Gold Cage - Chapter 21

 Upon arriving in the U.S., Fan En picked him up as usual. The rugged Jeep sped down the road, blaring country music as Fan En chattered excitedly, "You came at the perfect time! There's an amazing party next week—you have to come with me."

Mu Yu, exhausted from the flight, yawned. "Sure. Just take me home first—I need sleep."

As the car turned onto Capitol Avenue, Fan En continued gossiping, "The party's hosted by my uncle—he's getting married to some earl's daughter. Their family's filthy rich, partying every night in a castle by the Great Lakes. It's my first time attending one of their events rumor has it movie stars, musicians, and European nobles will all be there. I'll find you a wealthy hunk—how about a pianist? Or maybe a novelist?"

"Fan, you're too loud."

"Helkin! I missed you so much. I can't help but chatter when you're around. You all left me alone in America—don't you miss me at all?"

"Of course, of course. Missed you to death."

Mu Yu couldn't sleep the entire journey due to Fan's incessant talking. When they finally arrived home, he tossed his luggage in the living room and went upstairs to shower. Fan had already hired someone to clean the house beforehand. While Fan was downstairs making calls to reserve a restaurant for the evening, Mu Yu finished his shower and crawled into bed, nestling into the soft, dry blankets to sleep.

Fan came upstairs to check on him, arranged for daily necessities to be delivered, stocked the fridge, and only after everything was settled did he gently close the door and leave.

Mu Yu quickly fell into a deep slumber. Though he hadn't done much, he felt utterly exhausted, as if his soul were floating away from his body, taking with it certain emotions and memories. Only then could his overburdened flesh find a moment's respite.

He dreamed again of the lakeside cottage from his childhood. Lake Baihar's seasons and the hues of dawn and dusk were vividly distinct. In winter, the entire lake froze into a massive crystal, with endless snowfall. He and his mother would huddle by the fireplace to keep warm. His late grandmother had left behind mountains of books, and Mu Yu grew up immersed in them. With no other entertainment or many friends, he spent his days curled up reading, doing chores with his mother, eating simple dinners, and chatting with her on the sofa at night.

His mother didn't care for books. Her generation had been part of a fallen aristocracy, but by her time, the noble title had long vanished, and the family was reduced to just a few scattered descendants. With no money, his mother had little education and started working early, eventually entering the film industry as a glamour star, relying on her looks to gain considerable fame. At her peak, her photo albums sold overseas. Young and flush with cash, she spent extravagantly—on men, jewelry, cosmetics, anything that fed her vanity.

Later, she met Mu Yunting and gave birth to him. After that, she completely retired from the industry and lived with him in the old house by Lake Baihar. Despite her youthful glory, her savings were pitifully scant. Gradually, she sold nearly all her jewelry until there was nothing left.

She had secretly given birth to him. She confessed that she had initially wanted to abort the child, knowing the powerful family backgrounds of Mu Yunting and his wife. She didn't want an innocent child to suffer in the crossfire of familial power struggles. But for some reason, she ultimately kept him and hid away with him.

Perhaps she naively believed there was always a way out, that even with a tainted origin, living quietly under the radar could still grant them a life of their own.

But she was wrong. She was a rootless drifter, and so was Mu Yu.

As a child, Mu Yu had always thought that with Mu Hanxiao around, he was safe.

Until his first major conflict with Mu Zhiye led Zhao Mengling to lock him in a pitch-black confinement room for three whole days. No one came for him.

That was when he realized he wasn't safe. He, too, was adrift.

His fragile roots had nowhere to take hold.

A week later, Fan En and Mu Yu arrived at the port of Lake Superior. Under a starry night sky, the castle's party was already in full swing. Luxury cars lined the estate's entrance as elegantly dressed guests of all kinds moved about. Flowers and ribbons adorned every corner, while at the garden's center, a grand musical fountain danced to melodious tunes. Tall, handsome waiters weaved through the crowd with champagne flutes in hand. The entire castle blazed with light like a radiant beacon, where people laughed, drank, and kissed passionately by the fountain.

Fan En and Mu Yu had to dodge several near-collisions while exchanging greetings with familiar faces. Mu Yu remarked, "Did your uncle invite every notable figure across America?"

Fan En laughed. "He's practically the richest man in the world now. The wealthy can't resist flaunting their fortunes—just ignore him!"

