After Marking a Paranoid CEO [Transmigration] - Chapter 5

Seeing the familiar restraints laid out on the bed, Xia Youxi let out a silent sigh. She picked up the rope and began tying herself up with practiced efficiency, a sight that was both heartbreaking and infuriating. Mu Huayue scoffed, “You’re so eager to cooperate. Feeling better already?”

Xia Youxi looked up at her, her large eyes filled with confusion. Has my great villain, Sister Mu, finally decided to act like a decent human being?

“Lie down,” Mu Huayue said, patting the bed.

Xia Youxi numbly climbed onto the bed. A thin quilt had been added, making it slightly softer than the previous night. Just as she wondered why the extra layer was necessary on such a mild night, Mu Huayue lifted the quilt and draped it directly over her.

Xia Youxi understood: tonight, she was going to be wrapped up like a zongzi.

Still, at least a zongzi wouldn’t chafe her wrists. Aside from the heat, lying still like this wasn’t much different from lying flat. Xia Youxi decided to temporarily embrace her role as an immobile caterpillar.

“This is your reward for last night,” Mu Huayue said, her fingertip brushing against the stray hairs on Xia Youxi’s forehead, leaving a cool sensation. Xia Youxi stared up at the woman leaning against the headboard, her eyes wide. Mu Huayue was still wearing the same form-fitting pajamas from the previous night, her mid-length brown hair cascading over her shoulder, accentuating the porcelain-like paleness of her skin.

Xia Youxi’s eyes inadvertently fell upon the forbidden cleavage again, and she blinked in confusion.

Mu Huayue seemed oblivious, or perhaps deliberately ignoring it. She picked up an eye mask from the bedside and covered Xia Youxi’s eyes, then pinched her cheek hard enough to make her whimper. “Such a terrible texture,” Sister Mu scoffed. “You really need to take better care of yourself. My Yousey feels so much better to touch.”

Yousey… isn’t that her English name?

What kind of Yousey does Sister Mu have?

Xia Youxi didn’t get an answer. In her dazed state, she caught the scent of cool wood again. A hand draped across her body through the blanket, and then a leg seemed to press down on her.

Warm breath ghosted against her ear, gradually reddening its tip. Suddenly, she felt like one of those imperial concubines in palace dramas, sent to the emperor’s bedchamber. Only, the empress beside her was an odd one, preferring motionless body pillows.

Her hand, trapped beneath the blanket, twitched and retreated. The intoxicating fragrance so close to her neck made her pulse quicken. Her head involuntarily turned to the side, and she pressed a kiss against Mu Huayue’s forehead, which was pressed close to hers. Xia Youxi suddenly felt grateful she couldn’t move; otherwise, who knew what she might have done?

The pheromones in this world are terrifying; it’s better to stay restrained.

The next morning, Xia Youxi woke up with something still covering her eyes. Blindness had heightened her other senses. She felt the arm pressing down on her lift away, followed by a gaze settling upon her. After a long moment, the gaze withdrew, and she heard the rustling of blankets beside her, then the faint sound of water, the click of a door closing, and finally, silence.

Just as she began to think Mu Huayue had forgotten about her, the door opened. She heard a soft chuckle, and a hand rested on the blanket covering her, gently untying her restraints.

The door closed quietly, and her world fell silent again.

Xia Youxi knew that Mu Huayue could see everything happening in the room whenever she wished. To maintain the pretense of sleep, she waited over half an hour before cautiously moving her body. When she finally reached out from under the blanket, her face wore an expression of surprise as she softly called out, “Sister Mu.”

Of course, there was no response.

Xia Youxi politely inquired, “If Sister Mu doesn’t answer, may I assume you’ve given me permission to get up?”

With a gentle touch, Xia Youxi removed her eye mask. Contrary to her expectations, she wasn’t blinded by a sudden burst of white light. Her room remained dimly lit, bathed in a soft, yellowish glow. She knew that during yesterday’s commotion, Mu Huayue hadn’t cared about her comfort. Xia Youxi had no doubt that if the evidence had been conclusive, she would have ended up bruised.

Seeing her like this, Sister Mu, before she completely turned to the dark side, is still quite gentle, Xia Youxi thought.

