I Am Her Secret Beauty - Chapter 57

Mu Xi and Nan Xi drifted in the same ocean of desire.

Waves surged incessantly, indescribable thoughts gradually clamored, then all transformed into turbulent waters, swallowing them whole.

Soon, they were completely submerged, from head to toe, not a single inch of skin spared.

Fortunately, even as they drowned in the deep sea, they held each other’s hands tightly, lest they lose their way.

…

Nan Xi, already sleep-deprived from the previous night, now lay with her eyes tightly shut in the passenger seat, breathing steadily.

Mu Xi dutifully took care of the aftermath. After cleaning up, she carefully redressed Nan Xi in the clothes that had been neatly removed earlier, then dressed herself.

The car, thankfully, hadn’t suffered much. Mu Xi had wisely taken precautions beforehand to avoid soiling the seats, though it had cost her one of her jackets, fortunately, it wasn’t an expensive one.

She left the car parked quietly in the serene woods, gently opened the door, and stepped out for a walk, standing by the small river to breathe in the fresh air.

One of the perks of owning high-end property was that the surrounding environment was always quite pleasant, offering plenty of places to unwind just a short stroll away.

Thanks to Nan Xi, she got to live in such a house at her age.

Mu Xi had only been standing there for ten minutes when her benefactor sent a message. She lowered her head to check:

“Run off after we’re done? Where did you go?”

She replied, “Coming back right away,” and began walking back. Soon, she reached Nan Xi’s car and saw Nan Xi leaning against the window, squinting at her.

Mu Xi didn’t realize how enigmatic she appeared walking against the light, her facial expression unclear, making it hard to discern her mood.

Originally, Mu Xi thought Nan Xi wasn’t the type to easily fret over a lover’s emotions, since it was all too easy to be infatuated with her.

But as she circled to the driver’s side and got into the car, Nan Xi suddenly spoke:

“You know, I was actually really afraid, afraid that you left because you were dissatisfied with me.”

“Hmm?” Mu Xi blinked slowly. “I don’t understand. If my personality hasn’t changed, then if there was something I wasn’t happy about, I’d probably try to bring it up and resolve it.”

Besides, what could Nan Xi possibly do to dissatisfy her? The fact that Nan Xi even took a liking to her was something to be grateful for, how could she dare be dissatisfied with Nan Xi?

Nan Xi shook her head, hugging the black garment in her arms as if lost in some memory.

By now, Mu Xi had grown somewhat accustomed to the presence of that garment, telling herself to just avoid looking at it too much.

…It was still difficult, though. To disdain it after using it would seem utterly ungrateful. How was she supposed to coexist harmoniously with it?

Just then, Nan Xi spoke again: “Because it’s something too embarrassing to talk about, so if you felt too awkward to say it and just left instead, that’s also a possibility.”

Mu Xi was initially baffled, but somehow, as she watched Nan Xi lost in thought while holding that garment, a sudden flash of insight struck her, and a bold idea popped into her head:

“This embarrassing thing you’re talking about… it couldn’t be…”

A trace of resentment flickered in Nan Xi’s eyes.

Such emotions rarely appeared in her eyes. Nan Xi was always direct and open, speaking her mind without holding back, almost never letting her feelings fester inside.

It was clear that this matter had truly troubled her before.

“Quite clever, you actually guessed it,” Nan Xi said softly. “There’s no helping it. After all, you disappeared the day after you first marked me, it’s hard not to think too much into it.”

“…No.”

Mu Xi was so incredulous she was nearly speechless. “How could you think that? You, you… you’re so good, how could you even consider that?”

Nan Xi melancholically lifted her head to look at the sky, her slender profile appearing pitiful and heart-wrenching.

“I wasn’t always this outstanding from the start,” she said reservedly and tactfully. “You should understand, when trying something for the first time, it’s hard to avoid being restrained, unable to let go, and nervous. The greater the pressure, the more likely things go wrong. From a developmental perspective, I really wasn’t that great back then.”

Mu Xi still couldn’t believe it.

