I Am Her Secret Beauty - Chapter 16

Mu Xi was the first to react. She immediately realized that her face had once again caused trouble. The friend of Nan Xi standing before her must have met that person from the past, which was why she had mistaken her for someone else.

Yes, that person, also named Mu Xi, also with this face, an alpha…

She wanted to explain to Tong An’an that she wasn’t that person, but the moment she opened her mouth, Nan Xi raised a hand to stop her.

Nan Xi stared at Tong An’an, both startled and overjoyed. The way Tong An’an looked as if she’d seen a ghost felt strangely familiar to her, like a drifting duckweed suddenly finding an entire pond of lotus flowers.

Eagerly, she asked, “You still remember her?”

Tong An’an turned to Nan Xi, her expression making it seem as though Nan Xi was also a ghost.

“How… how could I forget?” Tong An’an lowered her voice, a mix of pity and frustration as she pulled Nan Xi aside. “Even though I was away on exchange back then, I was furious when I heard the news! Nan Xi, have you really thought this through? Getting back together with that scumbag alpha who just up and left without a word…”

The striking face in front of the luxury car instantly brought back memories from five years ago.

Before Tong An’an left for her exchange program, Nan Xi and Mu Xi had been deeply in love, and the few friends around them were all happy for the couple. But not long after she left, news broke that Mu Xi had disappeared.

At the time, Tong An’an would rather have believed Mu Xi had fallen into a river than accept that she had abandoned Nan Xi and vanished without a trace.

Those two had been so good together, so in love, how could Mu Xi just disappear without any warning?

But later, Nan Xi was so heartbroken that she immediately went abroad. By the time Tong An’an returned to A University, everyone around her had sealed their lips about the incident, acting as if nothing had ever happened. Left with no choice, she, too, had to accept it and remain silent.

The more Tong An’an thought about it, the angrier she became, especially now that they seemed to have gotten back together.

With Nan Xi’s qualities, what kind of alpha couldn’t she find? Sure, Mu Xi was talented, but she had no family background to speak of. How dare she treat Nan Xi like that? And how could Nan Xi still take her back…

Oh no. Had she stumbled upon the ultimate love-struck fool?

As Tong An’an’s expression grew increasingly furious, her almond-shaped eyes blazing with anger as if she were about to storm over and slap Mu Xi twice.

Mu Xi heard every word and saw the resentment in her gaze when she looked at Nan Xi. For the sake of the young lady’s dignity, as well as her own reputation and personal safety,

She decided to speak up.

“Madam, you’ve misunderstood. I am Mu Xi, the butler of Miss Nan Xi, not the person you think I am…”

That person…?

Mu Xi wasn’t entirely sure how to define that person’s identity, especially with Nan Xi standing right there, her feelings toward that individual still ambiguous.

Thinking of Nan Xi, Mu Xi stole a glance at her. She didn’t seem displeased by Mu Xi’s insistence on speaking up, lost in thought with her head lowered, barely paying attention to the exchange.

Seizing the opportunity, Mu Xi quickly added, “This is the first time I’ve met the young lady this year.”

Actually, it was this month.

Once again, Tong An’an found herself utterly confused.

She looked back and forth between the pensive Nan Xi and the earnest, humble Mu Xi, her gaze shifting several times.

Suddenly, it all clicked for her. In her excitement, she momentarily forgot Nan Xi’s aversion to physical contact and gave her a pat on the shoulder:

“So that’s how it is! Nan Xi, you’re something else! Wow, you really know how to play the game!”

Mu Xi was stunned.

Nan Xi was also startled by the sudden contact: “Senior Tong An, what do you mean?”

“Ah, I get it, a stand-in, right?” Tong An’an grinned slyly, her admiration for Nan Xi growing threefold. “No worries, since your family’s paying their salary, you can play however you want.”

Honestly, Nan Xi was full of surprises. She had seemed like a delicate, sheltered omega, but who knew she’d be so bold as to rename her butler “Mu Xi.”

Well, maybe not rename, more like a codename, a codename.

As for the face, Nan Xi could easily afford to have someone get plastic surgery to match. That scumbag Mu Xi might be trash, but having someone else wear her face was no loss. What a lucky butler, getting to benefit like this at work.

To have the person she hated most by her side, at her beck and call, even chauffeuring her to meals, what greater humiliation could there be? On one hand, it made up for the emotional wounds, and on the other, it helped desensitize her. Maybe Nan Xi would move on from that relationship in no time.

Two birds with one stone!

No matter how hard Nan Xi and Mu Xi racked their brains, they’d never guess the full-blown yandere revenge drama Tong An’an had just concocted in her mind.

The two could only stand there dumbfounded as they watched Tong An’an walk away, waving and saying:

“I won’t bother you two anymore…”

Young Miss…

What kind of people does she associate with?

Mu Xi said stiffly, “Young Miss, I already explained my identity to her. I don’t know why she reacted like that. My apologies.”

“…” Nan Xi smoothed her hair, sounding resigned. “It’s fine. I don’t know what she meant either. Let’s go.”

Mu Xi opened the car door for Nan Xi, who got into the back seat.

On the way back, Nan Xi no longer stared at Mu Xi. Instead, it was Mu Xi who kept glancing at her in the rearview mirror.

Tong An’an had brought up Nan Xi’s painful past, and Mu Xi worried she might be upset.

