Ashley looked at Nancy with gratitude. She knew that Nancy personally helping her up meant that she had been forgiven for her earlier offense.

“Miss Nancy, please follow me,” Ashley said with a welcoming gesture, leading them forward.

Perhaps worried that Nancy might not fully appreciate the owner's kindness, she continued speaking as they walked, ”The owner has said that as long as Miss Nancy visits the store, whether it's items from the auction or anything else that catches her eye, everything will be given to her free of charge.“

Nancy’s eye twitched. “Your owner must not want me to have any fun here.”

Ashley froze for a second, realizing she had overstepped, and quickly tried to explain. “No, no, that’s not it. The owner just wants to ensure you enjoy yourself. But if you’re uncomfortable, I can check with the owner to adjust.”

“Alright,” Nancy said without hesitation. “Go tell Arthur that I have plenty of money. If I like something, I’ll buy it myself. I don’t want to owe anyone any favors.”

Ashley gave a nervous smile, knowing that her message would likely get her in trouble.

Soon, Ashley led them up to the fifth floor. From below, they hadn’t been able to grasp its full grandeur, but now that they were on the top floor, Nancy could see just how massive it really was.

Before she could take in the full view, Ashley guided them into a charming, elegantly designed private room.

It was more like a screened-off area with three sides made of delicate partitions, and the side facing the stage was covered by a sheer curtain. Once lifted, they would have a perfect view of everything happening outside.

The whole building had this refined Chinese aesthetic. In an age where Western décor dominated, this kind of design was refreshingly unique.

As soon as they entered, servers arrived with various delicate pastries, each piece crafted with such detail that they resembled tiny works of art.

“Wow! Nan, look at these! They’re so intricate and beautiful! I’ve heard people say these melt in your mouth—sweet but not too much—and you can’t find them anywhere else!” Linda exclaimed.

Nancy admired the pastries as well, finding them almost too beautiful to eat.

The server finished filling the table with the exquisite pastries before lifting a jade wine bottle and introducing it. “This is a special sweet wine brewed exclusively by the Thompson family. You won’t find it anywhere else. If you enjoy it, I can bring more.”

With that, she poured three cups with graceful movements.

Nancy smiled and nodded. “Thank you. We’ll call if we need anything.”

Ashley waved off the server, who bowed and left the room, but Ashley remained standing in place.

“Nancy, if you see anything you like during the auction, just let me know, and I’ll bid on your behalf.”

Nancy blinked in surprise. “You’re not leaving?”

“Hehe…” Ashley giggled awkwardly. “Guests in private rooms don’t need to handle the bidding themselves. Just let me know.”

Nancy exhaled and was about to sit down when Linda, holding a plate of pastries, walked to the window and pulled the curtain aside. “Nan, come over here. We can get a clearer view from this spot.”

Just as she said this, the voice of the auctioneer boomed from the stage below, signaling the start of the event.

Nancy had never attended an auction before, so her curiosity got the better of her. She walked over and stood next to Linda.

“Oh my gosh! Nan, look down there! So many of your old acquaintances are here!”