Mr. Pei! Don't force yourself into circles you can't fit into.

Shen Jicheng's heart sank.

Cutie? What cutie?

His intuition told him it was definitely not a good thing.

The man who had restrained him didn't say a word, but simply pulled him up from the ground and dragged him outside.

"Where are you taking me?!"

"Let me go!"

"Pei Lin! Where did you tell him to take me?!"

Shen Jicheng struggled fiercely and questioned him angrily. But the man named Jiang Jin ignored him completely, and Pei Lin simply sat on the sofa, watching him being taken away without making any comment.

He kept cursing and swearing the whole way, but no one responded.

Until we arrived at the backyard.

This place was completely different from the meticulously maintained garden before; it was desolate and barren, with a sticky, fishy smell permeating the air. In the very center was a tightly closed iron gate, airtight.

He was being pushed forward.

The moment the door opened, Shen Jicheng's heart pounded. The closer he got, the stronger the stench became, and a wave of panic washed over him.

"Where am I?!"

"I want to go back!"

"Let me go—!"

His resistance grew increasingly fierce, but he was no match for Jiang Jin, a master martial artist, and couldn't budge him an inch. He could only be pushed, step by step, into that darkness.

The door closed behind me.

It was pitch black inside, and I couldn't see anything. So my ears became exceptionally sensitive.

"Hiss hiss hiss—"

A faint sound rang in my ears.

Shen Jicheng's hair stood on end instantly.

Before he could even react to what it was, the grip on his wrist suddenly loosened. Immediately afterward, he heard the sound of locks snapping shut behind him.

The lights came on.

The scene before him almost made Shen Jicheng faint.

This is a viewing space enclosed by a huge glass wall, like a transparent exhibition hall. The difference is that it's not just on four sides, but also on the top and bottom. And what's displayed inside isn't some expensive artwork, but rather—

snake.

"ah--!!!"

Shen Jicheng screamed and backed away in fright.

If you were to ask him what he fears most, snakes would probably be number one. There are probably very few people who aren't afraid of such a creature.

His back hit the glass wall.

He turned his head stiffly.

A snake was staring back at him through the glass with its cold, icy eyes.

Shen Jicheng's heart sank.

He was standing on glass, and the snakes slithered beneath his feet, their tongues flicking. Even though there was a layer of glass in between, who could guarantee that the glass was sturdy enough? Who could guarantee that it wouldn't shatter under his foot?

When people are extremely fearful, reason is useless.

Shen Jicheng was in that state at that moment.

He screamed in panic, only to attract the coiled snakes to him. His face was as white as paper, and he trembled all over, finally realizing how dangerous and ruthless Pei Lin was.

But it was too late to regret it.

In the study.

Pei Lin leaned back leisurely in his office chair, his fingers tapping idly on the desk. His gaze was fixed on the computer screen. In the surveillance video, that beautiful face was recoiling in fear, crying and begging for mercy.

"Pei Lin! I was wrong!"

"I was wrong!"

"President Pei! Please let me out!"

A faint smile played on his lips. "I thought you were so tough. Is that all the guts you have?"

He paused, looking at the pale face on the screen, and said in a light voice, "I haven't even let you in to say hello to them yet."

In the surveillance footage, cold sweat was seeping from Shen Jicheng's forehead, his body was trembling uncontrollably, and he could barely stand.

Pei Lin finally "mercifully" dialed the intercom, his eyes still fixed on the screen, and calmly ordered, "Release the person."

Shen Jicheng couldn't remember how he was brought out.

He had almost no strength left in his body and was dragged back to the living room. He couldn't even stand up and could only slump on the ground, unable to recover for a long time.

A pair of shiny leather shoes came into view.

The man walked over, squatted down, grabbed his chin, and forced him to raise his head.

The smile on that face sent a chill down Shen Jicheng's spine.

"Have you thought it through?" Pei Lin's voice was gentle. "How about you behave?"

Shen Jicheng's eyes were filled with undisguised anger. He clenched his fists, his voice hoarse, "I'm leaving here."

Money and freedom are nothing compared to life.

Pei Lin is too terrifying, too dangerous. He doesn't want to risk his life.

His words only elicited a low chuckle from the other person, as if they were laughing at his naiveté.

"Honey, what do you think this place is?"

Pei Lin spread his hands, his smile warm yet sending chills down one's spine.

"Come and go as you please? It's not that simple!"

Perhaps sensing the determination to leave in Shen Jicheng's eyes, he stood up, took the agreement from the table, and handed it to Shen Jicheng.

"I remember you didn't have time to look at it closely this morning. Now that you have some time, take a look and then decide whether you want to leave."

Shen Jicheng stared at the stack of papers for a while before finally reaching out and taking them.

Turn it over.

The further I looked, the heavier my heart became.

Thirty minutes later.

After reading the last message, Shen Jicheng finally exploded.

"Pei Lin! You vicious, heartless, and depraved villain!"

This isn't an agreement or contract; it's clearly a contract of servitude.

Shen Jicheng read through the list one by one, his heart sinking lower and lower, utterly devoid of freedom. To leave, he would have to pay an eight-figure penalty. And the final decision rested entirely with Pei Lin; he could only leave when Pei Lin grew tired of him, when he wanted to let him go.

Otherwise, one will be subject to others for life.

"It's okay if you tear it up," Pei Lin said casually, as if she had read his mind. "This is just a backup."

"Shameless!"

Pei Lin ignored the insult. He glanced at his watch, stood up, and looked down at the person slumped on the ground. His voice was calm and unhurried. "I think I need to teach you some manners."

"First of all, you should address me as 'sir' politely, just like a servant."

"Secondly, what I say is your decree."

He paused, a slight smile playing on his lips, as if welcoming a guest from afar.

"Finally—welcome!"

Shen Jicheng was trembling with rage. He hadn't expected that after being kicked out of his own home, he would immediately jump into another fire pit. Now the contract was signed and stamped, and the eight-figure penalty for breach of contract wasn't something the Shen family couldn't afford, but it was something he couldn't afford!

If his older brother knew that he had caused such a huge mess and owed so much money, he probably wouldn't be far from death.

"Hmm?" Pei Lin raised an eyebrow, waiting for his answer.

Shen Jicheng gritted his teeth, comforting himself: When you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head. Endure it for now, and run when you find an opportunity.

After thinking it through, he felt a little better. "Yes."

Pei Lin chuckled and asked, "And how should I address you?"

"...Yes, sir."