I Am Her Secret Beauty - Chapter 41

Time slipped quietly through the gaps between their palms and the world. Mu Xi and Nan Xi’s clandestine relationship gradually stabilized, and they continued their secret affair for several more months. Though neither had yet uttered the word “like,” both found solace in this illicit bond.

After receiving a call from Nan Xi, Nan Lian returned home to speak with Nan Zhiya, but the outcome was an even longer absence from home.

Xiao Ji secretly informed Mu Xi that she had heard the sound of objects being thrown in the study that afternoon. When the young lady left the study, she was clutching her arm, which seemed to be injured.

It appeared to have been an unpleasant conversation.

Apart from Nan Lian, however, the relationships among the other members of the Nan family grew much more harmonious. After Nan Xi openly expressed her thoughts, they interacted more comfortably with one another.

This only made Nan Lian, who remained detached from the rest, seem even more out of place.

One day, Mu Xi led the servants in setting up lunch on the dining table. Once everything was ready, she invited everyone downstairs.

As Nan Xi passed by Mu Xi, she walked straight ahead without a glance, but her fingertips subtly brushed against the back of Mu Xi’s hand, which hung at her side. To anyone else, it would have seemed like an accidental touch.

Only Mu Xi understood the meaning. A faint warmth spread across her cheeks, but she maintained her composure, continuing to stand at the entrance of the dining room to greet the others. She carried out her duties as usual, serving and attending to everyone, listening to their casual chatter during the meal.

After lunch, Mu Xi gave a few brief instructions to the servants before leaving the dining room and returning to her butler’s quarters.

Nan Xi was waiting for her there.

A casual physical touch symbolized one’s longing for the other. What followed was a brief, secret rendezvous, a few moments of intimacy to satisfy their craving before parting ways once more.

So far, it had always been Nan Xi who initiated these touches, but Mu Xi was more than happy to play along.

As soon as Mu Xi entered the room, Nan Xi, who had been waiting behind the door, eagerly closed it and threw herself into Mu Xi’s arms, wrapping her legs tightly around Mu Xi’s waist.

Time was limited. In such a short span, there was only enough time for a couple of kisses. As Nan Xi pressed her lips to Mu Xi’s and was about to say something, a knock sounded at the door.

Both of them froze. Nan Xi even forgot to disentangle herself from Mu Xi, staring blankly at the door.

Mu Xi was the first to react. Gently setting Nan Xi down with some embarrassment, she cleared her throat to ensure her voice was steady before asking, “What is it?”

“Butler Mu, come quickly! Something’s happened,” an anxious servant’s voice called from outside the door. “The master has fainted.”

Guan Yan fainted?

Mu Xi immediately looked at Nan Xi, whose face had turned pale. She gave Nan Xi’s hand a reassuring squeeze and prepared to step out. “Call Dr. Anna,” she instructed.

Nan Xi retreated further into the room, waiting until Mu Xi had left and the commotion outside had subsided before slipping out of the butler’s quarters.

Everyone had gathered around Guan Yan, so no one noticed Nan Xi’s belated arrival.

For an omega, Guan Yan’s health was not particularly weak, which was why his sudden collapse threw Nan Zhiya into a panic. He clung tightly to Guan Yan, refusing to let go even when the doctor arrived to examine him. It was only after Mu Xi repeatedly urged him that he finally released his hold.

After a brief assessment, Anna said, “Tachycardia. But the master has no prior history of heart conditions.”

“Never before,” Nan Zhiya said urgently. “He gets a physical check-up every month and has never had any heart-related issues, let alone suddenly fainting like today.”

Anna flipped through Guan Yan ‘s medical records hesitantly. “From what we can see now… there doesn’t seem to be any major problem. But just to be safe, it would be best to conduct a more comprehensive examination.”

Of course, Nan Zhiya wouldn’t hesitate to spare time to accompany Guan Yan for the check-up.

