Canary in a cage

The black Maybach slid into the underground garage of the Platinum Residences as quietly as a ghost. After the engine was turned off, the interior of the car fell into a nearly stagnant silence.

Lin Qingyue pushed open the car door, her high heels making a crisp sound as they landed on the ground. "Follow me." She didn't turn around, her tone as casual as if she was greeting a newly purchased and satisfactory collection.

Shen Yu hurriedly got out of the car and followed her, his heart beating wildly in his chest, almost breaking his ribs. In his mind, he desperately rehearsed the terrifying and shameful things that might happen next.

The elevator climbed silently to the top floor.

The elevator door opened, and a sense of extreme luxury and cold emptiness hit him. The high-ceilinged lobby, with floor-to-ceiling windows covering an entire wall, offered a breathtaking view of the city at night. The minimalist decor, each item costing a fortune, seemed cold and distant, a stark contrast to his previous surroundings, leaving him feeling even more disoriented.

Lin Qingyue casually tossed her expensive handbag onto the sofa, as if it were just an ordinary item. She casually glanced at Shen Yu, who stood awkwardly in the middle of the living room, his body as tense as a string. His nervousness and fear were almost tangible, his beautiful eyes filled with uneasiness, like a small animal that had strayed into the territory of a ferocious beast.

Lin Qingyue had originally harbored some lingering desire to bring him back for a taste; his face and vulnerable demeanor suited her taste. But now, under the bright overhead light, the lingering youthfulness of his face was remarkably clear. Sixteen years old. That number quickly dispelled any alluring thoughts within her. She, Lin Qingyue, had no interest in preying on a minor.

"That's the second bedroom, you live in it." She pointed in the direction, her tone a little lighter than before, more like giving orders, "There are new clothes in the closet, change yourself. There are food in the refrigerator, make it yourself when you are hungry." She walked to the wine cabinet and poured a glass of wine, with no intention of explaining the "work" in detail, as if he was just a vase that needed a place to be placed and was only for appreciation.

She turned and leaned against the island, her gaze resting on him once more. This time, it was pure, undisguised admiration, as if she were examining a fine work of art she had finally acquired. "He really looks just the way I like him," she chuckled, a hint of pure satisfaction. "Just stay quiet and let me enjoy your presence."

She approached him, her cold fingertips grasping his chin, forcing him to lift his face. She examined it closely, as if confirming the details of the auction item. "You've lost a bit of weight, but it'll be fine after some rest." She patted his face gently, with the casualness of a master treating a precious possession. "Be good and don't cause me any trouble, and I'll treat you well. Otherwise..." She paused, but the meaning of her unfinished words was crystal clear—she would lose this "favor" and be kicked out.

Shen Yu's body trembled almost imperceptibly, and he lowered his eyelashes and whispered, "Yes, Mr. Lin. I understand."

The expected invasion didn't come, which allowed his highly tense nerves to relax a little. She seemed...really just asking him to "stay"? Although her tone was still like treating an object, at least it seemed safe for the time being.

Lin Qingyue, pleased with his tact, withdrew her hand. "Get familiar with the surroundings," she said, then walked towards the master bedroom, wine glass in hand, without even glancing at him.

The master bedroom door was closed, and Shen Yu was the only one left in the huge living room. He stood there for a long time, until he was sure that there was no more movement in the master bedroom, then he slowly moved his stiff body. He walked to the French window and looked at the city lights that were as bright as the stars under his feet, but there was no joy in his heart, only a huge sense of unreality and a deeper confusion.

The crisis was temporarily resolved, but a new anxiety quietly grew. He clearly understood his role—a beautiful, temporary object of appreciation. But how long would this "viewing" value last? What if she grew tired of it? He had to do something, demonstrate more value, to stay a little longer in this seemingly gorgeous, yet actually fragile, new environment. He didn't want to be kicked out.

He spent a long time studying the high-end yet unfamiliar bathing facilities in the room before finishing his shower. He didn't dare to touch anything else. He ended up curled up on the soft chair in the corner of the second bedroom, staring at the unfamiliar night scene outside the window, and spent a restless and confused night.

The next morning, Shen Yu woke up at daybreak. Or rather, he had hardly slept all night. He tiptoed out of the room and found that the apartment was unusually quiet. Lin Qingyue had obviously not gotten up yet.

A strong urge to do something drove him. He couldn't just sit there like a decoration.

Shen Yu carefully opened the refrigerator, and the rich and expensive ingredients inside made him stunned. He recalled the way Lin Qingyue drank last night, and guessed that she might need something to warm her stomach. He used those unfamiliar kitchen appliances that shone with cold metallic light with extreme caution, trying to make a small pot of light but fragrant lean meat porridge, and carefully fried two perfectly shaped sunny-side-up eggs. When arranging the dishes, he even subconsciously decorated them to make them look more delicious.

When Lin Qingyue walked out of the bedroom in her pajamas, feeling a little grumpy after waking up, she saw this scene: a seemingly good breakfast was placed on the dining table, and the handsome boy was standing by the table at a loss, his eyes full of nervousness and cautious expectation, like a puppy trying to retrieve a frisbee and waiting for his owner's approval.

"You did it?" Lin Qingyue raised an eyebrow in surprise. She really didn't expect him to do anything.

"Well... I don't know if it suits your taste." Shen Yu's voice was low and tentative.

Lin Qingyue sat down, noncommittal, and took a sip of the porridge. It was the perfect temperature, with a delicate texture, surprisingly to her liking. She said nothing, but the slightly relaxed frown and the movement of taking another spoonful betrayed her satisfaction.

She ate breakfast quietly, and Shen Yu stood by with his hands hanging down, nervously observing her every subtle reaction. Until she put down the spoon, he mustered up the courage to ask in a low voice: "Do you need anything else?"

"No thanks." Lin Qingyue picked up the napkin and wiped her mouth. Her eyes lingered for a moment on his face, which was slightly red from being busy. "It tastes okay."

Just a few simple words, not even a compliment, but it made Shen Yu's heart fall back to reality, and even a tiny, almost imperceptible joy surged up. He found the first small fulcrum to stay here and stand on.

"I have to go to school later..." he said in a low voice, asking for permission.

"Go ahead. I'll ask the driver to take you." Lin Qingyue waved her hand, not caring about these details. Her attention had returned to the financial news on her tablet.

Shen Yu secretly breathed a sigh of relief, quietly and quickly cleaned up the tableware, put it back in its place, and everything returned to its original state before he carefully left the apartment to go to school. The moment he closed the door, he leaned against the cold metal door and took a deep breath.

He knew that being "beautiful" and "quiet" alone was not enough, and he had to discover more of his "usefulness" in order to stay safely in this gorgeous golden cage.