The Shackled Asylum Life

"Young Master Zhou, this is the batch of 'goods,' all top-quality, guaranteed clean." The middle-aged man following behind bowed, rubbing his hands and smiling obsequiously. The girls recognized him; it was the trafficker Old Wang who had abducted them from various places. Zhou Mo appeared to be only eighteen or nineteen, yet he possessed a composure and authority beyond his years. He tapped his fingers lightly on the iron cage, producing a crisp metallic sound. "Open the cage," he said, his voice soft but leaving no room for argument. Old Wang quickly produced a key, and the iron cage door creaked open. The girls instinctively recoiled, huddling together. Zhou Mo took a delicate wooden box from his attendant. Upon opening it, ten pairs of cold, gleaming shackles were neatly arranged inside. Each pair was attached to a thin chain, appearing to weigh about three pounds. "Listen, little things," Zhou Mo's voice was eerily gentle. "I have ten spots. Those who wish to come home with me, come forward and put these on." He nudged the shackles on the floor with his toe. "Those who don't, stay here." The warehouse fell into a deathly silence. Ten pairs of terrified eyes stared at the shackles, then at the mysterious Young Master Qi, the only sound the heavy, uneven breaths of the girls. Fourteen-year-old Su Ya was the oldest among them, with short, neat hair and a defiant gaze. She subtly squeezed the hand of the girl next to her and whispered, "Don't listen to him, this is definitely a trap." "But staying here will be worse..." Twelve-year-old Lin Xiaoyu pushed up non-existent glasses on her nose, a habit when she was nervous. "I heard last week a girl was sold to a black coal mine..." "How do you know he's not even more twisted?" "It's better than being sold to those places." Xu Mingyue, also thirteen but with a stubbornness like a young bull, unlike Lin Xiaoyu's timid nature, spoke up. "But I'd rather die than wear those things!" Ten-year-old Tang Feifei's eyes were red and swollen from crying. She asked timidly, "Will... will wearing those... hurt a lot?" Zhou Mo seemed amused by the girls' hushed whispers. He leaned back in his chair, waiting with leisure. "Five minutes to decide," he said, glancing at his watch. "When time's up, those who haven't put them on will stay here forever." "He's lying!" Su Ya raised her voice. "If we put on the shackles, we'll truly become slaves!" "But at least we can leave this hell..." Thirteen-year-old An Jing said softly. True to her name, she was usually quiet, but now her eyes gleamed with the will to survive. "I... I'm willing to wear them. I... I'll go first." To everyone's surprise, the first to step forward was the usually timid eleven-year-old Bai Xiaorou. Trembling, she walked to the shackles and clumsily tried to fasten them onto her slender ankle. Zhou Mo nodded approvingly and gestured for his attendant to help her. The sound of the metal clasp closing was jarring in the silent room. "Traitor!" Su Ya gritted her teeth. Bai Xiaorou lowered her head, tears falling in large drops onto the floor. "I'm sorry... I just want to live..." With the first, came the second. The twelve-year-old twin sisters – the lively Zhao Huanhuan and the quiet Zhao Lele – walked forward hand in hand. "Sister, what do we do?" Zhao Lele whispered. Zhao Huanhuan bit her lip. "It's better than being bought by those old men..." They put on the shackles together, the metallic weight causing them to stumble. Next was thirteen-year-old Chen Sisi, the prettiest of the girls, and thus the one who had suffered the most humiliation. "I've had enough of being treated like cargo," she said coldly, fastening the shackles herself with a decisive movement. The black van drove for about three hours, a fearful silence filling the cargo space. Eleven girls huddled in the dark confines, the occasional clink of shackles the only reminder of each other's presence. The air was thick with the scent of leather and dread. Su Ya tried to orient herself by sound, but the windows were clearly treated, muffling even the rumble of tires on the road. "Where... are we going?" Tang Feifei asked, her voice trembling with tears. She was only ten, and the three-jin shackles on her feet already felt heavy, chafing red marks around her delicate ankles. "Shut up," a guard snapped roughly, his flashlight beam sweeping across the girls' pale faces. "No talking." Lin Xiaoyu quietly counted the turns and their directions, a habit from being a mathematician's daughter – data brought a sense of security. The shackle chains were fixed to iron rings on the van floor. Each turn of the vehicle sent a jangle through the chains, but after the seventh turn, she gave up. Either they were deliberately taking a circuitous route, or the destination itself was built within a labyrinth. About three hours later, the van stopped. The girls were roughly pulled out, the cold night air making them shiver. Even with blindfolds obscuring her vision, Su Ya could sense this was no ordinary place – the air carried a peculiar floral scent mixed with something like disinfectant, and the stone path beneath her feet was unnaturally smooth. "One by one, no sudden movements," the guard's cold voice commanded. The girls were led out, their shackles scraping harshly against the concrete. Su Ya counted her steps – seventeen stairs, then a smooth marble floor, and the blast of cool air conditioning, carrying a scent of expensive wood. "Remove their blindfolds," Zhou Mo's voice came from ahead. As light flooded back into her vision, Su Ya blinked to adjust. They stood