Chapter 102: Discipline Time

Gao Sijin finally realized that no matter what kind of person he was, the Tsukiyuki family would accept him completely.

The gaze Tsukiyuki Senju fixed on him, like a loving mother watching a mischievous child, weighed heavily on Gao Sijin.

“I’m no man of honor! The last thing you should be doing right now is taking me as a son-in-law. You should be throwing me out and sending me away from Tokyo!”

Yu Qingxue faithfully translated Gao Sijin’s words for Tsukiyuki Rio’s mother, Senju.

“How pitiful. You must be utterly exhausted to be speaking so strangely. Go and rest now, my dear son.”

Hearing her mother’s words, Rio immediately extended a snow-white arm and hooked it around Gao Sijin’s.

“Mother, since you’ve said so, Gao-kun and I will go rest now.”

“You’ve had a long journey. Go on, hurry along.”

“Thank you for your understanding, Mother. My dear Gao-kun must be a little confused today, spouting such nonsense. Please, don’t take it to heart.”

“Think nothing of it. But you must be diligent in matters of education. Teaching a husband is just like raising a child—you must never be negligent.”

Gao Sijin couldn’t understand the conversation between mother and daughter. He only knew that the fact of his house arrest and possession by Tsukiyuki Rio remained unchanged despite his outburst just now. Within this family, aside from Tsukiyuki Kazo, who had shown his disgust for Gao Sijin in an utterly blatant manner, everyone else was either genuinely friendly or maintained a facade of friendliness.

“Rio, I told you I’m not willing to be led around on a leash. I’m a human being, not an animal.”

“I don’t want to treat Gao-kun this way either, but your performance today truly disappointed me.”

When spending time with Gao Sijin, Tsukiyuki Rio almost always wore a faint smile. But smiles come in many forms—there are gentle smiles, wry smiles, cold smiles, and even vicious grins.

The particular smile on Tsukiyuki Rio’s face right now made Gao Sijin’s legs tremble with terror. He couldn’t understand how an ordinary man like himself could be worthy of such favor from a frightening girl like her.

What infuriated him most was that Yu Qingxue was still wearing a smirk of schadenfreude. The group walked toward the room at the very end of the castle’s long corridor.

“Honestly, I didn’t want things to go this way. You pushed me too far.”

“I originally considered giving Gao-kun some freedom. But today, you played the clown. Your goal was to get away from me, wasn’t it? You thought that if my family came to hate you, you could fly far away, right?”

“I’m sorry…”

“Gao-kun doesn’t need to apologize. I’m the one who should be sorry. My love for Gao-kun clearly wasn’t deep enough. I should cherish you even more. From now on, I have no choice but to make Gao-kun unable to leave my side.”

Beneath Tsukiyuki Rio’s peerlessly beautiful, faint smile lurked a terrifying shadow, one that reminded Gao Sijin of a Hannya mask.

Her slender, pale hand slid the paper door open in one swift motion before she shoved Gao Sijin onto the soft cushions upon the tatami.

“Qingxue, did you bring the video camera?”

“My apologies, Young Miss. I forgot it.”

“Never mind then. Qingxue, leave this room now. I want to be alone with Gao-kun for a while.”

“Yes, understood, Young Miss.” Yu Qingxue cast a somewhat pitying glance at Gao Sijin. “But, Young Miss, you don’t need to be overly angry. Even children act foolishly sometimes.”

“Qingxue.”

“What are your orders?”

“Shut your mouth and leave the room. No matter what you hear from inside—even if it’s Gao-kun crying and screaming—under absolutely no circumstances are you to open the door.”

“Then please, enjoy yourself.”

Yu Qingxue resentfully closed the door behind her. Though she felt a measure of schadenfreude, she also harbored a sliver of pity for Gao Sijin’s predicament.

Poor Gao Sijin, toyed with entirely in the palm of Eldest Miss Tsukiyuki Rio’s hand.

Now, only Gao Sijin and Tsukiyuki Rio remained in this Japanese-style room, alone together.

