Not even a refreshing cup of coffee.
No phone, no games, no snacks, not even a single revitalizing drink.
Only this cold, hard metal chair and that ever-watching “eye” above.
It was a pure, depriving form of torture.
Her senses were amplified infinitely, every trace of discomfort in her body clearly perceived.
Her neck protested first, as if locked in place by an invisible vise, aching unbearably.
The surveillance prevented her from daring to move.
She wanted to turn, even just a little, but the overhead camera and Ye Lan’s “you’ll face the consequences” echoed in her ears like a curse.
Next came her spine.
In order to maintain an upright posture, her muscles had been tense for too long, far exceeding their limit.
A stinging pain, like fine needles, spread from her shoulder blades all the way down to her lower back.
She could clearly feel sweat soaking the fabric on her back, sticky and cold.
Her limbs had long gone numb. Her legs felt like lead, too heavy to belong to her.
Her fingers curled, the tips icy cold, as if blood had stopped flowing.
The physical pain was secondary; what was more terrifying was the mental torment.
Absolute silence, absolute stillness, cast her into a completely isolated vacuum.
Her thoughts ran wild like a runaway horse, galloping freely through her empty mind yet finding no anchor to stop on.
She couldn’t control herself from thinking wildly.
She thought of Luo Yuan using the chip to control her, the deep within those seemingly gentle eyes concealing the cold calculation of turning her into a perfect puppet. She thought of Wu City, of her parents being killed and falling into a pool of blood, of that moment of loneliness and despair.
She thought of those unbearable pasts, forced like a marionette to submit beneath Ye Lan day and night. Every time she drank Ye Lan’s blood, it was like swallowing poison, eroding her soul.
She thought of all the “training” Ye Lan had subjected her to, those unforgettable humiliations and tortures. Every time she recalled them, it felt as if an invisible hand was gripping her heart, squeezing until she couldn’t breathe.
Hatred grew wildly like vines, wrapping around every nerve.
But at the same time, drowsiness surged like waves, one after another.
Her eyelids grew heavier and heavier, as if weighted with lead. Her consciousness began to blur, and the scene before her doubled.
No, she couldn’t fall asleep!
Mu Xi fiercely bit the tip of her tongue. The sharp pain instantly sobered her up a little.
She couldn’t fall here. She hadn’t taken revenge yet. She couldn’t let Ye Lan have her way.
What Ye Lan wanted to see was her collapse and surrender. She wouldn’t give her that!
She had been through worse than this. Under Luo Yuan’s control, she couldn’t even control her own thoughts.
Now, at least her consciousness was free, and her hatred was real.
As long as this hatred remained, she could hold on.
She forced herself to keep her eyes wide open, staring blankly at an inconspicuous stain on the wall ahead, trying to focus all her attention on it.
Time passed slowly, minute by minute, each second feeling like an eternity.
The light in the living room gradually dimmed, from golden to orange-red. The world outside the window also shifted from the clamor of day to the dead silence of night.
Only inside the Silent Language Building, the cold fluorescent lights remained on, casting her long shadow on the cold floor like a twisted symbol.
The glass of water placed on the table beside her had long lost its initial warmth, now as cold as the surrounding air. The water’s surface reflected the light, like a tempting poison.
Her throat was so dry it felt like it was about to catch fire. Her lips were chapped and peeling from lack of water.
Should she drink?
If she just leaned slightly and extended her arm, she could reach that glass of water.
It was a small movement. Perhaps the person on the other side of the monitor would overlook it, or perhaps Ye Lan would tacitly permit it.
But Mu Xi didn’t move.
She kept her back straight, like a silver-haired statue trapped in place, stubbornly resisting her body’s instinctual desires.
This was her last and only act of defiance.
Ye Lan had deprived her of sleep, restricted her movement, and used the ever-present surveillance to spy on everything.
But she couldn’t force her to drink that water.
This was a silent contest, a battle of willpower.
Mu Xi’s gaze slowly shifted from the stain on the wall to the glass of water.
Clear water, gently rippling in the glass, as if containing the spring of life.
She could feel her body screaming, craving it.
But she just stared, letting the desire burn deep inside.
Suddenly, light footsteps came from the stairway.
Mu Xi’s heart jerked, and every muscle instantly tensed.
Was Ye Lan back?
She subconsciously adjusted her sitting posture, ensuring she still looked like an obedient, lifeless doll.
The footsteps grew closer and stopped at the entrance of the living room.
Mu Xi didn’t look up, only catching a glimpse of a pair of black military boots from the corner of her eye.
Not Ye Lan.
It was a member of the Imperial Guard in a purple uniform.
The guard said nothing, merely walked to the table, picked up the glass of water that had turned cold, turned around, and silently left.
The footsteps disappeared down the corridor.
In the living room, absolute silence returned.
The table was empty.
Mu Xi’s heart seemed to be hollowed out along with that glass of water.
Ye Lan… didn’t even allow this tiny, silent act of defiance?
Or was this just routine cleaning?
She didn’t know.
She only felt a deeper wave of exhaustion and helplessness, like icy water, completely drowning her.
The numbness and ache in her body seemed to become even more unbearable.
The scene before her began to spin, and the buzzing in her ears grew louder.
She felt like a string pulled to its very limit, about to snap at any moment.
But she still sat there, back straight, like a stubborn tombstone standing in a storm.
After what felt like an eternity—maybe minutes, maybe hours—a faint sound came from the heavy metal gate.
This time, the footsteps were steady and familiar.
Ye Lan was back.
Mu Xi’s heart tightened again, but this time, she didn’t move, didn’t even lift her eyelids.
She had no more strength left to pretend.
Ye Lan entered the living room, her high-heeled military boots clicking sharply on the floor. She stopped in front of Mu Xi, looking down at her from above.
Mu Xi could feel that sharp gaze landing on the top of her head, piercing into her skin like needles.
“How do you feel?” Ye Lan’s voice carried a barely noticeable hoarseness, unreadable.
Mu Xi remained silent, her lips tightly pressed, her face pale to the point of translucence.
Her long silver hair fell messily by her cheeks, obscuring her hollow eyes.
Ye Lan seemed not to expect an answer.
She walked around the chair in a circle, as if examining an object.
“Looks like the effect is good,” Ye Lan’s voice carried a hint of satisfaction. “You can endure more than I imagined.”
Mu Xi’s fingertips trembled slightly.
Ye Lan caught that subtle movement.
She walked in front of Mu Xi, bent down, and used her fingers to gently lift Mu Xi’s chin, forcing her to look up.
Mu Xi’s face was bloodless. Only her beautiful eyes were bloodshot, as if she had stayed up for nine straight nights.
Deep in her eyes was exhaustion suppressed to the extreme, and a faint, unextinguished cold flame.
“Do you hate me?” Ye Lan stared into her eyes, her voice low, carrying a dangerous temptation.