Chapter 1 Beginnings (1)

When Shen Li opened her eyes, she was completely baffled; darkness surrounded her with not a shred of light.

She could hear but couldn't make a sound; her body wouldn't move at all.

Was she dreaming? Why did it feel so real?

"Distinguished guests, this is tonight's final auction item, a beautiful creature from the Eastern Kingdom," the emcee announced in a high-pitched voice, forcefully pulling away the black cloth that covered the cage.

In an instant, all the lights on stage went out, leaving only the large central spotlight shining directly on the cage.

The soft flickering light stirred up the men's screams, and the atmosphere in the room reached its peak in mere moments.

Before the emcee could start the bidding, bells rang incessantly from below, some even shouting out loud, "Five hundred thousand…"

"One million…"

On the large screen to the left, the bids refreshed over and over. The emcee's eyes could hardly keep up, his voice becoming ever more strained as he called out, "Five million! Bidder number 15 offers five million…"

Shen Li was stunned. Had she become an auction item?

Because of the lighting, she couldn't see anyone aside from the emcee wearing a feathered mask.

But she could imagine the leering eyes of countless disgusting men. She wanted to curl up into a ball but found herself completely immobile. Shame and fear mingled, and finally, tears streamed down Shen Li's face.

Who would save her…

"Bidder number 3 offers ten million... ten million..." the emcee bellowed, the unexpectedly high bid surpassing all assumptions that five million was the limit.

As soon as the words left his mouth, the large screen flipped again, and the emcee's voice nearly broke, "Fifty million, bidder number 15 offers fifty million…"

With that shout, murmurs rose up from the crowd.

Five million was already an astronomical price to pay for a person, but fifty million... that was inconceivable.

Just as the emcee thought he could bang the gavel, the screen spiked with another high bid, his eyes nearly popping out as his voice shook, "One hundred million… Bidder number 3 offers one hundred million…"

Suddenly, not a whisper could be heard; the room fell deathly silent.

Everyone was stunned; no one had ever seen a woman sold for such a staggering sum.

Inside VIP box number 15, Han Mochen stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows, watching the girl in the cage with a smile on his lips. Truly a beauty, just watching her made his blood boil.

His assistant whispered beside him, "Found out—it's Young Master Huo bidding as number 3."

"Huo Siyu?" Han Mochen seemed slightly surprised, then quickly smiled and said, "It's rare for him to be interested. Let's leave it to him."

As he spoke, he found himself inadvertently glancing at box number 3 opposite them. Knowing each other for too long sometimes made similar tastes an annoyance.

When the final gavel fell, the black cloth once again covered the cage, leaving Shen Li submerged in darkness. As the cage was loaded onto a cart and she was pushed away, she wondered where she would be taken and what she would face next.

When the black cloth was lifted again, the blinding light made Shen Li slightly disoriented. In the opulent reception room, maids, assistants, and bodyguards stood in throngs.

The first thing Shen Li saw was a man sitting on the sofa, in his twenties, handsome and flawless, exuding a nobility that seemed centuries deep, with not a hint of darkness about him.

His black eyes also appeared to watch her, without warmth, without emotion, merely observing.

Shen Li involuntarily shivered. This man had bought her?

Such cold eyes seemed devoid of any warmth.

What would he do with her?

"Esteemed guest, here is your item," the emcee said respectfully.

Inspecting goods is a tradition at "Night Color"; the assistant named Situ promptly wrote out a check and handed it over. His hand trembled slightly at signing so many zeros—one hundred million.

After receiving the check, the emcee confirmed it and smiled, "Additionally, we have a few small delights to enhance your experience, which we hope you'll enjoy."

At his signal, two attendants came forward with trays.

Shen Li's face changed color at just one glance—what were these for? To use on her?

The tray was placed on the table, and the emcee, along with the attendants, left, followed by everyone else. The vast room emptied instantly, leaving Shen Li feeling chilled to the bone. Her body instinctively curled up, then she realized she could move again and speak.

Desperately, Shen Li said, "Sir, please listen to me—I don't know how I ended up here. The money you paid... I will return it to you. Please, just send me home."

Her plea sounded naïve but was all she could think to say.

A smile touched the corners of Huo Siyu's lips, adding a trace of warmth to his refined visage. He stood and approached the cage. Shen Li couldn't help but look up at him, her heart racing with anxiety.

"I like the sound of your voice," Huo Siyu suddenly remarked.

"Ah…"

Shen Li cried out in pain as Huo Siyu's force pulled her from the cage.

Staggering, Shen Li could hardly breathe from the tension on her neck.

But Huo Siyu didn't release the pink ribbon around Shen Li's neck; her body trembled slightly, fear overriding shame.

Her pitiful, tearful eyes begged for mercy from Huo Siyu, whose gaze remained cold, devoid of desire.

"I'm not here willingly; I have no idea what happened, why I'm here," Shen Li rambled, tears quickly following.

Huo Siyu ignored her, his right hand hooked on the pink ribbon, without much force, just drawing them closer. His left hand pointed at Shen Li's red lips, satisfied, "Sounds good when you call out, not bad when you cry either."

"Please, listen to me…" Shen Li sobbed, filled with fear, bewilderment, and helplessness.

What on earth was happening? Was this all a dream?

Huo Siyu glanced at her and said, "Good skin, too."

"You'd better try hard; if I find you boring, the only option will be to take you apart and sell your organs—one way to recoup some of my losses."

Shen Li shivered, feeling certain this man was serious.

PS: The new story "Meeting the Rival in Love: All the Male God Bosses Are Too Bad" has started;

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