Chapter 10: Love That Stopped in That Year
The crowd didn't recognize the elderly man, but they all knew Ye Tianlin, the infamous Second Young Master of the Ye family. No one dared provoke him. Choosing to avoid unnecessary trouble, everyone acted as though they hadn't heard anything.
The elderly man's face darkened. He looked up at the exclusive suite above, debating whether to raise the bid. But if the young master hadn't planned to continue, adding such a significant amount might anger him...
Hesitating for too long, the elderly man eventually lowered his head and exited under the watchful gaze of the crowd.
Back in the suite, he stood outside, trembling, unable to string a coherent sentence together. "Y-young Master, I... I failed…"
"Do you know what happens to useless people?" A cold, gravelly voice from within the room cut through the air, filled with cruelty and venom.
"No, Young Master, please! Give me another chance! I beg you, I—"
Bang!
A silenced bullet pierced the elderly man's skull. His words were cut short as he crumpled lifelessly to the floor, becoming nothing more than a cold corpse.
There was no sympathy, no second glance.
His death was insignificant.
Soon, three men dressed in black suits dragged his body away, dumping it into the vast ocean. The suite returned to silence, as though nothing had happened.
Inside the suite, a tall, lean man stood by the glass, his sharp features carved like a sculpture. His furrowed brows betrayed his inner turmoil. His cold, penetrating gaze was fixed on the stage below where Liang Xiaoluo sat confined in her glass prison.
A deep sigh escaped his lips. "Xiaoluo, I'll find a way to save you…"
Turning on his heel, he left.
Liang Xiaoluo had been sold once, and now she was being transferred to another man. Her ears strained to catch every word, dread pooling in her chest. She felt like a cheap commodity, passed from hand to hand.
Yet amidst the humiliation, a familiar voice broke through. Her heart raced, tears spilling down her face uncontrollably.
Someone, save me…
Ye Tianlin approached her, his strong arms scooping her up effortlessly.
When Liang Xiaoluo finally saw his face, she froze. Her tears stopped abruptly. Him? It's him... That night...
Ye Tianlin didn't miss the fleeting emotions in her eyes. The complex mix of recognition and shock pleased him. Leaning close to her ear, he murmured, "So, you remember me."
Liang Xiaoluo's mind went blank, as though clouds filled her head. The situation was far beyond anything she could have anticipated.
The final auction ended with Ye Tianlin's staggering bid of one billion. As the crowd dispersed, everyone retreated to their cabins aboard the luxury cruise ship, awaiting its return to L City's harbor by dawn.
In a private suite prepared for Ye Tianlin, he carried Liang Xiaoluo inside, his guards stationed diligently at the door.
The door clicked shut, leaving only the two of them in the spacious room. The atmosphere grew tense.
From the moment he saw her at the auction, Ye Tianlin's gaze hadn't left her. Something about her aura captivated him, a magnetic pull he couldn't resist. The desire she stirred in him was relentless, surging with every passing second.
Liang Xiaoluo remained paralyzed. Though she couldn't speak or move, for some inexplicable reason, seeing Ye Tianlin brought her a shred of calm. She thought, At least being with him is better than ending up with a stranger.
She wanted to ask him what was happening, but no words came. Her body refused to cooperate.
"You want to speak?" Ye Tianlin seemed to read her thoughts.
Her wide eyes blinked once, a silent affirmation.
"Alright," he said, a faint smirk curling his lips. Carrying her into the en-suite bathroom, he set her near the large marble tub, already filled with warm water.
Before she could process what was happening, Ye Tianlin unceremoniously dropped her into the tub.
Splash!
Water surged around her, flooding her mouth and nose. Panic engulfed her as she struggled against the water. Why is he doing this? Does he want to kill me?
Her limbs flailed helplessly, but amidst the chaos, she realized something: her body could move again. Tentatively, she stretched her arms, testing them. It was real. She could move.
As she tried to steady herself, the weight of the ornamental tail strapped to her lower body threw her off balance. Before she could sink again, strong arms pulled her up and out of the water.
She clung instinctively to her rescuer's neck, coughing and gasping for air.
Her breaths slowed, but her relief was short-lived. Opening her eyes, she found Ye Tianlin's face just inches away. His chiseled features, wet hair clinging to his forehead, and the faint outline of his muscular chest beneath his soaked shirt were almost too much to process.
Her face flushed bright red, her heartbeat racing uncontrollably. Why is he so close?
"You still can't speak?" Ye Tianlin teased, his voice smooth as silk.
She hesitated, unsure how to respond.
Leaning closer, his warm breath brushed her ear. "There's one last step…"
Before she could ask what he meant, he cupped the back of her head and pressed his lips to hers.
Her eyes widened in shock. The kiss was intense and overwhelming, rekindling memories of that fateful night.
Fury and shame surged through her. She started to resist, but his strength rendered her struggles futile. Summoning her courage, she bit down hard on his lip.
The taste of blood filled their mouths, and Ye Tianlin pulled back, his lips stained crimson. Instead of anger, he seemed amused. His arm tightened around her waist, pulling her closer.
"So, this is how you repay your savior?" he teased.
She coughed, her voice finally returning. "What did you make me swallow?"
Her own voice startled her. She touched her throat in disbelief, whispering, "I can speak?"
Ye Tianlin chuckled, wiping the blood from his lip. "The snake bites the farmer. How poetic."
Her face flushed with embarrassment. Though his actions had saved her from a worse fate, his playful teasing left her flustered.
Pulling herself away, she glared. "Thank you for saving me. But you can let go now."
Ye Tianlin's gaze lingered on her. "Do you not remember that night?" he asked pointedly.
Her heart skipped a beat. She lied, "I don't know what you're talking about."
He smirked, unconvinced. "Is that so?"
Breaking free of his hold, Liang Xiaoluo backed away, trying to put as much distance between them as possible.