The atmosphere in the room was heavy. Fear gripped Gao Sijin’s throat like an invisible hand, choking him.

Within his field of vision lay Tsukiyuki Rio’s nearly perfect, snow-white feet.

She was moving closer to him. Gao Sijin instinctively shifted backward.

“A disobedient, bad child.”

Gao Sijin didn’t know why he feared her. She was clearly just an eighteen-year-old girl. He was four years older than her—a full-grown adult who had fought tooth and nail in society’s arena. He was also taller than her. So why did this girl, who should be in her third year of high school, exude such overwhelming pressure?

The yearning for freedom in his heart and the indignation of being confined erupted in that instant. He shouted:

“Rio, when is enough actually going to be enough? What gives you the right to kidnap me to a foreign country? What gives you the right to marry me? I have a perfectly fine life of my own!”

Gao Sijin had no intention of hitting her. He just wanted to push Tsukiyuki Rio away, to make her keep her distance from him.

But the moment Gao Sijin reached out to shove away the girl in the red kimono, her arms, viper-like, instantly coiled around his. Then, like a ballet dancer, she swiftly darted behind him and locked his wrist in a vice grip, rendering him completely immobile.

“I’m going to discipline you now. Please clench your teeth.”

She rolled her jade-white, fragrant shoulders. The kimono, as thin as cicada’s wings, slipped down from them. Her chest was now slightly exposed, revealing a powdered neck and undulating peaks. Freed from the kimono’s restraint, her slender yet powerful legs lashed out like a whip, tripping Gao Sijin’s feet and sending him crashing onto the tatami.

“Let me go!”

—Shink!

A sharp knife stabbed into the tatami less than five centimeters from Gao Sijin’s face, leaving behind a deep gash.

“Gao-kun, this little knife is specifically meant for cutting off pinky fingers. I hope the day never comes when I have to cut off yours as well. I love you, so don’t push me. Understand?”

Her black hair, like sticky strands of spider silk, draped onto the back of Gao Sijin’s neck.

Tsukiyuki Rio’s whisper sounded crisp and melodious, yet it made one think of an Asura from hell.

“Why must you interfere in every part of my life?”

“Because I love you, naturally. And my power far exceeds yours.”

Gao Sijin tried to use force to break free of Tsukiyuki Rio, who was perched on his back controlling his joints. The slightest movement, however, made his bones feel like they were about to snap.

The pain forced a cry from his lips.

“Gao-kun, I don’t want to hurt you. Please, just stay perfectly still, okay?”

“Tsukiyuki Rio!”

“Sigh. Why can’t you just become the ideal image I have in my mind? As I thought, Gao-kun still needs to be slowly and methodically corrected, bit by bit.”

Tsukiyuki Rio produced a red cord. Gao Sijin, who had still been thinking of struggling, was instantly rendered helpless under her masterful binding technique. His body was splayed out before her in a wide ‘big’ shape.

“Gao-kun, it’s discipline time now. I’ll be whipping you. It will hurt quite a lot, but afterward, I’ll reward you with my body. Please endure it. If you aren’t punished after making a mistake, you’ll never remember the error of your ways.”

Gao Sijin saw the leather whip in Tsukiyuki Rio’s hand. He felt certain that a single lash would split his skin and flesh open.

But even pain couldn’t deter his resolve to escape. And more than the agony of the flesh, he dreaded the “reward” Tsukiyuki Rio spoke of.

“Well then, I’m going to whip you now~”

She raised the leather whip in her grip. Gao Sijin subconsciously squeezed his eyes shut, bracing himself for the lashing pain.

Suddenly, he heard the soft sound of the leather whip falling onto the tatami.

“Never mind. Seeing Gao-kun so afraid of pain, I truly can’t bear to hurt you. Let’s just skip ahead to the part where I reward you, Gao-kun.”

“Compared to being rewarded, I’d much rather you just whip me…”

“It’s already far too late for that, Gao-kun. Please keep your eyes wide open and properly appreciate my hip technique. However, as punishment, you’re not allowed to move recklessly.”