His world, my forbidden zone

At 3:15 on Wednesday afternoon, I crossed out another identical date on my phone's calendar. This action has become my only ritual, like a prisoner carving a mark on the cell wall, recording the time of imprisonment.

A cloud dozed in my lap, sunlight filtering through the huge French windows, gilding its white fur with a warm golden hue. The scene was beautiful, like a delicate still life. And I, another immovable ornament in the painting, was meticulously placed in this cage worth tens of millions.

The phone vibrated in my palm. It was Lin Wei.

"Xiaoyu! There's a new awesome dessert shop near the office. Why are you sneaking out now?"

My heart skipped a beat. Gu Yanshen had an important transatlantic video conference today, and the email clearly stated he wouldn't be back before six. This was a rare opportunity.

"Wait for me half an hour."

After sending those three words, my palms were already sweating. Like a thief, I carefully moved Yuntuan to his favorite cat bed, changed into a plain gray tracksuit, and tied his long hair into a simple ponytail. The person in the mirror looked incredibly ordinary, exactly how I wanted.

As the elevator descended, I rehearsed excuses in my mind: buying snacks for Yuntuan, going to the supermarket to buy daily necessities, or simply taking a walk in the garden downstairs. Each excuse seemed lame, but the freedom at this moment was too precious for me to take the risk.

The dessert shop was bustling with people, and the air was filled with the sweet aroma of cream. Lin Wei had already taken a seat by the window and waved at me vigorously.

"You actually managed to get out?" She lowered her voice, her eyes wide. "The last time I went to your house, your boyfriend looked at me like I was going to be silenced."

I forced a smile and scooped a large spoonful of tiramisu. The sweetness exploded on my tongue, nearly bringing me to tears. So this is what freedom tastes like, so sweet it makes you want to cry.

"Let's get down to business," Lin Wei leaned forward, her voice lowering. "Our company's new media department is looking for a content planner. Would you like to try? You're such a good writer, and you were the editor-in-chief of the school magazine in college..."

My heart skipped a beat. Work. The word seemed so distant, like a dream from a past life.

"I... haven't written anything in a long time." My voice was dry.

"Don't be so quick to deny yourself." She grabbed my hand, her grip firm. "Just consider it a visit? I've scheduled a preliminary interview for you tomorrow afternoon at three."

Interview. My fingers trembled slightly as I gripped the spoon, my knuckles turning white from the strain. Those two words were like a pebble dropped into stagnant water, sending ripples through my heart.

"Okay." The word was so light that it was almost inaudible, but it was as heavy as a thousand pounds.

On the way home, my steps felt so light and quick that they practically floated. Interview. Job. Those two words echoed in my mind, like a candle suddenly lit in the dark night, illuminating the gloomy road ahead.

But this happiness was short-lived, so short-lived that it was heartbreaking.

Pushing open the door, Gu Yanshen was sitting on the sofa in the living room. At this time, he should have been in the conference room making plans.

"Where have you been?" he asked in a low voice, as if he was afraid of disturbing anything.

"Go, go buy some snacks for Yuntuan." I handed the pet store bag in my hand forward, and the bag made a rustling sound.

He didn't answer the phone, his eyes fell on my face: "Why don't you answer the phone?"

Only then did I hurriedly check my phone - five missed calls, like five red warning lights, stinging my eyes.

"The store is too noisy, I..."

"I was worried." He stood up and approached, his expensive, custom-made leather shoes making a rhythmic click on the floor. "The cloud kept screaming and pacing around the room anxiously. I thought something had happened to you."

He reached out to touch my face, and I subconsciously took a step back.

This subtle movement made the air freeze instantly.

His hand paused in mid-air, his eyes darkening. For a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of...hurt? But then, it quickly returned to a bottomless calm.

"I'm going to Hong Kong tomorrow." He suddenly changed the subject, his tone as natural as if he were discussing the weather. "It's a merger and acquisition deal that we decided on at the last minute. Can you handle it alone?"

Opportunity. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"Sure." I tried to keep my voice steady. "Just do your thing. Don't worry about me."

He stared at me for a few seconds, his deep eyes seeming to penetrate my disguise. Finally, he nodded gently: "Okay."

That night, I barely slept. My wardrobe spread across my bed, and I examined each piece. Too formal seemed rigid, too casual seemed inadequate. Finally, I settled on a beige suit that felt professional yet subdued. I rewrote my resume over and over again, knowing it was likely a futile exercise.