The castle's grand doors stood wide open, spilling out joyous music and boisterous singing. Extravagantly dressed dancers swayed wildly in the ballroom's center, while avant-garde pianists and violinists played passionately on the marble steps. The polished white floors mirrored the revelers, and the dance floor was encircled by a massive pool filled with champagne, its golden liquid shimmering with intoxicating fragrance. Rose petals swirled through the air as guests moved from the steps to the ballroom, flirting in the halls and gardens. Someone shrieked as they tumbled into the champagne pool, laughing as they splashed the drink onto their faces. The entire castle gleamed like a dreamlike crystal palace from a fairy tale, adorned with jewels and flowers, embracing every kind of reveler in a whirlwind of decadence and indulgence.

A tall man waved at them, his voice booming. "Fan En! You're late!"

Fan En pulled Mu Yu forward and introduced, "This is my friend, Helkin. Helkin, this is my uncle."

The man plucked a fresh rose from a passing dancer's hair, earning a playful shriek. With a charming grin, he offered the flower to Mu Yu. "Mr. Helkin, I've tried inviting you to my gatherings several times, but your family keeps you too well-guarded. You're even more beautiful than I imagined—it's an honor to meet you."

Mu Yu accepted the rose with a smile. "Thank you, but I'm a man."

"All things of beauty deserve the word ‘beautiful’—why let language confine your spirit?" The man laughed, slinging an arm around both of them and steering them toward a gem-encrusted door. "Go enjoy yourselves! Tonight, no one will hold you back!"

The door swung open to reveal a hall packed with young men and women. Silver drapes cascaded from the domed ceiling, scattering light like celestial blossoms. A waiter handed them each a champagne flute, and just as Mu Yu took his, a voice called out in delight. "Mr. Mu Yu!"

A handsome young man rushed over, and Mu Yu blinked in surprise. "Xia Ge? What are you doing here?"

"I'm in the U.S. for a concert tour. A friend brought me tonight." Xia Ge beamed at seeing Mu Yu, but before he could say more, a group of cheering girls swarmed around them. "Fan En! You're finally here!"

The girls pulled at Fan En, his tie coming undone as he laughed and was dragged away, calling back to Mu Yu, "See you later!" Mu Yu naturally followed the crowd down the stairs with Xia Ge, who shielded him from the jostling crowd. Xia Ge pointed to a circle of sofas by the floor-to-ceiling windows. "They're over there."

Mu Yu smiled at Xia Ge. "You're still young. A place like this isn't quite suitable for you."

Xia Ge frowned. "I've been an adult for a while now, Mr. Mu Yu."

"Don't be so formal. Just call me Mu Yu."

"Ah, Mu Yu—"

"Xia Ge! Where've you been?" Someone waved at them, eyes lighting up at the sight of Mu Yu beside Xia Ge. "Hey, you brought a beauty with you, you rascal!"

The young man, unrestrained and full of enthusiasm, pulled Xia Ge and Mu Yu to sit down, clinking glasses with them. On the table was a massive roulette wheel, scattered with chips, dice, and money. Someone tossed a handful of dice onto the table with a clatter. "Isn't gambling for money boring? How about we raise the stakes?"

"Sure, what's the bet?"

"Two hundred dollars per loss, plus you take off an item of clothing. How about that?"

The group erupted in excited laughter, all agreeing. Xia Ge quickly stood up to leave but was immediately pulled back. "Hey, handsome, don't run!"

Xia Ge sighed. "I didn't bring any money."

"Then you'll just have to strip extra clothes off! Hahaha—“

Mu Yu casually slid his wristwatch onto the table. "This'll cover both of us for tonight. If it's not enough, I'll throw in my belt."

"Mr. Helkin, you're a legend!"

Xia Ge blinked in surprise, but Mu Yu was unfazed. He drained his champagne, placed the empty glass on a passing server's tray, rolled up his sleeves, and took the large stack of chips he'd exchanged for, tossing half to Xia Ge. Xia Ge held the chips uncertainly. "Ge, I'm not really good at gambling."

"Just play. If you lose, it's on me."

They played roulette. Mu Yu had been to casinos a few times and was familiar with the rules. He quickly got into the swing of things. Roulette was simple and thrilling—in the first few rounds, Mu Yu's luck was strong, and he won a hefty pile of chips at the highest payout rate. Meanwhile, some had already lost their shirts, stripped down to their bare torsos. The summer night was cool, and clothes were thin. To prevent the unluckiest from running out of things to remove too quickly, the rules were adjusted: any accessories could now count as "clothing."

