I raised stunning young ladies, but they all wanted to possess me.

Standing behind Li Zhengguo, Bai Zikong's palms were sweaty, and his fingers trembled slightly with nervousness.

"Don't panic. Follow Master Gu Yan's plan."

Li Zhengguo tilted his head slightly and spoke in a voice that only the two of them could hear.

Upon hearing the name Gu Yan, Bai Zikong breathed a sigh of relief; the name seemed to have a magical power that calmed him down.

Outside the private room, Chen Sinian had just finished scolding Zhang Zihao for being more trouble than he was worth. When he turned his head and saw the painting being placed on the door through the crack, his heart immediately jumped into his throat.

He could only pray silently, "Master Gu Yan, it's up to you now!"

The starting bid for this painting, "Girl by the Window," is one million.

"Each bid must be at least 100,000. The auction is now beginning."

On the stage, the middle-aged head maid, Aunt Tian, ​​steadied herself and announced the starting bid in a clear voice.

She had barely finished speaking—

"Ten million."

A slightly frivolous, yet clearly audible young male voice resonated throughout the auction hall via the private room's loudspeaker.

The sound was coming from the best luxury private room on the second floor.

The entire room fell silent instantly.

All eyes, whether open or hidden, were fixed on the second floor.

In the private room, Gu Yan put down the price quote device, leaned back in her chair, and a villainous, determined smile appeared on her lips.

The auction house was completely silent.

Urged on by Li Zhengguo's gaze, Bai Zikong took a deep breath and held up the number plate: "One thousand...one million."

The sound was a bit strained, but still fairly clear.

Gu Yan continued to observe Cecilia out of the corner of her eye, deliberately raising her voice and feigning surprise and displeasure: "Oh? Someone else is trying to take it from me?"

Cecilia looked in the direction of the sound, her gaze landing on Bai Zikong.

When the outline of that face became clear—

Cecilia froze instantly!

His icy blue pupils suddenly contracted!

That face... the contours of that face... it's so similar!

So much like the person she desperately wanted to erase from her memory!

My heart felt like it was being gripped tightly by an icy hand, and a feeling of suffocation surged up instantly.

She clenched her fists, her nails digging deep into her palms, causing a sharp, stinging pain, but it paled in comparison to the churning agony in her chest. Her face instantly turned pale.

Gu Yan was also thinking quickly at this moment.

The original plan was for Cecilia to host on stage and overhear the actors around her deliberately talking, praising Bai Zikong for his good character, strong abilities, integrity, and kindness, in order to leave a good impression on her first.

But now she's in a well-soundproofed private room, and Zhang Zihao has run away again...

You can only do it yourself!

"This person... seems to be called Bai Zikong?"

"I heard he's doing well in the government sector, quite capable at a young age, and has a good reputation."

"I didn't expect... that you'd want to fight me for something today?"

Gu Yan continued in that flippant and slightly disdainful tone.

He continued talking to himself, unaware of Cecilia's change beside him.

Cecilia felt the stinging pain in her palm grow clearer, but what was even more terrifying was the imagery churning in her mind.

The old streets of Italy, Lin Yan's seemingly sincere smile in the sunlight, the flickering flames in the chapel, and that check...

Fragments of memories intertwined with coldness and betrayal relentlessly assaulted her already fragile nerves.

The spiritual ruins she saw were already riddled with cracks.

Under this immense stimulation, it began to tremble violently, groaning as if it could not bear the strain, and large pieces of debris began to peel off and collapse!

"Buzz—"

The entire auction hall, and even the entire building, began to shake slightly but continuously!

The chandelier jingled, and the wine in the glasses on the table rippled.

An invisible, heavy pressure spread out, making it difficult for many ordinary people to breathe.

Gu Yan suddenly snapped out of her daze, looked at Cecilia, and was shocked!

What's going on?!

In the original work, Cecilia was sad when she saw Bai Zikong, but she was definitely not to the point of completely breaking down!

Without thinking twice, he instantly activated his Emotional Eyes!

The moment the seven-colored light flowed in my eyes, a sharp, needle-like pain shot straight into my mind.

Just looking directly at that collapsing ruins had such a strong backlash!

Hey!

Gu Yan cursed inwardly, knowing she couldn't wait any longer.

Fight!

Even if it shortens her lifespan, we must stabilize her first!

He gritted his teeth, ignoring the escalating pain in his mind, and suddenly reached out and grabbed Cecilia's tightly clenched hand, which was already bleeding.

The moment she touched him, even more turbulent fragments of painful memories surged towards Gu Yan like a flood bursting its banks!

In the Italian twilight square, a silver-haired girl in a wheelchair is accidentally spotted by a black-haired young man.

The young man, with clear eyes, a mixture of apology and amazement, helped her pick up her scattered art supplies.

In the dimly lit studio, the young man pointed to her painting and sincerely exclaimed, "Cecilia, there is light in your colors." For the first time, her frozen heart felt a subtle flutter.

"Don't stay up late, your health is the most important thing."

In the early morning hall, she coughed up blood while organizing family documents. A young man entered carrying hot milk, his brows furrowed.

That moment of warmth almost moved her to tears.

Until that rainy night, she heard that familiar voice on the communicator say in a cold tone, "Operation Hunter Rose is going smoothly..."

"A disabled girl is the easiest to control. Once we get the Chen family's core key..."

Then came the chapel, where flickering flames consumed the evidence.

She handed over the check, looked at the face that had once captivated her, and smiled, saying, "Thank you for proving that even someone as flawed as me deserves to be so meticulously schemed against."

lie!

It's all an elaborate lie!

Those warmth, care, appreciation...

It's all poison wrapped in sugar!

And she, like a fool, swallowed it all down, and even enjoyed it!

"Well!"

Gu Yan let out a muffled groan, and a trickle of bright red blood spilled from the corner of her mouth.

My mind felt like it was being repeatedly pierced and stirred by thousands of red-hot iron rods, and my vision blurred in waves.

This is why Gu Yan avoids physical contact therapy whenever possible.

Staring at that inner ruin for a long time is something most people can't bear.

But holding Cecilia's hand no longer conveyed simple pain, but also a faint yet firm sense of comfort that he forcefully guided her towards.

It's okay... it's all over... it wasn't your fault...

Cecilia's body trembled violently, her other hand tightly covering her forehead, letting out suppressed, animal-like whimpers, and large tears rolled down her cheeks.

That's not enough! The collapse has only slowed down, not stopped!

Gu Yan's vision was already blurry. He instinctively used all his strength to tightly grasp Cecilia's other cold, trembling hand, and then...

He loosened the armrests of the wheelchair, leaned forward, wrapped his arms around her waist, and hugged her gently yet firmly.

Closer contact!

A more direct collision of souls!

More fragments of memory flooded in.

Not only was there the pain of betrayal, but also an early loneliness, the embarrassment of being stared at because of his disability, the grief of his mother's early death, and the pressure of shouldering the heavy burden of the family alone...

Countless shades of gray and black emotion, mixed with sharp pain, nearly overwhelmed Gu Yan's consciousness.