Chapter 41: Handcuffs

Shout out to Karashin, thank you for your support!

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The moment Lu Qingzhuo saw the trending topic, she couldn't help but laugh out loud. At that moment, she was swimming in an open-air pool with Geng Xingluo.

She had an inexplicable fear of pools, probably because the original owner of her body had died in a remote pool. 

After Lu Qingzhuo’s injuries healed, she started taking swimming lessons. Now, she was quite proficient.

Some scars need to be confronted directly. Lu Qingzhuo knew she had to learn how to swim because the more confident and calm she became, the more those hiding in the shadows would become frantic.

Geng Xingluo popped her head out of the water, draped a towel over her shoulders, and sat next to Lu Qingzhuo, pointing at her phone. “Sister, how do I explain this trending topic? They’re all saying I’m your kept lover!”

“It’s fine, no need to explain.”

Lu Qingzhuo wore a swim cap, and her head shape was perfect, with great bone structure. Even with the "swim cap" on, she still looked heartbreakingly beautiful.

Geng Xingluo sat beside her, gazing at Lu Qingzhuo's profile with admiration. She couldn't help but say, “Sister, you're so beautiful. A lot of Omegas in our department are your fans. Although some of them say bad things about you, I found out last time that many of them use your photos as wallpapers.”

“Come closer. Let’s take a selfie.”

Lu Qingzhuo wrapped her arm around Geng Xingluo's shoulders, their heads close together. She removed Geng Xingluo's swim goggles and made a peace sign with two fingers.

“Click.”

The sound of the shutter echoed, capturing their smiling faces on the phone.

“Let’s do it again. We’ll change the pose and take a few more.”

Lu Qingzhuo didn’t even adjust the filter; the live photo came out directly. Then, she uploaded the photos to Weibo and started editing.

Blue skies, green water, the pool, me, and my little sister Xingluo.

She followed Geng Xingluo’s Weibo and tagged her directly.

Once the post was uploaded, Lu Qingzhuo finally relaxed. She didn’t need to prove anything; just posting a few photos was enough to declare her dominance.

She and Geng Xingluo were sisters.

The post went viral instantly, and while Lu Qingzhuo was playing a game, she kept an eye on public opinion. She realized her followers had increased dramatically.

What’s going on? Could it be that they have some kind of "academic filter"?

Lu Qingzhuo clicked on Geng Xingluo's Weibo account and saw that she was one of her biggest fans. Geng Xingluo's followers were also rising quickly.

Geng Xingluo obediently showed her the private messages on her Weibo, reporting, "Sister, a lot of people are sending me private messages, wanting to date me."

Lu Qingzhuo: "..."

More and more people were eyeing her sister! One Lin Zhiyu was already enough of a headache, but now this group of cats and dogs was becoming too troublesome. She had to blacklist them all!

“Some even from the same school! This is so obvious, they must be a trashy Alpha. Blacklist, blacklist! Block them all!”

Geng Xingluo sat beside Lu Qingzhuo, watching her sister scowl at her phone and furiously tap the screen. She couldn’t help but grin. "Sister, your fingers must be tired. I'll just turn off the private messages for you."

The comments section of the Weibo post started filling with trolls.

“It’s impossible! Has Lu Qingzhuo’s family genes split? Her sister goes to B University, but she doesn’t even have a degree?”

Lu Qingzhuo couldn’t be bothered to entertain these people and replied directly in the comments section: "It’s understandable that a native of the rainforest wouldn’t know how to use a phone."

Sure enough, some people went to Baidu to look up Lu Qingzhuo’s profile and discovered she had graduated from one of the top ten universities in China.

Someone posted a screenshot, and that allowed Lu Qingzhuo to prove herself.

After all the back-and-forth, Lu Qingzhuo opened Weibo again and found her private messages had exploded. Her follower count was skyrocketing. So this was what they meant by an "academic filter."

The comments section looked like this:

“I can prove this, I’m in the same class and major as Lu Qingzhuo. She’s really beautiful and famous. She was already filming when she was a freshman, so fewer people have seen her.”