This round, Mu Yu lost. The crowd jeered for him to strip. Smiling, his eyes crinkling, Mu Yu removed the necklace from his neck and placed it on the server's tray. Someone teased, "Helkin! You're breaking the rules! Clothes first, then accessories!"

Mu Yu took another sip of his drink and replied, "Josie, this rule seems meaningless for you."

The man called Josie had already lost everything but his underwear and socks. The group roared with laughter, shoving Josie playfully as the handsome man shrugged helplessly. A few more rounds passed, with wins and losses scattered among them. Soon, everyone was in disarray, some red-faced from drinking and stripped down to nothing, dancing around the hall in their underwear as a forfeit.

This time, Mu Yu lost again. The others clamored for him to strip, refusing to let him remove his shoes. His collar was tugged open, buttons undone, as he laughed and pleaded, "Alright, alright, I'll take it off!"

One of his buttons had been torn off. Slightly drunk, his face flushed pink as slender fingers undid the remaining buttons, the thin shirt slipping off to reveal pristine white skin beneath. His joints carried a rosy hue, nipples a soft brown, his abdomen flat and lean with a narrow waist that tapered delicately.

Someone whistled suggestively, while Xia Ge beside him felt dizzy just watching. Blood rushed to his head, forcing him to avert his gaze, his face burning crimson. As the next round of betting began, Xia Ge mindlessly followed the crowd in placing his chips. Amid the clamor, cheers erupted—Mu Yu had lost again.

Mu Yu tossed his chips aside. "I'm so unlucky!"

"Who's really unlucky here? Helkin, look at me!"

"He's already danced three times! Next time, make him do a pole dance!"

"Helkin, don't be shy—"

Mu Yu couldn't stop laughing, equally intoxicated, his amorous green eyes hazy with intoxication. As he reached to undo his belt, alarm bells rang in Xia Ge's mind. Acting on impulse, he grabbed Mu Yu's wrist to stop him.

"I-I'll do it for you," Xia Ge blurted, then swiftly stripped off his own shirt despite protests, sitting stiffly with his face aflame. His well-toned physique broad shoulders, narrow waist, and defined abs—satisfied the onlookers enough to overlook his rule-breaking.

Mu Yu slung an arm over his shoulder, closing the distance between them. Xia Ge froze, but Mu Yu merely tilted his head, tapping Xia Ge's cheek playfully. "Why so protective of me?"

Xia Ge stammered, "I—"

Mu Yu didn't press, withdrawing his hand with a chuckle before turning back to the game. Xia Ge exhaled, an inexplicable pang of disappointment settling in.

The party began winding down as fireworks exploded outside the castle windows. In the early hours, the sky lit up with dazzling colors, drawing everyone outdoors. Chips and money littered the tables while Mu Yu fumbled for his watch. Josie, pulling up his pants, retrieved it from under the table and clasped it onto Mu Yu's wrist.

"Helkin, you're exquisite."

Josie kissed Mu Yu's knuckles, then bent to peck his cheek. Giggling at the ticklish sensation, Mu Yu pushed him away halfheartedly, only to be pulled into the man's embrace. Josie draped Mu Yu's shirt over his shoulders before gripping his waist and claiming his lips in a searing kiss.

Mu Yu arched into it with a muffled moan, the man's tongue tangling with his, a large hand roaming suggestively along his back. Melting under the touch, Mu Yu sagged against him, disheveled clothes baring a pale shoulder, soft as cloudspun silk.

Then Josie was yanked backward, stumbling drunkenly before steadying himself. Bewildered, he watched Xia Ge pull Mu Yu close, straightening his clothes with protective possessiveness, glaring coldly.

"Oh, so you two are together?" Josie raised his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright."

Muttering, the man gathered his clothes and left. Xia Ge finally released Mu Yu, clumsily rebuttoning his shirt. "You just met him today, didn't you?" he grumbled.

Mu Yu stood obediently in place, his voice softened by intoxication: "What? Know who?"

