Chapter 146: The Puppet

In the days that followed, Mu Xi’s life settled into a strange kind of stillness, as if time itself had been frozen within the white walls of the hospital room.

Until that day, when the door to the room was pushed open, and the tall figure of Ye Lan appeared in the doorway, followed by a timid young girl.

Mu Xi’s heart skipped a beat, her gaze locking onto that girl.

“Little An?” she murmured instinctively.

That was Mrs. Karin’s servant who had survived the ordeal—the pitiful girl who had endured the dog torture.

Little An stood behind Ye Lan, her eyes hollow like the depths of the sea, unfocused and cold, as if she were nothing more than a walking shell.

“From now on, she will be your personal assistant.” Ye Lan’s voice carried a hint of delight as her slender fingers gently rested on Little An’s shoulder. 

“If you need anything, just tell her.”

Mu Xi swallowed hard and forced a smile. 

“Little An, are you… doing okay?”

Little An merely stood there, unmoving, showing no response. 

Her empty gaze seemed to pierce through Mu Xi, staring off into some nonexistent distance.

“Don’t waste your breath,” Ye Lan said elegantly as she twirled a strand of hair, a dangerous smile curling on her red lips. 

“She’s already been drugged by me. She remembers nothing and will obey every order.”

A chill crawled up Mu Xi’s spine, her heart sinking deep.

“Little An, go pour a glass of water for your young mistress.” Ye Lan’s voice dropped softly into command.

Little An immediately moved, her actions mechanical and precise—no more steps, no less—placing the filled glass on the small table beside the hospital bed.

Mu Xi watched it all, emotions swirling within her.

Little An was now like an exquisite puppet—an empty vessel without a soul, manipulated at will.

“I originally planned to turn you into the same,” Ye Lan’s voice suddenly deepened, a dangerous glint flashing in her phoenix-like eyes.

Her long fingers gently lifted Mu Xi’s chin, forcing their eyes to meet.

“But after spending this time together…” Ye Lan’s gaze lingered on Mu Xi’s face, “you have too much personality. I actually can’t bring myself to do it.”

Mu Xi forced a faint smile, but her eyes remained cold.

Her gaze flicked toward Little An standing silently beside her—the soulless shell—and a wave of sorrow surged deep in her chest.

If not for her own vigilance and wit, perhaps she would have become like this too.

A walking, empty shell.

Ye Lan’s eyes shifted between Mu Xi and Little An, a playful smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

“Seems like the young mistress isn’t quite used to commanding others,” she whispered.

Mu Xi bit her lip, discomfort twisting inside her.

She had never seen people as things to be controlled.

“Little An, come here.” Ye Lan suddenly raised her voice, her tone sharply cold.

Little An turned stiffly, taking rigid steps to Ye Lan’s side.

“This water is poured too full. Don’t you know to leave some space?”

Mu Xi glanced down at the glass on the table—the water level was at least two fingers below the rim.

Ye Lan’s slender hand shot up, delivering a crisp slap to Little An’s cheek.

“Smack!”

Little An’s face flushed red, yet she lowered her head without expression.

“Sorry, master.” Her voice was monotone, mechanical.

Mu Xi’s heart twisted painfully, her throat tightening.

Ye Lan seemed to notice Mu Xi’s unease, a cruel light flashing in her eyes.

“You can’t even do such a simple thing properly? Worthless!” She yanked Little An’s hair hard.

Little An’s body suddenly stiffened, the first flicker of emotion breaking through.

“Ah! Master, please forgive me!” Her voice trembled as tears welled in the corners of her eyes.

Mu Xi clenched the hospital sheet tightly, knuckles whitening.

“Please, I’ll be careful next time…” Little An knelt on the ground, voice pitiful.

The air in the room seemed to freeze, making it hard for Mu Xi to breathe. 

Her chest ached.

Ye Lan’s gaze never left Mu Xi’s face, as if savoring every subtle change like an artwork.

“See that? That’s what obedient looks like.” Ye Lan released Little An’s hair, her voice softening again.

Little An still knelt, like a broken doll hastily pieced back together.

Mu Xi’s heart felt submerged in ice water, the chill seeping into her bones.

This was no twenty-first century. 

The rules here were more like those of a dark age centuries past.

People here could be degraded at will, stripped of dignity, treated like objects.

Mu Xi looked into Little An’s hollow, tear-filled eyes, a wave of terror creeping up her spine.

Was this her future?

A beautiful doll who could cry and smile, but whose soul was long gone?

Ye Lan’s red lips curved into a smile, her long fingers lightly caressing Little An’s cheek.

“How about it? Are you satisfied with your new assistant? Anything you want changed?”

Her voice whispered in Mu Xi’s ear, sending a chill down her spine.

“For example, appearance… I can have her undergo plastic surgery, make her look just how you like.”

Ye Lan’s hand slowly slid down, cruelly pinching and kneading Little An’s snow-white skin—not too hard, not too soft.

“Not too big, not too small, just the right size to fit in one hand…”

Little An’s body trembled slightly, but her gaze remained empty, showing no resistance.

A glint of amusement flickered in Ye Lan’s eyes. 

“As a pet’s pet, I’ll allow you to take your frustrations out on her. Do whatever you want.”

Mu Xi felt a wave of nausea rise in her throat. 

She hurriedly lowered her head, unwilling to meet Ye Lan’s gaze.

“I… I don’t want anything else. This is fine.”

Her voice was faint as a mosquito’s buzz, her nails digging crescent marks into her palm.

Ye Lan nodded in satisfaction, a slight smile playing on her lips.

“Good. From now on, she’ll follow you everywhere, inseparable.”

Mu Xi forced herself to lift her head and managed a stiff smile.

“Alright, thank you, master.”

Those simple four words seemed to drain all her strength.

Only then did Ye Lan turn away, the sound of her heels clicking across the floor fading into the distance.

The room was left with only Mu Xi and Little An, the air thick with suffocating oppression.

Mu Xi collapsed onto the bed, letting out a deep sigh as her heart continued to race wildly.

She looked at Little An, standing where she was, those hollow eyes like a bottomless well.

“Come here.” Mu Xi said softly.

Little An mechanically walked to the bedside, stopped, and blankly stared at Mu Xi, waiting for her next command.

Mu Xi looked up at her, a surge of complicated emotions welling inside.

“Do you… remember who you are?”

Little An didn’t respond—no words, no movement—like an exquisitely crafted wax figure.

Mu Xi’s heart sank further, ‘Ye Lan had been right.Little An remembered nothing.”

“Don’t just stand there. Find a place to sit.”

Still, Little An remained motionless, as if she hadn’t heard.

Mu Xi sighed in resignation and pointed at the chair across the room.

“Go sit over there.”

Only then did Little An take a step, walking to the chair. 

She straightened her back and sat down, hands neatly placed on her lap.

Her expression was still blank—less human, more like a carefully made puppet.

Mu Xi watched her, her throat tight with emotion, unsure what to say.