Clatter—
Mu Yanqing stared blankly for two seconds before picking up the remote control she had dropped. She couldn’t even be bothered to catch her sister’s embarrassing moment on TV anymore. Her eyes, full of novelty, were fixed on the two people sitting side-by-side on the loveseat, ready to enjoy the show.
Wasn’t it just last night that Yi Wulan’s judgment was clouded by lust for her sister? How did a single night turn it into her sister being sick with longing for Yi Wulan?
Could one become sick with longing in a single night?
Having been fooled by these two for so long, Mu Yanqing couldn’t be bothered to figure out what was really going on between them. She just found the drama incredibly entertaining.
She immediately spoke in a gentle voice, her eyes sizing them up as she couldn’t help but tease, “You really should get that money from Yi Wulan. After all, the charity you did was specifically for her. But… Xiao Xi, didn’t you just say you don’t believe in metaphysics like ghosts and gods?”
Mu Yanxi blinked, then expressionlessly slapped her hands over her eyes, refusing to answer the question.
Mu Yanqing glanced at Yi Wulan, who had yet to speak but remained calm and composed as if she had expected this. She instantly understood something and felt utterly insulted.
A few months ago, when they renegotiated the marriage contract, one had righteously sought her cooperation, promising not to force anything, while the other had staged a grand escape on the very day of the discussion.
After they were married, when she, as a friend and an older sister, showed her concern, one was plagued by illness and repeatedly assured her it was just a partnership, while the other was so unreliable that she felt a bit of pity.
And the result? It turned out one was deeply in love but couldn’t have her, and the other had been admiring her for years, sick with longing.
So, if you two were already like this, what was all that fuss about before?
Is this what couples find fun?
Or was it all an act for her benefit?
Was she so undeserving of a single true word that these two had to act in front of her for so long?
Mu Yanqing didn’t understand, nor did she want to understand this kind of thought process.
If she tried to understand any further, she was afraid her blood pressure would skyrocket.
She shot the two of them a harsh glare and, without another word, strode towards the dining room. The heels of her shoes clacked loudly against the floor, making her sound like she was about to rob the place.
Seeing Mu Yanqing leave, Mu Yanxi finally breathed a sigh of relief.
It was too embarrassing.
Mu Yanxi wished she could give her past self a good slap.
Of all the things to say, why did she have to use that line?
But this was no time for embarrassment. Mu Yanxi turned to Yi Wulan, still wanting to get some of her principal back.
She took a light breath and weakly raised her hands to gesture, “You can negotiate the subsequent construction with my sister. It won’t cost you much. Are you really not going to compensate me a little?”
“Didn’t you seem quite generous when you were burning through money, Miss Mu the Second? Buying such a large piece of land on a whim? And now you’re thinking about asking for money?” Mu Yanqing’s voice came from behind her. She had returned at some point. “Grandma is already downstairs. She’s calling you to eat.”
Yi Wulan stood up, pulling Mu Yanxi up with her. “I’ll have someone finalize the construction plan as soon as possible. It’s too late for this year, but we can announce it before the spring recruitment next year.”
When it came to business, Mu Yanqing’s face grew more serious. “Those children are young, so finding qualified teachers will be a big problem. I’ll have someone handle that part.”
The neglected Mu Yanxi couldn’t take it anymore and said mournfully, “You two, I’m barely not dead from poverty yet. This piece of land cost me a lot of money. Before you use it for free, could you at least ask me first?”
Yes, as expected, no one paid her any attention.
Mu Yanqing walked towards the dining room side-by-side with Yi Wulan. “How about it?”
Yi Wulan nodded. “That’s fine.”
“Then it shouldn’t be a problem for you to repay this initial capital to Xiao Xi, right?” Mu Yanqing smiled, bringing the conversation back to the original point. She said gently, “If neither of us compensates her, who do you think she’ll pester? You, who she sees day in and day out, or me, her sister?”
Yi Wulan could no longer maintain her icy expression. “You…”
Mu Yanqing finally felt she had won a round. She met Yi Wulan’s gaze without blinking. “When she gets angry later, who do you think will have to coax her?”
