Su Muxian could not escape her predicament, inevitably sinking into the mire, unable to break free, unable to move, only able to watch herself sink deeper and deeper.
She could only watch herself being submerged by the mud, helpless.
And because of her experiences, her failures in all aspects, her unfulfilled desires, and having lost all retreat, even if she still retained a sliver of reason, her mentality would inevitably become more extreme, easily leading to extremes.
Recently, when handling the Su family's affairs, Su Muxian's methods had become increasingly ruthless and sharp. Those around her were exceptionally fearful and intimidated by her, which had already caused a change in Su Muxian's mentality, with the first signs appearing.
Su Muxian was increasingly unable to turn back.
After finishing her work, she returned to the villa. Before returning, she had just dealt with a group of people. Her emotions were not entirely stable, and she was somewhat gloomy, in a very peculiar state.
Seeing the servant bowing her head to greet her at the door, Su Muxian asked, "Where is that person? Is he at home?"
The servant dared not look up. In fact, almost no one in the entire Su family dared to look directly at Su Muxian.
Trembling, she replied to Su Muxian, "That person is not here. He went out on business today and didn't say when he would return."
Su Muxian nodded, then said coldly, "You may leave."
Upon hearing this, the servant quickly departed, but dared not be too obvious. She merely lowered her head and turned away, her slightly quickened steps betraying the fear in her heart.
Su Muxian paid no mind to this. In this house now, who saw her and didn't look like this?
Even outside, among her subordinates, how many were not afraid of her now?
Fear was fine. Since they feared her, they would not dare to betray or defy her.
Su Muxian thought coldly.
After a moment's pause, she walked purposefully in a certain direction, heading towards an inconspicuous basement in the Su family villa.
She knew very well what was in there.
Because the man's control over Su Muxian was very deep, he was not worried that Su Muxian would betray him, so he did not hide many things from her. Su Muxian was also very aware of this and knew even better what the consequences would be if she betrayed the man.
And she could not afford those consequences.
Su Muxian did not ask for servants to attend her, nor did she allow them to accompany her. She went to the basement alone.
She pushed open the basement door and walked inside.
The entire basement had been converted into a room. The furnishings were quite simple, but the environment was not bad. In the very center of this basement room, where the bed was placed, someone was lying quietly in the middle of the bed, eyes closed, immersed in deep slumber.
And the person lying in this basement room would be difficult for anyone who knew her not to be surprised.
—It was the sleeping Hou Mingzhu.
Hou Mingzhu had been lying here for quite some time. Ever since the fatty betrayed Ye Tiancheng, stabbed him, and then tricked Hou Mingzhu into being kidnapped, Hou Mingzhu had been forcibly kept asleep by the man and had never woken up.
Because the man had been staying at Su Muxian's home, Hou Mingzhu was naturally arranged in the Su family villa.
For the sake of secrecy, such an inconspicuous basement was chosen.
Moreover, only the man and Su Muxian knew about this matter, with no third party aware that Hou Mingzhu was hidden here.
Su Muxian walked quietly to Hou Mingzhu's bedside. She lowered her head, looking at Hou Mingzhu lying on the bed, sleeping unknowingly. Complex emotions churned in her eyes—envy, hatred, admiration. She had too many unspeakable thoughts and feelings.
Su Muxian's feelings towards Hou Mingzhu had always been complicated.
In the past, they had been equals. It was only after Ye Tiancheng definitively chose Hou Mingzhu that Su Muxian suffered a continuous defeat, eventually falling into an irrecoverable state, while Hou Mingzhu had everything going for her.
She was now loved exclusively by Ye Tiancheng, remarried to him, had a lovely and beautiful daughter with him, was favored by Ye Tiancheng, and had taken over the family business, doing very well. Even after being kidnapped, the man had kept her safely here, merely keeping her asleep without harming her or making her suffer endless torment while awake.
Unlike Su Muxian…
Su Muxian was too unwilling.
Why? What was she lacking compared to Hou Mingzhu? Why did no one choose her? Why was she not as good as Hou Mingzhu in everything?
If Su Muxian already existed in this world, why should someone like Hou Mingzhu exist?
She was too unwilling.
Su Muxian looked coldly at Hou Mingzhu lying on the bed and said coldly, "Did you ever imagine you would end up like this? In my hands…"
Of course, Hou Mingzhu could not respond.
Because Hou Mingzhu was in a deep sleep, she could hear nothing and therefore could not answer Su Muxian's words.
Su Muxian did not actually expect Hou Mingzhu to answer.
She raised her hand, her palm moving slowly, eventually stopping above Hou Mingzhu's neck, and then gently descending to cover her neck.
As long as Su Muxian applied force, Hou Mingzhu would soon cease to exist in this world. But Su Muxian dared not do so. If she did, Su Muxian knew that she herself would cease to exist.
