Chapter 98: Chapter 98: The Bunny Appears: Weak, Pitiful, and Helpless

A young man with a slender back was less than three meters from Jiang Qingli.

He had one hand in his pocket, and the Bluetooth earpiece by his ear blinked twice, as if he were talking to someone.

The show was about to start. The surrounding lights were dim, making it hard to see clearly. She could only make out that he had dark hair.

But people could change their hair color at will here, so that wasn’t a reliable guess.

Just as Jiang Qingli was about to duck down and creep closer for a better look, a man’s strong hand suddenly wrapped around her waist, scooping her back and pressing her into the seat beside him.

Through the fabric, their legs were pressed tightly together.

Jiang Qingli could clearly feel the firm, powerful muscles beneath his suit trousers.

She pressed her legs together, a little uncomfortable.

But Ye Linyuan, as if he didn’t notice, moved his leg to follow hers, and the hand on her waist slowly tightened its grip.

Just like that, Jiang Qingli was pulled into his embrace.

A drumbeat sounded.

Psychedelic lights scattered across the stage, illuminating several figures from behind. Jiang Qingli’s gaze was involuntarily drawn to them.

She didn’t notice that the man in the suit she had been staring at moments ago had turned to look in her direction.

Beneath a black and gold fox mask, his narrow eyes watched her back, curving into a gentle smile.

Ye Linyuan glanced over, his eyes filled with mockery and hostility.

Faced with the provocation, Baili Jing showed no reaction. He simply stared at Jiang Qingli for a few more seconds before leaving.

The drumbeat of the music grew more intense. Dozens of male Beastmen in black shirts struck sexy, seductive poses under the hazy lights...

Suddenly, her vision went black.

Jiang Qingli froze for a second before realizing Ye Linyuan had covered her eyes.

"Don’t look." The young man’s low, cold voice sounded by her ear. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

"Why not?" Jiang Qingli was a little frustrated. "I couldn’t even see what it was..."

Ye Linyuan didn’t speak, but Jiang Qingli heard an excited female voice shout something nearby.

The tips of her ears twitched. Her curiosity grew.

After a short while, a waiter came over to ask about their preferences for drinks and dessert.

Out in public, a female being controlled by a male would be mocked by others.

"Close your eyes." Ye Linyuan released her, took the menu, and warned in a low voice, "Don’t forget you need something from me."

’This damn snake. All he knows is how to threaten people.’

"Oh," Jiang Qingli obediently replied.

Ye Linyuan finished ordering, only to turn and see the girl peeking with one eye open, engrossed in watching the hunks on stage spin, dance, and show off their abs.

Ye Linyuan: "..."

Sensing his gaze, Jiang Qingli blinked, feeling a little guilty.

"Why are you so tense?" Jiang Qingli patted his chest through his suit, then patted his abs, looking completely serious. "Don’t worry. From my observation, none of them have a body as good as yours."

’Just a few minutes ago she was calling him hubby, and now she’s already checking out this guy and that guy.’

Ye Linyuan almost let out a cold laugh. "Then why are you still looking?"

"You can’t make a judgment without a comparison," the girl said, her voice softening. "Besides, I’m just looking."

Ye Linyuan: "..."

Jiang Qingli was truly the first person to be so disobedient and mischievous right in front of him and still seem to be enjoying herself so much.

’Sometimes, he even suspected she was sent to be his bane.’

About five minutes later, the hunk show ended. A few of the men stood at the front of the stage, and when a female raised a sign, they would walk over shyly.

"What, you want to pick one too?" a low voice murmured by her ear.

"Of course not." Jiang Qingli patted his hand reassuringly. "Tonight, you’re my husb—husband. Why would I look for anyone else?"

’She was a natural at deceiving him. Where did she learn to be such a smooth talker?’

Ye Linyuan wanted to sneer, but meeting her eyes, he pursed his lips, feeling a little flustered, and turned his face away without a word.

A few seconds later, the young man pinched the base of his ear.

-

The auction began soon after.

After each item appeared, bids would constantly pop up on the screen in front of them.

Jiang Qingli wasn’t very interested in the first few items. She placed a couple of bids just to experience the thrill of an auction, then stopped.

After the initial items were sold, some guests had already started to leave.

Five enormous cages covered in black cloth were carried onto the stage.

"I’m sure all our honored guests have been eagerly awaiting this new ’shipment’," the auctioneer said with a smile. "I guarantee you, the ’quality’ this time will be to everyone’s satisfaction!"

"Now, let’s bring out the top-shelf ’item’ to liven things up for you all!"

He waved his hand, and a staff member standing by the cage reached up and tore off the black cloth—

The crystal chandelier refracted a light so bright it was blinding.

A beautiful young man was imprisoned within a silver cage. His head was bowed, and his wrists and ankles were bound by chains.

He wore a beautiful, ornate shirt with layers upon layers of intricate lace at the collar. Yet, around his slender, pale neck was a tight black collar meant for animals. The extreme contrast was all the more stunning.

The auctioneer gave a command: "Number 001, head up. Let the honored guests see your face."

Gu Nian raised his eyes and, without any warning, looked directly in Jiang Qingli’s direction.

His glassy, pink eyes seemed to well up with a shimmer of moisture. He bit his lower lip, the corners of his eyes tinged with a faint red, looking both defiant and fragile.

It was as if he were showing her his most pitiful side, begging for her compassion.

But the next second, Gu Nian lowered his gaze again, as if that glance had been unintentional.

The large screens on either side focused on his face, precisely magnifying even the trembling curve of his eyelashes.

The auctioneer scanned the crowd’s expressions and nodded in satisfaction. "I’m sure everyone has seen the file on 001. He is a white rabbit male, just turned eighteen, young and full of vitality."

"Then let the bidding begin," the auctioneer raised his voice. "The starting price is five million."

With his beautiful face and figure, Gu Nian was a popular type.

Not to mention his air of vulnerability, which compelled the guests present to throw money at him.

The price soared to fifteen million in just one minute.

The auctioneer continued to highlight the selling points.

"As we all know, rabbits have a high pain tolerance. I’m confident that no matter how you... use him, he won’t show any dissatisfaction. With him, you can vent all your frustrations..."

"We’ve already checked. He is completely unblemished, pure and flawless. You will be the one to write every mark upon him..."

BEEP BEEP BEEP—

The price continued to rise.

When the bidding price soared to thirty-five million, Jiang Qingli raised her hand, about to make a bid.

Ye Linyuan, lounging casually against the sofa, caught her fingers and said in a low voice, "Wait a moment."

As soon as he spoke, the frequency of bids slowed down. Only two people were left competing, and the increments, which had started at five million at a time, had dropped to the hundreds of thousands.

After all, Gu Nian was only the first. Who knew if there would be someone better later?

Jiang Qingli thought for a moment and relaxed, picking up a drink to sip.

When the price reached forty million, Gu Nian suddenly looked up and glanced their way.

The boy’s eyes, brimming with tears, were like fragile glass.

But deep within them, an imperceptible anxiety stirred restlessly.

He pressed his lips together, glanced at the auctioneer, then looked down at the chains on his hands and sighed softly.

The auctioneer’s voice rang out. "Everyone, a little reminder: this little rabbit is still a virgin!"

As his voice fell, another competitor bid forty-one million.

The other one gave up the fight.

The auctioneer stood in the center and said slowly, "Honored guest number 017 bids forty-one million."

"Forty-one million going once, forty-one million going twice..."

Jiang Qingli took a deep breath and entered a long string of zeros on the screen.

The next second, the auctioneer excitedly announced—

"Fifty million!"

"Honored guest number 011 bids fifty million!!!"