Seeing the two of them passing the buck back and forth, Mu Yanxi hurried forward and grabbed one with each hand. “Excuse me? You two great presidents? So, my money?”
Yi Wulan finally stopped and asked thoughtfully, “You haven’t signed those documents yet?”
Mu Yanxi paused, instantly realizing Yi Wulan was talking about the assets compiled on the computer.
Normally, she would have signed the documents as soon as she had a free moment. But when she woke up this morning and saw the marks all over Yi Wulan’s shoulders, how could she have had the mind for anything else?
Reminded of this, Mu Yanxi snatched her hand back from Yi Wulan and instead grabbed Mu Yanqing’s arms with both hands. “Elder Sister, my dear sister, don’t be so stingy. I’ll make the decision on this. Our Xinyu Bank isn’t short on that little bit of money. Just transfer the other half to me.”
Mu Yanqing: …
Mu Yanqing looked at Mu Yanxi incredulously for a few moments. “What gives you the right to make that decision?”
Mu Yanxi was very thick-skinned and blurted out, “Good sister, isn’t it just over two billion? I’ll settle things with Yi Wulan privately. Just transfer that half to my card.”
Mu Yanqing pinched Mu Yanxi’s ear, suppressing the urge to roar, “You’ve really gotten bold after getting married, haven’t you? Mu Yanxi, have you no shame?”
Mu Yanxi grinned cheekily at her good sister.
Even if Mu Yanqing were slow, she could sense that there was some secret between these two that she didn’t know about.
She had never intended to let Mu Yanxi suffer a loss. It was a charity that benefited Xinyu Bank, so it could just be processed through the public accounts. Besides, projects like this in cooperation with the government could even get tax breaks.
But now, seeing Mu Yanxi being so protective of Yi Wulan’s money while treating Xinyu Bank’s money like it was nothing, Mu Yanqing took a deep breath and smiled. “Good little sister, have you forgotten that you also own a forty percent stake in Xinyu Bank?”
Mu Yanxi: …Ah, I’m so used to asking for pocket money, I actually forgot about that.
In that case, it seemed that when she asked for money from Xinyu, she was also spending her own money?
“Then… then how about we just forget it?”
Mu Yanqing patted her head with a benevolent look. “Good girl.”
It wasn’t until Mu Yanxi had finished a bowl of soup at the dining table that she suddenly realized…
Oh, right. So after asking for money for so long, in the end, she still willingly paid the bill herself?
That evening, Mu Yanxi and Yi Wulan left the Yi family’s old residence, planning to come back and spend time with the old madam when they had a chance.
The weekend ended, and it was back to the busy work week.
To ensure a smooth contract termination and leave his fans with a memento, Mu Yanche had to be busy organizing a farewell concert for his group recently.
As long as Mu Yanche didn’t return to the country, he wouldn’t have any impact on them. Mu Yanxi didn’t want to worry needlessly, so she focused on her work. Half a month later, her part in the drama 《Peach Blossom Debt》 reached its final scene.
Winter had fully set in in Yuncheng. On the day of her final shoot, a rare snow fell, blanketing even the rooftops in a vast expanse of white.
Mu Yanxi had a good foundation, and her makeup was usually the least time-consuming. Today, however, it took a full hour. Snowy skin and red lips, beautiful fox eyes upturned at the inner and outer corners, and a floral marking dotted at the corner of her eye made her look even more charming and alluring.
Her manager, who was reading her lines and reminding her of things to watch out for, trailed off mid-sentence. Mu Yanxi glanced sideways, a slight smile on her lips as she shot her manager a look. “How is it?”
Mu Yanxi’s face was already striking, and with this rich makeup, a single glance was both beautiful and bewitching. The charm seemed to be soaked into her very bones, completely natural.
Startled back to her senses, the manager nodded and praised, “Beautiful. Our Teacher Mu is the most beautiful.”
Mu Yanxi’s pretense never lasted long. She quickly reverted to her true self. “Then go buy a press release now and hype me up as the number one ancient costume beauty in domestic entertainment.”
