The collar around his neck felt as if it had fused with his skin. Initially a cold, foreign object, by nightfall it held a faint, metallic warmth. Lu Chenzhou lay in bed, his fingers unconsciously tracing the silver band. The facets of the diamonds pressed into his fingertip, a sharp reminder that this was no dream.
Fu Jingshen did not leave immediately. He spent an hour working in the living room, the light from his laptop screen casting his face in half-light, half-shadow, as if concealing countless schemes. Lu Chenzhou curled up in a corner of the sofa, pretending to watch a movie on the tablet, but his peripheral vision never left the man.
He was waiting. Waiting for Fu Jingshen to leave, for this suffocating pressure to dissipate. But even after Auntie Liu had cleared away the dinner dishes, Fu Jingshen remained, fingers flying across the keyboard as if he intended to stay the night.
"Aren't you leaving?" Lu Chenzhou finally asked, his voice tight with deliberately suppressed tension.
Fu Jingshen glanced up and closed the computer. "This is my place too. Why should I leave?"
Lu Chenzhou's face darkened instantly. He had forgotten. This villa belonged to Fu Jingshen. He could stay as long as he wanted.
"I'm going to sleep." He stood up abruptly, wanting to retreat into the bedroom, to avoid sharing the space with Fu Jingshen.
He had only taken two steps when his wrist was caught. Fu Jingshen's fingers were long, their grip terrifyingly firm, like an iron manacle locking him in place.
"What's the hurry?" Fu Jingshen's voice held a hint of amusement, his breath warm against Lu Chenzhou's ear, carrying the familiar scent of cedar. "Have a drink with me."
Lu Chenzhou tried to shake him off, but Fu Jingshan pulled him forward, sending him stumbling into a warm embrace. Fu Jingshen's chest pressed against his back, solid and unyielding.
"Let go!" Lu Chenzhou's anger flared. He struggled, trying to push him away, but the arm around his waist tightened.
"Don't move," Fu Jingshen's voice lowered, turning slightly hoarse. "Just for a moment."
His chin rested on the hollow of Lu Chenzhou's shoulder, his warm breath fanning across his neck, raising fine shivers. Lu Chenzhou could feel the man's gaze fixed on the collar. That gaze felt hot, scalding his skin.
"This thing… it looks better off," Fu Jingshen murmured, his finger lightly hooking the chain and giving a slight tug. The silver links pressed uncomfortably, yet elicited a strange, prickling numbness. "But… I prefer it on you."
The words were blunt and crude, like a slap. Lu Chenzhou jerked his head down, trying to escape the invasive stare, but Fu Jingshen caught his chin, forcing his head up.
They were too close. Lu Chenzhou could see himself clearly reflected in Fu Jingshen's eyes—wretched, furious, with a hint of unconcealed panic.
"Fu Jingshen, what do you want?" His voice trembled, unclear whether from anger or fear.
Fu Jingshen didn't answer. Instead, he lowered his head and kissed the base of his neck.
It wasn't like last night's punitive assault. It was a light touch, like a feather brushing his skin, but searingly hot, making Lu Chenzhou stiffen completely. The skin there was sensitive, and the contact sparked an unfamiliar, shameful tingling.
"Don't touch me!" Lu Chenzhou twisted away, his eyes red-rimmed. "You pervert!"
Fu Jingshen was pushed back a step, a flash of displeasure in his eyes quickly replaced by deeper possessiveness. He watched the rise and fall of Lu Chenzhou's angry chest, the sway of the collar with his movement, and his Adam's apple bobbed.
"Pervert?" He chuckled lowly, stepping forward again. "Yes, I am. But right now, you're in this pervert's hands, aren't you?"
He backed Lu Chenzhou up until his spine hit the cold wall, leaving no room to retreat. Fu Jingshen planted a hand on the wall by his ear, caging him in.
"Your sister had her second matching test today," Fu Jingshen said suddenly, his tone casual yet precisely targeting Lu Chenzhou's weakest spot. "The doctor said the probability of finding a suitable match is very high."
Lu Chenzhou froze.
"Just be good," Fu Jingshen's finger traced his cheek, the gesture eerily tender, "and she'll get better soon."
Lu Chenzhou closed his eyes, long lashes casting shadows beneath them. He knew Fu Jingshen was threatening him, using his sister's life to force his submission. And he was utterly powerless against it.
Feeling the resistance drain from the body in his arms, Fu Jingshen smiled in satisfaction and lowered his head again. This time the kiss landed on his lips. It wasn't brutal like the night before, but it was equally demanding, insistent and磨人 (lingering, consuming).
Lu Chenzhou's body was rigid, his teeth clenched tight, refusing to part. Fu Jingshen didn't force him, just patiently nibbled his lower lip until it was swollen and burning before pulling back slightly, forehead resting against his.
"Open your mouth." His voice was heavy with breath, low and dangerous.
Lu Chenzhou turned his head away, refusing.
Fu Jingshen's patience seemed to snap. He suddenly reached up and pinched the nape of Lu Chenzhou's neck, where the skin connected to the spine—a supremely sensitive spot. A slight pain, mixed with a strange numbness, shot through him, making his body go limp. His lips parted on a gasp.
Fu Jingshen seized the opportunity to deepen the kiss, his tongue invading forcefully, tangling with his, full of conquest, allowing no反抗 (resistance).
