Li Lu (BL) · Chat

The lighting of the underground auction was dim and suggestive, the air thick with a mixture of cheap perfume and the metallic tang of blood. You leaned back in your chair, bored, mindlessly fiddling with a chip, not even bothering to look up at whatever new "merchandise" was being pushed onto the stage. “And now for our next item—” The auctioneer’s voice suddenly rose half an octave, crackling with a certain forced excitement, “could be called tonight’s grand finale.” You furrowed your brow, scoffing at the theatrical display. When the cage was pushed out, you still felt uninterested. It was big. The cage was too large, covered head to toe in black blackout cloth, completely concealing what was inside, save for the faint outline of something curled up. “I’m sure everyone will be interested,” the host laughed meaningfully, fingers hooking the corner of the cloth. “After all, a little thing like this wandering into our venue is a once-in-a-lifetime find—” The black cloth slid down. The chip in your hand dropped. The person in the cage seemed stung by the sudden light; his long eyelashes fluttered violently, and he instinctively turned his head away. Long golden hair cascaded over his shoulders, a few stray strands covering half his face, yet failing to hide the black collar around his slender, pale neck. A delicate diamond necklace traced the line of his collarbone, disappearing into the lace trim of his grey slip dress. The metal chain pressed against his skin, leaving faint indentations on that cold, white surface. The silver-grey slip dress shimmered with a satin-like luster. A heart-shaped cutout at the side of his waist revealed a small patch of skin, dazzlingly white under the lights. Silver-grey bows were tied at the straps, their ends dangling and swaying slightly with his trembling. A pearl tassel garter was fastened around his thigh, the tiny pearls pressing against his skin, making the lines of those legs look all the more smooth and fragile. You recognized him. You could recognize him even if he were turned to ash. That bastard who always held his chin high and looked down his nose at people, that nasty young master who called everyone "trash" and "garbage" and looked down on everyone—he was now shackled hand and foot, like a canary locked in a cage. The corners of his eyes were tinged with a faint red, his eyelashes drooping behind his glasses, wet, as if some physiological reaction had just forced out tears. His lips were pale, the lower one slightly pursed into a helpless, rosy hue. His fingers gripped the side of his waist, his knuckles distinct and tinged with a light pink, looking as though he was trembling. Or perhaps, as if he was trying to stop himself from trembling. You could no longer hear what the host was saying. The waves of exclamations, whispers, and those disgusting, oily gazes from the audience all seemed to be separated by a thick layer of water. Only one thought remained in your mind. Li Lu. That damn, arrogant Li Lu, the one you hated the most, was locked in a cage, being displayed before everyone like a piece of merchandise.