Xia Manxi got some reprieve much later in the day. There was a lot more work than she would have thought, and she had missed lunch break. Liang Meirong saw her state and made her get some rest, while she continued to work. Xia Manxi who was too tired to be guilty, and left immediately after Liang Meirong suggested it.
She was half lying on a sofa in the break room staring blankly the ceiling when she heard the sound of something hitting the table next to her. She slowly looked towards it, and there was a glass of milk by her side. When she raised her head, Bai Xia was standing in front of her with a smile on her face.
Xia Manxi stared at her face, saying nothing. Bai Xia started to fumble nervously, and Xia Manxi slumped even further in her seat, paying her no attention.
".....Miss Xia?"
"What do you want?" Xia Manxi asked, sitting up reluctantly.
Bai Xia took a deep breath and smiled widely. A wave of irritation rose in Xia Manxi's heart as she looked at her.
"It's about yesterday. I still wanted to say thank you again. You have saved a little boy's life. I am grateful and hope we get along well in the future."
"Okay." Xia Manxi replied curtly.
Bai Xia however did not go away, taking a seat in another armchair.
"You look pretty tired, it seems Miss Liang is really busy today."
Xia Manxi side eyed her. "Hm."
"Well, she is still nice for letting you get some rest. Miss Liang works too hard."
Xia Manxi struggled to understand what Bai Xia was playing at. She wanted to ignore it, but also wanted to shut her up for good. She needed to play along.
"Yes, she is a really kind person."
Bai Xia perked up immediately. "Yes, yes she is kind to everyone and speaks to us a lot. Does she speak a lot with you too? She can be very fun and hilarious."
Xia Manxi finally turned to look at her, and there was a smile on her lips. "Yes she is, do you want to know what we spoke about too?"
"I...well-
"Save it. The real reason you even came was to find out if I told Miss Liang anything. Drop your stupid act."
Bai Xia Shook her head vigorously. "No Miss Xia, I am genuinely concerned about you."
Xia Manxi stood up, looking at Bai Xia with disgust. "I don't need you to worry about me. Stay away from me. If I see you hovering around me like this again, who knows, I might actually say something."
Bai Xia stood up as well, her face pale. "No, no don't say anything. It is sensitive to Miss Sun. I just came because I was concerned about you."
"Really?" Xia Manxi asked with her arms crossed.
"Yes, yes Miss Xia, you have to believe me!"
"Then explain something to me. What is the big deal about me donating blood to Miss Sun's Son?"
Bai Xia sputtered. "It's not a big deal, what do you mean?"
Xia Manxi smiled coldly. "If you wont tell me, then I should ask Miss Liang. She and Miss Sun are friends after all."
Bai Xia grabbed onto her shoulders in panic. Xia Manxi was unfazed, "What are you so scared about? It should not be a big deal, right?"
"That's enough from you, Xia Manxi." A cold voice spoke, causing Xia Manxi to turn to the entrance.
It was Sun Lanshan.
Her expression was stormy, but she kept herself calm. Xia Manxi did not care, these people did not scare her at all.
"Bai Xia, please leave us alone." She ordered coldly.
Bai Xia nodded and left the room as if it were on fire.
Sun Lanshan narrowed her her eyes, and a chilling smile appeared on her lips.
"Xia Manxi, I thought you were smart and knew where not to venture. It seems I overestimated you."
Xia Manxi simply shrugged. "It is none of my business as you said, so stop sending that fly around me. It is only making you look more suspicious."
Sun Lanshan remained silent for a moment, then threw her head back in mirthless laughter.
"Whether or not I have something to hide should not concern you. The best option is for you to look the other way. You don't want to know what I am fully capable of doing to you."
Xia Manxi did not know what Sun Lanshan was capable of, but she most definitely knew how to keep her mouth shut. She spent a long time in the Chen family, and only managed to get out without a target on her back because she pretended she knew nothing.
Knowledge was dangerous if you were a pawn.
She did not want to become this woman's target, but her fate would probably be worse if she became a submissive fool like Bai Xia. She would eventually be discarded, or worse used as a scapegoat. If she showed weakness here, Sun Lanshan would find a way to exploit it.
She was not going to retreat this time.
Xia Manxi smiled. "Put your claws away. It will not benefit me in any way to share whatever secret it is you are hiding. I just wanted to do something to kill time, and was offered this opportunity. I mean no harm to anyone, but you should also know that if you or anyone else under your thumb comes anywhere near me, I will find out what you are hiding, and I will not keep quiet."
Sun Lanshan's fingers dug into flesh, and Xia Manxi could see blood dripping from her fist.
Xia Manxi was not done.
"Stay away from me, and I will stay in my lane as you want. Do we have a deal?"
Sun Lanshan turned away from her and exhaled loudly. "Alright, fine. We have a deal. But you should know that this is not over."
Xia Manxi chuckled. "You seem to always like to be right, to have the last laugh, but this time just honour your word. It is the easiest solution. I am not someone you should mess with either. I have better things to do. Let's stick to work while I am here."
With that, she patted Sun Lanshan's shoulders with a grin and walked out of the breakroom.
Sun Lanshan wanted to scream, to throw something but could not. She was still at work and questions would be asked. She inhaled and exhaled for several minutes before she could calm down, then turned to stare the the door Xia Manxi walked out of with a cruel smile on her lips.