Another commotion broke out among the people, they couldn't believe another beauty try to buy this so-called strongest knight's sword. The presenter even had delayed expression for a while before liveness returned to her face.

"Ms. Xue want to bid on this item?" She wrinkled her eyebrows.

"Yes, does it still possible?" Xue Lin nodded and stared at the presenter.

"I'm not declaring it yet, if you really insist, I can open the session!"

Xue Lin turned her face toward the frowning Lin Ruoxi, she let out an apologetic smile, "I'm sorry for disturbing your business Ms. Lin, I hope you won't feel offended and willing to fight for the item with me."

Ruoxi puckered her forehead, she thought no other people would take any interest upon this blade, even she found this particular item to be undesirable, she willing to buy it and be humiliated in the face of public just because she wanted to make a certain lucky b.a.s.t.a.r.d happy. She coldly glared at Xue Lin, then let out a snort, "Fine, start the session!"

The presenter cleared her throat and raised the microphone toward her mouth, "Alright, since esteemed guest, Ms. Lin Ruoxi has a compet.i.tor, I'll open the bidding with the base price 100 dollars and increment for each bid at least another 100, does that term satisfied both guest?"

"I don't mind."

"Go on."

Both Ruoxi and Xue Lin showed their approval.

"OK, the bidding start from... now~"

"Does CEO really want to buy this item?" The man in camo suit beside Xue Lin faced her with a strange expression.

"Yes, I need this for my recent project," Xue Lin said without looking at his face, "I bid 400!"

"Maybe you should rethink about this, I heard the legend about Arondight but never actually saw how it looked like, thus I'm not certain whether this item will be legit or just a fake," the man rubbed his chin.

"Can you examine it like what you did previously with the jade?" Xue Lin frowned then she heard Ruoxi's solemn voice bid 600 dollars for the item.

"Through a brief observation, I have the same impression with anyone that item probably just a scam, but it made me wonder why the auction management still agrees on displaying such an item."

"I also ponder about this," Liu Ruyan who had been silent for a while, let out her seductive voice, "I don't have any information about this so-called Arondight last night or this morning, so the item probably registered in the last second."

"Isn't there's suppose to be an inspection first before any item exhibit here?" The man glanced to his right, Liu Ruyan nodded, "yeah, we do check for the antique's lore and its authentication but some still possibly missed by us, for example; the previous jade pendant."

"Yet the jade pendant still have some value on it, despite its lack of l.u.s.ter, but that item..." The man stared at the stage, "I don't think it has any value at all."

"What do you think the reason for Ms. Lin Ruoxi takes any interest in it?" A faint smile crept on her triangular face.

"Unless she knows something that we don't, I couldn't think of other reason," he turned his face back at Xue Lin who yelled out 1500 dollars, "by the way, CEO, what kind of business project required a sword?"

Xue Lin hesitated before she shook her head, "I can't tell you, after all, this is regarding partners.h.i.+p privacy, I hope you understand."

"I know, I know, but I don't want you to suffer a loss even just for a few thousand dollars," the man's eyes revealed their concern.

"Thank you, but I'll be fine," she smiled gently at the man. Looking at her still insist on buying the item, the man could only sigh before zipped close his lips.

The bidding battle still going on for some time since the item started off very low. By now, the current price had reached 3000 dollars and this enough to create a shockwave to other people's mind. Both women harbored their own reason to struggle and neither showed any sight of raising a white flag. Time went on and on, people started becoming bored and some already left the room.

Liu Ruyue no longer sat on her chair instead stood by the exit's gate, taking her role as the hostess and sent these people off.

Cai Yan already snored on her seat, leaning her head against the backrest while both hands fell on her sides.

The man trapped between the realm of dream and real word, as his head swayed front and back several times.

The presenter's feet started to become numb and bitter sprinkled on her face.

"7,500!"

"7,600!"

"7,800!"

"8,100!"

"9,300!"

