Lu Chenzhou woke up cold.
He had spent half the night sitting on the bathroom floor, the cold water soaking through his sleepwear. In the early hours, a deep chill had seeped into his bones, making him shiver uncontrollably. When he finally returned to bed, the sheets felt icy. He curled into a tight ball, but couldn't get warm.
Dawn was just breaking outside. The living room was silent; Fu Jingshen must have left. Lu Chenzhou breathed a sigh of relief and struggled to get up. The collar around his neck swayed slightly with the movement, the cold metal pressing against his skin with a sharp, sobering sting.
He walked to the mirror and looked at the dark circles under his eyes and his swollen lips. His fingers traced the collar, his thumb brushing over the row of small diamonds. Sunlight leaked through the gap in the curtains, the diamonds refracting tiny, sharp points of light like salt sprinkled on a wound.
"Pathetic," he muttered, his voice hoarse.
During breakfast, Auntie Liu brought over a bowl of steaming ginger tea. "Sir instructed me to have you drink this while it's hot. To ward off the chill."
Lu Chenzhou paused. How did Fu Jingshen know he'd gotten cold? The cameras? Or… had he never left? The thought made his stomach clench. The chaotic sensations and tremors from last night surged back, bringing a wave of shameful heat.
He ignored the ginger tea, drinking his milk instead. The warm liquid slid down his throat but did nothing to warm the coldness in his heart.
Auntie Liu didn't insist. She silently took the ginger tea away when clearing the dishes, as if nothing had happened.
A little after ten in the morning, the villa door opened and Fu Jingshen walked in. He wore a black trench coat, carrying the chill of the outdoors, and held an elegantly wrapped gift box.
Lu Chenzhou was running on the treadmill in the living room. He heard the noise, his steps faltering for a second before he increased his speed. Sweat dripped from his jawline onto the treadmill console with soft patters. He didn't want to acknowledge Fu Jingshen, using the exertion to vent his inner turmoil.
Fu Jingshen placed the gift box on the coffee table and walked over to the treadmill. He watched the rise and fall of Lu Chenzhou's chest and the tense lines of his arms, a dark glint flashing in his eyes.
"Slow down. Don't hurt yourself," he said, a trace of barely perceptible concern in his voice.
Lu Chenzhou ignored him, running even faster, his breathing growing ragged, a vein throbbing on his forehead.
Fu Jingshen's brow furrowed. He reached out and hit the treadmill's stop button. The machine slowed to a halt. Lu Chenzhou stumbled forward with the momentum, steadying himself before turning a furious glare on him. "What are you doing?"
"Talking to you," Fu Jingshen's tone was calm. "Come here."
Lu Chenzhou stood his ground, sweat dripping from his lashes, blurring his vision.
Fu Jingshen didn't press him. He just pointed to the gift box on the table. "For you."
Lu Chenzhou's eyes fell on the box. It was wrapped in black paper with a silver ribbon, looking expensive. He sneered inwardly. More material gifts to humiliate him?
"I don't want it." He turned to grab a towel, but Fu Jingshen caught his wrist.
"Open it," Fu Jingshen's tone brooked no argument.
Lu Chenzhou struggled briefly, but couldn't break free. He could only glare at him resentfully. Fu Jingshen seemed infinitely patient, just holding his wrist, waiting silently.
After a few minutes of stalemate, Lu Chenzhou finally yielded. He let himself be pulled to the sofa and sat down, watching as Fu Jingshen picked up the box and untied the ribbon.
Inside was a set of black sleepwear. The fabric looked softer than what he was wearing, with subtle silver embroidery at the collar and cuffs, understated yet luxurious.
"Change into it," Fu Jingshen handed him the clothes.
Lu Chenzhou's face darkened. "Do you see me as your dress-up doll, President Fu?"
"Your clothes need changing," Fu Jingshen's gaze swept over his sweat-soaked sleepwear, his tone flat. "I don't like it when someone wears clothes I bought and gets them this dirty."
The words felt like a needle, stabbing deep into Lu Chenzhou's heart. He shot up, intending to go to the bedroom to get his own clothes—even though his security uniform had been taken away by Fu Jingshen's people, he felt that wearing his own things was his last shred of dignity.
But he'd only taken two steps before Fu Jingshen stopped him.
