Chapter 4: A Malicious Rival

To Xiao Ran’s surprise, someone actually took a fancy to his suitcase. No sooner had the opening bid of $35 been called out than someone raised a bidding paddle.

The person who raised the paddle was none other than the white man who had just asked him if he was Chinese. As he placed his bid, the guy glanced back at Xiao Ran with a hint of provocation in his eyes. Xiao Ran couldn't help but blink in surprise, then gave a slight nod.

By now, the auctioneer had already rattled off the next price: $40. Having watched for a while, Xiao Ran had basically grasped the flow of these auctions. Auctions for lost luggage move at breakneck speed; the auctioneer’s voice is like a machine gun, rapid and relentless. Often, they complete several rounds of bidding and successfully sell an item in just over ten seconds. If no one responds after three calls, they drop the hammer without hesitation, declaring the item sold or passed, and move immediately to the next lot.

This means that the moment a buyer sees an item they want, they must remain vigilant and be ready to raise their paddle instantly. Under the pressure of the auctioneer’s rapid-fire calls and the heated atmosphere of the room, many people don't even have time to think and end up bidding mechanically. As a result, some worthless pieces of luggage often sell for high prices. By the time the bidders snap out of it afterward, it’s too late, and they are left with nothing but regret.

Xiao Ran, at this moment, was exactly the kind of inexperienced amateur they preyed upon. More importantly, he was determined to win back his suitcase.

"$40..." As the auctioneer called the price for the second time, Xiao Ran raised his paddle again. The auctioneer pointed his way and immediately gave the next figure.

"Bidder 216, the current price is $45. Any other takers?"

The white man raised his paddle once more and looked back at Xiao Ran again. Xiao Ran ignored him, and as soon as the new price was announced, he raised his paddle without a second thought. Just like that, back and forth they went, and in the blink of an eye, the price reached $65.

At this point, a new competitor joined the fray—a black woman in her thirties, broad-shouldered and heavily made up, exuding the distinct aura of an upstart. She was sitting in a chair not far from where Xiao Ran stood at the edge of the floor. As she raised her paddle, she turned to look at both Xiao Ran and the white man. She likely assumed that since the two men were so deadlocked, there must be something valuable inside the suitcase, which was why she decided to bid. It is a nearly universal consensus in the West that Chinese people are very wealthy and willing to spend lavishly, and this woman was no exception.

"Damn, Xiao Ran, did you offend these guys? Why are they targeting you?"

"I’ve been watching the previous auctions, and they usually end in four or five rounds. Your suitcase has already gone through so many!"

The voice of "Cat," who was hiding in a corner, came through the earpiece.

Not only him, but everyone else in the live broadcast room felt quite surprised. Xiao Ran chuckled softly, then whispered, "You're right, I'm definitely being targeted. In the current climate in America, it's easy for Chinese people to be singled out."

As soon as he finished speaking, another guy in the chat chimed in: "Those jerks! Cutting off their own nose to spite their face—they're so damn rotten! Xiao Ran, don't let these guys get away with it. Take them down a peg!"

"Exactly what I was thinking," Xiao Ran replied in a low voice.

The next moment, he suddenly raised his paddle again and called out a bid, actively raising the price himself. "$200!"

Immediately after, he looked at the white man and gestured with his left hand, a mocking, provocative invitation for him to continue. The new bid caused a small stir in the room.

"Raising it by $130 at once? Is there really something good in that suitcase?"

"That guy, Bidder 216, looks Chinese. He’s a new face, probably his first time at an auction. He clearly doesn't know how this works!"

"Is Leon trying to trap that kid? It looks like he baited him into a trap and succeeded in provoking him."

Amidst the murmur of voices, many bidders in the room turned to look. They all stared at Xiao Ran, but no one recognized him, while many knew Leon. Leon was likely a professional treasure hunter who frequented these auctions, which was why everyone knew him. There were a few other Chinese bidders present as well. Seeing that Xiao Ran was a fellow countryman, they shook their heads gently, signaling him not to fall for the trap.

But little did they know, the suitcase was Xiao Ran’s to begin with, and he was determined to get it back.

Seeing Xiao Ran’s provocative gesture, Leon paused and didn't immediately raise his paddle. He thought for a moment, and only when the auctioneer called out $210 for the second time did he raise his paddle. The black woman had already dropped out; not knowing what was in the box, she clearly wasn't willing to take further risks.

The next moment, the new bid was $220. Just like before, Xiao Ran took the initiative to raise the price again. "$300!"

While shouting, he again gestured for Leon to continue, adding more fuel to the fire. Under the gaze of everyone, being provoked like this by a nobody was too much for Leon’s ego. His face flushed red, a flash of anger crossed his eyes, and he cursed under his breath. He seemed to have forgotten that he was the one who started it. He glared at Xiao Ran, then raised his paddle to accept the $310 bid.

Just then, a white man standing next to Xiao Ran asked in a low voice, "Buddy, why are you so obsessed with this suitcase? Is there something valuable in there?"

"This is a lost luggage auction. Prices are usually very low unless it's a designer brand."

Xiao Ran turned to look at the guy and explained with a smile, "I came to the airport to pick up my lost luggage, only for the staff to tell me it had been sent to auction. So, I came to bid on it. That suitcase is mine; my laptop is still inside. I just want my property back. As long as the price doesn't exceed the value of the laptop, I’m fine with it. If it goes higher, I’ll stop."

No sooner had he said this than Xiao Ran raised his paddle again, calling out $400, and once again mockingly invited Leon to make a move. The white man beside him paused, a flash of mockery passing through his eyes. He knew for a fact that there couldn't possibly be a laptop in that suitcase. The auction house had long since removed all jewelry and electronics from the bags. This Chinese kid was clearly a first-timer who didn't know the ropes, which is why he was bidding so recklessly. If he knew his laptop wasn't in there, he wouldn't even bid $50.

Thinking this, the white man looked at Leon and gave a subtle shake of his head. He didn't realize that Xiao Ran was doing this on purpose; those words were meant for him. When he first arrived, he had seen this guy chatting with Leon, so it was clear they knew each other. That was exactly why he said it—to make them mistakenly believe he was an clueless fool.

Things went exactly as he had planned. Receiving the signal, Leon immediately stood down. He stopped bidding and instead watched Xiao Ran with a smirk. Xiao Ran looked at him with disdain and gestured once more, goading him. But Leon didn't take the bait; instead, he laughed triumphantly.

The auctioneer’s voice never faltered, maintaining its rapid pace. After asking three times and seeing no further bids, he dropped the hammer.

"Sold for $400. Congratulations to bidder 216 on winning this suitcase!"

The moment the gavel fell, the heart that had been pounding in Xiao Ran’s throat finally settled back into his chest. The primary mission was accomplished; now, it was time for the real game to begin.

"Well done!" A roar of applause erupted in the live chat; everyone was thrilled. It was a pity that Xiao Ran hadn't enabled the tipping feature, or he would have surely received plenty of "Carnivals." After all, those guys in the chat were certainly not short of money.