Ye Lan was amused by her adorable and naive expression, and couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh, her chest vibrating gently with a hint of delight.
“Alright, alright, it was Master who was too rough. My little kitten has been wronged.”
Her tone was soothing, but her fingers were anything but well-behaved as they wandered at the collar of her bathrobe, ambiguously caressing, “To make it up to my little kitten, I’ll reward you tonight… Hmm? What kind of reward do you want?”
Mu Xi felt the suggestive touch of Ye Lan’s fingers, her body tensing up slightly as that sense of resistance surged again from deep within.
But on the surface, she still maintained her sweet smile, speaking in a delicate voice:
“Little Xi doesn’t want anything, as long as Master likes Little Xi, that’s enough.”
As she spoke, she snuggled into Ye Lan’s arms like she was acting spoiled, her soft body pressing against Ye Lan’s taut curves, deliberately trying to please her.
Ye Lan seemed very satisfied with her answer, the smile in her eyes deepening, and her fingers growing even more audacious, hinting at her playful intentions as she whispered by her ear, “What a good little kitten. Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of you.”
***
In the days that followed, Mu Xi lived a “three-point line” life: Practice Room, Garden, sleep.
Every day, aside from practicing songs, she would stare blankly at the blooming scenery of the Garden, trying to find a sliver of joy in this boring, captive life.
That evening, as usual, Mu Xi was taking a walk in the Garden.
The setting sun cast the entire Manor in a golden-red glow, but it couldn’t warm her cold heart.
A Maid hurriedly ran past, carrying a tray.
When she saw Mu Xi, she seemed to latch onto a lifeline: “Miss, my stomach hurts so badly. Could you please help me deliver this meal to the Dungeon? Just take it to the innermost cell, please!”
Mu Xi saw the Maid clutching her stomach, sweat beading on her forehead, and thought that she was already quite familiar with the Dungeon.
So she nodded in agreement.
Taking the heavy tray, Mu Xi followed the hidden path and stepped into the Dungeon once more.
The familiar stench of mold and blood hit her, making her frown instinctively.
Under the dim lights, the figures of the prisoners looked even more twisted, their low groans echoing in her ears like ghosts.
She carefully avoided those hollow gazes, and according to the Maid’s instructions, made her way to the innermost cell.
“Wuhen, it’s time to eat.” Mu Xi said softly, passing the tray through the gap in the iron bars.
Just then, something unexpected happened!
Wuhen, who should have been securely locked up, suddenly darted out of the shadows like a ghost, grabbing Mu Xi and pinning her to the ground.
The cold stone slabs hurt her, and the food spilled all over the ground, soup splattering onto her body.
“You… what are you doing?!” Mu Xi stared at her in terror, her silvery hair scattered on the ground like a battered flower.
Beneath Wuhen’s messy hair, her bloodshot eyes fixed on Mu Xi with a mad gleam.
She gripped Mu Xi’s slender neck, lifting her off the ground.
Her hoarse voice sounded like it came from the depths of hell: “Don’t move! Anyone comes near, and I’ll kill her!”
The sudden turn of events left Mu Xi’s mind blank.
All she could feel was the grip on her neck tightening, her breath growing more and more labored, her vision going black in waves.
“Damn it, how did that woman get free?!”
“Go notify Lady Ye right now!”
“Don’t act rashly, she has a hostage in her hands!”
A commotion of footsteps sounded as a group of black-clad female Guards rushed over, quickly surrounding Wuhen.
But they hesitated, wary of Wuhen holding Mu Xi hostage, and dared not move recklessly.
Wuhen, clutching Mu Xi, backed out of the Dungeon step by step, eventually reaching the Garden.
More Guards arrived at the news, surrounding them so tightly that not even water could get through.
The afterglow of the sunset shone on Wuhen’s scarred face, making her look especially fierce.
The veins on the hand gripping Mu Xi’s neck bulged, as if she could snap her neck at any moment.
Mu Xi’s face grew paler and paler.
She felt like a little kitten with its throat gripped, on the verge of suffocating to death.
She struggled desperately, but couldn’t break free from Wuhen’s grasp.
“Let go of me… you crazy woman…” Mu Xi managed to squeeze out a few words from her throat, her voice hoarse and weak.
“Shut up!” Wuhen glared at her viciously, tightening her grip even more.
“Say another word, and I’ll make you shut up forever!”
Mu Xi’s eyes filled with tears from the pain.
She fought to stay calm, suppressing her fear.
In the Garden, the atmosphere was so heavy it felt like solid lead.
Wuhen held Mu Xi like a chick, retreating step by step, every move tugging at everyone’s nerves.
“Go get Ye Lan! Bring a car! Otherwise, I’ll kill her!”
Wuhen’s voice was hoarse, sounding like a broken bellows, every word reeking of blood.
She knew Mu Xi was Ye Lan’s precious one—her only bargaining chip.
That Maid with the stomachache was just a pitiful pawn forced by her threats.
But the one who arrived wasn’t Ye Lan, but Li Xin.
Standing high above, looking down, the black muzzle of her gun was like the eyes of death, locking coldly onto Wuhen.
“Release her, and I might consider sparing your life.” Li Xin’s voice was icy cold, utterly emotionless, like a stone fished from an ice cellar.
Wuhen sneered, her laughter sharp and piercing: “And why should I listen to you? You think that lousy gun can hit me? We’re so far apart, aren’t you afraid you’ll shoot your little darling instead?”
She deliberately emphasized the words “little darling,” her tone full of mockery and provocation.
She was certain Li Xin wouldn’t dare make a move.
Though Mu Xi was small, hiding behind her made for a perfect shield.
At this distance, a handgun couldn’t guarantee the hostage’s safety.
Wuhen’s words had barely finished, still tinged with smugness, as she bet on Li Xin’s hesitation.
“Boom”
A gunshot rang out, shattering the Garden’s silence.
Wuhen’s smile froze on her face.
She didn’t even have time to feel pain—there was a bloody hole in her forehead, and blood and brain matter burst like fireworks, staining Mu Xi’s silver hair red.
Wuhen’s body collapsed to the ground like a ragdoll, her hand going limp and releasing Mu Xi, who also slumped to the ground.
Everyone was stunned, including Mu Xi.
She stared wide-eyed at Wuhen’s corpse, her mind blank.
She could even feel the warm blood splattered on her face.
Li Xin, expressionless, holstered her gun, jumped down from above, and quickly strode to Mu Xi’s side, kneeling on one knee and carefully helping her up.
“Miss Mu Xi, are you alright?” Li Xin’s voice was uncharacteristically gentle, but even more full of concern.
It was only then that Mu Xi came back to her senses.
She reached out with trembling hands to touch her neck, where Wuhen’s finger marks still burned painfully.
“I… I’m alright…” Mu Xi’s voice trembled with sobs, and tears finally spilled from her eyes.
She wasn’t crying for Wuhen’s death, but out of fear—if Li Xin’s hand had trembled even a little, she might have…