Manager: …
The manager said mournfully, “The young ladies in our team have finally gotten a break from overtime, Teacher Mu. They really can’t withstand the siege from so many other celebrities’ teams. Please, have mercy, will you?”
Mu Yanxi feigned disappointment and replied, “What a pity.”
The manager couldn’t bear to crush her spirits and quickly painted a grand picture for her. “But Teacher Mu, as long as you act well and take on more jobs, once you have money and status, I’ll definitely have the team conquer all for you.”
“At least like that Yanche who’s about to return to the country.” The manager casually mentioned a name and sighed with emotion. “When he comes back, I’m afraid the domestic entertainment scene will change completely.”
Mu Yanxi’s gaze, which had been on the mirror, paused. She muttered under her breath, “What’s so great about him.”
“Of course he’s not as good-looking as our Teacher Mu.” The manager was already used to Mu Yanxi’s competitiveness and subconsciously assumed she was just talking about looks. She looked at Mu Yanxi and sighed lightly. “I heard Yanche has a deep background. If his background can let him thrive abroad, he’ll probably be even more formidable when he returns to the country.”
Mu Yanxi grunted in acknowledgment, thinking amusedly: Mu Yanche’s background isn’t deep, but his skin is truly thick.
The manager added another reminder, “Fortunately, you two aren’t on the same path, so there won’t be any conflict. The fans of those male traffic stars can be very fierce.”
Mu Yanxi nodded perfunctorily. As long as Mu Yanche didn’t come looking for trouble, she could also stir up less trouble for the sake of the girls in her studio who worked overtime.
The manager was just making a casual comment. After she finished, she started tidying Mu Yanxi’s costume.
But she never would have imagined that Mu Yanxi and Yanche would actually cross paths, and not only that, but they would become enemies on the very first day of his return.
Of course, that was a story for later.
The director’s team was ready. When Mu Yanxi, with her makeup fully done, walked out, many crew members stopped what they were doing. The expressions on their faces as they looked at her were somewhat astonished. The noisy set instantly quieted down with the falling snow.
The red dress moved with the wind, its vibrant red sleeves and gauze skirt fluttering, making Mu Yanxi’s face appear even more unrestrained and flamboyant. Her every move made people’s gazes sway.
《Peach Blossom Debt》 was a historical political drama about the male lead, Prince Rui, ascending the throne as emperor and his journey with the female lead, the daughter of the Grand Secretary. It adopted a weekly broadcast model, filming and airing simultaneously. The Little Commandery Princess, played by Mu Yanxi, and the second male lead, Prince Qi, were both written off midway through the story.
Prince Qi, as Prince Rui’s elder brother, was originally the most promising candidate for the crown prince position. At the height of his glory, he returned to the capital and met the Little Commandery Princess. Later, however, he was framed for treason by his other brothers and treacherous officials. His supply lines were cut, he was misinformed about the enemy’s movements, and he died in battle on the frontier.
In the early stages, the Little Commandery Princess and Prince Qi met and fell in love. But after learning of Prince Qi’s death, she endured and lay in wait for five long years. Because she came from a military family and the male elders in her family held significant power, she was not bound by as many rules as other ladies from noble houses, and she moved freely among the various prominent families.
In just five years, several influential families in the capital were ruined and destroyed. All the people who died were the treacherous officials who had once framed Prince Qi.
The final scene Mu Yanxi had to film was the one where the Little Commandery Princess, after watching her last enemy beheaded, goes to the tomb of Prince Qi, who was unjustly accused and could not be buried in the imperial mausoleum.
Returning to Prince Qi’s tomb, the Little Commandery Princess shed the blatant flirtatiousness she usually wore on her face and revealed a rare, genuine smile. Her once innocent smile, paired with eyes that had seen the ways of the world, gave her a beauty that was both pure and seductive.
The young woman, dressed in red like a bride, stood amidst the vast white snow. In the silver-clad world, she was the only splash of red, yet she seemed exceptionally empty and lonely.
Snowflakes fell from the June sky, as if recounting the injustice Prince Qi had once suffered.
