Her tone, however, carried a hint of probing. “Do you know what you’re saying?”
“Little Xi,” Ye Lan finally spoke, her voice still low and hoarse.
Mu Xi raised her head, trying to make her eyes look sincere and fragile. She bit her lip, the rims of her eyes slightly red, like a wounded fawn, pitiful and endearing.
“I know… I know…”
“Then tell me,” Ye Lan’s fingertips brushed her cheek again, this time with a searing warmth, “what do you love about me?”
Mu Xi’s heart skipped a beat.
She had already prepared the answer to this question.
What she needed to say wasn’t sweet words, but something that would touch the possible guilt and softness deep inside Ye Lan.
“I…” She paused, her voice choked with tears. “I don’t know… I don’t know why either… Maybe… maybe I’ve been tortured by you for too long… I got used to it… I can’t leave…” She deliberately emphasized the word “tortured,” while secretly observing Ye Lan’s expression.
She saw Ye Lan’s eyes flicker slightly, a complex emotion seeming to flash through those pitch-black pupils, like guilt, or pity.
A glimmer of hope ignited in Mu Xi’s heart.
‘Maybe her strategy of giving up was really working?’
“Little Xi,” Ye Lan spoke again, her voice slowed down with a soothing tone, “is what you said… true?”
“Yes… it’s true… I… I love you… really…” Mu Xi buried her face in the crook of Ye Lan’s neck, her voice tearful. “Please… don’t treat me like that anymore… I’m scared… really scared…”
As she spoke, she reached out and wrapped her arms around Ye Lan’s neck, nodding vigorously at the words “it’s true.” Tears streamed down her cheeks. The warm tears soaked Ye Lan’s collar. Mu Xi’s body trembled slightly, acting out the role of a victim tortured to the point of collapse.
Ye Lan’s body stiffened again, but the arm around Mu Xi’s waist didn’t push her away.
She was silent for a moment before slowly speaking, her voice still unreadable. “If that’s really the case, I’ll try to control myself.”
Mu Xi rejoiced inwardly, knowing she had gambled correctly.
Ye Lan was indeed soft-hearted toward obedience and weakness, which moved her more than resistance and thorns.
She looked up, her eyes blurry with tears, and asked cautiously, “Then… then can I… can I go out for a walk? I promise… I promise I won’t run around…”
Ye Lan raised an eyebrow, seeming to think about it.
After a moment, she shook her head. “No. It’s still chaotic outside. Not safe.”
Mu Xi’s smile froze for a moment, disappointment surging in her heart, but she quickly adjusted.
‘Not being able to go out is fine, as long as I can make Ye Lan stop that kind of training, that’s enough.’
“However,” Ye Lan suddenly changed the subject, a meaningful smile curling at the corner of her lips, “I plan to build an artificial hot spring on the roof of Silent Language Building for you. Do you want it?”
A hot spring?
Mu Xi was stunned, unable to keep up with Ye Lan’s train of thought.
‘One second she’s cold and domineering, the next she suddenly wants to build me a hot spring. What is this Ye Lan thinking?’
She instinctively shook her head. “No.”
Ye Lan’s smile froze, her eyes turning dangerous. “What did you say?”
Mu Xi’s heart tightened, realizing she had said the wrong thing. She quickly changed her tune, softening her voice. “No… I didn’t mean I didn’t want it… I just… I just think… having you is enough…”
As she spoke, she hugged Ye Lan tighter, rubbing her cheek against Ye Lan’s chest, her voice syrupy sweet. “I just want you to be with me… nothing else matters…”
Ye Lan’s expression relaxed, and the smile returned to her lips, this time genuine.
“Little Xi, when did your mouth become so sweet?” She pinched Mu Xi’s cheek, her tone carrying a hint of fondness.
Mu Xi smiled shyly. “You taught me well…”
Ye Lan laughed even more happily at that. She lowered her head and kissed Mu Xi on the lips. “Say it again. What do you want?”
Mu Xi nodded obediently, her voice meek. “I want a hot spring. Whatever you give me, I’ll take.”
Ye Lan looked at Mu Xi’s docile and compliant appearance, the amusement in her eyes deepening. She kissed her wildly again, as if wanting to fuse her into her bones.
Mu Xi was kissed until she couldn’t breathe, but inwardly she was silently complaining.
‘Could it be that I was wrong? No matter if I resist or submit, Ye Lan will always like me? Then I’m really screwed…’
The intimacy in bed didn’t last long. The air was thick with a subtle, lingering tension.
Ye Lan lazily propped herself up, her long black hair falling over her shoulders, carrying a casual air after the act.
She glanced at the petite Mu Xi beside her. The pale little face still bore faint tear tracks and the flush of forced passion.
“I’m hungry.” Ye Lan’s voice was low, carrying an undeniable commanding tone, yet oddly mixed with a hint of barely perceptible gentleness.
She got out of bed, movements fluid and powerful. Her bare feet made soft sounds on the cold, hard metal floor.
Mu Xi’s heart sank. She obediently followed suit. The soreness in her body and the exhaustion in her heart made her movements slow, like a delicate doll whose soul had been drained. She knew resistance was futile, only inviting deeper torment.
Her current passive submission was merely a different way to survive.
Ye Lan didn’t urge her. She just stood at the bedroom door, watching quietly. Those deep phoenix eyes seemed capable of piercing through any disguise, reaching the deepest fear and hatred in Mu Xi’s heart.
Mu Xi tried to make her movements appear natural and docile, not daring to show the slightest resistance.
“Cook.” Ye Lan stepped aside, clearing the way. “I’ll teach you.”
“Mm.” Mu Xi lowered her eyelashes, hiding the emotions in her eyes, and responded softly.
The kitchen of Silent Language Building continued the style of the entire structure. Cold metal countertops, gleaming utensils that reflected one’s image—everything exuded an inorganic luster.
This place was less a home and more a precise cage.
There wasn’t a whiff of cooking smoke in the air, only the sterile smell of disinfectant mixed with metal.
Ye Lan approached from behind, wrapping her arms around Mu Xi’s slender waist, her chin lightly resting on Mu Xi’s shoulder.
Warm breath sprayed onto Mu Xi’s sensitive skin, causing a shudder.
Mu Xi’s body instantly stiffened. Almost instinctively, she wanted to break free, but reason forcefully suppressed that impulse.
“Relax, Little Xi.” Ye Lan’s voice carried a smile, but her fingers roamed mischievously over Mu Xi’s waist. “It’s just cooking.”
Just cooking?
Mu Xi sneered inwardly.
‘What Ye Lan calls “teaching” is just another form of control and teasing.’
The ingredients were pitifully simple: some compressed biscuits, canned meat, and a few wilted vegetables. In the apocalypse, having these was already fortunate, but for a former princess like Mu Xi, it was undoubtedly crude.
Ye Lan took Mu Xi’s hand and guided her to pick up the kitchen knife.
Her palm was broad and strong, with calluses, a stark contrast to Mu Xi’s softness.
Ye Lan’s hand covered hers, controlling the force, teaching her how to cut vegetables.
It was less teaching and more manipulation.
“Too slow.” Ye Lan’s voice sounded right by her ear, the warm breath making her want to vomit.
Ye Lan’s fingers slowly slid up her arm, carrying an ambiguous tease. “Focus.”
Mu Xi bit her lower lip, forcing herself to ignore the person behind her, and concentrated on the blade and the vegetables.