Mr. Shen, kneel properly.

Shen Zhao turned around. The staff member confirmed she was not concealing any items, then asked her to spread her fingers and lift her hair, checking the skin on her neck and wrists. The movements were calm, without unnecessary contact. Next, a pair of black leather wrist restraints were fastened around her wrists. "Place your hands behind you." Shen Zhao moved her hands behind her back. The wrist restraints were connected. The locks clicked shut. The staff member added a very narrow waist restraint, securing the wrist connection points to the center of her waistline. She couldn't bring her hands around to her sides, nor could she cover herself. Her shoulders were forced open by the backward pull of her arms, exposing her chest in the mirror. Then came a black chest strap. The leather wrapped around her upper body, fastening tightly behind her back. Two small silver bells hung from the center of the strap, simple in design, unadorned. Shen Zhao looked down. "What is this?" "To confirm you are following movement instructions." The staff member's reply was devoid of any implication. It was precisely for this reason that the two bells felt even more shameful. They were not jewelry, but tools to record her movements. Finally, a black collar was placed around her neck. The leather fit snugly against her skin, with a silver ring embedded at the front. Shen Zhao clearly heard a click as the lock tongue slid into place. The staff member then knelt down, fastening leather cuffs around her ankles. A short chain connected the two cuffs, just long enough for her to take small steps. Shen Zhao frowned. "Is this also part of the program?" "It restricts your stride." "I can see that." The staff member stood up and took hold of the leash attached to the front of the collar. "From now on, remain silent. Follow. Do not overtake the leader, and do not change direction on your own." Shen Zhao did not move. The leash slowly tightened. Her body was forced forward an inch, and the two small bells on her chest chimed with the movement. *Ding.* The sound was faint. But the changing room was too quiet. Shen Zhao's expression darkened. The staff member spoke again: "Forward." Shen Zhao took her first step. She was accustomed to walking with long strides. Her heels would fall, and people would naturally make way. But halfway through this step, the short chain around her ankles suddenly tightened. Her body lurched forward, and her bare feet had to grip the ground to regain her balance. The ankle chains clinked. The bells on her chest swayed along. *Clatter.* "Feet together." Shen followed the instruction and stood straight. "Kneel." She didn't move. The tether chain tightened slightly. The bell on her chest chimed softly with her breath. The more furious she became, the more her chest heaved, and the more the bell became impossible to hide. "I don't like to repeat myself," the attendant said. Shen stared at the iron ring on the floor. She had signed the rules. She could terminate. But she couldn't leave before seeing the Administrator. She slowly bent her knees. The short ankle chains made kneeling exceptionally awkward. She couldn't shift her weight by stepping out one leg as she normally would, only sinking down bit by bit within the limited stride. Her hands were also secured behind her back, leaving her body without any support. The ankle chains scraped against the floor. The bells jangled for a moment. Her knees finally touched the ground. The attendant unfastened the ankle chains, adjusted the distance between her knees, and then clipped the short chain at the front of the collar to the iron ring on the floor. The chain was short. She could breathe normally, could turn her head slightly, but couldn't truly lift her head. As soon as her neck extended upwards, the collar would be pulled by the iron ring. "Keep your knees in place. Soles of your feet flat on the ground. Hands must not move. Do not lift your head. Do not speak until the Administrator enters." The attendant left. The door lock clicked shut. The bells fell silent. Shen was alone in the room. As the lights flickered on, Shen Zhao didn't immediately open her eyes. The lingering moonlight from last night still clung to the glass dome, but the main lights of the greenhouse blazed to life without warning, illuminating the two black metal cages in stark clarity. She winced in the blinding white light, instinctively curling tighter into the blanket. The short chain on her wrist clinked against the bars with her movement. A crisp, metallic chime. The next second, her memories returned in full. Her wrists were still cuffed in front of her. The short chain between her ankles remained unreleased. The thin iron chain at the front of her neck extended from the black collar, locked securely to the base of the cage post. She was wearing only the thin, dark grey slip dress from last night. The hem, bunched up in her sleep, lay at her knees, and one shoulder strap had slipped down, revealing her neck and shoulders, pale in the cool morning light. The confined space didn't allow her to stand. She couldn't even fully extend her legs. As Shen Zhao tried to push herself up, the chain on her collar suddenly tightened along