Grandma was in poor health, so the Su family planned a lavish birthday celebration to ward off her bad luck through a festive occasion.
Lu Shiyan brought Su Ning'an to an auction, intending to buy an antique with auspicious symbolism as a gift for the old lady.
Leaning close to Lu Shiyan, Su Ning'an whispered, "I heard Linglong Zhai has acquired quite a few valuable items recently."
Lu Shiyan hadn't slept well for days. Weariness was etched between his brows, and his eyes lacked their usual spirit.
"Mm," he responded. "If you see anything you like, I'll buy it for you."
"Brother, you're so good to me." As Su Ning'an spoke, she tried to nestle into his arms again.
Lu Shiyan grabbed her arm, a warning flashing in his eyes.
"What are you afraid of? It's pitch black in here, no one will see," Su Ning'an murmured impatiently.
Lu Shiyan's tone grew stern. "Know your limits."
"Brother..." Su Ning'an whined, rubbing her head against his arm restlessly.
"It's about to start. See if there's anything you like," Lu Shiyan deflected, using the auction as an excuse.
I saw it. Someone in the distance was taking pictures of Lu Shiyan and Su Ning'an's intimate moment.
Who was it?
This wasn't the first time. I'd noticed someone tailing Lu Shiyan recently. Whenever he was with Su Ning'an, this person would take photos. Without Su Ning'an's knowledge, hundreds of pictures had already been snapped.
Who was it? Could it be a business rival trying to bring Lu Shiyan down?
Whoever it was, if they could expose Lu Shiyan and Su Ning'an's affair for me, they were an ally!
Linglong Pavilion was an underground auction house, a place where all kinds of rare treasures, regardless of their provenance, could be found.
I'd been here before, but for some reason, I felt inexplicably uneasy arriving today.
Soon, I understood why.
The first auction item appeared on the high-definition screen: a significant and heavyweight treasure bracelet – the Nine-Eyed Tang Dynasty Dzi Beads.
The masked auctioneer beside it raised a hand to introduce it. This sandalwood bracelet featured two Nine-Eyed Dzi Beads from the Tang Dynasty, previously consecrated by a high monk's rituals. It was said to ward off disasters and evil, bringing good fortune to its wearer.
Hearing it could dispel evil and ward off disasters, Su Ning'an immediately whispered to Lu Shiyan, "Brother, you've been so unsettled lately. Why not bid for this bracelet?"
Lu Shiyan stared intently at the bracelet. For some reason, a strange force deep within seemed to compel him to win it.
After the auctioneer's introduction, many wealthy attendees were intrigued.
Aside from a few who simply enjoyed collecting prayer beads, quite a number were drawn by the superstitious claims.
A woman in a qipao held the tray. The moment she lifted the black cloth, I was suddenly pulled by a tremendous force of attraction.
"Ah!~"
I didn't know what lay ahead, only that after a moment of utter darkness, my form... vanished.
When I opened my eyes again, I saw bidding paddles raised in the dimly lit VIP section.
Even Lu Shiyan and Su Ning'an were there in the audience.
What was happening? My perspective had changed! I was no longer confined to Lu Shiyan's side!
I looked around, seeing the qipao-clad woman now close at hand.
Suddenly, I realized the truth: I had been absorbed into the Nine-Eyed Tang Dynasty Dzi Bead bracelet!
Consecrated by a high monk... A thought struck me. Could it be that my ashes were mixed within these dzi beads? Is that why my soul automatically attached itself to them?
Was my body truly gone without a trace?
In that moment, I was utterly stunned.
I heard someone win the bracelet for thirty million. As it wasn't made entirely of Nine-Eyed Dzi Beads, the price wasn't astronomical.
When I was picked up, I saw a hand with distinct knuckles, followed by Lu Shiyan's eyes, which held a complex emotion I couldn't decipher.
His fingers traced over the beads, the sensation akin to him stroking my very body, filling me with intense disgust.
I didn't understand why he was looking at me – at the bracelet – with such an expression.
The next moment, he slipped me onto his wrist. I felt the warmth of his skin. Lu Shiyan had bought me.
Was this truly fate? Even in death, I couldn't escape him.
I stared blankly at the bustling crowd. Was the truth of my death destined to remain forever buried in darkness?
I refused to accept this!
"One million!"
Su Ning'an's bid nearby pulled my thoughts back. I looked towards the stage. Displayed on the large HD screen was a Buddhist sutra printed in Sanskrit script.
But the material bearing the sutra looked strange. It didn't quite resemble paper; its subtle sheen was more reminiscent of... human skin.
Human skin!
I remembered the Tibetan man's threat to skin me. Had he really made my skin into a book?
Holding onto this horrifying thought, I detached myself from the bracelet and, trembling, moved step by step towards the book.
Sure enough, my soul could freely enter it!
This was my skin!
I wept, though no tears could fall from my spectral eyes.
Grief and rage overwhelmed me. What kind of enemy had I made? That man was so cruel, he wouldn't even let my corpse rest in peace!
Seeing Su Ning'an liked the book, Lu Shiyan raised the bid.
Because it was made of human skin, even with the high monk's blessings, few vied for it.
It was won for just two million.
After Lu Shiyan paid, an attendant brought the human skin book over.
My skin, after being polished, buffed, and treated with special solutions, looked smooth as jade. The Sanskrit sutra printed on it appeared profoundly sacred.
Yet, Lu Shiyan frowned, a clear hint of apprehension in his expression.
"An'an, this book is made from human skin. Even a high monk's consecration can't change the raw material. I find it somewhat sinister. It would be better to donate it to a temple for供奉 (gòngfèng - veneration/keeping)."
Su Ning'an smiled, looking entirely unconcerned. "Brother, don't worry. Usually, human skin books are made from the skin of enlightened monks. With the Buddha's light and blessings, it's sure to bring longevity and good health to the holder. Grandma will definitely like it."
Grandma?
She knew perfectly well that Grandma was the one who loved me most! And she actually wanted to give Grandma a book made from my skin!
I lunged at Su Ning'an like a madwoman. "Su Ning'an, why couldn't it have been you who died!"
But my hands passed right through her. She felt no pain whatsoever; instead, a trace of mockery flickered in her eyes.
She really did know I was dead! She had known all along!
The auction ended. Outside, goose-feather snowflakes swirled through the air.
Standing under the vast, indifferent sky, I roared in fury: "Blind, thieving heavens! Have you no eyes!"
Why, after a lifetime of kindness, must I suffer such torment?
While wicked, deceitful people continued to live unscathed!
Why couldn't I become a vengeful spirit and punish those who harmed me!
Perhaps it was the intensity of my resentment, but the icy wind grew even sharper, howling and ravaging everything in its path.
"It's so cold," Su Ning'an said, burrowing into Lu Shiyan's embrace.
Lu Shiyan pushed her away firmly. "An'an, we're in public!"
Su Ning'an stamped her foot. "But Brother, I'm really cold!"
Lu Shiyan, ultimately unable to bear her discomfort, took off his overcoat and draped it over her shoulders. "The driver will be here soon," he said patiently.
After seeing her into the car, Su Ning'an added playfully, "Grandma's birthday is tomorrow night! You have to come early!"
"Mm. Be careful on the road."
Once Su Ning'an's car departed, Lu Shiyan got into his own vehicle.
"Boss Lu, back to the Lu residence or...?"
Lu Shiyan rubbed his tired temples. "The marital home. Su Wan should be back by now."