I Am Her Secret Beauty - Chapter 72

After just about a week away from City A, Mu Xi and Nan Xi felt an almost surreal sense of detachment upon returning to their new Western-style house.

It hadn’t been obvious while they were in City Z, but looking back, they realized just how much they had done and how many situations they had experienced.

For two people who hadn’t had much interaction with society especially Nan Xi, the trip felt incredibly worthwhile.

Their housekeeper, Emily, dutifully brought the driver to the airport to pick them up and take them home, sitting quietly in the passenger seat the entire way.

It wasn’t until the house gradually came into view that she finally spoke:

“Miss, Madam called a few days ago and expressed her hope that you would visit her as soon as possible after returning to City A.”

Emily’s tone was steady: “She emphasized that you must bring Miss Mu along.”

Her decision to wait until they were almost home to deliver this news was a wise one.

If Nan Xi had heard right after the four-hour flight that Nan Zhiya wanted to see her and Mu Xi, she might have immediately booked another flight and turned right back around.

Now that they were far from the airport, it would be difficult to escape.

Mu Xi, who had also been specifically asked to come along, was taken aback as well. Her mind, which had been groggy since the flight, suddenly cleared: “Me?”

“Yes, you, Miss Mu.”

Mu Xi glanced at Nan Xi, who was frowning deeply in thought and didn’t look pleased, and asked directly, “Did Madam say why?”

“No.” Having anticipated the question, Emily replied decisively, “When I asked, Madam only said she would discuss it when you meet.”

The last time Nan Xi moved out of the Nan family home with Mu Xi, it hadn’t ended well. Nan Xi had essentially broken off relations with Guan Yan, and since moving out, she hadn’t been in contact with Nan Zhiya or Guan Yan at all, only occasionally exchanging a few sharp messages with Nan Nan.

Nan Nan had tried to subtly gauge Nan Xi’s feelings toward Nan Zhiya and the others, it was unclear if someone had put her up to it, but Nan Xi had bluntly stated that she was still angry and needed time to cool off.

Nan Nan had reluctantly dropped the subject.

Now, in the midst of this cold war, Nan Zhiya had used their housekeeper to extend an invitation to meet, insisting that Mu Xi be brought along as well…

Nan Xi had a bad feeling about it.

She couldn’t think of anything she had done that would warrant a special meeting for a scolding, Nan Zhiya rarely scold her anyway.

But she was certain it couldn’t be good.

As a result, she grew tense, a sign of her defensiveness, while repeatedly running through her mind to confirm she hadn’t done anything to anger Nan Zhiya, her frown deepening all the while.

Seeing her like this, Mu Xi put an arm around her shoulder to comfort her: “It’s alright. Maybe Madam just wants to see you, or perhaps she wants to reconcile and is bringing me along to evaluate me again.”

To show she wasn’t nervous at all and to pass that feeling on to Nan Xi, she joked with Emily: “Is there a new butler at the main residence now?”

“Yes.” Emily nodded. “She’s a 45-year-old beta female named Sean.”

A very traditional housekeeper setup, a beta female, a middle-aged person with work experience.

Everything was back on track. The type of housekeeper Nan Zhiya had chosen was the kind every wealthy family preferred. Perhaps her own unconventional housekeeper had left a lasting impression on her as well.

“That’s a good thing,” Mu Xi said to Nan Xi with a lowered head and a smile. “At least he’s not calling me back to do chores.”

Nan Xi, however, wished that Nan Zhiya had summoned Mu Xi back precisely for that reason.

“I don’t want to go back,” she told Mu Xi.

The premonition she felt was far from reassuring, and Nan Xi stood her ground.

“Nan Xi,” Mu Xi held her a little tighter, speaking earnestly, “Problems need to be resolved eventually. Now that you’ve just returned from afar, it’s the perfect opportunity to clear the air.”

Part of the reason Nan Xi had left home was her own doing, and Mu Xi didn’t want her relationship with her parents to remain strained. Though imperfect, the family and love Nan Zhiya and Guan Yan had provided were precious gifts in Nan Xi’s life.

Emily, sitting in the passenger seat, nodded repeatedly.

Nan Xi mumbled several sentences under her breath, too indistinct to make out. Still, she agreed that after settling in at home that afternoon, she would return to the Nan residence with Mu Xi to see Nan Zhiya and attempt to resolve the issue.

Though she spoke of “settling in,” Emily would never give Nan Xi the chance to lift a finger. While Emily and a small team efficiently organized the luggage they had brought back (including the wheelchair), Nan Xi rested on the sofa. The antique record player in the living room played a piano piece by a master, its gentle, flowing melody filling the room. Mu Xi sat beside her, scrolling through military news on her phone.

Emily had already informed the Nan family that Nan Xi would be returning that afternoon. Since Nan Xi didn’t have to call Nan Zhiya in advance, she felt slightly more at ease.

Whether intentional or not, or perhaps simply as a welcoming ritual, Emily prepared an especially lavish lunch, catering perfectly to both Nan Xi and Mu Xi’s tastes, almost as if sending soldiers off to battle.

Nan Xi couldn’t help but think of a phrase: “the last meal.”

How strange that an invitation from Nan Zhiya could unsettle her to this extent, even conjuring images of a condemned prisoner.

She shook her head, took a bite of mushroom to calm herself, and tried to let the rich flavor of the cream sauce overshadow the lingering sense of foreboding. Yet, no matter how much delicious food she ate, that shadowy premonition refused to fade.

