Mu Huaenâs gaze lingered on her face, as if seeing herself through the other person.
Her eyes wandered, thoughts drifting far away, back to before the incident.
"Huaen, Huaen..."
Back then, Mu Huaen was in her own apothecary, staring at her bottles and jars, the colored liquidsâred, green, black, and white in glass bottlesâwere quite beautiful.
Actually, not all were poisons; many were medicines that saved lives. Over the years, she had researched many poisons and had lost interest in continuing. Just then, Mu Niancheng gave her an ancient medical book. Some recipes were incomplete, so she wanted to complete the missing parts.
She kept her head down, focused on the book in her hand, ignoring Mu Huarong who had stepped into the apothecary.
"Huaen, how about we go out and play?" Mu Huarong entered the room, cast a glance at the various medicine bottles on the shelves, then set her eyes on Mu Huaen.
The morning sun rose, its rays piercing through the window screen, enveloping Mu Huaen in rings of light, making her seem like a maiden in the Buddhaâs embrace, holy and noble.
Mu Huarong was never the magnanimous type; this scene pierced her eyes. Clearly, they shared similar looks, yet she always felt Mu Huaenâs aura was superior.
"I wonât go out; I havenât finished my book."
"You can read it tomorrow, canât you? Itâs not that urgent, after all." Mu Huarong said as she pulled the book out from Mu Huaenâs hands, "Letâs go to Prince Anâs Mansion. Yueyue sent a maid to tell us that Brother Yang brought many things from Shandong, including some for us. She invited us over to pick them up and then hang out."
"Iâm not going." Mu Huaen usually disliked leaving the mansion, and she wasnât in the mood now.
"Huaen, donât you want to see what Brother Yang brought you this time?"
"Just food, drinks, and fun." As she mentioned this, Mu Huaenâs lips curved slightly, then she added, "But itâs not the things I care about; itâs the thought that counts."
Clearly, Brother Ye Er was a thoughtful person. When she was younger, she found him annoying, but as she grew up, she realized how wonderful he was.
Mu Huarong said enviously, "Yes, Brother Yang is really good to you. Even when heâs not in the Capital City, he never forgets about you. Huaen, you must be truly blessed."
Mu Huaen smiled, but then said proudly, "Choosing me makes him very lucky too."
"Huaen..." Just the words "choosing me" stirred the long-repressed feelings in Mu Huarong. She felt such injustice. Why didnât Ye Haoyang choose her? If he had, she would have been the one feeling happy and blessed today.
Her gaze swept over the medicine shelves, and a moment of madness overtook her as she asked, "Huaen, you know Brother Yang hasnât seen you for years. Since the two of us look so alike, when he comes back, if we stand silently in front of him, could he tell us apart?"
This question startled Mu Huaen.
"Maybe... he should be able to, I guess." She was actually unsure.
"Youâre not sure either, are you?" Mu Huarong suddenly smiled, oddly, "Why donât we try it out? If he canât recognize you, then you shouldnât want such a man." Because she did.
Perhaps it was Mu Huarongâs gaze that was too different from usual, causing Mu Huaenâs heart to shiver slightly.
Yet, the sliver of curiosity inside her prevailed, so she asked, "How do we try?"
Mu Huarong didnât reply, but casually picked up a black bottle from the shelf and walked towards Mu Huaen.
As she approached Mu Huaen and saw her looking at her so trustingly, the malice in her heart deepened.