A smile played on Xia Youxi’s lips as she quietly pushed open the door and stepped out. She hadn’t taken more than a few steps when she came face-to-face with her “gentle” Sister Mu.

Standing a short distance away, Mu Huayue’s face remained expressionless. Her fitted shirt and bodycon dress only accentuated her aloofness, making her look every bit the ruthless female CEO from a novel.

Xia Youxi froze in place, not intimidated by Mu Huayue’s cold gaze, but rather by the color of her lips: maple-leaf red, strikingly similar to the kiss mark Xia Youxi had noticed on Mu Huayue that morning.

Could Sister Mu have used that lipstick again? Does that mean we’ve indirectly kissed?

A faint smile curved her lips as she greeted Mu Huayue, “Good morning, Sister Mu.”

Mu Huayue gave her a cold look, frowning slightly as she reprimanded her, “You seem to have slept well last night. Auntie is taking a couple of days off, so go clean the house. Remember, I have a video conference later, so try not to make too much noise.”

“Okay, Sister Mu,” Xia Youxi replied, her smile unwavering.

Mu Huayue couldn’t understand what Xia Youxi found so amusing. The girl’s hair was a mess, like a ruffled cat, and her shallow dimples gave her a slightly dazed look. Suppressing the urge to smooth her hair, Mu Huayue glanced at her before turning and entering her study.

Xia Youxi, ever diligent, quickly tidied herself up and went to the dining room, intending to start cleaning there. To her surprise, she found a sandwich and a glass of milk on the table—breakfast specially left for her?

She touched the food; it had been sitting out for a while and was slightly cold, but that was easily remedied. She put the food in the microwave, watching the countdown timer tick down, her chin resting in her hand, a smile curving her lips.

I knew Sister Mu was a kind and gentle person.

After finishing the breakfast left by the “kind person,” Xia Youxi was full of energy. She rolled up her sleeves and began her chores with gusto.

Mu Huayue’s private estate was quite large. By noon, Xia Youxi had only managed to wipe down half the cabinets. Worried that Mu Huayue might be hungry from working so hard, she returned to the kitchen to showcase her culinary skills. But when she opened the refrigerator, she found only drinks. Fortunately, there was still some rice in the rice bin.

She scooped out some rice and cooked porridge. When Mu Huayue didn’t come out, nor did she eat, Xia Youxi continued with her housework.

Mental work is most easily disrupted by noise pollution, so Xia Youxi dared not use the robotic vacuum or smart mop. Instead, she opted for the most primitive method: scrubbing the floor with a rag.

As the sun began to set, the study door opened, and Mu Huayue saw the young woman again. Though they had only been apart for a few hours, Xia Youxi now gave her a completely different impression.

Her long, jet-black hair was wrapped in a headscarf, and she knelt on the floor, pressing a rag against the wooden floor with both hands. This was exactly the image of a virtuous Omega that her mother had always said Alphas longed to marry.

Leaning against the doorframe, Mu Huayue teased, “I never imagined you’d be so suited for this kind of work.”

Xia Youxi looked up, her smile gentle and reserved. “Sister Mu rarely asks me to do anything. Of course I’ll do my best. Are you hungry? I made porridge. Just heat it up, and you can eat.”

She even knows how to cook for me.

Mu Huayue couldn’t quite describe her feelings. She nodded, stepped around Xia Youxi, and walked past. The living room’s ceramic tiles gleamed, reflecting the light—the girl had clearly scrubbed them diligently.

A pot of white congee simmered on the kitchen stove. No bowls were in sight, leaving Mu Huayue unsure if the girl had eaten.

Mu Huayue asked her assistant to order a meal. By the time the food arrived, Xia Youxi was still kneeling on the floor, scrubbing the floor. Frowning, Mu Huayue called out, “Xia Weixi, come eat.”

“Okay, just finishing up this last spot. Sister, you go ahead and eat first.”

So ungrateful, Mu Huayue thought, assuming the girl had already eaten. She returned to the dining room alone, unwrapped her Michelin-starred meal, and began to enjoy it. After a while, Xia Youxi walked in with a smile, greeted her, and went straight to the stove. She glanced into the pot, then turned back, a hint of melancholy in her large eyes. “Sister Mu didn’t drink the congee?”