But Nan Xi didn’t show any signs of “melancholy,” “sulking,” or “brooding.” In fact, Mu Xi thought she seemed almost happy, though she had no idea why.

“Butler Mu,” Nan Xi’s voice suddenly cut in, laced with a barely detectable amusement, “won’t it be dangerous if you keep looking in the rearview mirror while driving?”

Mu Xi flushed with shame. After apologizing to Nan Xi, she focused entirely on the road, driving straight back to the Nan residence without another distraction.

Once they arrived and Nan Xi stepped out of the car, Mu Xi apologized again: “I’m sorry, Young Miss. I shouldn’t have been distracted while driving.”

“Hmm, a few glances don’t really count as being distracted. It’s fine.”

Just like that, Nan Xi casually dismissed her earlier remark in the car.

“Ah.”

Mu Xi stared at her blankly, the expression of someone who’d just been played.

Nan Xi, in high spirits, explained: “I only said that because I didn’t want you peeking at me anymore. Have some self-awareness, Butler Mu, you’ve got the face of a sinner.”

A sinner…

“But Young Miss doesn’t seem to treat her like one,” Mu Xi blurted out without thinking.

After these words were spoken, Nan Xi’s expression darkened instantly. No matter how bright the garden lights were, it was hard to see just how displeased she was.

Mu Xi regretted letting the words slip and immediately began bowing in apology, attempting to explain herself: “I’m sorry, Miss. Since my work hours have already ended today and I’m about to go on leave, I let my guard down for a moment. Please forgive me.”

“It’s fine.”

Nan Xi coldly spat out these three words, then took a step toward Mu Xi. The sharp click of her expensive leather shoes against the ground echoed clearly in the quiet air, reaching Mu Xi unmistakably.

Nan Xi looked up into Mu Xi’s eyes from below, her gaze leaving no room for argument or debate:

“However, it seems to me that Butler Mu has some misunderstandings about me.”

“What…?” Was it about that comment about being a sinner?

Though Mu Xi couldn’t possibly say it out loud now, she truly always felt that, judging by how Nan Xi treated her, Nan Xi still deeply missed that person from the past. It was likely she hadn’t let go even once in these five years.

Nan Xi just refused to admit it, even if that person had done something truly terrible to her.

Leaving without a word.

When Mu Xi heard Tong An’an mention it, she couldn’t help but wonder just how happy Nan Xi and that person had been together, to love so deeply that she could forgive even something like this and continue to hold onto the memories.

“Butler Mu, I believe you’re provoking me.” Nan Xi kept her eyes fixed on her, not missing even the slightest change in expression. Now, she narrowed her eyes slightly, making Mu Xi inexplicably uneasy. “I suppose I should make this clear to you once and for all.”

“As for Mu Xi,” Nan Xi said, clearly referring to that ex-girlfriend Mu Xi.

“I loathe her to the bone.”

“These past five years, I’ve hated her every single moment. I hate her.”

“If she were to appear before me now… I’d want to ask her.” Nan Xi paused here, but her eyes never left Mu Xi’s. “…Why did you leave back then?”

“Huh?” Mu Xi felt something was off.

Shouldn’t it be something like, “I’ll stab you to death,” or “Get lost if you want to live”?

Noticing Mu Xi’s skepticism, Nan Xi gave her a look to tell her to stay calm, then continued, “Since you left, don’t ever come back. I wish I could print your photo in black and white, hang it on the wall, and burn incense for it.”

As Nan Xi spoke, her tone and expression were venomous in a way Mu Xi had never seen before.

It was as if her words were laced with poison, or soaked in ice water, a bone-chilling coldness that made Mu Xi shiver inexplicably, even though she had done nothing wrong.

“…I understand, Miss. I won’t misunderstand again.”

Nan Xi relaxed slightly, lowering her head and taking two steps back, rubbing her sore neck from having looked up for so long.

Mu Xi said, “Let’s go inside, Miss. You should rest early.”

Nan Xi remained standing in place, still massaging her neck. Left with no other choice, Mu Xi had no choice but to stand with her in the garden.

The summer night outdoors wasn’t cold. A warm breeze brushed through their hair, pleasant and soothing, no wonder Nan Xi didn’t want to go back just yet.

Besides, the vibrant flowers around them took on a different charm under the night sky, though the mosquitoes lurking in the shadows were a bit of a concern.

Finally, Nan Xi took a step toward the house, and Mu Xi followed behind her.

After taking just a few steps, Nan Xi suddenly stopped, causing Mu Xi to nearly bump into her back.

She turned around, suddenly recalling the key point in Mu Xi’s earlier words: “You said you’re taking leave? When?”

“Yes. During my leave, the task of driving the young miss to and from work will be properly arranged and handed over to another driver.” Mu Xi smiled, though her tone carried a hint of awkwardness. “Because… my sensitive period is approaching, um, probably in just a few days, so I have to take leave.”

Right, Mu Xi had mentioned before that her sensitive period was still over ten days away. Now that several more days had passed, it was about time.

Nan Xi nodded and turned back to continue walking toward the door, but an inexplicable glint flashed in her eyes.

So, Mu Xi dared to provoke her, questioning her attitude toward her, huh?

Well, there would be a price to pay for that.

Though she had already planned to do it anyway.