Ouyang Ye, seeing Mu Anxiao speechless for a moment, wasn't angered. Instead, he smiled faintly and said, "It's precisely because I believe in your capabilities that I helped you shorten the deadline to three months." He stepped forward. "I have a question for you."
"Please ask," Mu Anxiao replied, feeling troubled yet not daring to offend Ouyang Ye directly.
Ouyang Ye asked, "Do you still have that potion?" Seeing Mu Anxiao's blank expression, he elaborated, "I'm talking about the potion that kills monsters."
"That potion..." Mu Anxiao repeated the words deliberately before saying, "Boss, I'm sorry, I soaked that entire silver needle in the potion, and the vial disappeared with it."
"Are you sure there's nothing left?" Ouyang Ye didn't believe Mu Anxiao, his expression becoming suspicious as he spoke.
Mu Anxiao knew that Ouyang Ye was most adept at changing his mood in an instant. He could be incredibly kind to you one moment, making you doubt if you weren't already his very close friend. But the next moment, when you were about to joke with him, he could turn on you and even kill you.
Now, Ouyang Ye was indeed putting on such a performance for Mu Anxiao.
To avoid that outcome, Mu Anxiao said with a firm expression, "Yes, there's absolutely nothing left." Her demeanor was extremely serious, as if it were the absolute truth.
As expected, the moment Mu Anxiao spoke, Ouyang Ye's suspicious expression vanished. "Alright, I understand," he said, his tone calming down.
Mu Anxiao breathed a sigh of relief and asked, "Boss, that item isn't good for you. If you truly got your hands on it, I fear..." She watched Ouyang Ye cautiously, "...something might go wrong."
"It seems you still don't understand me," Ouyang Ye said faintly. He then suddenly shifted his gaze to A Ju's face. "You, go out for a moment." With that, he waved his arm, and the door opened.
Subsequently, Mu Anxiao feigned surprise. "Boss, the door opened by itself." She glanced at the door and then back at Ouyang Ye.
Ouyang Ye ignored Mu Anxiao and instead fixed his eyes on A Ju, who was slowly moving her feet. "Go to the kitchen and bring me some snacks," he said. Only then did he turn back to Mu Anxiao. "I have many things to tell you."
Hearing Ouyang Ye's words, Mu Anxiao felt touched. However, she then considered that this general's mansion belonged to Feng Qi Shi. Now, Ouyang Ye was acting so considerate. She couldn't help but glance at A Ju, who had a preoccupied look on her face, and said, "Boss, the kitchen snacks are limited. If A Ju goes there directly and is discovered, she'll be beaten with several dozen boards. I think," she began to help A Ju out of her predicament, "it might be better to forget about it." After speaking, she deliberately looked at A Ju, who had indeed stopped walking.
Ouyang Ye laughed. "I didn't expect Cao Gen, you're quite chivalrous." He then turned his eyes unamusingly and continued, "Since that's the case, I'll assign this task to you. If you get beaten, I'll come to your rescue."
"Huh?" Mu Anxiao was completely taken aback that Ouyang Ye would involve her. Furthermore, she had no such instructions from Feng Qi Shi. If she were to go to the kitchen and get beaten, what then? She began to worry about her own posterior.
Seeing Mu Anxiao's surprised expression, Ouyang Ye couldn't help but smile again. "What, are you scared?" he asked, raising an eyebrow at her.
Mu Anxiao forced a dry laugh. "Not exactly, it just feels a bit sudden. I..." Her gaze clearly flickered. "I'm a bit scared." After saying this, she didn't forget to offer Ouyang Ye a strained smile.
Ouyang Ye's lips curved. "If you're scared, then let A Ju go." With that, he glanced again at A Ju, who had stopped walking, seemingly finding some hope.
Immediately, A Ju cast a completely different look at Mu Anxiao and said, "Cao Gen, I don't want to be beaten. Please help me!" She put on a pitiable act.
Ouyang Ye chimed in, "She's begging you. If you don't show some consideration, you're not much of a man."
Before Ouyang Ye spoke, Mu Anxiao hadn't quite realized it. Now that he had opened his mouth, Mu Anxiao instantly understood that Ouyang Ye was testing her. She thought if she refused now, all her previous efforts would be in vain.
Therefore, she agreed, thinking it was for the sake of the mission. "Alright, I'll go. It's just going to the kitchen to break rules and get a snack. You guys have done it before and were fine." She deliberately used these words to comfort herself.
Unexpectedly, Ouyang Ye suddenly exchanged a look with A Ju, and then Ouyang Ye said, "I didn't have a habit of eating snacks before, so this is the first time. In any case, I'm especially craving something sweet right now. Remember not to expose me. If you do," he revealed a sinister smile, "you know what your fate will be."
Mu Anxiao smiled. "Understood, Boss," she said. She deliberately glanced at A Ju and continued, "It is my honor to do something for A Ju." After speaking, she turned and ran out.
Subsequently, after Mu Anxiao had completely left the room, Ouyang Ye closed the door with a wave of his arm and his face darkened.
A Ju glanced at the door and then, considering Ouyang Ye's usual lack of preference for sweets, asked, "Master, you did that on purpose, didn't you?" Her gaze was cautiously fixed on Ouyang Ye.
Ouyang Ye replied, "Whether it was on purpose or not, the answer will be revealed soon." With that, he turned and sat at the table.
Seeing this, A Ju hurried forward, placed the teapot and teacups opposite Ouyang Ye onto a tray, and personally presented them to him, saying, "Master, have some tea."
"You still have some sense," Ouyang Ye said. He glanced at A Ju, then lowered his eyes and smiled, asking inexplicably, "What does it feel like to be liked by such an effeminate fellow?" After asking, he picked up a teacup with one hand and looked up at A Ju.
A Ju showed a look of disdain. "I don't like it," she replied, lowering her gaze.
Ouyang Ye looked at A Ju's extremely unwilling expression, said nothing, but let out a laugh and continued to drink his tea.
A Ju dared not speak. She then thought of what Mu Anxiao had said to her earlier, shivered, and sighed.
Hearing A Ju's distinct sigh, Ouyang Ye couldn't help but chuckle. "Don't you love money? That guy's family must be very wealthy. Otherwise," he looked at A Ju again, "he wouldn't be so unrestrained."
"Master, please stop teasing me. I just don't like that fellow," A Ju said, her face full of resistance.