Chapter 36: Seeking Protection

Qing Yun wasn’t content with a fleeting, delicate touch. 

In an instant, she deepened the kiss, her tongue deftly parting Mu Xi’s lips, invading with a fervor that left no room for retreat.  

A muffled protest escaped Mu Xi’s throat as she tried to push Qing Yun away, but her wrists were pinned with unyielding strength. 

Qing Yun’s skill was undeniable; within moments, Mu Xi’s resistance melted, her body softening under the relentless tide of sensation.  

The soft, intimate sounds of their kiss echoed in the quiet room, stark and undeniable.  

“Little Xi, you’re so sweet,” Qing Yun murmured, finally pulling back, her lips glistening as she savored the moment. 

“Sweeter than any cake.”  

Mu Xi gasped for air, her cheeks flushed a ripe, apple-red. 

She had expected a fleeting peck, not this whirlwind of intensity.  

“You… you broke your promise!” she stammered, voice trembling with indignation.  

Qing Yun’s eyes sparkled with mischief. 

“I didn’t touch you, darling. You kissed me first.”  

“But you—” Mu Xi’s words faltered, frustration choking her.  

“Alright, alright,” Qing Yun teased, pinching Mu Xi’s cheek gently. 

“We’ll stop here for tonight. But…”  

She leaned close, her breath warm against Mu Xi’s ear. 

“We have all the time in the world to play.”  

With that, Qing Yun straightened, smoothed her clothes with effortless grace, and glided out of the room.  

Mu Xi collapsed onto the bed, her mind a blank haze. 

Her fingers brushed her burning lips, and one thought crystallized: ‘That madwoman is terrifying.’

Wrapped in her blankets, Mu Xi tossed and turned, sleep elusive. 

Each time she closed her eyes, the memory of Qing Yun’s searing kiss set her skin ablaze. 

When exhaustion finally claimed her, it was only to plunge her into a nightmare—a suffocating dream of being surrounded by women with greedy eyes and restless hands, their gazes pinning her until she awoke, drenched in cold sweat.  

“Ha… ha…” Mu Xi bolted upright, her chest heaving.  

Dawn’s light filtered through the curtains, painting the room in soft gold. 

She touched her face, finding it damp with tears.  

“No, this can’t go on,” she muttered, clenching her jaw. 

She washed up quickly, grabbed a hasty breakfast, and bolted out the door.  

“Little Xi, out so early?” Qing Yun’s voice purred from nowhere, her smile as disarming as it was dangerous.  

“I—I’m going to find Sister Ke’er!” Mu Xi stepped back instinctively.  

“Oh? And what for?” Qing Yun’s eyes darkened, a shadow passing over her face.  

“None of your business!” Mu Xi spun on her heel and fled.  

She found Lin Ke’er at the training grounds, directing a group of bodyguards with crisp authority. 

Seeing Mu Xi’s panicked expression, Ke’er dismissed her team with a wave.  

“Sister Ke’er, you have to save me!” Mu Xi clutched Ke’er’s sleeve, spilling every detail of the previous night’s encounter.  

“I see,” Ke’er said thoughtfully, nodding.

 “Protecting you isn’t out of the question…”  

“Really? That’s wonderful!”  

“But,” Ke’er’s smile turned enigmatic, “there’s a condition.”  

“What condition?”  

Ke’er’s gaze drifted to Mu Xi’s feet, her lips curling as she licked them subtly. 

“Let me massage your feet every day. How about it?”  

Mu Xi froze, realization dawning. 

She hadn’t escaped a tiger’s jaws—she’d leapt into a wolf’s den.  

“I… I’ll think about it…” She turned to flee, but Ke’er’s hand caught her arm.  

“No need to rush off,” Ke’er said, her smile disarmingly gentle. 

“We can take our time discussing this.”  

Mu Xi sighed, eyeing Ke’er’s expectant expression. 

Qing Yun’s aggressive approach was overwhelming, but Ke’er, at least, seemed to care about her feelings.  

“Fine, I agree,” Mu Xi said, biting her lip.  

“Really?” Ke’er’s eyes lit up. 

