Little An silently took off that red dress, her movements so gentle it was as if she were handling a fragile piece of art.
She folded the dress neatly and placed it to the side, then changed back into her signature maid outfit, every movement precise and respectful, as though this was her natural camouflage.
Mu Xi lay idly on the bed, her lifeless eyes fixed on the complex Gothic patterns decorating the ceiling.
She felt as if she were trapped within the gears of time, and only these dull amusements proved she was still alive.
“This damn pattern on the ceiling, I can count every single one of them.”
Mu Xi muttered to herself, only to find her voice echoed with unusual loneliness in the empty room.
Just then, the mattress dipped slightly.
Mu Xi turned her head and saw that Little An had silently climbed onto the bed, kneeling behind her.
Before she could ask anything, a pair of cool little hands gently rested on her shoulders.
“What are you doing?” Mu Xi asked in confusion.
Little An still said nothing, but her fingers pressed lightly, beginning to knead Mu Xi’s tense shoulders.
Surprisingly, those rough palms brought a strange sense of comfort, making Mu Xi unconsciously relax.
“Oh… So you know how to give massages?” Mu Xi raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise and relaxation in her tone.
“No wonder you were trained.”
Little An’s movements grew more skilled, her fingers roaming Mu Xi’s shoulders and neck, pinpointing every tense muscle and kneading with just the right pressure.
Mu Xi was so comfortable she almost let out a sigh, completely unaware that Little An’s face was slowly inching closer to her.
In reality, while Little An appeared focused on the massage, her inner world was completely different.
She cautiously leaned forward, her nose almost brushing against Mu Xi’s silver hair.
Greedily, she inhaled the scent that blended milk, perfume, and Mu Xi’s unique fragrance, her heart pounding so fast it seemed ready to burst from her chest.
Those massaging hands seemed to have a different purpose, occasionally brushing past the nape of Mu Xi’s neck, feeling the delicate skin and soft down.
With each such touch, Little An’s breathing quickened involuntarily.
“You’re pretty good at this massage stuff.” Mu Xi closed her eyes to enjoy it, completely oblivious to the thoughts behind her, “You’re the only one here I don’t find annoying.”
Hearing this, Little An’s fingers trembled slightly, a fleeting glimmer flashing in her shadowy eyes—one even she dared not acknowledge.
Her face drew even closer, nearly pressing her entire body against Mu Xi’s back, her lips just a few centimeters away from that waterfall of silver hair.
Little An took a deep breath, locking Mu Xi’s scent deep into her lungs, as if that could make her belong to her in some way.
Mu Xi looked down at her slender legs, so thin they seemed like a pair of chopsticks that might snap at any moment.
She pinched her thigh lightly with her fingers; the soft feel only made her frown.
‘No way… Could I get even shorter?’
Mu Xi murmured anxiously to herself, “What if I have to look up at elementary schoolers when I talk to them? That’s just too tragic!”
She imagined herself surrounded by a group of elementary school kids, all looking down at her, and shivered involuntarily.
It was already hard enough to accept being reborn as a woman, but now Heaven had given her such a miniature body—this trick of fate made her want to roll her eyes at the sky.
Mu Xi turned around, her gaze falling on Little An—those long, straight legs seemed to silently mock her.
She reached out, half-envious, half-jealous, and touched Little An’s calf, feeling the smooth lines.
“I really wish I could swap with you,” Mu Xi sighed, her eyes filled with longing, “How can the world be so unfair? You get those long legs, and I’m stuck with two bean sprouts.”
Little An’s body stiffened slightly at Mu Xi’s touch, but a trace of hidden excitement flickered in her eyes.
Mu Xi didn’t notice; her mind was entirely occupied with dissatisfaction about her height.
“I just can’t believe fate is messing with me like this.”
Mu Xi went on complaining to herself, “If I can’t get back to normal, fine, but why turn me into a little girl? I was supposed to be the cool and beautiful big sister type! A meter eighty, long legs, and an aura just by standing there!”
The more Mu Xi spoke, the more agitated she became, her hand unconsciously running up and down Little An’s leg as if confirming exactly what she was missing.
Taking the opportunity, Little An gently placed her own hand on Mu Xi’s leg, her movements soft.
Mu Xi’s mind was so caught up with her height problem that she didn’t even notice Little An’s little move.
“Do you think that pervert Ye Lan would turn me into a kid? What if I shrink again?”
She frowned and muttered to herself, completely ignoring Little An’s now slightly trembling hands.
Little An’s breathing became rapid as she savored the silky, satin-like skin beneath her palm, her heart thundering in her chest.
Her gaze traced every curve of Mu Xi’s body with hungry eyes, an almost overwhelming impulse threatening to swallow her whole.
She wanted to lean down, feel that smoothness with her lips, taste that milky-white skin.
But in the end, reason prevailed.
Little An took a deep breath, forcing her actions to stay within the bounds of a “caretaker,” even though her heart was in utter chaos.
“Ah, forget it.”
Mu Xi finally snapped out of her thoughts, shrugged helplessly, “It’s like this anyway, no point worrying.”
Only then did she notice Little An’s hand was still on her leg, but she didn’t think much of it, assuming Little An was simply comforting her.
The lazy midday sunlight poured through the glass window into the room.
***
After lunch, Mu Xi idly flipped through a few pages of the Music Sheet, but soon began to yawn.
“So sleepy, I’ll take a nap…”
She tossed the book aside and flopped onto the bed, not even bothering to pull up the covers, her two slender white legs draped casually over the edge, toes dangling in midair.
Those dainty feet were pink as a baby’s, the toes round and cute, glowing with healthy radiance in the sunlight.
Little An finished clearing the dishes and quietly returned to the room.
The moment she entered, her gaze was drawn to those pink little feet hanging off the bed.
‘Has my little mistress fallen asleep?’ Little An asked silently in her heart, her eyes turning from empty to burning.
She swallowed, her Adam’s apple bobbing.
Those feet were like two tempting pieces of candy, sparkling in the sunlight, making her heart itch unbearably.
Little An tiptoed over to the bed, crouching like a cat.
Holding her breath and perking her ears, she confirmed that Mu Xi’s breathing had become steady and deep.
“She should be asleep now…”
Her heart raced, her palms sweating, as she summoned the courage to move closer to those pink toes and gave them a gentle, tentative lick.
The moment her tongue touched them, a blend of milky scent and Mu Xi’s unique fragrance flooded her senses, nearly making her faint.
Little An quickly straightened up, pretending to tidy the things beside the bed as if nothing had happened, but her eyes remained fixed on Mu Xi’s face.
Mu Xi still slept soundly, long lashes casting little fan-like shadows on her cheeks, silver hair spilling over the pillow like a pool of moonlight.
Her lips were slightly parted, emitting a soft breathing sound, completely unaware of what had just happened.
Seeing this, Little An grew bolder.
“My little mistress is really fast asleep…”
She crouched down again, this time pressing her lips even more boldly against those pink toes, and gently sucking them.