Only both woman with cold temperament still standing on their feet, sweat lingered on their l.u.s.ter skin and red painted on their snowy face. Both possessed stubborn determination and clever individual, they knew the worth of the item not matched with the current price thus not willing to bid extremely high, feared from gaining too much loss. Their reason was the only thing that put them into a divergence. one for a sentimental reason and another for a business reason. While business concerned about profit and cost all the times, sentimental only cared for an affection toward the people they love, thus in this kind of situation, the business person only got pushed and slowly retreated into the corner.

Hesitation became clearer on Xue Lin's face yet devotion became stronger on Ruoxi's surface. By the time of the price hit a ten thousand dollars, Xue Lin went radio-silent.

The presenter's gloomy face lit up as she raised the microphone, "10,000 dollars! Did anyone want to beat this price?"

Huum, please give up... The presenter's inner voice cried out their soul.

A strong curve appeared on Xue Lin forehead as she frowned deeply, people could see the unwillingness within her eyes but they already foresee her demise. They shook their head, feeling pity for this cold swan.

"Yeah, after all, who would want to buy such item beyond 10,000 dollars..."

"Holys.h.i.+t dude, even that price already exaggerate, it way above some Rolex brand!"

"Even if I have 1 million to spend, I won't use a single cent of it to buy a garbage."

"This both G.o.ddess has gone crazy indeed."

Some minutes later, Xue Lin let out a sigh before she glanced bitterly at Ruoxi, "I surrender."

*Pa!* *Pa!* *Pa!*

People raised their arms and started clapping their hands. Despite a boring and long process of the bidding, but in the end, it's still a good battle, some people who veteran in an auction would give their respect for these women who managed to prevail this long.

Or some just glad it's over and they can finally go home, like the presenter above the stage, who bounced around and let out a charming smile while inside she hoped to hug Xue Lin and cried out thank you thousand times.

"Fire! Fire! Where is the fire?!" Cai Yan stood up from her seat and glanced around in a panic.

"There is no fire Yanyan..." Ruoxi sighed as she twitched her eyes, "you're drooling."

Cai Yan startled as she wiped her mouth with the base of her right hand, red adorning her cheeks as she discovered a trace of the stream from a well, she glanced and shyly smiled at Ruoxi, "hehe, I uh... I think I should go to the bathroom... like right now... so... yeah." She turned around in a swift and sprint her legs.

Ruoxi's head waved as she looked at her friend antic, she thought that besides w.a.n.g Ma, none of her friends were normal.

"Esteemed guest, would you like to pick the item on your own or we should deliver it to your house?" The presenter's voice brought back her attention toward the stage.

"I'll take it my self."

(***)

After the banquet concluded, Ruoxi left the hall accompanied by Cai Yan and hotel staff that carried Arondight covered in a white package. They went to the elevator and descended to the lobby.

"Yanyan, I will miss you so much..." at the entrance, beside her Bentley, Ruoxi hugged Cai Yan as her eyes glossed with tears.

"Me too girl, hey, least we can still mail each other, right?" Cai Yan grinned as she caressed the beauty's back.

"But it wouldn't be like seeing you in person," Ruoxi honked her mouth cutely.

"Yeah, I know..." Cai Yan's smile faltered.

"Promise, you come by OK? w.a.n.g Ma will be glad seeing you around too," she let out a chuckle.

"Will she though? She always liked to clutch my ears and spank my b.u.t.t," s.h.i.+ver rained down her body.

"That because you messed with her stuff every single time! You deserve it!" Ruoxi put her hands on her waist and glared at Cai Yan.

Cai Yan spat her tongue and patted her own head, "Oh yeah, it's kinda my fault, guess I'll apologize to her, sometimes in the future."

Ruoxi giggled, she opened her car's door and went inside, placing her shapely bottom on the driver seat, she pulled the door and closed it softly, turning on the car's ignition, she slid down the car's window, "Don't forget to come by, really."