“No take-backs, then.”  

“But you have to promise to protect me.”  

“You have my word,” Ke’er said, her tone serious. 

“Qing Yun may be a fifth-tier administrator, but we operate in different systems. I handle security; she oversees daily affairs. There’s no direct hierarchy between us. Stick with me, and she won’t dare go too far.”  

“And… the massage thing?”  

Ke’er grinned. 

“Follow me. I know the perfect spot.”  

She led Mu Xi through a garden path to a secluded pavilion, its view shielded by towering hydrangeas. 

Ke’er gestured for Mu Xi to sit on a stone bench, then knelt, gently slipping off her shoes and socks.  

“Sister Ke’er, this feels… strange,” Mu Xi said, squirming.  

“Relax,” Ke’er replied, her fingers expertly kneading Mu Xi’s soles. 

“I’m a professional.”  

A soft moan slipped from Mu Xi’s lips, and she clapped a hand over her mouth, mortified.  

“Feels good, doesn’t it?” Ke’er asked, her touch precise and soothing.  

“Mmm…” Mu Xi nodded, her face crimson.  

She had to admit, Ke’er’s skill was exceptional, easing tension from her entire body.  

“Every day, at this time, I’ll massage you,” Ke’er said, her voice velvet. 

“But you have to promise not to tell anyone.”  

“I—I understand…” Mu Xi closed her eyes, surrendering to the warmth of Ke’er’s hands.  

This arrangement, she mused, wasn’t so bad. 

Compared to Qing Yun’s wild intensity, Ke’er’s gentle approach felt safe, comforting.  

“Sister Ke’er, your techniques of massages are amazing,” Mu Xi said, her eyes half-closed in bliss.  

“Then… can I…” Ke’er hesitated, her voice tentative, “smell your shoes?”  

Mu Xi’s eyes snapped open, her face flaming. 

“What?”  

“Just a sniff,” Ke’er said, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. 

“I love your scent.”  

Mu Xi hesitated, biting her lip. 

Ke’er had already crossed boundaries before—licking her feet, no less. 

This request, while odd, seemed tame in comparison. 

And if it secured Ke’er’s protection…  

“Okay,” she whispered.  

Ke’er’s face lit up. 

She lifted Mu Xi’s discarded shoe and inhaled deeply. 

“Ah… divine.”  

“Don’t—don’t do that!” Mu Xi squeaked, shrinking back in embarrassment.  

“Your creamy scent clings to everything, even your shoes,” Ke’er said, entranced. 

“It’s perfect.”  

“You pervert!” Mu Xi cried, torn between shame and exasperation.  

“I’m a pervert with principles,” Ke’er said, resuming the massage with a grin. 

“Unlike that lunatic Qing Yun, right?”  

Mu Xi had no retort. 

Ke’er’s earnest focus as she worked was oddly endearing, despite her quirks.  

“All done for today,” Ke’er said, slipping Mu Xi’s shoes back on. 

“Same time tomorrow.”  

Mu Xi nodded, standing. 

Her feet felt light, her steps buoyant.  

As she walked back to her room, Mu Xi strategized. 

Ke’er might be eccentric, but she was manageable—unlike Qing Yun’s chaotic intensity. 

If Mu Xi played the role of a vulnerable rabbit, she might find a way to escape this tangled web.  

“Sister Ke’er, why does Qing Yun always stare at me?” Mu Xi asked, feigning innocence.  

Ke’er snorted and replied, “She’s a lust-driven maniac, always scheming to get you into her bed.”  

“And… you?”  

“I’m different,” Ke’er said, her tone earnest. 

“I just adore your feet and your scent.”  

Mu Xi nearly choked. 

“That’s not exactly normal…”  

“But I won’t force you into anything,” Ke’er said with a smile. 

“Plus, I’ll keep you safe. Isn’t that a fair deal?”  

Before Mu Xi could respond, the sharp click of heels echoed down the corridor. 

Qing Yun approached, her gaze locked on Mu Xi’s chest with predatory focus.  

Mu Xi instinctively ducked behind Ke’er, her heart racing.