"You must be crazy if you think I will just voluntarily put that thing on."
"Who said you will voluntarily do it? There's no fun in that."
With a snap of his fingers, two guys walked into the room and they each grabbed one of his hands.
"Hey… let me go!"
Lian struggled under their tight grip but failed miserably. The two effortlessly pinned him down and Ding knelt down before him.
"I do enjoy seeing your fruitless struggles, it is somewhat enticing."
Lian looked at him and pursed his lips in annoyance.
"Hold him down."
The two did as instructed and Ding placed the chain round Lian's neck. The instant contact with the metal links made him involuntarily shiver. Ding stood up to admire his work.
"Perfect."
"You have completely changed my view of you. You are not some righteous person, you are a complete psycho. Once I manage to escape from your grasp, I will make sure you rot in jail."
"Psycho huh? Would you like to see how crazy I can get?"
Ding pulled him by the chain, the cold metal tightening around his neck. Lian grind his teeth as the metal bit into his flesh. The surging pain was intense and he felt like it was about to split his neck into two. Lian shut his eyes as his chest moved up and down in rhythm to his lungs as he tried to breathe normally.
"You…"
Lian fell forward unconscious and Ding scoffed.
"Sir?"
Ding knelt with one knee in front of Lian and poked his cheek," I didn't pull that hard and he's already passed out?"
"Sir what do we do with him? Should we leave him here or…"
"Take him to the prisons," he replied cutting him off.
The two exchanged worried looks but nodded their heads in agreement since neither of them wanted to defy him. They each grabbed one of Lian's hand and dragged him out of the room.
"Look at that, he came from a visit in Ding's place."
"Is he even alive?"
"Did that bastard kill him and dump his body here?"
The prisoners kept rambling on and on about things that were overly tarnishing Ding's name. After carefully securing Lian to the wall, the two walked out closing the door behind them. Lian stirred and opened his eyes.
"Where… am… I…"
"You're awake. I thought for a second there that you were dead, with you being unconscious and all. Don't get me wrong I don't wish for you to be dead or anything but…"
The guy stopped talking and slowly walked towards him, the shackles binding his legs rattling with every step he took. He sat cross legged before Lian and examined him.
"W-what?"
"You… you don't seem like a criminal."
"Am not a criminal. Am a freelance photographer," he replied.
"Photographer? Then why did you get captured?"
"Um…"
"Did you secretly take pictures of Mr. Ding when he is not full of glory?"
"Huh? What do you mean by 'not full of glory' "
" Oh?" he brought a hand to his lip and Lian could feel his body tremble at the mischievousness in his entire posture.
"I mean things like when he is not all proud and organised. Maybe when he's showering?"
Lian's eyes widened at this and he hang his head avoiding eye contact with this guy.
"Are his muscles toned or are they hard? What about his…"
"So who are you?" he asked deliberately trying to change the topic.
"Oh… my name is Cole."
"Am Lian. What is this place," he asked looking around the unfamiliar environment.
"The prisons."
"Prisons?"
"Yeah, Mr. Ding has a tendency of locking criminals here, torturing them before ruthlessly killing them."
"Kill?"
"Yeah."
"What about you? What are you doing here? You don't come off as the type to commit a crime."
Cole was around three inches shorter than Lian, he had sky blue hair in a messy haircut, hot purple coloured eyes and his skin was pale white. Anyone who would have walked past him wouldn't picture him off like one to commit any crime. The glamour radiating from his was pure innocence.
"Well not only criminals are locked up here but treacherous betrayers as well."
"Can I know what you did?"
"Let's not talk about that right now but rather, that bruise on your neck looks painful. Look it's all red."
Lian looked at him confusedly before nodding his head," Oh right, I almost forgot about that."
Cole bit his bottom lip before reluctantly asking," Did Mr. Ding do this to you?"
"Yes he did. But don't worry as long as it is not bleeding."
Cole sighed and murmured," He's changed."
"What was that?"
"Nothing."
"Sir, we have done as you asked. He's locked up in a cage with Cole."
"That's good, make sure you monitor him."
"Sir."
A knock sounded from the door and Ding waved his hand dismissing the guards.
"Brother."
"Young master? What are you doing here?"
"The annual family meet and greet banquet is…"
"Get to the point," Ding said interrupting him.
"Oh? Why are you always cutting me off when am talking? You've never fixed that behaviour of yours," Tsun replied pouting his lips angrily.
Ding let out a sigh and stood from the desk, he walked around and sat on the edge right next to Tsun. Raising his hand, Ding shuffled Tsun's hair playfully.
"What happened to you young master? You weren't this emotional back then."
"Get your hand off me," he said and slapped his hand away," am not a kid anymore. Hmph!"
Tsun crossed his hands over his chest, huffed and turned his head away from Ding. Ding let out a defeated sigh and flipped the strands of hair from his eyes.
"Okay young master. I'll listen to you without interrupting is that okay?"
"No but you know what will make it up to me?"
"Let's hear it," Ding replied.
"Come to the meet and greet."
"Young master, you know I…"
"Before you refuse me, could you at least listen to what I have to say?"
"I know you mean for my reconciliation with father but it just won't be possible. Not with his current temper."
"I know you hate the fact that he didn't take your thoughts about you forming your own group into consideration but he's still worried about you."
"Worried?"
"Am in no position to say this but father really misses you."
"You really don't have to say that to me."
"It's true. Sure he may be arrogant and hot headed but you are the son he is most proud of raising."
"Most proud of raising?"
"Am not supposed to tell you this but I can't stand the tension in the relationship between you two anymore."
"What does…"
Tsun held up a hand silencing him," Just listen to what I have to say. After that, I won't interfere with your decision and I won't force you to come home."