“She graduated from Jiaotong University! Sorry, I really have a filter for high academic achievement and intelligence.”

“Filming and still getting a scholarship—what does that even mean! If I didn’t delay graduation, my ancestors would be spitting fire!”

Everything that had happened to the original Lu Qingzhuo seemed to mirror her own experiences. Before her death, she had been an outstanding student.

Reading these comments warmed Lu Qingzhuo’s heart. She turned off her phone and lay in bed when she received a message from Han Tian.

Han Tian: [President Fu is coming back to the country tomorrow.]

Fu Yumian was coming back tomorrow? So soon!

Lu Qingzhuo: [Got it.]

Lately, Han Tian had been paying more and more attention to Lu Qingzhuo, always sending her updates about Fu Yumian’s situation via WeChat, occasionally offering reminders.

This made Lu Qingzhuo somewhat wary. After all, she was Fu Yumian’s employee. Why was Han Tian being so kind to her? There had to be something suspicious behind it. Could it be that Fu Yumian had sent her to keep an eye on her?

Lu Qingzhuo couldn’t afford to be careless, so she kept her responses to Han Tian neutral, afraid of accidentally saying the wrong thing and giving Fu Yumian a handle to use against her.

Meanwhile, Han Tian would always send her messages when Fu Yumian was busy with work and not looking at her phone. It was a high-risk game, where one wrong move could cost them their jobs.

Despite feeling guilty toward Lu Qingzhuo, Han Tian could only try to make amends in small ways.

At this moment, Lu Qingzhuo lay in bed, put her phone away, and started playing a game. A new variety show was in the works, with a well-known director in the industry who had filmed several hit variety shows before.

But Lu Qingzhuo still wasn’t sure what type of variety show it was. Could it be that they were going to send them all to some mountain village to farm?

The names of the guests were announced today. Lu Qingzhuo glanced at the list—there were only four people, and the name of a mysterious guest had yet to be revealed.

Lin Zhiyu?

Lu Qingzhuo furrowed her brows as she recognized the name. Was there another person named Lin Zhiyu in the entertainment industry?

She was about to call Lin Zhiyu when the phone rang, and it was from the other side.

"Hello…"

On the other end, Lin Zhiyu's voice was filled with excitement. "Qingzhuo! You... you..."

Lu Qingzhuo replied helplessly, "Straighten your tongue before speaking."

"Is Geng Xingluo your sister? Why didn’t you tell me sooner! You’ve really got me in trouble!"

Lu Qingzhuo had long anticipated this day but didn’t expect it to come so soon. She looked somewhat disdainful. "Ah, it’s like this. Xingluo already has someone she likes, so just forget about it."

"What!" Lin Zhiyu’s voice shifted from joy to shock. "Who is it?"

Lu Qingzhuo got up from the bed, walked to the kitchen, and poured herself a glass of cold water. Pretending to be troubled, she said, "I don’t know. She’s grown up and has secrets she won’t share with me."

"What should I do…" Lin Zhiyu's voice sounded on the verge of tears. "I... I finally started to fall in love, and now it’s all ruined?"

Lu Qingzhuo covered her mouth and secretly laughed. "There are plenty of fish in the sea. Although I’d love to help you, sigh..."

The call ended, and Lu Qingzhuo sat on the sofa, lost in thought. The more she thought about it, the more she felt that Geng Xingluo was surrounded by wolves, and it was very dangerous.

---

The content on the camera was clear and up-to-date. Fu Yumian watched every move of Lu Qingzhuo, subconsciously stroking the ring on her ring finger. She removed her glasses and set them aside, her breathing becoming heavier.

Her heat period was approaching, and Fu Yumian’s body had become unusually sensitive these past few days. Since being marked by an Alpha, she had gradually grown more passionate about intimacy. She even downloaded an orange app and bought some "things" she never thought she would consider.

When those little gadgets were used on herself, Fu Yumian always compared them to Lu Qingzhuo’s fingers and lips. And at those times, Fu Yumian found them incomparable.