Cai Yan bent her body, her smile quite pale, "Can't promise you anything, cops not exactly occupation with holidays."

Ruoxi faintly smiled, "I know, just... stay alive?"

She nodded, "You betcha! Take care Nini for me will ya? I might not be around but my heart stays with both of you, always."

"Un!" Ruoxi nodded and pressed the gas pedal with her feet, the Bentley drove away as it slowly gaining speed. Cai Yan stayed on her spot until the car's figure faded from her sight, she turned around and headed to her own car.

The world's sky shone the world with their yellowish dark brilliance. Workers and students gathered on the bus's stop while night stall people was preparing for their operation.

Naruto said goodbye with his colleagues and gave Mingyu a secret kiss, he walked from the work floor and headed out toward the elevator, as soon as he arrived, instead of punching the ground's level b.u.t.ton, he hit the highest one instead, making the small container carried him climbing the building. While awaited in the ascending elevator, his mind flowed backward.

"Sorry, Naruto..."

"Huh? What's wrong?"

Back at the three o'clock in the afternoon, at the office where many pictures trapped in a frame hanged on the wall, Xue Lin stared at her own tight while she and Naruto sat on the different couch.

"I got a chance to enter the banquet but failed to purchase the blade you required," her face filled with sour intonation.

"Oh, never mind, I do not exactly have a high hope from the item anyway," Naruto waved his hand, "I just search and find another."

Xue Lin nodded heavily, her face still stuck with a troubled expression.

Naruto sighed, he pondered a while before he let out a smile, "Do you want to hear a story?"

"What story?" Her eyes startled as she looked at him in doubt.

"It's about two women who tried to buy the same item," he let out a chuckle.

She wrinkled her eyebrow, "Is that story supposed to mock me?"

"Well, that depends on how you take it," he shrugged.

"Then shoot."

"One time, there was a rich woman who dated a handsome man with no special background nor extremely well finances condition, the man always wanted to have a new brandy wrist.w.a.tch but he's not capable on buying it, so, the woman decided to buy a watch and prepared it as a surprise birthday present for him in the next day.

She went to a particular shop and order a very expensive also unique watch. She later discovered another woman tried to buy the item too and sadly, the watch included as a limited edition item and only available in that shop, thus only one of them could have it.

The women fight, they slew each other dignities and started a brawl, they scratched, kicked, and pulled hair, the fight only last for so long until an officer separated them.

The watch, in the end, lost to that another woman's hand because she and the shopkeeper had some connection.

With bruises and wounds tattered body. Sadness and melancholy heavied heart, the rich woman decided to buy another watch for the man she loved.

The next day comes, she and the man promised to meet at a cafe, where they would celebrate his birthday, she waited in antic.i.p.ation and high spirit despite what happened in the yesterday, after some time, the man finally came but instead sprung in happy and leaped to his embrace, the woman had an ugly face instead, because the man wore a new wrist.w.a.tch exactly the same as the unique wrist.w.a.tch she initial want to buy.

The woman realized that her boyfriend cheated behind her back with the woman from the previous shop, she was furious, before the man managed to say his sweet words, she slammed his present to his face so hard that the man stumbled backward and plunged toward the cafe's fountain behind him, then she left the shop immediately."

Xue Lin frowned with disgusted in her face before she laughed coldly, "Served that b.a.s.t.a.r.d, right! I hate a cheater and two-timing person."

Naruto let out a sweatdrop at her reaction, but he nodded nevertheless, "Yeah, it's an irony that both girls fought for an item that they wanted to give to the same person."

"Men is not a good thing, always greed for another woman while they already have one!" she snorted.

"Hey, what's with the prejudice? It's not like you and the person who wins the blade bid for the same person, right?" Naruto wrinkled his eyebrows.

"Of course not, the person was so beautiful, so it's impossible for her to be your girlfriend, besides, I try to buy it because for business, not that I love you or something!" Xue Lin crossed her arms and threw her face away from him.

