I Am Her Secret Beauty - Chapter 75

Nan Zhiya kept her gaze fixed on Nan Lian until the last trace of her figure vanished into the cold wind outside the door before finally withdrawing her line of sight.

The first words she spoke afterward were:

“When are you planning to go into your room?”

Without even turning her head, Nan Zhiya’s words sent a shiver down Mu Xi’s spine, who had been following along to watch the commotion. Mu Xi murmured, “I’ll go right now,” then left the living room, obediently closed the door, and confined herself inside.

Like all lovers forced apart, Mu Xi’s final attention before leaving was entangled with Nan Xi, making sure she accurately conveyed her helplessness and reluctance before locking the door and throwing herself onto the soft bed.

It was the perfect time to be confined: no work, no serious tasks to attend to.

Hmm.

…

Seeing Mu Xi’s pitiful expression, so tender it seemed one could squeeze water from it, Nan Xi didn’t know whether to be angry or heartbroken. She could only obediently stay by Nan Zhiya’s side, hoping to appease this formidable presence and earn herself a chance to reunite with her beloved.

Additionally, while Mu Xi was away, she needed to share her conjectures about S.Life with Nan Zhiya, providing her with a direction for investigation.

Nan Xi also mentioned Su Wen’s cause of death and its connection to them, essentially revealing to Nan Zhiya what Nan Lian was about to do next.

Nothing more than seeking revenge and settling scores with the Wu family.

Nan Zhiya listened attentively, while Nan Xi observed her expression as she spoke, unable to detect any emotional shifts.

Since she couldn’t discern anything, Nan Xi honestly asked, “Mom, do you think our reasoning is correct?”

“I have one question.”

“What is it?”

Two sharp barbs shot straight toward Nan Xi. When it came to this matter, Nan Zhiya was utterly indifferent, mercilessly piercing through flesh and blood, letting it bleed profusely into the air:

“You also said Su Wen was a so-called cleaner, proving that the Wu family has specialized personnel responsible for handling the aftermath of such incidents. So, if these cleaners are performing their duties properly, why is Mu Xi still alive?”

Nan Xi understood Nan Zhiya’s implication.

The premise was that the cleaners existed precisely to eliminate witnesses, to erase all traces of those harmed by S.Life, to the extent that even the cleaners themselves had to be disposed of.

And Mu Xi’s survival to this day was undoubtedly a major risk.

“…Aside from her brain damage, Mu Xi’s other bodily functions are normal and healthy. They only needed to erase her memories and release her back into normal society. That way, they’d avoid trouble and reduce the harm done…”

Nan Xi felt her words were unclear and unconvincing, even to herself.

Such a level of defense clearly couldn’t persuade Nan Zhiya.

Nan Zhiya shook her head. “But it still leaves the possibility of the victim reuniting with people they once knew. And that possibility is an intolerable potential threat to the perpetrators, which is why they need cleaners.”

“…”

Nan Xi’s entire brain felt like it was overheating. Her breathing grew rapid as she desperately searched through the tangled mess of threads for something to validate her own reasoning:

“But Wu Quan is an eccentric. She pursues so-called higher-level humans. In her eyes, a high-level subject like Mu Xi must be a research specimen she couldn’t easily give up. That’s why she spared Mu Xi’s life…”

“In my view, Wu Quan is first and foremost a businesswoman who will stop at nothing to achieve her goals, and only then a medical scientist.”

Nan Zhiya methodically and effortlessly dismantled Nan Xi’s arguments: “If she wants to pursue greater objectives, she has no choice but to make compromises regarding this individual. Moreover… if, as you say, Wu Quan couldn’t bear to part with this unique high-level alpha, then she shouldn’t have allowed Mu Xi to leave.”

Before Nan Xi could respond, Nan Zhiya cut off her retreat: “It was an arranged release, not Mu Xi escaping on her own, correct? You already have evidence, the tampered school records are the most compelling proof. Someone paved the way for Mu Xi.”

“If Wu Quan had nothing to do with this entire affair, then what would that imply? Calm down and think it through.”

…

Nan Xi’s eyes were already red-rimmed. She bit down hard on her lower lip, refusing to let go, but in the end, she could only nod through held-back tears.

Her spirit shattered, the hope that had just ignited in her heart was extinguished by Nan Zhiya, leaving it as fragile as a candle flickering in the wind. Most importantly, if her conjecture proved false, she dared not even consider what the opposing truth might represent.

She didn’t want to think about it at all.

