Mu Xi wiped away the cold sweat beading on her forehead; the dream had been far too vivid, and it left her heart pounding.
A piano, and almost no clothes on her body… shame and panic clung to her like sticky sweat.
She had been stared at by countless eyes while playing a black piano she didn’t recognize, and she didn’t even know how to play.
Yet, she could hardly even remember what a piano looked like in her waking life.
She threw off the quilt and stepped barefoot onto the cool floor, feeling the uncomfortable clamminess on her skin.
The bedroom door was shut tight, and the living room was quiet; Ye Lan must have been asleep.
She tiptoed toward the bathroom, intending to take a shower.
Under the bright lights, the bathroom mirror reflected her petite figure.
Her long silver hair clung to her cheeks and neck, dripping wet; her skin was as white as snow, and water droplets slid down her collarbone.
She looked at herself in the mirror and tilted her head.
This face was both familiar and strange.
Something seemed to be stirring deep in her mind, like a thick, colorful bubble blocking her view—it was indistinct, yet undeniably real.
Why was she afraid to recall the past?
It felt as if the moment she remembered, she would lose something important, or… hurt Ye Lan.
Mu Xi shook her head, trying to cast these chaotic thoughts aside.
‘Stop thinking about it, just shower.’
The warm water rinsed over her body, washing away the sticky sweat and dispelling the chill brought on by the dream.
She hummed a tune that lacked a melody, her fingers unconsciously scrubbing her arms.
The sound of the water splashing covered up any other subtle movements.
It wasn’t until she turned around, reaching for the body wash, that her heart skipped a beat.
Ye Lan was standing at the bathroom door, arms crossed, watching her quietly.
She was wearing a black silk robe, the collar slightly open, her long black hair hanging loose, and her gaze looked hazy amidst the swirling steam.
Mu Xi jumped in fright, nearly dropping the bottle of body wash.
“Why, why did you come in?”
Ye Lan seemed amused by her startled reaction; the corners of her mouth curved into a faint arc before quickly retreating.
Her gaze swept over Mu Xi’s naked body with a calm, steady expression.
“I heard you cry out, so I came to check. Did you have a nightmare?”
“Mhm… I suppose so.” Mu Xi steadied herself, though she didn’t feel too embarrassed.
It was just being seen; it wasn’t the first time, and they had done even more intimate things before.
‘But could you at least knock next time when you come in?’
She grabbed a towel to wipe the water from her face and muttered, “I only heard you call out very loudly.”
Ye Lan raised an eyebrow, “Apologies, I was worried about you.”
Her gaze didn’t waver, carrying a natural sense of scrutiny.
“Just now…”
She looked down at herself, then back up at Ye Lan and asked, “Are you going to keep watching?”
“I woke you up; go ahead and finish. I’ll wait for you outside.” Ye Lan coughed lightly, shifted her gaze away, and turned to pull the bathroom door shut.
The door closed, cutting off Ye Lan’s view.
Mu Xi blinked; Ye Lan’s expression just now had seemed a bit helpless.
She shook her head and continued her shower.
Deep down, she couldn’t help but think: ‘Ye Lan was the one who said they had to abstain, so why did she come to watch me bathe?’
She really couldn’t understand her.
Still, having Ye Lan waiting outside wasn’t such a bad feeling.
After showering, Mu Xi dried off, wrapped herself in a silk robe, and walked out of the bathroom barefoot.
In the misty air, her wet, silver hair clung to her neck, with a few strands hanging over her forehead, making her small face appear even paler and more translucent.
The living room lights were set low and soft.
Ye Lan was indeed still on the sofa, sitting in a relaxed posture with a glass of water in her hand, her gaze fixed on a point in the void as if lost in thought.
Hearing the movement, she lifted her eyes.
Mu Xi walked up to her and stopped.
Water droplets from her hair dripped onto the carpet, soaking into a small, dark patch.
She looked at Ye Lan with clear eyes, carrying both the hazy look of someone who had just bathed and a hint of curiosity.
“Ye Lan…” she began softly, “did we… go through many things together in the past?”
The fingers holding the glass curled imperceptibly before relaxing.
She didn’t answer immediately; her gaze traced the wet tips of Mu Xi’s hair, and finally, she met her eyes and offered a soft “Mhm,” by way of admission.
“Were there more happy things, or more unhappy ones?” Mu Xi asked again, her voice low as if afraid to disturb something.
This question seemed to put Ye Lan in a difficult position.
She fell silent, her deep phoenix eyes lowered, avoiding Mu Xi’s persistent gaze.
She raised the glass to take a sip, her Adam’s apple bobbing slightly, but she didn’t utter a word.
There was no need for an answer.
Mu Xi observed her reaction, and her heart felt as if it had been lightly stung by something, leaving a sour and astringent sensation.
She looked down at her bare toes, curling them unconsciously into the carpet.
After a pause, she looked up again, staring straight at Ye Lan she asked, “What would happen… if… if I remembered everything from the past?”
Ye Lan’s expression paled for a fleeting moment before returning to normal.
She still said nothing, merely shaking her head gently.
That tiny motion seemed to hold a thousand words, yet it felt too heavy to speak aloud.
Mu Xi looked at her and suddenly understood something.
She asked again, “Then, do you want me to remember?”
This time, Ye Lan did not hesitate and nodded.
“I do.” Her voice was slightly hoarse.
“You have the right to know everything. Once we reach Stone City, the best doctors and equipment there can help you undergo surgery to recover all your memories.”
‘Stone City… surgery… recovering memories…’
These words felt like cold needles, pricking Mu Xi’s heart until it constricted.
Almost instinctively, she lunged forward and hugged Ye Lan tightly.
She buried her face in the crook of Ye Lan’s neck, her cool, damp hair brushing against Ye Lan’s warm skin.
“I don’t want to go to Stone City anymore,” she said, her voice muffled and nasal, “Ye Lan, let’s go somewhere else; anywhere will do.”
Ye Lan’s body stiffened noticeably, clearly not having expected this sudden move.
She raised her hand, hesitated for a moment, and eventually let it fall gently onto Mu Xi’s back.
“Where do you want to go?”
“To the ends of the earth, anywhere at all,” Mu Xi held on tighter, her voice filled with a desperate, all-in dependency.
“Wherever you are, that is my home.”
Ye Lan’s arm tightened, hugging the petite frame back, and she sighed.
Her voice held a note of helplessness, and a hint of imperceptible bitterness.
“Little Xi, by holding me like this, you will definitely regret it in the future.”
“Why?” Mu Xi looked up, her wet eyes searching hers.
“When you recover your memories and recall everything from before,” Ye Lan looked into her eyes, enunciating every word, “you will regret everything you’ve done and everything you’ve said to me during this time.”
Mu Xi shook her head, her expression exceptionally firm.
“I won’t regret it.” She looked at Ye Lan, her tone resolute, “If I regret it, then I’ll…”
She thought for a moment and said earnestly, “I’ll turn into a puppy!”
Ye Lan looked at her serious little face and finally couldn’t help it; the corners of her lips curled into the faintest smile, filled with helplessness and indulgence.
“Silly girl,” she murmured, pulling her closer into her embrace.
The person in her arms nestled in obediently, like a small animal that had found its sanctuary, temporarily forgetting the hidden dangers and unease.
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