Gold Cage - Chapter 24

The sound of running water in the bathroom ceased as Mu Hanxiao stepped out, tying the sash of his robe. The collar hung open, droplets tracing down his chest. He entered the study, fingers absently rubbing the dark prayer beads wrapped around his wrist.

These beads had been given to him long ago by his mother, procured from a temple abbot. The monk had said his heart burned too fiercely, his blood ran too hot—prone to unrest, prone to violence. His mother had hoped the consecrated wooden beads would bring him peace.

And in a way, they had.

He set the beads down on the desk. Inside the drawer were pills—meant to temper his emotions or lull him into sleep when needed. But he hadn't taken them in a while. Perhaps he'd forgotten.

From a locked drawer, Mu Hanxiao retrieved a set of keys and left the study. The elevator doors closed behind him as he pressed a button, scanning his fingerprint. Then he selected the ground floor, and the lift descended.

It didn't stop at the first floor. The display blinked out, and the elevator halted somewhere around the second basement level. The double doors slid open.

Lights flickered on, illuminating a vast, ashen space—like a pale eye staring out from the dark. The underground chamber stretched high, its lighting shifting with the time of day, now dim as distant stars, casting the tiled floor in a cold, sterile glow. Scattered along the walls were glass conservatories of varying sizes, where tender plants thrived under artificial mist and light, their delicate blossoms unfurling. Pinpricks of light wove intricate shadows across the silent expanse, as if he stood in a labyrinth beneath the cosmos.

Building an airtight yet breathable sanctuary underground had been no challenge for Mu Hanxiao. This place suited him perfectly—light, water, controlled airflow, filtered air, absolute solitude. Everything soft, everything comfortable. He was too fragile; he had no choice but to stay here.

He moved through the antechamber, the hazy light making him seem like a specter drifting through darkness. In one corner sat an enormous stuffed bear. A glass case held a delicate crescent moon boat, suspended in stillness. It had been a gift for Mu Yu's seventeenth birthday. After that, every present had been abandoned at Yunhai.

Now they were all here, keeping their owner company as they once had. Their owner was a child afraid of loneliness, as if he'd wither and die without someone by his side. So why had he let Mu Yu leave?

Of course he had to let Mu Yu go. Raising a bastard in luxury was already more than enough kindness. Mu Yu would never be part of this family—he had to leave, the farther the better, never to return.

The entire basement had been demolished and rebuilt, its levels merged. Half a year into construction, Mu Hanxiao traveled to the U.S. on business. After the meetings ended, his driver pulled over on Capitol Street as instructed. He stared at one particular house among a row of small villas, lighting one cigarette after another until the sun dipped below the horizon. Only then did the car finally drive away.

Discipline was not only a necessary code for a vast family, but also one of the means to prevent everything from deviating. Beasts are driven by desire; only humans understand interests and rules. Those who violate the rules must be corrected or they will be eliminated—just as those who stray from the path perish alone from hunger and thirst, and those who defy convention end up scorned by all.

Mu Hanxiao raised his hand and unlocked the door with a key, revealing a lightless corridor. At the end of the hallway was another door, with silent red dots glowing from the cameras embedded in the walls. He entered the passcode, and the door slid open. A dim, watery blue light spilled out. Inside, the undulating ripples of water cast gentle reflections, and the snow-white walls were embedded with a massive transparent panel of glass. Deep, sea-like water surged under the propulsion of a circular current system. In this temperature-controlled simulated ocean, translucent jellyfish floated slowly, their umbrella-shaped bodies contracting and expanding, their delicate tentacles drifting aimlessly. The lighting shifted according to the time of day, and now it had turned a deep indigo, transforming the water into a night sky at dusk.

He had once taught Mu Yu how to dive. They had spent years together, and Mu Yu had learned many things from him—including how to smoke. During one of their dives, they encountered a translucent jellyfish. He had yanked Mu Yu back when the younger man tried to approach it, then lectured him thoroughly after they surfaced. Mu Yu had been awestruck by the creature's extreme beauty and danger, and later, during university, he even participated in an ocean-themed art exhibition—its focus was jellyfish.

As an adult, Mu Yu displayed a sociability and extroversion unlike his past self. Not only did he excel academically and maintain a wide circle of friends, but he also quickly co-founded a company with them. His residence was always brightly lit, and he loved driving a silver-gray sports car. On weekends, he often went out for meals with the company's other founders. In winter, he preferred wearing all white, with a different hat every day. In summer, he would stroll the streets in flip-flops, sipping coffee as he climbed into his car in the mornings, always carrying his favorite backpack wherever he went.

For all those years, the Mu Yu in his eyes seemed forever frozen at seventeen, unchanged.

