Just as Xia Mengxi was cursing Lin Xue’er inwardly, Lin Xue’er’s words suddenly took a turn for the better, bringing Xia Mengxi unexpected joy.
“That’s what I said, but I can give you an Examination Period. During this period, I won’t Punish you.”
As her words fell, Lin Xue’er slowly reached out, playing with Xia Mengxi’s soft hair. Continuing from where she left off, she spoke on.
“But… you have to pay attention, Xiaoxi. If, during this period, you can become the Good Child I envision, then I’ll let you keep your sense of self and stay by my side forever. Otherwise…”
Before she finished speaking, Lin Xue’er smiled at her. Even without finishing the sentence, her meaning was clear.
“Mm! I understand! Xue’er, if you tell me to go east, I’ll go east; if you want me to go west, I’ll go west. I absolutely won’t have any other ideas!”
At this moment, Xia Mengxi felt a genuine happiness from the bottom of her heart. What she wanted most right now was for Lin Xue’er to give up on Punishing her, so she was happy to accept any condition the other party proposed. As for the Examination Period or whatever, she didn’t care at all and didn’t bother to pay attention. Once she gained Lin Xue’er’s trust, she could look for a way to Escape.
As for playing the Good Child, after being in Confinement for months last time, she was already well-practiced, so she had nothing to worry about.
“Xiaoxi, it’s best that you think this way. After all… compared to a Doll with no self-awareness, I much prefer the lively you. But… if you really are disobedient, I don’t mind breaking you, as long as you’re still by my side, I’ll be satisfied.”
“…Mm.”
Faced with Lin Xue’er’s words, Xia Mengxi was left speechless.
Watching Lin Xue’er walk into the Kitchen again, take something out, and then bring her a glass of water in the Living Room, she was very confused, but didn’t dare to ask.
“Come, Xiaoxi, open your palm.”
“Okay.”
Obeying Lin Xue’er, Xia Mengxi saw several White Granules appear in her outstretched hand.
She could tell what these things were, but didn’t know their purpose.
“Xiaoxi, eat these.”
“…Okay.”
Xia Mengxi hesitated, but she had just promised Lin Xue’er she wouldn’t ask questions and would do as told, so she could only obediently follow orders. She took the few White Granules in her hand, used the cup Lin Xue’er handed her, and swallowed them down.
Lin Xue’er seemed quite satisfied with her obedience—her smile made that clear.
“Xiaoxi, do you want to know what I just had you eat?”
There were two ways to answer this question, but after a moment’s thought, Xia Mengxi realized neither outcome would be good. Cleverly, she tossed the question back.
“Xue’er, do you want me to ask you, or do you not want me to know?”
Lin Xue’er chuckled softly, rubbed Xia Mengxi’s head, and said, “I want you to ask, because I only brought it up in the first place so you would.”
As she wished, Xia Mengxi asked, and Lin Xue’er began explaining why she had to eat those White Granules.
“Although your health has improved a lot, Xiaoxi, and I’m happy about that—since now I don’t have to give up so many things for your sake—the healthier you get, the more anxious I feel. So, to keep you from having any unnecessary thoughts, I need to make your body undergo Body Restoration.”
“……”
From those words alone, it was clear the White Granules were something to weaken her constitution, but Lin Xue’er’s next words surprised her even more.
“In fact, ever since you confessed to me, I started secretly putting these in your food. But at that time your constitution was already very weak, so I gave you very little—so little it was almost ineffective.”
So that was it! No wonder her sickly constitution disappeared, but her body never quite felt normal—it was all Lin Xue’er’s doing!
Damn it…! Just how many things has Lin Xue’er done without her knowing!
“So from today on, Xiaoxi, you’ll take them three times a day, until I think it’s enough. Only then can you stop. Understand?”
“I understand…”
Just as she had escaped Lin Xue’er’s Punishment, now she had to take some strange substance—Xia Mengxi really wanted to cry, but had no tears.
It seemed Escape was now more urgent than ever. With every day she remained by Lin Xue’er’s side, her chance at freedom fell sharply.
So… how could she Escape safely? Even if she couldn’t Escape unscathed, she needed to at least get away without too many regrets. At the very least, she had to succeed.
Realizing Lin Xue’er would never truly trust her, Xia Mengxi stopped thinking about any long-term plans. Now, all she hoped for was not to give Lin Xue’er another chance to act recklessly.
Lowering her standards, more options would naturally appear—but to her surprise, Lin Xue’er was this cautious.
“Xiaoxi, I can’t skip school two days in a row, or the Family will notice something. So… before I come home at noon, please take a nap.”
“Xiaoxi, Afternoon Nap time is almost over. I should get back to School. Come, we’ll see each other again in five hours.”
So, the only time Xia Mengxi could stay awake in a whole day was during dusk when Lin Xue’er returned from School and the evening that followed.
In this state, not to mention being drowsy from sleeping so much, or having a body heavy with fatigue from whatever she had to take, even during the time she could move around, Lin Xue’er was always with her. With that alone, she had no way to Escape.
Was she… trapped in another Deadlock this time?
Obeying Lin Xue’er’s command, Xia Mengxi sat on the sofa, dressed in a gorgeous Lolita Dress. Her long, soft black hair was braided into two plaits that fell over her chest, making her look like an Exquisite Doll.
“As I thought, Xiaoxi looks so pretty in a Lolita Dress! Right, Xiaoxi?”
“Mm…”
Seeing Xia Mengxi respond so listlessly, Lin Xue’er frowned, clearly displeased.
“Xiaoxi, don’t you like these kinds of clothes?”
Snapping back to herself, Xia Mengxi quickly shook her head. “No! I like them a lot! I was just a bit out of it because I slept all day and feel a little uncomfortable… that’s all.”
“Eh… I see…”
Lin Xue’er picked Xia Mengxi up, placing her on her own lap, hugging her waist, and whispering in her ear, “True, making you sleep all day isn’t a real solution. But Xiaoxi, don’t worry. Once I deal with things at School and with those two, we’ll be able to live together forever.”