The Female Lead of the Abusive Novel Can Hear My Heart's Voice - Chapter 18

At night, Xia Mucai had an extremely uncomfortable dream. In it, she seemed to have been drugged. The spacious, pitch-black villa was illuminated only by a spotlight shining down on her. Under the round white light circle, a cage was formed. Beyond this white circle, her subconscious warned her that there were man eating monsters lurking outside.

It was like the rule children have when walking in summer: they only walk in the shadows, because in the sunlight they imagine they’d be scorched to a crisp.

Her body felt twisted and distorted like a worm. Under Xia Chi’s cold gaze, she stretched out a hand and grabbed the hem of the other’s skirt, pleading with a trembling voice, “I feel so uncomfortable, Xia Chi, please save me.”

The woman sitting on the villa’s leather sofa crossed her black silk-clad jade legs in a queenly posture, looking down at her. A faint smile curved her lips an enchanting, sinister charm, like a god towering above her.

Xia Mucai swallowed hard. The discomfort on her body intensified, as if a raging fire was burning through her. Xia Chi asked, “You say you want me to save you, how exactly do you want me to save you?”

The other’s slender hand lifted her chin. A pleasant fragrance wafted toward her, making her feel ashamed, and she lowered her eyes.

“If you don’t say it, how am I supposed to know? Is it here?”

Then Xia Chi’s hand moved to her neck, brushing like a feather, tickling, like ants nibbling.

Xia Mucai shrank her neck, tears welling at the corner of her eyes, timidly retreating a little.

The woman on the sofa noticed her awkwardness and chuckled softly. “If it’s not here, then where?”

Her fingertip gently rubbed downwards, arriving at a sensitive spot. Suddenly, warmth gathered in her lower abdomen, like the small flower drenched in morning dew, wrapped in moist and warm soil.

This strange feeling made Xia Mucai’s heart race. She suddenly opened her eyes, and with a swoosh, sat up on the bed, gasping like she had just woken from a nightmare.

A beam of sunlight filtered through the curtains and fell exactly on her face. Sweat dripped down her forehead; the simple white camisole she wore was soaked with sweat on the back.

Still not fully awake from the dream, her foster mother called loudly from outside, “Caicai, come downstairs for breakfast!”

After a brief daze, recalling the dream’s scene, she shook her head and immediately responded to the call, “Okay, I’m coming right now.”

She lightly patted her already flushed cheeks and muttered to herself, “Xia Mucai, Xia Mucai, what are you thinking about? Stop thinking about it!”

Her whole body was burning up, so she decided to take a cold shower to cool down.

Last night’s engagement banquet had left the floor covered with melon rinds and paper scraps, a complete mess. Even after finishing her shower with her hair still wet, she went downstairs and was startled to find that everything had been cleaned up.

The villa was tidy and just like usual, as if the engagement banquet had never happened.

If it weren’t for her deep memories, Xia Mucai would have doubted whether the banquet had really taken place.

Her foster mother called again, bringing her back to reality.

“Come eat, Caicai.”

Her eyes flitted nervously, hastily responding, “Okay, coming.”

She thought about what happened last night with Xia Chi the kiss both real and dreamlike.

This morning, she even dreamed of it erotically…

She shook her head, telling herself to stay clear-headed.

Descending the spacious spiral staircase slowly, she silently prayed, I hope Xia Chi doesn’t remember anything from last night. Otherwise, it’d be so awkward…

Her hair was still wet, and since the weather was nice, she wanted to let it dry naturally. But her busy foster mother in the kitchen noticed and frowned seriously.

“Caicai, why don’t you blow dry your hair? What if you catch a cold?”

Water droplets still dripped from her hair tips. She insisted, “It won’t happen. I’m not that fragile.”

Her foster mother obviously didn’t believe her the precious daughter she treasured like a gem.

Leaving the open kitchen, she came over and tugged a strand of wet hair, worried, “What if you get a headache? Mom can’t bear to see you hurt.”

It felt like a grandmother worried she was cold.

Xia Mucai’s lips twitched. Before she could respond, Madam Fu arranged everything for her.

“Xia Chi, go help your sister blow dry her hair. I’ll handle the kitchen here.”

With a loud shout, Xia Chi in the kitchen was startled, but more so was Xia Mucai, the main party.

Cat Cat was shocked and disapproved of Xia Chi being ordered like this.

“No… no need, Mom,” Xia Mucai grimaced, hurriedly refusing.

However, the person in the kitchen agreed without hesitation, her voice emotionless, “Okay.”

Okay my foot, Xia Mucai thought inwardly, You don’t have to be so submissive. Stand up for yourself. She’s insulting you if she asks you to blow your hair, just do it!

She muttered many things in her heart, but unfortunately, Xia Chi couldn’t hear her.

Seeing Xia Chi washing her hands at the sink and wiping them on her apron leisurely, Xia Mucai thought, She probably doesn’t remember last night. How could someone drugged remember?

She looked guiltily, then sighed deeply, If she doesn’t remember, that’s good. Let this thing just fade away, even if it’s rotten, keep it inside.

