When Lu Chenzhou woke, the other side of the bed was already empty.
Sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, casting dappled shadows on the duvet. The faint scent of cedar hung in the air, like a lingering trace of Fu Jingshen, subtle yet persistent.
He sat up, the collar around his neck chiming softly with the movement. The cool metal against his skin jolted him fully awake. Memories of last night came flooding back—Fu Jingshen's breath smelling of alcohol, his gentle kisses, and the fact that Lu Chenzhou had actually fallen asleep in his arms. It felt like a slap to the face, heating his cheeks.
"Insane," he muttered under his breath, throwing off the covers and getting out of bed. His steps were unsteady.
Walking into the living room, he saw Aunt Liu coming out of the kitchen with breakfast. She bowed slightly at the sight of him. "Sir asked me to tell you that there's good news regarding Miss Lu's donor match. A suitable bone marrow donor has been found."
Lu Chenzhou's heart leaped. All his irritation and shame were instantly replaced by overwhelming joy. "Really?"
"Yes. Sir received the news this morning and has already arranged for the doctors to connect." Aunt Liu set the breakfast on the table. "Sir said you should rest easy and not overthink things."
Lu Chenzhou stood frozen, his eyes growing warm. Finding a matching donor meant Yao Yao could be saved. It was the news he had been praying for day and night, yet now it left him with a complicated mix of emotions.
All of this was given by Fu Jingshen.
He was like a puppet, controlled by Fu Jingshen using his sister's life. He even felt a sliver of unwarranted gratitude because of the good news the man brought. This feeling terrified him, like an addiction to a drug—he knew it was dangerous, but he couldn't help sinking deeper.
He ate his breakfast slowly, each bite tasting like sawdust. His mind replayed Aunt Liu's words and Fu Jingshen's alcohol-tinged face from last night.
Fu Jingshen didn't arrive as usual in the morning. It wasn't until evening that the villa's door finally pushed open. He looked tired, his brows slightly furrowed as he took off his suit jacket, as if he'd been dealing with something troublesome.
Lu Chenzhou was sitting on the sofa pretending to read, though he hadn't absorbed a single word. Hearing the noise, he instinctively looked up. His gaze met Fu Jingshen's, and he immediately lowered his head, as if burned.
Noticing his reaction, a faint, almost imperceptible smile flickered in Fu Jingshen's eyes. He walked over and sat on the sofa without a word, simply rubbing his temples.
The air was quiet, filled only by the soft rustling of turning pages. It wasn't awkward though; instead, there was a strange sense of peace.
Lu Chenzhou stole a glance at him. Fu Jingshen's eyes were closed, his long lashes casting shadows under his eyes. His nose was straight, his lips pressed into a tight line. Even weary, he was still distractingly handsome.
The moment that thought emerged, Lu Chenzhou ruthlessly crushed it. How could he find this bastard good-looking? He must have lost his mind after being locked up for so long.
"Thank you… for Yao Yao's matter," he suddenly said, his voice low and hoarse, laced with unnaturalness. It was the first time he had voluntarily thanked Fu Jingshen. The words felt like they were stuck in his throat.
Fu Jingshen opened his eyes and looked at him, the weariness in his gaze lessening slightly. "You should thank yourself, not me."
"Myself?" Lu Chenzhou was stunned.
"For being obedient." Fu Jingshen's tone was flat, but it was like a needle, popping Lu Chenzhou's pathetic bubble of gratitude. "If you weren't obedient, I have plenty of ways to make things worse."
Lu Chenzhou's face instantly darkened. The shred of gratitude he'd felt vanished without a trace, leaving only anger and humiliation. He should have known Fu Jingshen would never say anything decent.
"I shouldn't have thanked you," he muttered under his breath, threw the book on the coffee table, and stood up to return to the bedroom.
But his wrist was caught by Fu Jingshen. The grip wasn't forceful, but it held an undeniable air of refusal.
"Stay and sit with me for a while." Fu Jingshen's voice was somewhat hoarse, lacking its usual authority and carrying a hint of vulnerability that was hard to detect.
Lu Chenzhou froze. He hadn't expected Fu Jingshen to say something like that. Looking at the fatigue in the other man's eyes, he found himself, as if possessed, not pulling away. He sat back down.
They sat there quietly, neither speaking. The sky outside darkened gradually. The lights in the villa were off, only the distant city neon lights streaming through the window, casting shifting patterns of light and shadow over them.
Lu Chenzhou could hear Fu Jingshen's breathing and the sound of his own heartbeat. He realized he wasn't as afraid of Fu Jingshen anymore. At least, not when the man wasn't holding the remote or threatening him.
This realization panicked him. He was afraid he would slowly grow accustomed to Fu Jingshen's presence within this illusion of peace, maybe even… depend on him.
