Since the man who littered the cigarette butt died there, it had to be dangerous. Zhu Xi Ning's danger perception had yet to trigger, so Nan Yue had to consider another possibility.
Was there something wrong with the space or time in this castle?
Nan Yue was short on time. She gave a quick instruction and hurried back to Miss Wen's boudoir on the fourth floor.
Miss Wen was already up, sitting in her wheelchair, facing away from the others and looking out the window.
"Miss, the weather is nice today. Would you like to go for a walk?"
Wen Shen leaned down and whispered in Miss Wen's ear. Miss Wen did not answer, silent as a pool of stagnant water.
Nan Yue stood behind them. Although the five of them did not have specific tasks, the feeling of walking on thin ice was far worse than the busy work outside.
Suddenly, Nan Yue, who was looking down, heard the sound of wheelchair wheels moving slowly across the carpet. A splash of bright red skirt appeared in her peripheral vision.
"You, accompany me downstairs for a walk."
Nan Yue complied. When she looked up and saw Miss Wen, all the excuses she had prepared vanished.
The Miss Wen before her was indeed Wen Xiang Yuan.
Yet she was not the Wen Xiang Yuan Nan Yue knew.
She was even more beautiful and noble. Dressed in elegant clothes and jewelry, she possessed the untouchable aura of a royal flower.
Her expression was also different from what Nan Yue usually saw. There was no smiling or acting spoiled; even her anxiety and sorrow usually carried the simple, cute flavor of a young girl.
The Wen Xiang Yuan before her had an arrogant expression, but framed by her exquisite features, even that was beautiful.
One could even say she should have such an expression.
Wen Xiang Yuan's almond-shaped eyes, which were usually beautiful, gentle, and watery, were now dead and cold.
It was as if Wen Xiang Yuan's soul had been swapped for another; except for her looks, there was nothing to connect the two.
"Yes, Miss."
Nan Yue's momentary daze lasted only a second. Her exceptional professional quality allowed her to adjust quickly to any situation.
Wen Xiang Yuan was an NPC. This was a suspicion they all shared.
Now, that suspicion had become reality.
They had entered Wen Xiang Yuan's pollution world.
"Wen Shen, you don't need to come."
Wen Shen hesitated slightly, glanced at the dutiful Nan Yue, and finally stepped aside.
"Yes, Miss."
Nan Yue took Wen Shen's place and pushed the wheelchair toward the exit. The wheelchair was clearly custom-made, requiring very little effort to move.
Nan Yue had worried she might need to carry Miss Wen down the stairs, but the wheelchair somehow descended the steps as smoothly as if it were on level ground.
Following behind Wen Xiang Yuan, Nan Yue's mind raced.
If Wen Xiang Yuan's identity in this mission world was the daughter of the noble Wen family, everything made sense.
Her knowledge of the mission world, her vast store of information, her familiarity with high society, and even the aristocratic air in her every movement.
However, Nan Yue had not expected Wen Xiang Yuan to be disabled in this world, and...
The most important question now was whether Wen Xiang Yuan had any self-awareness.
Did Wen Xiang Yuan recognize her?
Judging solely by her action of dismissing Wen Shen to be alone with her, it was possible she remembered their time in the real world. But Nan Yue was not optimistic.
If Wen Xiang Yuan truly had her own consciousness, she would have found a way to warn her.
Specifically, about the attack that had almost happened last night.
Nan Yue was certain Wen Xiang Yuan would recognize her instantly, but Wen Xiang Yuan had not shown any sign of it yesterday.
If someone else had seen that fleshy worm last night and made a sound in panic, their bones probably would not even be left by now.
Nan Yue followed Wen Xiang Yuan down and pushed her wheelchair to a gazebo in the garden.
A maid immediately set out fresh fruit and English black tea.
Then they stood to the side, as still as the gazebo's pillars.
"Get out."
Miss Wen gazed coldly at the lush, vibrant flowerbeds nearby. Hearing her words, the maids hesitated.
Nan Yue turned around with a cold face. "Didn't you hear the lady? I think you don't want to work here anymore."
Only then did the maids realize that this newcomer seemed to have struck gold and become a personal maid.
She could already give them orders.
The maids immediately dispersed, standing in the scorching sun some distance away in case they were needed.
"You're quite clever."
Miss Wen turned her wheelchair to face Nan Yue. Her gaze was deep, a bottomless look Nan Yue had never seen before.
"Are you sent by my brother?"
Wen Xiang Yuan had no personal consciousness. Nan Yue was certain of it at that moment.
"But you took a risk to warn me yesterday. Why? Do you want to play double agent?"
Miss Wen slowly pushed her wheelchair in a circle around Nan Yue, like a hunter who had trapped its prey and was now toying with it before the kill.
"No. I only entered Eden Garden the day before yesterday. I have never seen the young master before."
"I don't know the affairs of Eden Garden. I only know that I follow the orders of whoever I serve."
A playful yet malicious gaze lingered on Nan Yue for a long time before finally turning away.
"So that means you are loyal to me now?"
Nan Yue's expression was very submissive. "Yes."
"In that case, I have a task for you."
Miss Wen rested her chin on her hand, looking at Nan Yue with a smile.
Miss Wen was extremely beautiful when she smiled, especially now, framed by the vast field of roses. The curve of her lips was perfect, as if she had practiced her most beautiful look countless times.
Compared to the innocent smiles Nan Yue usually saw, this smile was more refined and... more spine-chilling.
"Please give your orders, Miss."
"My brother has a notebook in his office on the third floor. It has a black cover with a sword emblem branded on it."
"Go and get it for me."
Only then did Nan Yue realize the malicious intent of this Miss Wen.
Miss Wen's influence in the castle was far inferior to Master Wen's. If Nan Yue made a mistake while "taking" the notebook, Miss Wen would definitely not protect her.
On the other hand, if she did not go, this fickle Miss Wen would probably kill her right now.
"This notebook is very important to me."
Miss Wen said nonchalantly, "I will delay Butler Zhao for half an hour. The rest is up to you."
"Don't even think about snitching."
Miss Wen's eyes flickered with a very clear warning.
"If my brother finds out you know about this notebook, you won't survive either."
Rate on N.U.