Little did she know, Xia Chi remembered everything, even hearing her inner thoughts. This added to her impression of Xia Mucai, making her care more about what initially seemed unimportant.

Xia Chi said, “Looks like she wants to just brush it off.”

Xia Mucai’s hand was suddenly held, and hearing “Let’s go,” she snapped back to reality, her eyes darting nervously, looking anywhere but at the person holding her hand.

She looked a little awkward after all, she was 20, and it wasn’t like she couldn’t blow her own hair. Having someone else do it felt like being bullied.

“Xia Chi, don’t listen to Mom. I can do it myself,” Xia Mucai said softly behind her.

But the person ahead seemed deaf and ignored her.

She cursed inwardly, So stubborn! Who can just step on you like that!

The harder she said it, the more guilty she felt inside.

Because she was the one who stepped on Xia Chi in the first place.

Xia Chi slightly paused, a bit annoyed, but more so pleased by Xia Mucai’s defense.

She wanted to say, “Not everyone can step on me, it’s just because I truly want to blow your hair, want to take care of you.”

Her kindness was only for Xia Mucai, no longer blindly pleasing everyone around her.

They arrived at the first floor bathroom with a wet dry separation design, inside was a shower and a rose-red, expensive hairdryer on the wall. The wind was strong, and soon Xia Mucai’s hair was dry.

Like all Cat Cats, Xia Mucai loved fish but hated the noise of the hairdryer. Even in human form, she feared that buzzing, harsh sound.

Xia Chi was a patient cat owner. Sitting on a low stool, Xia Chi stood and blew her hair, repeatedly saying, “Almost done, hang in there a little longer.”

Xia Mucai curled her neck in fear, closing her eyes tightly. The only reason she stayed was Xia Chi’s constant encouragement.

When the buzzing finally stopped, she opened her eyes instantly, straightening her back comfortably and relaxing all her tense fingers.

“Is it done, Xia Chi?” Xia Mucai asked uncertainly.

Xia Chi softly replied “Mm,” and hung the dryer back on the wall. “Done.”

Suddenly, a loud sneeze echoed in the bathroom. Xia Mucai sniffled; her nose was stuffy.

The person who hung the hairdryer turned, looking at her with a worried gaze she wasn’t used to being looked at like that by the female lead.

“Are you catching a cold?” she asked.

Xia Mucai just sneezed once and wouldn’t admit she was getting sick. “No, I’m not that fragile.”

Another sneeze came, followed by several coughs, making her words less convincing.

“Don’t go to work today, rest well at home,” Xia Chi said calmly.

Xia Mucai refused, “I’ll see later.”

No sooner had she said that, another coughing fit came, making her blush in embarrassment.

It’s not that I’m weak. It must be a soul injury causing this. My body is fine why do I act like a delicate fish easily caught in the wind and rain?

“Listen to me, don’t go to work today. I’ll stay with you, nowhere else.”

She stood from the stool but suddenly felt dizzy, swaying. Xia Chi caught her, preventing her from collapsing in this small bathroom.

Xia Mucai leaned into Xia Chi’s arms, hesitating a moment. Finally, her tightly furrowed brows relaxed, and she stopped pretending to be strong. “Okay then, thank you for staying with me.”

After a moment, she felt guilty because she caused the female lead to have to stay just for her.

Xia Chi won’t be unhappy, right? I’m stopping her from going anywhere, she thought.

Hearing her thoughts, Xia Chi looked at the person in her arms like a child and wanted to say, “How could I be unhappy? I’m happy to stay with you all the time.”

Meanwhile, at the same time, far abroad, Gu Bai’an boarded a flight back to her country. Wearing a hat, mask, and glasses, she looked like a superstar. People passing by turned their heads to look at her. Her aura was exceptional, exuding a capable, perfect female boss vibe not just a pretty face.

She sat by the window, gazing into the distance, lost in thought. She wondered, I wonder where Mo Qi is working now after graduating from university.

To know, she was the male lead Teng Jingsi’s first love, but her mind was occupied by a minor supporting character in the story.

Xia Mucai would be very shocked if she knew.

Gu Bai’an sighed, feeling even more melancholic on the plane.

Because of some past matters, she had a falling out with Mo Qi.

They had been roommates in university, close enough to confirm their relationship during those years. The campus beauty and the top student looked perfect together, making people smile.

How intimate they were by day, even more so by night.

Since they shared a dorm, they could play however they wanted.

Her university romance ended casually as graduation approached. She had tried to hold on, even suggesting to Mo Qi, “How about we go abroad to develop our careers?”

But Mo Qi had elderly sick family members to care for, so couldn’t go overseas.

Back then, young and arrogant, Gu Bai’an thought Mo Qi didn’t love her enough to take that risk. Now she realized she hadn’t thought it through.

Sitting by the window, she sighed again.

She still didn’t know how Mo Qi was doing, and whether Mo Qi still held grudges for the harsh words she had said back then or even remembered.