Do Not Approach

35

Her manager rushed out moments later, freezing when he saw Qin Yi. "Eldest Miss!" he exclaimed in alarm, yanking at Xue Manlan, his hair practically standing on end. "Hurry, greet her properly!"

......

"She doesn't look like someone with psychological issues," Mu Xiaoxiao analyzed calmly. "Look at her eyes. This ancient-costume photo doesn't suit her at all." Mu Xiaoxiao scrolled to another candid photo. "See? Look how lively her eyes are. What kind of troubles could she possibly have?"

Noticing that Mu Xiaoxiao's thoughts were genuinely focused on her work, Qin Yi's icy demeanor softened slightly.

Mu Xiaoxiao continued, "If I had to point out anything strange, it's that this sister seems to be struggling with something. Look at the corners of her eyes-there's unhappiness in it."

Qin Yi: ...

Sister???

She's already calling her sister?

She became her sister just from a photo?

Mu Xiaoxiao sure was quick to give people titles!

Did "sister" worth two cents?

Finally, realizing the oppressive atmosphere beside her, Mu Xiaoxiao quickly turned back to Qin Yi. "I'm done, eldest miss. Let's take a walk, shall we?"

Oh no, what was I thinking, calling her 'sister'?

It was an occupational habit-calling older women 'sister' or older men 'brother.'

Qin Yi didn't even glance at her.

Mu Xiaoxiao explained, "It's just a habit. In my line of work, we call even seventy-year-old women 'sister.' Otherwise, they'd get upset."

Qin Yi's cold gaze shot daggers at her.

What does she mean? Is she implying I'm old?

Mu Xiaoxiao: ...

Great. If the eldest miss gets upset, I'm done for.

Seeing no point in further explanations, Mu Xiaoxiao watched as Qin Yi turned her head and wheeled herself away, slowly but deliberately.

She was angry again, without any clear reason. And once again, she refused to speak.

Mu Xiaoxiao stood in place for a moment, stunned, before following her upstairs. But the door to Qin Yi's room was already closed-this time, locked tightly, not just ajar.

By noon, Qin Yi still hadn't come downstairs. From the third floor, the sound of a guqin drifted faintly through the air.

Mu Xiaoxiao knew Qin Yi could play the guqin, though she rarely did. She listened closely, finding the tune oddly familiar, as if she had heard it somewhere before.

Downstairs, Xiao Cui, who was cooking, also noticed the music. After a brief pause, she glanced at Mu Xiaoxiao. "Don't you know what song that is?"

Mu Xiaoxiao shook her head. "What song?"

Xiao Cui gave her a side glance and shook her head. "I don't know either." But she did. It was 'Actually, You Don't Understand My Heart.'

"You say I'm like a cloud, elusive and drifting.

Actually, you don't understand my heart.

You say I'm like a dream, near and far at once.

Actually, you don't understand my heart."

Xiao Cui had long suspected that the eldest miss treated Mu Xiaoxiao differently, but she hadn't been certain-until now. The song, like a seed sprouting from the ground, deepened her suspicions.