Even though these toys could heat up, spray, and vibrate at high frequencies beyond the capacity of human hands, she still felt that they couldn’t compare to even a single strand of Lu Qingzhuo’s hair.

A week passed in the blink of an eye. Lu Qingzhuo did nothing, living a life of indulgence, growing more and more convinced that life was short and she should enjoy it while she could.

Though Fu Yumian wasn’t by her side, Lu Qingzhuo still made sure to greet her every morning, noon, and night. Whether or not she got a response was another matter.

For the first half of the month, she had been passive and lazy. Unable to control her mouth, Lu Qingzhuo decided to start exercising, going to the villa’s second-floor gym to get back on track.

She walked on the treadmill for less than five minutes, not even breaking a sweat, and pretended to wipe her face with a towel. Then, she found a good angle and took a picture.

She later edited the pictures into a montage and uploaded them to Weibo. Among the photos, there were shots of Ye Ye and Oreo together, as well as a family photo of her, the cat, and the dog. She didn’t need to create a persona of someone who loved animals.

---

On the day Fu Yumian returned to the country, Lu Qingzhuo was out shopping. She was carrying two freshly packaged Hermes bags when she spotted a car with the license plate number Jing A99999 parked nearby.

She recognized that license plate well—Fu Yumian had returned and parked right in front of her house. The scariest part was that there was no one inside the car.

Lu Qingzhuo immediately became alert, like a large feline on guard, protecting her Hermes bags. She quietly approached the door.

She carefully examined the password lock and didn’t see any fingerprints, so she finally relaxed, believing no one had entered. After all, she had changed the password, and how could Fu Yumian know it?

She input the password, opened the door, and cautiously surveyed the surroundings. She took out a wet wipe from her bag to clean off any fingerprints, then pushed the door open.

In the next moment, the rich, intoxicating scent of red wine hit her. A soft, hot hand grabbed her arm, and before she knew it, she was pulled inside. Her Hermes bag fell to the ground.

Her lips were forcefully covered, and Lu Qingzhuo became disoriented from the intense kiss. The familiar scent of pheromones overwhelmed her, as if every part of her body had been soaked in the fragrance of wine.

"You’re back."

The Omega’s voice was husky and difficult to bear. She pressed Lu Qingzhuo against the door, holding her hands and wrapping them around her waist.

"Quick, hold me."

Lu Qingzhuo, at a loss with her Hermes bag in hand, was caught off guard as Fu Yumian knocked the bag out of her hands, gritting her teeth. "Throw it away. Who cares about Hermes at a time like this?"

"But… but you said I should think it over!" Lu Qingzhuo was forced to hold Fu Yumian’s slim waist. She tried to turn her head but couldn’t, so she opened her lips, letting the other’s tongue invade. "You’re not keeping your word."

"I did say that you should think it over, but you’ve taken too long."

Lu Qingzhuo’s mind suddenly cleared. She almost forgot the most important thing. In shock, she asked, "But I changed the password! How did you get in?"

Fu Yumian smiled, holding Lu Qingzhuo’s earlobe, and said, "Silly, I guessed it—your birthday."

Lu Qingzhuo: "…"

Fine, she had used her birthday, but isn’t it normal for a person to use their birthday as a password?

"Fu Yumian! You’re cheating! This is illegal entry!"

Fu Yumian thought, I didn’t just break in, I also filled your villa with cameras.

"We’re already married," Fu Yumian murmured as she kissed Lu Qingzhuo’s soft lips. "Even if you call the police, it won’t matter. Why not just agree to be with me? What’s so bad about it?"

It really was good; everything was perfect. However, Lu Qingzhuo knew that as the captive bird of a domineering CEO, she had to rely on some tricks to become the true future wife. Otherwise, how could books like Refusing to Marry the Young Mistress Ninety-Nine Times even exist?

It was all for the sake of status.

“You didn’t even get my consent, and you’ve been doing this and that with me...” Lu Qingzhuo still couldn’t bring herself to say such sensitive words directly. It was just too embarrassing. “I’m an Alpha, not some pet you keep.”

“You’re obedient, and though you sometimes bite, aren’t you cute?”

