Chapter 2: No Way I'm Having a Child
After her bath, Mu Xiaoxiao put on the aqua blue dress the maids had prepared for her.
When she opened the door, a group of maids stood respectfully outside. "Where's your master?" she demanded. The man who had kidnapped and violated her was her sworn enemy. Though she didn't hate the maids, she certainly had no intention of treating them kindly.
One of the maids stepped forward. "The Young Master isn't here. If you have any questions, you can ask Steward Li." She gestured politely.
Frowning, Mu Xiaoxiao followed the maid.
It wasn't hard to tell that this was a luxurious villa. The paintings on the walls were masterpieces, and even the floors were made of slip-resistant material.
Soon, Mu Xiaoxiao reached the ground floor. At the foot of the stairs stood a middle-aged man in a black suit and bow tie, his black hair neatly combed. His expression was stern, his gaze fixed ahead until Mu Xiaoxiao appeared before him.
Steward Li turned to her and spoke calmly, "Miss, if you have questions, ask. I'll tell you what I can."
"Who are you people, and why did you kidnap me?" Mu Xiaoxiao demanded, her voice rising in anger. She shifted slightly and winced. "Ow…" The pain from her body's soreness reminded her of the previous night.
"Help her to the sofa," Li Shu instructed.
A maid stepped forward to assist her. Too tired to resist, Mu Xiaoxiao complied. Inside, she cursed the man who had tormented her—calling him a beast, a pervert, a scoundrel.
"Miss, it's best you don't know who we are. Knowing could put your life in danger. As for why you're here, it's because you can give our Young Master a child," Li Shu explained, his tone calm and measured.
A child?
Mu Xiaoxiao's mind flashed back to the night before when that deranged man whispered in her ear, asking her to have his child.
Ridiculous. There were plenty of women in the world. Why her?
"Let me go, or I'll report you for kidnapping," she said coldly, her eyes full of warning.
Unfazed, Li Shu replied evenly, "Miss Mu, believe me, nothing you say can threaten our Young Master."
"You…" Mu Xiaoxiao pointed at Li Shu, too enraged to form words. After a pause, she snapped, "Who is your Young Master?"
"As I said, it's better for your safety if you don't know," Li Shu replied softly.
These people were insane—selfish, arrogant, and utterly indifferent to her feelings. She had no intention of bearing a child for some stranger.
She glared at Li Shu. "When do you plan to let me leave?"
Li Shu ignored her angry stare. "The Young Master said once you're pregnant, you'll be free to leave. We'll ensure you and the child live comfortably."
So that was it—they saw her as nothing more than a tool to produce a child.
Seeing the burly men stationed by the doors, Mu Xiaoxiao quickly abandoned any thoughts of escape.
Better to live to fight another day. "I'm hungry. Cook me something, and I'll tell you what I want," she said, her mind racing with plans to prevent pregnancy. Luckily, her medical knowledge gave her an advantage. She knew which foods could act as contraceptives.
"Of course," Li Shu agreed. As long as she didn't try to leave or contact the outside world, they would grant her requests.
Mu Xiaoxiao shot Li Shu a cold look. "Lend me a phone. I need to call my family."
"You don't need to worry about your family. We've already made arrangements," he replied, completely composed.
Mu Xiaoxiao could only grit her teeth in frustration. These wolves had her completely cornered.
Slumping onto the sofa, she thought bitterly, Is there anyone in the world unluckier than me?
"Miss Mu, what would you like to eat?" a maid asked.
"Huh?" Mu Xiaoxiao snapped back to reality. She glanced at the maid and stood up. "Take me to the kitchen, and I'll tell you."
Since escape wasn't an option, she might as well use the time to research methods to prevent pregnancy.
For now, the most important thing was getting out of this suffocating place. If direct confrontation didn't work, she'd have to use her wits. From what she could tell, her only chance to leave would come if they believed she was pregnant. With her medical skills, she could fake the symptoms. There was no way she was having that bastard's child.
In the kitchen, Mu Xiaoxiao walked to the refrigerator. Just as she reached for it, a maid opened it for her. She shot the maid a glare, but the woman remained unfazed, her head slightly bowed. "Miss, just tell the chef what you'd like, and he'll prepare it for you."
Mu Xiaoxiao scanned the ingredients inside and felt a flicker of relief. Everything she needed was there.
Smiling faintly, she instructed the chef on how to prepare a few dishes. "That'll do. Rotate these dishes daily, and feel free to add some variety."
"Understood," the chef replied.
Leaving the kitchen, Mu Xiaoxiao noticed the maid trailing her closely. It was stifling. There was nothing in this villa to connect her to the outside world—no TV, no computer. It was unbearably dull.
Abruptly, she turned to the maid. "Can I go for a walk in the garden?"
"Um…" The maid hesitated, clearly unsure.
Mu Xiaoxiao's frustration boiled over. "What are you people trying to do? There's no TV, no computer—do you want to bore me to death?"
Her raised voice echoed through the vast villa.
"Accompany Miss Mu to the garden," Li Shu said, appearing at the sound of her outburst.
"Yes, sir." The maid bowed slightly and gestured for Mu Xiaoxiao to follow.
As if I need someone to show me the way, Mu Xiaoxiao thought irritably.
When she stepped outside, however, she understood. They had stationed guards to flank her at all times. Did they really think she could escape on her own? How paranoid could they be?
Though she had come outside for fresh air, the oppressive atmosphere left her feeling heavier than ever. "Can't you people give me some space? I'm not going to run away," she snapped, grabbing the head maid's arm. "She can stay with me. The rest of you, back off. I'm begging you."
The group exchanged uneasy looks. After a pause, the head maid relented. "Keep watch from a distance. Make sure the gates are secure," she instructed.
"Yes, ma'am." The guards retreated.
Satisfied, Mu Xiaoxiao let go of the maid and wandered ahead.
The garden was breathtaking, filled with vibrant flowers. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, the floral scent soothing her nerves.
Turning to the maid, she asked, "Hey, can you look at me for a second? I want to ask you something." Seeing the maid's puzzled frown only irritated her further. "Don't worry, it's not about your Young Master. I just want to know—are there a lot of flowers here?"
The maid, seeing her interest in flowers, answered enthusiastically, "We have all kinds of flowers. There's even a flower field nearby. If you want any, just let us know."
Mu Xiaoxiao nodded thoughtfully. "Good. Well, I'm tired. I want to go back to my room." Her plan was beginning to take shape. With access to the flowers, she could gather the materials she needed to fake a pregnancy.
But who exactly was this man?
If he wanted her pregnant, he would surely return every night. Then she would finally know which bastard was behind all this.
"Miss, we've arrived at your room," the maid said, snapping her out of her thoughts.
"Oh… bring me a glass of milk," Mu Xiaoxiao said as she stepped into her room and shut the door behind her.