After Binding My Boss, I Became His Pet

"Wen Ran! You actually came!" Xia Zhi ran over, then glanced at Lu Yu with a knowing smile, "It seems an personal invitation makes a difference." Wen Ran blushed, while Lu Yu responded calmly, "As friends, sharing hobbies is perfectly normal." The event began, and tonight's theme was indeed Shibari. The rope master explained the characteristics of Japanese bondage—its emphasis on aesthetics and ritual, with strict rules for rope direction and knot placement. During the demonstration, another rope master invited a volunteer model. Wen Ran noticed that the entire process was quieter and more focused than last time. The rope master's movements were slow and precise, while the model was completely relaxed, eyes closed, as if in meditation. "Shibari emphasizes the concept of 'ma'," Lu Yu said, appearing beside Wen Ran at some point, his voice a low explanation, "which means rhythm and interval. Every moment the rope wraps is important, not just technically, but as a reflection of one's state of mind." Wen Ran nodded, her gaze unable to tear away from the demonstration. The rope slid across the skin, coiled, tightened, forming beautiful and intricate patterns. The model's breathing was steady and deep, and a near-sacred tranquility permeated the entire space. After the demonstration, the rope master said, "Tonight, we encourage everyone to try basic self-binding, or practice simple single-pillar ties with a trusted partner. The focus is on experiencing the process, not on achieving complex forms." People began to disperse and practice. Xia Zhi tried self-binding with a girl she knew, while Wen Ran stood there, somewhat at a loss. "Want to give it a try?" Lu Yu asked. Wen Ran looked at him, hesitated for a moment, then nodded. Lu Yu took a moderately long rope from the wall, its color a soft off-white. He gestured for Wen Ran to sit on the mat, then knelt before her on one knee. "This is the most basic wrist tie, just binding the wrists," he showed her the rope. "I'll be very slow, and you can tell me to stop anytime." Wen Ran extended her hands, her palms slightly sweaty. Lu Yu gently took her wrist, his fingers warm and dry. The rope began to wrap, one turn, two turns, his movements gentle but steady. Wen Ran felt the sensation of the rope against her skin, a slight friction but not uncomfortable. Lu Yu's knot-tying technique was skilled, the knots secure but not overly tight. He was very focused throughout the process, his eyes on the rope and her wrist, his expression serious. "How does it feel?" he asked, his voice very soft. "A little strange... but not unpleasant," Wen Ran answered honestly. Lu Yu completed the final knot and adjusted the tension. "Now your wrists are connected, but the rest of your arms are still free. Try to feel this limited restraint." Wen Ran raised her bound hands. The rope restricted the range of motion in her wrists, but her fingers and most of her arms could still move freely. This feeling of being both free and constrained was peculiar. "Trust exercise," Lu Yu said. "Close your eyes." Wen Ran complied. With her vision deprived, her other senses became more acute. She could hear the low conversations of others in the room, smell the faint scent of natural fiber from the rope, and feel the pressure of the rope on her wrists and Lu Yu's close breath. "I'm going to guide you through a simple movement," Lu Yu's voice sounded very close. "Keep your eyes closed and slowly raise your hands above your head."

