Ye Lan walked into the bedroom, looking around in satisfaction at her surroundings, then turned to Mu Xi, the corners of her lips curving into a meaningful smile.
“Do you like it here? My little princess.”
“I do.” Mu Xi said it out loud, and she really did mean it in her heart.
After all, compared to that previous “birdcage,” this place was simply heaven.
Ye Lan seemed very pleased with Mu Xi’s answer, the corners of her lips lifting slightly.
“This is your reward.”
‘Reward?’
Mu Xi sneered inwardly, but kept her face expressionless.
“Because you’ve been obedient,” Ye Lan paused, her fingers lightly tracing Mu Xi’s cheek, “and you’re not always thinking about running away anymore.”
“Heh heh…” Mu Xi let out a couple of dry laughs, thinking to herself: ‘Auntie, it’s only because I haven’t found a chance yet!’
Ye Lan seemed to see right through her thoughts, but didn’t call her out on it.
Instead, she simply pulled her into her arms and kissed her deeply.
After a round of entanglement, Ye Lan finally let her go, still reluctant to part.
“It’ll be the end of the month soon.” Ye Lan’s voice was low and hoarse, tinged with the lazy aftertaste of passion.
Mu Xi blinked, waiting for her to go on.
“The Guests will be staying at the Manor soon, and all the rooms on the lower floor are taken, including your old Bedroom.”
Ye Lan looked at Mu Xi, her gaze carrying an inexplicable meaning.
“So, that’s why I moved you here.”
Mu Xi had already guessed as much.
After all, Ye Lan wasn’t some good Samaritan; how could she treat her so well for no reason?
***
In the afternoon, Mu Xi went to the Practice Room again.
She sat down in front of the Steinway Piano, her fingers stiff on the keys.
Taking a deep breath, she tried to focus her mind.
Ling Yue was already there, the purple cheongsam accentuating her tall, elegant figure.
She stood like an iceberg, exuding an aura that warned strangers to keep their distance.
Every time Mu Xi saw Ling Yue, she felt like a mouse facing a cat, instinctively fearful.
“Let’s begin.” Ling Yue’s voice was still as cold as ever, betraying no emotion.
Mu Xi nodded, her fingertips touching the keys as notes slowly flowed out.
She tried her best to recall the techniques Ling Yue had taught, striving to make every note accurate and full.
However, the more she tried to concentrate, the heavier the pressure became.
The matter with the Guests weighed on her chest like a huge boulder, making it hard to breathe.
If she didn’t perform well, what awaited her would be Hellish Torment.
Her fingertips began to tremble.
She accidentally played a wrong note, and the jarring sound was especially harsh in the empty Practice Room.
Ling Yue’s brows knitted slightly.
She walked up beside Mu Xi, her tone growing sterner: “Focus! The Guests will arrive soon. Do you want them to see you make a fool of yourself like this?”
Mu Xi bit her lip, knowing Ling Yue was telling the truth.
She wanted to concentrate, but her mind was a mess, like countless ants crawling inside, making it impossible to calm down.
“I—I’ll try my best.” Mu Xi said quietly, adjusting her breath and trying again.
Yet the more nervous she became, the more mistakes she made.
A string of notes came out stumbling and out of tune.
Mu Xi felt a wave of frustration, her fingertips starting to go numb.
Ling Yue seemed to lose patience.
She suddenly reached out, her cold fingers accurately finding Mu Xi’s little cherry through the thin fabric and pinching hard.
“Hiss—” Mu Xi sucked in a sharp breath, her body instantly going rigid.
An indescribable sensation surged through her, abruptly halting the wrong notes she was playing.
“Focus.” Ling Yue’s voice was still icy cold, as if the person who had just done that wasn’t her at all.
“If you still have time for idle thoughts, I don’t mind helping you clear your head.”
Mu Xi’s cheeks flushed red, humiliation roiling in her heart.
She clenched her teeth, desperately pushing down her nerves and looking at the keys again.
After Ling Yue’s little move, Mu Xi actually felt her mind clear up, her attention sharpening.
She took a deep breath and set her fingertips back on the keys.
This time, the notes flowed smoothly and the melody gradually became complete.
Ling Yue nodded slightly, acknowledging Mu Xi’s improvement.
She turned and walked to the lounge area, poured two glasses of water, and handed one to Mu Xi.
Mu Xi accepted the glass, sipping in small mouthfuls, her feelings a tangled mess.
Ling Yue’s “special” guidance, though it left her mortified, was surprisingly effective.
This complicated mix of humiliation and progress left her at a loss for how to face Ling Yue for the moment.
“Thank you… Teacher.” Mu Xi finally managed to thank her, her voice so low it was almost inaudible.
Ling Yue gave her a faint look, saying nothing, just raising her own glass and sipping slowly.
The Practice Room fell silent, with only the soft sound of water and the two women’s faint breathing.
Mu Xi sneaked a glance at Ling Yue, who still wore that icy beauty mask, as if nothing had happened just now.
“Could it be…she really just wanted me to focus?” Mu Xi wondered, feeling both suspicious and a bit resentful.
Simple?
She didn’t believe Ling Yue was some upright paragon.
Anyone Ye Lan invited couldn’t possibly be that simple.
Besides, Ling Yue’s actions just now clearly carried a hint of…playfulness.
‘No, I have to test her.’ Mu Xi made up her mind in secret.
She didn’t want to remain in the dark, a plaything in the hands of these twisted women.
“Ling Yue Teacher,” Mu Xi put down her glass, pretending to ask casually, “how do you think I did today? Did I meet your expectations?”
Ling Yue set down her glass, turned to look at Mu Xi, and a barely noticeable smile flashed in her eyes.
“Not bad, you’ve improved compared to before. But…”
She deliberately paused, keeping Mu Xi in suspense.
Mu Xi’s heart leaped to her throat, nervously waiting for Ling Yue’s next words.
“But your technique is still a bit clumsy, and your emotional expression isn’t quite there yet.”
Ling Yue said slowly, “If you want to present yourself perfectly before the Guests, you’ll need to work even harder.”
Mu Xi secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
It seemed Ling Yue hadn’t noticed her little schemes, only objectively critiquing her performance.
“I’ll keep working hard!” Mu Xi hurried to promise, a glimmer of cunning flashing in her eyes.
“Mm.” Ling Yue nodded, apparently satisfied with Mu Xi’s answer.
“By the way, Ling Yue Teacher,” Mu Xi feigned curiosity, “how did you come up with…that method to help me focus?”
She deliberately emphasized “that method,” closely watching Ling Yue’s expression.
Ling Yue’s face remained unchanged as she replied blandly, “I have specialized teaching methods for each student. There’s no need for you to ask too much.”
Mu Xi was a bit disappointed.
Ling Yue, this old fox, never showed her feelings.
Trying to read her was harder than climbing to the heavens.