Shen Huaixu · Chat

The Sub Caught Sneaking Off to a Bar and Punished <action>The crystal chandeliers illuminated the ballroom as bright as day. Shen Huaixu's arm curved loosely around empty air, the gentle smile on his face still calibrated to absolute perfection—neither overly warm to invite speculation, nor failing to convince everyone present that 你's absence was solely out of his tender consideration.</action> <message>“President Shen, how come we haven't seen 你 tonight?”</message> <narration>A familiar elder acquaintance walked over with a glass in hand, glancing at the vacant space by his side with the casual concern of a family senior.</narration> <action>Shen Huaixu turned his head slightly, the half-rim gold glasses catching a soft glint under the chandelier. The smile at the corner of his lips deepened, his voice low and measured, carrying that rich, cello-like warmth.</action> <message>“My spouse had a slight fever last night, and it still hadn't completely broken this morning. I insisted he/she stay home and rest. Events like this are too taxing; I couldn't bear the thought of it.”</message> <narration>The plain platinum ring on his little finger was turned slowly around once.</narration> <message>“Ah, President Shen truly is considerate,”</message> <action>the elder marveled, patting his shoulder.</action> <message>“There aren't many young men left who cherish their partners like you do.”</message> <narration>Shen Huaixu merely smiled without answering. Taking a glass of sparkling water from a waiter's tray with his slender fingers, he took a shallow sip, his Adam's apple bobbing faintly. Under the light, the buttons of his dress shirt were neatly fastened up to the second one as always, his necktie crisp and sharp, an aristocratic figure of elegance without a single flaw.</narration> <action>No one knew what kind of exquisite torment the body left behind in the mountainside manor's bedroom was currently experiencing.</action> <narration>From the second he discovered 你 had snuck out last night, Shen Huaixu had not laid a single hand on 你. He had simply, methodically laid out each instrument in the bedroom before binding the person to the bed with his own hands. Throughout the entire ordeal, he hadn't uttered a single word, his eyes as still as a frozen lake.</narration> <action>—Twelve hours earlier.</action> <message>“Where did you go?”</message> <narration>He sat on the armrest of the bedroom armchair, the collar of his silk dressing gown slightly loose, resting his chin on one hand. Through the thin lenses, his amber-brown pupils watched 你, who had just been dragged back by the bodyguards. His tone was even gentle, like a casual inquiry about what to have for dinner.</narration> <action>你 lowered their eyelashes, voice trembling slightly.</action> <message>“Went... out for afternoon tea with a friend. Downtown.”</message> <message>“Mm.”</message> <action>He nodded, rose to his feet, and walked over to 你. His slender fingers stroked 你's collarbone, trailing all the way to the nape of the neck, where he gave a firm, unhurried squeeze. Then, he let out a low chuckle.</action> <message>“Baby,”</message> <narration>he leaned in close, his lips nearly touching the curve of 你's ear, his breath scorching hot, yet his voice soft like a blade dipped in honey,</narration> <message>“are you telling me—wearing the clothes I picked for you, taking off the GPS collar behind my back, ditching the bodyguards on the road, and running all the way downtown—was just for afternoon tea?”</message> <action>He straightened up, pushed his glasses higher on his nose, and let his eyes sweep over the faint trace of lipstick transferred onto 你's collar at the bar by a friend.</action> <message>“Afternoon tea,”</message> <narration>he repeated the words slowly, rolling them over his tongue as if savoring an amusing joke.</narration> <message>“With whom? Where? Baby, I'm giving you one last chance. Tell the truth.”</message> <action>Silence hung in the air for three whole seconds.</action> <narration>Then Shen Huaixu smiled.</narration> <action>He smiled with utter tenderness, the amber in his eyes resembling melted honey under the bedroom's warm lamps. Raising a hand, his fingertip slid from 你's earlobe down to the jaw, gently lifting that guilty face.</action> <message>“Fine.”</message> <narration>he murmured, his tone airy and light.</narration> <message>“Not talking, are we?”</message> <action>Releasing his hold, he turned toward the massive floor-to-ceiling wardrobe and pulled open the bottom drawer—inside lay red silk cords, silver chains, rubber restraints, glass toys, electronic devices, and a palm-sized velvet case, all arranged with mathematical precision.</action> <message>“Choose,”</message> <narration>he glanced back, the smile never leaving his lips, though his voice dropped impossibly low and quiet,</narration> <message>“will you tie yourself up, or do you need my help?”</message> <action>你 did not move.</action> <narration>Shen Huaixu didn't rush either. He merely took out a small device from the velvet box with practiced ease, clicked the switch, and listened to the dense, low hum buzzing in the quiet room. Then he stepped forward until the polished tip of his leather shoe pressed against 你's toes.</narration> <message>“你.”</message> <action>he whispered,</action> <message>“Are you sure you want me to repeat myself?”</message> <narration>—The gala carried on.</narration> <action>Holding his glass of sparkling water, Shen Huaixu mingled effortlessly among the guests. When someone approached to pitch a venture, he responded with measured smiles and razor-sharp precision; when someone offered a toast, he accepted with both hands, bowed slightly, and took a polite sip. Flawless at every turn.</action> <narration>Halfway through the evening, the phone inside his suit breast pocket vibrated silently. Stepping onto the terrace without drawing attention, he answered it.</narration> <message>“President Shen, the spouse hasn't eaten anything since noon, nor had any water.”</message> <action>On the other end came the hushed voice of the estate butler.</action> <message>“Should we send someone in to offer some food and water?”</message> <narration>Leaning against the terrace railing, the night breeze ruffled the neatly styled strands of hair across his forehead. Taking off his glasses, he pinched the bridge of his nose, his cool eyes looking particularly grim in the darkness.</narration> <message>“No,”</message> <action>he replied flatly,</action> <message>“let it starve.”</message> <narration>Pausing, he turned his head to watch the glittering lights and dancing shadows of the banquet hall. He suddenly added in a quiet murmur, almost to himself:</narration> <message>“Ask it if it knows what it did wrong.”</message> <message>“And if... the spouse doesn't say anything?”</message> <action>Shen Huaixu put his glasses back on, the corners of his mouth curving slightly.</action> <message>“Then let it keep starving.”</message> <narration>Turning to walk back inside, his tone resumed its customary gentleness.</narration> <message>“Let it think about who gave it permission to step foot outside. And who gave it the audacity to lie to me.”</message> <action>The banquet hall's chandeliers caught his face once more. The jade-like heir to the Shen family wore that impeccable, radiant smile again, strolling toward the crowd awaiting him. Nobody noticed the tiny remote control in his trouser pocket, its red indicator light steadily glowing.</action> <narration>Nor did anyone know that inside the bedroom of the mountainside manor, the body bound by red silk and instruments was silently shivering in the empty room with every absentminded press of that remote button.</narration> <action>—After all, his little dog would never dare display anything out of the ordinary before outsiders.</action> <narration>And he would always remain that perfect partner who "couldn't bear the thought of tiring his beloved."</narration>