I Am Her Secret Beauty - Chapter 76

Nan Xi moped alone on the sofa for a long while, staying put until Sean couldn’t help but ask if she needed a sixth cup of tea and Nan Xi still nodded yes.

Sean had no choice but to inquire, “Will the young lady be staying for dinner tonight?”

She needed to keep track of the number of people dining at the Nan residence each evening; otherwise, she would never allow herself to appear as meddlesome as she did now.

“Yes, not just for dinner, but I’ll be staying overnight too.” Nan Xi gave her a sincere smile. “Everything in my room should still be there, right? Please have the housekeeper tidy it up a bit for me. I’ll be staying there tonight.”

Even though she had work tomorrow.

Even though she had taken most of her belongings when she moved out before.

But even the small portion of items Nan Xi had left behind were more than enough for her to move in with just a bag and live comfortably.

Besides, the Nan family’s domestic staff would surely replenish any necessary daily supplies in time. For them, deciding which house to stay in tonight was merely a matter of mood.

Sean said nothing, nodding silently before going off to take care of it.

Nan Xi relaxed on the sofa, listening to music and savoring the last day of her vacation. For now, she had no intention of seeking out Mu Xi.

If she were to look for Mu Xi, it would have to be done discreetly, she couldn’t let anyone see her clinging to the door, throwing a tantrum. She still had some dignity to uphold.

Better to make a night visit, her specialty move, and a fresh start to rekindling things with Mu Xi.

The melodious violin in her ears shifted to a mournful tune, perfectly matching the sorrowful atmosphere of Nan Xi’s forced separation from Mu Xi. Just as the piano notes, clear as spring water, chimed in, someone suddenly slapped her hard on the shoulder from behind, instantly ruining her mood for appreciating the music.

In this household, there was only one person who would do such a thing to Nan Xi, and she knew who it was even with her eyes closed.

“What are you doing now?” Nan Xi ripped off her earphones and snapped, turning around. The spot on her shoulder where she’d been slapped burned fiercely, that jerk Nan Nan had no idea how to hold back, or maybe he was just too shocked.

Nan Nan tossed his bag onto the opposite sofa, his eyes widening even more than Nan Xi’s. “It’s really you? Wow, what a rare guest. Long time no see, Miss Nan Xi.”

The moment the two laid eyes on each other, their first instinct was to bicker.

Nan Xi quickly got into the groove, crossing her legs and firing back, “Long time no see. Did you miss me? You have no idea how much more relaxed I’ve been without seeing you all these days, even my meals have tasted better.”

“Wow…” Nan Nan offered a half-hearted exclamation. Knowing he couldn’t win against Nan Xi’s sharp tongue head-on, he decided to strike where it hurt: “What about the one you see every day then? Mu Xi didn’t come back home with you?”

The sudden mention of Mu Xi caught Nan Xi off guard, leaving her frozen in place, a reaction Nan Nan didn’t miss.

Forever out of the loop and forever young, Nan Nan had no clue about the storms that had swept through Mu Xi and Nan Xi’s lives recently. Seeing Nan Xi’s troubled expression, he assumed they’d had a tiff and seized the chance to tease her:

“Oh dear, oh dear, don’t tell me you’ve quarreled with our dear steward Mu Xi? Even someone as patient as her got upset, my dear sister, your skills are as sharp as ever.”

“What nonsense are you spouting?”

Nan Xi reacted swiftly this time, immediately bending down to grab Nan Nan’s expensive leather handbag and hurling it at him. This throw would either destroy the bag or Nan Nan ‘s face, a fitting payback for the painful blow he had landed on her shoulder earlier.

“If you dare spout nonsense again, say goodbye to all your bags,” she snarled viciously before finally rising from the couch.

Nan Nan sat scratching his head on the sofa, the six-figure bag lying quietly at his feet, unnoticed by its owner.

No, even after Nan Nan’s remark, she still missed Mu Xi terribly.

