"You're quite perceptive; yes, I do have some ideas." Since Ouyang Ye had spoken so plainly, Mu An Xiao decided not to hold back any longer.
"Tell me." Ouyang Ye's heart sank, but he maintained a calm facade.
"I want to find someone who can communicate with that woman, and then have that woman bring you away." Mu An Xiao stated without any hesitation.
Upon hearing this, Ouyang Ye immediately put on a stern face.
Mu An Xiao had long anticipated that revealing the truth would elicit such a reaction. Yet, even so, she didn't regret speaking her mind. "What, you're not happy?" she said, tilting her chin up.
Ouyang Ye nodded. "Yes, I'm not happy. I'm so badly injured, and instead of thinking about how to take care of me, you're thinking about how to push me away." He scoffed, "You're truly heartless."
"The environment here is certainly not as luxurious as your palace, is it?" Mu An Xiao said deliberately.
Ouyang Ye frowned. "If you have something to say, say it plainly, don't beat around the bush."
"Palaces are great, and that woman would surely take better care of you than I could. As for me," Mu An Xiao smiled faintly, "I'm just a scatterbrain. What if I mess up and you die because of my care?"
"You..."
"What 'you'? I'm doing all this for your own good," Mu An Xiao said earnestly.
Ouyang Ye looked crestfallen.
Seeing Ouyang Ye's dejected expression, Mu An Xiao couldn't help but frown. "What, you don't think I'm right?"
"You mean you're concerned about me." A smile flickered in Ouyang Ye's eyes.
Mu An Xiao disliked that look on Ouyang Ye's face, but the situation demanded it, so she had to endure it. "Yes, I am concerned about you."
"You have far too little confidence in yourself," Ouyang Ye said with a smile.
Mu An Xiao gave a dry laugh. "Your status is special, and that woman is also a woman who... particularly likes you. Even if I don't go now, Xi'er... or the demon who just passed by outside will surely inform that woman. So, it's better to act than to regret. I'll go notify her myself and take you away."
"You trust that she can take good care of me." Ouyang Ye said calmly.
Mu An Xiao smiled. "I trust her, especially trust her."
"But I trust you." Ouyang Ye said affectionately.
Mu An Xiao hadn't expected Ouyang Ye to be so difficult to deal with, especially seeing his heartfelt expression of trust. She was momentarily speechless before continuing, "I can't cook, I don't know demon arts, I know nothing. How can I take care of you? Besides, the healers in this demon-cultivating land aren't even as skilled as you are. If you have a sudden serious illness... who will treat you? Most importantly," she said urgently, "if you stay here, where will I sleep?"
"Right here," Ouyang Ye said dismissively.
Mu An Xiao let out a wry laugh.
Ouyang Ye looked at her innocently. "What? This is where you live. Where else would you sleep? Moreover," he added, "you are not allowed to sleep here."
"What about when it gets dark?" Mu An Xiao's anger was starting to rise.
"Although you haven't been here long, I believe you've heard about the rules here."
"Then you shouldn't rest." Mu An Xiao said pointedly.
Ouyang Ye frowned. "What do you mean?"
"You are the master here. If you rest, aren't you breaking the rules? Since that's the case," Mu An Xiao said, pointing to the cup placed in front of Ouyang Ye, "drink your water, and then get back to work."
"Injuries are an exception." Ouyang Ye said calmly.
Mu An Xiao snorted. "The rules here really change as easily as your mood."
"The nights here are particularly lively." Ouyang Ye added.
Mu An Xiao yawned. "Whether it's lively or not doesn't concern me much. In any case, I need to sleep."
"You..."
"Before I cultivate into a demon, I must maintain the same sleep schedule as in the mortal world. Otherwise," Mu An Xiao interrupted, her tone righteous, "I won't be able to cultivate into a demon."
"You really know how to cause trouble." Ouyang Ye said helplessly.
Mu An Xiao snorted. "Yes, yes, yes, I'm good at causing trouble. If you're unhappy with my schedule, it just means we're not on the same path. If that's the case, then let me go."
Ouyang Ye's face turned cold.
"What, you're unhappy when I say that?" Mu An Xiao said calmly.
"If you say such things in the future, don't blame me for turning hostile."
"Oh."
"What 'oh'? Speak clearly."
"Are you sure you want to stay here?" Mu An Xiao steered the conversation back.
Ouyang Ye nodded.
Mu An Xiao also nodded. "Alright, I understand." With that, she turned to leave.
Seeing this, Ouyang Ye quickly asked, "Where are you going?"
"If my guess is correct, that woman should be here soon. Before then, it's better for me to stay away from you, lest I get caught in the crossfire." Mu An Xiao said, fixing her gaze on Ouyang Ye.
"You're afraid of her." Ouyang Ye was surprised by Mu An Xiao's reaction.
Mu An Xiao nodded. "Yes, I am quite afraid. Her love for you is visible to the naked eye." She pointed to her own eyes.
Upon hearing this, Ouyang Ye cleared his throat and said, "You're jealous."
"Since you want to stay in this room, then stay. I'm going to find A Xue. Call me if you need anything." Mu An Xiao said, forcing a smile.
At that moment, Ouyang Ye's eyes darkened, and he said in a low voice, "You're not allowed to leave." Then he stood up.
"You're unhappy if I don't rest within your sight," Mu An Xiao said, looking at Ouyang Ye helplessly.
Ouyang Ye replied, "You rest here, and you're not allowed to leave my sight."
"There's only one bed here. How am I supposed to rest?" Mu An Xiao said, glancing towards the bed.
"You rest here." Ouyang Ye pointed to the table and chairs.
"...How can you..." Mu An Xiao looked shocked and followed Ouyang Ye's gaze, glancing at the table and chairs. She exclaimed, "You want me to sit here and rest while you sleep on the bed? No, how can you be so selfish?"
"I'm injured, and you can't leave my sight," Ouyang Ye said, turning towards the bed.
Mu An Xiao, feeling that something was amiss, looked at Ouyang Ye's retreating back and said, "I'll concede to you this time." She then sat back down.
Just then, Ouyang Ye lay down on the bed without even taking off his shoes. "Don't worry," he said, pulling a corner of the quilt over himself. "Juan'er won't come. Put your worries aside." With that, he curved his lips and closed his eyes.
"It seems you really know that Juan'er well," Mu An Xiao said, picking up the teapot, taking a sip of water from the spout, and then placing the teapot back on the table with a clang.
"It seems you're holding a grudge," Ouyang Ye said with his eyes closed.