Gold Cage - Chapter 33

Bogashk, a small town located more than fifty kilometers from Lake Baihar. The town still bore remnants of last century's industrial past. In the depths of autumn, the trees stood bare and yellowed, their branches pointing toward the ashen sky like the spires of the church. A heavy snowfall the night before had blanketed the streets in thick white, leaving only the biting wind to roam the desolate roads.

From a two-story house in the residential area came a woman's robust voice: "Ms. Grinka, where do you think you're going with that cane?" A smaller, more delicate voice replied, "I've been cooped up too long. I need some fresh air."

"Are you joking? It's freezing out there—you can't go outside!"

"It's been a whole month! Anna, you can't treat me like this!"

"Honestly, at your age, still acting like a spoiled child! I should call Li back—no one else can keep you in line..."

"No! I don't want to see Li again. Always nagging me about what I can't eat, only letting me walk circles in the yard. Now that he's finally gone—I want to play cards!"

The door creaked open as Yu Jing pushed through with her cane, muttering under her breath, "Being sick is no reason to stay trapped indoors. That'll only make things worse. Besides, it's not even that... cold..."

Her words trailed off as she spotted the two figures standing at the foot of the steps. Anna rushed over to stop her but froze when she saw Yu Jing rooted in place by the doorway. "What's wrong?" Anna asked, peering out.

Mu Yu and Li Bing stood by the roadside. Bundled in a thick padded coat, Mu Yu had been wrapped in a hat and oversized scarf by Li Bing. He tilted his face up slightly, staring at Yu Jing as if in a daze. Yu Jing was tall, her long golden hair tied back in a ponytail. She wore a faded thick sweater under a jacket, her jeans washed pale with age. Though time had etched lines into her face, it couldn't obscure the striking beauty that had once turned heads.

And those emerald eyes—like twin gemstones untouched by dust-were so breathtaking they could steal one's breath away.

Yu Jing stared at Mu Yu. Anna glanced between them, then at Li Bing, who chose that moment to greet them. "Good morning. You seem to be recovering well."

"Helkin."

Ignoring Li Bing, Yu Jing continued gazing at Mu Yu as if in a dream, murmuring, "Helkin... you've grown so tall."

Mu Yu ducked his head as if to hide. His heart raced, making his breath come fast and shallow, a faint flush rising to his cheeks. Li Bing whispered, "Let's go inside. It's cold out here."

But Mu Yu remained frozen, whether from holding his breath too long or the chill, he couldn't speak—only cough. Anna, taking in Mu Yu's features, seemed to piece something together, her expression shifting to surprise. Yu Jing looked utterly lost, overwhelmed by a mix of joy and confusion as she repeated his name like a prayer: "Helkin?"

Clutching Li Bing's arm, Mu Yu climbed the steps, pausing halfway to exhale a puff of warm mist. He pressed a hand over his eyes. Instinctively, Li Bing drew him into a gentle embrace. Yu Jing and Anna hurried down to meet them, Yu Jing's hobbling gait with her cane almost comical in her haste. Trembling with emotion, she wrapped her arms around Mu Yu.

She had intended to give Mu Yu a gentle hug like Li Bing did, but the moment she touched him, she couldn't help but pull him into a tight embrace. Mu Yu was thin, covering his eyes as he tried to suppress his sobs, looking like a child in Yu Jing's arms, gripping her clothes tightly. He cried so hard he was gasping for breath, wrapping both arms around Yu Jing's neck and holding her close, weeping bitterly in the cold, desolate northern wind.

Half an hour later, Mu Yu sat on the living room sofa, holding a cup of hot milk tea Anna had made for him. It was an old-fashioned two-story apartment, small in space with sparse furniture, but overall clean and tidy. Anna was a hired nanny who had been with Yu Jing for many years—though quick-tempered, she took good care of Yu Jing.

The room was warm, and after drinking the hot milk tea, Mu Yu finally felt his body thaw. Li Bing, clearly familiar with the place, brought a warm towel and handed it to Mu Yu. After wiping his face, Mu Yu looked up, now composed.

"Whose house is this?" he asked.

Yu Jing didn't expect this to be his first question and took a moment to respond, "After my leg injury made life difficult, Li arranged for me to move into the city and introduced Anna to me. I think this place is rented?"

Mu Yu nodded slightly. "Did you sell the old house?"

Yu Jing said, "How could I sell it? It's just been sitting empty, unused."

"What happened to your leg?"

"Uh, I fell."

Mu Yu eyed her suspiciously. "Really? Don't lie to me."