Snowflakes landed on the Little Commandery Princess’s shoulder, dyeing her dark hair white, but also revealing a strand of white hair hidden within. The snowflakes bloomed on her red dress, exquisitely beautiful and enchanting, yet also on the verge of withering.
The unfulfilled love between the Little Commandery Princess and Prince Qi was so poignant that everyone on set sighed with sorrow. As the scene reached its end, amidst the heavy snow, the Little Commandery Princess’s long hair was blown by the wind. The snow blurred her vision, and when she opened her eyes, the figure of Prince Qi suddenly appeared before her.
It was a final, fleeting hallucination before her death. In the vision, Prince Qi was still gentle and refined, just as he was when they first met, extending his hand to her with high spirits.
For the first time in five years, a true light appeared in the Little Commandery Princess’s eyes, stirring ripples that had long been dormant, before gradually sinking back into deathly stillness.
The warm sun rose again, melting the snow. All that remained on the ground was the Little Commandery Princess, who had passed away with a smile, her hand still tightly clutching a jade pendant from the imperial family.
“Cut—” The director took off his headphones and commented, “Good, pass!”
Mu Yanxi didn’t say a single line of dialogue throughout this scene, but scenes like this were the most difficult to act. She was still immersed in the snow, not yet back to her senses, when her manager came over and wrapped a coat around her.
When Mu Yanxi got up from the snow, she was still a bit dazed. Perhaps influenced by the Little Commandery Princess’s feeling of having no more attachments to this world before her death, she thought of the scene of her own death in her previous life and found it hard to recover.
Although the scene depicted snow in June to tell a story of injustice, outside the drama, it was a real winter. Mu Yanxi had only lain in the snow for a short while, but the melted snow had already seeped into her thin costume.
The manager wrapped the bulky down coat tightly around her and said excitedly in a low voice, “That was a great take. You should have seen the director’s surprised expression. I heard he had originally cleared his schedule to spend the whole day grinding out this scene with you.”
The Little Commandery Princess had schemed for five long years for Prince Qi. Only by seeing her beloved before her death could she find release, which created this poignant and beautiful sense of tragedy.
Mu Yanxi vaguely remembered that she had also seen Yi Wulan before she died in her previous life. After her rebirth, whenever she recalled that scene, she was always puzzled by her own actions at the time. It wasn’t until she finished acting this scene that she understood.
The world consciousness had erased her memories, but it couldn’t erase the deepest feelings in her heart. She could have gone to find Yi Jingming much earlier, but she insisted on waiting until after Yi Wulan arrived before leaving.
Perhaps at that time, she was also like the Little Commandery Princess, waiting for the last ray of light in her subconscious.
After the light, everything would dissipate into the mortal world.
A sharp pain pricked Mu Yanxi’s heart. She clutched her chest and took a moment to recover, figuring it was a side effect of her recent frequent late-night filming. Her power slowly circulated there, quickly erasing the discomfort.
She took some water from her assistant. The water flowed down her throat, suppressing the subtle sense of irritation in her heart.
The little assistant was still looking at Mu Yanxi, hugging her arm and wailing, “You’re so pitiful.”
Mu Yanxi: …The one who died was the Little Commandery Princess, not me. Who are you crying for?
The director hadn’t filmed such a powerfully moving scene in a long time. In his excitement, he waved his hand and hosted a wrap party for Mu Yanxi at the best hotel in the nearby film city.
By the time the wrap party ended, Mu Yanxi had finally escaped the social obligations, but she couldn’t escape her chattering manager. “Teacher Mu?”
When the manager called her so formally, it was usually not good news. Mu Yanxi stared at the scenery outside the car window, pretending not to hear.
The manager beside her called out again, “Teacher Mu? Did you go to some training class? Didn’t your crying scenes used to be…”
“Used to be what?” Mu Yanxi immediately turned her head, her little mouth rattling off a denial, “When have my crying scenes ever been bad?”
The manager reminded her, “Your crying scene in the last school drama was screenshotted and mocked by those black fans for a long time.”
Mu Yanxi was at a loss for words. As an actress who had entered the profession halfway, her acting skills all came from life. She had never experienced any life-or-death campus romance, so of course she couldn’t empathize.
