Chapter 41: Soft Heart
The brilliant golden sunset spread across the sky, like a few scattered, faint flames, igniting the large, snow-white clouds. The fire, fueled by the wind, grew more and more turbulent, and the raging flames dyed the entire sky red.
The curtain that had been covering the sky was accidentally lowered, and a thin golden veil gradually spread over the towering buildings in the distance. His vision was distorted, and he fell into a captivating daze.
Sunlight… sunset…
The desire he had fantasized about countless times while imprisoned in the dark basement was now within his grasp. When a desire is briefly satisfied, it will crave more. The greed that is parasitic on human instinct took the opportunity to grow wantonly again.
Su Yu’s gaze started from the floor-to-ceiling window on the second floor and passed over the lush green plants in front of the villa. The rippling lake was dyed a rich sunset color, and it was reflected in his dark eyes, but it did not stay for a single moment.
He looked straight ahead, to a farther place. At the end of his vision was a wide road, and the dense traffic was like a colorful woven cloth, flowing endlessly. He sat up from the rattan chair with some excitement and ran a few steps towards the balcony, but he was tripped by the heavy chain that was shackled to his ankle and stumbled pathetically, almost falling.
The hard and cold chain was tightly constricted on his slender ankle, leaving a dark red mark on his skin. The faint pain was not strong, but his mind was as if it were firmly imprisoned by the chain under his feet. The crimson sunset that was reflected in his eyes was completely swallowed by the darkness, and a hint of a desperate dead air appeared.
He fell to the floor in dejection. The cool evening wind blew through his messy, dark black hair. He hammered the ground heavily in frustration, but the dull pain could not stimulate his numb nerves at all.
Don’t be anxious… don’t be anxious. He frantically hinted to himself. At least things were developing in a good direction. It was always a happy thing to be able to hold the sunlight.
There was still a long time. He would always escape. He simply couldn’t imagine a person being confined to such a narrow space for a lifetime. Compared to being imprisoned here and living a gloomy life, failure was just a whipping that wouldn’t kill him. He was still young and could afford such a price.
Su Yu drew the curtains and stopped looking at the beautiful and alluring freedom outside the floor-to-ceiling window. He had just closed the curtains and turned around when he saw the woman leaning against the door, silently watching him.
A ray of sunset just happened to shine through the gap in the curtains and fell on her bright and moving face. He couldn’t see the blush on her face clearly, but the intense emotion in her long, narrow eyes was not hidden at all.
The love was flourishing, like a beautiful flower. When it grew to its extreme, it would be accompanied by a few weeds that stole its nutrients. They would even steal the show and bloom with a more enchanting and decadent bouquet, spreading out their beautiful branches, and wrapping around the source of desire. It was a possessiveness that was so strong that it made him suffocate.
The chain bound his body, and the love imprisoned his soul. He seemed to have no way to escape.
“Why did you draw the curtains? Don’t you like it?”
Gu Zhi gradually walked up to Su Yu. She reached out and parted the boy’s thick black hair, touching his smooth forehead. The cool touch made her sigh in relief. “I thought Xiao Chan was not in a good mood because he had a fever. You scared me. If you have a fever now, I haven’t finished my work yet, and I can’t find a suitable person to take care of Xiao Chan.”
Su Yu opened his mouth but didn’t make a sound. He really wanted to ask if Gu Zhi was the only one who knew he was still alive. But this violated the rules that had been set. He smiled and held Gu Zhi’s slender wrist. The smooth and fair skin warmed his palm.
“Nothing. I like it very much… I can’t get enough of it. It’s just a little cold.”
“Hmm?” Gu Zhi was stunned and couldn’t react. The boy’s rash action was a little too forceful for her liking, but she didn’t feel a single bit of disgust. The warm palm held the frantically beating artery on her wrist, as if it wanted to explore all the dark and evil in her heart. The fence of reason was as fragile as a thin piece of glass, and it shattered in an instant.
“Then… that’s good.” The loose hair tie couldn’t hold back her thick, dark hair. Gu Zhi tucked the messy hair behind her ear and forced a calm smile. “The food is ready. Come down and eat.”
“Okay, I’m just hungry.”
It was no longer a numb and indifferent submission. Su Yu’s tone was filled with a plain and ordinary emotion, like a loving couple who had lived under the same roof for many years. There was no fiery and crazy declaration of love. Everything was hidden in the details of their actions.
He gradually began to respond to Gu Zhi’s love. He was led by her to the top of the stairs. The long flight of stairs was a bit difficult for a person whose hands and feet were bound by chains.
Su Yu paused at the top of the stairs for a moment, unable to take a step. His slightly helpless gaze met Gu Zhi’s, who had turned around in confusion because she hadn’t heard his footsteps.
“Help me. It’s not very convenient for me.”
His eyes were as clear and bright as obsidian. His plain tone sounded soft and gentle, like a newborn beast, as if he were asking her for help, with a hint of a weak and helpless look that broke her heart.
It was just a small gesture, but it brought the woman a great sense of satisfaction.
Her heart was pounding in her chest. It was like strawberry ice cream melting slowly in the scorching summer. The huge amount of heat seemed to be about to melt her into a pool of pink sugar water.
Gu Zhi almost ran to the boy, her cheeks as if she had a fever, her throat dry, and her palms were covered in sticky sweat. The expensive and exquisite skirt seemed to have become a tattered rag. She didn’t care and wiped the sweat on it, then held the boy’s warm palm.
She carefully instructed Su Yu as if she were coaxing a baby who had just learned to walk. “Be… be careful. Take it one step at a time. Don’t fall.”
Gu Zhi had never felt that this flight of stairs was so short. It would be better if it could make a few more turns in the air, so that it wouldn’t land so quickly.
“Thank you…”
Su Yu took the last step and let out a rapid breath. He forced a smile and smiled at Gu Zhi.
“Why are you thanking me? You’re not allowed to do that in the future.”
Gu Zhi suddenly realized that she was becoming more and more greedy. She had accepted the boy’s unique gentleness, and she couldn’t even stand this little bit of politeness of thanking each other.
“Okay, I won’t say it.”
Su Yu nodded. He passed Gu Zhi and stumbled towards the dining room. His steps were very small, as if he would fall if he went any faster, bound by the iron chains.
Gu Zhi stood behind and stared at the boy’s back as he moved forward with an awkward posture. Her vision was filled with the new and old bruises and scars on the small patch of skin on his back ankle, which should have been fair.
Her heart suddenly felt a large empty space. It was as if she had made some kind of decision. She gritted her teeth and chased after him.
