The sapphire pendant against his neck felt like a cold star, yet it strangely warmed against his skin.
Lu Chenzhou sat in the passenger seat, his fingers repeatedly tracing the small, lock-shaped pendant. The cold hardness of the metal intertwined with the gem's smooth warmth, much like Fu Jingshen himself—a contradiction he couldn't unravel.
"Do you like it?" Fu Jingshen's voice came from the driver's seat, his eyes still on the road ahead.
Lu Chenzhou paused, not telling the whole truth, only offering a vague, "Mm."
Fu Jingshen let out a low chuckle, seeming to see right through his dishonesty. "You'll wear it even if you don't like it," his tone was unyieldingly domineering, yet lacked its usual ice. "I put it on you. I'd be unhappy if you took it off."
Lu Chenzhou didn't reply, turning to look out the window. The car was heading into the suburbs. The trees lining the road grew denser, gradually distancing them from the city's noise.
Finally, Fu Jingshen stopped the car at the entrance of a secluded hot spring resort nestled in the mountains. The resort, built against the hillside with white walls and grey tiles, exuded an ancient elegance, surrounded by bamboo groves. The air carried a faint scent of sulphur.
"Why are we here?" Lu Chenzhou was puzzled.
"Hot springs. To relax." Fu Jingshen unbuckled his seatbelt, glancing at him with a hint of a smile in his eyes. "You'll stagnate, cooped up in the villa all the time."
A strange feeling stirred in Lu Chenzhou's chest. Fu Jingshen always seemed to choose these moments to show a consideration that didn't fit his "predator" persona, like a stone dropped into a frozen lake, sending out ripples.
He followed Fu Jingshen inside. A respectful attendant led them deeper into the complex. Through winding corridors, they arrived at a private courtyard. In its center was an open-air hot spring pool, steam rising gently. A stone table with a few stools stood nearby.
"We're the only ones here," Fu Jingshen said, taking off his jacket and handing it to the attendant. "Make yourself comfortable."
After the attendant left, they were alone in the courtyard. The steam from the spring blurred their vision and softened the tense barrier between them.
Lu Chenzhou stood by the edge of the pool, feeling awkward. He had never been to a hot spring, let alone with Fu Jingshen.
Fu Jingshen had already started undressing. His shirt fell open, revealing a toned torso. Droplets of water fell from his hair, tracing the lines of his muscles with a wild, primal sensuality.
Lu Chenzhou's cheeks felt warm. He instinctively turned away.
"What are you afraid of?" Fu Jingshen's voice held amusement. "It's not like I haven't seen every part of you."
The words were blunt and crude, making the tips of Lu Chenzhou's ears burn red. He gritted his teeth, not turning around, muttering, "I'll wait."
Fu Jingshen didn't press him, sliding into the water himself first. The water rose to his waist. He leaned back against the stone edge with a contented sigh. "The water's perfect. Come in."
Lu Chenzhou hesitated for a long time, but ultimately couldn't resist the allure of the warmth. Keeping his back to Fu Jingshen, he quickly shed his clothes and slipped into the pool.
The warm water enveloped his body, his tense muscles relaxing instantly. The fatigue and oppression of the past days seemed to melt away in the heat. He closed his eyes in comfort, shifting further to the other side of the pool, putting as much distance between them as possible.
Watching him scurry away like a startled rabbit, the smile in Fu Jingshen's eyes deepened. He didn't follow, just leaned against the edge, watching Lu Chenzhou's back.
Moonlight filtered through the bamboo leaves, casting a silvery glow on Lu Chenzhou's shoulders. His hair was damp against his neck, the sapphire pendant glinting with a faint, ethereal light in the steam, like a beating heart.
"Yao Yao can be moved to a general ward next week," Fu Jingshen said suddenly, breaking the silence.
Lu Chenzhou stilled, a warmth spreading through his chest. "Really?"
"Mm. The doctors say her recovery is excellent. No signs of rejection." Fu Jingshen's voice was soft. "Once she's more stable, she can be discharged. I've arranged an apartment for her. Close to the hospital, for follow-ups."
