After getting dressed and walking out of the bedroom, Mu Xi was drawn by the aroma wafting from the kitchen.
Ye Lan was focused on frying eggs, her slender fingers skillfully manipulating the spatula.
Mu Xi approached instinctively, but she came to a sudden halt just as she was about to touch Ye Lan.
Ye Lan turned around and placed a plate containing an exquisite breakfast on the table.
“Taste it, I hope it is to your liking,” she said softly, her gaze full of expectation.
Mu Xi sat down, picking up her fork with some hesitation.
The aroma of the food piqued her appetite, but more than that, it brought a strange sense of familiarity.
She tasted it cautiously, and with every bite, it felt as though a dormant memory was being awakened.
“How is it?” Ye Lan sat across from her, her eyes shimmering with expectant light.
Mu Xi swallowed the food in her mouth and nodded.
“It is delicious, thank you,” she said quietly, yet she felt that such a response was far too distant.
The atmosphere became somewhat awkward for a moment, and the two of them finished their breakfast in silence.
Mu Xi secretly observed Ye Lan, her heart filled with questions.
Why did this woman take such good care of her?
What exactly was the relationship between them?
Suddenly, Ye Lan put down her knife and fork, standing up to walk toward the kitchen.
Mu Xi watched her back in confusion, until she saw the small knife in Ye Lan’s hand, causing her heart to leap violently.
“Don’t be afraid,” Ye Lan soothed softly, “this is necessary.”
She cut her own wrist, and fresh blood flowed down her snowy-white skin, dripping into a prepared bowl.
Mu Xi’s eyes widened in shock and fear, but more than that, she felt an irrepressible longing.
“Drink, Little Xi.” Ye Lan handed the bowl filled with fresh blood to Mu Xi, her eyes full of doting affection.
Mu Xi’s hands trembled as she took the bowl, the scent of blood filling her nostrils.
Reason told her this was madness, but her body instinctively craved it.
She hesitated for a split second before finally bringing the bowl to her lips, sipping cautiously.
The moment the blood slid down her throat, a warm current swept through her entire body.
Mu Xi felt an unprecedented sense of satisfaction and power, as if every single cell was jumping for joy.
She drank greedily until not a single drop remained in the bowl.
Setting the bowl down, Mu Xi finally realized her loss of composure.
She looked up at Ye Lan, only to find that the other woman was pale and swaying on her feet.
“Are you okay?” Mu Xi stood up hurriedly and supported Ye Lan’s arm.
Ye Lan gave a weak smile and replied, “It’s nothing, I will recover soon.”
She lightly caressed Mu Xi’s cheek and continued, “As long as you are well, I can endure anything.”
These words caused a stir in Mu Xi’s heart.
She was both moved and confused, but most of all, she felt an inexplicable sense of guilt.
Why did Ye Lan go to such lengths for her?
“I — I don’t understand,” Mu Xi whispered, her voice trembling, “Why do you treat me like this? Between us…”
Ye Lan placed her finger gently against Mu Xi’s lips, silencing her question.
“Don’t ask, Little Xi.” A flash of pain crossed her eyes.
“You don’t need to know these things right now. Just remember, no matter what happens, I will be by your side.”
Mu Xi felt a wave of dizziness, though she wasn’t sure if it was from the blood she had just drunk or the hidden meaning in Ye Lan’s words.
She wanted to press for answers, yet she instinctively felt a sense of fear.
Ultimately, she only nodded silently, allowing Ye Lan to pull her into an embrace.
***
The light inside the cabin gradually brightened.
Ye Lan moved gracefully through the narrow space of the off-road RV.
Her slender fingers brushed over the various buttons on the control panel, her eyes shining with focus.
The RV’s air conditioning system emitted a low hum, dispelling the sweltering heat brought by the desert.
Mu Xi curled up on the beige sofa, her hands clutching her knees, yet her gaze followed Ye Lan’s figure as if drawn by a magnet.
She watched Ye Lan’s tall, straight back, her gaze unconsciously sliding toward the other woman’s graceful waistline and well-defined curves.
Every time Ye Lan leaned over to check the equipment, Mu Xi felt an inexplicable heat rise from her lower abdomen, making her shift her body uncomfortably.