The next day, I woke up early, carefully put on some light makeup, and carefully hid my formal wear at the bottom of my shopping bag. At 2 o'clock sharp, I kissed Yuntuan and pretended to go to the supermarket to buy some food.

As soon as my hand touched the door handle, the phone rang like a death warrant.

The hospital called. My mother collapsed in the supermarket and is being treated.

My mind went blank, and all my plans were shattered in an instant. When I arrived at the hospital, Gu Yanshen was already there, his white shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows, whispering to the attending doctor.

"Don't be afraid." He held my cold hand, his palm chillingly warm. "The experts are all here. I've made all the arrangements."

He had indeed arranged everything. The best doctors, the most expensive ward, the most comprehensive care. After my mother was out of danger, he gently wiped away my tears:

"Luckily I didn't go to Hong Kong today. If you were facing this alone..."

He didn't finish his words, but I understood.

Later, the nurse quietly told me that it was Mr. Gu who insisted on giving his mother a comprehensive examination, which led to the timely discovery of the hidden heart problem.

I should be grateful. But why do I feel so cold inside?

I returned home exhausted that night. Unusually, Yuntuan refused to approach me. From the top of the cat climbing frame, he stared down at me, his eyes strange and wary.

Then I saw it—it had a new collar around its neck. It was a silver smart positioning collar from the same series as the one he gave me.

"The old collar is broken." Gu Yanshen appeared behind him without him noticing, his voice so gentle it was chilling. "This one will let you know where it is at any time."

He caressed the cloud gently, as if he were caressing a precious work of art:

"That way it won't get lost again, right?"

I looked into his deep eyes and suddenly understood.

The timing of his mother's fainting was too coincidental. Yuntuan's collar broke at too coincidental. The timing of his cancellation was too coincidental.

Too many coincidences weave into an invisible web.

And I am the moth in the center of the web.

That night, I dreamed of running in the snow again. This time, I saw a boundary—a transparent glass wall, and beyond it lay a bustling world. I slapped my hands so hard that blood seeped from them.

Many people walked past the wall: Lin Wei, my college classmate, and myself, holding my resume.

They can't see me.

When I woke up, my pillowcase was wet. Gu Yanshen was patting my back gently: "Did you have a nightmare?"

I looked at his concerned expression and suddenly couldn't tell which was reality.

Was it me who was trapped in the snow in a dream? Or was it me who was really trapped in a golden cage?

Perhaps, there has never been any difference.

The next morning, I found the "broken" old collar in the trash can. I quietly picked it up and checked it. The buckle was intact, without even a scratch.

Holding the collar, I stood in the morning light for a long, long time.

Finally, I threw it back in the trash.

Some truths are more cruel when you know them.

It’s better to pretend that you know nothing, at least you can maintain superficial calm.

But somewhere deep down in my heart, something was completely broken.

I can never put it back together.

Outside, the hustle and bustle of the city was sealed off by double-glazed windows. Standing before the huge French windows, I watched the constant stream of people below. They hurried about, rushing about for their lives, yet they possessed what I longed for most: freedom.

Gu Yanshen hugged me from behind and rested his chin lightly on the top of my head.

"What are you looking at?" he asked, his voice filled with the laziness of waking up in the morning.

"Nothing." I answered softly, my eyes still following the unfamiliar figures on the street.

He gently turned me around so that I was facing him. In the morning light, his outline was particularly clear, and he was breathtakingly handsome.

"You just need to look at me." He held my face, his eyes focused, "My world is your world."

I looked into his deep, unfathomable eyes and suddenly remembered the message Lin Wei sent me yesterday. She said the interviewer was very interested in my resume and asked why I hadn't come.

Why?

Because I'm trapped in a cage woven of tenderness. This cage has no locks, yet it's stronger than any prison. This is because it's made of the toughest material in the world—control in the name of love.

He lowered his head to kiss me, and I subconsciously turned my head away. His movements paused, and the air froze again.

"Little Fish." There was a warning in his voice.

"I...I'll go prepare breakfast." I broke free from his arms and ran towards the kitchen.

In the reflection of the kitchen glass, I saw my pale face. My once bright eyes were now filled with fear and anxiety.

I know this silent war has just begun, and I've already lost at the starting line.

Because my opponent not only controls my present, but also carefully designs my future.

A future with no exit.

He built an isolated island for me. He was the only one on the island, and I was the only prisoner.