Nan Xi actually had emotions akin to insecurity, and because of something like this.

To be precise, because of her.

Was it a case of “the more you care, the more you lose your sense of reason”? When the emotions invested are too intense and sincere, it’s easy to lose oneself.

Nan Xi shared the same view: “Perhaps it was because I cared too much. And back then, no matter how hard I thought, I couldn’t figure out why you left. After ruling out all other possibilities… even if the remaining one seemed absurd, I had to consider it.”

Mu Xi lowered her head in shame. “If that were really the reason, then I would be a terrible, despicable alpha.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Nan Xi clenched her fist in agreement, suddenly becoming filled with indignation.

Her voice was fierce as she glared dangerously at Mu Xi from below.

“So now you know how much I hated you back then! I swore then that if I ever found you, I’d make you suffer, make a scumbag alpha like you regret it. You were just too awful, too awful…”

Though she looked fierce now, Mu Xi had been through enough to know that even if Nan Xi had found her, she wouldn’t have actually made her suffer.

She was a kind woman, even if she sometimes talked tough.

But Nan Xi was clearly immersed in her emotions now, and Mu Xi had to start comforting her: “It wasn’t like that, it wasn’t like that. Now we know it wasn’t for that reason, Nan Xi, don’t be angry.”

She gently stroked Nan Xi’s back, and the move quickly took effect. The resentment in Nan Xi’s eyes rapidly faded, replaced almost immediately by a smug expression.

“Of course. Now I’m one hundred percent sure of how good I am, in every aspect,” Nan Xi said, lifting her chin. “I’m no longer that insecure little girl. Even if you tried to criticize me now, I wouldn’t listen.”

…It seemed she’d swung to the other extreme.

Mu Xi wasn’t sure where to begin critiquing that statement, but it was a good thing Nan Xi had regained her confidence. Someone as wonderful as her deserved to be confident forever, even if she occasionally tuned out criticism, it probably didn’t matter much.

Mu Xi didn’t realize she had become a bit extreme herself.

The white car drove out from the green woods, and by the time they returned home, it was just in time for lunch. Emily stood at the door with a line of staff to welcome them back, much like Mu Xi had once done.

Mu Xi was not at all accustomed to this shift in identity and the leap in social class, but if she wanted to be with Nan Xi, it was unavoidable. She tried her best to overcome the overwhelming happiness that felt almost like a burden, careful not to let it come across as pretentious.

As this was the first meal since the new owner had moved in, the household staff had taken it very seriously. The dishes were prepared even more meticulously than at the Nan family home.

Moreover, Emily provided a commentary:

“Since we are still unfamiliar with your preferences, we have prepared a wide variety of dishes and styles. We hope you can provide feedback after the meal so we can make improvements. We will do our utmost to ensure your satisfaction.”

This was primarily directed at Nan Xi, as Nan Zhiya had gifted the house to her, making her the true owner here.

Of course, to show respect for Nan Xi’s spouse, Emily promptly addressed Mu Xi as well: “Considering that Miss Mu was once an outstanding butler herself, you may have many insights to guide my work. I hope you will not hesitate to share your advice so I can better fulfill my duties.”

She spoke in a measured and precise manner. Though her posture was humble, there was not a hint of flattery or sycophancy… instead, she came across as highly professional.

Knowing how to strike the right balance in attitude toward one’s employer is a skill a butler must continually refine. It was hard to say what Emily was like in private, but her impeccable performance in front of her employers stirred a sense of mutual respect in Mu Xi.

“Thank you, but your work is truly outstanding. You are an excellent butler, and my abilities are no greater than yours. Please, there’s no need to be modest.”

A faint smile appeared at the corner of Emily’s lips. She bowed slightly once more and then took her place behind Nan Xi, ready to assist.

In truth, she was not very old, around forty, which is considered the prime age in the domestic service industry.

Unfortunately, Nan Xi had little interest in the intricacies of a housekeeper’s profession. Perhaps because she had expended quite a bit of energy that morning, she quickly began to eat heartily, barely exchanging a few words with Mu Xi.