Chapter 45: You Are the Problem!
Startled by the voice from the newcomer, Sumu abruptly turned her head to look at the source of the sound.
It was a black-haired woman with a frosty expression, wearing a simple white robe, her tall figure towering over Sumu, looking down at her with sharp eyes.
Those elongated, phoenix-like eyes were as dark as ink, reflecting Sumu’s flustered appearance.
Who is this person?
Without thinking, Sumu took a step back, her calf hitting the corner of the balcony, and she softened in the knees, sitting down on the grass mat, temporarily locking eyes with the woman in a daze.
Such a beautiful face; even with the cross scar that lingered at the corner of her eye, it was still exquisite and flawless, like an orchid on a high peak—
Indeed, the shape of that cross scar resembled a blooming orchid, distant and noble.
“Wait, Master, she is my friend Sumu.”
Lando’s clear voice suddenly came from another room, instantly easing the tense atmosphere and making Sumu feel a sense of relief.
“Friend? I don’t recall you mentioning it to me in advance… Prepare tea for the guest first.”
Luo Linglan’s gaze did not soften; she merely turned her focus towards Lando. Perhaps due to Sumu’s presence, she refrained from reprimanding Lando directly, but Sumu could sense the rebuke in her tone.
She is Luo Jialan’s master? Why is she so cold?
In her confusion, Luo Linglan walked forward and sat down facing the window, her long black hair cascading down nearly to the ground, absorbing both sunlight and attention.
Her mere presence was so oppressive that Sumu found it hard to breathe.
“You are Sumu, right? I have heard Jialan mention you. She’s a willful child; please take care of her.”
Willful? That seems to fit…
“May I ask who you are?”
“I am Luo Linglan, Jialan’s mother.”
At these words, Sumu felt a jolt in her heart and had to suppress the urge to exclaim, followed by a light cough.
“I’m sorry, I couldn’t tell.”
It was hard for anyone to imagine that this woman could be Luo Jialan’s mother, the one who seemed to be the Desire Witch.
She was undoubtedly tall among women, even comparable to most adult men, and her stature, perfectly complemented by her towering curves, was truly awe-inspiring.
Rather than alluring, it was more majestic; her aura was so commanding that it created an illusion of standing before a mountain.
And her beauty was like a flower standing at the mountain’s peak—though Luo Linglan was within arm’s reach of Sumu, it felt as if she were far away, unattainable.
Compared to the petite Luo Jialan, the two were not identical but rather completely unrelated.
Not to mention that she gave orders to Lando in such a cold tone; even Sumu didn’t think it was the attitude a mother should have towards her child.
But Sumu’s own mother was hardly any better.
“I know I don’t act like a mother, so I have Jialan call me Master.”
“Hehe, um, I’m not very familiar with these matters…”
Sumu could only force a smile, her palms starting to sweat.
This isn’t good; I’m not good at handling situations like this.
She had always avoided face-to-face interactions with strangers, especially those of higher status or seniority. At this moment, that mindset was rearing its head.
Moreover, Luo Linglan was such a stern person.
Sumu’s nervousness wasn’t hidden; it was evident from her wandering gaze and her hands unsure of where to land.
Noticing this, Luo Linglan said nothing more and quietly got up to leave, which suited Sumu just fine.
It wasn’t that bad after all; at least she understood facial expressions.
Unlike my own mom, who would just flop onto the sofa when drunk, completely indifferent to how dinner was managed.
At that moment, Lando calmly walked in with a teapot and sat across from Sumu.
“Pretty oppressive, isn’t she?”
Sumu nodded, picked up her tea, and took a sip, studying Lando carefully.
Only after Luo Linglan left did she remember that she was currently in the so-called Layer Two dream.
The furnishings inside were quite similar to the usual martial arts hall; at first glance, everything seemed fine, but when Sumu focused her gaze, she discovered something surprising.
It was unclear.
At first, she thought it was her issue, but after blinking, the ambiguity remained—only the colors blended vaguely into the surroundings.
This kind of “blur” mostly appeared in inconspicuous corners, like the ceiling, the edges of the table, and complex patterns on the grass mat.
It was as if she were truly dreaming, muddled enough to discern a certain object but unable to explain its presence or specific appearance.
After perceiving the “blur,” Sumu quickly discovered many illogical aspects.
There were flip-flops at the entrance, outside was sunny; she had almost gotten sunburned on the martial arts hall’s balcony, yet now, she felt no heat at all, only a concept of “warmth” being imparted by the surrounding environment.
The tea Lando brewed should have been scalding hot, but after being poured, it promptly ceased to emit steam, instantly reaching a drinkable temperature, as if by magic.
Most absurdly, a sandbag labeled “Luo Linglan” was hanging awkwardly in the center of the hall, yet that woman acted as if she were oblivious to it!
Such a strict person would be indifferent to it—Sumu absolutely could not believe it.
So she began to pay attention to Lando, wanting to see if she exhibited similar differences.
And upon closer inspection, she noticed something even more astonishing.
The Lando before her was noticeably younger than the one she knew; this was evident from her voice and appearance.
Even classifying her as a loli would be accurate; the originally tiny dumplings that could barely fill the fabric now completely lost all semblances of their presence, transforming entirely into “secured” form.
What she was wearing was the most common white T-shirt usually paired with the Snow King’s uniform.
“Don’t zone out; she’s already gone. We might as well continue with what we couldn’t finish today.”
“What unfinished business? You can’t mean…”
Hearing this, Sumu snapped back to reality, but after trying to understand Lando’s words for a while, she fell into a daze once more.
Lando put down the teapot, her fingers eagerly fidgeting as she observed Sumu’s reaction.
If she agrees, that’s great; if not, then I’ll just have to enjoy this squeezing by myself.
Upon noticing the red heart flickering deep within Lando’s eyes, Sumu unconsciously widened her eyes, stumbling over her words.
I understand now! I completely understand! Lando, today’s situation has nothing to do with your mother; you yourself are the problem!