Lu Chenzhou's mind went blank, filled only with humiliation, rage, and a terrifying, undeniable thrill he couldn't ignore. He felt Fu Jingshen's hand slide up from his waist, over the thin fabric of his sleepwear, stroking the tense muscles of his back, eliciting another shudder.
"Don't…" he finally found his voice, thick with unshed tears, like a kitten's whimper, almost inaudible.
The faint sound of surrender seemed to please Fu Jingshen. His kiss gradually softened, and his hand stilled at his waist, ceasing its exploration. He simply held him tightly, as if trying to meld him into his very bones and blood.
It wasn't until Lu Chenzhou was breathless, his face pale, that Fu Jingshen finally released him. Both men were panting, the air thick with tension and something dangerously ambiguous.
Lu Chenzhou's lips were swollen, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. He looked like a beast that had been thoroughly bullied, yet he stubbornly held his head high, refusing to show even a hint of submission.
The possessiveness in Fu Jingshen's eyes threatened to overflow as he watched him. He raised a hand, gently wiping the moisture from the corner of Lu Chenzhou's mouth, his voice low. "Remember this feeling."
"From now on, this is something you can only have with me."
The words felt like an icy curse, branded onto Lu Chenzhou's heart. He shoved Fu Jingshen away violently, staggering into the bedroom and slamming the door shut with a loud *bang*, turning the lock.
Leaning against the door, he could hear his own heartbeat pounding wildly, fast enough to burst. The taste of Fu Jingshen still lingered on his lips. The collar chafed painfully against his skin. That unfamiliar, shameful thrill still coursed through his body, making him want to crawl into a hole and disappear.
He walked to the bed and sat down, digging his fingers into his hair, pulling hard, trying to use the pain to suppress the chaotic emotions.
Fu Jingshen was a madman… He had to be a madman!
And he… he had actually reacted to the madman's touch.
Lu Chenzhou shot to his feet and rushed into the bathroom, twisting the faucet and splashing icy water onto his face. The cold water cleared his head somewhat, but it couldn't extinguish the growing panic in his heart.
What he feared wasn't Fu Jingshen's force. He feared that one day, under this coercion, he might truly begin to sink, to grow accustomed, even… to develop feelings he shouldn't have.
Outside the bathroom door, Fu Jingshen leaned against the wall, listening to the sound of running water. A complex emotion flickered in his eyes. He raised his hand, his fingertips brushing against his own lips, where the warmth and taste of Lu Chenzhou seemed to linger.
This wild horse was harder to tame than he had imagined, but it also fascinated him more.
He wasn't in a hurry. He had time.
A year was enough to turn this unruly beast into a tame pet that belonged only to him.
The clock on the wall ticked softly. The night deepened. The water in the bedroom stopped. Fu Jingshen knew Lu Chenzhou wasn't asleep.
He didn't leave either. He just stood outside the door, like a patient hunter guarding his prey.The faint sound of surrender seemed to please Fu Jingshen. His kiss gradually softened, and his hand stilled at his waist, ceasing its exploration. He simply held him tightly, as if trying to meld him into his very bones and blood.
It wasn't until Lu Chenzhou was breathless, his face pale, that Fu Jingshen finally released him. Both men were panting, the air thick with tension and something dangerously ambiguous.
Lu Chenzhou's lips were swollen, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. He looked like a beast that had been thoroughly bullied, yet he stubbornly held his head high, refusing to show even a hint of submission.
The possessiveness in Fu Jingshen's eyes threatened to overflow as he watched him. He raised a hand, gently wiping the moisture from the corner of Lu Chenzhou's mouth, his voice low. "Remember this feeling."
"From now on, this is something you can only have with me."
The words felt like an icy curse, branded onto Lu Chenzhou's heart. He shoved Fu Jingshen away violently, staggering into the bedroom and slamming the door shut with a loud *bang*, turning the lock.
Leaning against the door, he could hear his own heartbeat pounding wildly, fast enough to burst. The taste of Fu Jingshen still lingered on his lips. The collar chafed painfully against his skin. That unfamiliar, shameful thrill still coursed through his body, making him want to crawl into a hole and disappear.
He walked to the bed and sat down, digging his fingers into his hair, pulling hard, trying to use the pain to suppress the chaotic emotions.
Fu Jingshen was a madman… He had to be a madman!
And he… he had actually reacted to the madman's touch.
Lu Chenzhou shot to his feet and rushed into the bathroom, twisting the faucet and splashing icy water onto his face. The cold water cleared his head somewhat, but it couldn't extinguish the growing panic in his heart.
What he feared wasn't Fu Jingshen's force. He feared that one day, under this coercion, he might truly begin to sink, to grow accustomed, even… to develop feelings he shouldn't have.
Outside the bathroom door, Fu Jingshen leaned against the wall, listening to the sound of running water. A complex emotion flickered in his eyes. He raised his hand, his fingertips brushing against his own lips, where the warmth and taste of Lu Chenzhou seemed to linger.
This wild horse was harder to tame than he had imagined, but it also fascinated him more.
He wasn't in a hurry. He had time.
A year was enough to turn this unruly beast into a tame pet that belonged only to him.
The clock on the wall ticked softly. The night deepened. The water in the bedroom stopped. Fu Jingshen knew Lu Chenzhou wasn't asleep.
He didn't leave either. He just stood outside the door, like a patient hunter guarding his prey.