hearing this, Chloe's smile widened. If the Sleep-Soothing Jade could come to her without complications, nothing could be better. When Arthur and the others had appeared, she'd worried if the bidding went too high, it would cause some trouble.Just as everyone anticipated the auctioneer's final strike, another voice shattered the silence. "Twenty million." The voice sounded particularly loud in the quiet space. Everyone had assumed the jade was as good as Landon's, yet someone dared to challenge. All heads turned toward the bidder seated at the far end of the front row. Landon looked over, his expression darkening. The person who had offered 20 million was none other than the young heir of the Ruiz family. Most attendees recognized Anthony at once. He regularly attended these auctions, typically accompanying his grandpa, Kerry. This time, with Kerry occupied, Anthony represented the Ruiz family. While the Ruiz family possessed considerable wealth, they couldn't match Cosmos Group's standing. Challenging Landon for the Sleep-Soothing Jade seemed somewhat inappropriate. Opposing Cosmos Group now—most guests couldn't comprehend Anthony's reasoning. "Beautiful treasures should go to beautiful people. Ms. Lewis is so pretty. She deserves the finest. Ms. Lewis, I hope you'll appreciate this small gesture. I'm not expecting anything in return—just hoping to see you smile and forget any displeasure," Anthony declared openly, his tone serious but his eyes sparkling as they rested on Chloe. Wait, what was this? Anthony was notorious for his playboy reputation. Did he share some history with Chloe? Just to earn her smile, he would publicly challenge Landon. Clearly, there were underlying currents here. Landon couldn't help clicking his tongue softly. He hadn't anticipated Anthony's interference. He shot a quick glance toward Eugene, and with that single look, Landon understood how to proceed. "My apologies, Mr. Ruiz, but as I stated, this represents our company's gesture of respect for Ms. Lewis." Landon raised his hand, increasing the bid to 22 million. The auction hall fell into a deeper silence. Anthony leaned back in his seat, appearing at ease. He smiled. "Mr. Voss, I hope you'll permit me this opportunity to impress Ms. Lewis." Then he called out again, "Twenty-three million."