The next day, the sun shone brightly above the Mittel Auction House, casting golden light across its grand walls.
Inside the building, a steward hurried into the treasure appraisal room, looking flustered. "Master Gu Ni! Miss Ya Fei hasn't arrived yet, and the auction is about to begin!"
"Huh? She's not here?" Gu Ni looked surprised. Then he suddenly remembered the box of Ruyi Powder Ya Fei had taken with her last night. His lips twitched slightly.
"Those two… really have no shame."
With a helpless sigh, he stood up. "Looks like I'll have to take care of things myself today."
He walked out and headed toward the main auction hall.
As he stepped onto the auction platform, he addressed the growing crowd. "Everyone, I'm afraid Miss Ya Fei isn't feeling well today. I'll be conducting the auction in her place."
At once, the audience erupted in concern.
"What? Miss Ya Fei is sick?"
"She must be exhausted from overwork!"
"She always puts the auction house first… What a dedicated woman…"
Many of the men in the audience frowned in worry. Some even began whispering about sending her rare medicinal herbs to help her recover.
Seeing their over-the-top reactions, Gu Ni almost rolled his eyes.
Hopeless fools, all of them…
He cleared his throat and tapped the table. "Settle down, everyone. Let's begin with the first item."
Meanwhile, in a quiet, luxurious bedroom deep inside the Mittel estate, soft rays of sunlight filtered in through sheer curtains.
Ya Fei slowly opened her eyes.
The moment she tried to move, a sharp pain shot through her lower back and thighs. "Ah—!" she gasped, quickly falling back onto the bed.
Then the memories came rushing back—his touch, his kisses, the way Ye Chen had whispered her name as if she meant everything to him.
Her face burned with embarrassment.
After protecting myself for so many years… I actually gave everything to that shameless man!
Turning her head, she saw Ye Chen lying beside her. His face looked calm and peaceful in the morning light, almost like a sleeping angel.
But instead of calming her, it made her even more upset.
She reached out and pinched his arm. "You wicked little brother… you really didn't hold back at all last night…"
But before she could pull away, Ye Chen stirred.
In a flash, he rolled over and pressed her down, grinning lazily. His eyes were still a little sleepy, but full of mischief. "Trying to sneak attack me, sister? Looks like you didn't learn your lesson…"
"N-No! Stop! I can't take it again!" Ya Fei's eyes went wide with panic, her cheeks flushing deeper. "Be good, little brother… your sister's body is already sore all over…"
Ye Chen leaned in closer, his smile playful. "Oh? Calling me 'little brother' again now? But last night, you didn't think I was little at all…"
"Y-You shameless brat!" she huffed, smacking his shoulder lightly. "You're such a bully!"
But her voice had no real anger in it.
Ye Chen chuckled and finally let her go, gently wrapping her in his arms instead. He brushed her messy hair out of her face and looked at her quietly.
But then, Ya Fei's smile faded.
"…Ye Chen," she said softly, "do you… think I'm easy?"
His smile disappeared.
She bit her lip and looked away. Her voice trembled. "I… I know what I did was impulsive. I was the one who pushed things last night, wasn't I?"
Her fingers clutched the sheets tightly. "I was afraid if I didn't take the chance, I'd regret it forever. But now… I'm scared you'll think less of me."
Ye Chen stared at her, heart aching at her vulnerable expression.
He didn't say a word. Instead, he reached out and gently turned her face toward him. His voice was low, steady, and sincere.
"You gave me your heart, not just your body. How could I ever look down on that?"
Ya Fei's eyes trembled with emotion, tears gathering in the corners.
Ya Fei's voice trembled, and her eyes glistened with tears.
"I just… I didn't want to lose my chance," she whispered. "The elders in my family have been pressuring me to marry. They want to use me to build alliances with other powerful clans. I've been resisting for so long, but…"
She paused, taking a shaky breath, as if forcing the words out.
"I thought… if I have to marry someone else one day, then at the very least… I wanted to give this part of myself to you. That way, I wouldn't regret anything."
She looked up at him, eyes filled with sadness and honesty.
"You're the only one I've ever liked, Ye Chen. Since we were young… I've always liked you."
Ye Chen stared at her, and his heart tightened. The woman standing before him was not the confident, seductive auctioneer the world saw.
Right now, she was just Ya Fei....vulnerable, emotional, and real.
"…Sister Ya Fei," he murmured softly, pulling her into his arms.
"You're not cheap. You're brave," he said, his voice full of emotion. "Do you know how lucky I feel right now?"
Ya Fei blinked in surprise.
He smiled gently and brushed away her tears. "You gave yourself to me not because you were desperate, but because you love me. That's the most precious thing anyone has ever given me."
He leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her forehead.
"I don't care what your clan wants," he said, his voice firm now. "You are not some tool they can use for political gain."
He held her tighter and looked into her eyes with absolute determination.
"From this moment on, I won't let anyone marry you. No one else will have you, Ya Fei. You're mine."
She looked at him with wide eyes before chuckling through her tears and burying her face in his chest. "You really know how to make a girl fall harder, you little devil."
Ye Chen's arms tightened around her, and a warm, possessive light shone in his eyes.
"Tell me," he whispered teasingly, "Who do you belong to?"
"…You," she mumbled into his chest.
"I didn't hear that."
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