the ground. The cold metal ring pressed against the side of her neck, yanking her back towards the cage post. The cage door didn't open. Cheng Lu was already crouched outside. She was only hastily draped in a dark robe, her long hair falling behind her shoulders, her phone vibrating incessantly in her hand. The screen displayed a string of missed calls and rapidly appearing messages, the cold light reflecting on her face, making the rare flicker of uncertainty all the more pronounced. Shen Zhao glanced at her once, and her sleepiness vanished completely. "What happened?" Her voice was still hoarse from just waking. Cheng Lu didn't explain. She passed her ringing phone through the gap between the two cage bars. "Xu Manning." Shen Zhao reached out to take it. There was only a short chain between the wrist cuffs, forcing her to lift both hands simultaneously. She moved a little closer to the cage door, and the iron chain at the front of her neck immediately tightened, the collar forcing her chin up slightly, nearly causing the phone to slip from her restricted grasp. The maid gathered her long hair to one side. Cheng Lü was guided to lean forward, her neck resting on the cushion in the center of the wooden stocks. Her arms were spread to either side, wrists and forearms secured at the ends of the stocks. The upper wooden plank slowly closed. The latch clicked shut. The sound was faint. Yet, in that moment, Cheng Lü truly realized she could no longer turn her head. The only thing she could see clearly was Madam He, seated directly in front of her. Then came her legs. The young rope master approached from behind her. Cheng Lü couldn't see his movements. She could only feel her ankles being steadily supported. Her right calf was slowly folded upwards, brought close to the back of her thigh, and secured with wide, soft straps. With each tightening, he would pause briefly, checking the tension and circulation. Then came her left leg. The process was not rough. It was even overly cautious. And precisely because of this, she had to clearly feel her body gradually losing its freedom of movement. Once her legs were secured, her feet were raised behind her. The soles of her feet were completely exposed. Her toes couldn't touch anything; there was no support, no place to hide. Cheng Lü tried to move her right foot slightly. A silver chain slid over her ankle. The young rope master immediately adjusted the strap, rebalancing the tension. Her small attempt was not stopped. It was merely proven to be futile. Finally, the maid attached nipple clamps with tiny bells to her breasts. A brief discomfort caused Cheng Lü's spine to instantly tense. The bell rang once. Crisp. It echoed alone in the room. Any obvious evasion, struggle, or tremor would subsequently produce the same sound. "Wear according to the registered specifications. Connect to the waist system upon completion. Do not remove without permission from the Master, Mentor, or medical personnel." Shen Zhao complied with the instructions. The staff checked the placement, range of motion, and safety margins before connecting the external fasteners to the corresponding points on the back of the belt. A small lock clicked shut. *Click.* Shen Zhao's body tensed slightly. "Pain?" "No." "Does it affect normal standing and walking?" "No." "Good." The staff member confirmed on the tablet. "Report any persistent discomfort immediately. Do not conceal it due to shame or fear of affecting your score." "Yes." Next were the standard rings for her wrists and ankles. The staff picked up a pair of lightweight metal wrist cuffs, lined with soft padding on the inside, sized to fit her wrists perfectly. "Extend your hands." Shen Zhao offered her hands. Right hand. Fastened. Locked. Left hand. Fastened. Locked. The two wrist cuffs were not yet connected, each retaining a clear attachment point. The same applied to her ankles. Metal rings were fastened above her ankle bones, the inside smooth and free of edges, but the locks were securely sealed. One on each side, they could be kept separate normally and connected by a short chain when required by the curriculum. Shen Zhao looked down at her wrists and ankles. "Will these be on all the time?" "The basic rings are permanent." "I can't remove them myself?" "No." "What about showering?" "Unlocked according to regulations." "And using the restroom?" The staff member glanced at her. "Bodily functions do not require Master's approval." Shen Zhao paused. The other continued, "You apply for the unlocking of specific restraints, not for permission to use the restroom. Under normal circumstances, your paired Master manages necessary locks; in their absence, the duty Mentor handles it according to procedure. No one is permitted to prevent necessary bodily functions under the guise of training." Shen Zhao nodded. "Understood." "Respond." "Yes." Finally, it was time for the shoes. Black high-heeled ankle boots were placed before her. The uppers were minimalist, unadorned. The heels, however, were sufficiently high. Slender and straight. Shen Zhao looked at them, her eyes finally showing a hint of genuine interest. "Master, this is really uncomfortable." Tang Ning's palm rested on her waist, feeling through the