Chapter 8: A Token of Affection

"Lighting the sky lantern" meant that regardless of the bidding price for an item, the person who lit the lantern would purchase it at an even higher price.

In an instant, every gaze in the auction house converged upon Shen Suinian.

Jian Tang dug her fingernails into her palms. Given the immense power and status of this stranger, what kind of conditions could she possibly offer to persuade him to part with the item?

Having failed to secure the lot, Chen Bozhou clenched his fists, preparing to approach the top bidder to negotiate the acquisition of the antique necklace, but he was intercepted by Shen Feiyu.

Shen Feiyu leaned against his shoulder, her breath as sweet as orchids: "Brother Bozhou, I hear the lounge here is quite... stimulating."

Chen Bozhou’s Adam's apple bobbed, his fingers digging noticeable marks into her thigh.

Ten minutes later.

In the backstage area, Jian Tang ran up to the top bidder and his two companions. Looking at the velvet box and the certificate of authenticity in his hand, she stammered, "Excuse me, I would like to... I..."

She knew full well that it was unlikely he would agree to such a rash and impolite request, but for the sake of her mother's heirloom, she had to try.

Shen Suinian watched her eyelashes tremble in fear of rejection. His well-defined fingers slowly stroked the velvet box, and he glanced sideways at the owner of the auction house.

The owner, a shrewd man, immediately understood the cue and stepped forward: "Miss, the pink diamond and jade bracelet you are wearing are exquisite. If you are willing to part with them, the top bidder is willing to trade them for items from his own collection."

Upon hearing this, Jian Tang felt a surge of hope. With only a moment’s hesitation, she removed the pink diamond and jade bracelet that symbolized her relationship with Chen Bozhou. "I would like to trade them for the antique necklace you just purchased."

Shen Suinian took in her promptness, his gaze deepening.

He raised his slender fingers and handed the velvet box toward her. "Once the transfer is agreed upon, there are no returns."

After carefully checking the antique necklace to ensure it was in perfect condition, Jian Tang nodded. "Very well."

Since they were tokens of love between them, now that the relationship was fading, the objects no longer held their meaning.

Jian Tang thanked him and turned to leave, but the auction house owner called out to her, "Miss, we still need to sign a transfer agreement. A verbal deal isn't binding, wouldn't you agree?"

Jian Tang found this reasonable. "All right."

The auction house owner smiled, "I'll have someone take you to the lounge; it will only take a quarter of an hour."

As Jian Tang left, Shen Suinian glanced at the sycophantic, fawning auction house owner. "Meddlesome."

He only called him meddlesome but showed no real anger; the owner just offered a purposefully dull, foolish grin.

Jian Tang waited in the lounge for the contract, listlessly picking up a strangely shaped remote control to examine it.

She accidentally pressed a switch, and a massive screen slowly rose. Assuming it was a television, she leaned back on the sofa, intending to watch something to pass the time.

However—

There was no plot, only a graphic film of a man and woman engaging in intense physical intimacy.

Stunned by the imagery, Jian Tang’s eyes widened.

"Click."

The door to the lounge was pushed open by a tall, dignified figure.

Hearing the sounds of "ah" and "oh" coming from the screen, Shen Suinian looked toward Jian Tang with eyes as dark as ink.

Jian Tang scrambled in a panic to turn it off, but she fumbled the controls, accidentally turning the volume up instead of off. She felt excruciatingly awkward and helpless. "I... I didn't know it played this..."

"Can you... can you turn it off?"

The man wearing the mask looked at her, his eyes betraying a hint of aggrieved redness. Shen Suinian stepped forward, took the remote from her hand, studied it for a moment, and switched it off.

The annoying sound finally vanished, and Jian Tang let out a long sigh of relief.

Shen Suinian said, "The lounge on the right is reserved specifically for those with... special needs."

Jian Tang, who had no knowledge of such customs, explained in a low voice, "I didn't know about these things."

Her cheeks were flushed, even the tips of her ears turning red, looking like the most enticing peach in midsummer. Shen Suinian’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly.

Sensing the searing gaze from above, Jian Tang looked up and collided with eyes that were like dark, bottomless rivers.

Jian Tang’s heart skipped a beat. These eyes...