Yu Jing felt a pang of guilt. "Why would I lie to you?"

But the more evasive she looked, the less Mu Yu believed her. His mind was already swirling with paranoid suspicions, and he couldn't help but press urgently, "Don't hide things from me! Did someone try to hurt you?"

Yu Jing exclaimed, "No! Fine, I'll tell the truth! When I was still living in the old house—you know I was running out of money—I thought I'd try farming, so I bought a goat. A male goat! Who could've guessed? I really just wanted to try supporting myself at first."

Mu Yu was still confused. "What about the goat?"

"The goat rammed me," Yu Jing said with a look of resignation. "It knocked me over the fence, and my leg got caught in the rails. It broke. The rural area... medical care wasn't great. It wasn't treated properly at first, and later... it wasn't taken care of well either. It dragged on for a long time, and now it's like this."

Mu Yu was speechless. Anna chimed in comfortingly, "She often does things that are hard to understand. You'll get used to it."

Mu Yu didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "How could you think of doing farm work? You've never done it before!"

Yu Jing retorted indignantly, "Don't underestimate me. Even though I wasn't good at first, I learned slowly. I can grow all kinds of vegetables, milk goats, and I even learned to knit hats."

Li Bing vouched for her, "It's true. The beans and oats in the backyard were planted by Ms. Grinka, and they turned out quite well."

Mu Yu stood there dumbfounded, his gaze falling on Yu Jing's hands. Only then did he notice how rough they were the skin on the backs red and cracked, her nails trimmed short.

It was utterly different from the delicate white hands he remembered. Yu Jing came from a declining aristocratic family and had been a glamorous screen star in her youth. Even if she wasn't at the peak of fame, she was quite well-known. Even in the years after giving birth to Mu Yu, she was never adept at household chores or cooking—not only was the house always in disarray, but the meals she prepared were something neither Mu Yu nor she herself ever enjoyed eating.

Someone who once couldn't tell the five grains apart and whose hands had never touched rough work was now wielding a hoe. Yu Jing seemed eager to show her child a capable side of herself. She led Mu Yu to the backyard window to show him what she had planted.

"This patch is beans, and over there is oats. When the weather warms up, they'll bear fruit," Yu Jing said. "What do you think? Not bad, right?"

Mu Yu looked at the small plot of land and plants in the backyard. The cold weather had prompted a layer of protective film to cover the soil. His hand was held by Yu Jing, who seemed to crave physical contact with him but was also timid, only daring to touch him when she got the chance.

"You're still the same as before," Mu Yu murmured. "Not a bit changed."

"How can you say that? I've grown old," Yu Jing said with a laugh. "I... I'm just so happy to see you, Helkin. You're even more handsome than in the photos—oh yes, the photos! Helkin, come look!"

Eagerly, Yu Jing took Mu Yu's hand and led him upstairs to her bedroom. The old wooden floor creaked as she pushed open the door. Her room was somewhat messy—she always left things lying around, and Anna couldn't always tidy up after her.

She dropped her cane and sat on the floor, pulling a box from under the bed. Seeing her struggle with her movements, Mu Yu knelt to help her open it. The moment he lifted the lid and saw its contents, he froze.

"Look, these are photos from your fifteenth birthday. You were surrounded by gifts—so many people gave you presents!" Yu Jing excitedly picked up a stack of photos to show him. "You participated in a speech competition in high school and won first place, right? Here's your trophy. And you can paint too! They said this entire wall was covered in your artwork—it's truly beautiful. You loved doodling as a child, and I always knew you were a little artistic genius. And here are photos of you studying in America—these are your friends, aren't they? You all look so close. I noticed—in the graduation photo, you were the most handsome one! Even though you were already so, so adorable as a child, you grew up even more charming and beautiful. Helkin, you truly are my child. Do you have many admirers? Seeing you doing so well makes me happy too. Anna said you were raised in a wealthy family, so you'll surely—huh? Oh no, why are you crying again?"

Mu Yu had started weeping again without realizing it. Clutching the stack of photos, he choked out, "Who gave you all these?"

"Li did. He sent me some every year and occasionally visited. When I hurt my leg, he took care of me for a long time." Yu Jing wiped Mu Yu's tears, but they only flowed harder. Finally exasperated, she sighed, "Alright, stop crying! You were always a crybaby, and now you're still the same. I don't know who you take after. There, there..."

Outside, Li Bing gently knocked on the door before entering, speaking softly, "Mr. Mu must be exhausted from the journey. Let him rest for a while."

Anna immediately said, "I'll go prepare dinner."

