Immediately, Mu Anxiao deliberately climbed upwards along the 'wooden pole' Gu Yan had provided. "I say, it must be after I met the boss that I developed a special ability, which is why I can see..." she said with a grin, "Sister, right?" She lifted her chin.
"What did you call me?" Gu Yan had never liked being addressed that way by others, so the moment Mu Anxiao called her that, her heart gave a jolt, and a displeased emotion surfaced.
Sensing that Gu Yan seemed to dislike the appellation she had given her, Mu Anxiao, to avoid further unpleasantness, lowered one hand and pinched her own leg, saying against her will, "You say you are a monster, but in my eyes, you are a fairy. People where I come from call fairies 'sister.' If you don't like it," she said with a wry smile, "then I'll take it back. Don't be angry."
"You think I look like a fairy?" Gu Yan was pleased by Mu Anxiao's words.
Mu Anxiao nodded. "Yes, I really do think you look like a fairy. Where I come from," she said, pinching her thigh again, "there's a fairy temple, and the fairies in there are so beautiful. You look just as beautiful as the fairies in that temple."
"Is that so?" Gu Yan said, becoming inexplicably shy.
Mu Anxiao watched Gu Yan's attitude change with a calm expression and breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm a person who loves to speak the truth. Of course," she said, feigning distress, "I respect your wishes. Since you don't like this address, I won't call you that anymore."
"Just call me sister," Gu Yan said excitedly.
Mu Anxiao pretended to be hesitant. "But you don't like it." She pursed her lips and smiled as if dejected.
Seeing Mu Anxiao's expression, Gu Yan frowned. "I've already agreed. You really don't need to be like this. From now on, you..."
"If you're doing this to give me an out, then forget it," Mu Anxiao interrupted deliberately, intending to make Gu Yan trust her even more.
Hearing Mu Anxiao's words, Gu Yan grew anxious. "I'm not giving you an out. To be honest, this is the first time I've met someone who speaks the truth to me. If possible, I hope you can speak such truths more often. Sister is fine, I like the address 'sister.' Of course," she added with a smile, "it would be even better with 'fairy.'"
"If I call you that when the boss is around, won't she be unhappy?" Mu Anxiao suddenly recalled Ouyang Ye's aversion to immortals and reminded her.
Upon hearing this, Gu Yan instantly remembered Ouyang Ye's consistent dislike for immortals. She thought about the appellation Mu Anxiao had given her and reluctantly said, "Then 'sister' it is. If conditions permit, you can add those two words, alright?"
"'If conditions permit?'" Mu Anxiao repeated and then let out a dry laugh at Gu Yan. "You tell me, when would conditions permit? My mind is dull; could you explain it to me in detail?" she asked, putting on an expression of humble inquiry.
Gu Yan had completely fallen into Mu Anxiao's 'trap.' Following Mu Anxiao's words, she thought for a moment and then said, "When the master is out. Right now, it is."
"The boss is out?" Mu Anxiao hadn't expected Gu Yan to tell her this and then put on a feigned expression of surprise.
Gu Yan had completely let down her guard with Mu Anxiao. "Yes, the master is out. However, the master usually doesn't go out for long, at most for a little over an hour. Also..." she paused midway, her brow suddenly furrowing.
Seeing this, Mu Anxiao asked, "What's wrong, Fairy Sister?"
"The master has been out for nearly an hour and hasn't returned yet," Gu Yan said agitatedly.
Hearing Gu Yan's words, Mu Anxiao thought for a moment and said, "Actually, before I came over, I searched for the boss in the courtyard for a long time but couldn't find her. You say," she feigned concern, "could something have happened to the boss?"
Upon hearing this, Gu Yan truly believed Mu Anxiao was worried about Ouyang Ye and comforted her, "Nothing will happen to the master. Perhaps this matter is a bit tricky. Don't worry." She then lowered her gaze.
After hearing Gu Yan's words, Mu Anxiao deliberately said, "Then this way, I can call you Fairy Sister without any scruples." She then deliberately smiled.
In contrast, Gu Yan fell into silence.
Just then, a servant's voice came from outside, "Is anyone there?"
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao's expression stiffened. She hastily looked up at Gu Yan and whispered, "Is someone coming?" As she spoke, she quickly stood up and glanced around.
Following that, Gu Yan stood up and said, "Quickly get into the cellar." She whispered, using her demonic arts to lift the cellar trapdoor.
Seeing this, Mu Anxiao didn't hesitate, bypassed the table and chairs, and went down.
The next second, the servant's voice came in again, "Coachman, are you there? I have something to tell you."
"I'm here," Gu Yan replied in the coachman's voice. With a casual wave, the cellar trapdoor closed. "I'm coming," she said, instantly transforming into the coachman's appearance.
Below in the cellar.
Mu Anxiao tilted her head up and watched the fleeting black light through the gaps in the wooden planks. She thought, 'So that's it. She's staying here to impersonate the coachman for Ouyang Ye. And the coachman's work is heavy. Servants come to notify the coachman of tasks every day around this time. No wonder she was distracted and didn't want to work as the coachman for so long.' Thinking this, she chuckled slyly, then turned her gaze to the unconscious souls, her brow furrowing.
Just then, the sound of a door closing came from above.
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao immediately retracted her gaze fixed on the souls and, without speaking, tilted her head up.
The next moment, the cellar trapdoor was lifted.
Seeing this, Mu Anxiao climbed up and glanced at Gu Yan, who had returned to her original form. "So anyone can see you, Fairy Sister." She then went up and closed the trapdoor before standing up.
Gu Yan remained silent and sighed at Mu Anxiao several times.
Mu Anxiao feigned confusion. "Fairy Sister, what's wrong?"
"I won't be Fairy Sister for much longer," Gu Yan said, sitting down with a dejected expression.
Mu Anxiao asked, "Did you encounter some difficulty?" She deliberately focused on Gu Yan's face.
Gu Yan replied without looking up, "Why hasn't the master returned yet? I have no idea how to clean the stables. What should I do?"
"Fairy Sister, going by what you're saying, would the boss know how to do it?" Mu Anxiao asked, deliberately following Gu Yan's line of thought.
Hearing this, Gu Yan finally looked up at Mu Anxiao.
Seeing Gu Yan looking at her, Mu Anxiao pursed her lips slightly and said, "Fairy Sister, why are you looking at me?"
"Help me think of a solution," Gu Yan said expectantly.