material. "Is it too tight?" Shen Zhao shook her head. "It's not painful. It's just... I feel like even my breathing is being controlled." Tang Ning chuckled. "Isn't that exactly the point?" Shen Zhao had no retort. Madam Tang's reaction was more subtle. When the corset was first tightened, she merely let out a soft sigh, then forced herself to regain her composure. But Shen Zhao, standing close, noticed the significantly reduced rise and fall of Madam Tang's abdomen with each breath. She also saw Madam Tang's repeated attempts to conceal her discomfort with her usual elegant posture. Next came the single-arm gauntlet. This piece truly transformed the body. When Shen Zhao's arms were brought behind her back, her shoulders felt unaccustomed to the position. Her left and right forearms were brought together within a narrow structure. After her wrists were secured, Tang Ning adjusted the position of her elbows. Straps on the outside wrapped around her shoulders, arms, and chest, gradually fixing her entire upper body into a single posture. As the final clasp clicked shut, Shen Zhao tried to move. There was very little leeway. Her shoulders were forced back, her chest lifted, and her arms were no longer part of her balance system. In the past, when she lost her balance, her hands would instinctively reach out for a support without conscious thought; now, this instinct was completely removed. She took a small step to the side. Her body immediately swayed. Tang Ning steadied her by the waist. "You can't walk now?" "It's different when my hands can't move." "Then use your legs." "It's easy for Master to say." "It's you who has to walk." Shen Zhao was rendered speechless. Madam Tang had also just finished being secured. The first time she walked forward, she swayed even more noticeably than Shen Zhao, but she quickly regained her balance. Once re-stabilized, however, she habitually hid any trace of awkwardness, her shoulder line and leg angles as perfect as if nothing had happened. Shen Zhao glanced at her, and a very clear thought suddenly surfaced in her mind. This woman has been acting all along. Perhaps she doesn't even know it herself. After the wide collar was fastened, Shen Zhao quickly lost even the freedom to observe others. The collar was much wider than a regular training collar, extending from the sides of her neck up to her jawline and stabilizing her cervical spine at the back. She tried to lower her head to look at her feet, but as soon as she pressed down slightly, her chin hit the edge of the leather, forcing her to lift her head again. "Master, I can't see below." "You'll see even less later." Tang Ning said this and brought over the complete headpiece. The bit didn't completely prevent her from speaking, but it made the position of her tongue and the movement of her lips unnatural, turning ordinary words into slurred utterances. More noticeable were the side panels. As the straps tightened, Shen Zhao's world suddenly narrowed. What was previously visible in her peripheral vision – Madam Tang, Tang Ning, and the entire dock – was now completely cut off. She could only see a narrow strip directly in front of her. This feeling was stranger than being naked. Being naked merely allowed others to see her. The panels, however, meant she couldn't see others. She didn't know who was standing beside her, who was observing her. She could only keep her head in the position allowed by the collar, her gaze fixed forward, waiting for her Master to tell her where to go through voice and leash. Shen Zhao instinctively turned her head to find Tang Ning. The panels moved with the headpiece. She couldn't see anything. The next moment, Tang Ning's palm touched her cheek from behind and to the side. "Don't look. Master is here." Shen Zhao's tense shoulders relaxed slightly. Finally, it was time for the shoes. When the attendant placed the hoof-like high heels by her feet, Shen Zhao couldn't lower her head and could only catch a glimpse of their outline through the limited vision beneath the panels. Once her feet were secured inside, the first sensation wasn't the height, but the sudden absence of the familiar footing she was used to. Before she could even stand up straight, her calves tensed. Her body swayed backward. Her hands were locked behind her, unable to grab anything, her waist was cinched, and she couldn't even lower her head to confirm where she was stepping. In that instant, she almost instinctively tightened her thighs to prevent herself from losing her balance completely. Tang Ning was right beside her, steadying her. The ride from the dock to near the main building of the academy had been so long, she hadn't bothered to pinpoint where she was most exhausted. The corset held her abdomen in a near-rigid position, forcing each breath into her chest cavity. Her arms were bound behind her, numb from shoulder to elbow. The horse-hoof shoes were even more troublesome; her forefoot and calves were constantly tensed to maintain balance. By the latter half of the journey, each step felt like a reconfirmation of the ground beneath her. The most unbearable discomfort, however, came from her thighs. The repeated high-stepping motion had drained her muscles layer by layer. By the