Li Bing approached and knelt on one knee, comforting Mu Yu in a low voice. Mu Yu's crying triggered another coughing fit—his colds always lingered intermittently, never severe but persistently slow to heal. Li Bing simply lifted Mu Yu halfway up and settled him on Yu Jing's bed, removing his sweater and shoes so he could sleep until dinner.

While Li Bing went to boil water, Yu Jing hobbled over with her cane, barely managing to fetch a blanket to wrap around Mu Yu. The room's heating system was too old to raise the temperature properly. Neither Yu Jing nor Anna had ever felt the cold before, but today Yu Jing resolved to call a repairman immediately.

Yu Jing abandoned her usual card games, unwilling to leave Mu Yu's side, staying in the room as he slept. Li Bing and Mu Yu's arrival had been too sudden—there were no groceries at home. Anna hastily threw on a thick coat and grabbed a basket to go shopping, with Li Bing accompanying her.

Bujashk was a lakeside town, remote and once an industrial city that had declined with the times, now home to fewer than 600,000 people. Snow began falling again as Anna bought beef and fish. When Li Bing drove them back and they started working in the kitchen, Yu Jing soon came downstairs.

"Is Helkin in poor health?" Yu Jing asked Li Bing. "So sensitive to cold, and so thin. Was it never fully healed after he fell into the lake as a child?"

Li Bing replied, "That incident did cause some irreversible damage to his constitution—he was very young then. But we've done our best to care for him over the years, though..."

Though often neither he, Phil, nor their boss could truly protect Mu Yu. Li Bing sighed inwardly.

Yu Jing murmured, "If he'd stayed with me, who knows what kind of sickly child he'd have become. He's grown up well now—handsome, successful, running his own company. But once he starts crying, he just can't stop. I don't know what to do."

Li Bing said, "Mr. Mu is deeply emotional. You're his mother—he's missed you terribly all these years. Only special circumstances kept you apart."

Yu Jing faltered, "I know. It's all my fault. If only I'd taken better care of him back then—"

"Enough of this gloom," Anna interjected. "Now that Helkin is back, isn't everything wonderful? You should go upstairs and spend time with him instead of hiding down here wasting time!"

Anna unceremoniously shooed Yu Jing away. Exhausted from emotional extremes, Mu Yu curled up in his mother's bed and slept deeply through the afternoon. At dinner, Yu Jing woke him—when he opened his eyes, the world outside was dark, snow drifting past the window.

Sitting up dazedly, for a moment he was transported back to that old house years ago, when his mother would similarly come to rouse him for meals. After sunset, Lake Baihar would be enveloped in darkness, only moonlight and starlight reflecting cold brilliance on its surface. Meanwhile, the lakeside houses would light up like scattered stars strung along the shore.

That string of lights became a scene that reappeared countless times in his dreams.

Mu Yu didn't ask Yu Jing why she hadn't contacted him all these years. His mother was an easy person to understand—she had sent him back to the Mu family back then because he was gravely ill, and there were no good hospitals near Lake Baihar. Even if there had been, their family couldn't afford the best medical care for him.

As for why she never reached out afterward, it was simply because she blamed herself for her helplessness and was misled by the updates Li Bing sent about him, believing he was living a happy and fulfilling life. Another reason, perhaps, was her lingering fear of Zhao Mengling, Mu Yunting's lawful wife, worried that her status as the "other woman" might disrupt his life in the Mu family.

Mu Yu didn't resent his mother's naivety. Just being able to see Yu Jing again filled him with gratitude. In some ways, he even had to thank Mu Hanxiao for keeping her safe.

The four of them shared a lavish dinner together. That night, Mu Yu squeezed into Yu Jing's bed to sleep beside her, and Yu Jing was more than happy to oblige. She held him close as they lay there talking, with Mu Yu sharing only happy stories. It felt like they had returned to those years long ago when they slept in the same bed, snow falling outside the window while they chatted in the warmth of the room until drowsiness took over, granting them a peaceful night's sleep.

The next day, Mu Yu prepared to leave. Li Bing was surprised by his decision, having assumed Mu Yu would stay for at least ten days or even months. Yu Jing was even more stunned—she had already planned outings around the city for the coming days and never imagined he would leave so soon. But Mu Yu was resolute. After breakfast, he packed his bags and got ready to go.

Li Bing stayed by his side, while Yu Jing, bewildered, saw him off at the door, reluctant to let him go. "Leaving so soon?" she asked.

