Snow's Shackled Life

Why? He was the one who locked me up, as if he had done something wrong. I felt extremely wronged, and tears welled up in my eyes, flowing down slowly. After Boss Wan left, he came back. I was as scared and frightened as a child who had made a mistake. He took out the "toys" he had hidden in a box: a pair of handcuffs and shackles. A smile appeared on his face... "Put them on yourself." Holding the shackles, I looked at the hills not far away outside the window, fantasizing about escaping. But reality crushed me. Looking at the shackles in my hand, I thought that escaping now would be even more difficult. However, my remaining reason told me about the serious consequences that might occur. After weighing the options, reason ultimately could not overcome fear. I put them on myself. He checked the shackles on my ankles. He reached out and snatched the key, walking away and saying, "You just stay here." My shackles were silver-white, with cylindrical metal ends. The outer side was a perfect circle, while the inner side was more oval-shaped to fit my ankle. The lock cylinder was on top of the cylinder. The chain in the middle when the shackles were opened was only about thirty to forty centimeters long. After locking them, my legs could only take very small steps, about a little more than one foot at a time. Originally, the length of the shackles would not have made me so awkward when walking. Later, I once disliked the chain of the shackles being too long, so I found a small plum blossom padlock to lock some of the chain links in the middle. Then, when unlocking them, I unfortunately broke the key inside. Thus, my shackles became this short. After locking the shackles on my feet, I checked the time. It was around six in the evening. I hesitated and looked at the scenery outside the window, planning my escape. What if something happened? Even gods couldn't save me. While feeling worried, I suddenly felt that doing so might be more interesting. Anyway, no one here knew me, and if I were discovered, I would probably be tortured even more severely. After thinking it over, I couldn't come up with any good ideas, so I decided to sleep. After the "didi" sound rang five times, a louder sound finally rang out. My heart, along with the sound, let go of its杂乱 thoughts and became relaxed. After all, things could no longer be changed, right? The Bodhisattva said, "Worrying about things that cannot be changed is useless." + After I finished the task of tidying up the room with the shackles on, my excitement had passed, and coincidentally, I was hungry. Boss Wan came and knocked on the door. Seeing that there was nothing in the room, "Dong... Dong... Dong" Boss Wan knocked with more force than last time. At this moment, I only wanted to find an excuse to send him away. "What is it? I'm taking a shower now," I said, mustering up my courage. "Then after your shower, come out and find me. I'll wait for you outside," Boss Wan's voice gradually faded. Before I could relax, "Hurry up," Boss Wan shouted from outside the door again, as if he wasn't making me flustered enough. However, it was not long before my irrationality caused me to be toyed with by the unpredictable fate. "Even though you helped me before, this is really too much," I asked first. The last bit of affection in my heart was gone. I don't want to play anymore. Whether it's a prank or drunken madness, I don't want to endure it anymore. "Unlock me and let me go. I'm calling the police!" I shouted angrily with a crying voice. Seeing me like this, he just laughed, as if mocking my useless tears. Seeing this, I became completely angry and didn't want to see him again. I turned around and wanted to open the door and go directly to the police station, regardless of whether I would be humiliated in this state. I just wanted to teach this bastard a lesson. Before I could succeed, a large hand grabbed my arm, and his other hand choked my neck. His arm was as if cast in iron. No matter how much I struggled, I couldn't break free. "Let go, you bastard, why are you hitting me?" I gritted out the words with difficulty. He choked harder. "Stop making trouble, Xiao Xue." The hand that was gripping my arm moved to my face, wiping away the tears on my cheeks, and then stroked my head. I felt like I couldn't breathe. "Let... cough cough..." Accompanied by my struggles, the shackles clanged 'ding ding dang dang' incessantly. "Xiao Xue, you have two choices: either die in an unnoticed corner, or obediently be a pet that I keep." His voice was very calm, as if he were talking about something trivial. But the force in his hands did not lessen at all. I didn't even hear what he said clearly because I was already dizzy from being choked and couldn't exert any strength. Tears gushed from the corners of my eyes, and I couldn't care about anything else anymore. The fear of death made me abandon all dignity. "... Uh... cough cough cough..." I wanted to agree to his request, but I couldn't