in a vast foyer, a towering ceiling adorned with a crystal chandelier, classical oil paintings lining the walls, and an exquisite Persian rug underfoot. If not for the shackles, it could have been a wealthy man's mansion. "Line up," Zhou Mo's voice came from the front, sounding pleased. "Grab the shoulder of the person in front of you." Metal chains clinked as the girls awkwardly formed a line. Su Ya felt a quiet hand on her shoulder, trembling slightly but still firm. She reached forward, her fingers brushing against Lin Xiaoyu's slender shoulder. They were led through a winding path, sometimes ascending, sometimes descending. Tang Feifei tripped over her own shackles, letting out a small sob, but was immediately pulled up by a guard and forced to continue. Finally, a heavy door creaked open, and the girls were ushered into a warm space. It was a hall fit for a palace, crystal chandeliers hanging from the soaring ceiling, illuminating the exquisite oil paintings and marble columns on the surrounding walls. The girls huddled together, their shackles clanking. Twelve-year-old Lin Xiaoyu pushed up her non-existent glasses and whispered, "A three-story villa, at least two thousand square meters by estimation, walls about three meters high with electric fencing... escape difficulty coefficient is very high." "Shut up, bookworm," thirteen-year-old Chen Sisi glared at her, her beautiful face contorted with disgust. "This was all your stupid idea, and now we're really slaves." Zhou Mo seemed amused by their squabble, walking closer. "Adapting well, already engaging in internal conflict." He crouched down, meeting the girls' eyes. "But don't worry, I will 'take good care' of you." His tone was chillingly gentle. Fourteen-year-old An Jing suddenly spoke, "Why us?" Zhou Mo raised an eyebrow. "Good question." He stood up and snapped his fingers. Several guards in black suits pushed a metal trolley forward, neatly arranged with eleven pairs of noticeably heavier shackles. "Because you made the 'right' choice." He picked up a new shackle, its metal glinting coldly in the light. These shackles were clearly thicker and heavier than the ones they were currently wearing. "Welcome to my home," Zhou Mo spread his arms, his black suit shimmering like silk under the lights. "From today, this is also your home." Lin Xiaoyu quickly estimated the weight of the new shackles, her face turning ashen. "At... at least nine jin..." "Nine jin exactly," Zhou Mo gave her an approving look. "You're very smart. These are custom-made nine-jin steel shackles, lined with soft leather, so they won't chafe your delicate skin." He presented the details like a salesman. "Much more advanced than what you're wearing now." The girls exchanged glances. The three-jin shackles already made movement difficult; nine jin was unimaginable. "No!" Su Ya recoiled sharply. "We won't wear those!" Zhou Mo sighed, as if addressing a disobedient child. "I thought you understood the rules." He walked towards the youngest, Tang Feifei, and crouched down to her level. "Would you like to wear this pretty bracelet?" Tang Feifei's tears streamed down her face, but looking into Zhou Mo's gentle eyes, she nodded softly. Lin Xiaoyu took the phone and quickly checked its functions: "LAN service... internal communication... the video platform is a custom version..." She looked up at Zhou Mo, her eyes flashing with a complex light, "This is highly technological." "I like smart people," Zhou Mo nodded appreciatingly, then turned to everyone, "Alright, take your time to look around, familiarize yourselves with the environment, and go check out your rooms." With that, he left the girls standing before their respective doors, the ankle cuffs casting eerie shadows on the opulent carpet. He watched them silently, as if lost in thought. Su Ya tried to walk with long strides, the chains clanking. "Like walking with two dumbbells," she quipped sarcastically, "Such thoughtful health management." Tang Feifei stood on the marble floor of the main hall, the nine-jin ankle cuffs following her every step like two cast-iron pets. As Zhou Mo had just announced they could tour the entire mansion, the silver-gray shackles on the girls' ankles glinted coldly in the sunlight. Tang Feifei held the chains of the ankle cuffs with both hands, as if carrying an overly heavy gift, shuffling forward step by step. The nine-jin weight was too much for her slender frame, and she had to stop and gasp for breath every few steps. The specially designed lining of the cuffs indeed didn't chafe her skin—Zhou Mo had made sure to show off the soft lambskin padding—but the physical weight was not lessened. Tang Feifei stood in the middle of the hallway, her eyes reddening, her small body trembling slightly. The chains of the ankle cuffs lay on the carpet like a coiled snake. Zhou Mo stopped and looked back at her. His expression was not impatient; it even held a hint of gentle concern. "Feifei, what's wrong?" he asked, his voice soft. "The ankle cuffs... they're too heavy," she bit her lip, tears welling up in her eyes. "Can you... can you take them off for a moment? Just for a little while..." Before Mr. Zhou could respond, she clutched her reddened ankles and finally couldn't help but cry out, "Mr. Zhou... can you... can you take them off for a bit? Just for a bit... I want to see my room properly..." Her voice grew softer and softer, until it was barely audible. The other girls stopped moving, and the air suddenly became tense—she was the first to directly ask to have the ankle cuffs removed. Zhou Mo squatted down, meeting Feifei's