Chapter 20

The opulent facilities of Golden Eagle Group's assets are well-known, and this club is no exception. With its high-end, elegant, and upscale hardware, and rigorous admission criteria and high membership fees, the club has attracted a clientele that embodies a blend of understated luxury and depth. In short, those who frequent this place are far from ordinary. Now, Xu Ye finally understands why the modest bar counter downstairs, seemingly unremarkable, houses such fine liquor. In truth, it was simply a bottle of premium spirits that Bunny had pulled from the underground cellar and hadn't bothered to return.

This club, lacking an official name, is known simply as "East Bank" due to its location on the city's east side. Within its circle, it holds a central, almost mythical position, setting the tone for the entire community. The top players here create various rules—standards for acceptance, protection, punishment, and exclusion—that preserve the boundaries of this exclusive realm.

Before East Bank came into prominence, the BDSM scene in K City wasn't in the best state, with some Doms reveling in their violent pursuits. In the early days of the club, there was a case where a Sub was seriously injured by a Dom, a wealthy businessman who, after settling the matter with money, brazenly returned to the club in search of new partners. However, he was soon tied up by Pharaoh, who, in an act of brutal retribution, broke both his arms. The businessman's misfortunes didn't end there; he was later reported for tax evasion, fined heavily, and imprisoned, ultimately losing everything, including his company. Although no one openly acknowledges who orchestrated these events, the message was clear. This example cemented East Bank's authority and sent shockwaves throughout the scene, steering the BDSM community towards a safer, more regulated path. Over time, East Bank, led by people like Chu Yu, has come to dominate the mainstream scene, making it known that anyone cast out of East Bank would find it difficult to be accepted anywhere else.

Dialectics teaches us that everything has two sides. Having gained access to the upper echelons of the circle with Liu Jing's help, Xu Ye could now enjoy the comfort, security, efficient information network, and the high-caliber Dom and Sub resources it offered. However, these privileges came with a downside: the risk of offending someone powerful and facing the consequences.

Take the current situation, for example.

As soon as Mr. Earl removed his mask in front of everyone, Xu Ye's chances of forming connections with other Doms vanished. All his options faded away like illusions.

Chu Yu was highly regarded and, although he seemed to favor one-on-one relationships, he would decline others' advances when involved and signal his commitment by removing his mask. Eventually, the unwritten rule, "When the Earl is unmasked, stay away," became almost a custom at the club. Many Subs had attempted to challenge this rule, but none had succeeded. This made the Earl a symbol of fidelity in many people's eyes, despite the number of Subs he had changed over time. Such reasoning left Xu Ye at a loss for words.

As the crowd murmured, a flush crept up Xu Ye's face, feeling as though he were a lamb marked for slaughter, stamped with a seal of approval and stripped of any right to resist. He was left to wait as Chu Yu's metaphorical blade gleamed, ready to flay and dismember him.

Yet, might makes right. His thoughts couldn't change the course of events. The black feather mask, like a brand, clearly and irrevocably marked him as part of Chu Yu's domain, designating him publicly as "the Earl's." Given the suggestive sounds from behind the curtain earlier, the knowing glances from the Lion and Pharaoh, and Xu Ye's rumpled shirt, it wasn't hard for anyone to guess what had transpired. Even if he were to throw himself at another Dom now, they wouldn't dare to touch him.

"Come with me," Chu Yu ordered, his tone as direct and concise as ever. Without looking back, he strode ahead, entirely confident that his little Sub had nowhere else to go.

True to his expectations, Xu Ye, face set in grim determination, collected his phone and car keys from the locker and followed downstairs in silence. A black Mercedes was already waiting at the entrance. As soon as the driver saw them, he quickly ran over to open the door. "Get in," Chu Yu instructed, raising an eyebrow when Xu Ye hesitated.

"My car is parked over there; I'll drive myself…" Xu Ye began, only to be cut off.

"Get in," Chu Yu repeated.

Xu Ye fell silent and obediently climbed into the back seat.

A soft, unidentifiable piano melody played in the car, soothing and gentle. As Xu Ye replayed everything that had just happened, he felt increasingly resentful toward Marvin. The first time, Marvin had led him into Chu Yu's trap, and now, he'd dragged him so deep into the mud that he couldn't pull himself out. Xu Ye stole a glance at Chu Yu beside him, only to have his gaze caught by the man, prompting him to quickly lower his head.

He wasn't even sure why he was so nervous. Now, every time he looked at Chu Yu, he remembered the things he had shouted in desperation, words that seemed, in retrospect, like a kind of involuntary confession, revealing more of his heart than he intended.

Not only had he embarrassed himself, but he'd thoroughly thrown himself back into Chu Yu's world. Xu Ye's frustration simmered. After a moment, seeing that Chu Yu remained motionless, he stole another glance at him. Once again, their eyes met, and Xu Ye quickly turned to look out the window.

