“Li Xin… you… how could you dare to fire the gun?” she asked, choking back her sobs.
She truly couldn’t understand how Li Xin could be so decisive—wasn’t she afraid of accidentally hurting her?
Li Xin gazed at Mu Xi, whose face was streaked with tears like a weeping pear blossom.
Her heart ached deeply.
She reached out and gently wiped away the tears and blood from Mu Xi’s face, speaking softly, “I trust my marksmanship.”
“But…” Mu Xi wanted to say something more, but Li Xin cut her off.
“No buts, Miss Mu Xi. You’re more important than anyone. I have to save you.”
Li Xin’s tone was firm, her eyes holding a gentle warmth that brooked no doubt.
Mu Xi was stunned.
Looking at Li Xin, she suddenly felt that this woman didn’t seem so frightening after all.
“Um… thank you.” Mu Xi murmured, her voice so quiet it was like a mosquito buzzing.
“No need to thank me. This is what I should do.”
As Li Xin spoke, she took off her own coat and draped it over Mu Xi’s shoulders, covering her bloodstained clothes.
“Let’s go back.” Supporting Mu Xi, Li Xin slowly walked her toward the Main Building of the Manor, leaving Wuhen’s corpse lying alone in the sunset, like a forgotten stain.
***
Ten minutes later.
Ye Lan walked into Mu Xi’s room, her eyes instantly landing on Mu Xi.
She looked Mu Xi up and down, her gaze holding a hint of scrutiny, but even more worry.
After confirming that Mu Xi only had some scrapes and no other obvious wounds, Ye Lan finally let out a small sigh of relief.
“Li Xin already told me everything. Are you alright?” Ye Lan walked up to Mu Xi, her tone softening, carrying a rare gentleness.
She reached out and gently stroked Mu Xi’s cheek, her fingertips gliding over the bloodstains on Mu Xi’s face, her touch as careful as if handling a fragile porcelain doll.
Mu Xi tilted her head slightly, avoiding Ye Lan’s touch, her expression still calm and unreadable.
She didn’t answer Ye Lan’s question, just sat there in silence, her silver-white hair cascading over her shoulders, making her seem even more delicate and fragile.
Ye Lan’s hand froze in mid-air.
After a moment, she withdrew it as if nothing had happened, her tone still gentle.
“Don’t be afraid. As long as I’m here, no one can hurt you.”
As she spoke, Ye Lan bent down to carefully examine Mu Xi’s arms and legs, making sure there were no bullet grazes or more serious injuries before finally relaxing completely.
“This really scared me to death. When I heard the gunshot, my heart nearly jumped out of my chest.”
Ye Lan straightened up, patting her chest in an exaggerated manner, trying to lighten the slightly tense atmosphere in the room.
Mu Xi glanced up at Ye Lan, the corners of her lips curving into a faintly mocking smile.
‘Heart jumped out?’ Mu Xi thought Ye Lan wasn’t worried about her safety at all, but rather about how much value she’d lose if something happened to this “pet” of hers.
“Master, you don’t need to worry. I’m fine.”
Mu Xi’s voice was still soft and sweet, deliberately saccharine, betraying no hint of emotion.
Ye Lan seemed not to notice the distance in Mu Xi’s tone.
She smiled in satisfaction and drew closer, gently embracing Mu Xi.
“As long as you’re alright, that’s all that matters.” Ye Lan’s voice carried a barely perceptible tremor, as if she truly had been frightened.
Enclosed in Ye Lan’s arms, Mu Xi could smell the faint fragrance on her, but her heart remained utterly unmoved.
Ye Lan’s embrace was warm and comfortable, yet Mu Xi felt no gratitude, only a trace of revulsion.
She knew all too well that Ye Lan’s “affection” was fake, that she was nothing more than a plaything, a pet to be toyed with at will.
The one who saved her was Li Xin—the woman who, for her sake, had fired the gun without hesitation at the critical moment.
