Following the departure of the middle-aged appraisal master, He Zhijun quickly returned to the reception room.

"Mr. Zhang, Mr. Ye, we agree to the buyback price of twenty million!"

Upon re-entering, He Zhijun decisively announced.

"They say Wuji Group is swift in their dealings, and it seems they live up to their reputation!" Ye Chen responded with a faint smile.

"You flatter us, Mr. Ye. But earlier, you mentioned selling back the three items you acquired at the auction—the Kangxi-era blue and white porcelain cup and the 'Songyang Ancient Cypress' painting. Are there issues with those as well?" He Zhijun asked earnestly.

"Indeed. Mr. He, no rush. I've already asked your appraisal master to prepare the tools. Let's take a look first."

Ye Chen replied without immediately revealing his cards.

"Alright."

He Zhijun waited with a heart full of unease.

Even though the chairman, who was overseas, had authorized him to handle this matter with full discretion, he still couldn't shake off his anxiety.

Not long after, a series of tools and a sturdy table, specially designed for removing mounting paper, were brought into the reception room.

He Zhijun, seeing the setup, asked cautiously, "Is this for...?"

"Mr. He," the elder appraisal expert explained, "Mr. Ye suspects our appraisals of the Kangxi-era blue and white porcelain cup and the 'Songyang Ancient Cypress' painting. He wants us to strip the surface of the porcelain cup and unmount the painting for examination. We've decided to oblige."

He Zhijun wasn't surprised by Ye Chen's challenge.

What shocked him was the request to strip the porcelain and unmount the painting—wasn't that a bit extreme?

Before he could object, Ye Chen said, "Since the tools are ready, let's not delay. Please, begin!"

"Very well, as you wish!"

Without waiting for He Zhijun's consent, the appraisal experts—esteemed authorities not just within Wuji Group but across the entire industry—began their work, albeit with a hint of frustration.

Had it not been for the blunder with the wooden sculpture earlier, they wouldn't have agreed so readily. But given the circumstances, they had no choice but to prove their credibility.

Being wrong about one item was understandable—it hinged on an obscure piece of history from Empress Dowager Cixi's time.

But to be wrong about three items in a row? Unacceptable!

Thus, suppressing their frustration, the experts focused intently on their tasks.

"Jingshan, this might take hours. You should head out, and I'll call you when it's done."

As the experts busied themselves, Ye Chen casually turned to Zhang Jingshan, clearly intending to send him away to avoid unnecessary questions later.

While Ye Chen could explain the wooden sculpture using historical knowledge, he lacked a detailed understanding of the hidden intricacies in the porcelain cup and the painting.

"Alright, Ye-ge, I'll take my leave. Call me if anything comes up!" Zhang Jingshan, quick to catch on, left without hesitation.

He Zhijun appeared contemplative but refrained from asking questions, instead turning his full attention to the appraisers.

Ye Chen, meanwhile, sat back on the sofa, completely at ease, unconcerned about any underhanded tricks.

Half an hour passed.

"Huh?"

An appraiser let out an incredulous gasp.

Ye Chen merely smiled, staying calm and silent.

As more time passed, the experts' emotions grew increasingly turbulent.

One hour.

Two hours.

Three hours.

Four hours.

No one, not even He Zhijun, left the reception room, forgetting even basic needs like food or bathroom breaks.

Engrossed in their findings and exchanging astonished remarks, the appraisers seemed to forget Ye Chen's presence altogether.

Only He Zhijun's face revealed a cascade of emotions—shock, disbelief, and utter amazement.

Finally, after six hours, as the sun outside dipped low on the horizon, the appraisal team stopped their work, their faces marked by indescribable astonishment.

The Kangxi-era blue and white porcelain cup, after its surface was stripped away, revealed its true identity: a Chenghua-period doucai chicken cup.

In other words, during the Kangxi period, artisans had covered the Chenghua chicken cup, concealing its original design.

Though this treatment had diminished the cup's appearance, its value was leagues beyond that of a simple blue and white porcelain piece. Even in its damaged state, with a missing fragment, its value exceeded twenty million yuan.

As for the 'Songyang Ancient Cypress' painting, previously deemed a Republic-era reproduction, the unmounting revealed an extraordinary secret. Beneath the surface layer lay an authentic Qianlong-era masterpiece—worth tens of millions!

"A Chenghua doucai chicken cup, even in poor condition, is still worth at least twenty million. And the Qianlong-era original 'Songyang Ancient Cypress'? Eighty million wouldn't be excessive!" Ye Chen stated as he approached the stunned experts and He Zhijun.

"How... how did you know about the hidden details in these pieces?" The senior appraiser stammered, his voice trembling.

"That's not important," Ye Chen replied calmly. "What matters is that the secrets have now been revealed. Imagine if these findings were made public—what would happen to Wuji Group's reputation?

"People would say Wuji Group auctioned off nearly a billion yuan worth of antiques for less than three million. The fallout would be unimaginable—not just for your group's credibility, but also for the reputations of you esteemed experts."

Ye Chen's tone was measured but firm.

The experts had no response.

"Mr. Ye, what price are you asking?" He Zhijun asked, his tone now grave and respectful.

Ye Chen raised two fingers.

"Not much. Two hundred million."