Lin Xihe stood there for a long time, staring blankly in the direction Mu Ruoyan had left, her eyes empty and confused.
In the past, she would have given up without hesitation, preferring death to submitting to Mu Ruoyan.
But after witnessing Gu Qinghuai's miserable state today, being tortured to the point of near death, she fully understood that she had no other choice.
Mu Ruoyan's confident demeanor clearly indicated that she had already been certain of victory.
At night, Lin Xihe lost her appetite; the delicious food in front of her tasted like cardboard.
After a quick shower, she silently stayed in Mu Ruoyan's room, her heart filled with torment.
Sometimes she thought about throwing caution to the wind and giving up entirely, while at other times she was determined to save Gu Qinghuai no matter what. These two thoughts kept tug at her mind, making her feel restless and confused.
The night grew deeper, and she remained seated before the soft couch. The room was silent, save for the occasional crackling of the candlelight, which kept her company through the long wait.
At midnight, there was finally some noise outside.
Mu Ruoyan saw the flickering candlelight inside the room and pushed open the door to enter.
Lin Xihe looked at him, her heart filled with mixed emotions. She didn't know what he had gone out to do, but he seemed to be walking hurriedly and looked somewhat tired. Upon seeing him, Lin Xihe suddenly lost the desire to speak.
Mu Ruoyan didn't say much either. As soon as he entered, servants filed in and brought hot water for his bath.
They were all efficient men, and their movements were extremely swift. In the blink of an eye, the bathwater was ready.
Mu Ruoyan walked straight behind the screen, quickly took off her clothes, and stepped into the water.
Lin Xihe turned her head away nervously, not daring to look. At this moment, she felt extremely resentful towards Mu Ruoyan's confident and determined appearance.
"come over."
Mu Ruoyan's voice drifted over.
Lin Xihe took a deep breath, calmed herself down, and thought that since she had made up her mind, there was no point in being hesitant anymore. So she slowly walked towards the screen.
Seeing Lin Xihe approach with a look of grim determination on her face, Mu Ruoyan felt a surge of anger.
Therefore, it seems that Lin Xihe's three-year agreement with him yesterday was not from the heart.
Thinking about this, he secretly pondered that he should also take back those feelings that he shouldn't have had.
"Take it off and come in."
Mu Ruoyan closed her eyes, placed her hands on the edge of the bathtub, and spoke without any emotion, as if she were simply stating something perfectly ordinary.
Lin Xihe felt an overwhelming sense of humiliation, her feet felt like they were nailed to the ground, unable to move, and her heart was filled with resentment.
Mu Ruoyan heard no sound, and her originally calm tone turned slightly displeased: "Then get out. Don't see him again."
These words were like a sharp blade, piercing straight to Lin Xihe's vitals. She gritted her teeth, and although she was extremely unwilling, the thought of Gu Qinghuai made her slowly take action.
Mu Ruoyan kept her eyes closed until the frail figure trembled and disappeared into the water, creating a tiny ripple.
Mu Ruoyan then slowly opened her big eyes and looked Lin Xihe in front of her without any restraint.
"Be proactive; you have experience."
His voice was no longer as calm as before, but slightly hurried.
Lin Xihe bit her lower lip tightly, her nails digging deep into her palms as she slowly moved forward. Knowing that her next question would anger Mu Ruoyan, she still mustered her courage and asked, "Will you let me take care of Gu Qinghuai every day?"
Mu Ruoyan suddenly opened her eyes, a cold glint flashing in them, as if she had been doused with cold water and was now wide awake: "You really know how to spoil the mood."
Lin Xihe did not back down and pressed on, "Can you do it?"
Mu Ruoyan was silent for a moment, then a cryptic smile appeared on her lips: "If you satisfy me, I will grant your wish."
After that, Lin Xihe stopped struggling.
The water in the bathtub gradually cooled down, but Mu Ruoyan still seemed unwilling to let her go, and the flickering candlelight in the room witnessed it all.
The next day, Lin Xihe felt so weak in her legs that she could barely get out of bed, and her body was covered with ambiguous marks, each one a reminder of the unbearable experience of the previous night.
Mu Ruoyan closed her eyes and lay down beside her, clearly exhausted as well.
Lin Xihe forced herself to put on her clothes, trying to cover the marks on her body as much as possible, despite her discomfort. She didn't know how Gu Qinghuai had gotten through the night after she left yesterday; right now, she had only one thought in her mind: to find him.
Mu Ruoyan, however, did not open her eyes for a long time.
Lin Xihe gently nudged Mu Ruoyan, her voice tinged with urgency: "Have you had enough sleep?"
Mu Ruoyan's sweet dream was disturbed. She opened her eyes in annoyance, her eyes still showing signs of weariness, but her tone was teasing: "Do you want to sleep, or sleep with you?"
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