Yun Shu Nian finally nodded. She didn't unlock the chains on Mu Qi's hands, but instead walked to the head of the bed and fastened the other end of the chains to her own wrist.
Mu Qi didn't seem to mind, following Yun Shu Nian with a composed expression.
The gym was not far from the master bedroom, and soon Yun Shu Nian arrived.
"Nian Nian, you can start with some light jogging to warm up," Mu Qi said, lifting Yun Shu Nian onto the treadmill with one arm.
Mu Qi intended for Yun Shu Nian to exercise more to release dopamine, but even getting onto the treadmill required him to personally lift her.
Yun Shu Nian nodded and selected the slowest speed, beginning her run.
Mu Qi immediately got onto the treadmill beside her, setting a moderate pace.
As they started exercising together, the chains linking them began to clink and jingle, filling their ears with the sounds of mechanical operation and the clatter of metal.
The sound of the chains, in particular, would occasionally ring out loudly and jarringly, creating quite a disturbance.
Yun Shu Nian and Mu Qi could hear it clearly, yet neither made any move to remove this shackle.
...
Five minutes later.
"Nian Nian, are you tired? Do you want some water?" Mu Qi stopped the treadmill. His breathing was steady, and there was no sweat on his brow. His adoring phoenix-like eyes were fixed solely on Yun Shu Nian.
Yun Shu Nian looked down at her feet, noticing they had only covered two hundred meters.
"Nian Nian, there's no need to rush at the start."
"I'm not tired, and I don't need water," Yun Shu Nian shook her head.
Mu Qi acknowledged her response and restarted the treadmill.
Another five minutes passed.
Mu Qi: "Nian Nian, are you okay?"
A few light beads of sweat appeared on Yun Shu Nian's forehead. She softly hummed in response.
Every five minutes thereafter, Mu Qi would ask again, and Yun Shu Nian would respond with a soft hum.
This continued until Yun Shu Nian had run a total of 600 meters. She stopped, bent over with her hands on her knees, gasping for breath.
Mu Qi walked over, supported Yun Shu Nian, and then helped her onto the yoga mat.
Mu Qi grasped Yun Shu Nian's legs and placed them on his own, massaging her tensed muscles.
Yun Shu Nian lay sprawled on the yoga mat, gazing at the ceiling.
After a short while, Yun Shu Nian recovered. She sat up and met Mu Qi's profile, a hint of confusion in her eyes. "Mu Qi, when did you stop?"
"I stopped when Nian Nian stopped," Mu Qi replied without looking up, diligently massaging Yun Shu Nian's calves.
Mu Qi had lied. He was worried about Yun Shu Nian and had stopped much earlier, watching her intently.
"Oh," Yun Shu Nian said, not thinking much of it, and simply nodded.
"Nian Nian, are you feeling any happier now?"
A quarter of an hour later, Mu Qi released Yun Shu Nian's slender calves. He cupped her face in his hands, carefully discerning her emotions.
Yun Shu Nian turned her head away slightly, then seemed to grasp the deeper meaning behind Mu Qi's suggestion.
"Mu Qi, you want me to be happy?"
"Naturally," Mu Qi confirmed.
Yun Shu Nian: "But falling in love generates more dopamine than exercising."
Mu Qi was well aware of this. However, he also knew that Nian Nian was usually tense and not relaxed when she was with him. He certainly wouldn't let Yun Shu Nian fall in love with anyone else, so he had to find other ways to help her relax.
"Nian Nian, we are in love," Mu Qi said, pulling Yun Shu Nian into his embrace, his dominant posture implying an undeniable truth.
Yes, it seemed so. Yun Shu Nian thought to herself, not refuting him. But she still silently questioned within her heart how much of this feeling was genuine and how much was fabricated.
As it approached noon, Yun Shu Nian's phone continued to buzz with incoming messages incessantly.
Yun Shu Nian sighed. After a few words to Mu Qi, she took her phone and went downstairs.
By the time Aunt Yang and Aunt Zhang had prepared lunch, Yun Shu Nian was still tied up with Zhang Yang and couldn't break away.
Yun Shu Nian had no choice but to ask Aunt Yang to send the meal in first.
...
"Sir, Madam instructed that you can eat first and need not wait for her," Aunt Yang said, placing Mu Qi's steak down and mustering her courage to relay the message.
"Mmm," Mu Qi responded, his brow furrowed, his expression displeased.
Aunt Yang cautiously glanced up at Mu Qi. Her full lips parted as if to speak, then quickly closed. She lowered her head, turned, and left.
A short while later, Aunt Yang returned with large crabs.
After setting down the platter this time, Aunt Yang still looked at Mu Qi cautiously, appearing hesitant to speak. However, in the end, she still left without saying anything.
...
It wasn't until the last dish, a Qianlong cabbage, was placed on the table by Aunt Yang that she looked up at Mu Qi again. This time, she finally spoke.
"Mr. Mu, would you like some juice?"
As Aunt Yang finished speaking, Mu Qi was about to refuse. However, his gaze fell on Yun Shu Nian's usual spot, and he changed his mind.
"A glass of orange juice, warmed."
"Yes, sir."
Perhaps because Mu Qi's aura was less intimidating at this moment, Aunt Yang boldly asked the question that had been on her mind.
"Sir, do you need any help? I can assist you."
After speaking, and without waiting for Mu Qi's reply, she continued speaking frantically, unable to control herself due to extreme nervousness.
"I mean, is Madam Mu keeping you locked up?"
Recalling how compliant Mu Qi always was, Aunt Yang continued, "Or is that Madam threatening you with your family?"
Aunt Yang's questions tumbled out one after another, completely oblivious to Mu Qi's increasingly annoyed and cold expression.
"Listen to me, don't be afraid. I'll find a way."
Unconsciously, Aunt Yang dropped the formal address, fully convinced of her own conjectures.
"Listen to me, I can help you. But I won't help for nothing. If you manage to escape, you have to meet my daughter."
Aunt Yang's daughter was extremely picky. Aunt Yang had been losing hair over this matter. If Mu Qi's appearance wasn't so exceptionally stunning, Aunt Yang was sure her daughter wouldn't be able to take her eyes off him. It was this absolute good nature that made Aunt Yang so foolish as to consider abandoning her job.
"Nian Nian."
As Aunt Yang poured out everything in her mind and was about to hear Mu Qi's explanation of the situation, she saw Mu Qi's expression soften and his gaze shift towards the doorway.
Aunt Yang froze for a moment, then flustered, turned around, nearly knocking over a plate on the table.
Aunt Yang's voice was dry and hoarse. "Madam Mu."
"I controlled his family?"
Yun Shu Nian ignored Mu Qi and looked directly at Aunt Yang.
Mu Qi, displeased at being ignored, strode to Yun Shu Nian's side in three steps.