The Practice Room was still that secluded and isolated music hall.
Pushing open the heavy soundproof door, Mu Xi entered the quiet, solemn piano room.
The Steinway grand piano reflected the colored light from the stained glass windows.
The air was filled with a faint scent of wood and the lingering fragrance of musical instruments.
Ling Yue was already standing in the center of the room, waiting.
The Ziqi Dress accentuated her tall, elegant figure.
Her cool, distant gaze landed on Mu Xi, carrying a hint of scrutiny.
Mu Xi steadied her mind, walked over to the piano, and sat down.
Her fingertips brushed the keys, and a smooth cascade of notes poured forth.
After much practice, her piano skills had improved remarkably.
This progress offered her a sliver of comfort in an otherwise stifling life.
Ling Yue listened in silence, a look of satisfaction on her face.
From time to time, she would offer soft, precise guidance.
Her voice was cold and professional.
Just as Mu Xi was lost in the world of music, the door to the Practice Room was pushed open once more.
Ye Lan appeared in the doorway, her figure outlined by a tight black leather outfit that showed off her sensual curves.
A lazy, careless smile played on her lips.
“Not bad, little pet.” Ye Lan leaned against the door frame, her eyes sweeping over Mu Xi with amused interest.
Her tone was teasing.
Ling Yue frowned slightly.
Her cold gaze shifted to Ye Lan, her voice carrying a faint trace of displeasure.
“Miss Ye Lan, it is Mu Xi’s lesson time right now.”
Even when facing the Manor’s Master, her tone remained as chilly and distant as ever.
Ye Lan didn’t seem to mind Ling Yue’s displeasure.
She walked straight over to Mu Xi, bent down, and gently lifted a strand of Mu Xi’s silver hair with her fingers, whispering in her ear, “Darling, come with me. I’ll take you somewhere nice.”
Her tone was ambiguous, with an unmistakable hint of command.
Mu Xi tensed.
She glanced at Ling Yue then at Ye Lan and finally stood up obediently and followed Ye Lan out of the Practice Room.
She had no right to refuse.
In this Manor, she was nothing more than a kept pet, her fate already sealed in someone else’s hands.
Ye Lan led Mu Xi into a dimly lit room.
The air was thick with the pungent smells of disinfectant and ink.
The room was small—a single bed took up most of the space.
Several women in tight black outfits stood around the bed, tattoo tools arranged at their sides.
The metallic instruments gleamed coldly in the low light, sending chills down Mu Xi’s spine.
“Darling, let me introduce you. They’re the best tattoo artists in the Manor.”
Ye Lan’s voice carried a note of delight, as if showing off a prized possession.
“Today, we’re going to give my little pet a very special mark.”
Mu Xi’s heart sank.
A sense of foreboding flooded over her.
She looked at the tattoo artists.
Their faces were expressionless, eyes cold, like machines carrying out orders.
“Master, what are you going to do?” Mu Xi’s voice trembled.
She had a vague idea, but still clung to a shred of hope.
“Don’t be nervous. It’s just a little tattoo.”
Ye Lan chuckled softly, her fingers stroking Mu Xi’s cheek with deceptive gentleness.
Her voice, however, allowed no argument.
“Come, lie down on the bed.”
Mu Xi moved stiffly to the bedside and lay down slowly.
The cold sheet sent a chill through her, a warning of what was to come.
Ye Lan signaled the tattoo artists to begin.
The women quickly gathered around, expertly pulling Mu Xi’s dress up to her waist, exposing her pale stomach.
“Master, I don’t want a tattoo…” Mu Xi pleaded, her voice tinged with desperation.
She hated the thought of any permanent mark on her body, especially under such force.
“Be good. Obey.” Ye Lan’s voice turned cold, laced with warning.
“I don’t like disobedient pets. You know that.”
Mu Xi froze.
She knew Ye Lan’s patience was thin.
Any more resistance would only bring harsher punishment.
Clenching her teeth, she forced herself to endure the fear and disgust inside by closing her eyes.
Icy disinfectant was brushed over her skin, followed by the chill of metal.
The tattoo machine buzzed to life, its tiny needles piercing her skin with sharp, stinging pain.
A muffled whimper escaped Mu Xi’s lips, her body trembling.
The tattoo artists ignored her pain, working with mechanical precision.
Carefully, they followed Ye Lan’s instructions, etching a vivid, crimson heart onto Mu Xi’s pale lower abdomen.
The lines were smooth, the color bright—a stark contrast against her fair skin.
The tattooing process dragged on endlessly, a torment that felt like it lasted a century.
Pain, fear, and humiliation intertwined, threatening to drown Mu Xi.
She gripped the sheet tightly, her knuckles turning white.
At last, it was over.
The tattoo artists cleaned up their tools and retreated silently.
Ye Lan admired the new design on Mu Xi’s stomach and gave a playful smile.
“Look—doesn’t my little pet look even prettier now?” Ye Lan picked up a mirror and handed it to Mu Xi.
In the reflection, a glaring red heart stood out on her once unblemished skin, jarringly out of place.
Mu Xi stared at herself, her heart filled with loathing and resistance.
It wasn’t just a tattoo.
It was a brand—a symbol of Ye Lan’s absolute control over her.
“It’s… pretty,” Mu Xi lied, her voice hoarse and weak.
“Isn’t it? I think so too.” Ye Lan laughed softly, her fingers tracing the tattoo, her gaze ambiguous.
“I even added something special to the tattoo, darling. You’ll feel it soon.”
Mu Xi looked at Ye Lan in confusion.
Before she could react, a tingling sensation spread from the tattoo, followed by an indescribable itch that made her want to scratch.
“Master, what is this?” Mu Xi asked in panic.
She felt her body heating up, a strange desire stirring within her.
“A secret.” Ye Lan smiled mysteriously, her tone bewitching.
“This is a surprise I prepared just for you. It’ll make you even more… irresistible.”
At that moment, Mu Xi understood what Ye Lan had added.
Her face turned ashen, despair flooding her heart.
She felt like a carefully crafted doll.
To satisfy her own twisted desires, Ye Lan would stop at nothing.
The thought of enduring the effects of this drug for a long time filled her with dread.
She feared she might become addicted to the pleasure, reduced to nothing more than Ye Lan’s toy.
That afternoon, Mu Xi returned to the Practice Room, her left hand unconsciously brushing her lower abdomen.
Ling Yue was already there, her cool gaze flicking over the piano keys, signaling for Mu Xi to begin.