No one could have imagined.

As the silk cloths were lifted, two oil paintings, the Portland Vase, and the bronze statue of the Discobolus were revealed. After scanning these four pieces, everyone’s gaze lingered on "Vase with Twelve Sunflowers."

The Discobolus was the first to be dismissed; anyone with a passing knowledge of Western art knew that the original bronze had long been lost to history. Assuming it to be a modern reproduction, the group paid it little mind. Leonardo da Vinci’s "Salvator Mundi" was similarly overlooked—it occurred to no one that it could be an authentic masterpiece. The Portland Vase, while striking, was dismissed by those familiar with cameo glass as a mere replica. Among the four, only Van Gogh’s canvas commanded immediate attention. The fame of "Sunflowers" was universal, and the immediate thought of the onlookers was that this might indeed be a genuine Van Gogh. Given that the artist had passed away only some 120 years ago and that high-quality imitations were relatively affordable, they reasoned that Xiao Yao would not present a fake.

Wang Xiaoxian, filled with pleasant surprise, asked, "This must be a genuine Van Gogh, right? I never imagined Mr. Xiao possessed such a top-tier masterpiece. My eyes have truly been opened today!"

"Of course it is an authentic Van Gogh," Xiao Yao replied. "It is a painting with a clear provenance. You may examine the certificates of authenticity beside it, provided by renowned experts and institutions, as a reference."

"I never expected to see a genuine Van Gogh with my own eyes today. With such a world-class masterpiece in our collection, it seems our Yiyun Autumn Auction is set to stun the world." Although his appraisers had yet to begin their work, Wang trusted that someone of Xiao Yao’s stature would not deal in falsehoods.

Wang Xiaoxian approached the painting, examining it with meticulous care. "Though my expertise in Western oil paintings is limited, I find it stunning. I love it—it is truly worthy of being a genuine Van Gogh."

"You should let your experts handle the appraisal; your own inspection won't yield much. Best not to waste time," Lu Yahong interjected without hesitation.

Wang Xiaoxian had not known in advance what items Xiao Yao would offer, so he had brought six appraisers with him. Fortunately, two of them possessed deep knowledge of Western art and were capable of a preliminary assessment. They produced their professional tools and worked for half an hour. After exchanging notes, the white-haired appraiser spoke: "After our initial inspection, both Teacher Huang and I believe this is indeed a genuine Van Gogh. However, a final conclusion will require further professional analysis back at the office."

"A preliminary result is sufficient. These many professional certificates essentially confirm the matter," Wang replied. He then turned to Xiao Yao. "I have absolute faith in you, Mr. Xiao, but I cannot disregard company protocol. For now, we will tentatively accept this as a genuine Van Gogh, though we must conduct a more formal appraisal before Yiyun can issue a final verdict. I hope you understand."

"I understand completely. Such a precious work of art requires the utmost caution. I have full confidence in Yiyun," Xiao Yao said dismissively.

"And this 'Salvator Mundi' by da Vinci—which master created this copy? Since Mr. Xiao is offering it for auction, it must be the work of a notable hand." Wang’s eyes fell upon the Leonardo, but lacking deep knowledge of Western oils, he could not discern the artist’s identity.

"If I told you now, there would be no surprise left. Let your experts take a look and see if they can reach a conclusion," Xiao Yao said, withholding the certificates for a moment. He added pointedly, "This piece is extremely precious and difficult to appraise. The experts will need to be very thorough."

"With you saying that, I am even more expectant. It seems our Yiyun Autumn Auction is destined to be a sensation." Wang felt a restless excitement, desperate to know the truth.

The second appraisal took even longer. After another half hour, the two experts still could not provide a final verdict. The white-haired appraiser stood up and said, "Chairman Wang, this painting is too precious; we dare not draw a hasty conclusion. If we were in Kyoto, I could call in more help. Teacher Wu Juyuan should be in Hangzhou right now, and his expertise in Western painting and sculpture is profound. May I invite him to join us?"

"I trust your judgment and Teacher Huang’s. If you feel it is necessary to bring in Teacher Wu, then please, make the call." Wang longed to ask for their initial thoughts, but fearing he might pressure them, he held his tongue.

"Chairman Wang, you must treat me to a grand meal another day. It seems your harvest today will exceed all expectations," Lu Yahong remarked. "A genuine Van Gogh is already extraordinary, and this 'Salvator Mundi' must be something truly special—it must be a copy by a master, or your appraisers wouldn't be so cautious." While Lu held a small stake in Yiyun, Wang was the primary shareholder, and the presence of two world-class paintings would be monumental for the firm.

"No problem. We don't have to wait—I'll treat you and Mr. Xiao to a feast this noon. I’ve brought some fine spirits; we shall eat and drink to our heart's content," Wang declared happily.

In high spirits and naturally eloquent, Wang steered the conversation with ease, and the three men chatted harmoniously. Before long, the expert Wu Juyuan arrived with great urgency. After another half hour of collective scrutiny and deliberation, they finally reached a preliminary conclusion.

The white-haired appraiser stood, his voice steady: "Chairman Wang, after extensive appraisal by the three of us, we have reached a preliminary consensus: this 'Salvator Mundi' is, in fact, an authentic Leonardo da Vinci."

"What did you say?" Wang Xiaoxian sprang to his feet. "You mean to tell me this is a genuine da Vinci?"