She drifted off into a daze and fell asleep.
In her Dream, she seemed to have returned to that cold and damp Bedroom.
Luoyuan’s voice echoed in her ears like a curse, repeating those icy instructions over and over again.
“Mu Xi, you must be obedient. You must be good. You must… drink Ye Lan’s blood…”
Mu Xi jerked awake, breaking free from the nightmare.
She opened her eyes, panting heavily.
It was pitch black inside the vehicle, with only the faint glow of the dashboard flickering in the darkness.
Ye Lan was still focused on driving.
Her side profile flickered in and out of the light and shadow, appearing somewhat blurred.
“Did you have a nightmare?” Ye Lan seemed to have noticed her abnormality and asked, her voice carrying a hint of concern.
Mu Xi nodded but did not speak.
She simply gripped the front of her clothes tightly, trying to dispel the fear and unease brought by the Dream.
“Don’t be afraid, I’m here.” Ye Lan reached out and gently took her hand.
The warmth from her palm was transmitted through her fingertips, giving her a sense of comfort.
Mu Xi gripped Ye Lan’s hand back tightly, as if grasping for a lifesaver, refusing to let go.
Ye Lan’s hand was warm and powerful, making her feel safe and dependent.
“How much longer until we reach Stone City?” Mu Xi asked in a low voice, breaking the silence in the cabin.
“It will be a while yet,” Ye Lan replied, her tone calm and certain.
“We must first cross The Desert and find the Public Road.”
Mu Xi silently calculated the time in her heart.
She felt that time passed so slowly; every minute and every second seemed to be stretched out, making it an unbearable ordeal.
She looked out the window again.
The night sky was deep and silent, and the stars were like countless eyes watching her in the dark.
The Desert remained desolate and vast, seemingly endless — as if they would never reach the end.
Suddenly, Mu Xi realized she was sticky all over.
A scent of sweat mixed with the smell of dust made her feel very uncomfortable.
Only then did she remember that since escaping from The Base, she had not had a chance to clean herself properly.
“Ye Lan…” Mu Xi hesitated for a moment before speaking, “I want to… take a shower.”
Ye Lan was slightly taken aback, then immediately understood what she meant.
“That is fine.” She nodded, her tone carrying a hint of indulgence, “You can wash for as long as you like.”
Having received Ye Lan’s permission, Mu Xi breathed a sigh of relief.
She stood up, unbuckled her seatbelt, and walked toward the Bathroom at the rear of the cabin.
The space was small, yet it was fully equipped with a washbasin, a shower, and a toilet.
Mu Xi closed the Bathroom door, took off her dirty clothes, and stepped into the shower.
Warm water poured down, washing away the exhaustion and unease in her heart as well as cleaning her body.
The hot water soaked into every inch of her skin, bringing a long-awaited sense of comfort.
Mu Xi closed her eyes and felt the soothing flow of the water.
Her tense nerves finally relaxed a little.
She picked up the shampoo, squeezed it into her palm, rubbed it into a fine lather, and gently massaged her scalp.
The scent of the shampoo spread through the Bathroom, fresh and soothing, making her feel a sense of relaxation and pleasure.
After rinsing off the foam, Mu Xi picked up the body wash and applied it to her body.
She carefully cleaned every inch of her skin, as if she wanted to thoroughly wash away all the dust and dirt.
The water slid down her body, taking away the grime and her troubles, leaving her fresh and clean.
After finishing her shower, Mu Xi dried her body with a soft towel and changed into clean pajamas.
The beige cotton pajamas were soft and comfortable.
Pressing against her skin, they brought a warm sense of security.
She walked out of the Bathroom feeling refreshed, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her shoulders.
Her whole being felt much lighter.
The air in the cabin also seemed much fresher, carrying the faint scent of body wash.
Ye Lan turned her head and looked at Mu Xi, a flash of amazement in her eyes.
After her bath, Mu Xi’s skin was as white as jade, moist and translucent.
Her long, wet hair draped over her shoulders, making her look even more delicate and pitiable.
“Are you finished?” Ye Lan’s voice softened, carrying a hint of undetectable tenderness.
Mu Xi nodded, walked to the passenger seat, and buckled her seatbelt again.
“Yes, I feel much better,” she said softly, her voice carrying a hint of satisfaction.
“That’s good.” The corners of Ye Lan’s mouth curled up slightly, revealing a faint smile.
That smile was like the brightest star in the night sky — brief and dazzling — yet enough to illuminate the entire night sky of The Desert.
After driving for an unknown amount of time, the car finally came to a stop.
The roar of the engine vanished, replaced by the silence unique to a night in The Desert.
Mu Xi looked at Ye Lan in the driver’s seat.
She had her head slightly tilted, seemingly resting with her eyes closed.
The lines of her exquisite side profile appeared much softer in the dim light, but there was still a hint of fatigue between her brows.
“Ye Lan, are you tired?” Mu Xi asked softly, her voice gentle and concerned.
Ye Lan opened her eyes, a flash of tenderness in her gaze as she looked at Mu Xi.
“Driving all this time must be exhausting.”
She was truly worried about Ye Lan.
This concern seemed innate, as if it were carved into her very bones.
“How about I give you a massage?” Mu Xi suggested.
Hearing this, Ye Lan raised an eyebrow, and a meaningful smile played on her lips.
“You want to give me a massage?”
Her tone carried a hint of teasing, and her gaze became playful.
Mu Xi did not notice Ye Lan’s abnormality and only nodded seriously, “Yes, I can do it. I learned how before.”
As she spoke, she even reached out and gently kneaded her own shoulder to show that she was professional.
Looking at Mu Xi’s serious expression, the smile in Ye Lan’s eyes deepened.
She reached out and gently rubbed the soft top of Mu Xi’s head, her tone indulgent, “Silly girl, if there is to be a massage, I should be the one giving it to you. There is no reason to let you massage me.”
Mu Xi was stunned for a moment, not quite understanding why Ye Lan was so good to her — so good that it felt like she was a fragile treasure that needed to be carefully protected.
This feeling made her feel a bit strange, yet also a bit sweet.
“But…” Mu Xi wanted to say something more, but she was interrupted by Ye Lan.
“No buts,” Ye Lan said overbearingly, her tone brook no refusal.
Mu Xi hesitated for a moment but still obediently unbuckled her seatbelt, stood up, and sat down beside Ye Lan.
The soft sofa sank slightly, carrying a hint of warmth that made her feel comfortable.
Ye Lan pulled Mu Xi into her arms and let her lean against her shoulder.
Mu Xi let out a cry of surprise.
Before she could react, she was already held tightly by Ye Lan.
Ye Lan’s embrace was warm and powerful, carrying a faint, unique scent that belonged only to her.
It made Mu Xi feel at peace, but it also caused a mysterious acceleration of her heartbeat.
“Don’t move. Let me hold you,” Ye Lan said in a low voice.
Her voice was incredibly gentle, carrying a sense of reassurance.
Mu Xi leaned obediently in Ye Lan’s arms, not daring to move.
She could feel Ye Lan’s breath.
The warm air brushed against her ear, making her feel a bit itchy and her heart a bit flustered.
Holding Mu Xi, Ye Lan rested her chin gently on the top of her head and took a deep breath, greedily drinking in the faint fragrance among Mu Xi’s strands of hair.
It was a very special scent — sweet and clean, like the smell of sunlight after rain.
It made her obsessed; it made her intoxicated.