Wanwan stared blankly at the woman lying on the grass. Didn't she like Murong Chong very much?
Why wasn't she angry or upset at all? Shouldn't she confront that Miss Murong or challenge her to a duel?
"Mistress, aren't you worried?"
Yun Xiao shook her head. Worried about what? She knew Murong liked her, only her. As for this Miss Murong, she wasn't interested.
"Mistress, you have no sense of caution at all. I heard that woman is very beautiful."
It was like the emperor wasn't worried, but the eunuch was. Wanwan put her hands on her hips, wishing she could knock open her mistress's head and see what it was made of. Someone wanted to snatch the person she liked, and she wasn't even worried.
"So what?"
Yun Xiao simply closed her eyes, her long eyelashes covering her bright, lively eyes.
Her delicate face seemed to be veiled by a thin layer of gauze, with a faint blush and lips curved into a subtle, almost imperceptible smile, both pure and proud.
Wanwan was stunned. Who said her mistress wasn't as good as others? Looking at her, she seemed incredibly beautiful.
Wanwan was lost in thought when Yun Xiao suddenly opened her eyes and patted the grass beside her, signaling her to lie down.
"Look, the sky is blue, the clouds are white. It's such good weather. Listening to the waves crash against the shore here and basking in the sun is truly comfortable. As for things you shouldn't worry about, just don't fret."
After Yun Xiao spoke, Wanwan lay down as instructed. It was indeed very comfortable. The gentle breeze felt like a soft hand caressing her cheeks, and the air carried the scent of seawater, peaceful and elegant.
However, she still couldn't help but worry about that Miss. Wanwan suddenly rolled over, propped herself up on one hand, and said earnestly.
"But Mistress, that woman isn't in the manor right now. If she comes back, she'll surely trouble you."
Yun Xiao turned to look at Wanwan, realizing this girl was truly born to worry. If she didn't give her an answer today, she would probably be troubled for a long time. Yun Xiao's eyes misted over, and she spoke softly.
"Wanwan, the most beautiful thing in the world is love, and the most helpless thing is also love. What is yours will always be yours. What is not yours, no matter how hard you try to get it, will eventually be lost. You must understand this. You will encounter it in the future, and you must remember this: love is mutual, not one-sided. If Murong truly liked that Miss, then I wouldn't exist, understand?"
Wanwan understood some of it, but not all. However, Yun Xiao was no longer looking at her. Some things were useless to say; she would only understand when she truly experienced love.
The two lay on the grass. Yun Xiao looked serene, while Wanwan appeared bewildered.
Until footsteps were heard in the distance, and both turned to look. Who else could it be, with his flowing robes and elegant demeanor, but Murong?
Wanwan scrambled up and ran back, saying as she ran, "Mistress, I'll go see if there's anything I can help with."
Yun Xiao sat up straight and shook her head helplessly. This girl really knew how to play little games.
Murong Chong walked out of the radiance, as calm as a gentle breeze, refined and elegant.
Although he appeared composed and tranquil, people could discern something different about him.
Steady, restrained, mysterious, profound.
His white brocade robes exuded elegance and nobility as he moved.
His mask remained on, revealing only a pair of unfathomable eyes that dared not be casually speculated upon.
Yun Xiao smiled as she looked at him, a blade of grass in her mouth. She had these little habits when she was idle, a playful charm in her blinking eyes, as cunning as a little fox.
Perhaps in a past life, she was a fox. A faint wave of affection rose in Murong Chong's heart. He lifted the hem of his robe and gracefully sat beside her.
"What are you thinking about, Xiao'er?"
"I was thinking, when can I meet the young lady of Yunshui Villa?"
She smiled, neither angry nor annoyed, seemingly curious. Conversely, Murong Chong felt a moment of tension, but seeing her expression, he relaxed.
"She's gone out of the villa and will be back soon. She's just a spoiled girl, so you don't need to pay attention to her."
Speaking of Murong Yingxue, Murong Chong's eyes turned cold. He found that girl somewhat bothersome, always immature.
If it weren't for his adoptive father's sake, he wouldn't bother with her. In the past few days, she had injured the people watching her and ran away. He didn't know what she was trying to do.
Yun Xiao turned back to lie down with a laugh and said faintly, "As long as she doesn't provoke me, I won't bother her. If she provokes me, you know what happens."
She said it softly, as calmly as if discussing the weather, but Murong understood the hidden coldness within.
Despite this little girl's gentle demeanor and innocent smiles most of the time, if you provoked her, you wouldn't fare well.
He remembered the night of the prison break. Someone impersonated her father and provoked her. She had snapped the person's neck on the spot, showing that once her heart hardened, she could do anything.
"If she really goes to provoke you, she'll have only herself to blame."
Mentioning Murong Yingxue, Shangguan Yao's mood inexplicably soured. He reached out and pulled Yun Xiao into his arms. They both lay on the ground, watching the clouds drift by.
Yun Xiao turned her head to glance at him.
"Murong is truly heartless."
"My heart has always been hard, except for you."
Murong Chong did not shy away from his cruelty. How he had survived, how much hardship he had endured to reach this point, how could he not be ruthless?
She was an exception, the only exception.
From then on, no one else could elicit any gentleness from him.
"You..."
Yun Xiao reached out and touched the mask on his face, sighing softly. How could he state his ruthlessness so righteously, leaving one with no room to refute?
However, to be the exception in his heart, she was incredibly fortunate. She was grateful for everything predestined.
"Look, Xiao'er, doesn't that cloud look like your face?"
Murong Chong suddenly pointed to a changing cloud in the sky, which vaguely resembled a human face. However, saying it resembled her was a real stretch. Yun Xiao shook her head in protest, "No, I'm not that ugly."
"You're not ugly. Look, your distant eyebrows are like ink, your nose is delicate, and your lips are like cherries. It truly resembles you."
Yun Xiao twitched her lips, giving him a gesture, but she didn't agree at all. How could he see distant eyebrows like ink and delicate lips and cherries in the cloud?
"I heard that the so-called young lady is going to marry you?"
Yun Xiao spoke unhurriedly. She really didn't want to look at that cloud that resembled nothing, preferring to discuss this young lady of the villa.
So women liked gossip, and she was no exception.
When Murong Chong heard this, his expression turned cold, and a chill emanated from him, making even his breathing feel frigid.
"Who said that?"