Mu Xi let out a soft chuckle, her eyes glinting with mischief as she countered, “Do you really want to take me away from here?”
Tuesday nodded with unwavering resolve.
Her expression shifted, a sudden gravity settling over her delicate features.
“But I won’t repay you,” she said, her voice firm.
“I won’t fall for you, and I won’t be with you.”
Tuesday froze for a moment, then broke into a relieved smile, as if her words had lifted some unseen burden.
“To be honest,” he said, his tone light but tinged with something deeper, “I may like you, but I’d never do anything to you. Because… I’ve been cut.”
Mu Xi’s eyes widened, her breath catching.
“What?”
Tuesday’s hands moved to his waistband, ready to demonstrate, as he explained, “Ever since I started working in the mines, they… well, I’m neither man nor woman now.”
Mu Xi’s hand shot out, stopping him mid-motion, her face a mix of embarrassment and dawning understanding.
“No need to show me,” she said quickly.
“I get it.”
Relief washed over her, an unexpected lightness in her chest.
At least she no longer had to worry about Tuesday’s hormones driving him to harm her.
After a moment’s thought, she spoke again, her voice measured.
“Could you find something soft to place under my window? Something to cushion a fall, just in case I need to jump. If you can’t, then go on without me. Honestly… I kind of like it here.”
The last words came out strained, as if dragged from her lips against her will.
In truth, she longed to flee this gilded cage, but Tuesday’s trustworthiness was still a gamble.
She had to keep her cards close, wary of the possibility that he and Ye Lan might be conspiring to deceive her—a thought that sent a shiver down her spine.
Tuesday agreed without hesitation.
“I’ll figure it out,” he promised.
“From now on, we’ll meet in the garden. No fixed spot—you’ll just have to look for me.”
Mu Xi nodded, sealing their pact.
After parting ways, she began the trek back to the manor.
The corridor stretched long and shadowy, her footsteps echoing softly as she approached the staircase to her room.
At the landing, she brushed past a female bodyguard clad in black.
Unlike the others, this one wore no sunglasses.
Her golden hair shimmered, and her emerald eyes carried an exotic allure.
Her features were a striking blend of East and West—a clear sign of mixed heritage.
As the woman glanced down at Mu Xi, a strange glint flickered in her gaze.
Mu Xi froze, caught off guard.
It was the first time a stranger, let alone a woman, had looked at her with such an unsettling intensity.
The desire and greed in those eyes reminded her of lecherous men from films in her past life.
The realization sent a chill creeping up her spine.
Both women paused, their steps halting in unison.
Mu Xi lifted her chin, meeting the taller woman’s gaze with a spark of defiance.
“Why are you staring at me?”
The woman held her gaze for a few seconds before a slow, enigmatic smile curved her lips.
“I’m Lin Ke’er. I know you, Mu Xi—Boss Ye’s new pet.”
The term “new pet” struck Mu Xi like a stone sinking into her gut.
So there had been others before her, girls caught in the same twisted fate.
Wary, she asked, “What do you want?”
Lin Ke’er leaned closer, inhaling deeply.
“Why do you smell so good?”
Mu Xi stepped back, frowning.
“That’s none of your business.”
Unfazed, Lin Ke’er glanced around to ensure they were alone before lowering her voice.
“I’m tight with the kitchen staff. I hear you love meat. I can make that happen—whatever you want, whenever you want. Just say the word.”
Mu Xi’s eyes lit up at the prospect.
The thought of unrestricted access to meat in this suffocating manor was a dream come true.
But she quickly reined in her excitement, her tone sharp.
“What’s the catch?”
Lin Ke’er licked her lips, her eyes gleaming.
“I have a thing for girls’ feet. Satisfy me, and I’ll keep the food coming.”
Mu Xi glanced down at her shoes, her lips twitching in distaste.
“Satisfy you how, exactly?”
“Oh, nothing too wild,” Lin Ke’er said casually, as if discussing the weather.