end, it wasn't soreness, but a fatigue so profound that a slight pause would send her legs trembling. So, when the carriage finally stopped, the first thought that surfaced in her mind was surprisingly simple. Finally, we're here. Tang Ning dismounted from the back, offering no word of release. The metal buckles were undone one by one, releasing the frame that had connected their chests and waists. The weight that had been pulling her body backward suddenly vanished, and Shen Zhao swayed forward uncontrollably. She instinctively reached out for balance, but her arms remained locked behind her. Her waist tightened sharply, and the hoof shoes on her feet struck the stone ground with an unpleasant clatter. Tang Ning was right beside her, one hand gripping the leather strap at her chest, steadying her. Shen Zhao couldn't see her full expression through the side guards, only a glimpse of her sleeve and the hand holding the strap. The bit in her mouth pressed uncomfortably against her jaw. She had intended to grunt through her nose to indicate she was fine, but the sound that escaped was more pathetic than she'd imagined. Tang Ning ignored it and turned to release Madam Tang's carriage. When the last connecting strap was loosened, both women were still clad in their full mare attire, from head to toe. Not a single strand of their tightly pulled-back hair was out of place. The stiff, wide neck collar still held her chin in its designated position, and the side guards obscured her peripheral vision. The bit remained in her mouth. Her arms were still locked behind her, and the corset, leather chest strap, leg restraints, and hoof shoes were all still in place. The small plaque on her chest, reading "Little Mare," brushed lightly against the leather with each breath. Shen Zhao had been expecting Tang Ning to come and remove at least one piece of her gear. Instead, Tang Ning simply attached two short leashes to their neck collars. "Come." The flicker of relief that had just ignited within Shen Zhao was instantly extinguished. She was led a few meters towards the other side of the plaza, only to realize Tang Ning was taking them to the training area. A large section of non-slip matting covered the ground, with training poles and equipment neatly arranged nearby. The afternoon sun slanted in from outside the eaves, and with few people in the open space, the area seemed particularly expansive. A terrible premonition suddenly washed over her. Tang Ning stopped and pressed down on the leashes. "Kneel." Shen Zhao almost cursed through the bit. After disembarking the carriage today, she had first been stripped of her "President Shen" persona and then transformed into a mare, pulling Tang Ning for such a distance. Now that the carriage was unloaded, the strength in her legs was nearly depleted, and instead of removing her gear, she was being told to kneel. But Tang Ning didn't repeat herself. The pressure on the leashes remained, not heavy, but leaving her no room to stand and stall. Shen Zhao froze for two seconds, then finally bent her knees. The hoof shoes made the action far more cumbersome than usual. She couldn't use her hands to brace herself, so she could only try to control her center of gravity, allowing her knees to land on the mat one by one. As her thighs folded, the accumulated soreness from the journey surged. Her waist and abdomen instinctively tried to retract, but were immediately forced back into a straight line by the corset and neck collar. Tang Ning had already picked up the leashes. Two metallic clicks were very clear. *Click.* *Click.* The two leashes were fastened to the metal rings at the front of the collars. Shen Zhao immediately felt a slight weight on the side of her neck. Tang Ning held one in each hand, gently pulling them back by half a palm's length. Both women were forced to look up. Only then did Shen Zhao truly see how absurd the scene before her was. Hours ago, she and Tang Ning had been sitting in front of Lu Heng discussing life plans, AI, and a group of people capable of truly changing her company's future. Ms. Tang, not to mention. For any public event, someone would prepare her gowns, lighting, cameras, and entrance route hours in advance. Now, the two of them were lying side-by-side on the floor. Their limbs were folded and secured. They had dog bones in their mouths. Their own little dog tags hung around their necks. Two black tails lay behind them. And all the leashes were in Tang Ning's hands. Tang Ning looked down at them. "Good." Shen Zhao let out a soft grunt. It was unclear if it was a protest or something else. Tang Ning looked at her. "Any objections?" Shen Zhao shook her head. "Then out." Both women looked up simultaneously. Tang Ning had already turned. The leashes pulled forward at a slight angle. "Walk." Only after actually stepping outside did Shen Zhao realize that the two meters in the room couldn't be considered learned at all. The indoor padding was at least flat. But there was a very low threshold at the doorway. She extended her elbows first, and after her shoulders cleared, she realized her knees were still behind. What was usually a single step now required moving her entire body in two stages. Ms. Tang waited for her behind.