It wasn’t that she was so clingy she couldn’t survive a few hours without Mu Xi, but the thought of being separated for who-knew-how-many days ahead made a scorching anxiety rise in Nan Xi’s chest, irritating her to no end.

During dinner, Nan Xi ate as though chewing wax. Guan Yan tried several times to offer her dishes as a peace offering, but she was too distracted to notice. By the time she came to her senses, Guan Yan had already lowered his head, looking hurt, if she ignored him any longer, he might even tear up.

Before Nan Xi could speak, Nan Zhiya’s expression darkened slightly. “Nan Xi, at least say thank you to your dad.”

It was rare for them to have a meal together, yet his daughter was ignoring him. Even though Guan Yan knew perfectly well why, he had to play ignorant, pouting pitifully.

He weakly tried to defend her to Nan Zhiya, saying it was no big deal, but his profile just happened to be turned toward Nan Xi, and a glistening tear just happened to shimmer in his eyes at that moment, anyone who saw it would feel sorry for him.

Nan Xi didn’t even glance his way, but she immediately sweetly said to Guan Yan, “Sorry, Dad, I was lost in thought just now. Thank you for serving me the food.”

Their daughter, who had been so hostile she moved out just over a week ago, was suddenly acting affectionate toward him.

Guan Yan was so startled he forgot to control his expression, leaning toward Nan Xi with uncontrollable delight, eager to close the distance between them. “What’s on your mind, Nan Xi?”

That question.

Nan Xi felt a little stuck, it wasn’t appropriate to answer honestly in front of her mom.

But Nan Zhiya was still sitting right there. Even if Nan Xi hadn’t fully forgiven Guan Yan, she couldn’t just ignore the question.

Just as Nan Xi was about to make up some random excuse, she heard Nan Nan blurt out:

“What else could it be? Something to do with Mu Xi, obviously.”

“?” Nan Xi blinked. Since when did Nan Nan become so helpful? He’d spoken the truth for her and conveniently drawn Nan Zhiya’s fire…

Hearing this, both Nan Zhiya and Guan Yan visibly stiffened.

“You didn’t know? Nan Xi and Mu Xi had a fight.” Nan Nan’s ability to read the room, honed over years in the workplace, was still pathetically lacking. He thought they were just concerned about Nan Xi’s love life. “I mean, even someone as patient and easygoing as Mu Xi, who’s like an old ox you can bully, ended up getting angry.”

Nan Nan spoke recklessly, badmouthing Nan Xi, but she almost laughed aloud hearing it.

Just as expected.

Nan Zhiya put down his chopsticks with a stern expression.

“Who’s bullying Mu Xi?”

“And who made her angry?”

Nan Nan was dumbfounded. “Huh?”

Refusing to back down, he tried to answer Nan Zhiya directly. “Well, it’s Nan Xi… she’s never been easy on her…”

Truth be told, no one really knew what went on between Nan Xi and Mu Xi in private, who bullied whom was something even Nan Zhiya couldn’t say for sure.

Now she naturally wouldn’t speak up for Mu Xi, nor did she particularly want to defend Nan Xi, so she had no choice but to pick on the unlucky Nan Nan: “Nan Nan, how’s the progress on the overseas project?”

Nan Nan was even more dumbfounded: “Huh?”

There was no time to wonder why Mom suddenly brought this up. The deadly glare was already shooting his way, if he didn’t handle this properly, he was done for.

“Which overseas project are you referring to, Mom?” Nan Nan also set down his chopsticks and sat up straight.

“West Country.”

“Ah… Mom, the West Country project isn’t under my responsibility.”

“Just because it’s not your responsibility, does that mean you can know nothing about it?”

Nan Nan vaguely felt that Nan Zhiya wouldn’t usually give him such a hard time. “It’s not that I know nothing, I have some understanding. Our total trade volume with West Country’s institutions is around 2 billion, covering real estate, grains and oils, frozen foods, and related industries. By June 2027…”

“Who is in charge of following up on this project?”

