Chapter 9: Helplessness
Rage burned in Ye Tianlin's eyes, his gaze as sharp as a blade, cutting through the atmosphere. His fists clenched tightly, veins bulging with barely restrained fury.
She belongs to me. Nightwing, you dared to auction my woman like this? Very well—you've succeeded in provoking me.
The atmosphere in the auction hall grew tense as the bidding war continued. Voices calling out numbers rose and fell like waves, with the price steadily climbing past ten million. Yet, as the numbers increased, fewer participants dared to raise their hands.
Everyone coveted the "Purest Mermaid of the Sands," but their financial resources constrained their ambitions.
"Ten million! Is there anyone willing to bid higher?" The auctioneer attempted to incite further competition, his brow beaded with sweat.
The room fell silent. Just as it seemed the final offer had been reached, a crisp voice rang out from one of the private suites: "Fifty million!"
The room erupted in gasps. Heads turned toward the suite, whispers buzzing through the crowd.
"Who's in that suite? Must be someone of significant status."
"Forget it. No way we can compete with that."
The auctioneer's smile widened. This price was far beyond expectations. Without hesitation, he announced, "Fifty million once! Fifty million twice! Fifty million... sold!"
In the transparent water tank onstage, Liang Xiaoluo remained motionless. Her breathing was shallow, and her heart was sinking deeper into despair. The bright spotlight bore down on her, illuminating her humiliation. She couldn't see the face of the person who had just bought her, but knowing that she had been reduced to an auction item filled her with overwhelming shame.
The man who had bid from the private suite descended to the main floor, moving with deliberate steps. He was short and stout, his face lined with age and his smile dripping with greed. Reaching the stage, he extended his pudgy hand toward Liang Xiaoluo, his fingers brushing against her cheek.
Tears spilled from Liang Xiaoluo's eyes. Though her body was paralyzed, her soul screamed: Don't touch me! Stay away!
Suddenly, a deep and commanding voice sliced through the tense air: "Take your filthy hand off my woman."
The crowd froze. All eyes turned to the source of the voice.
Ye Tianlin strode forward, each step radiating dominance. The sea of onlookers parted instinctively, whispers rippling through the crowd.
"It's Ye Tianlin, the second son of the Ye family."
"What's he doing here?"
The auctioneer, recognizing Ye Tianlin, hurriedly greeted him with a fawning smile. "Second Young Master Ye…"
Ye Tianlin ignored him entirely, his cold, sharp gaze fixed on Liang Xiaoluo. His presence filled the room, suffocating everyone under his oppressive aura.
The auctioneer sensed the danger and quickly stepped forward to intercept Ye Tianlin. Wiping the sweat from his brow, he stammered, "Second Young Master Ye, you understand the rules of our auction. Once the hammer falls, the sale is final."
Ye Tianlin halted, his lips curling into a dangerous smile. "The purest mermaid of the sands, you say? Hmph. Are you certain she's pure?"
The crowd erupted into a frenzy. Ye Tianlin's words had sown seeds of doubt, and murmurs spread like wildfire.
The auctioneer panicked, his smile faltering. "Second Young Master Ye, surely you're joking! Our auction house guarantees the authenticity of every item we sell."
Ye Tianlin let out a cold laugh. "Is that so? Then you won't mind proving her purity with a test."
The audience roared in agreement. "That's reasonable! Let's see the proof!"
The auctioneer's face turned ashen, and he fumbled for words. Just then, a faint voice buzzed in his earpiece: "Let Ye Tianlin have his way. Whatever he wants, give it to him."
The voice belonged to Nightwing himself.
Hearing this, the auctioneer bowed his head submissively. Approaching Ye Tianlin, he murmured, "Second Young Master Ye, as per our master's instructions, everything will proceed as you wish. Please, do not escalate the situation."
Ye Tianlin smirked. "Good. I'll take her—for one billion."
The auctioneer froze, stunned by the astronomical figure. He quickly composed himself, nodding vigorously. "Of course, Second Young Master Ye. As you wish."
The elderly man who had bid earlier was visibly outraged. "This is outrageous! She was already mine. You can't just resell her! This goes against your auction's rules."
The auctioneer shot him a condescending glance. "Sir, as you said yourself, the transaction is finalized when the hammer falls. And yet, I distinctly recall that I hadn't struck the hammer when Second Young Master Ye placed his bid. Perhaps you misunderstood?"
The elderly man's face turned beet red. He opened his mouth to protest but faltered under the crowd's indifferent gazes. Defeated, he stepped aside.
Ye Tianlin ascended the stage, his tall figure towering over the glass tank. He bent down, gently lifting a lock of Liang Xiaoluo's hair. Bringing it to his face, he closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, savoring the scent.
"It's you," he murmured. His voice softened, tinged with a dangerous possessiveness. "I've finally found you."
Liang Xiaoluo's teary eyes widened as she recognized his voice. Fear surged through her heart, but her body remained immobilized, trapped in his grasp.
Ye Tianlin's gaze darkened. "From now on," he whispered, "you belong to me."