"Ooh, you cut my heart and make it bleed so hard, here I thought there is something between us," Naruto feigned a sad face while his hand clutched his chest.

"Uh-uh, not in a thousand year mister!" She giggled at his acting.

"So that means after a thousand year I have a chance?" Naruto rubbed his chin.

"If you willing to hug what's left of me, then sure!" She held her mouth to cover her laugh.

"Well, it couldn't be that bad, at worst I have your tombstone and poached your soil," he shrugged.

Xue Lin shook her head, "you mister, are one dedicated, person, I ever see."

They chatted for a while before Xue Lin signed the contract, Naruto expression delayed for a moment before he raised his eyebrows, "by the way, I'm curious, who the person buy that blade?"

Xue Lin glanced at him, "someone name Lin Ruoxi."

Naruto looked at the number indicator with a bitter expression, 'I never thought they actually did bid the item for me, despite for different reason but still... I guess the joke was on me, huh?'

The elevator arrived and the gate slid open, Naruto traversed the leisure room and the short narrow hall, he approached Ruoxi's office.

Ruoxi sat on the leather couch with one leg on the top of another, her body bent forward as she rested her smooth chin on her delicate hand. Her free hand flipped a magazine page on the top of a gla.s.s surface from a wooden table.

Originally she planned to go home soon but Naruto texted her and told her to wait for him in her office, even with question marks swarmed her head, she still complied and made up a reason so Wu Yue could go home first.

She heard a knocking sound from the door and voiced out her permission, it gently swung open as Naruto strolled in

"Hey, what's wrong?" Ruoxi smiled, she stood from her comfortable spot and minced toward his direction.

Naruto stayed silent as he strode his way, less than a second, he already arrived in front of her, in her confusion, Naruto touched her shoulder and brought her into his embrace. He let her head rested on his chest as his hand circled her back.

"I'm sorry..." Naruto let out a faint sound, burying his face into her lush hair.

"For what?" She asked with more confusion filled her guts, but the warmth of his body gave a peace for her turbulent heart.

"I know what happened in the auction, I'm sorry I made you went through that, I shouldn't have asked you to buy the blade..." Naruto rubbed her back as he pulled her more.

Revelation downed upon her mind, then her eyes turned gentle as she circled her arms around his waist, "I'm fine... I spent three years in a mock and disdain gazes of many people, the thing that happened in the auction just like take a walk in a park.

Besides, I'm not alone... I have Yanyan there supporting me, and you...

So long my right hand still with me then I know you always be with me...

The oath you made, it becomes the conduit of our connection...

Even if we separated miles away, that connection never falls apart..."

Naruto pulled his face from her hair and gazed at her with eyes full of dear, "Ruoxi..."

She tilted her head, and stared at his cerulean eyes, she smiled, "I never feel alone again, because I have you and your oath, in me..."

Naruto leaned down and kissed her soft lips with full of pa.s.sion, she responded by took her arms away from his waist and grasped his face, they lips overlapped each other as they indulged in the amorous atmosphere. He slid down his left arm beneath her plump bottom and lifted her body slightly above him. Their lips separated but as if there was a strong magnetic force, they clashed again immediately. Naruto strolled forward and carried Ruoxi to her previous leather coach, without breaking the kiss, he lowered her and since his another hand held the back of her head, she gently landed on the top of the coach.

Naruto hovered above her and launched tons of kisses on her lips, coating them with his intoxicating liquid as he gently bit and sucked them. Never like to fall behind, she circled her arms behind his neck and pulled him closer than before, she suckled on his lips like they're made of sweet candies.