"I can come back whenever I want now," Mu Yu replied with a smile. After the emotional highs and lows of the past day, he had fully calmed down. He simply opened his arms and hugged her. "I have things to take care of, Mom. I'll visit again next week, okay? Take care of your leg—no more sneaking out to play. I trust Anna will look after you well."

Yu Jing nodded obediently, kissing his forehead and then his cheek before bidding him a reluctant farewell.

Mu Yu and Li Bing left the snowy northern town, flying back to Yu City. Phil drove to pick them up and informed Mu Yu on the way that Mu Hanxiao had asked him to return to Yunhai.

"What has Hanxiao been up to these past couple of days?" Mu Yu asked.

"Business as usual," Phil replied.

"I brought him a little gift," Mu Yu said with a gentle smile. "Tell him to come home early."

Phil didn't dare respond, glancing at Li Bing in the rearview mirror. Li Bing, equally hesitant, signaled that he had no idea what was going on.

By the time Mu Yu returned to Yunhai, it was already evening. He took a hot shower, and Phil prepared a simple dinner for him. Afterward, Mu Yu went upstairs to call Lu Hao and Huo Shiyin, confirming that Lan Mo had been stable over the past two days. The driver, though severely injured, had also been saved.

Lu Hao told Mu Yu that Liu Shuyan's two older brothers had been detained. Though the evidence wasn't yet fully conclusive, with Mu Hanxiao personally handling the matter, the Liu family might face upheaval the moment Liu Shuyan was discharged from the hospital.

Mu Yu hung up the phone. The hibiscus in the garden had bloomed, clusters of white flowers glowing softly around the swing he often sat on. Tonight, the stars shone brilliantly. As he stood there, he heard footsteps approaching the door—then it opened.

Mu Hanxiao walked in. Mu Yu turned around, unusually in the mood to initiate conversation. "Good evening."

Mu Hanxiao asked, "Have you seen your mother?"

"You already know all my whereabouts, so why bother asking."

Mu Yu walked to the bedside and picked up several photos from the table, casually tossing them onto the bed. The photos scattered instantly. Mu Hanxiao looked down—they were all pictures from Mu Yu's six years in America: gatherings with friends at home, travel photos, snapshots from when he founded his studio, and graduation pictures. All these photos had been taken from Yu Jing's box.

"Who would've thought President Mu is also a stalker."

Mu Yu picked up one particular photo of himself taken during his undergraduate graduation. In it, he was wearing a graduation gown and chatting with someone. "I've never seen this photo on anyone's social media, nor is it an official commemorative shot from our school. I didn't even know this photo existed. President Mu, may I ask where you obtained it?"

Mu Hanxiao glanced at the photos on the bed, casually picking one up to examine.

"I have many more photos of you from childhood," Mu Hanxiao raised his eyes to meet Mu Yu's gaze. "Would you like to see them?"

Mu Yu nearly flushed red—his face was still too thin-skinned. He threw the photo back onto the bed with a snap. Mu Hanxiao didn't press further, instead changing the subject: "If you wish to continue seeing your mother in the future, the frequency must be limited—no more than once every two months."

Mu Yu had been furious with Mu Hanxiao since his return. Suppressing his temper, he said, "Mu Hanxiao, you knew exactly where my mother was all along, yet you never mentioned a word to me for sixteen years. Thanks to you, I couldn't see my family for sixteen whole years."

"You couldn't see her."

"Since when is that your decision to make?!"

"If news of your private contact with Yu Jing Grinka reaches our mother, she would suspect Yu Jing Grinka's motives for approaching the Mu family. At the same time, father might choose to meet his old flame," Mu Hanxiao said calmly. "In that case, even if nothing happens to you, your mother won't have peace. Lake Baikal is too far—it's difficult for me to cover everything flawlessly."

This seemed to be the first time Mu Hanxiao had shared even a fraction of his thoughts with Mu Yu, even admitting his limitations. Mu Yu was momentarily at a loss for words, only staring at him suspiciously. Mu Hanxiao appeared unfazed, casually adding, "Li Bing is completely devoted to you. I don't mind his loyalty to you, but his courage is too great."

Mu Yu said earnestly, "I asked him to take me to find Mom. If you do anything to him, I'll never forgive you."

Mu Hanxiao smiled—a hint of amusement in that smile. The night cast deep shadows in his eyes as his gaze locked onto Mu Yu.

"What will you give me in exchange?"

Mu Yu frowned. "Exchange for what...?"

