Auctioned as a Living Buddha, I Overturned the Whole Room

After I lost my job, I was browsing job listings online when I accidentally clicked into a website that auctioned off Buddha statues.

The auctioneer claimed the living Buddha they sold had uncanny powers, and could grant any wish you made.

Out of curiosity, I paid the hundred-dollar verification fee, but what the seller sent back was a photo of a naked woman bathing.

It was blurry, but one look was enough for me to recognize the place it was takenmy own bathroom!

My heart shot straight up into my throat, and the auctioneer kept pushing his pitch.

This living Buddha is the hottest item we sell here!

Divorced and single, no man's been near her in ten years, satisfaction guaranteed!

Do you want her or not? If not, I'll sell her to someone else.

To find out the truth, I forced down my fear and disgust and paid the deposit.

I even agreed with the seller to take delivery at eight o'clock tonight, in the park right outside my building.

The next second, my son knocked on my bedroom door.

"Mom, tonight at eight, come take a walk with me in the park downstairs?"

...

My heart pounded wildly in my chest.

Wasn't this just a little too much of a coincidence?

Could my son have taken that photo of me and posted it online?

That was impossible!

Divorced ten years, I'd raised my son alone. We lived poorly, and he was right in the thick of his teenage years, so we couldn't help but argue.

But ever since the school launched its love education program a month ago, his attitude toward me had clearly softened.

Not only had he learned to help me with the housework, he even used his free time to work part-time jobs to ease my burden.

How could such a sweet, sensible son be the monster who secretly photographed me and even posted me online to be sold?

It had to be just a coincidence.

Seeing me stay silent so long, my son couldn't hold back and pushed the door open.

"Mom, are you coming or not?"

"It's almost eight already. If we don't go now, it'll be too late."

That one simple sentence instantly brought back all the doubts I'd finally managed to push away.

If I remembered right, the time I'd agreed on with the auctioneer was also exactly eight o'clock.

The time and the place both matched.

Add to that the photo taken secretly in my own bathroom, and no matter how hard it was to believe, I couldn't help suspecting my son.

Especially when I saw him already dressed and just waiting to go downstairs with me, I refused outright.

"Another day. I have a proposal to revise tonight, so I don't have time to go out."

But my son found that strange. "But didn't you just lose your job?"

My heart lurched. To give my son a good environment for his studies, I never told him about anything outside of school.

So how did he know I was unemployed?

My mind was full of doubts, but the one thing I was certain of was that tonight, I absolutely could not go out.

I answered offhandedly, "I've already found a job, so I have to work."

"You should hurry back to your room too, and get that set of papers done."

Though he was unhappy about it, my son obediently went back to his room.

I let out a breath of relief. It seemed the person trying to sell me wasn't my son after all; I'd just been too sensitive.

So who could it be?

Before I could work it out, my son suddenly knocked on my door again.

"Mom, can you go downstairs and buy me some stomach medicine? My stomach suddenly hurts..."

His face was pale, and since he really had developed a stomach problem as a child because I was too busy with work to look after him properly, I didn't suspect a thingI just threw on some clothes and went out to buy the medicine.

My son called after me from behind.

"Mom, I already talked to Uncle Jarvis, the one who runs the clinic by the back gate. He's got the medicine ready for me, so you can just go and pick it up."

I nodded and was about to head out when a new message from the auctioneer popped up on my phone.

There's been a change. The delivery time we agreed on is pushed back half an hour, and the location has changed too.

I've sent you the exact spotremember to pick up your order on time.

I opened it, and the pin on my phone was the exact same location as the pharmacy I was about to go to. In that instant, I felt every drop of blood in my body freeze!

This couldn't be a coincidence, could it?

Just because I didn't take my son to the park, the time and place of the deal had changed too.

Now it had become the clinic my son wanted me to go to for medicine?

Still not ready to give up, I sent another message to confirm with them.

You're sure? But I'm already here. If it won't work, just bring it over to me.

But they refused.

A deal like this is secretive by nature. Moving it around only invites trouble.

Do you still want it or not? If not, get your refund now. This kind of merchandise is in high demandwe won't miss one customer!

