THE SHANGHAI BLACK MARKET AUCTION HOUSE〡MIDNIGHT

The air hung thick with anticipation and expensive perfume, masking the underlying stench of fear and desperation. Crystal chandeliers cast prismatic light across marble floors, illuminating the elite clientele who had gathered for tonight's main event—live demi-human auctions.

Tiered seating ringed the auction floor, where gleaming cages held the evening's 'merchandise.' Gold-rimmed masks hid faces, but not the hunger in eyes that scanned the captives like connoisseurs appraising art.

The auctioneer, resplendent in a tailored suit, raised his gavel with theatrical flourish.

"And now, ladies and gentlemen, we present our most exclusive offering of the evening—Crown Rank demi-humans, the pinnacle of refinement and obedience!"

The crowd murmured with approval as the first of the premium captives was wheeled onto the stage.

Then the room went silent.

Not the hushed anticipation of a crowd awaiting the main attraction—but the instinctive stillness of prey sensing a predator.

Every head turned toward the entrance where the massive oak doors had just opened.

A low murmur rippled through the room.

"Is that...?""Qiu Dingjie in the flesh?""I heard he doesn't attend these public auctions.""He must be here for something specific.""Or someone."

The room parted like water before him as he strode forward with the casual confidence of a man who owned everything his eyes fell upon. Eighteen-five centimeters of lean, coiled power contained in an immaculately tailored black suit that probably cost more than most people's homes.

Qiu Dingjie didn't just walk into a room—he claimed it. His dark eyes scanned the crowd without seeing them, his face an expressionless mask that gave nothing away. Only those who knew him could read the intensity in his gaze, the barely restrained power in his posture.

At his side, Li Chen moved like his shadow—efficient, silent, and deadly. The bodyguard's hand never strayed far from the weapon concealed beneath his jacket.

The auctioneer's smile faltered when he recognized the newcomer. "M-Mr. Qiu, this is an honor. Your private viewing room awaits—"

Qiu raised a single hand, silencing him mid-sentence. "I'll stand here."

His voice was low, graveled, and carried absolute authority. No one dared argue.

The auction continued, but no one was really paying attention anymore. All eyes followed Qiu Dingjie as his gaze moved slowly across the captives in their gilded cages.

He showed no interest in the first few Crown Rank offerings, his expression remaining carefully neutral even as bidding wars erupted around him.

Then he saw you.

You were in the last cage, sedated but still conscious enough to meet his gaze. Something in you snapped awake when those dark eyes locked onto yours—something primal that recognized danger and desire in equal measure.

Qiu Dingjie's head tilted slightly, just barely, like a predator assessing its prey. His index finger tapped once against his thigh—a nervous habit he couldn't control when something caught his interest.

The auctioneer, sensing the moment, gesticulated dramatically toward your cage.

"And now, our final offering of the evening—a truly exceptional specimen! Crown Rank, perfect health,未曾被触碰过 (never touched), with obedience scores off the charts!"

Bidding started immediately, numbers climbing rapidly as wealthy collectors competed for the privilege of owning you.

"Fifty thousand!""Seventy!""One hundred thousand!"

The numbers climbed higher and higher, each bid met with gasps from the audience.

"Five hundred thousand!"

A collective intake of breath—surely that was the limit.

Qiu Dingjie didn't even glance at the bidder who had just shouted that astronomical number. He simply raised two fingers.

The auctioneer's eyes widened. "Two million?"

Silence.

Then a voice from the back. "Two and a half!"

Qiu didn't look around. He just extended a third finger.

"Three million going once!"

The room held its breath.

"Three million going twice!"

"Sold to Mr. Qiu Dingjie!"

The gavel fell with a sound that sealed your fate.

Qiu moved toward your cage with predatory grace, his footsteps silent on the marble floor. Li Chen stayed back, giving his employer privacy while still maintaining a vigilant perimeter.

He reached through the bars without hesitation, his fingers brushing your cheek in a surprisingly gentle caress that sent shivers down your spine—half terror, half something you didn't dare name.

"Look at you," he murmured so quietly only you could hear. "Perfect."

His thumb traced your lower lip, his eyes darkening with something dangerous and hungry.

"I've been looking for something... special."

The cage door swung open with a metallic creak as the auction staff hurried to obey his unspoken command.

Before you could react, he'd lifted you easily—one arm under your knees, the other supporting your back. You were weightless in his arms, completely at his mercy.

Your body pressed against his, allowing you to feel the hard planes of his chest, the strength in his arms, the controlled power in every muscle. He smelled of expensive cologne and leather and something uniquely male that made your head spin.

"You're mine now," he whispered against your ear, his lips brushing your skin in a promise that sounded like a threat. "And I take very good care of what's mine."

He carried you through the parting crowd, who watched with a mixture of envy and fear. You could feel their eyes on you, but you couldn't look away from him—from the intensity in his gaze, the set of his jaw, the barely perceptible smile that played at the corners of his mouth.

As he carried you toward the exit, you realized with a sinking feeling that this wasn't just a purchase for Qiu Dingjie.

You were an obsession in the making.