Chapter 10: Afterwards

In the winter daylight, a white mist of snow descended outside the window.

Moist, cold air pressed against the glass, where condensed droplets slid down, forming a glittering curtain.

Warm, dry air blew from the heater.

The humidifier sprayed out puffs of mist.

Yu Zhu sat hugging his knees inside the cage, eyes lowered, watching a single droplet slowly gather on the bars.

The droplet formed so slowly.

He watched for a long time, yet the reflected black of his pupils inside the bead did not grow even the slightest.

The brutal welts from the whipping throbbed with pain.

Every cell shriveled and recoiled from it, leaving Yu Zhu’s face ghostly pale.

He was forced to ease his breathing, so as not to tug at the deeper agony.

Consciousness grew muddled.

Light and darkness flickered before his eyes.

Each time he sank toward the black void, sharp, unbearable pain would wrench him awake again—

As if lying naked on a millstone, acutely aware as both body and soul were slowly ground down.

It hurt so much he could no longer focus on the hanging droplet.

Yu Zhu carefully avoided the injuries and hugged his knees tighter.

But even this pitifully helpless defensive posture brought him no warmth.

Still… it wasn’t over…

Not yet…

He bowed his head.

His long hair spilled down to his waist, strands falling across his cheek, hiding his expression.

Daylight shifted across the room.

Gu Wanting stirred awake and glanced at the clock—it was already two ten in the afternoon.

Last night, on a whim, she had tormented Yu Zhu from midnight until dawn.

She lost count of how many positions she forced upon him—rolling him from the cage to the floor, pinning him to the carpet, bending his body across the bed’s edge—

Listening as his hoarse cries broke into fragments of pleading whimpers.

And she only pressed harder.

Because the more she indulged, the freer she felt from that flawless shell the world demanded she wear.

She was Gu Wanting.

The real Gu Wanting.

Reckless.

Unrestrained.

When it was over, she wiped the blood from her body, locked the unconscious boy back inside the cage, and collapsed into bed in a heavy sleep.

A light breeze stirred the room.

After checking the time, Gu Wanting rose.

Her dark hair fell loose in messy waves, silk pajamas wrinkled and rumpled, a faint red glow at her brow hinting at the satisfied ease in her body.

“Good afternoon, Zhu Zhu.”

Standing before the cage, she spoke with a soft laugh.

Without waiting for his response, she turned and walked into the bathroom.

She never truly wanted an answer from him anyway.

The rush of water echoed inside, blurred behind the frosted glass.

Steam rolled out, carrying a trace of lavender.

Outside, Yu Zhu’s trembling only grew worse.

He clutched his knees, desperately suppressing the panic and fear rising within.

Tap… tap…

The water stopped.

Bare, wet feet stepped onto the carpet.

Gu Wanting emerged wrapped in a loose bathrobe.

The skin beneath was pale and delicate, soft and smooth, marred only by faint red marks—otherwise flawless.

Her legs were shapely, gleaming like polished jade, half-hidden beneath the robe.

Water slid down from her damp hair, tracing her swanlike neck, vanishing into her collarbone.

She dried herself, unwound the towel from her head, and shook out her hair.

Then she sat on the bed, blowing it dry.

The drone of the dryer filled the air as she bent one long leg, idly nudging the cage with her foot.

“Dirty little dog.”

Lavender fragrance swirled with the warm air.

When her hair was half dry, she set the dryer aside and slipped into a black dress.

The final ribbon tied neatly at her throat.

Her skirt smoothed down, her plain face lifted into a practiced smile.

Keys jingled softly in her palm as she crouched gracefully, unlocking the cage.

“Zhu Zhu, come out. Master will wash you clean.”

At her words, Yu Zhu buried his head deeper, lips pressed tight, arms curling around his bent knees.

Slowly, trembling like an aged dog, he crawled out of the cage.

The collar at his neck was suddenly yanked.

The chain forced his gaze up to meet hers.

Her predatory stare blazed like midsummer sun, burning his lingering shame.

He wanted to look away—

But the weight of past punishments screamed at him: there was no retreat.

Why had it come to this…

Why…

Why…

And why did it have to be him…

“Good dog, don’t cry.”

Cry?

Yu Zhu blinked in confusion.

A thin mist veiled his black eyes, glimmering at the corners—beautiful as the first streams of melting spring.

Gu Wanting brushed away the wetness, then traced the dark violet welt across his brow.

“I won’t be able to hold back.”

He flinched away.

Her smile only deepened.

The chain in her hand pulled taut.

She rose suddenly, tugging him forward.

He stumbled, elbow grotesquely swollen, yet he dragged himself upright and followed silently.

Inside the bathroom, steam still hung heavy with lavender.

Moist heat clung to the skin.

Yu Zhu’s festering wounds burned like ants tearing him apart.

He could think of nothing.

Only crawl, mechanically, across the wet tiles.

“Splash—”

Suddenly, hot water poured down.

In the small space, the fierce spray shattered into droplets, pelting his skin like gravel.

Water streamed into his eyes.

His pupils reddened with strain, stinging too much to open.

His drenched lashes quivered, fragile as butterflies in a storm—

Wings beating heavy, unable to escape the downpour.

A muffled roar filled his ears.

All sound blurred behind a curtain of water.

His soaked shirt clung to him, rubbing raw against the wounds, embedding pain deeper.

He opened his mouth, but no sound came.

Blood diluted into pale red, swirling into the drain.

Beside him, Gu Wanting stood barefoot, showerhead in hand, water splashing across her skin.

The boy sagged against the wall, pallid face flushed red in the steam.

His long hair clung like ink strokes across his back, dripping down his shoulders.

A few strands stuck to his brow, while trembling droplets slid down his lashes, across his nose, lingering on those crimson lips before falling from his chin.

“Zhu Zhu, you’re as beautiful as a canary.”

Gu Wanting sighed.

“Perhaps Master should take their advice—”

She switched off the spray, her voice clearer in the quiet.

“Perhaps I should build you a sturdier birdcage.”

“Or, if it were Mingyue’s idea, perhaps she’d build you a grand palace.”

Yu Zhu forced his heavy lashes to shed the water.

Through the mist, he saw the sweep of her black skirt.

“But really, the basement is the best place to keep a dog.”

“So then—”

“Where does Zhu Zhu prefer?”

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