She stubbornly said, “That was the cameraman deliberately filming me ugly.”
The manager: “Mhm, mhm, yes, yes, this time we also have the cameraman to thank for filming you beautifully.”
Mu Yanxi: …
Mu Yanxi retorted through gritted teeth, “Manager Ling, please do not question the acting skills of the virtuous and artistic Teacher Mu.”
“Alright, alright.” The manager grew more and more enthusiastic. “In that case, I’ll go pick a script for you right away. Let’s keep up the good work.”
“Hey, hey, hey, Sister Ling.” Mu Yanxi quickly pressed down on her manager’s hand and just gave up. “I want to rest.”
In any case, she couldn’t jump seamlessly into another production. That would make it seem like her acting skills had taken a nosedive.
The reason she could play this Little Commandery Princess so well was purely by a lucky coincidence.
After all, not everyone could be reborn and experience a life like her previous one. Although it was different from the Little Commandery Princess in the drama, there were still common points to draw from, so the character naturally had an infectious power.
If she immediately switched to another production, she was really worried she would drive her manager mad with anger.
On the weekend, the new weekly episode of 《Peach Blossom Debt》 officially aired.
The male and female leads of 《Peach Blossom Debt》 were both fairly well-known actors, and netizens paid close attention to it. The viewership ratings had always been high.
When the cast was first announced, many people online worried that Mu Yanxi wouldn’t be able to play the role of the Little Commandery Princess well. Even her hidden rivals didn’t bother with any anti-hype measures against her. But as 《Peach Blossom Debt》 aired week after week, the negative voices about Mu Yanxi online grew fewer and fewer.
Especially the scenes between Prince Qi and the Little Commandery Princess in the early stages. Although it was only a few short episodes, they completely overshadowed the male and female leads, who were still in their youth, moving many viewers. Mu Yanxi also used this to shut up many of her haters.
However, influenced by stereotypes, netizens still held a negative attitude about Mu Yanxi’s ability to act well in the subsequent plot.
The Little Commandery Princess’s transformation from youthful innocence to wearing a mask for revenge and currying favor, and then shedding her layers of shackles at the last moment of her life, earned a flood of tears amidst a chorus of sighs.
Not only did the content creator who had posted about liking Mu Yanxi’s ancient costumes during the cast announcement speak up, but a large number of other creators with fanbases also stayed up all night to edit clips of her. Whether they had watched the drama or were drawn in by those edited clips, they were all captivated.
Previously, the viewership ratings for 《Peach Blossom Debt》 had consistently ranked first in its time slot, due to various factors like a good script and the support of the main leads’ fans, but it was far from leaving a deep impression on the audience.
But with the death of the Little Commandery Princess, her flawless acting and the injustice of snow in June directly occupied several trending spots. Her topic exploded, catching everyone off guard. For a moment, the comments section blew up:
【Waaaah, I declare this is the Little Commandery Princess of my heart, she’s absolutely amazing, I’m crying my eyes out】
【Crying my eyes out, what a beautiful tragedy】
【I specifically turned off the music to watch. She didn’t say a single word, but her eyes were so expressive, it was as if she was telling Prince Qi everything the Little Commandery Princess had felt all these years. Really, it’s so easy to get immersed】
【《Peach Blossom Debt》 crew, don’t make me kneel and beg you, hand over all the behind-the-scenes sweet moments now】
【I’ve watched the part where the Little Commandery Princess sees Prince Qi in a hallucination before she dies I don’t know how many times. The way her eyes filled with light again made me cry】
Aside from the casual viewers, there were also the black fans, who were late but always arrived:
【What, the little vase is trending? So she hasn’t quit the entertainment industry yet?】
【Ahhhhh who is this beautiful person, let me see, oh, it’s the little vase, never mind, everyone disperse】
【Where did this little vase go for advanced studies? Daddy is very pleased with you. At least I don’t have to watch your hideously ugly crying anymore】
【Helping with anti-black, 10,000 per post, price increases after the deadline】
【I don’t believe you could resist taking pictures while wearing such a beautiful costume, hand them over now】
In the study, after Yi Wulan finished discussing a project with Gu Yan, Gu Yan tentatively reported what was happening online to her.