Lu Qingzhuo: “...”

As expected, she was really being treated like a pet. Well, don’t blame her for not playing by the rules then.

“Let go of me...”

Before she could finish her sentence, Lu Qingzhuo felt a cold sensation on her wrist. A soft click sounded, and when she looked down, she saw a gold handcuff connecting her wrist to Fu Yumian’s.

Lu Qingzhuo: “...”

So, this is how we’re playing?

She struggled a few times, but the handcuff wouldn’t budge. She never expected that the first time she would be handcuffed in her life, it would be by Fu Yumian.

This can’t be some sort of kinky toy, right?

“Do you want the key?” Fu Yumian stroked Lu Qingzhuo’s chin, leaving two red marks on her snow-white skin. “If you make me happy, I’ll unlock it for you. If you don’t satisfy me...”

Fu Yumian’s gaze shifted, and with a smile, she tapped the pure gold handcuff, saying, “Then you’ll just have to wear it to your variety show.”

“Fu Yumian, you bad egg!” Lu Qingzhuo symbolically struggled twice. She knew that without the key, she couldn’t escape the handcuff, so she just lowered her head and stayed silent. “I’m still a dignified Alpha...”

Wait!

This handcuff...

The material, the metal sheen, the weight...

Could it really be made of gold?

Fu Yumian had already noticed the thoughts running through Lu Qingzhuo’s mind. She smiled but didn’t speak. Seeing Lu Qingzhuo fiddling with the handcuff, she couldn’t help but laugh. “Do you like it? I measured the size myself, specially made just for you. It even has my name engraved on it.”

Lu Qingzhuo’s voice lacked conviction: “You had it custom-made and engraved your name for what...”

“You’re mine. What’s wrong with having my name engraved?”

Fu Yumian shook the glittering handcuffs, making her delicate, fair skin even more striking. She chuckled and directly pulled Lu Qingzhuo into the bedroom.

With their wrists handcuffed together, Lu Qingzhuo had no choice but to follow Fu Yumian. She was immediately locked inside the bedroom, without even her phone.

Her freedom was instantly restricted, and Lu Qingzhuo decided that after this, she would change her password and probably even replace the lock with a fingerprint lock. Let’s see how Fu Yumian would get in then.

“What are you thinking now?” With her understanding of Lu Qingzhuo, Fu Yumian could tell what she was planning just by the look in her eyes. “You want to change the lock so I can’t get in?”

Fu Yumian pushed Lu Qingzhuo onto the bed, her hands quickly starting to undo her clothes. “Don’t even think about it. If you dare change the lock, let’s see how I punish you.”

She completely took control of the situation. Though Lu Qingzhuo was an Alpha, she was young and didn’t have the experience or thick skin like Fu Yumian.

Lu Qingzhuo clenched the collar of her shirt, her strength waning, but she still tried to resist: “You’re violating my personal freedom!”

“No wonder you graduated from Jiaotong University. But I remember you’re not a law major, right?” Fu Yumian easily broke through Lu Qingzhuo’s defenses, pressing her body close and untying her bra strap. “I know you’re very smart and learn things effortlessly. Didn’t we do well last time?”

Lu Qingzhuo’s face flushed with embarrassment from Fu Yumian’s words. With a look of resistance, she surrendered.

Fu Yumian stayed close, not letting go. One hand caressed Lu Qingzhuo’s flat stomach, enjoying the firm and beautifully sculpted abs.

“Been working out recently?”

Fu Yumian locked her legs around Lu Qingzhuo’s waist, sitting on her stomach. She pinched Lu Qingzhuo’s chin, forcing her to look up.

“Seems like you’re not as strong as before. What if your hands get weak while we’re at it?”

“You... get off me!”

Lu Qingzhuo was overwhelmed by the pheromones Fu Yumian released. Their highly compatible pheromones bound them tightly together, and just a hint of the scent made her almost lose control.

With the handcuff’s cold touch, Fu Yumian closed the distance between them. She smiled and said, “I told you earlier. If you satisfy me, I’ll unlock it. Otherwise, no chance.”