gaze. This posture made him appear much more approachable. "Little Fei, the ankle cuffs are to prevent you from escaping," he said softly, with even a hint of apology. "Just... just for a moment..." Feifei's large eyes were filled with tears, but they didn't fall. "I promise I won't run..." Zhou Mo sighed, his expression almost tender. "No, that won't do. What if I take them off and one of you tries to escape? This weight is just enough to make you unable to run, or run fast. Get used to it." But the other girls were already captivated by the luxury before them. The twins, Zhao Huanhuan and Zhao Lele, had already rushed into their respective rooms, letting out surprised screams. The twins, Zhao Huanhuan and Zhao Lele, supported each other, forming a peculiar tripod-like gait; as for Su Ya... Su Ya refused to adapt. She let the chains drag on the floor, making a harsh noise, even though it consumed more energy. But the most heartbreaking was Feifei. She lifted the chains, but her arm strength was insufficient, and she would get tired and gasp for breath after a few steps. Finally, she invented a method of (drag-stop-drag): she would drag the chains for three steps, then put them down to rest, and then continue. It took her a full ten minutes to walk to her room and look around. "At least it's better than a cage," Chen Sisi said, dragging her ankle cuffs into her room and closing the door. Su Ya looked at Lin Xiaoyu. "Don't you find this very strange?" Lin Xiaoyu pushed up her non-existent glasses (a habit when she was nervous). "From a cybernetic perspective, this is a more advanced form of domestication. Giving superficial freedom while restricting more fundamental rights..." "Speak human." "He's making us accustomed to being penned in," Lin Xiaoyu whispered. "Like a zoo giving animals larger cages to make visitors think they're living well." Su Ya bit her lip. She walked towards her room and stopped at the door. "We need to stay in touch. Who knows what he really wants to do." Lin Xiaoyu nodded and also walked towards her room. Su Ya's room was more luxurious than any place she had ever lived. She tentatively sat on the bed—the mattress was so soft she almost sank into it. On the nightstand, there was a plate of fresh fruit and several hardcover books. She picked one up, *1984*, which was ironically amusing. She began to inspect the room carefully. The wardrobe was filled with well-fitting clothes; the bathroom was stocked with high-end toiletries; there was even a small refrigerator filled with drinks and snacks. But every window had security bars, and what unsettled her the most was that there were no obvious surveillance devices, yet she was certain someone was watching. The shackles on her feet reminded her of her true situation. The nine-jin weight made every step more strenuous than usual, and red marks had already appeared on the inside of her ankles. She found the first-aid kit and carefully applied a band-aid. Her phone suddenly rang. It was a group chat invitation—Lin Xiaoyu had created a chat group for the girls only. "Have you checked your rooms?" Lin Xiaoyu posted. "It's amazing! There's a bubble bath!" Zhao Huanhuan replied, with a photo of the bathtub. "The TV can watch all the cartoons!" Tang Feifei sent a smiley face. Su Ya frowned and typed: "Don't you guys find it strange? We're still wearing shackles!" An Jing replied: "But at least we're not being beaten or starved. My last buyer..." The message abruptly cut off. Su Ya waited for a moment, but An Jing didn't add anything else. She walked onto the balcony. Although she couldn't leave, she could see the balconies of the other girls' rooms. Lin Xiaoyu, in the room opposite, was gesturing to her from her balcony – pointing to her eyes, then to a corner of the room. Following the hint, Su Ya finally spotted a nearly invisible black dot on the edge of a decorative picture frame – a camera. "All rooms have surveillance," Lin Xiaoyu messaged in the group chat. "Be careful what you say." The girls' replies immediately became more cautious. In the afternoon, they were allowed to move around in the central garden. The garden was enclosed by high walls but was cleverly designed with a fountain, a pavilion, and a small maze. The shackles left long trails on the grass. Fei Fei was practicing walking in the garden. She could now walk with the iron chain dragging more smoothly, though her posture was still awkward. "How does it feel?" Zhou Mo appeared suddenly, holding a glass of red wine, looking as relaxed as if she were hosting guests in her own backyard – in a sense, she was. "Why are you still making us wear these things that torture us?" Su Ya directly questioned, lifting her foot to reveal the shackles. "Since you've given us such nice rooms." Zhou Mo took a sip of wine. "Torture?" Zhou Mo raised an eyebrow. "They're living in a million-dollar mansion, eating Michelin-star food, and wearing custom-made clothes. How many people in the world dream of such a life?" "At the cost of our freedom!" Zhou Mo suddenly laughed. "Su Ya, you think people outside are free? Office workers are bound by mortgages, students are held hostage by grades. Everyone has an invisible chain around their neck, they just pretend not to see it." After this conversation, the girls' adaptation process began to diverge noticeably. Zhou Mo smiled without answering and then asked, "Do you like your rooms?" Most of the girls nodded, even if reluctantly. Only Su Ya remained silent. "Very good," Zhou Mo glanced at her watch. "Dinner starts at seven, buffet style. For now, continue to enjoy your 'freedom'."