Do Not Approach

Chapter 17: Don't be afraid, I will comfort you.

Mu Xiaoxiao stretched out her arms and gently embraced Qin Yi. She felt the body in her arms stiffen, and then Qin Yi grabbed the front of her clothes. Mu Xiaoxiao lowered her head, looking into Qin Yi's eyes.

The eldest miss' eyes were slightly red, but even so, she still maintained her aloof demeanor.

[Get lost.]

Who gave Mu Xiaoxiao the courage to hug her?

Mu Xiaoxiao smiled. Not only did she want to hug this arrogant lady, but she also had the urge to tease her by tapping her nose.

At first, her interactions with Qin Yi were purely for the money, and Qin Yi's cold and ruthless demeanor made Mu Xiaoxiao hold on with a "survive one day at a time" mindset. But now, after peeling away all the layers of masks and pretense, Mu Xiaoxiao saw the real Qin Yi. She was not just the proud and distant young lady—she was also a little princess, wounded by countless betrayals, no longer willing to trust the world but secretly longing for something good, something to believe in.

If Qin Yi were as cruel as she appeared to be, how could she have allowed Mu Xiaoxiao to come so close? And why would she tolerate Qiuqiu's innocent affection so warmly?

Mu Xiaoxiao's gaze was brimming with affection, so much so that Qin Yi could read it. Her stiff body betrayed her discomfort, and her questioning glare shifted into an evasive one, which eventually hardened into a warning.

[Do you want to die?]

Is it because of her repeated leniency that Mu Xiaoxiao doesn't know how high and thick the sky is?

Meanwhile, Qiuqiu watched the scene from the side, hugging herself. Ah, woe is me, the lonely single dog. Can someone hug me too?

But joyful moments are always fleeting.

Before leaving, Mu Xiaoxiao checked the house thoroughly one more time. She repeatedly reminded Qiuqiu, "Make sure to lock the door. Don't open it for anyone, even if they knock. Be careful. Always remember to turn off the gas. Check the windows before you sleep."

"Alright, alright!" Qiuqiu impatiently cut her off. "I'm not a kid anymore." She was sure her sister still thought of her as the little child she used to carry around in her arms. But she had grown up and was determined to protect her sister now.

Mu Xiaoxiao sighed in concern. "Be good while I'm gone. I should..." She glanced at Qin Yi. "I'll probably be back soon." Perhaps by tomorrow morning. After all, she had crossed Qin Yi's boundaries today, and there was a good chance the eldest miss would fire her after some thought.

Qin Yi sat in her wheelchair, expressionless, giving Mu Xiaoxiao a glance before turning away.

Did she think Mu Xiaoxiao's intentions were a mystery to her?

Hmph.

If Mu Xiaoxiao thought she was some kind-hearted person who would let her leave only to reunite later, she was sorely mistaken.

Impossible.

She won't let them get their wish!

"Here's some pocket money for you," Mu Xiaoxiao said to Qiuqiu. "Don't be so frugal all the time. Buy yourself some snacks or a nice outfit. Are there any boys at school you like?" Mu Xiaoxiao looked at her sister with contempt on her face. When she was Qiuqiu's age, all the people chasing her lined up at Nantianmen.

Qiuqiu rolled her eyes. "I wouldn't dare fall in love before you do. There are so many boys chasing after me—I'd need more than two hands to count them. If it weren't for the fear of leaving you single, I might have brought them home already."