speak at all. I could only nod desperately, wanting to tell him that I obeyed. He seemed not to see it and said, "Hmm? You're not speaking, so I'll assume you've agreed, Xiao Xue." He carried two bags of vegetables, "Didn't you say yesterday you could cook?" "I bought them specifically for you because I was afraid you'd be bored. Just for fun." He handed the bags to me. "Go on, let me taste Xiao Xue's cooking." So, I reluctantly began to prepare a meal for him. He pulled a chair to the kitchen doorway, sat down, and watched me quietly. "What are your thoughts on your current life? How's the pet experience?" Thoughts? I just feel like I'm wasting my youth. Here, besides improving my tolerance, I don't seem to learn anything else. "Pain, so painful it feels like my heart is being cut by a knife." I answered him while washing vegetables with handcuffs on. "Pain is also a part of life. Only with contrast can one truly appreciate the meaning of happiness." Isn't this all your doing? I'm already used to his daily taunts. My mindset hasn't changed at all. "Oh, by the way, I have good news for you. Your new equipment is ready and you can wear it this afternoon." His voice was casual and flat, but it shattered the composure I had worked so hard to maintain. "Oh." My movements, which almost cut my hand, revealed my unease. My heart was far from as calm as my reply. The new shackles he made for me must be stronger and harder to escape than the ones I'm wearing now. Alas! Will I ever be free again? The meal was ready. The beautifully presented dishes were placed before him. He took a bite first and exclaimed, "Mmm... Delicious! I didn't know Xiao Xue could cook so well. It tastes better than restaurant food. You've read so many books, know so much, and can cook so well. Xiao Xue, you're truly amazing." Yes, I've learned so much, but do you think it's to serve you? "What's the use of all that? I'm still locked up here by you, suffering every day." I said with self-mockery, then picked up my chopsticks, intending to taste it too. Then, he took the chopsticks from my hand. "What?" I asked, confused. Am I not even allowed to eat the meal I worked so hard to prepare? "I'll feed you." He picked up a piece of green vegetable. "Come on, open your mouth." "Hmph, boring." That's what I said, but I still obediently opened my mouth. By the time the food got cold, I had only eaten half a meal, my mouth smeared with the vegetable oil from him feeding me. After the meal, he told me to take a bath, saying he had a new outfit for me, suitable for wearing with the new shackles. He unlocked the handcuffs I had been wearing for six or seven days. However, he only unlocked the right cuff, allowing me to take off the somewhat dirty Hanfu. This was the first time I had undressed in front of an outsider, leaving me in just my underwear, completely exposed to his gaze. "So it really is this small. I thought it was the clothes." He pinched my barely contoured breasts, saying in surprise, "If you don't look closely, you can barely see them!" "Hmph, none of your business!" I slapped his hand away, a blush rising on my somewhat shy face. I walked to the bathroom, and he followed me in. I thought he wanted to watch me bathe, but he merely locked the unlocked right cuff to the bars by the window and then left. The showerhead was installed near the window, allowing my free right hand to use it. "Is this really necessary?" I moved my long-restrained wrist. The marks left by the handcuffs on my right wrist were clearly visible. Even if I weren't restrained at all right now, I couldn't escape. Does this guy think I'm Superman? Capable of breaking through a security door or the new bars he welded. In a short while, I finished washing. But to my embarrassment, he hadn't returned yet, and I couldn't put on my underwear through the gap in the leg shackles with only one hand. Standing naked for a long time, my legs grew numb, and only then did he return with clothes. Since my left hand was still locked to the bars, I had to cover myself with my right hand, shyly squeezed into a corner. Seeing my strange posture and nakedness, he chuckled, "Xiao Xue, are you waiting for me to put on your underwear?" Although it was incredibly embarrassing, I ended up having him put on my underwear while I was still bare-assed, and he didn't forget to pat my butt after he was done. He told me this outfit was also custom-made, very resistant to dirt and wear, and dried quickly after washing. Until the clothes that allow me to freely put them on and take them off after I wear the new shackles are ready, I'll have to wear this Hanfu. The shackles were intricately carved with exquisite patterns, their shape similar to the ones I wore, with an outer circle and an inner oval that conformed to the wrist. "These shackles are made entirely of tungsten alloy, and the chain is TB64, the material this factory produced the most of previously. It's one of the best cost-effective materials in terms of