After they went in, Feng Qishi shifted his gaze to Mu Anxiao’s face. “What are you thinking about?” he asked.
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao snapped back to attention and looked at Feng Qishi, asking, “What’s the situation?” She gestured towards the little boy.
Upon hearing this, Mai Liang also turned her gaze to Feng Qishi’s face.
Feng Qishi looked at the two of them and said, “Some things are better left unknown.” As he spoke, he walked up to the little boy, crouched down, and said, “I’m hungry.”
The little boy looked directly into Feng Qishi’s eyes and nodded slightly.
Seeing the boy’s pitiful appearance, Feng Qishi reached for a short knife at his waist, gently cut his finger, and offered it to the boy.
The little boy leaned forward slightly and bit down on Feng Qishi’s bleeding finger.
Mu Anxiao was startled. “Shen Moyun, what are you doing? Can’t you see him?”
“Shut up,” Feng Qishi said coldly.
Mai Liang watched the little boy up close and observed Feng Qishi’s actions. She said, “I understand now.”
Mu Anxiao asked, “Understand what?” looking at Mai Liang.
Mai Liang glanced at them, stood up, and said, “This child is not human. He already knew.”
“He…” Mu Anxiao’s eyes widened in disbelief. She looked down at Feng Qishi, who was gently stroking the little boy’s head with his other hand, and asked, “Do you really know him?”
“I don’t want to hear you speak right now. Shut up.” Feng Qishi didn’t even look at Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao’s eyes darkened. “What attitude is that? As if I want to talk to you.” She glared fiercely at Feng Qishi and then looked at Mai Liang with a wronged expression.
Mai Liang said, “I have something to tell you. Come here.” She then looked down at Feng Qishi, turned, and walked towards a corner of the wall.
Hearing Mai Liang’s words, Mu Anxiao also ignored Feng Qishi and followed her, asking, “What do you want to tell me?” Mu Anxiao stopped behind Mai Liang.
Mai Liang stared intently at the dark wall, hesitated, then turned around and said, “Don’t believe that girl’s words.”
“That girl?” Mu Anxiao didn’t immediately understand Mai Liang’s meaning and frowned slightly. “Which girl are you talking about?”
“The dead one,” Mai Liang said simply.
“Dead…” Mu Anxiao echoed the word and suddenly remembered the girl’s desperate attempts to get her help not long ago. She asked, “Why?”
“She said the person who killed her was Mu Hua,” Mai Liang stated with conviction.
Mu Anxiao’s eyes widened upon hearing this. She shook her head slightly. “Impossible.”
“I think so too, which is why I wanted to tell you not to believe her words,” Mai Liang said earnestly.
“Mm,” Mu Anxiao nodded. After a moment’s thought, she added, “Mai Liang, you… why do you think she would do this?”
Mai Liang shook her head slightly. “I don’t know, but I just feel… something is off about her.”
“Off…” Mu Anxiao murmured, falling into thought.
Mai Liang remained silent, staring at Mu Anxiao’s face.
At the same time, Feng Qishi stopped behind Mu Anxiao and said, “It’s time to go.”
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao turned to look at Feng Qishi. Recalling his act of feeding blood to the boy and every word he had spoken to the guards, she asked, “Can I ask you two questions?” To prevent Feng Qishi from turning and leaving immediately, she spoke first.
Feng Qishi replied, “Two questions, isn’t that a bit much?”
“Much…” Mu Anxiao echoed the word, tilted her head, and continued, “Alright, then I’ll ask you one question, is that okay?” She was becoming impatient.
Feng Qishi said, “Half.”
“…Half,” Mu Anxiao repeated the word to herself, letting out a helpless cold laugh. “Shen Moyun, I’m really starting to dislike you more and more.”
“Speak quickly if you have something to say,” Feng Qishi said, completely indifferent to Mu Anxiao’s attitude.
Mu Anxiao curled her lips and blurted out her question, “What is your relationship with that little boy?”
Feng Qishi blinked. “…” He crossed his arms in front of him.
Seeing Feng Qishi’s nonchalant expression and posture, Mu Anxiao retorted, “Say something.”
Feng Qishi countered, “What do you think my relationship with that child is?”
“You…” Mu Anxiao raised her hand and rubbed the tip of her nose. “If I knew your relationship with him, would I be asking you like this?” She suddenly realized she was understanding Feng Qishi less and less.
Feng Qishi said, “There are some things you don’t need to know.” He then turned and walked away.
“Don’t need to know…” Mu Anxiao repeated the words a few times before turning to Mai Liang and saying, “Forget it, let’s go.”
Mai Liang said, “You’re not curious about his relationship with that child at all? Maybe it’s his son.” She had become immensely curious about this matter.
Mu Anxiao knew Feng Qishi’s past better than anyone, so hearing Mai Liang’s impractical speculation, she was speechless. “…” She turned and walked ahead.
Seeing Mu Anxiao leave, Mai Liang quickly said, “Am I wrong?”
Mu Anxiao said as she walked, “No, someone like him, he simply…” She stopped mid-sentence, thought about the little boy’s appearance, and frowned.
Mai Liang asked, confused, “What’s wrong?” She was puzzled by Mu Anxiao’s sudden reaction.
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao thought for a moment, glanced sideways at Mai Liang, and said, “Nothing’s wrong, let’s go.” She then continued walking.
Mai Liang was bewildered.
A quarter of an hour later.
Mu Anxiao walked beside Mai Xia, watching Feng Qishi leading the little boy. After a moment, she turned to Mai Xia, who had been glancing at her repeatedly, and asked, “Um… you keep looking at me… is there something you need?”
“You must not die, do you understand?” Mai Xia suddenly said.
Mu Anxiao looked confused. “What do you mean by that?” She stared at Mai Xia’s face.
Mai Xia said earnestly, “In a moment, I will take all the blame. You don’t speak, understand?” She sincerely held Mu Anxiao’s arm.
Mu Anxiao stiffened, recalling Mai Xia’s actions at the mansion. She said, “You did this on purpose.”
“My life…”
“What are you trying to do?” Mu Anxiao interrupted, forcibly stopping Mai Xia.
Mai Xia lowered her eyes slightly. “I know you’re lying to me,” she said, tears welling up in her eyes.
Mu Anxiao’s gaze flickered. She whispered, “What did I lie to you about?”
“Mu Xiao is dead,” Mai Xia said very softly.
Upon hearing this, Mu Anxiao looked directly at Mai Liang. “…”
Mai Liang stood beside Mai Xia, her expression one of surprise, just like Mu Anxiao. “Sister, what do you mean by that?” She didn’t notice Mu Anxiao’s gaze.
Mai Xia said, “I’m tired,” and then turned to Mai Liang, forcing a bitter smile.