A Leash of Humiliation

“A naughty puppy receives punishment, you know~~” Mu Yaochen’s low murmur lingered in Luo Yao’s mind, her tone now utterly devoid of playfulness and entirely a threat.

The swiftest path to breaking a person was to first dismantle their self-confidence, a strategy particularly effective against a high school student still navigating their youth.

Moreover, he was so easily intimidated.

According to Mu Yaochen’s plan, if Luo Yao’s dignity were subjected to such torment for approximately a week, his final line of defense would undoubtedly crumble under her assault.

“Little brother, is something wrong?” The shop assistant, observing Luo Yao’s somewhat frightened expression, couldn’t help but feel a pang of confusion.

‘Had her peculiar behavior just now startled him?’

“It’s nothing, I just… I just, it’s fine.” Luo Yao felt a tingling, electrifying sensation prickling his neck, yet this current wasn’t strong enough to cause pain, merely an intense discomfort.

“This… this is the money, for… for you.” Noticing the shop assistant holding a stainless steel dog bowl, Mu Yaochen swiftly pulled out a red bill and tucked it into the assistant’s hand. Before the other party could even react, Luo Yao snatched the stainless steel bowl from their grasp and bolted out of the shop as if fleeing for his life.

‘This feels horrible…….’

Luo Yao thought to himself, one hand already reaching for the outer edge of the collar, seemingly intent on removing it.

“Am I making you too comfortable?” Mu Yaochen’s soft words brushed against his ear, and as Luo Yao lifted his head, he saw Frost standing directly in front of him.

“Frost, take him to the next place.” Meeting Frost’s icy gaze, Luo Yao felt a shiver of dread creep down his spine.

“Yes, Miss.” Frost replied softly to Mu Yaochen, then fixed her gaze upon Luo Yao.

Seeing Frost give him a look that commanded him to follow, Luo Yao could only lower his head and trail closely behind her.

“It seems we can’t buy a chain here; let’s try the next pet store.” Mu Yaochen’s voice materialized in Luo Yao’s ear, and hearing it, an endless sense of powerlessness washed over him.

The suffering of humanity stemmed precisely from the impurity of both its good and evil. Luo Yao had initially intended to simply play his part well, maintaining the persona of a naive high school student.

Though he now harbored some regret, this was by no means a checkmate.

Luo Yao would not easily fall for a woman of Mu Yaochen’s caliber, not even if her temperament were impeccable.

After all, the gender dynamics of this world had been inverted, and Mu Yaochen, having been pampered since birth, surely harbored a mind brimming with schemes.

If their true natures were to be fully exposed, and they truly began to play mind games, Luo Yao might not necessarily be able to outwit Mu Yaochen.

Both Frost and Luo Yao completely ignored the shop assistant who had chased them out of the store, calmly stepping onto the escalator descending to a lower floor.

The shop assistant watched the departing pair, now torn between calling the police or not.

All the preceding signs strongly indicated that Luo Yao’s actions were entirely coerced.

Just as the assistant remained in her indecision, Frost, who was about to step onto the escalator, suddenly turned her head. Her icy pupils merely glanced at the hesitant assistant, who, as if struck by fright, froze in place for a long moment.

“I recall there’s another pet shop on the first floor; you two go buy the chain there.” Mu Yaochen’s words, delivered like a command, were directed at Luo Yao and Frost. Frost simply responded with a terse ‘Yes,’ while Luo Yao remained silent.

“Oh, and Luo Yao. Didn’t you just buy a new food bowl? As punishment for earlier, you’d best crawl into the pet shop in a moment.”

“Mistress… could I possibly…?” Hearing Mu Yaochen’s words, Luo Yao’s already furrowed brow tightened further, and inwardly, he seethed, lambasting Mu Yaochen’s vile nature.

‘Why was I bought by someone like this?’

For now, Luo Yao could only feign being led by Mu Yaochen’s nose; a sudden rebellion would yield no benefit for him whatsoever.