“Fu Yumian...” Lu Qingzhuo’s voice finally softened, her beautiful peach blossom eyes sparkling with tears. She looked pitiful and pleading, “Please let me go... I don’t want the money, I don’t want the villa or the sports car. I’ll give them all up... just let me go, please...”

In the next second, her lips were bitten hard by Fu Yumian, the sharp pain from her broken lip shocking her.

“Fu Yumian...” Lu Qingzhuo’s words were blocked in her throat, only a soft whimper escaping. She sounded helpless and pitiful. “Let... let me go...”

Fu Yumian’s eyes darkened. She knew Lu Qingzhuo wasn’t fully willing to do these things, but to bring up the subject of divorce in front of her?

Dividing assets? Wasn’t that clearly suggesting divorce?

Her voice turned cold: “What do you mean by that?”

Lu Qingzhuo’s lips tingled, the faint taste of blood in her mouth, both salty and bitter. Her cheek stung. “I said! I want to divorce you!”

Fu Yumian’s expression darkened, a smile on her lips, but it made Lu Qingzhuo’s scalp tingle.

"Do you think you can just leave whenever you want?"

Lu Qingzhuo instinctively pressed her legs together, trying to pull away, but Fu Yumian yanked the handcuffs, forcing her body closer.

In a fit of anger, Lu Qingzhuo could barely suppress her words, wanting to counter every sentence. "Are you going to force me? I want a divorce! I don’t care about your money!"

Fu Yumian's hand landed on the firm, round curve of Lu Qingzhuo's buttocks, squeezing it through the fabric of her pants.

Then came the sharp sound of a slap. Lu Qingzhuo felt a tingling sensation in her lower back and froze, wide-eyed.

"Do you still dare to mention divorce?"

Fu Yumian’s palm fell heavily on Lu Qingzhuo’s rear end again. After the crisp slap, Lu Qingzhuo finally turned around, eyes welling up as she sobbed, “You... you... hit me…”

“Dare I not?” Fu Yumian slapped her a few more times, her fingers tangled in Lu Qingzhuo’s hair, forcing her to look up at her. Despite Fu Yumian’s emotionless face, the fire in her eyes was evident. “Answer me.”

“I… I…” Lu Qingzhuo choked, her throat tightening. Unable to hold back any longer, she began to softly sob. “You hit me… No one’s ever hit me before…”

Fu Yumian paused, her raised hand frozen in midair. She stared at Lu Qingzhuo in surprise—this was the first time she had ever seen her cry in front of her.

“You hit me... I’m in my twenties, and you’re still hitting me…”

Lu Qingzhuo’s voice was thick with a nasal tone as she buried her face in the pillow, trying to smother herself.

“You’re abusing me. I’m going to take you to court…”

Fu Yumian gazed at her own hand, a faint, almost imperceptible smile curling at her lips. Without a word, she undid Lu Qingzhuo’s belt and pulled her pants down.

The bright red handprint marks stood out against Lu Qingzhuo’s pale, delicate skin, trembling and helpless, a pitiful sight.

Fu Yumian took out her phone and snapped several pictures from different angles, even capturing the top half of Lu Qingzhuo’s body.

The sound of the camera shutter made Lu Qingzhuo snap to attention. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she quickly lunged to grab the phone back.

"What are you doing?" She grabbed the waistband of her pants and pushed Fu Yumian down, her face turning as red as a ripe peach. “You’re taking pictures of me! Delete them!”

"Aren't you going to take me to court?" Fu Yumian’s smile grew wider, unable to hide her amusement. “The pictures are your evidence. You can give them to your lawyer.”

Lu Qingzhuo froze on the bed, her attempt to grab the phone pausing. She looked like an angry cat in a corner, waiting for her owner to apologize and then, in turn, scratch her.

“How could you be like this…” This was the first time Lu Qingzhuo had experienced Fu Yumian’s shamelessness. Usually, the older people got, the more composed they became, but Fu Yumian had gone in the opposite direction. “Delete the pictures… Please…”

“Please?” Fu Yumian hadn’t heard Lu Qingzhuo speak so softly in a long time. The smile on her lips deepened as she teased, “Then you’d better show me some real action.”