The practice lasted for about half an hour. When it was over, Lu Yu removed the blindfold from Wen Ran. The moment her vision returned, Wen Ran blinked, adjusting to the light. She looked at Lu Yu and found him watching her intently, a tenderness and admiration in his eyes that she had never seen before. "You did very well," he said softly. "Your complete trust in me is precious." Wen Ran felt her cheeks flush. "It's because you guided me so well." Lin Wei gathered everyone back to the lounge area to share their experiences. People spoke in turn; some felt deeply relaxed, others discovered new sensitive areas of their bodies, and some gained a new understanding of sensory deprivation. When it was Wen Ran's turn, she felt a little nervous, but seeing Lu Yu's encouraging gaze, she began, "This is my first time trying sensory restriction. I was a bit anxious at first, but I gradually relaxed. The state of focusing on bodily sensations was very special, a bit like meditation, but not quite the same." Lin Wei smiled. "That's a great share. Sensory exercises do have a meditative effect, but with the added dimension of interpersonal interaction." After the sharing session, Lin Wei announced that it was time for free mingling. Wen Ran went to get some water, and Lu Yu followed her. "How do you feel?" he asked. "How was it compared to last time?" "Deeper," Wen Ran thought for a moment. "Last time was mainly visual observation and basic bondage experience. This time was more focused on bodily perception and building trust. I prefer this... gradual approach." Lu Yu nodded. "Gradual progression is important. Both rope art and sensory exploration should be a process of slow building and gradual deepening, not something rushed." Holding their cups of water, they walked to the window. Outside was the night view of the creative park, dotted with lights, quiet and artistic. "I have a proposal for next week," Lu Yu suddenly said, his voice a little deeper than before. Wen Ran turned to look at him. "What proposal?" "If you're willing, we could have a one-on-one private session," Lu Yu said, looking at her seriously. "Not here, but at my place. The environment is more private, and the pace is entirely up to you. We can start with the most basic bondage and explore slowly." Wen Ran's heart skipped a beat. A one-on-one private session, at Lu Yu's place... this meant their relationship would enter a whole new phase. "I..." She didn't know how to answer for a moment. "You don't need to answer now," Lu Yu said understandingly. "You can think about it carefully and tell me your answer next week. Remember, whatever your decision, it won't affect our working relationship, I promise." Wen Ran nodded, but her mind was already in turmoil. Reason told her to be cautious, but a deep yearning within her was stirring. The event ended at 9:30. Lu Yu drove Wen Ran home. They didn't talk much on the way, but the atmosphere wasn't awkward; instead, there was a comfortable silence. The car stopped outside Wen Ran's apartment complex. This time, Lu Yu didn't get out, but turned to look at her. "Think about it carefully, no need to rush." "I will," Wen Ran said softly. "Thank you... thank you for everything tonight." "Call me Lu Yu," he smiled. "Goodnight, Wen Ran." "Goodnight, Lu Yu."

They walked to the practice area. Wen Ran took off her shoes and stood barefoot on the mat. Lu Yu took a beige rope from the wall, slightly longer than the last one. "Tonight, we'll try upper arm bondage," Lu Yu said, demonstrating the rope. "Just the upper arms, it won't restrict your arm movement. The goal is to give you a broader sense of restraint while still maintaining comfort." Wen Ran nodded and extended her arms. Lu Yu's movements were gentle and steady as the rope began to wrap around her upper arms, one coil, two coils, three coils... Wen Ran felt the rope's touch on her skin, warm and firm. Lu Yu was completely focused throughout the process. His fingers occasionally brushed against Wen Ran's skin, sending faint electric currents through her. Wen Ran watched his lowered eyelashes and focused expression, a deep sense of trust welling up within her. The knot was complete, and Wen Ran's upper arms were comfortably bound. She moved them; most of her arms were still free, but the sensation of restraint on her upper arms made her more aware of her body. "How does it feel?" Lu Yu asked. "More... full than last time," Wen Ran searched for the right word. "The restraint is stronger, but still comfortable." "Good," Lu Yu said. "Now, close your eyes and focus on your breath and bodily sensations." Wen Ran closed her eyes. Deprived of sight, her perception of her body became even clearer. She could feel the pressure of the rope on her upper arms, her own heartbeat, and Lu Yu's breathing close by. "I'm going to guide you through some movements," Lu Yu's voice sounded very close. "Relax completely, and let me guide you." Wen Ran relaxed entirely, allowing Lu Yu to lead. Her arms were slowly lifted, tracing arcs in the air, then gently lowered. Each movement was slow and fluid, imbued with a sense of ritual. "Now, try to feel the relationship between restraint and freedom," Lu Yu guided in a low voice. "Your upper arms are bound, but your forearms and hands are still free. Feel this limited freedom, feel the security that restraint brings." Wen Ran did as she was told. She discovered that when her upper arms were moderately