hardness, toughness, and wear resistance," Boss Wan explained to me. "This material was highly classified in the past, usually used in fields like aerospace or drilling where metal performance requirements are extremely high. However, due to its exorbitant cost and low production capacity, it was eventually replaced by cheaper alternatives. But even now, those substitutes can't match the performance of TB64." The lock chain, crafted from that incredibly strong material, was a silvery-gray. Under the sunlight, it emitted a faint glow, and my mood sank, a strange feeling washing over me. It felt as though this chain was destined to accompany me for a lifetime, firmly bound to my body, never to be separated. "Unlike the chain, the material used for the shackles is HB9, known for its wear and high-temperature resistance. Compared to the more versatile TB64, this material is slightly inferior in all aspects except for wear and high-temperature resistance." After the explanation, he removed the handcuffs and leg shackles I was wearing and took the despairingly sturdy, integrated restraints from the uncle. The way they were put on was quite simple. He pulled on the shackle ring, detaching a curved metal strip. The circular shackle then became incomplete, forming a C-shape. I placed my wrist through the gap, and then he reinserted the curved metal strip, completing the shackle. The remaining shackles were attached in the same manner to my hands and feet. So light! That was my first impression of these restraints; they were much lighter than the previous pair, so light it felt strange. So short! That was my second impression. The two shackle rings for my hands were connected by a mere three metal rings, and two of those rings were actually halves. These half-rings were attached to the shackle rings, and a full ring in the middle connected them. The length between my hands was only four or five centimeters. This was too short; I felt like even reading a book would be difficult from now on. The chain connecting the handcuffs and leg shackles was also very short. When I stood up, my hands could barely reach my waist, and even stretching my fingers to their limit, I couldn't touch my shoulders. The leg shackles were about the same length as my previous ones, but I could still feel they were a bit shorter. Once they were on, I immediately felt a more intense sense of restraint than before. In this state, forget about escaping; I would probably need help even with daily life. Looking at the exquisite patterns on these despair-inducing restraints, I made a new discovery: there was a small hole on each shackle ring. Looking through this hole, I could see that the inside of the shackle was hollow, and each shackle had such a hole. [Image of shackles] No wonder they felt so light; they were hollow inside. The uncle then methodically brought over a collar, which was attached to a chain about two meters long. The collar itself was about two centimeters wide and less than a centimeter thick. Other than that, it was the same as the shackles on my body, with carved patterns on the surface and a hole. After the collar was put on, the uncle made no further movements. It seemed like these were all the equipment for now, and I thought it was over. But Boss Wan then rolled up the sleeves of my Hanfu and pulled me towards that strange machine. The machine had a groove that perfectly fit the two wrists, complete with handcuffs. The uncle came over and inserted a curved white board into the gap between my wrist and the shackle. My hands were placed into the groove, and with a click, my hands were firmly secured, completely immobilized. The uncle then attached the machine's lid, which had two funnel-shaped openings. What is this for? I looked at Boss Wan with confusion. "The outer shell of the shackles is made of the most heat-resistant material, while the core material is TB99, the best performing material developed by this factory back then. It's several times stronger than TB64, which is used for the chain, and is undoubtedly the strongest material in the world. However, due to its even higher cost and extreme difficulty in shaping, it was rarely used, ultimately leading to the factory's downfall." I had a rough idea of what the holes were for. "So, those holes are for pouring in melted TB99?" Doesn't that mean that once the world's strongest material completely solidifies, these restraints will be permanently locked onto me? I don't want that. How will I face my family then? How will I live the next few decades of my life? I regret it. I shouldn't have come out traveling alone. I shouldn't have agreed to be his pet. I should have run away. As I squatted on the chair to eat, I continued to experience the power of my new mouth accessory. First, I spat out the metal ball, letting it hang from my mouth. Then, with my shackled hands, I picked up a piece of food. My tongue strained against the weight of the metal ball, forcing the food into my mouth. Finally, I used my