Mu Xi’s heart swelled with quiet triumph.
She had settled on a plan, one she would wield whenever the chance arose.
Unless Ye Lan stood over her, watching every move to ensure she swallowed those bitter pills, Mu Xi would slip them away, hiding them deftly before discarding them into oblivion.
The dense forest beyond the manor’s walls would swallow her secret whole—no one would ever find a trace of those wretched tablets, and she would be spared their torment.
Time slipped by like a fleeting shadow, and soon, night descended.
The sky draped itself over the manor like a vast, inky curtain, heavy and impenetrable.
Only Mu Xi’s room cast a faint glow, a soft blush of pink light seeping through the darkness, delicate as a whisper.
Inside, the space was awash in a dreamlike sea of pink, a princess’s chamber plucked from a fairy tale.
Yet Mu Xi had no heart to savor its saccharine charm.
Curled on the plush expanse of her bed, her pulse thrummed like a war drum, sleep an elusive stranger.
She knew what was coming—who was coming.
Ye Lan, the figure who haunted her thoughts, whose presence brought both dread and an inexplicable pull, was due to return.
Each of Ye Lan’s visits heralded a dance of sweet torment.
Mu Xi preferred to face it with eyes wide open rather than be startled awake by an unexpected touch, her vulnerability laid bare in the haze of dreams.
And so, she waited, tense and alert.
As if summoned by her thoughts, the door creaked open, and Ye Lan glided in.
Fresh from a bath, she wore only a loose towel, its edges clinging to her lithe form, accentuating every curve.
In her hand swung a bulging bag, its contents a mystery that lent her an air of enigma.
Mu Xi sat up, her lips curving into a practiced, docile smile.
“Sister,” she called softly, “you’re back.”
Ye Lan’s nod was one of quiet approval.
She approached the bed, setting the bag down with care before leaning forward to open it.
From within, she drew a fluffy white outfit, complete with cat ears and a tail—adorable yet tinged with a provocative edge that suggested it was anything but innocent.
A playful smirk curled Ye Lan’s lips as she held it up, motioning for Mu Xi to put it on.
A flush of embarrassment warmed Mu Xi’s cheeks, but defiance was not an option.
Obediently, she shed her clothes and slipped into the costume.
The soft fur brushed against her skin, tickling and teasing with every movement.
Ye Lan stood back, arms crossed, her gaze sweeping over Mu Xi with deliberate scrutiny.
Silver hair cascaded over Mu Xi’s shoulders, blending with the snowy cat ears.
Her delicate features glowed under the rosy light, her eyes wide with a mix of innocence and bashfulness.
The sheer pink gown she’d worn was gone, replaced by this feline ensemble that hinted at her form in a way that stirred the imagination.
Clad in the costume, Mu Xi radiated an almost otherworldly charm, her fair skin luminous against the white fur, like a kitten newly transformed into human guise, naive and enchanting.
The ears twitched faintly, as if unaccustomed to their role, and the long tail swayed gently behind her, each motion tugging at the heartstrings.
A flicker of satisfaction gleamed in Ye Lan’s eyes.
With a casual toss, she discarded her towel and climbed onto the bed, reclining against the headboard.
She patted her thigh, beckoning Mu Xi closer.
“Come here,” she said, her voice low and commanding.
“Mimic a cat.”
Mu Xi complied with a soft hum, crawling onto Ye Lan’s lap like an obedient kitten.
Taking a deep breath, she broke into a sweet, playful tune: “Let’s learn to meow together, meow meow meow meow meow~”
Her voice was honeyed, laced with mischief, but it drew a bemused chuckle from Ye Lan.
With a gentle pinch to Mu Xi’s pert nose, Ye Lan shook her head, half-exasperated, half-amused.
“Not singing,” she corrected.
“I meant for you to meow like Uncle kitten.”
Mu Xi winced, rubbing her nose as a faint blush bloomed across its tip.