Neither that man nor Ye Tiancheng would ever let her go.
For Su Muxian, she actually had nothing left to lose, but she was still afraid of death. If there was anything Su Muxian feared now, it was still death.
Su Muxian had endless unwillingness.
How could she be willing to suffer alone in hell while watching Hou Mingzhu live happily and obtain everything she desired?
If Su Muxian still had any motivation now, it might not be to rekindle her relationship with Ye Tiancheng. She knew she had no hope, so all Su Muxian wanted was to see Hou Mingzhu suffer, endure torment, and die a terrible death, preferably before her.
Then she would quickly catch up to Hou Mingzhu on the road to the underworld and laugh at her.
Su Muxian's hand gripped Hou Mingzhu's neck, her gaze drifting, her mind wandering somewhere else, until a familiar, cold male voice sounded softly behind her.
"Su Muxian, what are you trying to do?"
Su Muxian was startled and abruptly withdrew her hand. She turned around. The man had indeed returned and was standing not far behind her. She didn't know how long he had been there, only speaking now.
She quickly turned and knelt before the man, wanting to explain something, but stammered, unable to speak complete sentences.
"I, I... I didn't want to kill her, I just... just..."
The man's gaze swept over Su Muxian kneeling on the ground, and he sneered, saying, "Just what? Just warming her neck, hmm?"
"Su Muxian, you should remember what I said, shouldn't you? How dare you defy my wishes?"
Even though the man had not done anything yet, Su Muxian trembled with fear just thinking about it. "I really didn't do anything... Look, look, Hou Mingzhu is fine, not a single hair out of place!"
The man could naturally see this.
In fact, he knew very well that Su Muxian dared not harm Hou Mingzhu behind his back, which was why he had not intervened immediately upon discovering Su Muxian's actions. However, knowing this was one thing, but he could not refrain from issuing a warning.
For anything, there are only zero times and countless times.
If he didn't make Su Muxian afraid now, who knew what she might do in the future when her emotions got the better of her.
The man leaned down slightly and pinched Su Muxian's chin.
Su Muxian's face was pale. It was a truly beautiful face, even in her haggard state, she looked pitiful. Her eyes were filled with shattered moisture and profound fear, mixed with a hint of submissiveness. She dared not resist the man's actions, so she could only choose to comply.
If it were someone else, perhaps they would have felt pity.
But the man had lived for so many years and had seen all sorts of beautiful women. Su Muxian alone was not enough to sway him.
The man remained unmoved by Su Muxian.
"You know best. Hou Mingzhu cannot be harmed in any way. If she loses a single hair, you will lose ten. Do you understand what I mean?"
Su Muxian was terrified, but she dared not delay, immediately replying, "I understand, I understand everything!"
The man's cold gaze swept over Su Muxian's face before he released her.
He looked at Hou Mingzhu lying on the bed, confirmed that there were no issues with Hou Mingzhu and that she was still there, and then said to Su Muxian, "From now on, you should come here less often. Leave with me."
Su Muxian's hatred grew.
Even this man protected Hou Mingzhu like this. Why?
But she dared not disobey the man's orders, as she could not bear the consequences. Su Muxian quickly stood up in a flustered manner, obediently agreeing to the man's words, saying, "Yes, I will not come here again without your permission."
The man was satisfied with Su Muxian's behavior and took her away from the basement room.
Su Muxian followed behind the man and softly asked, "Do you have any instructions for Muxian?"
The man glanced at her.
"No, I've finished my business and have returned to rest."
Hearing this, Su Muxian immediately said solicitously, "Then let Muxian serve you to rest."
Su Muxian's intention was self-evident. This kind of thing had happened before, so when Su Muxian spoke, the man immediately understood the meaning behind her words.
The man thought for a moment and did not refuse.
Although he had seen countless beautiful women and did not find Su Muxian particularly special, the man did not need to refuse Su Muxian's service. It was not a loss for him, and he did not mind enjoying it.
Therefore, the man remained silent, but Su Muxian, based on her experience, knew that this was the man's tacit consent.
Su Muxian obediently followed the man. He turned and led Su Muxian to Su Muxian's room, not his own. The man disliked bringing women back to his room. Since Su Muxian had offered to serve him, he naturally had to go to her place.
Su Muxian was also aware of the man's habits and had no objections, or rather, dared not have any.
On the surface, she appeared obedient, but in reality, her hands were already clenched into tight fists, her fingernails leaving purplish-red marks on her palms. Su Muxian felt both hatred and fear, but had no other choice.
As for the man walking ahead of her, he was not unaware of Su Muxian's unwillingness, he simply ignored it.
After all, Su Muxian dared not betray or defy him. As long as his objectives were met, he did not care what Su Muxian thought, because it was not important to him.