Rebirth 93: Break off the engagement at the beginning and marry Bai Fumei

Seeing this, Smith and Jason exchanged a smug look; Chen Yang and his companion's performance made them feel that victory was beckoning them. Yoshida, on the other hand, covered his mouth and laughed exaggeratedly, his narrow eyes squinting into slits, as if he were enjoying some brilliant joke.

Smith patted Jason on the shoulder; their expressions seemed to congratulate the exciting development of this farce. Jason, on the other hand, tapped his watch, hinting that Chen Yang's time was running out. The three of them formed an unpleasant sight, standing together pointing at Chen Yang and laughing unrestrainedly. Their laughter echoed in the exhibition hall, drawing even more stares.

In their eyes, Chen Yang was now an absolute idiot who knew nothing about oil painting, an arrogant brat who didn't know his own limitations. They were certain they would win this bet. Their posture and expressions revealed their contempt for Chen Yang and their eagerness for the impending victory.

All the Chinese representatives present tensed up, and the atmosphere suddenly became heavy. Some clenched their fists until their knuckles turned white; some pursed their lips, their expressions serious; others constantly wiped the cold sweat from their foreheads with handkerchiefs. Each of them gripped their fists tightly, their eyes filled with both worry for Chen Yang and tension for the impending gamble.

Several older members of the delegation shook their heads slightly, seemingly anticipating a bad outcome, while the younger members stared intently at Chen Yang's retreating figure, hoping to glean some reassuring sign. One female delegate whispered to her companion, "What are we going to do now?"

Old Geng could no longer sit still. He abruptly stood up, his expression even more anxious than before. He took a few steps and then stopped, his brow furrowed, the wrinkles on his forehead deepening. Finally, he slapped his thigh hard, making a dull thud that startled everyone around him.

Old Geng's eyes were full of regret and self-blame. He shook his head slightly, his tone helpless, "Oh dear, I was so careless. In the blink of an eye, how could Chen Yang have run away?" Although his voice was not loud, it was full of deep worry. He turned to look at Song Kaiyuan, hoping to get some comfort or advice from his old friend.

Song Kaiyuan's expression, however, was unexpectedly calm, his gaze fixed on Chen Yang. His composure and calmness stood out particularly in the tense atmosphere. He noticed that Chen Yang, standing there, remained so calm and composed despite the mockery of the three foreigners and the tension of the entire Chinese delegation, even sporting a faint smile, as if everything was under control.

Seeing the expression on Old Geng's face, the others lost their confidence and couldn't help but sigh. Some even muttered under their breath, "It's over, it's really over now."

Song Kaiyuan remained unmoved, watching the composed Chen Yang from the side. He gently patted Old Geng's arm, signaling him not to be too nervous, his tone carrying a barely perceptible expectation, "Old Geng, maybe Chen Yang really can bring us a surprise. That kid never does anything he's not sure of." Although Song Kaiyuan's voice wasn't loud, it conveyed a firm trust; he believed that perhaps Chen Yang could create a miracle.

Upon hearing this, Old Geng turned to look at Song Kaiyuan, then at Chen Yang. His brows relaxed slightly, but the worry in his eyes remained. He pondered for a moment, recalling Chen Yang's past performances, his unexpected victories, and his astonishing talent.

But at the same time, he also remembered those perilous moments and the price Chen Yang had paid. Old Geng shook his head slightly, his tone tinged with helplessness, "Old Song, he..." He paused, as if organizing his thoughts, before continuing, "If you say Chen Yang was lucky, I might believe you, but how many times has he done things he wasn't sure of!"

Old Geng's voice contained both affirmation of Chen Yang's abilities and concern for his risky actions. He looked up at Chen Yang's back, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes—a mixture of expectation and worry.

"Yes!" Hearing Elder Geng say this, Song Kaiyuan sighed deeply, a heavy weight pressing on his chest, making it difficult to breathe. His gaze remained fixed on Chen Yang, but his thoughts drifted to the past, to the dangers and challenges Chen Yang had faced: the heart-stopping events on Lotus Mountain, the near-death experience on Ear Mountain, and the life-or-death duel with Nakamura Masao. Every time he recalled them, Song Kaiyuan's heart clenched with tension; the worry and fear were still vivid in his mind, even now.

Lotus Mountain, Ear Mountain, and the one-on-one fight against Nakamura Masao—none of them seemed certain of success. Each one was fraught with danger, his life hanging by a thread. Song Kaiyuan closed his eyes, and the image of Chen Yang's face, always bearing a faint smile, and his slightly weary yet still determined gaze after each narrow escape from danger appeared in his mind.

Moreover, Chen Yang did indeed pay a heavy price; the scars and pain, the sleepless nights and the arduous recovery process were all real. Song Kaiyuan's fingers unconsciously tightened around the armrest, silently praying that this time he would escape unscathed. If he hadn't been lucky, who knows what the consequences would have been!

“Kid,” Jason said first, arms crossed, a sneer in his eyes. He pointed at Pollock’s Untitled painting, a disdainful smile playing on his lips. “You don’t need to authenticate it. If you can explain this painting clearly, I’ll admit defeat!”

After listening, Chen Yang raised an eyebrow slightly, a playful expression on his face. He slowly turned around, looked directly into Jason's eyes, and shrugged slightly. "Oh? It's that simple?"

His tone was slightly mocking, "But what do you lose to me? If I lose, I have to kneel down and kowtow to you to admit my mistakes, while you can get away with it if you lose?" Chen Yang shook his head, his smile growing even brighter, "This bet doesn't stand! If we're going to bet, let's bet something interesting."

Jason's expression became somewhat unnatural, clearly not expecting Chen Yang to challenge him so directly. Smith and Yoshida exchanged a glance, seemingly considering how to handle this unexpected situation.

Chen Yang noticed their reaction, and a slight smile appeared on his lips. He knew he had seized the initiative.

"What?" he said, feigning surprise. "Don't you world-class experts dare to accept even a small bet?"

These words clearly struck a nerve with all three. Jason's face darkened, while Smith and Yoshida wore expressions of anger. Just as the atmosphere became tense, Chen Yang suddenly snapped his fingers with a smile, breaking the deadlock.

“I have a proposal,” he said slowly, his gaze sweeping over everyone present. Then, he pointed to the Qing Dynasty Qianlong period gilt bronze gourd clock with rotating floral and water-reflecting mechanisms, his eyes gleaming with wisdom, “If I win, we Chinese can take this clock back and study it for a year, what do you say?”

This proposal was like a bombshell, stunning everyone present. The members of the Chinese delegation exchanged bewildered glances, both surprised and excited. Jason, Smith, and Yoshida, on the other hand, stared wide-eyed at Chen Yang in disbelief.

"You...what did you say?" Jason stammered. "Do you know how valuable this clock is?"

Chen Yang smiled and nodded. "Of course I know. That's why I made this bet." His eyes hardened. "So? Do you dare accept the challenge?"

The atmosphere in the exhibition hall instantly became tense. Everyone held their breath, waiting for Jason and his companions' response. At that moment, Chen Yang knew he had successfully taken the bet to a whole new level.