restrained, she cherished the freedom of her forearms and hands even more. When parts of her body were restricted, she became more aware of the freedom in other parts. This paradoxical feeling was strange, yet captivating. The practice lasted for about thirty minutes. When it was over, Lu Yu gently and carefully untied Wen Ran. After the rope was removed, Wen Ran moved her arms. Faint red marks remained on her skin, but they quickly disappeared. She looked at her arms, a complex emotion welling up within her—a sense of release, and a peculiar sense of lingering attachment. "How do you feel?" Lu Yu asked, his eyes full of concern. Wen Ran thought for a moment and said earnestly, "Very... profound. I discovered the subtle balance between restraint and freedom. Moderate restraint actually made me cherish freedom more and become more aware of my body." A flicker of admiration crossed Lu Yu's eyes. "Excellent insight. This is one of the philosophies of rope art—through limitation, we can experience freedom and existence more deeply." He paused, then continued, "As my rope model, you are not just an experiencer, but also a collaborator. Your feedback and feelings will help us create more meaningful experiences together." Wen Ran looked at him, a warmth spreading through her. Lu Yu didn't treat her as a passive recipient but as an equal collaborator. This respect made her feel cherished. "Thank you... thank you for respecting me so much," Wen Ran said softly. "Call me Lu Yu," he smiled. "And this is the respect you deserve. Any relationship, especially one involving such deep trust, must be built on mutual respect." Wen Ran nodded, her heart filled with emotion and resolve.

"Okay," Lu Yu nodded. "Then, let's begin. Remember the safe words – red means stop completely, yellow means adjust. You can use them anytime." They walked to the practice area. Lu Yu took a beige rope from the wall and then took out the black silk blindfold. "Let's start with the simplest," Lu Yu said. "Wrist restraints, just like our first practice. If you're ready, extend your hands." Wen Ran extended her hands, palms up. Lu Yu's movements were gentle and steady as the rope began to wrap around her wrists. One loop, two loops, three loops… Wen Ran felt the familiar sensation – the slightly abrasive texture of the cotton, the gentle yet firm pressure. Once the knot was tied, Lu Yu adjusted the tightness. "Is it too tight? Any discomfort?" "Not tight, just right," Wen Ran replied. "Good," Lu Yu picked up the blindfold. "Now, if you're ready, I'd like to blindfold you." Wen Ran took a deep breath. "I'm ready." The world plunged into darkness. With her sight taken away, Wen Ran's other senses became sharper. She could hear her own breathing, feel the pressure of the rope on her wrists, and smell the faint scent of sandalwood in the air. "Relax, take a deep breath," Lu Yu's voice sounded very close, low and gentle. "Now, I'll give you some simple commands. You can choose to follow them or not. There's no right or wrong, only feeling." Wen Ran nodded, indicating she understood. "First command: slowly kneel down," Lu Yu's voice was calm and clear. Wen Ran hesitated for a second, then slowly knelt on the soft mat. The moment her knees touched the mat, she felt a sense of ritual – this simple action had a different meaning because it was a command. "Very good," Lu Yu's voice held a hint of approval. "Now, second command: move forward until I say stop." Wen Ran began to move forward slowly. In the darkness, she didn't know what was in front of her, and could only trust Lu Yu's guidance. After moving about half a meter, Lu Yu said, "Stop." Wen Ran stopped. "Now, sit on the ground, remain silent, and wait." Wen Ran did as she was told. She sat there, wrists bound, eyes blindfolded, completely in a state of being guided. But this state wasn't frightening; instead, it brought a strange sense of peace – she didn't need to think, didn't need to decide, she just needed to exist and feel. Time passed slowly in the darkness. Wen Ran didn't know how long it had been, perhaps a few minutes, perhaps more than ten. She just sat there, feeling her breath, feeling the presence of her body, feeling this state of being completely guided. "Now, the last command," Lu Yu's voice sounded again, closer this time. "Raise your bound hands to a height I can reach." Wen Ran raised her hands. A few seconds later, she felt Lu Yu's hands gently support her wrists, followed by a soft touch – Lu Yu's lips lightly brushed the back of her hand, like a gentle confirmation. This touch made Wen Ran tremble slightly, not from resistance, but from the feeling of intimacy and cherish. "Practice over," Lu Yu said, his voice gentle. "You did very well." He first removed the blindfold from Wen Ran, then untied the rope from her wrists. Regaining her sight and freedom, Wen Ran blinked, adjusting to the light. She looked at Lu Yu and found him kneeling before her on one knee, looking at her with gentle eyes. "How does it feel?" he asked. Wen Ran thought, searching for the right words. "Very… peaceful. When being guided by commands, I don't need to think, I just need to feel and act. This state is very… freeing." A flicker of understanding crossed Lu Yu's eyes. "Many people have similar feelings. When the responsibility of making decisions is temporarily set aside, the mind can actually find freedom. But this must be built on complete trust and safety."