Suddenly, his wrist was seized, and he was dragged forward. Mu Hanxiao wrapped an arm around his waist, leaned down, and captured his lips in a searing kiss. The heat of it was overwhelming, the intense masculine presence enveloping Mu Yu completely. His head tilted back as he gasped for breath, hands gripping Mu Hanxiao's shoulders in a futile attempt to push him away. But Mu Hanxiao effortlessly lifted him, placing him on the windowsill and trapping him between his own body and the glass. A strong hand gripped Mu Yu's chin, forcing his lips apart for another deep, bruising kiss.

The sound of their ragged breaths mingled with the slick, heated noises of their mouths moving together. Mu Yu was nearly suffocated by the intensity of it—tears pricked at the corners of his eyes, his lips swollen and tingling from the relentless assault. Mu Hanxiao's kisses were all-consuming, leaving him pinned in the corner, clothes disheveled. In the brief moments their lips parted, Mu Yu turned his face away, voice strained. "Mu Hanxiao, don't touch me... Mnh... You liar...!"

The man bit down on the side of his neck, a large hand yanking down his sleep pants and slipping between his thighs. Mu Yu clawed at his shirt collar, cursing and struggling, but soon his voice grew hoarse. Mu Hanxiao breached his entrance, fingers thrusting deep into the slick heat, working him open with ruthless efficiency. Forced to spread his legs on the windowsill, Mu Yu could only cling to Mu Hanxiao's neck as those skilled fingers stroked mercilessly against his sweet spot. His face burned crimson, his body trembling as pleasure coiled tight— then snapped. He came with a broken moan, release spilling across his pale stomach, mingling with the sheen of sweat.

Mu Hanxiao took him right there on the windowsill. The man only loosened his belt, his towering frame pressing Mu Yu down as his thick, hardened length pushed into the pliant heat of his body. The obscene sound of flesh meeting flesh filled the room. Mu Yu cried out with every thrust, pinned against the glass, his legs hooked over Mu Hanxiao's shoulders, toes curling. His voice was soft, breathy, his skin flushed under the moonlight, those green-flecked eyes glazed with desire.

"Slow down... S-Slow, mnh..."

His words came in broken fragments, lost under the relentless pace. Mu Hanxiao gripped his hips, driving into him with brutal precision, his toned abdomen slamming against Mu Yu's ass with each thrust. Overwhelmed, Mu Yu begged for mercy, but Mu Hanxiao only leaned in to kiss him again, the movement driving his cock even deeper. Mu Yu's back arched, his body trembling as pleasure bordered on pain.

"I keep thinking about locking you away again."

Mu Hanxiao's voice was rough, whispered against Mu Yu's ear. Beneath the heat of desire, there was something darker, something possessive and consuming. "Keeping you underground, letting no one see you. How does that sound?"

Mu Yu could barely think, each deep thrust sending shocks through his oversensitive body. He clutched at Mu Hanxiao's arm, gasping. "You wouldn't dare... Ah, you—"

A low chuckle rumbled against his skin. Mu Hanxiao's pace grew even faster, his thick cock pistoning into Mu Yu's swollen, reddened entrance. The force of it had Mu Yu's insides clenching desperately, his voice breaking as his body convulsed. His hole tightened around Mu Hanxiao's length, his own cock spurting untouched, release splattering between them.

Mu Hanxiao carried him to the bed, pressing him down to take his still-trembling hole. Mu Yu begged in humiliation for him to stop, but his legs were pried apart as he was relentlessly penetrated. Unable to climax, he arched his sore back against the invasion until he was pulled into the man's scorching embrace. His vulnerable passage was roughly stretched and ground against, Mu Hanxiao sealing his mouth as he released deep inside. Drenched in sweat, Mu Yu shuddered from the violent waves of pleasure, his cock trapped between their stomachs, its flushed tip leaking droplets of urine.

Mu Hanxiao carried Mu Yu back to his own room. After bathing, they lay together in bed. Throughout the night, their coupling repeated several times—Mu Hanxiao like a beast in heat, breathing in Mu Yu's scent as he kissed and violated him. Mu Yu drifted into unconsciousness only to be roused again by the hard intrusion, his nipples swollen from relentless sucking, his thighs littered with bite marks. Mu Hanxiao moved deliberately, his thick crown dragging over sensitive spots, lingering before withdrawing. The drawn-out torment left Mu Yu teetering between agony and ecstasy, whimpering as intermittent stimulation forced thin streams of urine and semen to drip from his spent cock, only to be licked clean by the man.

Only when Mu Yu weakly called his name, voice trembling as he pleaded that his stomach ached, did Mu Hanxiao finally relent. He carried him to the bath, but Mu Yu's exhausted body gave out the moment hot water touched his skin, and he fell asleep in his brother's arms.

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