chopsticks to support the saliva-covered metal ball before I could chew. Even so, the thin chain attached to the metal ball made it difficult to bite down, causing considerable trouble. After many attempts, I barely managed to get the hang of it. Soon, before I could even swallow the food in my mouth, a strong electric current surged through me. "Mmm..." I let out a pained groan, forced to endure the current. I quickly swallowed the food, then used my shackled hands to push the small ball back into my mouth. The metal ball shocked my hands upon contact, nearly causing me to drop it. As the electric shock subsided, I spat out the metal ball, now covered in rice and saliva, letting it dangle beneath my mouth again. Every time I spat out the metal ball, the saliva clinging to it would smear across my face. This time was no exception. To fill my stomach, my face was already covered in grease and drool. My already frayed emotions were pushed further to the brink. To eat, I suppressed the urge to lash out and prepared to repeat the tedious process, struggling to take another bite. The moment I grasped the food, a familiar electric jolt stung my tongue. This time, the random interval was too short. "Ah!!! Fuck!" I could no longer hold back, my emotions completely spiraling out of control. What the hell is this damn thing? Can't a person even eat in peace? I abandoned my meal, violently flinging the porcelain bowl and chopsticks on the floor. The clatter of chains and the shattering of ceramic mingled into a grating sound that filled me with loathing. I couldn't stand the sound of these chains anymore. Their incessant clinking was a constant assault on my fraying nerves, a persistent, clinging torment no matter what I did or where I went. With my shackled hands, I frantically tugged at the metal ball on my tongue, ignoring the intermittent electric shocks, desperate to rip the accursed thing out. "Ah!" With the sheer force of my desperate struggle, I pulled out more than half of my tongue. The wound, which had just begun to heal, started bleeding again. I had completely broken. After my frantic efforts, the electric shocks had become so intense that my entire face was rigid, incapable of any other movement. Coupled with my desperate pulling, my mouth was now filled with blood. These equally infuriating shackles also severely restricted my movements, rendering me powerless in everything I tried to do. I looked at the cold glint of the shackles on my wrists, as if mocking my helplessness, informing me that my own strength would never be enough to escape them. I was destined to be bound by them. My rage now focused on the metal rings of the handcuffs. How dare a mere inanimate object torment me like this? I wanted to smash these damn things into dust and throw them into the sewer, to get revenge for them so cruelly restricting my free hands to a pathetic four-centimeter length. I desperately pulled at the restraints on my body, these shackles that I now loathed the most. Their crisp jingle no longer stirred any sexual desire; it only evoked deep hatred, a loathing so profound it made me sick. Before long, the metal rings had left deep red marks on my wrists and ankles, yet my frustration only grew. How could these damn rings fit so perfectly, locking onto my wrists with no room to maneuver my hands out? At this point, I even considered a desperate thought: what if I just cut off my thumbs, the ones blocking the rings? If I cut them off, perhaps I could escape these damn handcuffs, stretch my arms freely, and reach anything I desired. Just as my reason was consumed by rage and I hesitated to actually go through with it, the door to the room opened. "What are you doing? Three days without a beating and you're already climbing the roof to tear off tiles. I think you're itching for a punishment." The person who entered was the bastard who tormented me daily, the one who had locked me here and caused all this tragedy, the thief who had stolen my phone, bank cards, ID, and all my possessions. I fainted later because I hadn't eaten for a long time and had endured such great physical torture. My body's nutrition couldn't keep up, and the great expenditure of energy caused me to pass out. He held me in his arms, holding a metal gag, and slowly fed me glucose. It looked very warm and affectionate, but all my pain was caused by him. He was a scoundrel, a bastard. "Who allowed you not to eat? As a pet, you should have the awareness of a pet." Boss Wan seemed displeased with my behavior. I was too weak. Because the restraints were too strong, I just lay on the ground quietly. I felt like I had found release. Perhaps if I starved to death, I wouldn't have to suffer so much torture. Perhaps death was the final destination. Thinking this, I was about to blurt it out, but my mouth was filled with the metal gag, and I couldn't speak. I spat out the metal gag. Although I was very weak now, although I was very scared, I still said angrily, "Even a dog wouldn't