She leaned back on the headboard, their wrists tightly connected by the golden handcuffs, which gleamed under the light, making Lu Qingzhuo swallow nervously.

Then she closed her eyes and gently pressed a light kiss on Fu Yumian’s lips, as soft as a dragonfly skimming the water. After the kiss, she was about to pull away, but Fu Yumian held the back of her head.

Their lips collided forcefully, and Lu Qingzhuo’s lips even hit Fu Yumian’s teeth. In an instant, her eyes filled with tears from the pain of the impact.

Fu Yumian used her other hand to grip Lu Qingzhuo’s neck and, with ease, pried open her last defenses, locking her tongue with Lu Qingzhuo’s in a deep kiss.

Their saliva mingled as Lu Qingzhuo had no choice but to tilt her head back and endure, breathing through her nose.

After a while, Fu Yumian separated their lips, wiping a strand of silver thread that had connected them with her finger. “How was that? My kissing skills aren’t bad, right?”

Lu Qingzhuo swallowed, turning her head away to avoid looking at her, though she couldn’t deny Fu Yumian’s skills were improving.

“Since you like it, just say it,” Fu Yumian changed positions, now pinned beneath Lu Qingzhuo. She guided Lu Qingzhuo’s hands and spoke in a teasing, sultry voice, “Help me undress, take it off properly.”

Lu Qingzhuo had no choice but to follow Fu Yumian’s instructions. She clumsily undid the buttons, taking what seemed like forever to finally unbutton the first one.

Fu Yumian, unable to wait any longer, seemed to think Lu Qingzhuo was doing it on purpose and prepared to take over.

But when she saw Lu Qingzhuo’s flushed face while undoing the buttons, she felt an overwhelming satisfaction. She stroked Lu Qingzhuo’s smooth, dark hair and praised her, “Good job.”

Lu Qingzhuo’s face turned even redder at the praise. Her ears, neck, even the exposed collarbone and chest, all turned a soft pink.

She pouted in dissatisfaction. “Who told you to handcuff me…”

After what felt like five minutes of struggling, Lu Qingzhuo finally got the button undone.

Once the shirt was undone, Fu Yumian pulled Lu Qingzhuo’s neck, guiding her head downward. Her eyes darkened.

Lu Qingzhuo’s hands were still on Fu Yumian’s waistband, but before she could do anything, Fu Yumian pressed her head down.

Her tone was firm. “Use your mouth.”

Lu Qingzhuo puffed out her cheeks in annoyance, then parted her lips, her pink tongue lightly touching her white teeth as she hesitantly began to work.

Ding dong.

The doorbell rang suddenly, and the two of them froze in place, halting their movements.

Ding dong, ding dong, ding dong.

Lin Zhiyu, still holding a freshly baked cake, pressed the doorbell for quite a while, but there was no response. No one answered the door.

In fact, there was a car parked in front of Lu Qingzhuo’s door. The license plate number looked quite fancy, which made it appear suspicious no matter how you looked at it.

The doorbell rang relentlessly, like an urgent warning. Lu Qingzhuo suddenly remembered that Lin Zhiyu had said she would come over tonight because she had something to discuss. If Lin Zhiyu saw the two of them entangled together, wouldn't that be...

In a panic, Lu Qingzhuo quickly spat out what was in her mouth. She even forgot about Fu Yumian's hand, which had been causing trouble on her body. Trembling, she asked, "Where’s the key?"

"Why are you so anxious?" Fu Yumian's smile deepened at the corners of her lips as she searched her pockets. "Don’t worry. With the way you look now, I wouldn’t want anyone else to see you."

Lu Qingzhuo stared at her hand. But after a moment, she saw Fu Yumian’s smile gradually fade.

Fu Yumian extended her empty left hand, her expression seeming somewhat apologetic, extinguishing the last bit of hope in Lu Qingzhuo’s heart.

"The key... I think I left it in the car outside."

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Translator's Note:

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