Mu Huayue looked at her. In the heat, the girl had rolled up her long pants, revealing slightly bruised knees. Xia Youxi lowered her head, her voice barely audible. “I didn’t touch it. I was afraid Sister would find it distasteful.”

A pang of guilt struck Mu Huayue. She scoffed softly, “How could I drink it if you didn’t heat it up?”

As if she had mastered the art of face-changing, Xia Youxi lifted her head, a shallow dimple appearing as she smiled. She quickly unscrewed the steaming thermos of congee and eagerly handed it over. “For you, Sister Mu.”

Under Mu Huayue’s intense gaze, Xia Youxi took a sip without comment. “Sit down and eat,” Mu Huayue instructed.

“Mm-hmm!” Xia Youxi replied cheerfully. Mu Huayue glanced at the young woman sitting upright beside her, a thoughtful expression on her face.

That evening, Xia Youxi was summoned to the bedroom again. To her surprise, she found a new toy on the bed: a pair of pink leather handcuffs, looking rather provocative.

Xia Youxi couldn’t fathom where Sister Mu kept getting these novelties, but she resigned herself to being locked to the headboard.

Mu Huayue leaned against the bed beside her. “Do you really enjoy being by my side?” she asked.

Why does this feel like a life-or-death question? Xia Youxi blinked her wide eyes, looking at her helplessly. “I’ve always admired you, Sister…”

Evading the question, Mu Huayue pressed further: “What if I wanted you to stay with me forever, as my pet?”

Wouldn’t that just make it easier to get discarded?

Without even human rights, I’d be easily tossed aside when she gets bored!

Xia Youxi, feeling a surge of panic, suspected she had overplayed her role these past few days. She carefully chose her words. “It would be my honor to be cared for by you, Sister. But… I haven’t achieved my dreams yet.”

“What is your dream?”

Xia Youxi could sense Mu Huayue was suppressing her emotions. She replied truthfully, “I want to become a film queen, start my own company, and…”

Before she could finish, Mu Huayue cut her off, placing an eye mask over her eyes and stealing her light. “You’re ambitious. Shut up and sleep.”

The rest of her words were sealed by a mouth-breathing strip. Xia Youxi was left with unspeakable bitterness. She had wanted to say: I want more respectable capital. Rather than being a powerless pet, I want to stand beside Mu Huayue with dignity and help her change her fate.

But Mu Huayue would never hear these words. For the next two days, Xia Youxi rarely saw her, except during their nightly encounters. She had become a bird trapped in a cage.

Another day passed, and the caged bird finally had a chance to fly free.

Mu Huayue returned her phone.

The moment it powered on, the phone vibrated incessantly as a flood of missed messages poured in. Xia Youxi saw that her mother—or rather, her adoptive mother—had sent her a video. In the video, a gaunt little girl lay in a clean hospital bed, smiling weakly at the camera. “Thank you, Sister.”

This was the biological daughter of Xia Weixi’s adoptive parents, and the younger sister Xia Weixi cherished most: Xia Weilai. A pitiful girl who had been diagnosed with leukemia at just fourteen years old. In the original story, she had died in a hospital corridor after Xia Weixi’s disappearance.

Now, thanks to Xia Youxi’s arrival, Mu Huayue had arranged for her to be admitted to the high-end hospital founded by her grandfather.

Xia Youxi looked at Mu Huayue, but the woman who had just done a good deed sneered coldly at her. “See? If you don’t obey me, your sister, who can’t afford her medical bills, will be thrown out.”

Instead of the resentment and bitterness Mu Huayue had expected, Xia Youxi’s face lit up with joy as she nodded obediently. “Thank you, Sister Mu! You’re such a kind and beautiful person!”

Mu Huayue: …

I’m threatening you!

She darkened her expression again and huffed coldly. “I’ve covered a significant portion of your sister’s medical expenses. How will you repay me? Perhaps…”

Before she could finish her sentence—”by becoming my pet”—the young girl earnestly interjected, “Don’t worry, Sister Mu! I’ll work hard and earn enough money to repay you as soon as possible.”

Mu Huayue was stunned once more.

How could a girl with such a strong moral compass have tried to climb into my bed in the first place?