This time, Chu Yu reacted. He reached over, firmly grasping Xu Ye's chin and turning his face towards him. "Are you trying to seduce me, or do you have something to say?" he asked.

Under Chu Yu's penetrating gaze, Xu Ye's face flushed as he mumbled, "Who's seducing you…"

Chu Yu released him, a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes. "Oh? I heard from the Lion that you're quite good at seducing."

Xu Ye's face alternated between shades of red and white, inwardly cursing Marvin, wishing he could turn him into a meatball and braise him on the spot. Back then, he had gone all-in with the hope of succeeding in one strike, never imagining that he'd find himself back with Chu Yu again. If Chu Yu wanted to hold him accountable for it now, he'd be in serious trouble. This thought sent a chill down his spine, so he cautiously asked, "Are you angry?"

"Hmm," Chu Yu replied with a casual sound.

Xu Ye shivered, his expression pitiful as he looked up at Chu Yu and murmured, "Master…"

Chu Yu's eyes hinted at a smile as he observed Xu Ye's attempt to soften him with a bit of pleading. "Are you finally scared now?" he asked.

Xu Ye tried to capitalize on the moment, inching closer to Chu Yu, gazing at him with wide, innocent eyes. "Will you forgive me, Master?" he asked, attempting to sound as endearing as possible.

A gleam flashed in Chu Yu's eyes. "Is this how you tried to seduce the Lion?" he asked.

Xu Ye froze, immediately backing down, and returned to his seat, muttering, "I wasn't… I just wanted to try…" But upon seeing the cold glint in Chu Yu's eyes, he realized he was digging himself deeper and promptly fell silent.

The car came to a stop, and before he knew it, they were back at No. 8 Han Guan.

Following Chu Yu inside, Xu Ye found the familiar surroundings almost foreign after a week away. But Chu Yu's presence soon reminded him of every detail about this place, both physically and emotionally.

"It seems I need to remind you of the rules, slave," Chu Yu said.

Xu Ye quickly stripped off his clothes and knelt down. While there was a rug by the sofa in the living room, the marble floor near the entrance was hard and cold, making his knees ache. Fortunately, Chu Yu didn't make him kneel for long.

"Go wait in the cage."

When Xu Ye entered the fourth-floor room, he didn't turn on the lights. It had been overcast for two days, and without even a hint of moonlight, the cage was engulfed in darkness. The silence was thick, interrupted only by his quiet breathing.

He knelt there, unmoving, counting the seconds in his mind to estimate the time.

Though he wasn't afraid of the dark, he disliked the feeling of being alone in it, like an abandoned object collecting dust in a forgotten corner. It reminded him of cold nights from his childhood, when he would wake from nightmares or get up to use the bathroom, too shy to wake the nanny and so he'd huddle under the blankets alone, feeling as if any part of him that strayed beyond the covers would be devoured by some lurking monster. He'd fall asleep again, drenched in sweat by morning.

Darkness fueled the imagination. It felt as though countless eyes were watching, as if unseen creatures were skulking nearby, as though danger was drawing closer with every passing second.

Time seemed to slow, each moment dragging on, an endless trial.

After about twenty minutes, the door opened, and Xu Ye instinctively breathed a sigh of relief.

The light in the cage was adjustable, and Chu Yu had only turned on a dim lamp in the corner, gentle enough to spare Xu Ye's eyes, which had adjusted to the darkness.

Chu Yu had changed into a casual cotton loungewear, exuding an air of relaxation. He pulled a whip from the wall, approaching Xu Ye with it. "Lift your head," he commanded.

Xu Ye straightened his spine, gazing up at Chu Yu. His eyes flicked to the whip, black and white like a snake, and he couldn't help but feel his breath catch.

"You once asked to end our relationship and seek another Master. Ordinarily, I would reaffirm your commitment, but I won't this time. From today onward, you are and will remain my slave; I am and will remain your Master. Our bond will continue until I decide otherwise, and I won't easily let you break it again." He paused, then brushed his hand over Xu Ye's face, his words slow and deliberate. "Remember, you belong to me."

Xu Ye listened in silence, a surge of indescribable emotion welling up in his eyes. He looked up at Chu Yu, then lowered his gaze, his long lashes casting shadows over his cheeks as he quietly replied, "Yes, Master."

The whip hung loosely in Chu Yu's hand as he smiled. "Now, tell me who you are."

Xu Ye looked up, his expression serene. "I am your slave, and you are my only Master."

"Tell me your rights."

"Any rights I have are granted by you."

"Tell me your obligations."

"To please you and make you happy."

"Good," Chu Yu said with a smile, letting the whip drape over Xu Ye's shoulder, causing him to shudder. "Now, I'll give you the chance to tell me about the things you've done to displease me."