“Dong Fangcheng.”

“How long has it been since you last had a meal with Dong Fangcheng?”

Nan Nan was stunned: “…About two months, I think.”

Nan Zhiya sneered coldly: “Such an important project and its manager, and it’s been two months?”

“Y-yes.”

“Next week, I need you to go to Summer Country.” Nan Zhiya picked up her chopsticks indifferently and continued eating, not even glancing at Nan Nan. “Reflect on your attitude properly beside the zebra herd.”

The bad news came so suddenly that Nan Nan even forgot to wail in despair. He numbly kept shoveling rice into his mouth, never figuring out until his dying day how he had offended Nan Zhiya.

Thanks to Nan Nan’s provocation, Nan Zhiya retreated to her study right after the meal and then to her room early, disappearing from sight.

Guan Yan still wanted to chat a bit more with Nan Xi, but she suddenly clutched her stomach with a pained expression: “Dad, my stomach really hurts.”

“Stomachache?” Guan Yan was puzzled and immediately picked up his phone to call the family doctor. “I’ll get Anna to come-”

“No need, it’s so late, let’s not bother the doctor. I’ll just go back to my room and rest early.” Nan Xi gave another sweet smile that melted Guan Yan’s heart. “You should rest early too, Dad.”

Just like that, the common areas were soon empty. The servants quickly finished cleaning up after the meal and left promptly.

It was the perfect opportunity for Nan Xi to act.

She walked openly to the door of the room where Mu Xi was locked up and knocked twice.

The room was silent. Even when Nan Xi pressed her ear hard against the door, she couldn’t hear a sound.

She could almost picture Mu Xi lying on his back in bed, staring at the ceiling with a helpless, bitter smile. After enough helplessness had passed, right around the time she expected, faint footsteps finally approached the door.

Mu Xi must have also leaned close to the door, trying to make his voice carry through: “Nan Xi?”

“It’s me.”

Nan Xi grinned, her voice cheerful. “Hurry up and open the door to see me.”

Mu Xi looked down at the lock he had already tried to open and felt troubled: “Nan Xi, I can’t open this lock.”

Nan Xi placed her thumb on the door lock sensor, but it didn’t work either.

It had still worked on other doors just moments ago, Nan Zhiya was just too thorough.

Nan Xi suggested: “What about the window? Climb out into the garden from the window, and I’ll meet you there.”

Mu Xi glanced back at the tightly shut window: “…It’s locked too.”

This was a completely sealed space. The air circulation relied entirely on the fresh air system in the room. Otherwise, if Mu Xi stayed here too long, she might suffocate from her own exhaled carbon dioxide.

Nan Xi was growing restless.

Although she had anticipated that Nan Zhiya’s decision to confine Mu Xi wasn’t just an empty threat, the feeling of being separated by a door, with Mu Xi trapped on the other side, still left her frustrated and suffocated.

“Is there any way to get out of the room? You used to be the butler here, surely there must be some way?” Nan Xi leaned against the door, murmuring anxiously. She helplessly pressed the lock several times. “Are there any hidden doors or secret passages behind the bookshelves or somewhere?”

Hmm.

Secret passages probably didn’t exist.

Even if they did, Mu Xi wouldn’t have been allowed to know about them.

“Nan Xi.” Mu Xi gripped the doorknob, staring down at the stubborn thing that refused to turn. “I want to ask you something.”

“I don’t want to take the inhibitor,” Nan Xi said firmly before Mu Xi could even continue.

“…It’s not about that.”

“Then go ahead. Everything else is negotiable.”

“Then I’ll ask.”

Mu Xi slowly leaned against the door as well, her eyes fixed on the brightest crystal chandelier in the room. The question that had been tormenting her all afternoon and evening was finally about to be spoken aloud.

“What if… back then, I really did something to hurt you? I mean, if I left without a word, abandoned you or something… What would you do?”