5352

Chapter 5352: Pride

"I don't even have a real mother!"

"You're right, Qiao Mu." Mu Rouxuan lowered her head slightly and took a step back. "I'm foolish. I never even suspected her true identity when Mother gave me the modified potion."

"It wasn't until I saw Xiaoxue that I deeply felt Mother's attitude towards me was completely different from her attitude towards Xiaoxue."

"Because I always held onto a sliver of hope. Even in my current crippled state, perhaps if I just listened to Mother, I could win her affection."

"I never once contradicted her. Qiao Mu, do you know? Before you appeared, at least she still..." Mu Rouxuan choked, almost unable to speak.

"She still treated me as her daughter. Although she was always cold and distant towards me, without much tenderness, at least she wouldn't break my heart like this. She wouldn't make me feel despair."

"You won, Qiao Mu. I am a complete loser. I'm not as good as you..." Mu Rouxuan laughed bitterly, then turned to leave, looking utterly distraught.

But then, an intensely cold voice reached her ears, "You were never my opponent."

Mu Xingchen's heart involuntarily trembled. He could barely bear to look at Rouxuan's face, knowing how desperate and defeated she must appear at this moment.

When the little stoic was soft and adorable, she could melt your heart. Yet, once she became cold and ruthless, she could evoke an inexplicable fear.

Mu Rouxuan's departing figure staggered slightly, then she suddenly laughed wildly and strode away. Yes, how ironic. Her self-proclaimed rival had never even considered her a threat. Was there anything more humiliating than that?

Mu Rouxuan almost fled with her face covered, not daring to look back, nor even to glance at the people behind her. Qiao Mu, this cold-hearted and ruthless woman, knew how to destroy someone's willpower with a single sentence.

Mu Xingchen stood there in a daze, watching Mu Rouxuan's fleeing back, and let out a long sigh. "Qiao Qiao, tell me... what will happen to Rouxuan in the end?"

"Her body already shows signs of cracking and zombification. This indicates that her modification wasn't progressing positively," Qiao Mu said, her expression indifferent, as if Mu Rouxuan and she were complete strangers.

"There will only be two outcomes. One is successful modification, turning her into a relatively perfect living corpse. The best possible result might be that she retains her own thoughts. The second is complete modification failure, where her physical body collapses and turns into a puddle of mud."

Mu Xingchen shivered, his voice trembling slightly. "C-can we help her, Qiao Qiao?"

Qiao Mu glanced at her elder brother, then sighed softly, asking instead of answering, "Big Brother, do you think Mu Rouxuan would accept my help?"

If Mu Rouxuan wanted to save herself, she would naturally ask Mu Xingchen for help. But she hadn't done so, clearly indicating that Mu Rouxuan didn't think she needed saving. Qiao Mu wasn't born with a saintly halo, compelled to save everyone she met. If Mu Rouxuan were to ask her elder brother for help in this matter, she naturally wouldn't stand idly by. But since the other person hadn't spoken, she wasn't necessarily willing to meddle.

The little stoic's question left Mu Xingchen dumbfounded, standing there speechless. Yes, with Rouxuan's proud nature, how could she possibly accept Qiao Qiao's help?