She immediately contacted her secretary to cancel all her afternoon appointments and reached out to the director of the best hospital in City A to arrange the finest VIP room for Guan Yan.

Mu Xi couldn’t help but wonder what would happen to the patient originally occupying that room, but it seemed unnecessary to dwell on it, after all, in the world of domineering CEOs, NPCs never mattered.

In any case, Guan Yan was escorted to the hospital in a grand procession, remaining unconscious the entire time.

The best hospitals nationwide were owned by the Wu family. As soon as they arrived, Nan Zhiya was warmly received by the hospital director, Wu Qifu.

She had been waiting with her team for some time and immediately had Guan Yan taken for examination, while also arranging for someone to comfort the family members.

Unfortunately, Nan Zhiya wasn’t in the mood for conversation, so Mu Xi stepped in and exchanged a few words with the consultant on her behalf.

Within ten minutes, Wu Qifu emerged from the examination room and called Nan Zhiya aside privately.

Mu Xi and Nan Xi exchanged glances, both understanding the unspoken meaning in each other’s eyes, before silently turning away.

The consultant quickly tried to smooth things over:

“Well, the hospital maintains strict confidentiality regarding the health conditions of our VIP patients. Generally, only the primary family member is informed of the patient’s specific situation first.”

“Hmm, I think it’s time to call my sister,” Nan Xi sighed, pulling out her phone from her pocket. “Excuse me.”

Mu Xi sat in the lounge, quietly amused, while the clueless Nan Nan looked utterly confused, unable to grasp what everyone else seemed to understand.

Meanwhile, inside the examination room.

Nan Zhiya sat by Guan Yan’s bedside, both exasperated and helpless. Guan Yan hung his head guiltily, though he was fully conscious and even looked rather flushed.

“Regardless of the circumstances, pretending to be sick is something you really shouldn’t do again,” Wu Qifu said awkwardly. “Your family would be extremely worried.”

“I’ll leave the two of you to talk privately. I’ll step out now.”

Nan Zhiya couldn’t bring herself to scold Guan Yan, but her frown never eased. “How did you fake your heart rate?”

“Drank three cups of strong coffee,” Guan Yan murmured, head still lowered. “I’m sorry, Zhiya, for making you worry. I just wanted Nan Lian to come back so the two of you could talk things out properly.”

At the mention of Nan Lian’s name, Nan Zhiya’s expression shifted slightly. “…I was in the wrong about that matter. If my child isn’t willing to forgive me, I’m prepared to accept it.”

“But can you two really cut ties forever?” Guan Yan retorted. “After nearly thirty years of family bonds, it’s not something you can just easily let go of.”

Nan Zhiya fell silent.

She recalled that afternoon, when Nan Lian, the one she had always considered the calmest of her three children, had completely lost control. The vase Nan Lian raised never came down on her; instead, it was smashed against her own arm. Yet, that too felt like a punishment directed at her.

When Nan Lian left, she didn’t say another word to her. Deep down, Nan Zhiya had anticipated this outcome, but when it actually happened, the pain in her heart was still sharp.

Nan Lian fell in love when she was just in her forties, at the peak of her vigor and pride. At that time, she hardly listened to anyone’s advice, which ultimately led to bitter consequences.

Nan Zhiya avoided discussing Nan Lian’s matters. “I’ll call the children in,” she said.

Shortly after, the three people waiting outside entered. Seeing Guan Yan sitting on the bed, seemingly fine, Mu Xi and Nan Xi understood the situation, while Nan Nan widened his eyes and asked, “Dad, are you okay?”

“None of your business,” Guan Yan blushed, turning only to Nan Xi to ask, “Did you call your sister?”

“Yes.”

“Good… Butler, quickly ask the nurse to come in and give me an IV of glucose. If we’re putting on a show, we might as well make it convincing.”

