🍒 Chapter 32: Trapped in Desire
Shen Shuyi woke to find himself in Xie Chenzhou’s bedroom.
The room was sleek and cold, decorated in a stark black-and-white minimalist style. He was completely sunk into the soft mattress of Xie Chenzhou’s bed.
According to Uncle Qian, this master bedroom was originally meant for Xie Chenzhou and his partner, for married life. Out of courtesy, Shen Shuyi had almost never stepped inside.
But today, he not only slept on that bed, covered by the blanket Xie Chenzhou usually used… somehow, he had even been switched into Xie Chenzhou’s pajamas without realizing it.
Shen Shuyi propped himself up on his throbbing forehead.
The pajamas smelled good, carrying Xie Chenzhou’s usual fragrance. Yet, for some reason, Shen Shuyi faintly detected a different, faint floral scent through the fabric.
He tried lifting the collar for a closer sniff, only to discover his other hand was handcuffed to the headboard with a novelty, playful handcuff.
Shen Shuyi: “…?!”
Shocked, he tried to undo it, but without a key, even shaking it violently did nothing. Were Xie Chenzhou’s intentions really to restrain him? Or was there another reason?
Wait. Calm down.
Shen Shuyi convinced himself. There had to be something he missed.
He started recalling the events before he lost consciousness. He had a fever in D City, became almost immobile, and lay in a hotel for two days with no improvement. During that time, he contacted Xie Chenzhou, whose emotions seemed off, insisting on chartering a plane to fetch him.
He remembered being lifted onto the plane, Xie Chenzhou murmuring, “I shouldn’t have let you go to D City alone.”
Clearly, something was wrong with Xie Chenzhou’s state. Was he close to losing control of his pheromones?
Shen Shuyi’s worry deepened. Perhaps Xie Chenzhou had handcuffed him out of concern, to prevent him from moving unsafely before it was confirmed safe.
But he needed to check on Xie Chenzhou himself.
Why were these handcuffs so sturdy?
He struggled repeatedly, then heard a faint sound from the corner of the room.
“Zzzz”
Familiar now from his time living in the Xie household, it was the hum of a surveillance camera.
Shen Shuyi realized he might have misunderstood something. Had he trusted Xie Chenzhou too much?
Could it be that, like Zhang Zong in D City, Xie Chenzhou had ulterior motives from the start?
Who could have guessed? No one.
A cold shiver ran through him. He had been too naive, blinded by Xie Chenzhou’s exceptional qualities and aura. His third brother had been right: unexpected blessings and improbable events were often traps. And now… Xie Chenzhou’s behavior, how was it any different from Zhang Zong’s?
He should have seen it coming. So many signs, so many warnings from those around him. Vitamins disguised as pheromone stabilizers, dangerously high pheromone levels, obsessive territorial instincts, controlling behavior even noticeable to his third brother…
He remembered the notes Lin Shen sent him about Enigma: those with this trait needed daily use of pheromone stabilizers to maintain balance. Proper use prevented susceptibility unless triggered by external stimuli.
External stimulus… So what Xie Chenzhou said was true. He normally didn’t have susceptibility periods, even the fake one before might have been his first since adulthood.
The external stimulus… of course, it was that night he had kissed Xie Chenzhou while drinking.
Had he really kissed him? Shen Shuyi began doubting. Why were his own lips covered in bruises the next day? Shouldn’t it have been Xie Chenzhou who forced the kiss, leaving the marks?
The more he thought, the colder his heart felt. Who was the real Xie Chenzhou? A gentleman? Was all that gentle, measured behavior just an act? Could an Enigma truly be born a demon?
Cold sweat ran down Shen Shuyi’s back. He heard another sound, his phone vibrating.
Who was contacting him? What time was it?
He reached for his phone but realized he couldn’t move beyond the reach allowed by the handcuffs. His pockets, under the pillow, under the blanket, nothing could help him unlock it.
