บท 162: Sudden Abandonment
"Dirk, this painting, it..." Jake whispered to Dirk.
"I know it's not worth the current price, but even if it costs a bit more, I want to buy it," Dirk interrupted Jake and then loudly declared, "46 million!"
The bidding continued, and it was clear that Dirk was fueled by anger. Despite knowing that the price had already exceeded the painting's true value, he continued to bid, determined to win.
"50 million!" Jude provocatively looked at Dirk.
There were whispers in the audience; this price was well above the painting's intrinsic value. It had turned into a competition between two young heirs, but even in their rivalry, there were limits. No one's wealth was limitless, especially Dirk and Jude, who were both young members of their respective families with finite resources.
People speculated about where their limits might be and who would ultimately win this "contest."
"51 million!"
"55 million!"
The bidding war between the two continued, but it seemed that they couldn't hold out much longer. The showdown was nearing its end.
"Dirk, there's something wrong with this painting!" Jake quickly and quietly told Dirk, fearing that Dirk might interrupt him again.
"What's wrong?!" Dirk finally looked at Jake, but he still casually called out a price, "56 million!"
"It's a fake, a counterfeit!" Jake hurriedly explained. He was afraid that Dirk might spend a hefty sum on a counterfeit painting. He had been trying to warn Dirk, but Dirk, fueled by anger, hadn't given him a chance to speak.
"What? A counterfeit?!" Dirk was shocked, almost losing his composure.
Normally, Dirk had encountered counterfeits before, but this time was different. He had participated in the bidding, and he had already bid over 50 million. If he spent so much money on a fake, it would be a different story. Others would laugh at him for being impulsive and wasting his money, and it would become a lasting embarrassment.
"Are you sure? The auction house has already verified it, and many people have closely examined it on stage without finding any issues. Some of those people are experts in antiques with years of experience. Not one of them noticed any problems."
It was understandable that Dirk would doubt Jake's words. Many attendees at the auction had been immersed in the antique industry for years and had a keen eye for authenticity. Yet, none of them had detected any issues with the painting. Jake's claim was quite surprising.
"Dirk, I'm sure this painting is a counterfeit. It's just that the person who made it has exceptional skills," Jake insisted. "If you trust me, don't buy it."
Should Dirk believe Jake? Dirk hesitated. Currently, only Jake claimed that the painting was a counterfeit, while no one else had noticed any issues. This made Jake's credibility somewhat questionable.
However, Dirk also remembered the incident earlier in the evening when no one had detected anything suspicious about the painting "Farewell to a Guest" that he was auctioning. It was only Jake who had spotted the irregularity, allowing Jake to make a valuable discovery. Thinking about this, Dirk began to trust Jake to some extent.
"60 million!" On the other side, Jude, unaware of the situation, continued to bid. "What's wrong, Dirk? Running out of money? Need to borrow some?"
Ignoring Jude's taunt, Dirk turned to Jake and asked quietly, "Are you sure?"
"Absolutely, I'm certain," Jake replied earnestly.
This was no joke; the authenticity had been determined through appraisal. Could there be an error? So far, the appraisal technique had never been wrong, including the previous authentication of "Farewell to a Guest." Dirk's face had changed several times, but finally, he said, "Alright, I trust you!"
Making this decision wasn't easy for Dirk. Among their circle, maintaining one's reputation was essential. Jude had taunted him several times, and he had been competing with Jude earlier. Suddenly giving up would undoubtedly make others think he was afraid of Jude, a humiliating perception.
Nonetheless, Dirk chose to trust Jake. He believed that Jake wouldn't deceive him, and Jake wouldn't have spoken so resolutely unless he was absolutely sure.
Now that he had made his decision, Dirk didn't hesitate any longer. He turned to Jude and said, "Since you want this painting so badly, I'll let you have it. I hope you won't regret it!"
Dirk giving up? The people in the room, including Jude, were slightly stunned. Dirk had been confidently bidding, increasing the price by a million each time. There had been no signs of hesitation or giving up. So why did he suddenly decide to quit? Jude couldn't help but feel suspicious.
In Jude's view, Dirk would definitely compete with him to the end. Despite Dirk's usual mild-mannered demeanor, when provoked, he could be quite stubborn. Besides, it was no secret that Dirk's father genuinely liked Li Yanzi's works, so Jude's intention had always been to vex Dirk and make him spend unnecessarily, becoming the subject of ridicule in their circle. Thus, Jude had never intended to actually buy the painting.
However, he hadn't expected Dirk to abruptly give up. How could he do this? Jude couldn't accept it.
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