The dark green silk bedsheets gleamed dimly under the light, like the entrance to some unfathomable abyss.
Ye Lan gently laid Mu Xi on the bed and leaned over her.
The black velvet robe slipped off, revealing vast swaths of snow-white skin intertwined with Mu Xi’s silver hair, like a bewitching flower blooming in the night.
Flames burned in Ye Lan’s eyes, as if she wanted to completely consume Mu Xi.
She bent down, gazing intently at Mu Xi, her fingertips softly tracing her rosy lips, her voice low and seductive: “Do you know what you’re doing?”
Mu Xi’s breath quickened, her eyes hazy and blurred, carrying both an instinctive yearning and a faint trace of calculation.
She tilted her head to look at Ye Lan, as if looking at a lifeline, yet also like staring into an abyss.
“Master…” Mu Xi’s voice trembled slightly, the trailing sound lightly brushing Ye Lan’s heartstrings like feathers.
Ye Lan’s breathing grew heavier, her eyes darkening even more.
She lowered her head and kissed Mu Xi again, this time more fervently, with a possessive hunger, as if wanting to meld Mu Xi into her very bones and blood.
The temperature in the room suddenly rose, the intimate atmosphere spreading as if it had a tangible form.
The silk bedding produced faint friction sounds, mingling with Mu Xi’s intermittent gasps and Ye Lan’s deep breaths, weaving together a decadent melody.
No one knew how long had passed before Ye Lan finally released Mu Xi.
She stood, towering over the bed-bound figure who looked like a broken doll, the lust in her eyes fading slightly, replaced by a nearly pathological obsession.
“Remember, you are mine.” Ye Lan’s voice carried an unyielding authority, as if branding Mu Xi’s very soul.
Mu Xi panted softly, her silver hair disheveled and spread across the dark green sheets like spilled moonlight, highlighting her delicate features and making her appear all the more pitiable.
She lifted her head, her gaze dreamy and unfocused as she looked at Ye Lan.
Ye Lan smiled faintly, a smile full of meaning.
She believed that Mu Xi’s willing kiss was not merely an outpouring of desire but a silent test.
This Golden Canary was already beginning to grow accustomed to her cage—perhaps even starting to depend on this imprisonment.
The night deepened, yet the charged atmosphere in the room remained restless and ambiguous.
***
The next morning, Mu Xi took a quick shower.
The droplets slid over her skin, carrying a touch of chill that swept away the lingering haze of last night’s intimacy.
She changed into a simple white dress, its hem gently brushing her calves, concealing the curves of her body while accentuating her silver hair like a waterfall and her skin, purer than snow.
Li Xin, upon seeing her, let her gaze linger a moment, the usual sharpness of her features softening slightly as she whispered, “Miss Mu Xi, you look truly beautiful today.”
The compliment sounded sincere, not flattering.
The two descended the stairs together.
The banquet hall was quieter than the previous day.
Some esteemed guests had already left.
The air still carried faint traces of wine and perfume, as if last night’s indulgence was silently narrating its tale.
The remaining guests gathered in small groups, speaking quietly, mostly about business matters.
Mu Xi wandered among them, her eyes casually scanning the exquisite dishes and drinks.
Rather than seeking food, she was merely passing time.
Li Xin remained close behind, her gaze sharp like a hawk’s, surveying the surroundings to ensure Mu Xi’s safety.
It seemed that with her presence, no one could approach Mu Xi by even an inch.
Just as Mu Xi began to feel a bit stifled and restless, her eyes caught a figure.
A man’s back, tall and slightly solitary, standing at the edge of the crowd, seemingly savoring the drink in his hand alone.
For some reason, that silhouette stirred a strange sense of familiarity in Mu Xi.
‘Familiar?’
The thought flashed through her mind but was quickly dismissed.
How could it be familiar?
This was Ye Lan’s Manor, filled with guests who were all either extremely wealthy or noble.
She, Mu Xi, was nothing more than a captive Golden Canary.
There should be no intersection between her and these lofty figures.
Moreover, she had no real impression of men.
Yet that feeling of familiarity was like a tiny pebble tossed into a calm lake, sending out ripples she couldn’t shake off.
Curiosity, like a creeping vine, quietly grew within her, compelling her to unconsciously draw closer to the figure.
She stepped lightly, trying not to attract anyone’s attention, like a cat moving silently in the night.
Closer… then closer still.
At last, she clearly saw the man’s profile—yet what greeted her eyes was a silver mask.
The mask concealed most of his face, revealing only the smooth lines of his jaw and tightly pressed lips, as well as faint contours peeking out from the edges.
Even so, the familiarity inside Mu Xi grew even stronger.
It was an indescribable feeling, as if something deep within her memory was stirring, yearning to break free.
Unable to resist, she circled to the front of the man, wanting to see his full face.
The man seemed to sense her approach, turning his head slightly.
His gaze passed through the mask’s filigree, landing on Mu Xi.
Their eyes met midair.
In that instant, Mu Xi’s heart felt as if it was violently struck, pounding uncontrollably.
‘What kind of eyes were those!’
‘Deep, dark, like stars in the night sky, carrying an unexplainable allure.’
Just one look left Mu Xi feeling as if she was being sucked into a bottomless whirlpool, her soul trembling.
She was more certain than ever—she had seen this man before.
Only, she couldn’t recall when or where.
Li Xin keenly noticed Mu Xi’s unusual gaze.
She turned her head slightly; her black short hair gleamed coldly under the light, sharp like a blade.
“Miss Mu Xi, what’s wrong?” Her voice remained its usual low tone, carrying a subtle hint of concern.
Mu Xi steadied herself, quickly withdrawing her slightly unsteady gaze.
She lightly shook her head, her silver hair drawing a soft arc through the air.
“Nothing, just feeling a bit stuffy.”
She forced her tone to sound natural and calm, unwilling to arouse Li Xin’s suspicion.
Her eyes shifted back to the man standing at the edge of the crowd, her curiosity utterly uncontrollable.
He still maintained that slightly lonely posture, seeming utterly out of place amid the surrounding bustle.
The dark red wine swirled gently in the crystal glass, casting shadows on the intricate patterns etched into his silver mask, adding an air of deep mystery.
Mu Xi couldn’t help but study him again.
Though the mask concealed most of his face, it did nothing to hide the unique aura he exuded.
His upright figure, the smooth lines of his shoulders and neck, and the steadiness and reserve in his every gesture made her feel an inexplicable familiarity.
After a long gaze, the man was the first to look away.
He raised the wine glass and took a slow, graceful sip, as if it were a casual, unintentional action.
Then, he turned around and, seemingly without intention, walked in Mu Xi’s direction.
Mu Xi’s heart nearly leapt from her chest.
She instinctively held her breath, eyes fixed tightly on the man’s advancing figure.