Yi Wulan replied with a faint ‘I know’ and had Gu Yan approve a project investment fund submitted by Rongjia Entertainment.
After hanging up, Yi Wulan clicked on the trending topics. Perhaps influenced by Mu Yanxi’s emotions in the drama, Yi Wulan remembered Mu Yanxi’s dejected look more than half a month ago when she heard Mu Yanche was returning to the country.
The little ancestor was adept at using smiles to disguise herself. No matter how sad she was in her heart, as long as she refused to say it, her eyes would only reveal a thousand kinds of bewitching affection and endless tenderness.
But when it came to matters concerning Mu Yanche, she would forget to put on her disguise.
In fact, Yi Wulan had only heard rumors about Mu Yanxi’s background and didn’t know the specific details.
After all, it was a secret of the Mu family.
The Yi and Mu families had always been on good terms. Yi Wulan was the same age as Mu Yanqing and had known her since they were children. She knew Mu Yanqing had a younger brother, but Mu Yanqing didn’t seem to get along with him very well. Yi Wulan, who had little familial affection with her own generation in the Yi family, didn’t find it surprising.
It was just that when they occasionally met, she felt the boy’s appearance was quite different from Mu Yanqing’s. Although he was also handsome, he wasn’t as flamboyant. Just like when she searched for Mu Yanche a few days ago, his heavy makeup offstage gave his features a softer look, like a spring breeze.
Yi Wulan paid attention to Mu Yanche, firstly because of Mu Yanqing, and secondly because her grandmother had always wanted to give the Mu family’s marriage alliance to her. At the time, she had no particular feelings for anyone and didn’t pay it much mind.
It wasn’t until college that Mu Yanqing told her that the brother was not biologically related.
Even though she was in a wealthy family and was used to seeing all sorts of things like original wives and mistresses, and had even heard stories of real and fake young masters, she had never encountered something as bizarre as being swapped at birth without even the gender being known.
However, Mu Yanqing clearly preferred the new sister, often praising her for being well-behaved and sensible, and looking like a carbon copy of herself. After hearing it so many times, Yi Wulan also became a little curious.
Later, she returned to her alma mater as an outstanding graduate. On that sunny morning, she met Mu Yanxi for the first time. She was well-behaved and lovely, as pretty and delicate as a porcelain doll.
Even for a long time after that, Mu Yanxi was far from her current unrestrained and flamboyant self. Compared to Mu Yanche, who had been pampered since childhood, she was more like a small animal that had just arrived, bewilderedly adapting to this brand new world.
Actually, the change in Mu Yanxi’s personality was not without warning. Yi Wulan vaguely remembered that during a summer long ago, Mu Yanxi’s gradually livelier personality had already shown faint signs of what was to come.
During the summer vacation after Mu Yanxi’s college entrance exams, she liked to run over to the Yi family every few days.
At that time, she and Mu Yanxi had already been engaged by their elders, and since they were both adults, there was nothing wrong with them spending time together.
It was just that at that time, the previous generation of the Yi family had been fighting for many years. Rongjia was fragmented, and Yi Wulan, as the first of the younger generation to graduate, was inevitably drawn into it.
The summer was scorching, full of life everywhere, but the Yi family was in the final calm before the storm.
Back then, she stayed in her study day and night, busy reorganizing the fragmented Rongjia, busy finding a new path for Rongjia which was being hit hard by emerging industries. Even the old madam didn’t dare to disturb her easily.
But there was one exception.
“Elder Sister Yi? Elder Sister?” Mu Yanxi would always stand in the garden, facing her half-hidden study window, and call out in a small voice.
She thought she was keeping her voice down, but even the old madam on the third floor could hear her clearly.
Yi Wulan didn’t have much time for Mu Yanxi during the day and had the villa’s maids entertain her. Mu Yanxi never complained. It wasn’t until the sky darkened that she dared to avoid the maids and find her way to the study door, a path she knew well.
