Constantly thinking, unwilling to forget

In the daytime, the city of Manye becomes a deserted ghost town, with its streets completely empty of life. At night, however, Manye turns into a paradise on earth, always overcrowded with people. At midnight, the nightlife is just beginning. The moment everyone has been eagerly waiting for finally arrives. I check my appearance: my striking red dress highlights my naturally full figure, and my bright red lips exude irresistible charm. With a slight sigh, I step into my high heels. Amid the crowd's laughter, anticipation, and scorn, I gracefully ascend to the stage. Tonight, this is my domain. The buzz of voices fills the air as the auction officially starts. Standing on the stage like a puppet, I calmly endure the unrestrained scrutiny of the crowd. In the eyes of these men, I am not a person; I am merely an object of interest. One thousand, two thousand, three thousand... I curve my lips into a mocking smile, invisible to the onlookers. Ten thousand, twenty thousand, thirty thousand... I glance at the man who bid thirty thousand. With his greasy hair, powdered face, and pot belly, he instantly repels interest. "Fifty thousand." Just as the host was about to declare the auction over, I suddenly hear someone speak from the side. Without needing to look, I know who it is—it's my foster father. "One million." I suddenly look up, unable to believe this could be true. Based on my five years of experience with men in the nightlife scene, such a thing seemed utterly impossible. The room fell silent, the previously noisy hall suddenly became incredibly quiet. "One million." The voice sounded again, crystal clear, reaching everyone's ears. It was this voice that finally allowed me, still somewhat bewildered, to locate its source. It was a man... appearing to be about thirty years old, dressed in a Stefano Ricci suit. Although slightly inebriated, he carried an extraordinary demeanor. "Two million." My foster father raised the bid. The two of them locked eyes, their expressions focused, a mix of smiling and not smiling. "Five million." The man spoke again. This time, my foster father merely smiled slightly and then spread his hands to indicate he was bowing out. "Spending five million for a woman's first night, this gentleman really is generous. However... make sure it's not just lip service and you can't actually afford it." The man, looking at my foster father's half-mocking, half-serious expression as if seeing right through everything, finally turned his head to look at me. "Why are you still standing there foolishly? Since no one has offered a higher price, tonight, you belong to me." In a flurry, I stepped off the stage, my footsteps unsteady. Thus, under the watchful eyes of all, I spectacularly fell. In that moment, I seemed to see him, always so composed, furrow his brow slightly. Then, in the next second, he had lifted me up, his coat wrapping around my exposed arms, and he pulled me, not looking back, out of Manye City. With my head hung low, I followed him through the crowd, wishing I could leave this place for good, wanting to get away from the man I called my foster father. "Stop." I closed my eyes, trembling at his roar, "Thinking of leaving so directly without paying seems a bit unreasonable." "Mr. Xia raised the bid to such a high price just so he could get this much money, didn't he? How is what you're doing any more reasonable?" My foster father looked at the man by my side, tension brewing. "If that's the case, you two can go, but remember to make up the payment." This was clearly not what I had expected. I saw the man lift his lips in a carefree smile and then he pulled me away with him.