"Regarding our next exploration," Lu Yu sat opposite her, his expression serious, "I want to give you a gift." Wen Ran's heart involuntarily quickened. "A gift?" Lu Yu stood up, retrieved a deep blue velvet box from his study, slightly larger than the previous necklace box. He walked back and opened the box in front of Wen Ran. Inside lay an exquisite leather collar—more refined than the one used for practice before. It was dark brown leather, moderately wide, with fine stitching along the edges. The buckle was matte metal, with a minimalist design. Tiny characters were engraved on the inside of the collar. Wen Ran leaned closer to see: "WR"—the initials of her name. "This is..." Wen Ran looked up at Lu Yu. "A gift for you," Lu Yu said gently. "Not a practice prop, but something that belongs to you. It symbolizes our relationship—one based on trust, respect, and voluntary choice." Wen Ran's fingers gently brushed the surface of the leather collar. The touch was smooth and firm, and she could smell a faint scent of leather. This collar was more exquisite than the practice one, more like a genuine accessory than a prop. "The engraving is to signify ownership," Lu Yu explained. "Not objectification, but symbolism. Just like engagement rings are engraved with dates and names, it's a symbol of commitment and connection." A complex emotion surged through Wen Ran. This collar symbolized their relationship more directly than the necklace—"Master and Pet." Accepting it meant she was formally acknowledging this dynamic, not just temporarily playing a role in practice. "I..." She didn't know how to respond for a moment. "You don't need to decide now," Lu Yu said understandingly. "You can take it back and consider it. When you accept it, or if you accept it, is entirely up to you. Remember, all the choices are yours." Wen Ran looked at the collar, then at Lu Yu. His gaze was gentle and open, without any pressure or expectation, only respect and patience. "Can I try it on?" she heard herself ask. A gentle smile flickered in Lu Yu's eyes. "Of course." Wen Ran took the collar out of the box. The feel of the leather was warm and solid in her palm. Holding it, she hesitated for a moment, then slowly fastened it around her neck. The moment the buckle clicked shut, there was a soft "click." The collar fit snugly against her neck, exerting a gentle pressure, but it wasn't uncomfortable. Wen Ran walked to the mirror by the wall and looked at herself. The dark brown collar stood out starkly against her fair neck, but strangely, it didn't look out of place. The texture of the leather created an interesting contrast with her skin, and the metal buckle gleamed with a matte finish under the light. The "WR" on the collar was hidden on the inside, known only to her. "How does it feel?" Lu Yu asked, standing behind her at a polite distance. Wen Ran looked at herself in the mirror and then at Lu Yu behind her, feeling a peculiar sense of completeness. The presence of the collar made her aware of her own choices—choosing trust, choosing exploration, choosing to build this special relationship with Lu Yu. "A little... heavy," Wen Ran said honestly. "Not physically heavy, but symbolically." "I understand," Lu Yu said gently. "Any meaningful symbol carries a sense of weight. But this weight should be warm and grounding, not oppressive." Wen Ran nodded. She did feel a warm weight—not a burden, but a confirmation. "I want to wear it for a while," she said. "To feel it."

