Chapter 11

When Xu Ye saw the man with the pale gray mask descending the stairs, he quickly hid his lingering feelings of regret

Xu Ye's eyes were dark and luminous, lending his face a clean and spirited look. His facial features took after his mother, Zhou Jia, and could be described as delicate. However, he didn't like this characterization. Back in college, a male classmate once joked, "You'd make a very convincing cross-dresser," which led Xu Ye to punch the guy and knock out a tooth. After that, he started working out and eventually developed abs and a defined waistline. Although he later became too busy with work and emotional issues to maintain his physique, he was still in good shape overall—healthy and full of vitality, not the delicate, frail type. His face did look somewhat youthful,

The man seemed to be in a good mood, infected by Xu Ye's smile, and he sat down by the dining table, patting his knee.

Xu Ye knelt beside him. The man took a piece of bread, spread strawberry jam on it, and handed it to him. "Did you sleep well last night?"

"I slept deeply, didn't even notice the rain."

"That's good. You look much more refreshed than before." The man ate his breakfast leisurely, then added, "Next time, don't keep your phone under your pillow when you sleep."

Xu Ye was surprised. "How did you know my phone was under my pillow?" He remembered putting his phone under his pillow after setting the alarm last night, but this morning he found it ringing on the TV stand. He had thought he'd misremembered. It turned out that the man had moved it.

So, he had come into his room last night. Why? Was he worried he couldn't sleep or might have nightmares?

"I don't recall giving you the right to ask questions, slave," the man cast him a glance.

Xu Ye felt a warmth in his heart at the thought of the man coming to check on him. He looked up at the man, smiling while taking a bite of his bread.

The man elegantly spread butter on another piece of bread. Sensing Xu Ye's gaze, he turned to look at him and said, "You're so…" Then, he put down the knife, reached out, and brushed away a bit of strawberry jam from Xu Ye's lips. Holding his long finger in front of Xu Ye's mouth, he commanded, "Open your mouth."

A flush crept up Xu Ye's ears as he leaned forward, licking the red jam from the man's finger and then wrapping his lips around it. His lips and tongue slowly took the finger in, licking, lightly nibbling, and sucking as the faint sweetness of strawberry filled his mouth. His gaze became slightly hazy. The man tilted his finger upward, forcing Xu Ye to straighten his back and extend his neck, his delicate Adam's apple trembling attractively.

The finger was surrounded by warmth, and he could feel the softness and slipperiness of Xu Ye's tongue. Kneeling there, naked and unresisting, the scene alone was incredibly stimulating, and the eyes behind the mask darkened. Just as Xu Ye tried to take it deeper, the man withdrew his finger swiftly, leaving a faint trace of silver at the corner of Xu Ye's mouth.

Xu Ye coughed awkwardly, his face turning red.

"With your level of experience, you're not ready for deep-throating." The man wiped his finger with a napkin, his tone casual.

Xu Ye blushed harder, lowering his head. His jaw hadn't been relaxed enough, and pressing down on his tongue had triggered his body's natural reflex to reject it. He knew that if the man hadn't pulled his finger away in time, he might have had an even worse reaction, perhaps even gagging or coughing and possibly biting him.

"Slave, there are many ways to please me. Don't force yourself to do things you're not ready for, especially if they're risky." The man poured some milk into a spoon and fed it to him.

The milk soothed his throat, and Xu Ye murmured, "Thank you, Master…"

The small incident over breakfast left him feeling a bit dejected, and he washed the dishes without much energy. After he had tidied up, he saw the man standing by the window, on the phone. The other person seemed to be doing most of the talking, as he only gave brief responses. Catching sight of Xu Ye standing idly, he crooked a finger to beckon him over.

Xu Ye was wondering whether he should kneel down when the man wrapped an arm around his waist from behind. His bare back rubbed against the man's clothed chest, creating a subtle friction. With one hand holding the phone to his ear, the man reached around with his other hand, playing with Xu Ye's chest, pinching and tweaking until those delicate points stood erect. Xu Ye panted softly, trying to evade, but the man lowered his voice and commanded, "Don't move, and don't make a sound."