Blinking up at Ye Lan, she caught the meaning and cleared her throat.
In a soft, syrupy tone, she tried again: “Meow~ Meow~”
The sound was delicate, almost coy, as if a true kitten were purring for attention.
Ye Lan’s lips curved into a tender smile, her heart softening at the sight.
“The medicine’s working well,” she mused, a teasing edge to her voice.
“Your wits seem dulled, just like a real kitten—pure and guileless.”
Mu Xi caught the hidden barb, a spark of indignation flaring within her.
In a flash, she raised her hand and scratched lightly at Ye Lan’s stomach, leaving faint red marks.
Ye Lan flinched, her hand rising instinctively, only to pause as she met Mu Xi’s wide, innocent eyes and that impossibly endearing expression.
Her anger melted away like mist under the sun.
Taking a steadying breath, Ye Lan asked, “Why did you scratch me?”
Mu Xi blinked, her eyes brimming with feigned grievance.
“I’m a kitten now, aren’t I?” she murmured, her voice soft and pleading.
“Kittens do that sometimes~” Her tone dripped with charm, a playful plea for forgiveness, as if she were a mischievous pet seeking her master’s pardon.
Ye Lan’s lingering frustration dissolved into a chuckle.
She pulled Mu Xi into her arms, and the room filled with the warmth of their playful entanglement.
Under the swaying pink light, their shadows merged, breaths mingling in an intimate dance until the night grew still.
At dawn, Mu Xi awoke, her body aching faintly.
Ye Lan, she thought with a mix of exasperation and reluctant admiration, was a force of nature—a bewitching enigma.
Despite her resistance, Mu Xi couldn’t deny the allure of those moments, her body betraying her with its eager response.
It was a sensation both maddening and intoxicating.
Breakfast was a decadent affair of cream cakes and pastries, after which Ye Lan fastened a collar around Mu Xi’s neck and dressed her in a delicate frock.
“It’s a fine day,” Ye Lan said, her tone gentle but firm.
“Let’s take a walk.”
Mu Xi’s heart leaped, though she masked it with a lazy yawn.
Ye Lan led her by the collar, guiding her through a pink-hued corridor and down a grand staircase.
In the foyer, black-clad bodyguards stood like sentinels, their mirrored sunglasses exuding a chilling aura.
Mu Xi’s eyes darted about, mapping her surroundings, plotting paths to freedom.
Beyond the heavy doors lay a garden bursting with vibrant blooms.
The air was thick with floral sweetness, sunlight filtering through leaves to dapple the ground.
A fountain sprayed crystalline arcs, its droplets catching rainbows in the light.
At the garden’s heart stood an elegant white pavilion, surrounded by winding pebble paths and artfully placed rocks.
Mu Xi memorized the layout, searching for any gap in the estate’s defenses.
Ye Lan strolled beside her, their steps unhurried through the sea of flowers.
“Do you like it here?” Ye Lan asked, her fingers brushing Mu Xi’s silver hair.
“I do,” Mu Xi replied, her voice soft, though her eyes scanned the high walls encircling the garden, their tops bristling with barbed wire.
The only exit was the guarded gate, watched by those impassive guards.
Escape seemed a distant dream.
In the pavilion, Ye Lan gently wiped a smear of cream from Mu Xi’s lips, her touch tender.
Mu Xi leaned into it, but her mind churned with plans.
She had to break free from this gilded cage, to reclaim her liberty.
Ye Lan’s gaze sharpened, as if sensing Mu Xi’s distraction.
“What’s on your mind?” she asked, her tone probing.
Mu Xi’s heart skipped, but she flashed a sweet smile.
“Nothing, really,” she said, hoping to quell any suspicion.
“Truly?” Ye Lan’s eyes held hers, deep and searching, as if peering into her soul.
Mu Xi nodded, her expression serene despite the storm within.
Ye Lan said no more, only drew her closer, her embrace both a comfort and a chain.
Tftc!