"A very good description," Lu Yu praised. "Then, if you're willing, we can proceed to the next step of a very gentle experience – just a slight restraint on your hands, no blindfold or anything else, just to let you feel a sense of mild restriction within the car's space. We can keep it to just five minutes, and you can release yourself at any time." Wen Ran considered it. Adding a small new element in this space where she already felt comfortable and safe… she felt she could try. "I'd like to try," she finally said, "but I'd like to start with the mildest restraint." "Of course." Lu Yu took out the soft restraints from the car door's storage compartment. "See, they're very loose, primarily for a psychological sense of restriction, not a physical one." He helped Wen Ran put on the restraints, adjusting them to the loosest setting. As he said, the feeling of restraint was very light, mostly the sensation of knowing her wrists were connected. The release clasp was well within Wen Ran's reach. "Now, let's sit for another five minutes," Lu Yu said. "You can continue observing the parking lot, or close your eyes and focus on the sensations. It's entirely up to you." Wen Ran chose to continue observing the outside. The restraints on her wrists provided a subtle tactile reminder, but the psychological impact was greater – in this private space, she had chosen to accept a small degree of restriction. The very act of choosing made her feel a sense of agency, rather than passivity. The five minutes passed quickly. Lu Yu didn't remind her of the time, but Wen Ran felt the appropriate moment to end it herself. "I'd like to take them off now," she said. "Of course," Lu Yu nodded. "You do it yourself." Wen Ran easily pulled the release clasp, and the restraints came undone. She flexed her wrists, feeling no discomfort, only the memory of the experience. "How did it feel?" Lu Yu asked. "Interesting," Wen Ran mused. "The restraint itself was very light, but in this specific space, it took on a different meaning. It’s like… choosing a little bit of restriction voluntarily within a safe environment. The sense of choice made me feel more free, not more restricted." A flicker of understanding crossed Lu Yu's eyes. "This is the paradox of voluntary restriction – when we choose restriction ourselves, we are actually exercising freedom. It's only when restriction is imposed that it feels like true bondage." Wen Ran nodded thoughtfully. The concept reminded her of many things in life – voluntary work responsibilities felt fulfilling, while forced ones felt like pressure; voluntary commitments fostered connection, while imposed ones felt like chains. "That's enough for tonight," Lu Yu started the car. "Our first in-car experience, this is sufficient. I'll take you home." On the drive back, Wen Ran watched the city lights blur past her window, her mind filled with calm contemplation. This experience was gentler than the one in the park, but perhaps precisely because of that, it allowed her to feel the significance of space and choice more clearly. When she got home, she recorded in her journal: "First in-car experience: Saturday evening, parking lot below the office building. Lu Yu's preparation was as cautious as ever – choosing a time when it was almost deserted, privacy film on the windows ensuring discretion, starting with a gentle spatial sensation. Experienced a ten-minute 'private bubble' sensation – I could see the outside world, but the outside world couldn't see me. This asymmetrical visual relationship created a sense of excitement within safety. Tried five minutes of light hand restraint, adding a small new element within an already safe space. The restraint itself was very mild, but it held a special significance in this particular environment. Discovered that voluntarily chosen restriction actually enhanced my sense of agency. Understood the 'paradox of voluntary restriction' – when we choose restriction ourselves, we are actually exercising freedom." After writing this, Wen Ran let out a long sigh. She realized that every exploration with Lu Yu was not just about experiencing special activities, but also about learning profound life and psychological principles. These principles could be applied to many areas – work, relationships, self-awareness. What she was learning was a healthier, clearer, more conscious way of living. On Sunday, when Wen Ran spoke with Xia Zhi on the phone, Xia Zhi curiously asked, "Have you two made any new progress recently?" Wen Ran shared selectively, "We're trying some 'situational experiences' – gentle explorations within specific environments to enhance sensory awareness and self-perception." "That sounds very… profound," Xia Zhi said. "Not just for stimulation, but for growth."