Chapter 15: The Auction

Chapter 13

This year marked Grandma Qiao’s 60th birthday, and the entire Qiao family was eager to celebrate it properly. Early in the morning, Yanxin Qiao took Tingchu Gu along to select a birthday gift for Grandma.

Naturally, the gift for Grandma wouldn’t be chosen from an ordinary place.

Yanxin Qiao went to the most renowned Treasure Pavilion in South City.

Inside the Treasure Pavilion were numerous collectibles, many of which were precious and rare.

Since they were outside, Tingchu Gu, feeling uninhibited, suddenly grasped Yanxin Qiao’s hand.

Yanxin froze for a moment, then quickly pulled her hand away.

“What’s wrong?” Tingchu blinked, looking rather hurt.

Yanxin cleared her throat awkwardly. “There are quite a few paparazzi here today. If we get photographed together again, it won’t be good.”

She certainly didn’t want to get another beating from Old Master Qiao.

Tingchu pressed his lips, saying nothing further.

They entered one after another, and naturally, I followed Yanxin into the auction hall.

Although I had been here before, today, upon entering, I was inexplicably filled with unease.

But soon, I understood why.

Everyone took their seats as the first item was brought forward.

When I saw it, my brow furrowed.

It was a mask.

For some reason, the mask looked oddly familiar.

The masked auctioneer began his introduction: “This is no ordinary mask. The skin on it is made from human skin—a genuine human skin mask.”

Among the crowd were many curious thrill-seekers. Upon hearing it was made of human skin, everyone grew excited.

Yanxin showed no interest; in fact, her face betrayed unmistakable disgust.

She had no taste for such macabre things and politely declined any involvement with human skin.

Meanwhile, Tingchu was unusually enthusiastic.

The auctioneer continued, “This human skin mask was made from the face skin of a revered monk from West City. It has been consecrated and is said to ward off evil and disasters.”

Hearing this, Tingchu quickly turned to Yanxin and said, “Yanxin, this mask suits you. Didn’t you say you’ve been having nightmares lately? Maybe buying this mask will help improve your sleep.”

Looking at the pale mask on the stage, Yanxin felt a chill run down her spine.

She wanted to refuse, but seeing the earnest look in Tingchu’s eyes, she nodded reluctantly.

Soon, a beautiful woman dressed in a qipao approached, holding a tray. On it rested the human skin mask.

---

The mask did not attract many buyers, so Yanxin didn’t pay much to acquire it.

The qipao-clad lady respectfully placed the human skin mask before her.

Curious, I leaned in, but the next moment, I was completely drawn in!

“Ah!”

Suddenly, darkness engulfed me, and I had no idea what was happening.

When I opened my eyes again, I realized my perspective had shifted—I could see the entire venue, not just the area around Yanxin.

Where was I?

The next instant, a delicate hand reached out and lifted me up.

I saw that the hand belonged to Yanxin!

What on earth was going on?

Could it be that I had become the mask?!

No, more precisely, I was trapped inside the mask.

But why?

After much thought, a bold suspicion arose in my mind.

Could it be that this human skin mask was made from my own skin?

Then what about my body? Was it completely gone?

At that moment, I was dumbfounded.

I hadn’t expected that group to act so swiftly. Before anyone could rescue my corpse, it had already been disposed of.

Watching the lively crowd, I felt a deep chill within.

If my corpse was destroyed, would the truth of my death be completely covered up?

I refused to accept it—I refused to die this way!

Hatred surged through my mind. The auctioneer’s voice suddenly pulled me back to reality.

He was already introducing the next item.

“Up next is a private collection from Mr. Z. Mr. Z has stated this piece will only be sold to a destined buyer. Others who get to witness it should consider themselves fortunate!”

His words whetted everyone’s appetite.

Many people urged the auctioneer to hurry up and reveal the next item.

He clapped his hands, and a nearly human-sized object draped in a black cloth was pushed forward.

“Ladies and gentlemen, please admire the greatest amber masterpiece of this century!”

---

As the black cloth was slowly lifted, there lay a human-shaped amber sculpture.

The orange-yellow amber encased a person posed in an exquisitely artistic manner. The most astonishing detail was that the person had no face.

Or rather, the place where the face should have been was covered by a piece of white cloth.

At a glance, I recognized the body inside the amber—it was my own corpse!

Tingchu’s nostrils flared slightly, a sign of his excitement.

“Yanxin, let’s buy this!”

Yanxin frowned, clearly displeased.

“Why buy this? It’ll just be creepy sitting at home.”

Tingchu continued to persuade her, “This amber piece is so artistic. Maybe Grandma will like it!”

Yanxin remained noncommittal, doubting Grandma would appreciate such an item.

But Tingchu’s relentless coaxing won out, and he ended up purchasing the human-shaped amber worth ten million.

Hearing Tingchu’s words, I seethed with rage.

Tingchu—he should have been the one who died!

Why, after causing my death, did he have the audacity to use my corpse to torment my grandmother?!

Heaven, why do you turn a blind eye?

I knelt on the ground, screaming loudly, tears of blood streaming from my eyes.

Why had I lived a life free of wrongdoing, only to suffer a fate of bodily separation in death?

Yet those who did evil continued to live well.

I hated it!

Perhaps my resentment was so heavy that the temperature around me seemed to drop several degrees.

Tingchu tightened his coat and pulled Yanxin’s coat more snugly around her.

“Shall we go back?”

Yanxin nodded, but just as Tingchu was about to get into the car, she paused.

“Tingchu, Qiao Yunzhou will be back tomorrow. I need to go to the bridal chamber.”

After saying this, she sighed.

She probably thought that when I returned, she wouldn’t let me off easily.