"What did you do before?" Fu Jingshen suddenly asked, breaking the silence.
Lu Chenzhou was taken aback, not expecting the question. "Security at a club. Occasionally took odd jobs at construction sites."
"Why did you fight in underground boxing matches?" Fu Jingshen asked again, his tone calm, as if discussing the weather.
Lu Chenzhou's body stiffened. Underground boxing was a past he least wanted to recall. Those days, he'd fought like a dog on the ring for money, risking his life.
"Needed the money," he said, his voice low, tinged with self-mockery.
Fu Jingshen didn't press further, just nodded as if he understood.
After another period of silence, Fu Jingshen stood up. "I'm going to take a shower."
Lu Chenzhou watched him walk into the bathroom. The sound of running water echoed, and something seemed to clog his heart. He didn't understand what Fu Jingshen was trying to do today. Was it some new trick, or…
He didn't dare think too deeply.
When Fu Jingshen came out of the shower, he had only a towel wrapped around his waist. Water droplets slid down the lines of his firm muscles, disappearing into the towel, exuding a damp sensuality.
Lu Chenzhou's eyes unconsciously swept over him before he quickly looked down, his cheeks burning.
Fu Jingshen walked up to him, carrying the steam from his shower. The cedar scent was fainter, replaced by a cleaner soap fragrance. He raised his hand, his fingertips lightly brushing against the collar around Lu Chenzhou's neck.
Lu Chenzhou's body tensed instantly, but he didn't pull away.
"You were good today. There's a reward." Fu Jingshen's voice held a trace of amusement. He took out a key and unlocked the collar.
The cool metal left his neck. Lu Chenzhou subconsciously drew a sharp breath. His neck felt strangely empty, almost unfamiliar. He watched Fu Jingshen place the collar on the coffee table, his heart fluttering nervously.
Why did he take it off? Was it to control him with some harsher method?
"Don't be nervous." Fu Jingshen seemed to see through his thoughts. He ruffled Lu Chenzhou's hair, the action carrying a hint of imperceptible tenderness. "I said, obedience earns rewards."
Lu Chenzhou didn't speak, just kept his head down, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the faint red mark left by the collar on his neck.
Fu Jingshen didn't do anything else. He just walked to the bed, sat down, and picked up his phone to deal with work.
Lu Chenzhou sat on the sofa, watching his back, his emotions in turmoil. He didn't understand what Fu Jingshen wanted. Sometimes he was cold and ruthless, threatening him with the collar and the electric shock; other times he showed this peaceful, even gentle side, making him unpredictable.
But he had to admit, the moment the collar was removed, he felt relieved. Even… a faint thread of joy.
This joy, born from Fu Jingshen's "reward," terrified him even more. He was like an animal kept in captivity for too long, actually starting to wag its tail and beg for pity because of its master's occasional "favors."
The night deepened. Fu Jingshen put down his phone and looked at Lu Chenzhou on the sofa. "Come to bed."
Lu Chenzhou hesitated for a moment, then stood and walked to the bed. He watched Fu Jingshen pull back the covers, his heart tightening.
"Sleep," Fu Jingshen said, lying down and patting the space beside him.
Lu Chenzhou lay down hesitantly, his body still tense, trying to put as much distance between them as possible.
In the darkness, he could clearly hear Fu Jingshen's breathing. After a while, the man beside him moved, gently draping an arm over his waist.
Lu Chenzhou's body tensed immediately, but unlike usual, he didn't struggle.
Fu Jingshen seemed to sense his stiffness. His arm tightened slightly, pulling Lu Chenzhou closer. His voice sounded in the darkness, a little hoarse. "Don't be afraid."
The two words seemed magical, slowly easing Lu Chenzhou's taut nerves. He didn't move, allowing Fu Jingshen to hold him, his nose filled with the clean, soapy scent of the other man.
After who knows how long, he fell into a deep sleep once again, soothed by Fu Jingshen's steady breathing.
This time, he didn't have any nightmares.
Feeling the person in his arms completely relax, a faint smile tugged at Fu Jingshen's lips. He lowered his head and pressed a light kiss to Lu Chenzhou's hair.
Taming a wild horse required not just the whip, but also sugar.
He wanted Lu Chenzhou to grow accustomed to his presence, dependent on his favors, until, finally, he couldn't leave him.
The collar could be removed, but the shackles in the heart would only tighten.
He had plenty of time to slowly wear him down, to wait patiently. Wait for this defiant, untamable beast to completely become his—a docile pet.
The moonlight outside the window gently streamed in, illuminating the entangled figures in the bedroom. Without the restraint of the collar, the distance between them seemed to have shrunk.
The addiction of dependency, once acquired, could never be kicked. And Lu Chenzhou had already, unknowingly, taken his first hit.