The passion of that night left Mu Xi feeling utterly exhilarated, as if every cell in her body was cheering.
The bed and the floor were covered in mysterious fluids, a testament to their emotions.
Little An silently cleaned up at the side, her gaze still empty, as if none of this concerned her.
The next day, sunlight streamed through the curtains into the room.
When Mu Xi awoke, she found herself still tightly hugging Ye Lan’s waist, curled up against her like a little kitten, appearing especially petite and endearing.
Ye Lan gently stroked Mu Xi’s head, the tender gesture filling Mu Xi’s heart with warmth.
They got up and dressed together, but Mu Xi’s emotions were a bit tangled.
In the midst of this, Mu Xi suddenly remembered something and couldn’t help but ask, “You didn’t secretly record us again this time, did you?”
Ye Lan smiled faintly, a sly glint flashing in her eyes as she said, “Of course I did. And I’m about to have someone send the footage to Li Xin, so she can feel involved too. If she can’t experience it firsthand, at least she should get to watch—it’ll give her a bit of pleasure as well.”
Mu Xi’s cheeks flushed red instantly, her heart a complicated jumble, but she couldn’t bring herself to protest.
This was simply too cruel, but there was nothing she could change.
In the end, she could only silently follow Ye Lan into the bathroom, letting her hands roam freely over her body, a subtle anticipation welling up in her heart.
Inside the bathroom, the sound of running water mingled with Ye Lan’s low whispers, causing Mu Xi’s heartbeat to accelerate.
Ye Lan’s fingers glided lightly over her skin, sending shivers through her nerves.
Mu Xi closed her eyes, savoring the warmth of the water and Ye Lan’s intimacy, her shyness and desire intertwining in a way she couldn’t resist.
After bathing, Mu Xi and Ye Lan headed to the dining room together.
Breakfast was lavish, with bacon, fried eggs, fruit salad, and freshly baked bread.
Mu Xi nibbled at her food, stealing glances at Ye Lan from time to time.
The woman she both feared and hated was currently absorbed in her mobile phone, her slender fingers sliding across the screen.
“I need to go to the Gold Mine later to handle some things.” Ye Lan set down her mobile phone and sipped her coffee.
“You stay obediently at the Manor, don’t wander around.”
Mu Xi nodded, but her mind was already turning over how she might use this time alone to do something.
After Ye Lan left, the Manor immediately became much quieter.
Mu Xi stood in the corridor, watching as sunlight filtered through the stained glass window onto the marble floor, like a living painting.
“Little An, shall we take a walk in the Garden?” Mu Xi turned to the maid who had been standing silently behind her.
Little An nodded quietly, her eyes vacant.
Sometimes, Mu Xi thought, this girl of similar age had such a tragic fate.
The Garden was even more beautiful than she had imagined.
Flowers of every color bloomed in riotous profusion, swaying gently in the morning breeze.
Mu Xi took a deep breath, the fragrance of flowers and fresh air filling her lungs.
In that moment, even the painful memories seemed distant.
“It’s really beautiful here.” Mu Xi spoke softly, unsure if Little An was listening, but continued anyway, “Compared to running for my life in the forest, this is heaven.”
She laughed self-mockingly as she finished.
What kind of heaven was this?
It was nothing more than a Gilded Cage.
She walked to the edge of the Fountain, bent down, and scooped up a handful of cool water to her lips.
The water was cold, with a faint sweetness.
Mu Xi looked up at the sky.
The morning sunlight fell gently on her face, causing her to squint.
“Little An, do you know how to make a Hua Huan?” Mu Xi suddenly asked, pointing at a flowerbed full of small daisies nearby.
Little An nodded, a flicker of light in her eyes—Mu Xi saw emotion there for the first time.
They found a place to sit.
Little An deftly picked daisies, her slender fingers skillfully weaving the flowers together.
Mu Xi was surprised by her skill, and couldn’t help but lean closer to watch.
