Mu Xi still didn’t respond, only wiggling her toes slightly in her sleep, as if responding to Little An’s touch.
This tiny movement made Little An’s heart nearly leap out of her chest.
Her gaze grew even more heated, her breathing quickening.
The pair of eyes that were usually numb and hollow now shimmered with a dangerous light, like a beast fixated on its prey.
‘Young Mistress’s little feet are so pretty…’ Little An silently admired in her heart, gathering her courage as she stretched out both hands, gently cupping that delicate foot.
Mu Xi’s foot looked even smaller and more exquisite in her rough palms.
Little An treated it like a treasure, carefully caressing from the ankle to the instep, and then to each little toe.
‘Young Mistress’s toes look just like five little sugar beans…’ Unable to help herself, Little An lowered her head again—this time, she took Mu Xi’s big toe directly into her mouth, her tongue gently licking it.
Mu Xi frowned a little in her sleep, her toes curling slightly, but there was no sign she would wake up.
Seeing this, Little An grew bolder, tasting those ‘little sugar beans’ one by one.
Immersed in her own little world, she was caught off guard when Mu Xi suddenly turned over, pulling her feet away.
Little An was so startled she almost fell, quickly standing up as her heart pounded like thunder.
“Hoo… That was close… almost got caught…”
She wiped the corner of her mouth, straightened her maid uniform, and pretended as if she had just come in, starting to tidy up the bedroom earnestly.
But her gaze kept drifting to the sleeping Mu Xi on the bed, with a smile hanging at her lips—one even she herself hadn’t noticed.
Time flew by.
Mu Xi, who had been sleeping deeply, finally opened her eyes, only to find the world outside the window pitch black.
She suddenly sat up, shaking her head hard, as if to fling away the last bits of drowsiness.
“Goodness, what time is it? Am I a pig? Eat, sleep, sleep, eat.”
Mu Xi muttered, stretching lazily.
Her joints made a faint cracking sound.
The room was as warm as spring, and the exquisite dark gold wall lamps cast a gentle halo of light.
She lazily rubbed her eyes, only then noticing Little An standing at the bedside, carrying a dinner tray.
“Hey, you don’t need to wait for me to wake up.” Mu Xi curled her lips and patted the side of the bed, signaling Little An to put the food down.
As usual, Little An had to taste the food first.
Although Ye Lan had never set such a rule, Little An insisted on it anyway.
Mu Xi could only obediently sit to the side, watching as Little An picked up a piece of braised pork and put it into her mouth.
Who would have thought—something went wrong!
Little An’s expression suddenly twisted, her throat as if squeezed by invisible hands, making guttural choking sounds.
Her fingers spasmed around her neck, her eyes rolled back, and her whole body collapsed like a marionette with its strings cut.
“Little An!” Mu Xi cried out, rushing to Little An’s side at the fastest speed of her life, supporting her trembling body.
This was poison!
“Someone’s been poisoned! Help! Somebody, help!” Mu Xi’s voice was sharp and urgent, echoing through the empty room.
The guards outside the door rushed in upon hearing her, dressed in black suits and sunglasses, movements as swift as panthers.
When they saw that the person who’d collapsed was Little An, not Mu Xi, their tensed bodies visibly relaxed.
Protecting Mu Xi was their first priority.
The life or death of a mere maid clearly didn’t matter to them.
“Carry her out.” The tallest guard ordered coldly, her tone as flat as if discussing an object.
Mu Xi was left standing where she was, watching as Little An was carried away by several guards.
The bedroom door slammed shut, leaving her alone with that plate of deadly dinner.
“Damn, what kind of hellhole is this…”
Mu Xi sat on the bed with her knees hugged to her chest, her mind racing at high speed.
If Little An hadn’t insisted on tasting the food, she’d be the one lying on the floor now.
Such a bold move!
To dare this on Ye Lan’s turf, in a period of strict inspections—
She didn’t know how long she sat there before a gentle knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts.
“Come in.” Mu Xi sat up straight by reflex.
A beautiful maid entered, holding a new dinner tray.
“Miss, Little An is all right. She’s had her stomach pumped, and she’ll be back in a few days,” the maid reported softly.
“This is a new dinner, it’s been thoroughly checked—it’s absolutely safe.”
Mu Xi nodded, though her gaze remained fixed on the plate.
‘Is it really safe? Who knows?’
But now, she had no other choice.
“Thank you.”
She took the tray and tasted a bite.
This was the chef’s signature dish, one to be proud of—yet right now, it was as tasteless as chewing wax.
Night grew deep, and the manor gradually quieted down.
Mu Xi curled up on that luxurious bed, enveloped by the mattress that dipped slightly in the center.
“Little An, ah, Little An…” Mu Xi let out a gentle sigh, a warmth blooming in her heart.
That night, she tossed and turned on that grand yet unfamiliar bed, unable to sleep.
Her thoughts were tangled like threads, finding no rest in the darkness.
Around midnight, a faint scraping sound came from the direction of the window.
Her nerves were already stretched tight, so this noise instantly caught her attention.
“Is it raining?” Mu Xi frowned and muttered, instinctively glancing outside.
This bedroom was at the top of the manor, and as she never bothered to draw the curtains, the night view was in full display.
But lately, Ye Lan had strictly forbidden her from approaching the window.
She gently lifted the blanket, her fair feet stepping onto the soft carpet, carefully getting up to see what was going on.
At only a meter and a half tall, she had to tiptoe just to see clearly.
“What is that—”
Before she could finish, a bloody, mangled woman’s face suddenly pressed against the window!
Those twisted, deformed features, those bloodshot eyes staring straight at her!
“Ah!” Mu Xi screamed, instinctively staggering back several steps, her silver hair scattering in panic.
“How is this possible? How could someone climb up here at such a height?”
Driven by terror, she grabbed the bedside lamp and hurled it at the horrifying face with all her might.
“Get away!”
The glass shattered with a crash, icy wind howling into the room as that eerie figure seemed to vanish in an instant.
Mu Xi didn’t have time to think, dashing barefoot to the bedroom door, twisting the handle desperately—but it wouldn’t budge.
“Help! Is anyone there? Please, someone help me!”
She pounded on the door with all her strength, her voice hoarse from screaming, but outside was dead silent, as if she was the only one left in the whole manor.
From behind came the creak of the window frame once again.
Mu Xi froze, fear spreading from her spine through her entire body like ice.
Slowly, she turned around—only to see that woman’s twisted face creeping in from the edge of the window frame, half her face showing, her lips curling in a sinister smile.
“Ah!”
Mu Xi jolted awake, sitting up in bed with harsh, ragged breaths.
Her pajamas were soaked with cold sweat, her tiny body still trembling slightly.
“Nightmare… just a nightmare…” She hugged her knees, burying her face between them, trying to calm her rapid breathing.
When her heartbeat finally settled, she cautiously glanced toward the window.
The pitch-black glass reflected the faint light inside, like an ominous mirror.
“Can’t take it anymore…”
Mu Xi muttered, hurrying out of bed, tiptoeing over to the window, and with trembling hands, pulling the heavy curtains closed, shutting out the darkness completely.