Chapter 11: Fragrant and Soft

Her face was as delicate as a porcelain doll, her skin fairer than snow, so soft it seemed a mere breath could bruise it. 

Her large, expressive eyes sparkled with a life of their own, framed by long lashes that fluttered like butterfly wings. 

Beneath her dainty nose, a pair of cherry-red lips beckoned with subtle allure.

A flush of quiet delight stirred within her as she recalled the honest miner’s praise for her beauty, a warmth she hadn’t expected to feel.

But she quickly shook her head, banishing the stray emotion.

Deep in her soul, she was still a man, no matter how much she was coming to terms with this feminine form. 

Her heart belonged to women, and that was an unshakable truth, one she’d never betray. 

Men might admire her, and that could be useful, a tool to wield. 

But to entertain any flicker of feeling for them? 

She’d sooner face death than let that happen.

Gazing into the mirror, Mu Xi forced a sweet, winsome smile, consoling herself silently. 

‘The heavens have been kind, granting me rebirth as such a radiant young woman.’

Time slipped by, and nightfall draped the world in shadow.

Ye Lan returned from outside, her steps light as she entered the room. 

Her eyes fell on Mu Xi, who sat on the bed, lost in a daze.

“Take off your shoes,” Ye Lan said softly.

Mu Xi glanced down, only then noticing the delicate leather shoes still clinging to her feet from her daytime outing.

Obediently, she bent down, slipped them off, and set them aside.

Ye Lan stepped forward, her movements graceful yet purposeful. 

She knelt, gently lifting one of Mu Xi’s pale, jade-like feet into her hands. 

Bringing it close, she inhaled deeply, her breath warm against Mu Xi’s skin.

The sudden intimacy sent a flush across Mu Xi’s cheeks. 

“What… what are you doing?” she asked, her voice tinged with shy confusion.

Ye Lan’s voice was low, magnetic, a velvet caress. 

“You’ve worn those shoes all day. I was worried your feet might smell. It would break my heart if they did.”

Mu Xi’s curiosity sparked. 

“And… what do they smell like?”

Ye Lan inhaled again, her serious expression softening into a faint smile. 

She lifted her gaze, her deep, phoenix-like eyes glinting with satisfaction. 

“No odor. But no particular scent either.”

Mu Xi frowned, puzzled, ‘What scent was she expecting?’

Ye Lan left abruptly, leaving Mu Xi alone with her questions.

Moments later, a group of women clad in black entered, carrying a massive wooden tub filled with milky-white liquid. 

The air grew thick with a heady fragrance, so potent it seemed to seep into every pore of her skin.

Mu Xi held her breath, captivated yet wary of the scent’s dangerous allure.

The women placed a towering cream cake beside the tub, handling it with reverent care, before silently retreating.

Mu Xi’s eyes widened, her mind racing. 

She sensed something extraordinary was about to unfold.

When the women had gone, Ye Lan closed the door with a soft click and approached, her phoenix eyes glinting with an enigmatic light, a faint smile curling her lips.

“Undress, my little pet,” Ye Lan commanded, her voice low and irresistible, laced with a bewitching charm.

Mu Xi hesitated, then complied, shedding her clothes. 

The cool air kissed her skin, raising goosebumps. 

She hugged herself, her gaze flickering nervously.

Ye Lan dipped her fingers into the cake’s creamy frosting, spreading it delicately across Mu Xi’s smooth skin. 

The cool, slick texture left white trails in its wake.

Mu Xi shivered but held her tongue.

Without warning, Ye Lan pulled her close, capturing her lips in a sudden, searing kiss.

Mu Xi’s mind blanked, her body tensing with the urge to resist. 

But reason prevailed, and she willed herself to relax, matching Ye Lan’s rhythm.

When their lips parted, Ye Lan’s tongue traced a slow path across Mu Xi’s skin, licking away the cream with deliberate care. 

Her movements were tender yet commanding, an intoxicating blend of gentleness and dominance.

Every inch of Mu Xi’s skin sang with heightened sensitivity, a sensation she could neither name nor escape.

When the last trace of cream was gone, Ye Lan lifted Mu Xi with ease, placing her into the tub of warm, fragrant liquid. 

The milky substance enveloped her, its strange aroma soothing and enveloping.

“Soak for an hour,” Ye Lan ordered, her tone brooking no argument.

Mu Xi nodded obediently, though her heart churned with unease.

Later, Ye Lan lounged against the headboard, her voice lazy yet probing. 

“Do you know why I’m having you do this?”

Mu Xi shook her head, her eyes clouded with confusion.

Ye Lan’s lips curved into a slow, knowing smile. 

“This will keep you fragrant, no matter where you go. Your scent will linger, inescapable. You’ll never be able to hide.”

The words struck Mu Xi like a thunderbolt.

She understood now—Ye Lan’s earlier tour of the estate, so open and unguarded, had been a calculated move. 

All of this was designed to bind her, to make her presence undeniable.

Anger flared within her, but she had to admit Ye Lan’s cunning was masterful.

This woman was not only breathtakingly beautiful but terrifyingly clever, every step a calculated dance.

Yet, amid her fury, a strange thought flickered. 

Was Ye Lan’s obsession a sign of something deeper, some twisted form of affection?

Mu Xi banished the notion as quickly as it came. 

She couldn’t afford to lose sight of her purpose.

The liquid in the tub seeped into her skin, leaving her feeling lighter, almost ethereal. 

She closed her eyes, striving to calm the storm within.

An hour passed, and Mu Xi emerged from the tub. 

Ye Lan forbade her from toweling off, insisting she air-dry to preserve the fragrance.

Mu Xi stood on the carpet, head bowed, toes curling with unease under Ye Lan’s lingering gaze. 

Those eyes roamed over her, appraising her like a cherished work of art.

Mu Xi squirmed under the scrutiny, her skin prickling as if pierced by countless needles.

At last, when the liquid had dried, Ye Lan permitted her to climb into bed.

What began as an intention to simply hold Mu Xi soon unraveled. 

The intoxicating scent radiating from her proved too much, and Ye Lan, unable to resist, pressed her down into the sheets for another round of fervent intimacy.

The night dissolved into a haze of passion, leaving them both exhausted, sinking into a deep, dreamless sleep.

The next morning, Mu Xi awoke to Ye Lan’s gentle advances, then found herself whisked, bare and breathless, to the bathroom. 

They bathed together, the intimacy lingering, before dressing for the day.

Mu Xi expressed her desire to accompany Ye Lan to the mines.

“Why?” Ye Lan asked, her tone curious but guarded.

Mu Xi’s voice turned soft, almost coy. 

“I just want to be by your side, Master, no matter where you go.”

A faint smile curved Ye Lan’s lips. 

“Very well.”