Panic surged, and tears threatened. He had only just realized he had feelings for Xie Chenzhou. For the first time in his life, he genuinely liked someone. He didn’t know if this affection was still “pure” in his mind, but one thing was certain: this wasn’t the kind of twisted attachment he wanted.
Love should never be built on deception. Even if Xie Chenzhou had never truly harmed him… No! There was that time in the dark at the Chengding residence, the one who assaulted him… wasn’t that Xie Chenzhou?
And he had audaciously demanded Shen Shuyi keep investigating until the police caught the real culprit. Not afraid in the slightest!
What was he thinking when he feigned concern, saying lofty words about “the perpetrator being at fault”?
Shen Shuyi trembled with fear… he had never truly seen Xie Chenzhou. He had trusted too easily.
His phone kept vibrating. Following the sound, he realized it was in the bedside drawer, but he couldn’t reach it.
As he stretched, the metal of the handcuffs nearly cut his wrist…
The bedroom door opened.
Shen Shuyi flinched.
No one else could be here. It had to be Xie Chenzhou.
Sure enough, Xie Chenzhou’s eyes were red, a syringe in hand, stepping toward Shen Shuyi.
Shen Shuyi retreated toward the headboard.
The moment Shen Shuyi awoke, Xie Chenzhou realized he might know everything.
His Shuyi was far from stupid, making it this far on his own was impressive. Lacking innate Omega or Alpha advantages, without family backing like Sheng Hengye, he had still reached this point.
Unfortunately, he was now caught by this obsessive man. He would never let Shen Shuyi go.
The Enigma surnamed Chen had affected Shen Shuyi, and a gland would soon develop on the back of his neck. If he were marked during this period, he could become an Omega only able to be marked by that person…
Xie Chenzhou would not allow that.
Why…
Why, why, why…
He had asked himself countless times before. He had woven endless illusions, set innumerable traps to let Shen Shuyi fall into them, yet because of one hesitation, one oversight, someone else “beat him to it.”
Even if transforming Shen Shuyi into an Omega… it could only be done by him.
He had hesitated… Should he change Shen Shuyi without consent? Too disrespectful…
Now, he only regretted not acting sooner.
It didn’t matter anymore. His web was complete; it was time to pull in the catch.
“What are you doing… Xie Chenzhou…?” Shen Shuyi asked fearfully, using his name for the first time.
His gaze felt alien, as though looking at a stranger.
Xie Chenzhou closed his eyes and said: “You need to be injected with my pheromone extract. Over the next few days, glands will develop and you’ll experience pseudo-arousal, it will be extremely painful. There is no Beta-specific pheromone inhibitor; without someone designated to help you, you cannot endure it alone.”
“Designated? You mean you?” Shen Shuyi’s tearful blue eyes glistened, rimmed in red like a vivid painting. “Don’t give me any lofty excuses. I will not agree to let you touch me.”
His words struck Xie Chenzhou’s chest like a blade, piercing him.
Still, he explained: “When that Chen Youshi gave you his pheromone extract, did you not notice the wine tasted off that night?”
A vein twitched at Xie Chenzhou’s temple. His body hummed. He was losing control. He should have taken an inhibitor before coming.
“You really thought this was just a political marriage? That by signing the agreement I intended to marry you?” Xie Chenzhou finally revealed his truth. “Shen Shuyi, it’s impossible. Today, which I’ve long awaited, you must take this injection…”
“I won’t…!” Shen Shuyi said. “I can endure it…”
“I know, my state was affected by that Chen… I might experience pseudo-arousal, and can only be relieved by being marked…”
“I can endure it, Xie Chenzhou, please… don’t make me go through this alone…” Shen Shuyi pleaded. “I like you… I like you… don’t do this and make me hate you…”
I like you…
I like you…
Xie Chenzhou’s mind buzzed, on the verge of losing reason.
“You can’t endure it, Shen Shuyi…”
“Only being marked can relieve it…” Who else could mark him?
The person to mark Shen Shuyi could only be him.
Xie Chenzhou slowly sat at the end of the bed. One hand easily grabbed Shen Shuyi’s ankle.
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