The possibility that Mu Xi hadn’t been captured by Wu Quan’s people but had disappeared voluntarily…

That was a reality Nan Xi couldn’t bear to face.

Yet, no matter how hard Nan Xi tried to suppress it, that thought crept into her consciousness like a ghost, whispering torment into her ears.

“…Mom, what if Mu Xi really left on her own back then…” Nan Xi kept her head lowered, struggling to hide the tears she could no longer contain.

As researchers, they placed the highest faith in logic and evidence. It was precisely because of this unwavering belief that Nan Xi found herself unable to delude her own mind, she had to confront the other possibilities.

“If that were truly the case, what would you do?”

Nan Xi wiped her tears and whispered, her voice as faint as a mosquito’s hum, “I still want to be with her.”

“Even if… even if someone was once bad, can’t they change for the better now?” Nan Xi felt both aggrieved and convinced of her own reasoning. “As long as she’s good now, that’s enough. I just want to cherish the present and not dwell on the past.”

“Nan Xi!”

Nan Zhiya had to sternly cut off her daughter’s ramblings.

She was deeply pained by Nan Xi’s single-minded obsession with Mu Xi, to the exclusion of all else: “Listen to what you’re saying! Never mind me, if Mu Xi is truly as good as you believe, even she would think you’re being reckless after hearing your words just now!”

Nan Xi fell silent.

“…I haven’t even said anything about her, and you’ve already assumed she ran off and abandoned you. Do you really trust her? Do you trust yourself?”

Nan Zhiya pressed her fingers firmly against her temples, even beginning to suspect that Nan Xi was deliberately saying these things to provoke her.

Nan Xi froze for a moment.

Then, realizing what Nan Zhiya meant, she asked, “What? So, you don’t actually think she ran away on her own?”

Watching Nan Xi’s sorrow vanish in an instant, replaced by her usual bright and cheerful demeanor, Nan Zhiya felt her vision blur with frustration.

“Let’s not discuss that for now. I just want to ask you, what exactly are you thinking right now? I don’t want my child to lose herself for the sake of love and become someone else’s appendage.”

Nan Zhiya was truly on the verge of anger.

Realizing this, Nan Xi couldn’t bring herself to smile either. She quickly waved her hands, preparing to explain seriously and earnestly:

“Mom, don’t worry, I believe in myself. When I say I want to cherish the present, it’s because I genuinely feel that Mu Xi truly likes me and treats me well right now. This isn’t blind faith in her, it’s a judgment I’ve made based on my own perception.”

“…”

Nan Zhiya, who had been quite angered by Nan Xi earlier, still couldn’t speak and simply stared at her.

“It’s true,” Nan Xi let out an almost imperceptible sigh. “I’ve always remembered who I am. Maybe I almost lost myself once, but now I’m very clear. I am extreme… I could die for love, but even if I were to die, it wouldn’t be because she controlled me. It would be my own decision to be extreme. If I don’t want to, no one can force me.”

In fact, if she had to say it, Nan Xi always felt that she was the one in control.

Except for that time when Mu Xi disappeared, in all other situations, it was Nan Xi who took the lead, and Mu Xi who followed.

“…That doesn’t sound much better.”

Nan Zhiya took a moment to calm her breathing. Only after hearing Nan Xi’s somewhat unconventional declaration did she regain her composure.

If it weren’t for the fact that her knuckles, which had gripped the teacup too tightly earlier, were still red, Nan Xi wouldn’t have been able to tell that Nan Zhiya had been so furious moments ago. Such was her mother’s personal charm.

“Anyway, I will investigate what happened with Mu Xi back then.”

Nan Xi hadn’t given up hope: “It might not be completely unrelated to Wu Quan. There could be hidden circumstances we don’t know about.”

“Of course. After all, none of us truly understand her, so we can’t make an accurate judgment.” Nan Zhiya stood up, preparing to head to the study. “Actually, aside from the two doubts I raised earlier, the rest of your thoughts are quite reasonable.”

?

So, her mother wasn’t outright rejecting her, she was just reasonably pointing out doubts and seeking direction?

Could it be that she herself had panicked so much that she lost her composure like that?

“Then why did you say all that earlier, Mom? It definitely felt like you were trying to lead me to wild fantasies, right?”

Nan Xi clung to the edge of the sofa, shouting at Nan Zhiya’s retreating back.

Her voice nearly echoed in the spacious living room, but she didn’t hear Nan Zhiya respond. Maybe she had hit the mark, or maybe her mother just didn’t want to engage with her anymore.