Chapter 231: Companionship

Those eyes were full of complex emotions, but they made Mu Xi feel at ease.

“I’m willing,” Mu Xi said softly.

Ye Lan’s lips curled up slightly, revealing a satisfied smile.

She got up to prepare the necessary tools.

Although the space in the RV was limited, the design was reasonable.

Ye Lan took a shaving kit from the bathroom, along with a clean towel and a basin of warm water.

“Sit on the table,” Ye Lan instructed.

Mu Xi walked over obediently and sat on the folding table.

The tabletop was very stable, more than enough to bear her weight.

“Now, take off your underwear.” Ye Lan’s voice carried an unquestionable sense of command, yet it didn’t sound cold.

Mu Xi’s fingers trembled slightly, but she still obediently pulled down her underwear.

Despite her blurred memories, she had an instinctive sense of obedience toward Ye Lan’s commands.

“Spread your legs,” Ye Lan’s voice was deep.

Mu Xi did as she was told, feeling both nervous and strangely relaxed.

Ye Lan’s gaze fell on her, giving her a peculiar sense of security.

Ye Lan picked up the wet towel and gently wiped Mu Xi’s private area, her movements both professional and careful.

The warm water made Mu Xi’s skin shiver slightly, but Ye Lan’s touch gradually made her relax.

“You’ve always been this good,” Ye Lan whispered, her eyes focused.

Mu Xi didn’t answer; she just looked at Ye Lan’s serious profile.

Under the dim light, Ye Lan’s silhouette appeared more defined, possessing an irresistible charm.

Ye Lan picked up the shaving foam, squeezed it into her palm, and then gently applied it to Mu Xi’s private area.

The cool sensation made Mu Xi reflexively shiver.

“Don’t be afraid. It’ll be over soon,” Ye Lan comforted her, her voice softer than usual.

Mu Xi nodded, her long silver hair swaying gently with her movements.

Ye Lan picked up the razor, her movements careful and precise.

The sharp blade slid against Mu Xi’s delicate skin.

Mu Xi felt a strange stimulation, both nervous and oddly comfortable.

“Did we… often do this before?” Mu Xi asked softly.

Ye Lan’s movements paused for a moment, then continued.

“Yes, at least once a month.” Her voice held a hint of nostalgia, “You were always very cooperative.”

A warm current welled up in Mu Xi’s heart.

This fragment of memory made her feel one step closer to her true past.

Ye Lan’s movements were gentle and skillful.

The razor slid over Mu Xi’s fair skin, clearing away the excess hair bit by bit.

The entire process was both intimate and carried a strange sense of ritual.

“How much do you remember about us?” Ye Lan asked while focusing on the task at hand.

Mu Xi closed her eyes, trying hard to remember.

“Not much… only some fragments… your voice… your smile…” Her voice grew smaller and smaller.

Ye Lan’s gaze softened and she said, “It’s okay. Take your time. What matters is that you’re still here, with me.”

Mu Xi nodded, she felt that every one of Ye Lan’s movements was so familiar, as if they had repeated them countless times.

“Luoyuan… what did she do to you?” Ye Lan asked, a hint of suppressed anger in her voice.

Mu Xi shook her head and replied, “I don’t know. She said she saved me and that I owe her.”

Ye Lan’s brow furrowed slightly.

“You don’t owe her anything.” Her voice was firm, “She used you, controlled you.”

Mu Xi didn’t answer, she didn’t know who to believe.

Luoyuan was her only support, while Ye Lan was a significant presence in her blurred memories.

Ye Lan seemed to notice her confusion and stopped asking.

She focused on the work at hand, moving the razor carefully along Mu Xi’s contours, ensuring every spot was clean and tidy.

“Almost done,” Ye Lan said, her voice tender.

Mu Xi nodded.

She felt a strange sense of intimacy.

This simple grooming act seemed to close the distance between her and Ye Lan.

Ye Lan finally cleaned Mu Xi’s private area with warm water and then gently dried it with a soft towel.

Every action was full of care and nursing, making Mu Xi feel cherished.

“Done.” Ye Lan stood up and put the towel aside.

She looked at Mu Xi, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

Mu Xi slowly closed her legs, feeling the smooth sensation.

She looked up, meeting Ye Lan’s gaze, and couldn’t help but blush.

“Thank you,” she said softly.

Ye Lan reached out and stroked her silver hair.

“No need for thanks. Taking care of you is my responsibility, and my wish.”

Mu Xi felt a warm current flow through her body.

Despite the blurred memories, she could feel the sincere emotion in Ye Lan’s words.

The sound of the wind and sand outside grew louder, but the inside of the RV was quiet and warm.

Two women depending on each other found a moment of peace on this night in the desert.

“Time to sleep,” Ye Lan said, “There’s still a long way to go.”

Mu Xi nodded, but she felt that this path led not only to a distant geographical location but also to her lost memories and identity.

And Ye Lan seemed to be the one who could lead her back to her true self.

Something was lighting up in her heart.

***

Middle of the night.

In her dream, Mu Xi was floating on a boundless sea.

The cold seawater slapped against her small body, and the salty sea breeze stung her skin.

She saw her parents standing on the distant shore, watching her with cold, indifferent eyes.

“Don’t leave me!” she cried out in the dream.

There was no expression on her parents’ faces.

They turned and left, leaving her alone to struggle in the surging waves.

Fear swallowed her like the seawater.

She desperately tried to swim toward the shore, only to be pushed further away by wave after wave.

Just as she was about to give up, the dream suddenly changed.

Another man and woman appeared before her.

Their faces were almost identical to her parents from a moment ago, but they reached out to her with warm smiles.

“Little Xi, don’t be afraid. We’ve come to get you,” the man’s voice was gentle and firm.

“Baby, Mommy is here.” The woman smiled, her eyes brimming with love.

Mu Xi struggled to swim toward them, her heart filled with longing and hope.

“Daddy! Mommy!” she screamed in her dream, her voice heartbreaking.

Ye Lan was jolted awake by the sudden cry.

She opened her eyes and found Mu Xi covered in tears, her body twisting restlessly, her long silver hair spread messily across the pillow.

Moonlight spilled through the RV window onto Mu Xi’s pale face, making her look even more fragile.

Ye Lan looked at her with heartache and unhesitatingly unfastened her own undergarment.

She gently pulled Mu Xi into her arms and pressed her breast to Mu Xi’s mouth.

As if sensing something, Mu Xi naturally took Ye Lan into her mouth even in her sleep.

Her breathing gradually became steady, and her furrowed brows slowly relaxed.

Ye Lan looked at Mu Xi’s peaceful sleeping face, a soft ripple of tenderness rising in her heart.

This action seemed perfectly natural for them, as if it had been repeated countless times before.

The wind and sand outside continued to howl, battering the shell of the RV, but the bursts of noise could not disturb the tranquility inside the vehicle.

Ye Lan carefully adjusted her position to ensure Mu Xi could nestle comfortably in her arms.

She gently stroked Mu Xi’s silver hair, feeling the silk-like sensation flow through her fingers.

“It’s okay, Little Xi, I’m here,” Ye Lan whispered in comfort.

Her voice was like a lullaby, gently surrounding Mu Xi.

Mu Xi’s body completely relaxed in Ye Lan’s embrace, the fear from the nightmare dispelled.

Looking at how tiny Mu Xi was in her arms, Ye Lan recalled everything they had been through.

The days of fleeing, the time spent surviving with Mu Xi.

Though they were still displaced now, at least Mu Xi was still by her side.