Xia Ge took a deep breath and looked up, only to see Mu Yu's eyes hazy with drunkenness, his lips glistening from kisses. Mu Yu licked his lips, savoring the lingering sensation, while Xia Ge turned his face away—only to have Mu Yu cup his cheeks and turn him back. Gazing at him with a smile, Mu Yu pinched his face lightly and said, "Xia Ge, I know you. You're my most, most, most—favorite little singer."

Xia Ge stared at him in a daze. Mu Yu's eyes held flecks of emerald, like scattered fragments of hidden gemstones, breathtakingly beautiful. When Mu Yu tried to climb onto the sofa, Xia Ge quickly pulled him back, but Mu Yu fussed, claiming he was tired and wanted to sleep.

"I'll take you to the bedroom," Xia Ge said, helping him up. The castle's owner had generously opened all guest rooms for those staying overnight, though many were already sprawled across carpets and sofas, too drunk to be roused.

Hand in hand, Xia Ge led Mu Yu deeper into the castle in search of a guest room. The corridor stretched endlessly, with towering floor-to-ceiling windows bathing in moonlight, offering an unobstructed view of the flourishing gardens outside. Mu Yu looked up at the fireworks blooming in clusters beyond the castle walls, his eyes bright as he raised a hand. "So pretty."

He refused to move, insisting on staying to watch the fireworks. Xia Ge hadn't expected him to be so clingy when drunk, his palms sweating as he coaxed carefully, "Weren't you tired? Let's go rest."

"No." Mu Yu pressed his hand against the glass, the glow and colors of the fireworks reflecting in his eyes, illuminating a mist of cold sorrow. Lost in thought, he murmured, "I want... to go home."

"My home is by the lake, a little house," Mu Yu continued to himself. "There's an oven for baking cookies, and the study is full of books— though the heating never works well in winter..."

"I want to go home."

At some point, tears slipped from Mu Yu's eyes. The moonlight, frost-like, made him seem submerged in a deep blue expanse, his teardrops swirling like bubbles in water.

That single tear seemed to tell Xia Ge that if he didn't hold onto this fragile, crumbling Mu Yu now, the dream would shatter.

"Mu Yu..." Xia Ge wiped the tears from his face, his warm palms cradling Mu Yu's cold cheeks. He kept brushing away the falling tears, kissing Mu Yu's forehead, listening to his quiet sobs, feeling the slight tremble in his arms. What could have hurt him so deeply that he could only cry helplessly in the quiet night, behind the revelry and noise?

"Don't cry, Mu Yu."

"Mu Yu..."

Mu Yu shook his head, trying to push him away, but Xia Ge suddenly mustered his courage and kissed him.

Pinned against the window, Mu Yu felt Xia Ge's kiss—clumsy yet fervent, teeth nearly nipping his lips. Finally sobering slightly, Mu Yu turned his face away, panting softly. "Xia Ge?"

But the young man cupped his face again. Xia Ge looked straight at him, his gaze earnest, brimming with the unyielding determination of youth. He pulled Mu Yu close and kissed him again. Wrapped in Xia Ge's scorching warmth, Mu Yu found himself unable to push against the solid chest, his breath growing ragged, his body heating up as soft moans escaped him. Without hesitation, Xia Ge lifted him by the waist and carried him into a guest room down the hall.

Mu Yu was gently laid onto the large bed as Xia Ge tenderly kissed his lips, then trailed down to his neck, one hand slowly caressing his body through the fabric of his clothes. The room was dimly lit, the bed curtains half-drawn, and Mu Yu let out soft moans under the gentle ministrations. Xia Ge kissed him again, and this time, Mu Yu didn't resist—he obediently accepted the kiss, parting his lips to let Xia Ge explore his tongue.

Xia Ge's blood burned with desire as he traced the delicate curve of Mu Yu's waist. The smooth, clothed body beneath his hands felt strangely pliant, as if melting and igniting under his touch.

The young man propped himself up, panting, only to find Mu Yu silently crying again. He seemed too intoxicated to think clearly, tormented between memory and reality. Xia Ge hurriedly tried to comfort him, but Mu Yu only curled into the blankets, clutching a pillow as he sobbed.

Helpless, Xia Ge wrapped his arms around Mu Yu from behind, pulling him close, hoping his warmth could offer some solace. The body in his embrace was icy cold. Burying his face against Mu Yu's nape, Xia Ge clasped his fingers tightly.

Moonlight spilled into the room, filling it with quiet serenity.

May he return to his homeland in his dreams.

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