Lu Chenzhou turned to look at him, gratitude in his eyes. "Thank you, Fu Jingshen."
This thanks was sincere, without any reluctance. He knew Fu Jingshen didn't have to go this far, yet he had considered everything for Yao Yao so thoroughly.
Seeing the light in his eyes, Fu Jingshen felt something fill his chest. He beckoned. "Come closer."
Lu Chenzhou hesitated, then slowly moved over, maintaining an arm's length of distance.
Fu Jingshen didn't close the gap further. He just reached out, his fingertips lightly brushing the sapphire pendant. "This lock... it has no key."
Lu Chenzhou froze. "What?"
"I said, this lock pendant. There is no key." Fu Jingshen's finger traced the pendant, his gaze intense. "Just like you. Once I've locked you away, there's no escape."
Lu Chenzhou's heart constricted violently. The warmth he'd just felt was instantly doused by cold reality. He should have known. Fu Jingshen wasn't kind without reason. This seemingly tender gift was just another form of shackle.
"Are you that afraid I'll leave?" he couldn't help asking, a trace of bitterness in his voice.
Fu Jingshen's eyes rested on his face, deep and unfathomable like a bottomless lake. "Yes," he answered without hesitation. "I am afraid."
The blunt admission stunned Lu Chenzhou. He had expected Fu Jingshen to mask it with more domineering words, not this raw honesty.
"I'm afraid you'll run. Afraid you'll go back to your old life. Afraid someone else will appear beside you. Afraid you'll... no longer belong to me." Fu Jingshen's voice was very low, carrying a barely perceptible vulnerability. "Lu Chenzhou, I just need you by my side. Nowhere else."
Seeing the obsession and fear in his eyes, Lu Chenzhou felt a complicated twist in his gut. This man, always so强势 (dominant) and overbearing, actually had things he feared.
But this fear was expressed in the most extreme way, trapping him firmly in place.
"Fu Jingshen, is this any way to live?" his voice was soft. "Keeping me tied to you. Even if my body stays, my heart won't be here."
"Hearts can be won over time," Fu Jingshen's tone was certain. "As long as you're here with me, eventually, your heart will belong to me too."
He reached out, wrapping an arm around Lu Chenzhou's waist, pulling him closer. Lu Chenzhou didn't struggle, allowing himself to be held. The faint scent of Fu Jingshen's soap mixed with the sulphur of the spring created a strangely comforting aroma.
"Don't think about running anymore, alright?" Fu Jingshen's chin rested on the top of his head, his voice holding a note of pleading—a tone that would have been unthinkable before. "Stay with me. I'll treat you well. Better than anyone else could."
Lu Chenzhou closed his eyes, feeling the warmth of Fu Jingshen's embrace, the strength of his arms, the coolness of the pendant against his neck.
There was no escape.
He had known the answer for a long time.
Perhaps he really should try to accept it.
Accept this domineering, obsessive man. Accept this tenderness that came with shackles. Accept this relationship he never asked for.
"...Alright." He heard himself say it, his voice quiet, but it reached Fu Jingshen's ears clearly.
Fu Jingshen's body went rigid against him, as if he couldn't believe what he'd heard. He lifted Lu Chenzhou's chin, forcing him to meet his gaze, his eyes desperate for confirmation. "What did you say?"
"I said, alright." Lu Chenzhou looked into his eyes, repeating each word clearly. "I won't run."
A light of wild, incredulous joy exploded in Fu Jingshen's eyes, as if the entire night sky had been lit up. He lowered his head and captured Lu Chenzhou's lips in a kiss.
This kiss was different from all the others. There was no predation, no punishment. Only the treasuring of something lost and found, and a careful, breathtaking tenderness. His lips were soft, tasting of the spring's mist, moving against his own with a heart-stopping warmth.
Lu Chenzhou didn't resist. He even parted his lips slightly when Fu Jingshen's tongue sought entry.
Steam rose around them, the moonlight was bright, and the bamboo leaves rustled softly, providing a soundtrack to this long-awaited surrender.
The sapphire pendant pressed against their feverish skin. The lock without a key seemed to truly be locking their two hearts together.