His basement had taken years to build, on and off. At one point, he had considered abandoning this pointless project. He knew that once completed, the basement would become an utterly absurd existence, symbolizing some unspoken yet undeniable meaning looming over him. It was a black hole—invisible to the naked eye from a safe distance, but once it descended, it would suck in and shred everything, uprooting the very foundation and reconstructing the meaning of Mu Hanxiao's own existence.

At the center of the tranquil, deep-blue space, dark drapes cascaded from the domed ceiling, overlapping like the tentacles of a jellyfish enveloping a bed. Mu Hanxiao lifted a corner of the curtain. Inside, the sheets were tangled, pillows scattered, and a pair of slender, pale feet peeked out from under the blanket.

Mu Yu was asleep. After being locked in this room, he had thrown a fit, smashing everything breakable. Eventually, exhausted, he had curled up on the bed and fallen into a deep slumber.

When Mu Yu slept, he was quiet, always clutching something, his face buried in a pillow. His lashes were long, his ears flawless, like an immaculate doll. Mu Hanxiao stood by the bed, holding the curtain open, watching him.

Mu Yu had almost truly flown away like a little bird disappearing into the sky. He could have lived alone in a distant place, with hobbies, friends, a career, and many ways to bring joy to his life—far removed from the past. He was still a child, with passionate and clear-cut emotions, and forgetting scars wasn't difficult for him. He should have flown away. That would have been right. Fate had given him—and himself—a chance to make the right choice, to let everything return to its proper course. They should have remained distinct and undisturbed, living the lives they were meant to live.

But Mu Yu came back.

Once again, he shattered the trajectory that had almost returned to normal.

Mu Hanxiao sat down, the mattress making a faint sound. He gazed at Mu Yu, his expression as calm as ever. He grasped Mu Yu's ankle, his fingers resting on the thin skin. His fingertips felt the faint, steady pulse beneath, the warmth in his hand slightly cool. Mu Yu's ankle was slender enough to be held in one hand, and Mu Hanxiao tightened his grip.

"From now on, you will be the compass of the Mu family. Your younger brothers, your mother—everyone will be under your protection."

"You will undoubtedly do better than I ever did. You are my proudest son."

His hand moved slowly upward. Those legs were straight and slender, their texture unbelievably smooth. The man's gaze followed his own hand as the blanket piled up with his movements. The familiar, faint scent once again lingered at the tip of his nose, like a unique marker triggering a targeted reaction in his body. There was no way to discern whether this was an electric connection gradually formed from their days of living together, some innate physiological signal from shared blood, or simply a spark ignited in a fleeting moment of time.

"Boss, we've already dealt with two threats against Mr. Mu, both originating domestically..."

"Staying alone abroad for long periods may not be beneficial for Mr. Mu."

The blanket inched higher. Mu Yu's thighs were slender and soft, the slightest pressure leaving faint red marks. Mu Yu shifted uncomfortably but didn't wake. The man breathed silently, the shadow of the bed canopy obscuring his gaze. His hand traveled from the inner thigh to the hipbone, slipping beneath the hem of the silk shirt to touch the flat stomach. Mu Yu's abdomen was warm, a thin layer of skin protecting the veins and organs beneath—a fragile barrier that could be shattered by any external force.

While studying abroad, Mu Yu had once accidentally stumbled into a violent protest. He was knocked to the ground and nearly trampled by the surging crowd before Phil, who happened to be passing by while grocery shopping, pulled him out. Another time, he was unknowingly followed. The stalker was quietly dealt with by Li Bing and Phil, and since then, no such incidents had occurred around Mu Yu.

"Appropriate psychological counseling and medication could help alleviate your emotional state."

"Overly stimulating physical activities may not be conducive to your sleep..."

Six years ago, he shouldn't have let him go. He was just a child who understood nothing. What did it matter if his wings were broken and he was caged for life? Why let him discern the meaning of the sky and flight?

Mu Hanxiao's fingers pressed into Mu Yu's stomach, the taut abdomen yielding slightly. Mu Yu let out a soft, uncomfortable sound in his sleep before finally opening his eyes with displeasure.

He was lost in the rippling deep blue for a long time, instinctively grabbing the hand that held his waist. When he saw Mu Hanxiao, his face turned cold as he sat up and pushed the hand away.

Mu Hanxiao asked, "Want something to eat?"

Mu Yu glared at him. "Mu Hanxiao, you're really something, huh? Resorting to confinement now?"

Mu Hanxiao replied calmly, "Regrettably, I should have done this sooner."

Mu Yu stared at him furiously, throwing off the covers to get out of bed. The next moment, he was dragged back by the waist and pinned down. Mu Yu was livid. "Are you fucking insane?!"

Before he could react, his wrists were seized and forced above his head. Mu Hanxiao loomed over him. "You've been throwing a tantrum all day. Aren't you tired?"