“The communication system here works, but the signal is weak.”
Ye Lan spoke while checking the equipment, her fingers tapping on the display screen.
“The water purification system is running normally, so at least we don’t have to worry about dehydration.”
Mu Xi listened to these words, yet she was completely unable to concentrate.
Her brain was occupied by a strange impulse, and an itching sensation from a certain part of her body left her feeling both confused and ashamed.
She found herself actually fantasizing about being… punished by Ye Lan.
The thought made her feel both terrified and excited.
‘Why do I have these thoughts?’ she questioned herself internally.
‘What exactly is wrong with me? This is too ridiculous.’
Ye Lan keenly sensed Mu Xi’s gaze and turned around, her phoenix eyes filled with inquiry.
“Little Xi, what’s wrong? You’ve been staring at me.” She stepped toward Mu Xi, every stride carrying an elegant yet powerful aura.
Mu Xi’s heart pounded violently, blood rushing against her eardrums, and her fingernails unconsciously dug into her palms.
“N-nothing,” she shook her head frantically, her long silver hair swaying gently with the movement.
“I’m just… just looking around.”
Ye Lan stopped in front of her, her shadow covering Mu Xi’s petite frame.
She leaned down, so close that they could feel each other’s breath.
“Really just looking around?” Her voice was deep and magnetic, the corners of her mouth curling up slightly.
“Little pervert.”
That light teasing was like a spark that set Mu Xi’s entire body ablaze, a hot current spreading from her spine to every nerve ending.
A bold thought flashed through her mind: ‘Then hurry up and punish this little cat.’
The thought was so clear it was as if it were about to be blurted out.
A wave of shame washed over her, and Mu Xi’s face instantly became burning hot.
She lowered her head, her long eyelashes concealing the panic in her eyes, yet she could not hide the crimson flush on the tips of her ears.
“I’m not…” Her voice was barely audible, and she didn’t know how to defend against this obvious guilt.
Ye Lan reached out, her fingertips gently tilting Mu Xi’s chin up, forcing her to look directly into her eyes.
“What are you thinking about, hmm?”
Her tone carried a hint of coaxing and playfulness, but a complex emotion flickered in the depths of her eyes.
Mu Xi’s breathing became rapid, and her throat tightened.
She could not understand why she had such a strong reaction to this woman, wanting to flee yet longing to draw closer.
“I just feel… I feel very strange,” she struggled to organize her words, her voice carrying a slight tremor.
“It feels as if we knew each other before, and that we were very familiar…”
Ye Lan’s expression froze slightly before she regained her composure.
She released her hand and straightened up, a hint of wariness appearing in her demeanor.
“Are you starting to remember things?” she asked with feigned nonchalance, though her eyes remained locked on Mu Xi’s reaction.
“No, it’s not a memory,” Mu Xi shook her head in confusion, her fingers unconsciously twisting together.
“It’s more like… a physical instinct. Every time I look at you, I get an indescribable feeling. I’m both afraid and…”
She bit her lower lip, unable to continue.
Ye Lan sat down beside her, the sofa sinking slightly.
She sat very close, their shoulders almost touching, yet she maintained a subtle distance.
“Afraid and what?” Her voice softened, like someone coaxing a startled little animal.
Mu Xi felt a wave of dizziness.
The scent on Ye Lan’s body lingered at the tip of her nose, both familiar and foreign, making her want to escape yet also want to sink into it.
“Afraid and… longing,” she finally admitted in a low voice, then hurriedly added in a panic, “I don’t know why it’s like this. It’s very strange, right? We only just met recently.”
Ye Lan’s gaze deepened.
She slowly raised her hand, her knuckles gently brushing against Mu Xi’s cheek.
It was as light as a butterfly’s wing, yet it made Mu Xi’s entire body shiver.
“No, it’s not strange at all, Little Xi,” her voice was low and gentle, yet it carried a power that brooked no resistance.
“Some connections transcend memory.”
A sharp pain suddenly surged in Mu Xi’s chest, as if something important was about to break through the soil, only to be blocked by an invisible force.
She subconsciously leaned toward Ye Lan, yet stopped the moment before they made contact.
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