Chapter 256 I Stayed with You for Revenge
When Mu Zhi thought about it, she felt sad.
But her gaze never wavered.
She took a deep breath, turned off her phone, and set it aside.
She stood up, slowly got off the bed and walked outside.
It was dawn. Just when the sky was about to lighten and the northern part of the city was still shrouded in darkness. Mu Zhi looked at the clock on the wall. She couldn’t sleep.
Now that she thought about it, she was quite happy about fainting just then.
At least when she was unconscious, she wasn’t bothered by all these thoughts.
But now that she was awake, she was forced to face them.
Mu Zhi took her time and went downstairs. She saw that Xie Xiu was making some tea. The aroma filled the room, giving it warmth. The warm fragrance of the tea chased away the loneliness that most night owls seemed to be afflicted with and replaced it with quiet solitude.
“You’re awake?”
Xie Xiu heard the sound of footsteps and looked up at Mu Zhi.
Mu Zhi softly hummed the affirmation and walked to his side.
“Sit down. Have some tea.”
Xie Xiu poured a cup of tea and offered it to Mu Zhi, inviting her to sit.
Mu Zhi sat across from him and sighed.
Xie Xiu acted as if he did not hear her sigh. He didn’t ask her the reason for it, instead he said, “Try the tea I’ve just made. Is it good?”
Mu Zhi picked up the teacup and asked, “Mr. Xie, why are you still up at this time?”
Xie Xiu chuckled lightly. “Since long ago, I haven’t been able to sleep early.”
“Why is that?”
Mu Zhi gave him a curious glance, “Life goes slower without sleep.”
Xie Xiu took a sip of tea and said warmly, “I don’t see any benefit in sleeping.”
Mu Zhi did not know what to say to that, so she kept quiet. Why did one need benefits to sleep?
Xie Xiu slowly spoke and recalled, “When I worked as an assassin, I would choose to strike when my victims were at their most vulnerable. My nights would be spent in waiting and observing for the best moment to hunt.”
“That sounds miserable.”
Mu Zhi sighed again and finished her cup of tea.
Xie Xiu gently smiled, “Why is it miserable?”
“You don’t sleep because you’re preparing to kill. Losing sleep to you must be miserable.”
“And those that were killed were also miserable.”
Mu Zhi spoke her mind. Xie Xiu looked at her, “I don’t think it’s miserable. I make a living out of killing people at the expense of others. I am not miserable.”
“They are people who have hurt others. Besides, they have no way of protecting themselves. They are at the bottom of the food chain. There’s nothing miserable about being killed.”
Xie Xiu was wiping the teapot as he spoke. But in Mu Zhi’s eyes, the way he did it was as if he was polishing a sword.
At that moment, Xie Xiu looked up at her and said, “Mu Zhi, do you know why I’ve allowed you near me?”
Mu Zhi chuckled.
In the past, when faced with such a bold question like this, Mu Zhi would keep her distance before telling him that she did not want to be near him at all.
But today, prompted by Xie Xiu’s question, Mu Zhi asked, “Why?”
Xie Xiu looked at her seriously. His deep gaze filled with admiration. He slowly spoke, “Because you are kind.”
“The sort of kindness you have is self-sacrificing and asks for nothing in return. It is a rare trait to have. I want to know how people like you think.”
His response surprised Mu Zhi.
“We haven’t had much opportunity to interact at all. Why would you think me kind?” Asked Mu Zhi curiously.
Xie Xiu carefully examined Mu Zhi.
“Because I investigated you.” His voice was faintly hoarse, as if he were discussing daily happenings.
Xie Xiu carefully observed Mu Zhi’s expression when he told her that he investigated her.
Will she be angry?
But Mu Zhi’s expression was as indifferent as always. Maybe a little too indifferent.
There was not a hint of anger on her. Instead she asked him, “So, what did you find out?”
Mu Zhi did not expect herself to be able to discuss this calmly with Xie Xiu.
Xie Xiu quietly looked at Mu Zhi and took his time replying her, “I want you to be a bit more selfish. Mu Zhi, if you think about it, there are many reasons that we have to face backlash, I want you to be bold in love and in hate.”
Hearing this, Mu Zhi figured that he had guessed why she had come looking for him.
She smiled helplessly, “Because I love Lu Jinye. All the sacrifices I’ve made are made willingly.”
Xie Xiu did not mention any of this.
He looked up at the time and said, “Miss Mu, it’s about time I go to bed.”
Xie Xiu stood up and slowly headed towards his room.
Mu Zhi suddenly stood and ran towards him. She spoke with urgency, “Mr. Xie, I need your help with something!”
“What is it?”
Xie Xiu looked back at Mu Zhi.
Mu Zhi kept quiet and looked at Xie Xiu. She hesitated before saying, “Mr. Xie, can you pretend to be my boyfriend during tomorrow’s livestream? I don’t want to marry Lu Jinye.”
Mu Zhi was smiling as she spoke.
But her heart was breaking.
Xie Xiu looked back at her and quietly watched her before agreeing, “Okay. What do you want me to do?”
Mu Zhi bit her lip, “I don’t know what to do but I hope that you can help me convince the media and the world to think that I am not a good person! I am a slut that goes around seducing men.”
Hearing her requests, Xie Xiu’s eyes filled with dismay.
He was hesitant, but in the end, he replied, “Okay,”
“Thank you.”
Mu Zhi bowed deeply towards him.
She then stood up straight and walked back upstairs.
Mu Zhi returned to her bedroom and quietly watched as the night slowly lightened towards dawn.
She looked at the time then picked up her phone and turned it on. She called Lu Jinye and spoke, “Lu Jinye, I don’t want to marry you. I don’t love you. I didn’t think that people would find my identity after I hid it so well. You should know by now that I am Mu Xue’s daughter. I approached you for nothing but revenge.”