Mu Yu kicked at his face, but Mu Hanxiao caught his ankle. Struggling violently, Mu Yu cursed, "You ran off and married a woman, but when I date someone, you lock me up? If I slept with a man, would you kill me too?!"

A powerful force yanked him back onto the bed. He was no match for Mu Hanxiao. The man twisted his arms behind his back, kneeling over him to restrain his thrashing legs, then raised a hand and delivered a sharp slap to his ass.

Mu Yu nearly cried out from the sting. "Mu Hanxiao! You goddamn bastard—“

Mu Hanxiao yanked down his underwear, palming the rapidly reddening flesh, fingers digging in. His breathing was heavy, voice rough when he spoke. "Want to sleep with a man?"

Mu Yu panted, trembling slightly, his eyes wide with disbelief. The man's long, strong fingers pressed into the sensitive cleft of his ass, his scorching body pressing down. Hot, ragged breaths burned against the back of Mu Yu's neck, searing his skin like fire. The heat trailed down his spine, and he could even feel Mu Hanxiao inhaling his scent—like a beast pinning down its prey, testing its flavor before devouring it. Every nerve in Mu Yu's body screamed in alarm.

"Let me go... Mu Hanxiao! You fucking scum—!"

His limbs were brutally immobilized, his curses ignored. Mu Hanxiao's fingers pressed against his tightly clenched entrance, roughly working the dry rim. Mu Yu's body was hypersensitive, and the pain immediately forced a whimper from him, his muscles clenching instinctively to reject the intrusion. His breathing grew erratic, his trembling worsening, as if terrified by the man's merciless touch. Mu Hanxiao was painfully hard, his temples throbbing. He reached into the bedside drawer, pulling out handcuffs and a vibrator. With a flick of his wrist, he cuffed Mu Yu's hands to the headboard. In the struggle, Mu Yu bit down hard, breaking skin on his arm, but Mu Hanxiao didn't even flinch. His robe was disheveled, his half-naked body taut as stone. He bent down, inhaling deeply at Mu Yu's waist, lips brushing the soft curve of his ass. The contact sent electric shocks through his nerves. He gripped Mu Yu's hips hard, burying his face between them, kissing the quivering flesh as if entranced.

Deaf to Mu Yu's cries, he seemed lost in some hallucinatory haze. The deep blue ripples isolated them from the world, transparent jellyfish drifting in the abyss. The ocean was dark, lightless, a deadly whirlpool dragging them into the depths.

Mu Yu gasped as his eyes flew open. A wet tongue was licking at his most intimate place, and he jerked violently in protest, the handcuffs clinking sharply against the bedframe. His hips trembled uncontrollably as he pleaded incoherently, begging Mu Hanxiao not to touch him. But the man only kissed lower, tracing every inch of his entrance until his buttocks were slick and flushed red, the tight ring of muscle gradually softening under persistent licks. Then came the intrusion of a finger, pressing insistently inside. Mu Yu panicked and tried to squirm away, only to be dragged back and pinned down again, the digit now buried deep in his passage as Mu Hanxiao returned to lave at his perineum, patiently working the finger in and out to stretch the tight inner walls while his tongue teased the wet sounds from where they joined.

"No... no!"

Tears welled in Mu Yu's dazed eyes. Trapped and overwhelmed, his composure shattered, and he finally broke down like a child in front of Mu Hanxiao. "Don't touch me! Mu Hanxiao! You're disgusting you're the most revolting person I've ever—ah, nngh—!"

His mouth was muffled. Mu Hanxiao straightened, his large hand gripping Mu Yu's hip as a second finger breached the tight entrance. The man's fingers were long and strong, calloused enough to drag roughly inside, probing relentlessly. Mu Yu clenched his thighs uselessly against the invasive discomfort, but the tension only made Mu Hanxiao's pulse hammer harder, sweat rolling down his throat as if his very blood were boiling. Eyes dark with hunger, he fucked his fingers ruthlessly into Mu Yu until stifled moans escaped, his hips writhing. Then, panting, Mu Hanxiao forced his fingers past Mu Yu's teeth into his mouth—and, predictably, was bitten hard.

Blood mixed with saliva dripped from his hand, yet Mu Hanxiao barely flinched. Instead, he leaned down, fingers still wedged between Mu Yu's lips, and kissed the sweat-damp curve of his cheek. Two fingers now stretched Mu Yu's hole wide, slickness dripping as he whimpered around the intrusion. Then, abruptly, his voice pitched higher, his body seizing as his entrance clamped down around Mu Hanxiao's fingers.

