Chapter 12: A Pawn to Be Played

The two set out from the estate, Ye Lan at the wheel of a rugged off-road vehicle, weaving through the dense forest toward the outskirts. 

Mu Xi gazed out the window, the scenery blurring past in a rush of green and shadow. 

Her mind churned, calculating whether this trip would yield the vital information she so desperately needed.

A sudden, searing headache struck without warning.

In her mind’s eye, Ye Lan’s face flickered into view—not the composed woman beside her, but a younger, wilder version, her features smeared with blood, eyes blazing with a manic intensity. 

Mu Xi froze, her breath catching. 

She had never seen Ye Lan wear such a frenzied expression. 

Why had this image surged into her memory? 

Could it belong to the original owner of this body?

She stole a glance at Ye Lan, struggling to reconcile the poised woman driving with the blood-streaked phantom from her vision.

The gold mine came into view sooner than expected.

As was her custom, Ye Lan fastened a collar around Mu Xi’s neck before striding alone into the depths of the mine.

Then, Mu Xi spotted him—the same earnest miner who had approached her last time, his broad frame lingering at a distance. 

His eyes, bright with curiosity and a hint of hope, kept darting toward the vehicle.

Mu Xi leaned forward, her gaze settling on the man, a flicker of inexplicable intrigue stirring within her.

Just then, a group of men in hard hats stormed over, their fists and boots raining down on the gentle miner. 

“Stop daydreaming! Get back to work, you lazy bastard!” they bellowed, their crude words exploding in the air like blows to Mu Xi’s own heart.

The miner curled into a ball, crouching on the ground, absorbing the beating without resistance. 

His face betrayed no pain, as if such treatment were as routine as the dust on his clothes.

The sight clenched Mu Xi’s chest, a wave of unnamed sorrow washing over her.

“Enough,” one of the men finally spat, exasperated. 

“Don’t waste your energy on this idiot. His brain’s half-broken anyway—probably having another episode.”

Grumbling, the group dispersed, leaving the miner alone in the dirt.

Slowly, he rose, his body bruised but his expression untouched by suffering. 

He stood there, dazed, before his gaze drifted back to Mu Xi.

When his eyes met her delicate, porcelain-doll face, he scratched his head and broke into a guileless, lopsided grin.

Mu Xi’s heart softened at his pitiful state, a pang of compassion stirring within her.

She beckoned him gently with a wave of her hand.

The man hesitated, then approached the vehicle with cautious steps.

“You… you’re really pretty,” he stammered, his voice brimming with innocent awe.

Mu Xi’s tone was soft as she asked, “Did it hurt when they hit you?”

He shook his head, his smile unwavering. 

“Nah, I’m used to it.”

A sour ache bloomed in Mu Xi’s chest. 

“What’s your name?” she pressed.

“Tuesday,” he answered promptly, without a trace of guile.

Mu Xi studied the man called Tuesday more closely. 

He was tall and burly, his muscles taut beneath sun-darkened skin, still young in years. 

His eyes sparkled with a childlike purity, and that ever-present, honest smile seemed untouched by the bruises marring his body. 

Despite his wounds, his presence radiated a quiet, sunlit warmth.

Suddenly, Tuesday’s voice grew earnest. 

“Thank you for caring about me. I like you.”

Mu Xi blinked, caught off guard.

“What kind of like?” she asked, testing the waters.

Scratching his head, he replied with disarming simplicity, “Like is just… like.”

Her instincts flared, suspicion creeping in. 

Could he be a pawn sent by Ye Lan to probe her? 

She decided to turn the tables, but subtly. 

After a moment’s thought, a sly idea sparked.

“Then kiss me,” she said, her voice laced with playful mischief.

If he were Ye Lan’s pawn, he wouldn’t dare touch her. 

Ye Lan’s wrath was a terror known to more than just Mu Xi. 

Even with a valid excuse, laying a hand on her would spell certain doom—nine deaths out of ten.

It was the perfect test.

Tuesday froze, then let out a soft “Oh” before leaning in, as if to actually kiss her.

Mu Xi dodged back with a laugh. 

“I was teasing you.”

He chuckled too, his grin as warm and unassuming as ever. 

“Thank you.”

His guileless reaction eased her doubts, if only slightly.

Changing tack, she asked, “Is there a map of the mine? Could you get it for me?”

Tuesday nodded eagerly. 

“Yeah, there is. If you want it, I’ll grab it for you.”

He turned to go, but Mu Xi quickly stopped him. 

“Wait, not this time. Maybe next time.”

Ye Lan was still inside the mine. 

Running into her now would ruin everything.

Tuesday nodded again and shuffled back to his work in the mine.

Watching his broad silhouette vanish into the tunnel, Mu Xi sank into thought.

A map of the mine’s interior wasn’t essential, but if she could get her hands on one, it would be a boon to her plans.

Leaning against the window, her silver hair catching the breeze, her pale pink gauze skirt glimmered softly in the sunlight. 

She sighed, her heart a tangle of emotions.

Was this simple miner truly just an innocent fool? 

Or a carefully placed piece in Ye Lan’s intricate game?

Either way, Mu Xi knew she had to tread carefully.

In this place, everyone was a potential threat.

Yet, Tuesday’s unguarded sincerity had kindled a faint warmth in her heart. 

Perhaps, in the cold shadows of this gold mine, a spark of humanity still flickered.

Mu Xi pulled herself back to the present, refocusing on her precarious situation.

Escaping Ye Lan’s grasp was a distant dream, a path fraught with obstacles.

But for the first time, a ember of hope glowed within her.

Perhaps this miner named Tuesday could become a key piece in her carefully laid plans.

As dusk fell, the mine’s clamor faded to a hush.

Ye Lan emerged from the depths, her clothes dusted with earth, yet her elegance undimmed. 

She brushed off her sleeves with a graceful flick and slid into the driver’s seat.

“Little Xi,” she purred, her voice languid but her eyes sharp with scrutiny, “did anyone come talk to you while I was gone?”

Mu Xi’s pulse quickened, Tuesday’s honest smile flashing through her mind. 

If she spoke of him, Ye Lan’s keen mind would track him down effortlessly, and that would spell disaster for the poor man.

Biting her lip, she replied with practiced ease, “No, Master. Who else would bother talking to me here but you?”

Ye Lan gave a slight nod, seemingly satisfied, and started the engine. 

The car rolled away from the mine, heading back toward the sprawling estate.

***

Back in her room, Mu Xi collapsed onto the soft bed, the faint scent of the pink sheets offering a fleeting sense of calm.

But the peace shattered quickly.

The door creaked open, and Ye Lan stepped inside, a coil of red silk rope in her hands. 

Her lips curved into a dangerous smile, her eyes glinting with menace. 

“Little Xi, lie face down and put your hands behind your back.”

Mu Xi’s heart lurched, but she tilted her head, feigning innocence. 

“What does the Master want to do?”