Then they sent over several more photos to prove how excellent their "living Buddha" was.

Every single one was eye-catching enough to grab attention, and every one had been taken secretly inside my home.

There was even a photo of me at my son's bedside, caring for him without sleep until I was so exhausted I'd passed out.

But I distinctly remembered that only my son and I were home that day!

The fear in my heart was beyond words. My hands were shaking.

But so I wouldn't lose the trailand more importantly, so my son wouldn't seeI had no choice but to pretend to agree to the meeting.

Then I turned away and took off the coat I'd only just put on.

My son saw it and asked me with a puzzled look.

"Mom, why aren't you going yet? My stomach is killing me."

I waved my phone at him too and lied casually.

"Oh, my boss just messaged me. This project's needed in a rush, so I have to work overtime."

"I'll have your Uncle Jarvis bring it to the door. Same thing."

Before my son could object, I'd already sent Jarvis a message, then went back to my own bedroom acting like nothing was wrong.

But my heart wouldn't stop pounding in my chest.

Who were these people, really? And had those photos and the information about where I was going really been leaked by my son?

Should I call the police?

I was still hesitating when my phone buzzed again.

It was another message from that auctioneer.

Damn! What a rotten day. That living Buddha's throwing some kind of fit and won't go out again.

But no matter. We've already assigned someone to help you pick up the goods. Just come to this location when it's time.

They sent me another message.

The location shown on the screen was, plain as day, the underground parking garage of my own complex!

I screamed right then and there, and my phone went flying out of my hand.

Hearing the noise, my son quickly poked his head out and asked me.

"Mom, what's wrong?"

Luckily my phone started ringing, giving me a moment to recover.

I forced myself to stay calm and said offhandedly.

"It's nothing. I was just concentrating so hard I startled myself."

I picked up the phone and pressed answer. A strange man's voice came from the other end.

"Hello, Ms. James, I'm here to deliver your medicine."

"I've arrived at your complex, but I can't find Building Nine from your address. Could you come down and get it?"

"Oh, and I'm here in your complex's underground parking garage."

My blood froze in an instant as I spoke to the man on the other end of the line.

"Just leave it with the security guard at the gate."

But the man refused.

"No, Dr. Fox specifically told me to hand the medicine to you in person."

Some impulse made me ask a question.

"What's your relationship to Dr. Fox?"

"Oh, he's my uncle. I'm his nephew on his cousin's side."

The man answered casually, but I was sure he was lying.

After all, Dr. Fox was only in his early twentieshow could he have a nephew that old?

I quickly sent a message to building security for help, then told the man,

"I've already notified security. They'll be coming down to the underground parking garage to pick up the medicine soon..."

But the man's tone turned flustered.

"I just remembered I've got something to do. I've left the medicine at the entrance of the parking garage. Grab it yourself."

The call cut off. Not long after, building security messaged me to say the medicine had been brought up and left at my door.

As for the suspicious person I'd mentioned, they hadn't found anyone.

I thanked them and quickly brought the medicine inside for my son.

But the suspicion in my heart never faded.

I deliberately told him about the man who'd delivered the medicine.

My son, though, insisted I was overthinking it.

Until I couldn't hold back.

"I just feel like there's something wrong with him!"

"I'm your motherdon't you care about my safety at all?"

Only then did my son reluctantly set down his pen.

"Mom, our complex is fully covered by surveillance cameras. Nobody would be bold enough to try anything."

"If you're really that worried, we can go report it to the police now and file it on record. I'll go with you."

The ease on my son's face didn't look fake.

And I started wondering whether I was just being too sensitive.

After all, he was my own son. How could he do something so monstrous?

Back in my own bedroom, the Auctioneer messaged me again.

I'm so sorry. This "living Buddha" was too cunningshe got away again.

The deal is on hold. Wait for my word.

Something I couldn't put into words churned inside me, but I knew that for now, I was safe.

I locked the door, then wedged the wardrobe and the desk against the bedroom door, and only then did I dare climb into bed.

When I woke the next morning, everything was just like always.

