Zhao Xiang's words naturally stirred Mu Anxiao's suspicion, so she deliberately put on a stern face in front of him.
Zhao Xiang looked at Mu Anxiao, his expression freezing.
Thus, they gazed at each other, not saying a word.
Finally, with Mu Anxiao's persistent stalling, Zhao Xiang couldn't hold on any longer.
"Mo Yun, he's really not here," he said.
Mu Anxiao replied, "I'm not familiar with him, why would he be here with me? What you're saying," she narrowed her eyes, "makes it sound like we have some other kind of relationship."
However, Ouyang Ye had sent Zhao Xiang here precisely to prevent Feng Qishi and Mu Anxiao from getting too close. Little did he know, this was supposed to be a secret matter, yet Mu Anxiao had let it slip so easily.
Hearing this, Zhao Xiang felt a sense of crisis. "I didn't say that," he said, agitated.
"I didn't say you said that either, I'm just stating how I feel," Mu Anxiao said, deliberately scanning Zhao Xiang from head to toe.
Zhao Xiang grew embarrassed.
Mu Anxiao began to smile.
Seeing this, Zhao Xiang also smiled, as if to alleviate his own awkwardness.
Immediately, the moment Zhao Xiang started smiling, Mu Anxiao's expression hardened. "What are you smiling at?" she asked, her tone cold.
Zhao Xiang jumped. "I wasn't smiling at anything," he said, clamping his lips shut.
"Since you weren't smiling at anything, you can leave."
"I..."
"What, you still want me to invite you in for a cup of tea and a game of chess?" Mu Anxiao interrupted intentionally.
Zhao Xiang shook his head. "I didn't mean that, I..." His eyes darted away. "I just wanted to say that I hope you'll teach A Mei some manners soon. I..."
"She's a maid serving me. I'll keep her by my side for as long as I wish. What business is it of yours?"
"You..."
"What 'you'? I didn't want to say anything when Shen Mo Yun was around," Mu Anxiao said. "I have a habit."
"What habit?" Zhao Xiang responded casually.
A smirk played on Mu Anxiao's lips. "My habit is that I don't like to let go of things that come into my hands. Since Shen Mo Yun has already given A Mei to me, then," she smiled, "I naturally have to be responsible for A Mei's future. As for you, I don't think much of you."
"Just because you don't think much of me doesn't mean A Mei doesn't."
"Zhao Xiang, Shen Mo Yun may not know what kind of person you are, but I do," Mu Anxiao said bluntly. "If you want to find trouble, feel free to stay here."
"I am sincere..."
"I don't care if you're sincere or not. You might be a good person in Shen Mo Yun's eyes, but in mine, you will always be..." Mu Anxiao leaned forward slightly, sniffing the demonic aura surrounding Zhao Xiang, and uttered a single word: "a demon."
"You..."
"Don't be surprised. From the moment I first saw you, I knew what you were. Some things, I didn't want to clarify with Shen Mo Yun because it's not my nature. If you don't want to hear any more unpleasant words from me," Mu Anxiao pointed behind Zhao Xiang, "then shut your mouth and leave."
"Mu Xiao, have you misunderstood me?"
"Misunderstood you? The poisonous mist in A Mei's body, you injected it, didn't you?" Mu Anxiao said deliberately, intending to leave Zhao Xiang speechless and utterly defeated.
Zhao Xiang replied, "I don't understand what you're saying."
"If you don't understand, then the potion I shattered wasn't an antidote, it was poison, wasn't it?" Mu Anxiao added, feeling it was time to deal with this fellow.
"What are you saying..."
"Keep pretending. Let's see how long you can keep it up," Mu Anxiao interrupted, stepping back half a pace.
Zhao Xiang stated firmly, "I didn't. I genuinely want A Mei to be with me. If you continue to slander me, I'll..." He trailed off.
Mu Anxiao let out a soft snort. "You'll what? Kill me, or chop me into a thousand pieces?"
"..." Zhao Xiang fell silent.
Mu Anxiao rolled her eyes at Zhao Xiang. "Lost for words now? I find it quite brazen how you lie. I'm just curious, with so many girls in the world, why did you specifically choose a girl from Shen Mo Yun's mansion? That's truly puzzling." She continued to stall, knowing... this person before her would absolutely not leave easily.
Zhao Xiang asked, "Do you understand love at first sight?"
"Love at first sight..." Mu Anxiao scoffed. "Such talk of dying for love doesn't suit you. Besides, I don't believe this is love at first sight for you."
"It is," Zhao Xiang insisted.
Mu Anxiao retorted, "This is your one-sided affection. A Mei doesn't like you."
"You..." Zhao Xiang, realizing he couldn't win an argument with Mu Anxiao, took a deep breath and continued, "Call A Mei out."
"Why should I listen to you?"
"I have something I want to tell her."
"Whatever you have to say, perhaps it's best left unsaid. You certainly wouldn't have anything good to say," Mu Anxiao said, her thoughts returning to the poisonous mist. She deliberately added, "You could inject A Mei with poisonous mist, what else are you capable of? I'm telling you, for A Mei's health, I will never let you see her."
"You..."
"Even if you kneel and beg me, I won't agree," Mu Anxiao said with firm resolve.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Xiang knelt down.
Mu Anxiao had merely been guessing... that Zhao Xiang wouldn't leave easily. Now, seeing this, she was even more certain that Zhao Xiang had come with a purpose.
As for what that purpose was, Mu Anxiao had no intention of blindly speculating. She thought the best course of action now was to remain silent.
"..." She lowered her head and stared at Zhao Xiang.
Zhao Xiang stated, "If you don't let me see A Mei, I'm not leaving."
"You're not leaving," Mu Anxiao said, chuckling lightly. "Indeed, when it comes to brothers and women, women are more important. Imagine what Shen Mo Yun would think of you if he knew you were like this."
"You..."
Zhao Xiang had two objectives: first, to brainwash Feng Qishi, and second, to win over A Mei.
Unexpectedly, these objectives had now collided due to Mu Anxiao's repeated provocations. This situation led him to decide not to leave, believing it was his opportunity.
For a pitiable fake to gain sympathy, one must create the situation.
At this very moment, he hoped Feng Qishi would return soon, witness this scene, and consequently lose all trust in Mu Anxiao.
"I can't go on," Mu Anxiao raised an eyebrow.
Zhao Xiang pouted.
Seeing this, Mu Anxiao was reminded of Ouyang Ye suddenly kneeling at her feet and weeping. Then, looking at Zhao Xiang before her, she wore a look of disdain, thinking, truly, like master, like servant. How terrifying.
With this thought, she shook her head slightly, deliberately remaining silent, waiting to see what he would concoct.
Zhao Xiang, seeing that Mu Anxiao was ignoring him, began to cry.
Mu Anxiao looked down at Zhao Xiang's unpleasant crying face, raised an eyebrow, and continued to say nothing.