It was that god of death, Shen Suinian!

Why would he go to the lengths of "lighting the sky lantern" just to buy this antique necklace? And why did he want to trade for her pink diamond and jade bracelet?

Her mind raced, and she failed to notice the aggressive, encroaching presence of Shen Suinian as he took long strides toward her.

Coming to her senses, Jian Tang felt as though she were trapped beneath a towering, endless mountain.

Sensing his danger, she tried to flee.

Shen Suinian blocked her path with his long arm. "Recognized me?"

Jian Tang could not fathom his motives and only wanted to draw a clear line. "I don't know you, I..."

Before she could finish her denial, Shen Suinian removed his mask.

Now, she no longer had the luxury of pretending.

Shen Suinian asked, "Are you afraid of me?"

Of course, Jian Tang was afraid of him; otherwise, given her temperament, she would have hired someone to beat him up years ago when he orchestrated the marriage between Shen Chunmei and Jian Suishan.

"You... you are an elder. Why would I be afraid? I am simply... showing you respect."

"Heh." Shen Suinian, hearing her attempt to flatter him, let out a dry laugh. "We have no connection whatsoever. What kind of elder am I to you?"

His words sounded as if he detested her attempt to climb the social ladder.

Jian Tang was silent for two seconds. "...You are right."

Because of his status, Jian Tang had to swallow her pride even when being insulted.

"Once the transfer agreement is signed, I will leave and no longer be an eyesore to you."

She was young after all, and failing to control her emotions well, her fingers accidentally pressed something, and the wall beside her slowly rose. A transparent glass panel was revealed, exposing everything inside the adjacent lounge.

Jian Tang caught a glimpse of Chen Bozhou and Shen Feiyu in masks. She instinctively tried to turn away, but she saw the two of them entwined in a passionate embrace.

It was a one-way mirror.

The next instant, a large hand covered her eyes from behind.

Deprived of sight, Shen Suinian’s low voice sounded in her ear: "Filthy."

His sudden action was more of a shock to Jian Tang’s nerves than the sight of the two lovers.

"Someone's there~"

Shen Feiyu heard the sound from the room, her voice dripping with artificial sweetness.

Chen Bozhou, still masked, did not stop; instead, he felt a surge of excitement. "You slut, why put on an act? Didn't you know before we came in that this place could be spied on? Hmm?"

Shen Feiyu cooed, "How hateful, I'm shy."

Chen Bozhou sneered, "Are you trying to seduce the man next door into joining us?"

Shen Feiyu wrapped her arms around Chen Bozhou’s neck, their bodies drawing even closer. "Do you dare?"

Chen Bozhou played it rough and wild. "Naturally, I dare."

Listening to their conversation, Jian Tang no longer had the heart to probe Shen Suinian’s intentions. She pushed the hand covering her eyes away. "I’m leaving."

Both she and Shen Suinian had spoken in low tones, but their voices still drifted into the next room. Chen Bozhou, lost in his pleasure, suddenly went rigid. "Tangtang..."

It was Jian Tang’s voice!

The realization caused Chen Bozhou’s blood to freeze in an instant. A look of panic flooded his handsome face beneath the mask. He shoved Shen Feiyu away and frantically searched for the location of the one-way mirror in the room.

Jian Tang did not look back; she did not want to see his reaction. She only wanted to leave this place.

She... could not confront Chen Bozhou yet.

She knew his character too well. If he discovered that his secret had been leaked, he would stop at nothing to keep her.

Jian Tang left. While Chen Bozhou was frantically searching the two rooms like a madman, she took the elevator and departed.

Not finding Jian Tang, Chen Bozhou felt a sense of relief, but he had also lost all interest in continuing.

As he straightened his clothes and walked through the exhibition hall, he bumped into the auctioneer, who was currently appraising a pink diamond and a jade bracelet.

He recognized them in an instant—they were the tokens of love he had given Jian Tang!

Chen Bozhou’s pupils contracted sharply.

By evening, Jian Tang’s door was rudely pushed open.

Chen Bozhou burst in, his face a mask of panic. With reddened eyes and a trembling voice, he gripped her hand. "Tangtang, why did you sell our tokens of love? Are you planning to leave me?"