Thinking of this, a complicated mix of emotions welled up in Mu Xi’s heart—gratitude, curiosity, and a faint, indescribable flutter.
“This time, it’s all thanks to Li Xin.” Mu Xi’s voice was soft, but it reached Ye Lan’s ears clearly.
Ye Lan’s body stiffened slightly, her arms tightening around Mu Xi.
She didn’t seem to like Mu Xi mentioning Li Xin, and her tone grew subtly strained.
“Yes, Li Xin is very loyal, and her marksmanship is excellent.”
Mu Xi said nothing, simply leaning quietly in Ye Lan’s arms, her gaze drifting to the window, looking out at the Manor in the sunset.
If she wanted to escape this place, perhaps Li Xin was her only hope.
Ye Lan’s “concern” and “comfort” were nothing but a hollow performance, meaningless to her.
The only thing that truly warmed her heart was Li Xin’s “I trust my marksmanship,” and the coat that still carried the faint scent of gunpowder draped over her shoulders.
***
The next day, Ye Lan announced a new order: the Dungeon’s security level was to be tripled.
At the same time, Mu Xi’s living arrangements were changed.
“From today onward, you’ll be moving to the seventh floor.”
Ye Lan sat on the pink velvet sofa in Mu Xi’s room, absentmindedly twirling a strand of Mu Xi’s silver hair between her fingers, her tone as casual as if discussing the weather.
Mu Xi sat quietly in front of the dressing mirror, letting Ye Lan play with her hair.
Her delicate porcelain-doll face betrayed no emotion at all.
Seventh floor?
The highest floor in the Manor, with the best view.
What new game was Ye Lan playing now?
She didn’t give Mu Xi much time to ponder.
Ye Lan had already risen and signaled the maids to begin packing.
“The room on the seventh floor is bigger and more comfortable—just right for my little princess.” Ye Lan chuckled softly, a trace of amusement hidden in her tone.
The maids moved quickly and efficiently, soon packing up all of Mu Xi’s belongings from her second-floor room.
Mu Xi hugged her beloved little white cat plushie and followed behind the maids, taking the gilded Vintage Elevator as it slowly ascended.
When the elevator doors opened, the sight of the seventh floor greeted her, completely different from the pink decor of the second floor.
What met her eyes was a broad corridor covered by a dark red patterned carpet, the walls lined with deep brown wooden wainscoting, the wall lamps casting a dim yellow glow.
The air was filled with a faint scent of sandalwood—calm and dignified, carrying a sense of heavy history.
The maids led Mu Xi to a heavy, intricately carved wooden door at the end of the corridor.
As they pushed it open, a luxuriously spacious suite unfolded before her eyes.
The room’s main colors were deep ink green and dark gold.
Through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, she could see the entire Manor at a glance.
Gothic pointed windows inlaid with stained glass let the sunlight pour in, casting mottled patterns on the carpet.
In the center of the room stood an enormous bed, its headboard carved with elaborate designs in dark wood.
The bedding was silk in a deep green shade, soft and lustrous.
By the bed lay a massive Persian Carpet, its intricate patterns and thick texture exuding an air of luxury.
In one corner of the room stood an antique Book Desk, its surface smooth as a mirror, with elegant stationery and an open book arranged on top.
Behind the Book Desk stretched an entire wall of bookshelves, packed with all kinds of books, filling the air with a faint scent of paper and ink.
By the window was a comfortable chaise lounge, covered with soft cushions.
Mu Xi walked over and lightly stroked the velvet fabric, cool and delicate to the touch.
The whole room was decorated in a steady, grand style, full of classical charm, perfectly matching the overall atmosphere of the Manor.
There wasn’t a single trace of pink—worlds apart from the overly saccharine room on the second floor.
Standing in the center of the room, Mu Xi looked around, a strange feeling flickering through her heart.
Ye Lan had suddenly moved her from the second floor to the seventh, and changed her to such a completely different style of room—what was the true reason behind all this?
Was it really just to make her more “comfortable”?
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