Mu Xi walked out helplessly to carry out the request, still feeling that Guan Yan’s actions were highly inappropriate. When Nan Lian arrived and discovered Guan Yan was feigning illness, it would only fuel her anger further, doing nothing to help reconcile the mother and daughter.

Rather than helping, it felt more like adding to the chaos.

As she approached the nurse’s station, a woman suddenly appeared in her line of sight.

Mu Xi noticed her immediately, even amidst the bustling crowd in the hallway. The woman carried an extraordinary aura, aloof and refined, with frameless glasses and indifferent eyes that quickly locked onto Mu Xi. Most importantly, she looked familiar. Mu Xi knew she had seen her before, at that funeral a few months ago.

Wu Quan changed her original path and walked toward her, the indifference in her eyes seeming almost like an illusion.

She greeted Mu Xi warmly and politely, “Good afternoon, Butler of the Nan family.”

“Hello, my surname is Mu,” Mu Xi replied, shaking hands with her out of courtesy. “Are you working here?”

“I just happened to be here for some business. I heard that Mr. Nan wasn’t feeling well and was here today, so I thought I’d pay him a visit.” Wu Quan gestured. “Shall we go together?”

Wu Quan was also quite tall, standing only half a head shorter than Mu Xi as they walked side by side.

Doctors and nurses in the area greeted Wu Quan as they passed, including Wu Qifu. Though Wu Qifu was clearly older than Wu Quan, he still bowed respectfully when he saw her, to which Wu Quan responded with a slight nod.

Mu Xi felt somewhat uncomfortable.

In truth, Nan Xi would probably be similarly “impolite,” but the two gave off entirely different impressions.

…What does this have to do with Nan Xi? Why am I even thinking of her?

“I should inform you in advance,” Mu Xi lowered her voice and said to Wu Quan. “You might be quite surprised when you see Mr. Guan later, but I hope you can preserve some of his dignity.”

“What do you mean by ‘surprised’?”

Since Wu Quan would find out upon seeing Guan Yan anyway, Mu Xi decided to be honest. “Mr. Guan is feigning illness.”

Expecting Wu Quan to express curiosity about Guan Yan’s reasons for pretending to be sick, Mu Xi was taken aback when Wu Quan let out a disdainful laugh and said, “That’s not surprising. Omegas are always like this.”

Mu Xi didn’t quite understand her meaning. Delving deeper might involve discrimination, so she chose to remain silent for the moment.

Wu Quan, however, turned to look at her. “Don’t you think so?”

“Individual differences shouldn’t be generalized to an entire group. I’ve also met very resilient omegas,” Mu Xi replied tactfully.

“Butler Mu is very polite, though I suspect that’s not what you truly think,” Wu Quan said, pushing her glasses up with a gesture that made Mu Xi pause, the intensity behind the lenses unsettling. “Butler Mu’s rank isn’t low either, is it?”

“…That’s correct.”

Mu Xi sighed inwardly, unable to understand why Wu Quan insisted on speaking ill of Guan Yan in front of her. Perhaps she assumed Mu Xi would naturally resonate with her words.

It wasn’t exactly speaking ill of Guan Yan alone, Wu Quan was attacking the entire omega community. Such people were not uncommon, even in high society. They only married alphas and hoped their children would be alphas as well.

“It’s strange… a high-ranking alpha willingly settling for just being a butler,” Wu Quan remarked casually, taking a jab at the entire profession of butlers.

Mu Xi decided it was best to remain silent. Fortunately, they didn’t have much farther to go before reaching Guan Yan’s hospital room.

Still, her impression of Wu Quan had shifted. At first, she had thought the woman was merely cold, but after these few remarks, Mu Xi realized Wu Quan was less cold and more arrogant toward omegas, toward those she deemed beneath her.

Just as they were about to step into the hospital room, Mu Xi was ready to breathe a sigh of relief when she heard Wu Quan murmur one last sentence beside her:

“You might be interested in our company… S.Life.”