The pink aura coveted both young people as their skin temperature rose, Naruto licked her lips, asking for a formal and proper greeting to the owner of the house, she opened the gate and their tongue gently introduced themselves. They shook hands, hugged, even danced together on the floor. Ruoxi closed her lips and sucked his tender meat, it tasted weird and somehow nauseating but weirdly she's not hating it. She playfully tickled his tongue, giving him a sense of itch he won't able to scratch. But she still not the champion of this fight, he raised his tongue and brandished her ceiling, brus.h.i.+ng against it again and again until she no longer able to bear it and opened her red lips, in a swift a movement, Naruto tackled her tongue and dragged it toward his mouth, in her somewhat pleasurable suffering, Naruto sucked on her tongue until it became dry, he pushed it back to her mouth before dragged it again only to give it another suck.

Her eyes glossed with everlasting l.u.s.t, and pink cheek supported her enticing breath. Five minutes later, Naruto let go her tongue and leaned back his face, looking at her completely spellbound, he let out a chuckle and proceed to kiss her exposed neck, playfully bit and sucked it but not strong enough to leave his mark.

Ruoxi moaned as she tilted her head, giving him more accessed to her white and proud jade neck, Naruto moved toward her right ear, he bit it a while before whispered into her ear, "Do you want it now?"

His masculine voice suddenly awoke her reasoning capability and restored her problems and issues with men, the image of her mother sad and teary face presented within her brain and played like a miniature theater. The cruel treatment Lin Kun did to both mother and daughter came back to haunt her consciousness, making her unable to comply with Naruto's question.

Naruto noticed the paused in her motion and light s.h.i.+ver in her body. He sighed as he laid on her side, turned her over and hugged her carefully like she's a fragile vase. Both didn't speak their word as Ruoxi suffered in her trauma and Naruto hummed a lullaby tone to sent her into her dream world.

Moments times later, her lids fluttered and slid upward, exposing her crystal black eyes toward a chest of a man. Her ears picked a humming tune that forced her head to tilt and looked at the man with a blonde hair set his eyes upon her.

"You OK now?" A smile pulled the corner of his lips.

"How long, I have been sleeping?" She mumbled.

"An hour." He lightly replied.

"You have been humming for full one hour?" Surprise flashed across her eyes.

"No big deal, I can hum for three hours straight you know?" He grinned.

"That's amazing, wait that's not the point, why don't you just stop," She wrinkled her eyebrows.

His expression delayed for a moment before he let out a chuckle, he pulled her under his chin, "I guess... I just don't want to give up on you..."

She startled before buried her face in the base of his neck, "stupid."

"And very handsome~" He slanted his lips as he pulled her deeper into his embrace.

She happily smiled as she closed her eyes and enjoyed his warm.

Thirty minutes later, they left Yu Lei together in Ruoxi's car, looking at Naruto sat on the pa.s.senger seat, she honked mouth in discontent, "As a man, you should be the one driving the car, not me!"

"OK, first, that's s.e.xist, second, why being a man had anything to do with this, and third, if I'm driving then what are you doing?"

"First, so what if I'm being s.e.xist? Second, it's common sense, and third, I'll be sleeping or playing with my phone."

"Tch, women and their phone."

"Now you're the one who being s.e.xist."

The sound of their argument chirped along the way, filling the car with thousands of snorting and sneering tone. The lights from the side road lamps glittered their path like a trail of stars on the milky way. While crossing a bridge, they find few people stood near its fence, an audience of the dark sea beneath them that developing toward the horizon as if without limit.

The car pa.s.sed through the villa's gate and it arrived at their home. Several bulbs on the house had been turned on and gave out a decent bright for their eyes to check the house. Ruoxi and Naruto got out from the car, he went to the back seat's door, opened it and took a white package with a length comparable as his torso. Ruoxi waited on the front of the car, she pressed the lock b.u.t.ton on her keychain and walked toward their house together.

But at this moment, Naruto halted his stepped right at the entrance, his eyes glanced around the house as if he searched on something. Ruoxi noticed the lack of male present behind her, she turned around and wrinkled her eyebrows after seeing Naruto behavior.

"What's wrong?"

"..." He ignored her and closed his eyes instead, several minutes later, he exposed his eyes again, a mysterious light glinted on its surface, he faced her with a smile, "nothing, let's go inside."