So, she was destined to only play the role Ye Lan had set for her—a golden canary that needed to be protected, controlled, and “loved.”
Ye Lan watched the changing expressions on Mu Xi’s face, as if deciphering her nervousness.
“Don’t you like it?” she asked, a hint of probing barely detectable in her voice.
Mu Xi lifted her head to meet Ye Lan’s searching gaze.
She saw a flash of disappointment in Ye Lan’s eyes.
‘No, I can’t let her down. At least not now. The fragile cooperation between them still needed to be maintained. Before finding a real opportunity, she had to keep up the act.’
Thus, almost instinctively, she first shook her head ever so slightly, as if it were an unconscious, genuine reaction.
Ye Lan’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
Mu Xi immediately caught this subtle change.
She quickly forced a smile, though it was stiff, striving to make it seem sincere. “No, I…” She paused, organizing her words, making her voice sound surprised and shy. “I’m just… too surprised.” “Just now… I was joking.”
She reached out and carefully took out the doll.
The doll’s body was hard, its dress made of soft, smooth fabric that felt nice to the touch.
Its sapphire-like eyes glimmered with an inorganic light under the lamp, as if silently watching her.
Mu Xi gave the doll a name in her heart—Glass.
“Ye Lan… thank you, I really like it.” Mu Xi lowered her head, looking at the doll in her arms, her voice growing even softer.
She raised her head, as fragile as glass, as cold as glass, and as glass-like, she forced herself to meet Ye Lan’s gaze, trying to make her own eyes reflect the same “pure” light as the doll’s.
Ye Lan looked at her, silent for a few seconds.
Then she leaned down.
Warm breath drew close again, carrying Ye Lan’s unique scent—a mix of cold fragrance and gunpowder.
Mu Xi’s heart skipped a beat.
Her body instinctively wanted to retreat, but Ye Lan gently pressed her shoulders.
“As long as you like it.” Ye Lan’s voice was low and gentle, with a hint of satisfied sigh. Then, her lips covered hers.
Unlike the cold touch of the self-hug in front of the mirror last time, this kiss carried real warmth and strength, undeniable.
Ye Lan’s kissing technique was as aggressive as ever, prying open her lips and teeth, penetrating, entangling.
Mu Xi closed her eyes, forcing herself to endure.
She could feel the force of Ye Lan’s fingers pressing on her shoulders, a possessiveness that brooked no argument.
She could smell Ye Lan’s hair, taste the lingering bitterness of what might be coffee on her tongue and lips.
Hatred and humiliation surged in her heart, nearly drowning her.
She would use these lips to complete a dirty transaction, to kiss the woman she hated.
And Ye Lan always seemed to find it easy, just when she had gathered a little bit of strength, to use this method to turn her back into her original self, reminding her who the master was.
This kiss was long and suffocating.
Only when Ye Lan finally released her did Mu Xi catch her breath, her cheeks flushing with an unnatural red, whether from lack of oxygen or shame and anger.
Ye Lan gently rubbed her kissed and slightly swollen lips with her thumb.
The phoenix eyes regained the familiar, controlling smile.
“Good girl,” she murmured, as if praising an obedient pet.
She straightened up without saying more, just took a last look at the Glass doll in Mu Xi’s arms, then turned and walked toward the door. “Get some rest early.” Leaving those words, she opened the door and exited.
The metal door clicked shut behind her, making a soft sound. Footsteps slowly faded away.
The room fell back into dead silence.
Mu Xi sat on the bed, motionless, holding the doll named Glass. After a long time, she slowly lowered her head to look at the doll’s eternally smiling face. Then she raised her hand and threw the doll to the floor with almost brutal force.
The Glass doll hit the floor with a dull thud, rolled a few times, and stopped in the shadow of a corner. Its sapphire-like eyes still stared blankly at the ceiling.
Mu Xi gasped, her chest heaving violently. She suddenly flipped the pillow and grabbed the cold black pistol again. The gun felt heavy in her hand, the metallic touch calming her chaotic mind somewhat.
She aimed the muzzle at the doll on the floor. Her finger rested on the trigger again. With just a gentle squeeze, she could shatter this hypocritical “gift” and the humiliation and control it represented.
But in the end, she slowly loosened her finger. It wasn’t time yet.
She tucked the gun back under the pillow, then slid off the bed, walked to the corner, and picked up the doll. Brushing nonexistent dust off the doll’s dress, she placed it back on the nightstand, next to the empty gift box. After doing all this, she lay back down on the bed, pulled up the covers, and curled up.
‘Ye Lan, what exactly do you want to turn me into?’ In the darkness, she stared at the ceiling, eyes open. This question still had no answer. The only reply was the eternal dead silence of the Silent Language Building and the sky outside the window, stained yellow by city lights, with no stars.
She closed her eyes and forced herself to sleep. Tomorrow would be another day.
A blinding beam pierced the dimness inside the Silent Language Building’s bedroom. Mu Xi slowly opened her eyes, her consciousness rising from the deep sea with a sluggish fatigue. Daylight seeped through the gap in the heavy alloy window panels, casting a narrow, weak strip of light.
Until Ye Lan brought another storm, or until she found her own little light. In this cage, wait, gather strength. The sensation from last night still seemed to linger on her lips, first cold, then the warm aggression laced with gunpowder and cold fragrance. The embers of humiliation burned in her chest.
She didn’t move, just lay flat, feeling the soft bed underneath. The room was exceptionally quiet, only the faint sound of her own breathing.
No. There was another person’s breathing. Steady, gentle, with a strange sense of presence.
Mu Xi stiffly turned her head.
Ye Lan sat on the single sofa by the window, holding a thick old book with a faded dark red cover.
She wore a form-fitting black combat suit, her long hair casually tied back, a few stray strands falling on her fair neck.
The sunlight happened to land on her fingers turning the pages—knuckles prominent, long and powerful.
She was so focused, the profile of her face was exceptionally clear in the light and shadow.
Her deep phoenix eyes were slightly lowered, long eyelashes casting faint shadows.
At this moment, her usual sharpness and domineering faded away, revealing a certain quiet scholarly air.
Mu Xi’s heart clenched.
She didn’t know how long Ye Lan had been sitting there.
Like a warden, monitoring her every move, or…
This thought sent a chill down her spine.
As if sensing her movement, Ye Lan looked up, closed the book, and casually placed it on the side table. “Awake?”
Her voice was very calm, even with a barely detectable softness, “Did you sleep well?”
Mu Xi was silent, not answering.
She slowly sat up, the blanket sliding off her shoulders, revealing her thin nightgown.
Her silver hair scattered down, covering half of her face.
“It’s already noon.” Ye Lan stood up and walked to the bedside. “I told the kitchen to prepare lunch. Let’s eat together.”
Her tone was as natural as if there had never been any unspeakable past between them, as if they were just ordinary roommates.