“Just a little rubbing, pinching, kissing… maybe a lick or two.”
Mu Xi’s stomach churned.
The request was disturbingly reminiscent of Ye Lan’s own perverse inclinations.
Yet the promise of food tugged at her resolve, tempting her to waver.
After a long hesitation, she nodded, but with a condition.
“You bring the food first. Show me you’re serious.”
Lin Ke’er grinned, delighted.
“Deal. Head back to your room. I’ll handle the kitchen.”
As Lin Ke’er’s figure receded, Mu Xi’s heart twisted with conflicting emotions.
For a single meal, she was about to compromise herself again.
Back in her room, she waited, her thoughts a restless tangle.
Half an hour later, a sharp knock broke the silence.
Before she could respond, the door swung open, and Lin Ke’er strode in, carrying a plate of sizzling, fragrant stir-fried meat.
The aroma filled the room, teasing Mu Xi’s senses until she swallowed hard, her eyes locked on the tantalizing dish.
Lin Ke’er’s lips curled into a smug smile as she set the plate on a small table, dragging it to the bedside.
“Sit on the bed,” she instructed, her eyes gleaming with anticipation.
“Put your feet under the table.”
Mu Xi hesitated but complied, settling onto the edge of the mattress.
“Why like this?” she asked, her voice tinged with unease.
Lin Ke’er crouched by the bed, her fingers grazing Mu Xi’s ankle.
“This way, you eat your meal, I enjoy mine. Everyone’s happy.”
Her voice carried a thrill of excitement that made Mu Xi shudder, a cold dread pooling in her chest.
She silently cursed the strangeness of such desires.
In her past life as a man, she’d never understood fetishes like this, and now, as a woman, they baffled her even more.
But the allure of the food was undeniable.
She decided to endure, so long as it didn’t cross into anything more intimate.
With that, she dove into the meal, savoring the rich, savory meat she’d craved for so long.
Meanwhile, Lin Ke’er’s hands and lips explored her feet, licking and nibbling with unsettling enthusiasm.
The sensations—itchy, tingling, and utterly alien—sent strange shivers through Mu Xi’s body.
She focused on the food, trying to block out the bizarre feeling of Lin Ke’er’s touch.
It’s just a transaction, she told herself.
A small price for a taste of freedom.
Yet, as Lin Ke’er’s fervor intensified, a faint, unnameable emotion stirred within her.
Suddenly, an urgent voice rang out from the hallway.
“Lin Ke’er, get out here! Boss Ye’s coming back early!”
Lin Ke’er froze, her lips still pressed against Mu Xi’s foot.
With a reluctant final kiss, she stood, her eyes flashing with frustration.
“I have to go,” she muttered.
“Keep this between us, or we’re both done for.”
Mu Xi nodded, her lips sealed.
She’d take this secret to her grave.
Lin Ke’er grabbed the plate and opened the window to air out the lingering scent of meat before slipping out.
Mu Xi rushed to the bathroom, scrubbing her feet thoroughly, checking for any telltale marks.
Fortunately, Lin Ke’er’s touch, though invasive, had left no visible traces.
Breathing a sigh of relief, she returned to the bed, arranging herself in a poised, serene posture.
Moments later, Ye Lan entered, her presence commanding the room.
Seeing Mu Xi sitting so still, she raised an eyebrow.
“What’s with you?”
“I don’t know…” Mu Xi murmured, her gaze drifting to the wall.
“Just felt like doing nothing. This wall’s kind of… nice.”
Ye Lan chuckled, her voice warm with amusement.
“Looks like the silly pill’s kicking in. But you know, this dazed little look of yours? It’s oddly adorable.”
As Ye Lan drew closer, Mu Xi instinctively curled her toes inside her slippers.
Though she and Ye Lan were far from lovers, a strange guilt gnawed at her, as if she’d betrayed some unspoken bond—like a wife caught in an affair.
The absurdity of the thought made her inwardly scoff at herself.