“Please… I beg you…” Mu Xi’s voice quivered, laced with a faint sob.
Her fingers clutched the bedsheets, her body trembling slightly from the unbearable sensation.
Ye Lan chuckled softly, her slender fingers tracing over Mu Xi’s skin, each touch sending shivers through her frame.
“My little pet, you still need to learn how to savor this,” Ye Lan’s voice was low and magnetic, carrying an undeniable authority.
“Master… I…” Mu Xi bit her lip, tears glistening at the corners of her eyes.
The effects of the medicinal bath and throat lozenges had left her body hypersensitive, every touch like an electric current surging through her.
“Be good, relax,” Ye Lan leaned down, whispering into Mu Xi’s ear, her warm breath brushing against her skin.
“Let me cherish you properly.”
Under Ye Lan’s control, Mu Xi finally surrendered, her consciousness blurring as waves of endless pleasure consumed her.
After the storm of passion, Ye Lan lounged lazily against the headboard, her fingers idly toying with Mu Xi’s silvery-white hair.
“Darling, let me tell you a secret.”
“What secret?” Mu Xi curled up in Ye Lan’s embrace, the afterglow of their frenzy still lingering, her body still exquisitely sensitive.
“Li Xin, the estate’s interim manager and guard when I’m away—she’s been secretly in love with you.”
Ye Lan’s tone carried a playful edge.
“Every time you move about the estate, she steals glances at you.”
Mu Xi froze, her mind blank.
She couldn’t recall anyone like that.
“Master, are you teasing me?”
“I never tease,” Ye Lan said with a light laugh.
“I want you to seduce her, to test her loyalty.”
“But…” Mu Xi bit her lip again.
“What, feeling sorry for her?” Ye Lan tilted Mu Xi’s chin up.
“Or perhaps you’re interested in her?”
“No, that’s not it!” Mu Xi shook her head frantically.
“I just thought, if Li Xin is trusted to manage the estate, she must be loyal to you.”
“Loyal?” Ye Lan sneered.
“You’re too naive. I’ve seen the way she looks at you—like she’s eyeing a delectable cake, dying to devour it.”
Mu Xi shrank back, almost convinced she’d seen it herself.
“Go, my little pet,” Ye Lan whispered in her ear.
“Let’s see how long she can hold out. Remember, you’re mine—always.”
“Master…” Mu Xi turned and clung to Ye Lan.
“Are you jealous?”
“Jealous?” Ye Lan raised an eyebrow, then flicked on the vibrating device.
Mu Xi gasped, collapsing into her arms.
“This is your punishment for overthinking,” Ye Lan said, switching it off.
“Now, go take a bath and put on the new dress I prepared for you.”
Mu Xi stepped into the bathroom, the pastel pink decor still jarring, as if she were standing inside a giant strawberry cream cake.
Hot water cascaded over her, carrying the lingering, strange fragrance of the medicinal bath.
Her skin felt like marshmallow soaked in warm water—soft, yielding, melting at the slightest touch.
She slipped into the new dress Ye Lan had chosen, a floaty pink tulle gown adorned with lace and sequins, like a princess who’d fled a fairy tale—though this princess was a caged canary.
“Li Xin should be in the garden now,” Ye Lan’s voice drifted from behind, casual, as if discussing the weather rather than orchestrating a calculated seduction.
Mu Xi sighed inwardly, turning to reply, “Understood, Master.”
She kept her voice steady, betraying no ripples, though her fingertips curled ever so slightly.
Pushing open the door, she stepped into the quiet corridor, lit only by the soft glow of amber wall sconces.
She descended the staircase, crossed the plush-carpeted hallway, and wove past towering potted plants until the garden came into view.
The nighttime garden, stripped of its daytime bustle, held a serene stillness.
Moonlight poured down gently, bathing the flowers and trees in a silvery sheen.
The heady scent of blossoms mingled with the earthy aroma of soil, soothing and invigorating.
The fountain had ceased its spray, leaving only the soft trickle of water, crystalline in the quiet night.
And there was Li Xin.
She stood alone in the white gazebo at the garden’s heart, her back to Mu Xi, her posture straight as a poplar tree.
Even in the dim light, her crisp black estate uniform stood out, stark against the delicate flora around her.
Mu Xi studied Li Xin closely for the first time.
Their paths had crossed briefly in the estate before, but Mu Xi had been too consumed with outwitting Ye Lan, with surviving, to notice anyone else.
Now, she saw Li Xin clearly: short, neatly trimmed black hair, sharp brows exuding a heroic air, a chiseled profile, and eyes both keen and calm.
She radiated a capable, dependable aura, utterly unlike Mu Xi’s own existence as a pampered, caged bird.
Taking a deep breath, Mu Xi stepped toward the gazebo.
The crunch of gravel underfoot sounded jarring in the tranquil garden.
Li Xin turned at the noise.
Seeing Mu Xi, a flicker of surprise crossed her eyes before she regained her composure, nodding slightly.
“Good evening, Miss Mu Xi,” she said, her tone respectful.
“Good evening,” Mu Xi replied, stepping closer to the gazebo, a sweet smile playing on her lips, crafted to seem harmless and approachable.
“You’re still out here so late?”
Li Xin hesitated, clearly unprepared for Mu Xi’s initiative.
Her voice stiffened slightly.
“Night shift. Routine patrol.”
“That must be exhausting,” Mu Xi said, blinking playfully.
“I couldn’t sleep, so I came out for a walk. I didn’t expect to run into you.”
Li Xin paused, her gaze briefly meeting Mu Xi’s before darting away, her voice steady.
“The estate gets chilly at night, Miss Mu Xi. You’re delicate—best to head back and rest.”
Mu Xi stifled a laugh.
As Ye Lan had said, Li Xin’s attention to her was different, though well-concealed.
Pretending not to notice the polite distance in Li Xin’s words, Mu Xi stepped closer, her tone taking on a playful, almost coy lilt.
“But it’s so stuffy in my room. The air out here is so fresh, and the flowers smell amazing. Can I walk with you?”
Li Xin’s heart skipped as she met Mu Xi’s radiant smile.
She wanted nothing more than to walk with Miss Mu Xi—dreamed of it, even.
But reason held her back.
She was the estate’s manager and guard, tasked with its safety, not with strolling through gardens with Mu Xi.
And then there were Ye Lan’s orders…
Li Xin suppressed the flutter in her chest, keeping her tone respectful yet distant.
“Miss Mu Xi, you’re esteemed. Lingering in the garden at night, you might catch a chill. I’d be accountable to the Master.”
Mu Xi tilted her head, her silver hair swaying like liquid moonlight, making her look even more delicate and enchanting.
“But my room’s so stifling,” she said, her voice soft and teasing.
“And… Sister Li Xin, just call me Mu Xi. ‘Miss’ feels so formal.”
She closed the distance, her sweet, fragrant presence almost brushing against Li Xin.
Li Xin stiffened, a strange current racing through her.
Mu Xi’s sweet scent, mingling with the garden’s floral aroma, was a deadly temptation, unsteadying her breath.
‘Sister?’
The word brushed against Li Xin’s heart like a feather, soft and tickling, cracking the iron walls of her resolve.