The hand roamed freely over his body, igniting a fire wherever it touched. From his abdomen to his chest, from his collarbone to his cheek, teasing his Adam's apple one moment and playing with his lips the next. It stirred his sensitivity but also forced him to endure. Xu Ye stood there, completely exposed, by the floor-to-ceiling window in the living room, surrendering to the man's touch. He could see two gardeners not far away, trimming the trees on a ladder. Even though Xu Ye knew they couldn't see inside, the situation gave him the illusion of being exposed for all to see. The glass faintly reflected his image, revealing him under the man's control, an alluring, provocative sight. He felt like an object, at the man's mercy, every inch of his body no longer his own.

When the man's hand moved to his lower abdomen, grazing over his arousal, Xu Ye bit his lip to stifle a moan. Yet a faint sound escaped, a suppressed cry like that of a boy straining against his urges.

"Mm, leave it to him to handle, and let me know the results," the man finally ended the call, placing the phone back into his pocket. Free now, he used one hand to squeeze Xu Ye's chest heavily, murmuring into his ear, "Who gave you permission to make noise, hmm?"

The pain mixed with numbness coursed through him, intensifying his desire. Xu Ye couldn't hold back any longer and let out a gasp.

"Disobedient slaves must be punished." The man's gaze was now brimming with amusement, and he stopped touching him, instead locking his arms behind his back.

The abrupt withdrawal of affection left Xu Ye's mounting desire stranded behind an impassable wall. Like a vine that had lost its supporting stone wall, he didn't know where to cling. His eyes, shimmering with unshed tears, were filled with a pleading look. He didn't dare to speak, as the man behind him had forbidden it. Nor did he dare to move, despite the trembling in his legs, as he struggled to stand straight.

"Tell me your identity," the deep voice sounded behind him.

"I am… your slave." The torment left Xu Ye slightly dizzy, but he forced himself to hold onto a thread of clarity.

"Tell me your rights."

"Everything I have belongs to you, Master. I have no rights." The answer came out automatically.

"Tell me your duty."

"My purpose is to make you happy." His shoulders shivered as he took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.

"I want you to remember these three points at all times." The man behind him released his grip on Xu Ye's wrists. "After you step out of here, without my permission, no one is allowed to enter your body in any way. Every part of you that my hands touched just now is off-limits to anyone else. If I find out you've disobeyed, slave…" He pushed up Xu Ye's chin with his fingertips, forcing his head back to rest against him. "You know the consequences." The man's voice remained deep and unhurried, with no hint of violence. Yet the sense of oppression was pervasive, like a relentless parasite that made Xu Ye shiver uncontrollably. In this position, Xu Ye's slender neck was fully under the man's control. His Adam's apple trembled in the man's palm, like a beautiful but fragile swan that could be crushed with the slightest pressure.

With this gesture, the man reminded Xu Ye that he was the one manipulating his desires, controlling his body, ruling over every part of his existence.

"Yes, Master." Xu Ye's eyelashes trembled, like the wings of a butterfly weighed down by rain. He was lost in the faint fragrance of the man's scent, drowning in it. He felt as if he were a puppet, pulled by strings, stepping into a new world where only he and his Master existed, with no one else.

"Put on your clothes and come downstairs. I'll have someone take you home."

When Xu Ye left, he was once again picked up by a security vehicle. Outside the gates of the villa, a man in a black uniform was already waiting beside his car, opening the door for him with great deference. "The Master instructed me to drive you home."

Xu Ye got in, gave his home address, and then stared out the window, watching the scenery blur past as he drifted off in thought. He took out his phone and returned a missed call.

On the other end, Xu Ting's mood was clearly sour as he asked, "Where were you all day yesterday?"

"I was tired, so I slept the whole day," Xu Ye replied, dismissively.

"Are you sick?"

"No."

"That's good. There's a charity gala tonight. You're coming with me."

"I'm not interested," Xu Ye replied, irritation creeping into his tone. "We agreed that you'd handle those social engagements yourself."

"You have to attend." Xu Ting's voice turned cold. "Wan Hua's daughter just returned from abroad. This is a good opportunity to meet her. You're not getting any younger."

Xu Ye was silent for a moment, then asked with a blank expression, "Are you planning to sell your son for the Donglin project?"

"Whether the Donglin project succeeds depends on you. Song Huayian has a high opinion of you, and if his daughter likes you, everything will naturally fall into place. Xu Ye, you should understand that without my painstaking efforts to pave the way, you wouldn't be worth much. Whether you like it or not, this is the path you have to take."

Xu Ye ended the call and leaned back against the seat, closing his eyes.