Mu Xi seemed to see right through Li Xin’s thoughts, a faint smile curling her lips, her eyes glinting with a trace of mischief.
Instead of pulling back, she kept the water bottle extended, her voice tinged with a playful pout.
“Oh, come on, Sister Li Xin, just take a sip! Look, I’ve already had some, and I can’t finish the rest alone. It’d be such a waste.”
She gave the bottle a gentle shake, the clear water rippling inside, its soft sloshing like a silent siren call to Li Xin.
Li Xin met Mu Xi’s insistent gaze, her heart caught in a fleeting tug-of-war.
Mu Xi had put it like that—would refusing seem too cold, too distant?
And… truth be told, she desperately wanted to drink from that bottle.
Even an indirect touch felt like it could quench a quiet longing within her.
In the end, desire overpowered restraint.
Taking a deep breath, Li Xin reached out and took the bottle from Mu Xi’s hand.
Her fingertips brushed against Mu Xi’s soft skin, a jolt like electricity sparking through her, making her tremble.
Lowering her head, she brought the bottle to her lips, where Mu Xi had just drunk, and took a cautious sip.
The cool mineral water slid down her throat, carrying a faint sweetness, as if laced with the lingering fragrance of Mu Xi’s lips.
Her heartbeat quickened, her cheeks burning hotter.
Mu Xi watched Li Xin’s hesitant movements, a soft chuckle escaping her lips, her tone teasing yet warm.
“Sister Li Xin, you’re so careful even drinking water—like a little kitten. It’s adorable.”
Li Xin’s discomfort deepened at Mu Xi’s words, her ears flushing crimson.
She had always prided herself on her composure, her near-ruthless professionalism as the manor’s overseer, the foundation of her place at Ye Lan’s side.
But in Mu Xi’s presence, that composure crumbled, leaving her defenseless.
She knew the strange affection she harbored for Mu Xi was instinct, raw and unbidden.
Yet she hadn’t anticipated how it would blaze like wildfire, consuming her reason.
It was no longer mere admiration but an obsession, wild and unrelenting, like vines twisting through her heart, choking her breath.
She wanted to speak, to explain away her faltering composure or perhaps to hold onto the delicate intimacy of the moment.
But Mu Xi, as if sensing her inner turmoil, let a sly spark dance in her luminous eyes.
Before Li Xin could find words, Mu Xi stood, her voice light and breezy.
“It’s getting late. I should head back.”
Li Xin’s throat tightened, her unspoken words lodging there, reduced to a silent sigh.
She escorted Mu Xi back to the depths of the manor, to the gilded cage that was her room.
At the threshold of Mu Xi’s door, Li Xin stared at the closed barrier, a wall between two worlds.
Inside was Mu Xi, the woman who haunted her dreams.
Outside was Li Xin, a guard bound by duty and reason.
As Mu Xi’s figure vanished behind the door, Li Xin’s gaze lingered.
Her fingers absently traced the spot where they’d brushed Mu Xi’s sleeve, her senses clinging to the faint, sweet scent—cream mingled with some elusive floral note, intoxicating and overwhelming.
Her heart still pounded, a relentless drumbeat threatening to break free.
Mu Xi pushed open her door, and a cloying sweetness enveloped her, wrinkling her brow.
The room was a sea of pink, from the crystal chandelier dangling above to the plush carpet underfoot, to the cartoon-patterned wallpaper.
Every detail was a meticulously crafted dreamscape, beautiful yet unreal.
Ye Lan lounged on the massive heart-shaped bed, silk sheets slipping to reveal the elegant curve of her shoulders.
She was flipping through a thick, leather-bound book, only looking up when she heard Mu Xi enter, her gaze settling on her with quiet intensity.
“Back already?” Ye Lan’s voice was casual, but there was an undercurrent of scrutiny.
Mu Xi nodded obediently, gliding to the bedside like a docile cat curling up beside Ye Lan.
“Yes, Master.”
Ye Lan set the book aside, her slender fingers weaving gently through Mu Xi’s silver hair, her touch tender but her eyes probing.
“What did you and Li Xin talk about? You were gone for a while.”
Mu Xi’s heart skipped, sensing the real question beneath the words.
She adjusted her expression, letting an innocent, girlish charm color her voice.
“Oh, nothing much, just chatting. Sister Li Xin’s nice, but… a bit too serious, don’t you think?”
She paused deliberately, watching Ye Lan’s reaction.
Ye Lan’s gaze remained unreadable, urging Mu Xi to tread carefully.
“Serious, hm?” Ye Lan’s lips curved into a playful smirk, her fingers lightly pinching Mu Xi’s cheek.
“I’d say Li Xin seems… unusually attentive toward you.”
Mu Xi cursed inwardly—’sly fox’—but kept her smile guileless.
“Oh, come on, Master, you’re overthinking it. Sister Li Xin’s just… polite, that’s all.”
Ye Lan’s eyes sharpened.
“I asked you to test her loyalty. How did it go?”
Mu Xi feigned thoughtfulness, choosing her words with care.
“Well… I tried getting a little closer to her…”
A blush crept onto her cheeks, her voice turning shy.
“I offered her some water, and… she drank it.”
Ye Lan raised a brow, clearly unimpressed.
“That’s it?”
Mu Xi nodded quickly, her tone firm.
“Yes, that’s all. Sister Li Xin seems… distant, like she doesn’t let people get too close. Very restrained.”
She watched Ye Lan’s expression closely, adding, “I think her loyalty to you, Master, is unshakable. Nothing could sway her.”
Her words were half-truth, half-strategy.
She could feel Li Xin’s devotion to Ye Lan, a bone-deep allegiance that wouldn’t bend easily.
But by emphasizing it, Mu Xi hoped to quell Ye Lan’s suspicions and shield Li Xin.
Ye Lan fell silent, her gaze unfathomable.
The room grew still, save for the soft ticking of the cartoon clock on the wall, each second echoing in Mu Xi’s chest, stirring a quiet unease.
“Loyal, is she?” Ye Lan’s sudden chuckle broke the silence, her tone laced with meaning.
“Good. I do love loyal… pets.”
Her hand reached out, fingers grazing Mu Xi’s cheek, their coolness tracing her soft skin.
“But remember, Mu Xi—loyalty can be tested. The heart is a fickle, fragile thing.”