He'd been struck at his sweet spot, his limp cock rapidly filling to half-hardness. Mu Hanxiao didn't relent, mercilessly rubbing and thrusting against that sensitive bundle until Mu Yu was nearly screaming, legs kicking helplessly as he was finger-fucked past his limits. Within moments, he came with a shudder, spilling untouched between them.

Mu Hanxiao withdrew his hand, glistening with Mu Yu's release. Dazed and panting, Mu Yu lay bound to the headboard, his slender waist rising and falling rapidly, skin flushed with the first hints of desire. Mu Hanxiao knelt over him, shedding his disheveled robe, his erection straining obscenely against his underwear, the thick, veined length partially exposed. He gripped himself, dragging the swollen head along Mu Yu's damp inner thigh before pulling him close from behind. One hand kneaded his stiffened nipple while the other stroked his oversensitive cock, milking out the last drops of cum. Mu Yu moaned weakly, his mind blank with pleasure as Mu Hanxiao's hot length slid between his thighs, his grip coaxing out every last shudder. His chest was reddened from rough handling, nipples nearly swollen from the relentless attention.

The nape of his neck was like a soft, warm cloud, the faint sweat of desire exuding an intoxicatingly alluring scent. Mu Hanxiao buried his face in the crook of his lover's neck, inhaling deeply as he kissed away the sweat from Mu Yu's shoulders. His large hands roamed over Mu Yu's chest and waist with intimate, provocative caresses, the kind shared between lovers. Mu Yu melted under his touch, his delicate stomach quivering with each movement. When the man's fingers entered him again, Mu Yu let out a muffled groan, arching his back from the overwhelming pressure. Still sensitive from their previous coupling, he squirmed in discomfort, consumed by resentment. He cursed Mu Hanxiao for being filthy, for cheating despite being married, for being utterly despicable.

Mu Hanxiao let him curse, holding him tightly in his arms as he licked away the tears on his face. Mu Yu was heartbroken and utterly hated him, but as long as he was in his embrace, nothing else mattered. Mu Hanxiao gripped Mu Yu's chin, forcing a kiss onto his lips, then withdrew his fingers and pressed the vibrator against his slick entrance, pushing it in slowly but relentlessly.

"Mmm... ah—!"

Mu Yu could barely breathe from the kiss, his mouth filled with saliva as the man ravaged him with a feverish intensity. Dizzy and disoriented, he whimpered at the pain of the intrusion, shrinking into Mu Hanxiao's arms to escape the thing pushing into him. Half of the vibrator was still outside when Mu Hanxiao finally released his lips, pressing their noses together as he murmured, "Mu Yu, this is the smallest one."

He kissed him again, one hand gripping Mu Yu's thighs as his cock slid between his legs from behind, forcing the vibrator deeper in the process. Mu Yu seemed on the verge of breaking—his hole was too tight, struggling to take the fake length. Mu Hanxiao made him clamp his thighs around his cock, already rock-hard and leaking. The thick, scorching shaft rubbed ruthlessly against his delicate inner thighs, each thrust driving the vibrator deeper. Though the toy wasn't particularly large, it still left Mu Yu sobbing and curled up, his tears soaking the pillow. The cock tormenting his thighs was far more terrifying, soon chafing his skin raw. Mu Yu kicked out in pain, only to have his senses scattered by the brutal force of the man's thrusts from behind. The vibrator was shoved fully inside him, twisting and grinding against his sensitive spots with no rhythm. Mu Yu felt like he was falling between heaven and hell, overwhelmed by pleasure, his breath ragged and vision blurred with tears. The man's desire was savage and insatiable—even just using a toy left Mu Yu feeling like his bones were about to shatter. His ass was numb from the pounding, his waist nearly crushed by Mu Hanxiao's grip. Oxygen deprivation made his head spin as hot, sticky cum splattered across his pale body—his thighs, waist, stomach, all marked by Mu Hanxiao's release. The bed beneath the canopy swayed like waves, heavy breaths and moans tangled together, drowning all reason in a flood of lust.

At seventeen, Mu Yu had been so quick to cry. He had rejected the boy's confession and left Yunhai without looking back. At twenty-nine, Mu Hanxiao could never accept Mu Yu as a lover or partner—it would cross every line he had.

Mu Hanxiao kissed Mu Yu's swollen lips, leaving bite marks and bruises along his neck and shoulders. His still-hard cock slid obscenely between Mu Yu's thighs, smearing more cum as he turned on the vibrator's buzzing. Mu Yu trembled at the sensation, too exhausted to even curse as Mu Hanxiao gripped his thighs and fucked him hard with the vibrating toy. All that remained were weak gasps and incoherent murmurs. He didn't know how devastatingly beautiful he looked, forced to submit—how a single bed could envelop him, how a canopy could shield him from all prying eyes.

This was where he belonged.

He didn't need freedom.

***

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