“That’s amazing,” Mu Xi sincerely praised.
“Where did you learn to do that?”
Little An didn’t answer, but her hands worked with even more concentration.
Mu Xi noticed that Little An’s fingers were covered in tiny scars and calluses, a sharp contrast to her youthful face.
Yet those fingers were unexpectedly gentle when weaving the Hua Huan, as if handling the world’s most precious treasure.
In the sunlight, Little An’s profile appeared especially soft, no longer numb as usual.
For the first time, Mu Xi realized that behind those vacant eyes, there might be a girl with dreams and feelings.
“You know,” Mu Xi said softly, “sometimes I think we’re alike, both trapped here, just in different cages.”
The Hua Huan was soon finished.
Little An carefully placed it on Mu Xi’s head, then stepped back, a trace of barely noticeable satisfaction in her eyes.
Mu Xi reached up and gently touched the Hua Huan, feeling the softness of the flowers.
Within this Manor, surrounded by high walls, this little Hua Huan seemed to be one of the few things she could truly call her own.
At that moment, wearing the Hua Huan Little An had woven, Mu Xi stood up and took two steps back, preparing to spin around so Little An could admire how she looked.
Her silver hair shimmered in the sunlight, the Hua Huan setting off her delicate features.
In a flash, a cold gleam sliced through the air.
A Blood Ruby Dagger stabbed straight into the ground at Mu Xi’s feet, its sharp blade cutting through the tip of her shoe, nearly grazing her toes.
Mu Xi’s heart contracted violently, her pupils narrowing in an instant.
‘Someone wants to kill me!’
She instinctively ducked and quickly hid behind the nearby flowerbed.
Turning back, she saw Little An still frozen in place, eyes blank, as if she hadn’t registered what had happened.
“Little An! Come here!” Mu Xi called urgently in a low voice, reaching out to grab the maid’s wrist.
Little An’s hand was unexpectedly cold.
The two of them crouched behind the flowerbed, Mu Xi gasping for breath, her heartbeat pounding as if it would burst from her chest.
She clutched Little An’s hand tightly, feeling the other girl’s faint trembling.
“Help! Someone’s attacking!” Mu Xi shouted at the top of her lungs, her voice echoing through the Garden.
Within seconds, the Black-Clad Female Bodyguards rushed out from every corner of the Manor, armed and moving with swift coordination.
They quickly formed a defensive formation, sharp eyes scanning their surroundings for any threat.
“Blood Ruby Dagger found!” One Guard crouched to examine the weapon embedded in the ground, then reported in a low voice into her earpiece.
Several other Guards immediately spread out, searching every corner of the Garden.
Their movements were agile and their expressions grim, trained to inspect every possible hiding place.
“Miss, are you all right?” Two Guards hurried over to the flowerbed, one keeping watch while the other helped Mu Xi up.
Mu Xi shook her head, the Hua Huan on her head now askew.
Her legs felt weak, and if not for the Guard’s support, she could barely stand.
“Return to the Manor’s main building immediately,” the lead Guard ordered in an unquestionable tone.
“We’ll escort you back.”
The Guards formed a protective circle around Mu Xi and Little An, moving cautiously toward the Manor’s main building.
Mu Xi staggered along, the terror from moments before still lingering.
“Don’t leave the Manor for the time being,” the Head of Security warned Mu Xi sternly once they entered the main hall.
“Stay indoors and away from windows. We’ll increase patrols.”
Mu Xi nodded, the Hua Huan on her head falling to the ground.
She stared at the now-crushed Hua Huan, suddenly finding it hard to breathe.
Inside this Gilded Cage, she didn’t even have the right to breathe fresh air.
Little An bent down and picked up the Hua Huan, a flash of sadness crossing her eyes.
“Let’s go, Little An.” Mu Xi spoke softly, exhaustion in her voice.
“Looks like we’ll have to find some fun indoors.”
The two walked silently toward the elevator, behind them the tense voices and hurried footsteps of the Guards.