Li Xin quietly watched Mu Xi without speaking, and the atmosphere in the room grew somewhat heavy.
Only the rustling sound of leaves stirred by the night breeze outside the window echoed clearly in the silent room.
Mu Xi didn’t rush her; she knew Li Xin was thinking.
She needed to give Li Xin time—to slowly let down her guard, to see her true thoughts, and to realize that there might be more possibilities between them.
After a moment, Li Xin finally spoke, her voice low and deliberate, “You are different from others, Miss Mu Xi.”
“How am I different?” Mu Xi asked curiously, a hint of anticipation in her eyes.
She wanted to know what kind of person she was in Li Xin’s eyes.
Li Xin fell silent again, seemingly choosing her words carefully.
Her gaze was deep and complex, as if looking beyond Mu Xi’s body to something deeper.
“You’re special.” Li Xin finally said this ambiguous sentence, but her tone was more serious than before.
Mu Xi felt a slight stir in her heart; she knew Li Xin’s words were not perfunctory.
She could feel Li Xin’s attention, that focused and subtle gaze, stirring an unfamiliar feeling in her heart.
“Special?” Mu Xi chuckled softly, her tone laced with self-mockery, “Maybe special enough to be treated like a pet by the Master—soaking in Medicine Baths every day and having to eat strange candies.”
She deliberately mentioned the Throat Lozenges to see Li Xin’s reaction.
Li Xin’s eyes flickered slightly but quickly returned to calm.
Of course, she knew exactly what those strange candies were.
She was no stranger to Miss Ye Lan’s methods.
Yet, thinking about Mu Xi having to eat those things every day, a faint and inexplicable irritation welled up in her heart.
“Those are for your own good.” Li Xin said lightly, her tone impossible to read as sincere or otherwise.
“Are they? For my good, or for hers?” Mu Xi’s eyes sharpened as she stared at Li Xin, her voice carrying a subtle edge of challenge.
She wanted to pry open Li Xin’s heart to see what lay beneath her cold exterior.
Li Xin fully understood Mu Xi’s dislike for these things.
Those so-called Medicine Baths and strange candies were just tools used by Miss Ye Lan to control Mu Xi.
As Miss Ye Lan’s subordinate, Li Xin’s duty was to obey orders and protect the Manor, and Mu Xi was one of the protected.
Logically, she should defend Miss Ye Lan’s methods—at least on the surface.
But looking at Mu Xi’s slightly mocking gaze, hearing the seemingly joking but subtly pleading tone, the string named “loyalty” inside Li Xin’s heart began to tremble faintly.
She remained silent, her eyes complexly fixed on Mu Xi’s delicate face.
Beneath that porcelain doll exterior, what kind of soul was hidden?
Was she really just a captive Golden Canary?
Or was she still struggling to break free from her cage, seeking freedom?
“For my own good?” Mu Xi repeated softly, her voice trembling almost imperceptibly, “Miss Li Xin, do you really believe that?”
Li Xin looked up and met Mu Xi’s clear eyes that seemed to see through her heart.
She could feel the probing in Mu Xi’s words, and beneath that probing, a fragile hope.
“I…” Li Xin hesitated, her voice low, “I’m just following orders.”
It was the truth, but it sounded pale and powerless.
Mu Xi sighed lightly, a bitter smile tugging at the corners of her mouth, “I know. You’re all just following orders.”
She lowered her gaze slightly, long lashes casting faint shadows on her eyelids. Her voice dropped to a whisper, as if talking to herself, “But being treated like a pet… it’s really… awful.”
Li Xin saw the trace of loneliness on Mu Xi’s face and suddenly felt an inexplicable emotion welling up.
It was a kind of pity, an impulse to protect her, even mixed with a faint anger she hardly noticed—anger at Miss Ye Lan for treating Mu Xi like a plaything.
“Miss Mu Xi…” Li Xin spoke again, her voice softer and gentler this time, “Sometimes, things are beyond one’s control.”
Mu Xi raised her head, her gaze burning as she stared at Li Xin, “Beyond control? Or… unwilling to face it?”
Her words carried a sharpness, like a small knife, gently probing Li Xin’s innermost heart.
Li Xin was silent.
Mu Xi’s words left her with no defense.
She could face it—given her abilities, if she truly wanted something, Miss Ye Lan wouldn’t be able to fully control it.
But she chose loyalty.
She chose obedience.
Was this choice truly from her heart?
Or was it simply habit, fear, or long-term dependence on Miss Ye Lan?
Mu Xi watched Li Xin’s silence and smiled inwardly.
‘Good. The first step was already successful.’
What she needed to do next was to continue dismantling Li Xin’s defenses, to let her see her true thoughts, to make her understand that between them, there could be more possibilities.
“Forget it.” Mu Xi suddenly laughed softly, her tone lightening as if the earlier questioning had been a joke, “Don’t mind what I said. I know Miss Li Xin only means well. At least, the Medicine Baths are quite comfortable, and the candies… are pretty sweet.”
She deliberately spoke with a carefree tone, as if truly indifferent to those matters.
“Thank you, Miss Li Xin, for talking with me so much.”
Li Xin looked at Mu Xi’s sudden change in attitude, somewhat taken aback.
She had thought Mu Xi would keep pressing, but instead, she suddenly changed the subject and spoke in such a relaxed tone.
This shift made Li Xin even more uncertain of Mu Xi’s thoughts.
“You’re welcome,” Li Xin said lightly, though inside, Mu Xi’s sudden “consideration” stirred an unfamiliar emotion.
She felt as if Mu Xi had played a trick on her again.
But this feeling didn’t annoy her; it was… interesting.
Mu Xi smiled at Li Xin, then fell silent.
The room quieted again, only the occasional sound of wind outside.
Such silence was normal between them; it often happened during their time together.
There seemed to be an invisible thread pulling between them, subtle and complex.
After a while, Mu Xi raised her hand and gently touched her chest, fingertips feeling the softness beneath the silk nightgown.
The effects of the Medicine Bath seemed more apparent again.
She turned to look at Li Xin, her eyes searching, “Li Xin, have you noticed… it seems a bit bigger here recently?”
Li Xin had been standing by the window, her gaze resting on the Manor’s scenery.
Hearing Mu Xi’s question, she slowly turned.
Her eyes briefly landed on Mu Xi’s chest, then quickly looked away, returning to calm.
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