Her study was always tightly closed, refusing all visitors. To prevent the other branches of the Yi family from causing her trouble, the old madam had forbidden anyone from going to the second floor for a long time.
At that time, Mu Yanxi, with a guilty conscience, didn’t dare to barge in directly. She would only call out softly from outside like a summoning spirit, “Elder Sister? Yi Wulan?”
Yi Wulan wouldn’t really leave her hanging and would go over and open the door.
The little one would immediately push the door open with a smile, obediently choosing a spot to watch her work.
With Mu Yanqing’s deliberate indulgence, plus her engagement to Mu Yanxi, Mu Yanxi had become much bolder than in previous years. After sitting for a short while, she couldn’t help but wander over, completely treating herself as one of the family, and leaned on the opposite side of the desk. “Elder Sister, are you still very busy today?”
Yi Wulan would always grunt in acknowledgment, then return her gaze to the documents.
“I heard that flowers can make people happy, so…” Mu Yanxi wasn’t discouraged. She took out a handful of wild daisies that she had secretly hidden behind her back when she entered and presented them to her with a flourish, fawning over her. “Elder Sister, I picked flowers for you.”
Yi Wulan would always tell Mu Yanxi to put them in the empty space to the side, and Mu Yanxi would seize the opportunity to flash her a sweet smile.
Yi Wulan looked at the large bouquet of wildflowers. At first, she didn’t understand why, with so many beautiful, out-of-season flowers growing in the garden, little Mu Yanxi always favored this type of wildflower.
It wasn’t until many years later, by chance, that she learned the flower’s meaning: love hidden deep in the heart.
Yi Wulan frowned, pulling herself out of her memories and walking towards the master bedroom.
Mu Yanxi had already finished her shower and was lying on the sofa by the bed, scrolling through her phone. After they had bared their hearts at the Yi residence some time ago, the side bedroom was naturally relegated to the cold palace upon their return.
Mu Yanxi’s two legs were flailing wildly on the sofa. The little peacock, having been praised for her acting on Weibo, was feeling light-headed, wishing she could fan her tail feathers on the spot.
Seeing Yi Wulan, she lifted her chin and showed off, “The trending topics today are all praising my acting.”
Yi Wulan sat down gently on the edge of the sofa. Thinking of the netizens’ praise for Mu Yanxi, she reflected for a moment and gave a rare compliment, “You acted very well.”
Mu Yanxi had thought Yi Wulan would just be dismissive like her sister. She was already itching to argue with Yi Wulan.
Who knew Yi Wulan would actually praise her?
The smug expression on her face instantly froze.
Mu Yanxi expressionlessly hid her phone behind her back, but the tips of her ears were already so red they looked like they would bleed.
Mu Yanxi’s skin was extremely thick. Even if she acted terribly in those web dramas and her crying scenes were exaggerated, she probably wouldn’t even blush. Her experiences in two lifetimes had long made her indifferent to others’ opinions.
But the thought that Yi Wulan had actually seen those over-the-top clips hyped up by marketing accounts made the usually shameless Mu Yanxi suddenly feel the tension of being scrutinized.
Fortunately, Yi Wulan didn’t ask further and just changed the subject. “I’m going to the hospital for a check-up at the beginning of the month. Will you come with me?”
It was a rare non-commanding tone. Mu Yanxi raised an eyebrow, and suddenly it didn’t feel so embarrassing anymore. She said with feigned profundity, “But Teacher Mu is very busy right now. You saw how much those fans on Weibo love me.”
Yi Wulan retorted, “The kind of love where they ask you for money to fight your black fans?”
Mu Yanxi: …
Waaaah—you even saw that?
Mu Yanxi suddenly felt like all her secrets had been exposed.
But Mu Yanxi was a skilled actress. Since it had come to this, she didn’t plan to bury her head in the sand any longer. She simply smiled brightly at Yi Wulan and deliberately softened her voice to expose Yi Wulan’s secret, “Did Rongjia Entertainment step in again today?”
As expected, Yi Wulan averted her eyes and said nothing.
Mu Yanxi instantly understood.
