「The Flying Bird」

Standing motionless in front of the mirror.

Her facial expression instantly shifted from extreme excitement to a sickly pallor.

Mu Xia pressed her face against the mirror,

inch by inch,

gazing at her own expression.

Like carving a design, she lifted the corners of her mouth,

mechanically adjusting it into the perfect, flawless smile that others expected to see.

【Ah.】

【How I envy her.】

Her peripheral vision swept over the trash can, and her breathing gradually became uneven.

「Sister is like a bird.」

The back view when leaving, the light footsteps,

made Mu Xia feel terrible.

Every time she watched her walk out the door without a care,

every time she watched her play the piano without restraint,

every time she heard her watch dramas without inhibition in the room—

Mu Xia's heart would feel like an old object locked in a prison for over a decade,

dirty yet powerless to cleanse.

“Little Mu.”

“Little Mu…”

Her lips softly called out her sister's name,

Mu Xia's expression was one of pain and heartache.

She retrieved the biscuit from the trash can.

Tearing open the packaging,

with all her strength,

she bit down on one side.

Biting it in half.

She grabbed the half-spilled coffee cup,

ignoring the sticky and dirty surface,

and lifted the plastic lid,

drinking from the rim.

“……”

Outside the door,

Gao Ban leaned against the wall, her arms crossed, staring at the stopwatch on her wrist.

“It's starting again.”

Gao Ban would not interrupt.

Because she knew,

Miss, was releasing her stress.

—By indulging in the “flavor” of Miss Lin Mu, to release the pressure that nearly crushed the last nerve.

Come to think of it,

what kind of scent does Miss Lin Mu have?

Gao Ban had investigated multiple times but had never reached a conclusion.

However, recently, she had some understanding.

It seemed.

“It's the scent of 'freedom.'”

—The 'freedom' that Miss Mu Xia is most powerless to possess,

most yearns for, most desires, most needs,

even to the point of harboring twisted cravings and insane obsessions for,

the scent of 'freedom.'

Alas.

As her personal housekeeper, manager, and bodyguard, Gao Ban Weihua had a clear understanding of Mu Xia.

Even if asked about the color of Miss's swimsuit, she could instantly name over twenty brands and thirty styles without hesitation.

When it came to her mental state, even more so.

Familiar as her own hand.

“I remember her first episode of this symptom seemed to be…”

—That pivotal moment.

【“Gao Ban, this is what Little Mu wants, arrange it.”】

【Yes, Miss.】

【Gao Ban, wait. What pattern is on this guitar?】

【Hello, Miss, it's a seagull.】

【A seagull?】

【Yes.】

【Why a seagull?】

Miss, I have looked up the information. PRS electric guitars feature seagulls embedded on the fretboard as a classic brand characteristic. Many color-conscious musicians purchase this guitar specifically because they like the seagulls, spending three to five ten thousand yuan.

【Who recommended this to Little Mu?】

【Miss, I don't know.】

【。】

That moment was the first time I saw Miss Mu Xia's face clouded with gloom.

—A gloom that could engulf everything.

Gao Ban understood.

Miss's love for Miss Lin Mu was love to the extreme,

love without reservation.

Giving up the offer from the Juilliard School of Music for her already showed how important Miss Lin Mu was to her.

But, from one day on, I don't know where it started,

Miss changed.

It was as if she had been stimulated by something, no longer able to control her emotions at all times.

She seemed to need「release.」

And in the past, these necessary conditions for release were always that Lin Mu was by her side.

—At Master's house, Lin Mu could always be treated as a cute doll sister by Miss, used to heal, to chat.

“Come to think of it, ever since Miss Lin Mu moved out… she's been like this.”

Gao Ban pondered.

Wanting to help Mu Xia but feeling powerless.

Her gaze turned towards the room.

…

Inside the room,

she finished the coffee in one gulp.

Wiping her lips with the back of her hand, she stood up again without any grace.

“Gao Ban, let's go.”

Time was limited; Mu Xia straightened her dress.

“Mm.”

Gao Ban took out the car keys and left the piano room first, giving her the final moments to compose herself.

Tap, tap, tap…

Mu Xia's high heels clicked on the floor, the sound muffled yet crisp, like the bass drum of a performance.

She adjusted her expression as much as possible.

Preparing to meet the next batch of audiences,

preparing to kill the next segment of the schedule.

Without Lin Mu by her side, everything seemed to lose its substance.

Never had she imagined,

that the one she cared about the most would one day no longer need her.

No longer share all her inner thoughts with her.

This was something Mu Xia could not accept.

Absolutely not.

Memories as vivid as yesterday.

【Little Mu, why are you sad today, can you tell your sister?】

【Little Mu, did Father scold you again?】

【Little Mu, rest assured, your sister will always be by your side, protecting you.】

【Little Mu, don't cry, Father is just like that, speaking without thinking, never considering others' feelings.】

【Little Mu, what did you say? You really want to move out?】

【Little Mu…】

【Alright, Little Mu, I respect your decision. But you must remember, your sister will always stand by you, no matter what troubles, pains, or sorrows you have, you can always contact me, okay?】

【Little Mu, how have you been lately? Do you still cry alone in bed at night?】

【Hmm? Little Mu, you want an electric guitar? Aren't you playing bass? Starting a dual specialization now? Being greedy is not good, you know.】

【Little Mu, you seem very happy lately, have you found a new joy in life?】

Little Mu…

Some time ago,

her sister's smile began to grow more frequent.

Her own smile—

was fake.

Her sister's smile,

was genuine.

Her sister,

seemed to have found a new「pillar.」

She could live on her own, find happiness independently.

Even if she didn't go out, didn't socialize, didn't attend school, didn't date,

her sister still occasionally, during moments of aimless thinking, after scrolling through her phone, would reveal expressions of nostalgia, infatuation, regret, anticipation, hope, and resentment,

vividly,

full of anticipation for the future.

Why was that?

It seemed as if she had become someone who could live well even without her.

Why was that?

【Who.】

【Who took Little Mu away from me.】

【Little Mu is mine, the most important sister to me.】

【Her life, must have my involvement.】

【Her troubles, can only be told to me.】

【Her hair, should not be touched by any outsider.】

【Who.】

「Who is interfering with my control.」

Mu Xia took a deep breath.

Clearly, clearly her expression, that apologetic look,

every time it appeared, it would make her heart race,

giving rise to a fierce, soaring sense of satisfaction—

Clearly, planting self-doubt into her body,

was her greatest pleasure,

Countless times watching her cry in secret,

approaching her at such times to offer comfort,

making her grateful, embracing her,

was her indispensable secret to relieve stress;

Ah……

“Who exactly.”

“Who, took away my toy.”

“Who, is challenging me?”

「Heh heh.」

Mu Xia let out a dangerous sigh.

Her icy face revealed a playful smile.

「You, be careful.」

“Don't let me find you.”

……

……