eat this, and you're giving it to me? Why are you doing this to me? It's so disgusting mixed together. I will never eat it. If you have the guts, starve me to death. Come on, kill me!" He wasn't as angry as I imagined. Boss Wan touched my head and said, "Xiao Xue, what do you want in order to eat obediently? You can ask for a condition, but don't go too far, because you don't have the right to negotiate." He emphasized the last few words a bit, and I was a little scared. I repeatedly told myself not to be afraid, but in the end, I couldn't overcome the fear in my heart. Who knows how many ways he has to torture people? So I adjusted myself and said in a wronged tone. "To eat, there must be delicious food, and I don't want to eat like an animal. I want chopsticks, like a human. Yes, just like a human. Even a pet won't eat something it doesn't like. Haven't you ever raised a pet?" Later, for some reason, this bastard agreed to my condition and promised to ensure that every meal would be my favorite delicious food, as a small compensation for abusing me. "By the way. Only by being my pet can I feel at ease when I help others. Look at the young brothers in my company. As soon as they join, I give them a car. Among the senior executives in the company, my car is the worst. When there are donation events in society, I will participate. Xiao Xue, let me ask you, how much have you donated?" He stumped me. I, who considered myself kind, had never donated a single penny, nor had I done anything commendable. "I have no money, how can I donate?" He laughed: "This is why you are a pet now, and I am the master. When I had no money back then, I was donating. I couldn't bear to see those unfortunate people. After finally coming to this world as a human, they had to struggle in the abyss of suffering. So when I saw them, I would help them if I could. I have sponsored many temples over the years. I guess you are the reward Buddha gave me." "I finally got to be a human too, why don't you help me? Instead, you torture me every day." "Xiao Xue, have you been hit too hard? You are a pet, how can you be human? As a pet, your greatest role is to make your master happy." This was probably why he believed in Buddhism yet cruelly tortured me every day. In his eyes, I was different from others. His kindness was for those he considered 'human,' while in his eyes, I was not 'human,' but a 'pet.' A pet that could be tortured, humiliated, and abused at will. I said with sobs, "I am human! A human with thoughts! I have family, friends. I have goals and dreams. I am not your pet. That is an identity you forced me to accept before. I disagree." As expected, he didn't listen to a word I said. He just chuckled and ignored me. Boss Wan went back to his room and took out a pill, saying to me. "Open your mouth." He held the metal gag in his hand, put the pill in, and then put the metal gag back in. A huge urge to vomit came over me, making me want to throw up. "You are not allowed to spit it out. Swallow it, or the consequences will be terrible." What kind of torture was this that he wanted me to swallow? But I had no choice. I couldn't resist, so I reluctantly swallowed it. I wanted to ask what kind of torture this was, but I realized there was a metal gag in my mouth when I couldn't speak. Boss Wan said from the side, "Don't panic, be happy, smile. This is not something to torture you with. This pill is to enhance your physique, so you don't get sick or have cavities easily. It can also keep your appearance from aging from the day you take it. This pill cost a lot of money to get for you. How about it, eternal youth, aren't you happy?" It's over. Judging by this, he intends to torture me forever. What is it like to be a pet? It's like this now. I'm kneeling where I cried yesterday. This morning, he tied me up here again. I knelt on the rug in the posture he had arranged yesterday. He sat in a chair, playing with the metal ball on my tongue with one hand, and holding a book in the other. After playing for a while, there was an electric current from the gag. He put the gag back into my mouth, then touched my head with his hand, which was covered in my saliva, put down the book, and stood up. "Xiao Xue, if I let you go out to play, would you run away?" My heart trembled. Although I didn't know why he asked this, it would be great if I didn't have to stay in this cage of a few dozen square meters every day. I quickly shook my head. No matter how much I hated him now, I wouldn't disobey him. "Okay, then lick my shoes clean, and I'll let you go out." He extended his foot in front of me, smiling and expecting my reaction. Hmph, I knew he never intended to let me go out. He was just finding an excuse to make things difficult for me. Just when I thought he was teasing me again, he spoke again: "Really, Xiao Xue. I go hiking and fishing with my friends every month. I have nothing to do today, and everything is ready. If you don't go, I'll tie you here and go by myself."