CHAPTER 15 : CHAINED
"....run, we must run." he saw a blurry figure of a man in a hurried pace, wearing those layered clothing from the old paintings in the textbooks, a dirty and dull clothing of a peasant.
He has a blurry face as if it was made by paints that's been smudged into black and white.
He then heard a familiar voice came in the scene but he couldn't specifically point the person who owned it. He was hurrying, quick and trembling as this another person who had a long loose hair came to approach him. He also had that strange smudged face but his clothing and posture clearly shows that he isn't a peasant like the other one.
He couldn't hear them clearly but this man was asking the poor looking person when suddenly, the door banged open and several empire soldiers came to seize them.
The scenery started fading but he took one glimpse on the domineering figure who was about to enter the door. He had a big built, his armor had that black dragon emblem with his hair tied in a fierce look.
He could see him curving a smile then Ruoye's eyes snapped open.
He's panting again, his heart throbbing in a rapid pace.
It has been like this for days.
His eyes traveled around the area and sighed, it's his room. He saw the sky through the balcony glass door, it's almost break of dawn
He was about to get up when he felt a cold metal damped on his skin, he turned just to see a metal wrapped around his ankle connected on a chain that's locked on the corner of the bed post.
He frowned deeply and reached for it, trying to get off the thing from him but it was futile since it was securely locked.
His brows frowned deeply as moments passed and couldn't still get it off.
The sound of clangs from the metal chain was irritating him every time his leg moved.
It's a feeling of a dog chained on a corner helplessly.
"That...f*cking Jiangli....!!" he gritted his teeth. Who could possibly do this to him? Right here?
He was still trying to find spots to free himself when he felt a movement from a couch who was leaning on a wall on the east side of the room, facing his bed.
It was the darkest part of the room for the moment since the sun haven't reached the horizon to give the natural lighting inside the room, and he shivered when a figure moved from there as if a shadow stood.
He felt himself backed off as he realized that he has been watched over even before he woke up. The figure made a step forward towards him.
It was terrifying as the dead silence of the room supported the sounds of his steps to scare him.
"W-Who are you?" he called
The man only took a five steps before he finally reached the light from the side lamp.
It was a man with a helpless look. His hair a mess as if he has tweaked it several times the whole night, the dark unusual eyebags hanged below his eyes as he stare at Ruoye emotionlessly.
He didn't changed his outfit from yesterday.
He still wore the white sleeve with a tilted tie and his black pants.
Ruoye smelled a strong obvious aroma coming from him that he had already smelled faintly around the room the moment he woke up.
Ruoye's nose made disgusting gesture, "Did you smoke?" he asked, he already forgot how Jiangli scared him since among any other things, the smell of tobaccos and cigarettes is what he disliked the most.
"Get out! You reek of disgusting...URGH." He covered his nose. He couldn't take the strong aroma.
But Jiangli's eyes flashed a stare of amusement as if he liked Ruoye's disgusted expression. "That's right. You really hate this smell." he said in a happy tone but his face was clearly worn out.
Ruoye glared at him, finally taking things on track, he asked fiercely, "What is the meaning of this?" He moved his leg to have him see the metal chain, "Let me go at once."
But Jiangli acted like he heard nothing and went closer, he sat at the edge of the bed as the horizon finally let out the orange rays from the sun making the room a bit brighter from the natural light coming through the balcony.
He sat there motionless as Ruoye was stuck on a corner of the bed with his ankle tied, not letting himself get near the man.
"I didn't want to do this." Jiangli started, his voice is worn out.
"...I didn't want to Ruoye but you're so stubborn and fleeting, the moment I take my eyes from you either want to f*ck or wants to be f*cked."
"JIANGLI!" Ruoye roared in anger
Jiangli snickered, his back was still facing Ruoye.
"Everyone's like that so there's no need to argue on something like that but you see..." he turned to face the man, the light finally illuminated his haggard but undeniably handsome face. His sharp features turned gentle as he spoke in low voice, "...I am hurting whenever you're away from me. I feel helpless and frustrated, I don't like that."
He finally stared at Ruoye's eyes, "I want to make things right." he said so gently
Ruoye was still angry, face disgusted but he couldn't help but to listen on the man's words with his strange and unusual expression.
Jiangli slowly reached his hand towards Ruoye's cheek, he touched those fair and soft cheeks with the back of his fingers, he caressed it gently making Ruoye froze on his position as if a single movement from him will destroy Jiangli's mood.
Because Jiangli was truly happy for the moment, he had a small but genuine smile. His expression was very strange that made Ruoye realized that all these years of being married, it was worthless and pitiful.
They never knew each other.
"That night..." Ruoye suddenly spoke, all courage is at stake.
But luckily, Jiangli didn't snap and asked, "Mm?"
Ruoye took a silent inhale before he spoke again, "That night...when you're here in my room..."
"Ah." Jiangli made a sound as if he remembered it clearly
Ruoye eyed him, "That night.... I lost consciousness...and, I couldn't remember anything."
He gulped, "...did we..." he had faint memories but those weird dreams was mixing up on his reality so he thought that he had submitted himself over.
"...did we.."
"Did we do it?" Jiangli cut him off and continued his words but he just smiled, "No, we didn't. It would be a bad move for the moment." he added
Ruoye suddenly felt a spark of happiness from his first word but got confuse on the rest. He frowned, his defense alarmed and took his face away from Jiangli's fingers as he glare, "You... You're not planning on doing anything when this thing keeps me here right?" he was referring on the metal chain.
"Jiangli, I still had an ounce of respect for you so stop this, let me go." Ruoye said, his last words had the tone of almost begging.
But Jiangli had a strange reaction, he was stupefied for a moment then clenched his hands into a tight fist as he shut his eyes close, it triggered something on his head.
"Let him go," the voice begged, "...let me go..."
As if he tasted something so venomous he screamed and suddenly choke Ruoye, "NO! YOU'RE NOT LEAVING!! DON'T EVEN DARE!"
Ruoye was shocked and haven't defended himself as he felt the hand on his neck tightened. "J...iang...li."
But Jiangli's vision was clouded, "I'LL MAKE SURE YOU'RE GONNA ROT IN MY HANDS AND NO ONE WILL DARE TO HAVE A LOOK EVEN IN YOUR DEATH! THAT'S RIGHT..." he smiled so wickedly.
"...no one..." he muttered as he finally took his resolve and immediately let go of Ruoye who was holding for breath.
Ruoye plumped on the bed coughing as Jiangli stood, his face expression dark.
"You don't need to work anymore. You're grounded starting today." he said as he fix his tie and hair
Ruoye glared at him and feeling that his throat was still aching from the hold, he couldn't utter a clear word but his gaze was conveying his anger.
Jiangli glanced at him and smirked, "Aren't you tired with that look? Angry? Frustrated?"
He snickered, "You're so ugly and unpleasant who would dare to take you with that face?"
Ruoye turned to smirk, "And you dare to take this ugly and unpleasant person? Just what's on your mind Liu Jiangli?"
"Are you stupid or just naturally dumb?" he said with full effort on clearing his hoarse voice.
Jiangli didn't get mad to him, "Say more and I'll penetrate you raw."
Ruoye's lips voluntarily closed but his expression were still in fury.
Jiangli went to open the door, and for one last time, he turned to him, "Once I settle everything, we'll be fine."