If not for the chat history still on my phone, I'd almost have believed last night was nothing but a nightmare.

I knocked on my son's door and called for him to get up, the same as every morning.

But there was no answer from inside.

It wasn't until something felt off and I pushed the door open that I found my son had slipped into unconsciousness at some pointno matter how I called, he wouldn't wake!

I panicked and immediately called 911 to rush my son to the hospital.

The test results came back fast.

The doctor told me gravely,

"Ms. James, your son swallowed some kind of poison. It's already caused multiple organ failure throughout his body!"

"Our medical resources here are limited. I recommend you transfer him at once to Changhua Hospital next door for treatment!"

My whole body went weak, and I nearly collapsed to the floor.

Without the slightest hesitation, I signed my name on the transfer consent form.

The next second, the phone in my pocket buzzed.

It was a message from the Auctioneer from last night.

Urgent update! The deal is back onget to Changhua Hospital to collect the goods right away!

This time, I promise there won't be any more problems!

My hand jerked, and the name I'd just signed smeared into an illegible mess.

The doctor pulled away the ruined transfer confirmation form and handed me a new one, but I couldn't bring myself to sign it.

As I watched my son's breathing grow weaker and weaker on the hospital bed, I was still clutching the transfer form, frozen, and the doctor's brows knitted together at once.

"Ms. James, what is the matter with you? Your son is about to die. Why won't you sign the transfer papers? What are you dawdling for?"

My palms were already damp with sweat, and I reflexively grasped for an excuse.

"I can't make this decision on my own. I need to call my ex-husband and ask him."

I made a show of standing up, but my mind was racing, trying to come up with a plan.

I never expected my ex-husband and Grandma Abbott to suddenly push open the hospital room door and walk in.

"No need. We're already here."

"Philippa! What's the matter with you? Austin is the only heir of the Perry family!"

"He had an accident and needs to be transferred for treatment, and you keep refusing to sign. Are you trying to kill him?"

The two of them were furious, and my ex-husband snatched the transfer confirmation form right out of my hand and quickly scrawled his own name on it.

My son was rushed into the ambulance, and my ex-husband and Grandma Abbott couldn't wait to climb in after him.

The two of them kept shouting that they were taking custody of my son back.

Of course I refused, and seeing that the ambulance was about to leave, I had no choice but to jump in too.

I figured that with both my ex-husband and Grandma Abbott in the car, even if someone really did mean me harm, they wouldn't dare grab me in front of everyone.

Besides, my son's life was still hanging in the balance, and as his mother, I couldn't abandon him just to save myself.

But just as the vehicle started moving, my son, who had been unconscious, suddenly hooked his little finger around my hand. I was overjoyed and about to speak, but he gently shook his head at me, and then quietly traced two words into my palm.

Run.

I didn't understand, but at that same moment my phone rang in my pocket.

It was another message from the auctioneer.

Everything is arranged. This time I've lined up two helpers. The living Buddha absolutely won't get away.

I instinctively looked at my ex-husband and Grandma Abbott in front of me, hardly able to believe it.

My ex-husband and I had divorced ten years ago, but that was because we didn't get along. I still trusted his character.

As for Grandma Abbott, as long as it wasn't about my son, she had always respected me. How could she possibly help someone sell me off?

Still unwilling to accept it, I asked the auctioneer.

How can you be so sure she won't run?

The auctioneer replied quickly.

The people I lined up are the ones she trusts most. If she can still get away from them, I won't charge you a cent for this job.

The ones she trusts most.

Those words hit their mark. Without another moment's hesitation, I jumped out of the car and ran toward the most crowded spot I could find.

Only after I'd run into the restroom and bolted the door did I shakily pull out my phone to call the police.

In that enclosed space, I was like a frightened bird, praying over and over for the police to hurry.

Soon, footsteps sounded outside the door.

Every hair on my body stood on end, but thankfully the bolted door kept whoever it was outside.

Grandma Abbott was standing right on the other side of that one door, pounding on it hard.

"Philippa! Open the door! I've come to save you!"

"I found a strange auction website on my son Lionel's phone, and it has your photo on it!"