"Enough," Fu Jingshen's voice turned cold. "Change."
Seeing the icy intent in his eyes, Lu Chenzhou knew further resistance would only lead to worse humiliation. He took a deep breath, accepted the sleepwear, and turned to go into the bedroom.
While changing, he looked at himself in the mirror. The collar stood out glaringly. The black sleepwear fit perfectly, the soft fabric warm against his skin, but it made him feel intensely uncomfortable. These clothes were just like Fu Jingshen's cage, not only trapping his body but also slowly eroding his will.
When he walked out of the bedroom, Fu Jingshen was sitting on the sofa, holding a remote control, seemingly adjusting something. His gaze lingered on Lu Chenzhou for a few seconds, a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes.
"Come here."
Lu Chenzhou walked over and stood before him, head bowed, refusing to look at him.
Fu Jingshen suddenly reached out, his fingertips lightly brushing the collar. Lu Chenzhou's body tensed instantly, as if scalded.
"This," Fu Jingshen's finger traced the lock of the collar, "has a function I forgot to tell you about."
A sense of foreboding rose in Lu Chenzhou.
Fu Jingshen picked up the remote from the table and pressed a button.
"Hmm—" Lu Chenzhou suddenly grunted, his body jolting violently. A weak electric current shot through his neck. It didn't exactly hurt, but the intense numbness made his legs give way, and he nearly collapsed.
Fu Jingshen caught him swiftly, pulling him into his embrace while pressing another button on the remote. The current stopped. Lu Chenzhou was still trembling slightly, staring in shock and terror at the remote in Fu Jingshen's hand, his eyes filled with fear and rage.
"You… you're insane!" He struggled to get out of Fu Jingshen's arms, his voice shaking.
Fu Jingshen held him tightly, preventing his escape, his voice icy. "This is your lesson."
"From now on, if you disobey, or try to run, it will remind you," he shook the remote slightly, like he was showing off a favorite toy. "The intensity is adjustable. I don't think you'd want to try the highest setting."
Lu Chenzhou's face instantly lost all color, his blood seeming to freeze solid. He finally understood. This collar wasn't just a tracker; it was another tool for Fu Jingshen to control him, an instrument of torture that could inflict pain at any moment!
"Fu Jingshen, you're not human!" His voice cracked with unshed tears, anger and fear intertwining, pushing him to the brink.
Fu Jingshen looked down at his red-rimmed eyes and trembling body, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes too quickly to catch. He raised a hand, gently stroking Lu Chenzhou's hair, the action eerily tender.
"I just want you to be obedient," his voice was low. "If you behave, it won't hurt you."
"Your sister is still waiting for you, isn't she?"
The words landed like a sledgehammer on Lu Chenzhou's heart. His struggle ceased immediately. Tears he could no longer hold back streamed down his face, falling onto Fu Jingshen's hand, scalding hot.
Yes. Yao Yao was still waiting for him. He couldn't act impulsively. He couldn't anger Fu Jingshen. He couldn't let anything go wrong with her treatment.
He had to endure.
Even if the process felt like being slowly dismembered.
Feeling the person in his arms go still, only his shoulders shaking slightly like a wounded animal crying silently, Fu Jingshen's heart twinged inexplicably. His arms around him tightened unconsciously.
He knew this was cruel, but he saw no other choice. Lu Chenzhou was like an unbroken wild horse; without forceful measures, he could never be tamed. He was too afraid—afraid this wild horse would break free of his control and run away, disappearing without a trace.
Only like this, locked firmly by his side, made to hurt, made to fear, made to depend solely on him, could he feel secure.
"Don't cry," Fu Jingshen's voice softened slightly, carrying a hint of awkwardness. "I won't use it again, unless you disobey."
Lu Chenzhou didn't speak, just buried his face in Fu Jingshen's chest, his shoulders shaking even harder. Humiliation, anger, fear, powerlessness… a tumult of emotions churned inside him, finally transforming into scalding tears that soaked Fu Jingshen's shirt.
Fu Jingshen simply held him, letting him cry, one hand gently patting his back as if comforting a wronged pet.
Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, falling on them, casting a golden halo. The collar around his neck glittered coldly in the light, like an ugly brand seared onto Lu Chenzhou's skin, and onto his heart.