She knew it. With her constitution of attracting trolls whenever she made a splash, it made no sense that she saw absolutely no negative comments today.
And so many people had specifically made video edits for her to build momentum.
Mu Yanxi hooked Yi Wulan’s finger and said coquettishly, “I was freezing in the snow today. My legs are still numb. Carry me to bed.”
Yi Wulan glanced down at the legs that had been kicking around vigorously just a moment ago but were now frail and weak. She didn’t reply.
It was obvious the little fox was acting again.
Mu Yanxi’s legs were weak, but her hands were quite strong. She wrapped one arm around Yi Wulan’s neck and poked Yi Wulan’s chest with the other, saying pointedly, “Elder Sister helped me out so much. I have nothing to repay you with but my own body to warm your bed. Are you still not satisfied?”
The more she spoke, the more righteous she sounded, as if Yi Wulan were to say ‘not satisfied,’ she would explode on the spot.
Yi Wulan: …
Yi Wulan was long accustomed to Mu Yanxi’s flirtatious words. She coolly turned to leave.
Mu Yanxi suddenly sighed with a smile, “Forget it. Maybe I should just give my fans money. At least if they take the money, they’ll definitely come and hold… hey.”
Before she could finish, Yi Wulan suddenly picked her up and walked towards the bed with a grim face, not saying a word.
Mu Yanxi was slightly stunned. By the time she reacted, she could no longer hide the smile on her lips.
“Are you that afraid of me finding someone else?” After being placed on the bed, Mu Yanxi clung to Yi Wulan, leaning against her shoulder with a smile. “You know I was just joking.”
“Mm,” Yi Wulan replied, pulling the blanket over Mu Yanxi’s hands and feet, which were already starting to get cold.
Although the temperature in Yuncheng’s winter wasn’t very low, the air was damp, which made it very uncomfortable.
After winter set in, the little peacock Mu Yanxi, who chose style over warmth, was even more susceptible to the cold. Even though she took a bath every night when she came back, it wasn’t very effective. If she slept without the heater on, her feet would be ice-cold by the next morning.
She said she wanted to repay her by warming her bed, but in reality, she had a hidden agenda to warm her hands and feet.
Yi Wulan hesitated for a moment, then suddenly asked, “Why did you give me daisies back then?”
Mu Yanxi was a little confused. At the airport, wasn’t it Yi Wulan who gave her flowers?
Speaking of which, Mu Yanxi wanted to bring up old scores.
Other presidents gave flowers like ninety-nine roses. She didn’t know if Yi Wulan was just frugal, but the flowers she gave were just casually picked from the roadside.
Although, she did quite like the meaning of the flower.
But that didn’t conflict with Miss Mu the Second’s love for extravagance and splendor.
Mu Yanxi was suddenly annoyed. “Can’t you Baidu it?”
Hearing this, Yi Wulan’s gaze deepened as she met Mu Yanxi’s for a few seconds. As if she had figured something out, she suddenly said, “I’m sorry.”
Mu Yanxi, who had been waiting to banter with Yi Wulan, was suddenly startled. “What… what are you apologizing for?”
“Those few years, I didn’t take your feelings into account.”
Mu Yanxi, who already had trouble understanding Yi Wulan’s mind, finally came to her senses in a daze, realizing that Yi Wulan seemed to be talking about the past.
During the four years she was studying in Yancheng, her related memories began to be erased. In truth, she didn’t know how she had suddenly lost contact with Yi Wulan back then.
Now, Yi Wulan taking all the responsibility on herself was indeed the best solution.
However, Mu Yanxi instinctively didn’t want Yi Wulan to take the blame.
She was quiet for a moment, then suddenly leaned close to Yi Wulan’s ear and whispered, “Yi Wulan, I’m about to start lying again.”
Yi Wulan turned her head.
Because of this movement, Mu Yanxi’s lips brushed against the side of Yi Wulan’s face, finally landing on the corner of her lips. The familiar touch made her heart tremble, and she actively pressed closer.
She lingered on Yi Wulan’s lips for a while before stopping, slightly out of breath, and said with a playful smile, “Don’t believe me.”
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