Just wonderful, Nan Xi now felt both uncomfortably full and deeply uneasy.

But having promised to return, Nan Xi was a woman of her word. She changed her clothes and got into the car with Mu Xi, heading toward her former home.

“Did you eat a bit too much?” Mu Xi remarked, noticing her unusual behavior. “Should we ask the driver to stop near the Nan residence and walk the rest of the way?”

Nan Xi shook her head firmly. “Let’s just get this over with quickly.”

In what felt like a blink, the driver parked the car in the visitor’s area of the estate. They were greeted by the Nan family’s new butler, Ms. Sean, who led them into the living room, where Nan Zhiya stood tall and straight.

Sean tactfully stepped aside, leaving the space to the three of them.

Nan Zhiya smiled at his younger daughter. “Welcome back. How was City Z?”

Mu Xi stood silently by Nan Xi’s side, playing mute.

“City Z was wonderful. Mu Xi’s alma mater is there, and I really liked it,” Nan Xi said, attributing her fondness for the city to Mu Xi, a subtle show of loyalty that made Nan Zhiya smile.

Nan Zhiya gestured for them to sit, taking a seat at one end of the sofa himself. “Nan Xi, do you know why I asked you and Mu Xi to come back?”

“No, I don’t.”

“Mhm. I know you don’t interact with people much, and you’ve never had any dealings with the Agency before. You probably weren’t aware.”

Nan Zhiya’s words were as light as a feather, yet they stirred turbulent waves in Nan Xi’s heart.

The word “Agency” seemed to trigger something in Nan Xi. She shot up from the sofa. “Did that person betray me after all?”

“Calm down, calm down, Nan Xi. Sit,” Nan Zhiya made a downward gesture with her hand, appearing utterly composed in contrast to Nan Xi’s fury. “She didn’t betray you. It’s just that every interaction you have with the Agency as a member of the Nan family comes to me. It has nothing to do with anyone’s promises.”

Nan Xi sat back down in a daze, feeling a violent throbbing at her temples.

The important thing wasn’t that she had contacted the Agency, it was what she had asked them to do. If Nan Zhiya found out and followed the trail, with her sharp instincts, she would quickly uncover Nan Xi and Mu Xi’s secret.

And now, looking at Nan Zhiya’s expression, that eerie calm before the storm, Nan Xi was certain Nan Zhiya already knew.

No wonder she had called both her and Mu Xi home through Emily. She hadn’t actually wanted to see Nan Xi at all, she wanted to see…

Nan Xi abruptly grabbed Mu Xi’s hand, startling her.

Before Mu Xi could turn to check on Nan Xi, Nan Zhiya spoke:

“Mu Xi, you see, my daughter is such a simple-minded child. Sometimes, even I don’t know what to do with her.”

“So, could you tell me, faced with such an adorable girl, how could you, as her lover back then, bear to do what you did five years ago and cause her such pain?”

The sudden question struck Mu Xi like a blow to the head. Her mind went blank for a moment, followed by a faint, burning pain starting from her scalp, spreading numbness throughout her body.

Nan Zhiya already knew she was the one who had vanished from Nan Xi’s life all those years ago. Judging from their earlier conversation, Nan Xi had tried to investigate something about her through the Agency while in City Z, and that information had ultimately ended up in Nan Zhiya’s hands.

She hadn’t been wrong, that call Nan Xi made to avoid her was her conducting her own investigation. They had later smoothed over that incident, but who would have thought the trouble would resurface here?

…Now wasn’t the time to trace how the secret had been exposed. Nan Zhiya’s question, along with her simmering anger, was rushing toward Mu Xi, waiting for her to bear the consequences.

Mu Xi wondered, if she claimed now that she had amnesia and couldn’t remember what happened back then, would Nan Zhiya send her back to City Z or simply silence her for good?

“Mom!”

Nan Xi’s sharp cry gave Mu Xi a brief moment to catch her breath. Like a mother hen shielding her chick, Nan Xi bravely stepped forward to confront Nan Zhiya:

“Don’t talk to her about that. She was injured, brain damage caused her memory loss. Bringing up the past will hurt her.”

Never mind Nan Zhiya.

Even Mu Xi herself felt that the more fiercely Nan Xi protected her now, the more it highlighted how despicable her own past actions had been.

If Nan Xi were her daughter, standing up to her now for someone who had once hurt her so deeply…

This person not only callously abandoned her own daughter but also returned years later, attempting to use the absurd excuse of “amnesia” to erase everything she had done, all while staying by her side like a ticking time bomb that could explode again at any moment…

In that case, it was highly unlikely that she would be able to react calmly or rationally.

…But now was not the time to dwell on such thoughts.

What truly mattered was how to answer Nan Zhiya’s questions seriously and sincerely, and then avoid the inevitable outcome of Nan Zhiya opposing their relationship.

Although that outcome already seemed set in stone…

“Madam,” Mu Xi gently but firmly moved Nan Xi aside, guiding her to sit on the sofa for the third time, and then attempted to speak with Nan Zhiya. “Nan Xi is right, I truly cannot remember what happened five years ago.”

She wanted to say that, based on the existing clues, it seemed she had been taken away from Nan Xi’s side.

But she quickly realized that this explanation would never convince Nan Zhiya.

Because, as someone suffering from amnesia, she herself couldn’t even be sure whether she had harmed Nan Xi back then, or what her motives might have been.