Ye Lan carried the tray to the bedside and gently set it down.
“Drink some milk first to warm your stomach.” She picked up the cup, tested the temperature, and handed it to Mu Xi.
Mu Xi obediently took it, her eyes still wearing that timid expression, but her fingers secretly felt for the edge of the mattress under the blanket.
The cold knife handle had warmed slightly from her body heat.
She took small sips of milk, her gaze seemingly fixed on the rim of the cup, but her peripheral vision was locked onto Ye Lan’s every move.
Ye Lan sat on the edge of the bed, watching her drink, her gaze focused, even carrying a hint of doting, “Drink slowly, don’t choke.”
‘Opportunity.’
Mu Xi set down the cup, leaning forward slightly as if to reach for the bread beside her, but her right hand shot out like lightning, pulling the knife hidden under the blanket, the tip aimed straight at Ye Lan’s completely unguarded side.
She had calculated the angle and distance perfectly; this strike would absolutely inflict serious damage.
Just as the blade was about to touch the combat suit, Ye Lan shifted slightly to the side as if uncomfortable, adjusting her posture naturally.
“Whoosh”
In the next instant, the blade grazed past Ye Lan’s combat suit, leaving an almost invisible white mark on the tough fabric, striking nothing but air.
“Do you want jam?” Ye Lan, completely unaware, instead reached for a slice of toast.
“Do you?”
Mu Xi’s heart gave a heavy “thump”, almost leaping out of her throat.
She swiftly retracted the knife under the blanket, forcing a smile onto her face that was uglier than crying.
“Mmm… yes.”
Ye Lan was as serious as if completing some important task.
She picked up the butter knife, carefully spreading jam on the bread, her movements focused.
Mu Xi watched her focused profile, that stretch of fair neck, and hatred surged within her again.
“Here.” Ye Lan handed over the jam-covered toast.
Mu Xi reached out to take it, deliberately pretending to fumble, her body suddenly falling toward Ye Lan.
The knife hidden in her sleeve slid into her palm once more, its target Ye Lan’s carotid artery.
“Careful!” Ye Lan reacted swiftly—not to protect herself, but to reach out and steady Mu Xi’s arm, preventing her from actually “falling.”
Her hand happened to block the path of Mu Xi’s swinging knife.
Mu Xi’s wrist was caught in Ye Lan’s warm grasp.
The blade was mere centimeters from Ye Lan’s neck but could advance no further.
She could even feel the strength in Ye Lan’s palm—it was a protective gesture.
‘Absurd. Ridiculous.’
Mu Xi steadied herself, quickly withdrawing her hand and the knife, lowering her head, her voice trembling, “S-sorry…”
“It’s fine,” Ye Lan released her hand, her tone still gentle.
“Be careful.”
As she spoke, she casually pulled the blanket up over Mu Xi, covering the hand that still held the hidden knife.
Mu Xi: “……”
‘Did this woman step in dog shit today or something?’
Ye Lan was completely unaware she had just brushed with death twice.
Looking at Mu Xi’s pale little face, she thought she must be truly sleep-deprived or unwell, and reached out to feel her forehead again.
Mu Xi didn’t dodge this time, allowing Ye Lan’s slightly cool fingers to press against her forehead.
“You feel a bit warm. Is the room too stuffy?” Ye Lan withdrew her hand, talking to herself.
“I’ll open the window a bit for some air.” She stood up and walked toward the window, her back to Mu Xi.
A perfect, completely unguarded back.
Mu Xi’s hand tightened around the knife handle again.
‘Kill her! Do it now!’
Yet, just as she was about to erupt into action, Ye Lan, as if she had eyes on the back of her neck, suddenly stopped walking and sharply turned her head.
Mu Xi’s movement froze in place, her heart nearly stopping.
Ye Lan looked at her, her eyes slightly puzzled, but then replaced by gentleness again, “What’s wrong, Little Xi? Your face looks so bad. Are you feeling unwell somewhere?”
As she spoke, she walked back over, looking at her with concern.
Mu Xi looked at Ye Lan, so close at hand, at that damned, genuine care in her eyes, and a surge of perverse anger shot straight to the top of her head.
She could barely control the expression on her face, could only bite down hard on her lower lip, swallowing the words “Get lost” back down.
‘It seems this knife won’t be finding its mark today.’
She pulled out a weak smile and shook her head, “No… it’s just, I’m a bit hungry.”
‘Act, keep acting. Let’s see how long Ye Lan’s damned luck can hold out.’
Ye Lan stood at the doorway, seemingly still uneasy, her gaze sweeping between Mu Xi’s pale face and the slightly open window.
“I opened the window a crack; you shouldn’t catch a chill. Remember to finish the bread and milk. I’ll be back soon.”
She paused, then added, “I really shouldn’t have come today with all the busy work, but I was just so worried about you…”
Mu Xi lowered her eyes and nodded meekly, but inside she was sneering.
‘Worried? Worried about whether I successfully stabbed a knife into you?’
Only when the metal door closed behind Ye Lan with a soft “click”, cutting off her presence, did the fragile expression on Mu Xi’s face instantly shatter.
She slammed the cup in her hand down onto the nightstand. A few drops of milk splashed out, leaving white spots on the dark surface.
“Bastard!” she cursed under her breath, her voice trembling slightly with anger.
The opportunities had been so perfect!
One sneak attack to the side, one feigned fall aimed at the neck, and finally that completely unguarded back!
Three times.
Three absolutely prime opportunities, all defused by Ye Lan in ways that bordered on the bizarre.
The first time by adjusting her sitting posture, the second by “kindly” steadying her, the third was even more absurd—turning around as if she had eyes in the back of her head!
Mu Xi was beginning to doubt reality.
Is she some kind of legendary, unkillable, impenetrable, one-hundred-percent-dodge-aura child of fortune?
But she was clearly completely unguarded against her!
That focused look, that gentle tone, those subconscious protective actions… she’s putting on quite the act.
If she had shown even a shred of vigilance, Mu Xi could have understood her failure.
But Ye Lan was just putting on this act of “I love you most in the whole world, but I’m completely oblivious to your murderous intent”!
It made Mu Xi feel like a clown, her carefully plotted assassination turned into a farce.
She even started to think Ye Lan wasn’t lucky, but simply stupid—so stupid she couldn’t even perceive the threat of death.
She collapsed back into the soft bedding, her fingers unconsciously picking at the sheets, her mind a chaotic mess.
‘Is it really destiny? Is some invisible force protecting Ye Lan, stopping my revenge?’
This thought brought a wave of helplessness, followed by deeper hatred.
‘Why?’
Why could Ye Lan peacefully enjoy everything she had now, while she had to carry these unbearable memories and hatred?
Mu Xi punched the mattress hard.
The knife handle hidden beneath it dug painfully into her palm.
The pain calmed her slightly.
‘No. I can’t just let this go.’
She sat up, her eyes turning cold and firm once more.
Once won’t work, then twice.
Twice won’t work, then three times.
There will come a time when Ye Lan’s luck runs out.
She refused to believe Ye Lan could stay this “lucky” forever.
“Ye Lan…” Mu Xi whispered the name, the corner of her mouth lifting in a cold curve.
“Just wait. Our accounts aren’t settled yet.”
She picked up the slice of toast Ye Lan had so carefully spread with jam and took a fierce bite, as if biting into Ye Lan’s flesh.
It tasted sweet.
Cloyingly sweet, making her even more irritable.
The knife might not find its mark today, but what about tomorrow?
The day after?
‘As long as she stayed by Ye Lan’s side, opportunities would come.’
So she would continue.
‘Let’s see who gets the last laugh in this game.’
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