Chapter 87: Extremely Terrible Punishment Mechanism
Almost instantly, Luo Lan, who had just been wearing a stern expression, now stammered and couldn’t find her words, followed by a sharp rise in temperature from the base of her neck to her forehead, overloading…
“Sorry, I must have been a bit offensive in what I just said. I think I remember something now.”
Luo Lan, who had originally been pushing Sumu away, immediately changed her hand gesture to grasp Sumu’s wrist and pulled her back into the room.
It seemed there was something very important that she had forgotten and needed to explore more on the bed. Just as the two were entangled, Luo Linglan, who had already been awakened by the noise, appeared on the other side of the Martial Arts Hall wearing a thin, sheer short-sleeved nightdress, looking blandly in their direction.
There was no fluctuation in her gaze, but her steps became noticeably quicker and heavier.
The approaching footsteps immediately startled the two girls, who instinctively moved away from each other to avoid being caught in a shameful scene.
“Hello, are you a classmate of Jialan? Are you here to see her?”
“Um, yes.”
Sumu didn’t reveal her purpose to avoid drawing Luo Linglan’s attention, and Luo Lan nodded along beside her.
“Is that so? Then if you don’t mind, please stay and sit for a while~”
“Um, okay.”
Sumu awkwardly responded to Luo Linglan’s words, hesitantly sitting down on the grass mat.
It felt just like sneaking into a girl you like’s home, being invited for tea by her parents; it was unsettling.
Staring at her with a strong sense of pressure and rigorous speech made Sumu’s social anxiety flare up a bit.
But after a moment, Sumu sensed something unusual.
Luo Linglan was dressed a bit too revealingly.
In Sumu’s understanding, Luo Linglan had always dressed very modestly before her downfall, making every effort to avoid exposing her skin, much like a female Taoist nun.
But today, she came out wearing nothing but a sheer nightdress, which made Sumu wary, recalling what Luo Lan had advised her earlier.
That’s right, the current Luo Linglan is no longer just the intimidating “Orchid of the Ridge”; if certain taboos are touched, she might transform into a dangerous predator at any moment.
Taking advantage of the time Luo Linglan was making tea, Sumu quickly pulled Luo Lan over to inquire.
“I remember your master seems to have quite a few rules, tell me quickly.”
Upon hearing this, Luo Lan was slightly taken aback.
“How do you know… Such complicated things, I surely can’t explain them in a few words, but I have a vague feeling that you must not lie to her.”
Cannot lie?
Luo Lan’s vague wording led Sumu to gradually have suspicions; perhaps the first memory point was related to lies?
Regardless of the person, everyone has a little secret or something they need to hide, and when asked, whether out of guilt or simply out of obligation, there will always be moments when one lies.
But most people would probably get a harsh lesson the first time they lie.
Thinking of that horrifying exam paper, Sumu suddenly realized.
Luo Jialan must have lied, and it is only natural that she was reprimanded.
So how should one intervene in such matters? If it were Sumu, she would likely choose the same solution out of nervousness.
Just wait and see what happens.
“This classmate, what is your relationship with Jialan?”
Luo Linglan walked over with a teapot and poured Sumu a cup of steaming light pink tea, its enchanting color and fragrance making Sumu hesitate to take a sip, only able to respond to Luo Linglan’s question.
“Just friends.”
“Is that so?”
Luo Linglan’s dark eyes lightly scanned Sumu’s face, making the latter’s heart cool slightly.
The simple two words that slipped from her vermilion lips were not mere idle chatter; they were indeed questioning Sumu.
The strong sense of crisis made Sumu involuntarily cross her arms and lean back.
Is there a problem with such a simple answer?
“Um, I don’t think Sumu and I are friends.”
Luo Lan suddenly interjected, saying something that made Sumu raise her eyebrows, but what came next made her frown even more.
“We are lovers.”
Wow, how bold!
Yet, surprisingly, Luo Linglan nodded in acceptance of this statement, retracting her strong pressure as if everything that had just happened had never occurred.
Is this okay?
Sumu reproachfully pinched Luo Lan’s waist gently from behind while carefully keeping an eye on the oddities about Luo Linglan.
Upon closer inspection, apart from her clothing, the scar at the corner of her eye that resembled an orchid had now completely disappeared, replaced by a small beauty mark, bringing her closer to the world, no longer seeming so distant.
“Then Sumu, is there something special you came to see Jialan for?”
While speaking, Luo Linglan pretended to be casual and directed her gaze toward Sumu, as if ready to capture any hesitation or turmoil on her face.
This question put Sumu in another dilemma, forcing her to cast a pleading glance at Luo Lan.
Why is she targeting me? Aren’t you the main character here?
Sumu’s purpose in coming here wasn’t about the exam paper; she was here to help Luo Lan dispel the dark magic, to light up the memory point.
According to Luo Lan, continuing to lie to Luo Linglan might get her targeted, but how could she say such things? Whatever way it would sound very strange.
This question could only be answered by Luo Lan herself.
“Oh, she’s here to help me with the exam paper.”
Luo Lan, caught off guard by that gaze, quickly made this response that Sumu thought was extremely wrong.
Why is she confessing?
Sumu couldn’t help but facepalm; the content that should have been concealed well was now blurted out by the main party herself.
Well, I’d better find a way myself; it’s about time the 57-point Luo Jialan is dealt with.
“How much did you score?”
“57.”
She didn’t lie.
Sumu was a bit surprised, looking at the guilty-looking Luo Lan, overturning her previous thoughts.
No, this isn’t her first time lying, so what does this mean?
Sure enough, after hearing the number Luo Lan called out, Luo Linglan’s expression darkened significantly.
Not merely descriptive, but her skin genuinely darkened, approaching a deep seductive hue like Ning Xi’s, while the depth of her gaze gradually lit up with an unusual sheen.
Not good, I’ve touched her taboo!
“Jialan, didn’t I tell you that you must at least pass the exam?”
“But this time it was really too difficult…”
“Is that so? Then Sumu, how much did you score?”
Just as Sumu was about to bury her head under the table, she was suddenly fixed on by two sets of scrutinizing gazes, her body freezing, and her heart skipped a beat.
Can you please spare Shushu?! Can you not mess with Shushu? You two are making it really difficult for me here.
“I didn’t take the exam; I’m not in the same class as her.”
That was also the truth, right? After all…
“Classmate Sumu, I’m very curious as to why you’re being so cautious? Is it because I put too much pressure on you? To the extent that—”
Luo Jialan suddenly sat up straighter, casting a shadow over Sumu, making her heart race with alarm.
“You always say incorrect things.”
Incorrect things? What do you mean? I’m clearly speaking the truth!
But Sumu had no time to consider this, as Luo Linglan was now approaching her with a pair of love-eyed stares, while pairs of wet tentacles swirled in the air behind her.
Wait, how could there be such a terrible punishment mechanism related to creepy stories?!
