On the other side of the wall, Mu Anxiao heard the man behind her start wailing and couldn't help but laugh, "I didn't expect this guy to be so cooperative. Good, good." As she spoke, she glanced back at the wall, then bent down and scooped up a handful of mud, smearing it on her face.
In the blink of an eye.
Based on her superficial understanding of Xi'er and Ouyang Ye, Mu Anxiao once again found herself outside the study. What she hadn't expected was her uncanny connection with the bee. The moment she stopped, the bee arrived beside her. Facing this situation, she was truly speechless.
Conversely, the bee was incredibly excited. "It's you again," he said with a smile.
Mu Anxiao ignored the bee and peeked at the locked study door, thinking that Ouyang Ye and the others weren't here.
Seeing Mu Anxiao's apparent disregard for him, the bee's expression stiffened. He reached out and nudged her arm, saying, "I'm talking to you, can you have some manners?" As he spoke, he nudged her arm again.
"As long as you have manners," Mu Anxiao said without even looking at the bee, turning to leave.
Who would have thought that the bee was not one to give up easily? The moment before Mu Anxiao turned to leave, he quickly grabbed her arm. "Tell me, why are you here?"
Mu Anxiao was truly speechless at the bee's actions. With a faint sigh, she turned back to the bee, her face filled with helplessness. "Do you know why I'm ignoring you?"
The bee shook his head.
"Let go of my hand, and I'll tell you," Mu Anxiao said indifferently.
Upon hearing this, the bee, quite consciously, released her hand.
Immediately after, a hint of seriousness appeared on Mu Anxiao's face. "I'm here to find the master and the elder."
"And that's why you don't want to talk to me?" the bee asked, surprised.
Mu Anxiao nodded. "Yes. I'm about to get promoted and become rich. Naturally, I need to distance myself from mere underlings like you. Otherwise, if I catch your bad influence," she shook her head slightly, "it won't be good."
Listening to this, the bee's face turned grim.
"If there's nothing else, I'll be going now," Mu Anxiao said, feigning seriousness, and turned around.
Unexpectedly, the bee hadn't given up yet. "Wait," he called out.
Hearing him, Mu Anxiao helplessly retracted her stepping foot and turned back to look at the bee. "What is it?"
"So, have you been promoted yet?" the bee countered.
Mu Anxiao's gaze flickered. "No, why?" she asked, consciously shifting two steps to the side.
The bee smiled.
Mu Anxiao frowned. "What are you smiling about?"
"So, that means you're still a subordinate with a lower rank than me, right?" the bee said.
Mu Anxiao furrowed her brow tightly. "What, you want to bully me before I get promoted?" As she spoke, her gaze towards the bee turned cold.
"No," the bee said, then suddenly broke into a wide grin. "I do. Since you're about to get promoted and become rich, you'll certainly need a capable assistant..."
"I don't need one."
"No," the bee raised a hand. "You do. Look, the master's capable assistant is Mo Juan, and the elder's capable assistant is Song Xi. Your capable assistant, wouldn't that be me?" He stepped forward.
Seeing this, Mu Anxiao took a step back. "I didn't realize your head wasn't big, but the capacity inside is quite substantial. You've thought of all this," she said, smiling and shaking her head. "It's truly unbelievable."
"Thank you for the compliment."
"Do you really want to be my capable assistant?" Considering the bee's persistent pursuit of Rose, Mu Anxiao believed he wouldn't easily give up. If she refused him outright now, he would surely not relent. Therefore, she decided to try and 'soften him up.'
"Yes," the bee nodded.
"Then how is your relationship with Rose coming along?" Mu Anxiao asked deliberately.
The bee smiled. "She just treated me to tea."
"Really? I seem to recall that." Mu Anxiao's memory of encountering Rose with the bee outside the courtyard was not very clear.
"You were there too, weren't you?" The bee's memory was also not very clear.
Mu Anxiao smiled.
Seeing Mu Anxiao smile, the bee also started to smile.
After they had been smiling for about a minute, Mu Anxiao put on a stern face. "Since love is important, then you must hold onto your love."
The bee was stunned. "No, what do you mean by that?"
"You've already taken one step, so you should take more. As for career," Mu Anxiao found a reason to reject the bee, "it's not suitable for you."
"Love and career can be separated. You..."
"Never mind you. I've heard of many cases where love destroyed careers. If I were to find a capable assistant, I'd only look for monsters without emotions. You," Mu Anxiao gave a professional fake smile, "are really not suitable."
"Those monsters who strive for careers are only working for themselves. But I'm different. I have love. I will hold onto my work tightly for the sake of love. This way, I can fully take on the responsibility for my family. I," the bee said with more conviction, "am the best candidate."
Previously, Mu Anxiao had not realized that the bee was such a unscrupulous and troublesome fellow. Seeing him like this now, she had gained a new understanding of him, and this understanding made her realize that the bee was indeed not to be trusted. If she trusted him, he would surely betray her in the future for his own interests and his family.
Thinking of the dreadful consequences, Mu Anxiao shivered and turned to run away.
Seeing this, the bee's eyes widened, and without thinking, he chased after Mu Anxiao.
Before long, Mu Anxiao and the bee stopped, both panting, outside the Mountain of Secret Rendezvous. Mu Anxiao was also very familiar with this place. So, she placed a hand on the 'mountain,' turned to look at the bee who was bending over and catching his breath, and smiled. "You should know what this place is, right?"
"This place..." the bee said, straightening up and looking around. He suddenly realized, "The Mountain of Secret Rendezvous." After speaking, his eyes focused on Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao smiled. "Yes, you should know how many couples are hidden here..."
"I don't know, and I don't want to hear it." The bee knew that Rose disliked vulgar things, so he had always avoided such matters. Now, hearing Mu Anxiao say this, he immediately became nervous.
Mu Anxiao laughed heartily.
Bee: "Did you come here on purpose?" He immediately understood the meaning behind Mu Anxiao's laughter.
Mu Anxiao's lips curled. "Yes, I came here on purpose. Think about it," she glanced back inside, then looked at the bee, who had always been afraid of Rose's anger, and continued, "If Rose finds out you entered the Mountain of Secret Rendezvous, you won't be able to explain yourself, even with a thousand mouths."
"I didn't do anything."
"Yes, you didn't do anything. But," Mu Anxiao said, pointing to her mouth, "this mouth of mine can talk nonsense."
"You..."
"I don't want to discuss recruiting you right now. Be sensible and leave, otherwise," Mu Anxiao shrugged, "I'll tell Rose all about your entry here. How about that?"
"You're so despicable," the bee said, getting anxious.
Mu Anxiao said, "Yes, I am despicable."
"I'll still find you," the bee said, pointing at Mu Anxiao, and turned to leave.
Subsequently, Mu Anxiao let out a faint sigh.