“No, you can’t. And by the way, you’ll be carrying your new food bowl in your mouth later.” Mu Yaochen cut him off before Luo Yao could even finish speaking.

That Mu Yaochen could utter such words came as no great surprise to Luo Yao.

After all, Mu Yaochen was a complete and utter pervert; nothing she did now could be considered astonishing.

“What if I refuse?” Luo Yao envisioned himself crawling on the ground, carrying a dog bowl in his mouth; truthfully, he would rather die than do such a thing.

Yet, with the most cowardly tone, Luo Yao delivered the most defiant words.

Having spoken, Luo Yao cast his gaze towards the base of the escalator.

They were now on the third floor of the mall; ‘If I jumped from here, I’d probably die, wouldn’t I?’

Observing the throngs of pedestrians bustling below, Luo Yao’s emotions became a tangled mess.

“My little Yao Yao doesn’t want to do it? Then never mind. Since little Yao Yao doesn’t wish to display himself in front of others, then why not come home and display yourself for me instead?” Hearing Luo Yao’s words, Mu Yaochen showed no anger. Her voice, laced with a hint of seductive charm, whispered softly.

Listening to Mu Yaochen’s words, Luo Yao felt the hairs on his arms stand on end.

‘A private display? What could that possibly mean?’

After that, Mu Yaochen said nothing more. Luo Yao and Frost also remained silent, with Luo Yao merely trailing behind her.

Upon reaching the first floor, the surrounding pedestrian traffic steadily increased, and the passersby, seeing Luo Yao, felt a slight unease.

After his personal freedom had been abruptly seized, Luo Yao found himself walking the streets, seemingly without direct supervision.

“Stay close to me.” Frost turned around, speaking to Luo Yao who was behind her.

“Alright.” Luo Yao nodded in response. Due to Luo Yao’s striking appearance, passersby invariably turned their heads for a second look. Luo Yao, however, remained extremely cautious; when crowds gathered, women often took advantage of the opportunity to ‘eat the tofu’ (TL Note: A Chinese idiom referring to making suggestive or inappropriate advances towards someone.) of attractive men.

The pet shop on the first floor that Mu Yaochen mentioned was actually an external storefront outside the mall. Situated in a prime location, it naturally boasted a high volume of customers.

It seemed Frost had, for some undisclosed reason, taken Mu Yaochen to a less frequented spot on the fourth floor.

After exiting the mall, and navigating two small turns, they arrived at ‘Pet Home,’ a shop with a considerably large storefront.

Luo Yao gazed at the storefront, feeling a surge of awkwardness. Even from outside, he could tell the interior was likely bustling with people, many of whom appeared to be students.

Moreover, Luo Yao couldn’t bring himself to ask a shop assistant to find a chain that matched the collar around his neck; the sheer thought of it was utterly humiliating.

At the same time, Luo Yao had to admit that Mu Yaochen was truly vicious when it came to crushing others’ self-esteem. Though Luo Yao wished to make some subtle moves, Mu Yaochen was constantly monitoring his every word and action.

“Let’s go.” Frost observed Luo Yao, who remained rooted to the spot. Her eyes betrayed no particular emotion, as she merely offered a quiet reminder.

Luo Yao did not respond to Frost, but he was now preparing to walk towards the pet shop.

Just as Luo Yao was about to take his first step, he suddenly felt a voice seemingly call out from behind him.

“Wait… wait!!”

At that moment, on the bustling street, a clear voice seemed to be desperately calling out to someone. Luo Yao attempted to turn, but as soon as he began to move his head, Frost’s icy eyes were fixed on him from behind.

“What is it?”

Frost, slightly puzzled, paused and asked.

“N-nothing.” Luo Yao tried to turn around, but Frost’s body blocked him from behind.

‘Did I mishear?’

Luo Yao rubbed his head. ‘Was he simply too tense these past few days?’

Without further thought, Frost, behind him, continued to urge him to enter quickly.

Just as Luo Yao was about to turn and leave, a warm hand suddenly grasped his arm from the side.

“Wait… wait a moment.”

****