Chapter 9: Endless Surprises

Not only Sylvia, but the other treasure hunters rummaging through their own boxes also turned their heads to look. Among them was that guy, Leon.

Seeing the designer clothes Xiao Ran had casually tossed onto the table, especially the nearly brand-new Hermès Birkin bag, Leon slapped his thigh in a fit of regret. Unfortunately, it was too late.

Xiao Ran turned to Sylvia and shrugged. "I haven't decided how to handle these items yet. Let me finish clearing out these two suitcases first, and then we'll talk."

"Sure, buddy, I'm happy to wait. I hope you find even more treasures," Sylvia replied with a smile.

In the live stream, several girls who had their eyes on the Hermès Birkin began to cheer.

"That's great, Xiao Ran! Keep it in the family!"
"Brother Ran, are you looking for a girlfriend? How about me? I've got the looks, the skin, and the legs!"

Hearing these coy, flirtatious voices, Xiao Ran felt his bones go soft. "I'll consider it. Send me a private message with a photo—preferably without makeup—so I can inspect the goods first!"

Before he could finish, the live stream was filled with laughter and playful teasing. Xiao Ran chuckled as he continued to clear out the antique suitcase. He picked up the Hermès Birkin, examined it carefully, and displayed it before the high-definition camera. It was in near-mint condition, with no scratches inside or out, and all the hardware was gleaming and flawless.

Tucked into a small pocket inside the bag, he found the original receipt. Dated last October and purchased in Paris, it suggested the original owner hadn't used it more than a few times. It was even possible that the woman had flown from France to the U.S. just days after the purchase, only for her luggage to be lost by the airline or airport staff. Months later, these two vintage Louis Vuitton trunks had ended up at this lost luggage auction.

The discovery of the receipt ignited the crowd.

"No way! That's basically a brand-new Hermès Birkin. Xiao Ran, you really hit the jackpot!"
"This model is a new arrival from last year; you can't even buy it in stores without waiting lists and markups. To get it for free is pure luck!"

The live stream was in an uproar. The women eyeing the bag were shrieking so loudly it made Xiao Ran’s head ache. Sylvia, standing nearby, also had her eyes glued to the bag and the receipt, while the other treasure hunters looked on with envy and hatred. Leon and the others who had competed for the trunks were so regretful they looked ready to jump into the Pacific.

Xiao Ran set the bag aside and carefully picked up a piece of lingerie that was off the charts in terms of sexiness. As he displayed it, the live stream erupted with wolf whistles and bashful, indignant laughter. Sylvia burst into laughter, her face turning slightly pink. The men in the area began whistling and laughing heartily.

"Buddy, that lace lingerie is incredibly sexy. Are you planning to sell it?" a black man in his thirties called out. "If you are, and the price is right, I might take it off your hands."

Before he could finish, someone cut in. "James, I didn't know you had such peculiar tastes. You don't even have a girlfriend, do you? What are you planning to do with that?"

A roar of laughter filled the room. All the men understood the implication immediately, while the women nearby blushed and teased them. James, however, didn't look embarrassed at all. "Such sexy lace is practically a work of art. Can't a guy collect art?"

"Pfft! Keep dreaming!" everyone jeered.

Xiao Ran turned the lingerie over to show it off before tossing it onto the table. His actions earned him a chorus of condemnation from the beauties in the live stream, who branded him a pervert. He continued to pull out more designer clothes, but found no more bags. He thoroughly searched every pocket of the clothes and the trunks, but found no jewelry or watches. Clearly, if there had been any, the airport or auction staff had long since cleared them out.

After finishing the first trunk, he moved to the second. It contained more designer clothing—professional attire, casual wear, and a classic French little black dress—all in excellent condition. There was even more sexy lingerie in this one. The most valuable item, however, was a near-mint Louis Vuitton saddle bag. Its appearance caused another stir in the live stream, with the girls screaming in delight. Sylvia and the other women were equally envious, and the professional treasure hunters, including Leon, were green with jealousy.

Like the first, this trunk contained nothing else—not even a single coin. It had been picked clean.

Through his Bluetooth headset, Xiao Ran said, "Ladies, I can save the Louis Vuitton saddle bag and the Hermès Birkin for you. We can discuss who gets them when I'm back at my apartment; no need to rush. As for these designer clothes, I’ve decided to dispose of them here. I’m not taking them back, and I’m not selling them to you. Foreign women are generally larger than Chinese women, and they often use perfume to mask body odor. We have a taboo against wearing second-hand clothes, but foreigners don't have that concern, so I’m selling these to the 'big bombshell' next to me!"

The audience responded quickly. "That’s a good plan, Xiao Ran. We’re only interested in the two classic bags! As for the clothes, we’re not interested—most of us can't handle the strange smell on foreigners!"

"Are you selling those clothes to the bombshell because you have ulterior motives? A change of pace with some Western food isn't bad!"

Xiao Ran ignored the teasing and looked at Sylvia. He pointed to the designer clothes on the table and smiled. "Sylvia, I can sell you these clothes, but I’m not selling the bags. If you want the clothes, give me a price."

Sylvia looked pleasantly surprised, though there was a hint of regret in her eyes. She would have preferred the bags, which were worth far more, but taking the clothes was a pleasant surprise. "Alright, buddy. Let me look at the clothes first, and then we'll talk price."

As she walked over to inspect them, Xiao Ran packed the Louis Vuitton saddle bag and the Hermès Birkin into an antique trunk. He then wrapped the plaster Venus statue in a Fendi women's blazer and packed it into another trunk. Watching him, the women in the live stream let out cries of heartache, and Sylvia’s mouth twitched with sympathy.

After a moment, Sylvia finished her inspection and said excitedly, "Buddy, these are all authentic, in great condition, and the styles are still current. They’ll sell quickly in a luxury consignment shop. I’ll offer ten thousand dollars for the lot. Is that acceptable?"

Xiao Ran nodded without hesitation. "That price is fine. Deal."

He reached out his right hand to shake hers, but Sylvia pulled him into a warm hug. "Deal. You’re a straightforward guy, I like you. A friendly piece of advice: watch out for Leon."

She released him, and Xiao Ran simply smiled, nodded, and introduced himself. Sylvia opened her handbag, counted out ten thousand dollars in cash, and handed it to him, completing the transaction. She then pointed to his suitcase. "Aren't you going to open that one? Maybe there are more treasures inside, and you could make another profit!"

Xiao Ran shook his head with a smile. "I know exactly what's in this suitcase, because it already belonged to me! I came here today just to get my own luggage back."

Sylvia's eyes widened in realization. "I see. You are a lucky guy!"

After a few more words, Xiao Ran said his goodbyes, pushed his luggage cart, and headed toward the exit.