Fleeing in Disarray

"Dack is an expert in this field, so if he says so, it must be correct."

"I never thought there were so many flaws in this painting. We all missed it before."

"This young man, who is he? To have such a discerning eye, his knowledge surpasses even mine in the study of ink paintings. Truly remarkable."

The words of the elderly man had sparked a flurry of discussions among the crowd. Jake's words, combined with the observations of those present, led most people to conclude that the painting in Jude's hands was indeed a forgery.

Jude himself became aware of the situation. His face had turned as dark as charcoal. The painting he held in his hands had become a hot potato, and he felt that the once-friendly gazes of the people around him had turned into mockery. He believed that everyone in the room was ridiculing him. After all, he had spent sixty million on a forgery and was now publicly exposed.

If Jude were a bystander at this moment, he would probably join the others in mocking the person who had bought a forgery, especially if that person were Dirk. However, Jude was not a bystander; he was the one who had bought the forgery. He had no heart to mock others when he had made such a blunder himself.

"Jude, how does it feel? I didn't deceive you, did I? I've said before that what you bought might be garbage," Dirk taunted, seizing the opportunity to get back at Jude. "But I should also thank Jude. If it weren't for you, the one who might have bought this trash could have been me. Jude, for the sake of preventing me from being deceived, you paid six million for this forgery. You're truly a model of selflessness, a role model for us all. I'm humbled."

Jude's face had turned as dark as ink. Each of Dirk's words felt like a slap in the face, making him wince in pain.

Jude believed that after tonight, news of him spending sixty million on a forgery would undoubtedly spread within the circle. He would become the laughingstock of the art world. Thinking about it, Jude almost fainted with embarrassment.

It was humiliating! Jude's face was filled with embarrassment and anger. He quickly put the painting away and prevented Jake from continuing his critique. He retorted, "Who do you think you are? Just because you say it's a forgery, does that make it true? It's all nonsense!"

After saying this, Jude shot Jake a fierce glare and turned to leave. He couldn't bear to stay any longer. If he did, he would become the target of mockery.

Jude felt a deep hatred for Dirk and, to a greater extent, for Jake. It was all because of this unknown person who had suddenly appeared and publicly exposed his purchase of a forgery. None of this would have happened if it weren't for Jake.

Jude didn't stop and seemed to walk even faster.

"Jude, hold onto your belongings. After all, you spent sixty million on it, sixty million on a forgery. It's not an ordinary piece; it's worth preserving, hahaha," Dirk said, still smiling.

Jude almost slipped and fell when he heard this. He steadied himself, his face turning red with anger. Without any further hesitation, he quickly left the hall. He couldn't stand to stay there any longer.

As Jude left, the crowd of onlookers slowly dispersed, but the impact of this incident wouldn't easily fade away. People gathered in groups, discussing the painting and the events surrounding it.

After all, it was a forgery worth sixty million, and spending that much money on a forgery was quite rare. Of course, Jake, who had publicly pointed out its fraudulent nature, became a subject of interest for many.

Most of the people in this hall had some knowledge of antique appreciation, with some having immersed themselves in the field for decades. Yet, they had failed to notice anything amiss. Instead, a young man like Jake had effortlessly pointed out several inconsistencies. His expertise in antique appreciation far surpassed that of others.

"Jake, I didn't make a mistake in judging you. Your ability in antique appreciation is truly exceptional," Bob, the old man, said with a cheerful smile.

Although he still wondered where Jake's antique appreciation skills came from, Bob had no doubt about Jake's expertise. It was an ability that not just anyone possessed. Even Bob himself might not have the same level of skill as Jake.

"Bob, you're too kind. I've just read a few more books than others," Jake modestly replied.

"Many people read books on antique appreciation, but very few reach your level," Bob said meaningfully as he looked at Jake. "In fact, you are the only one I've seen so far."

"Really? I'm honored," Jake said.

Jake couldn't explain the origin of his antique appreciation abilities, so he had to rely on this kind of excuse. If it weren't for his desire to prevent Dirk from making a bad purchase, he wouldn't have spoken up at all.

Fortunately, Bob didn't dwell on this issue and quickly changed the topic, engaging Jake in discussions about various anecdotes related to antiques.

At this point, it was Jake's turn to listen. While he had limited knowledge of antique appreciation, he could still use his appraisal skills to cheat when it came to specific items. However, when discussing the topic broadly, he didn't have much to contribute.