Chapter 45: Ch 45: White Roses and Thunderous Discipline
Su Wanyan remained vigilant beneath her calm exterior, skillfully masking the wariness that prickled along her spine. The blindfold kept her world in darkness, sharpening her other senses—especially the unfamiliar white rose scent growing stronger with every step.
"Is that you, Teacher Lin?" she asked, her voice carrying a gentle but deliberately distant tone, accompanied by a polite smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.
The figure in the doorway offered no immediate reply. Instead, soft footsteps approached, each one drawing the potent floral fragrance closer until it enveloped her like a cloying cloud.
Su Wanyan pursed her lips and subtly shifted away, creating distance on the bed. "Teacher Lin, must you get too close?" she asked with a light laugh, though the words carried an unmistakable undercurrent of warning.
The footsteps paused. Su Wanyan let out a quiet breath of relief. Phew. If Gu Chengze saw this segment and misinterpreted it as me being lovey-dovey with Lin Xuanyu, my ending would be far worse than in the original novel, she thought, a small involuntary shiver running through her body at the grim possibility.
Just as she prepared to speak again, the footsteps resumed, drawing nearer with deliberate intent. Su Wanyan stood quickly, backing toward the headboard to maintain space. The figure seemed momentarily surprised by her evasion but continued advancing.
This mother—! Su Wanyan cursed inwardly, anxiety curling tighter in her chest. The white rose scent suddenly overwhelmed her as the person reached behind her head. Warm fingers brushed against the blindfold ties.
Su Wanyan fought the instinctive urge to push them away, her body tense. After a few tugs, the blindfold loosened and slipped free. She blinked rapidly, eyes adjusting to the soft filtered light filtering through the curtains.
What she saw left her stunned.
Mo Xingxue stood before her with a playful, teasing smirk curving her lips. "Got you," she said, laughter bubbling up like sunlight through water.
Relief crashed over Su Wanyan like a wave. She immediately pulled Mo Xingxue into a tight hug. "Ahhh, you scared me!" she exclaimed, squeezing her best friend closer, her voice muffled against Mo Xingxue’s shoulder.
Mo Xingxue laughed harder, her arms wrapping around Su Wanyan in return. "I got you that good?" she asked, still giggling.
Su Wanyan pulled back slightly but kept her hands resting on Mo Xingxue’s shoulders. "Of course! I smelled someone else’s perfume, so I thought it wasn’t you," she replied, sounding genuinely aggrieved, her lower lip jutting out in a pout.
Mo Xingxue’s laughter grew brighter, warm and melodic. "Haha, it was because I thought it would be funny to prank you, so I borrowed Teacher Lin’s perfume," she explained, eyes sparkling with mischief.
Su Wanyan pouted harder, looking every bit like a large, wronged puppy. "Alright, alright, I won’t do it again," Mo Xingxue finally relented, though her laughter hadn’t fully subsided.
Su Wanyan looked up hopefully. Mo Xingxue smiled sweetly. "I meant with the perfume prank. But do expect I’ll come up with more ways to prank you," she added, clearly delighted by the way Su Wanyan’s face crumbled in comical despair.
Su Wanyan found this playful, almost mischievous version of Mo Xingxue both ridiculous and incredibly endearing. Whatever. As long as she’s happy, she thought, mentally preparing herself to endure whatever schemes her friend might cook up next.
Mo Xingxue reached out and took one of Su Wanyan’s hands from her shoulder, interlacing their fingers. She turned toward the door. "The PD said after finding out our partner, we have to go back to the living room," she explained, already gently dragging Su Wanyan along.
Su Wanyan let herself be pulled without resistance, the simple act seeming to satisfy Mo Xingxue even more as a soft, content smile settled on her face.
When they arrived in the living room, they were the first pair to return. Su Wanyan glanced around the spacious area. "Where are the others?" she asked PD Xu Cui, who was currently playing with little Mo Yan, bouncing her gently and making funny faces like a doting grandfather. Su Wanyan shook the oddly wholesome image from her mind, feeling a touch incredulous.
"They’re still meeting their dates," PD Xu Cui replied with a small laugh, squishing Mo Yan’s chubby cheeks affectionately. The baby squealed in delight, her tiny hands waving happily and filling the room with pure, infectious joy.
The live chat melted instantly:
[Such a cute baby!]
[She’s so cute.. my heart.. my heart!!!]
[My baby fever is worsening, not good.]
[I’m still a first-year college student... I’m still just a first-year college student...]
[What kind of mantra is that?]
[I’LL BE TAKING HER!]
[Count me in! Mo Xingxue and Su Wanyan can just make another one!]
[I’ll go get the vans, brothers and sisters.]
A horrified scream suddenly echoed from upstairs, sharp and dramatic. The three adults in the living room looked up toward the second floor in unison, eyes wide with disbelief.
"Who was that?" PD Xu Cui asked.
Su Wanyan tilted her head, listening. "It sounded like Qin Yuran," she said, still staring in the direction of the stairs.
Before anyone could speculate further, Qin Yuran came bolting down the staircase, nearly stumbling in her haste. "Slow down!" Su Wanyan called out worriedly.
Qin Yuran ignored the warning and rushed straight to PD Xu Cui, grabbing his shoulders. "PD! I want to change my partner!" she gasped, huffing and puffing dramatically.
"What?" PD Xu Cui blinked in surprise, then quickly composed himself. "No, you can’t change your partner," he stated firmly, leaving no room for negotiation.
Qin Yuran’s face fell. "But PD—! I’LL DIE!" she wailed, shaking his shoulders vigorously.
Su Wanyan’s anxiety spiked—Mo Yan was still in the PD’s arms. She strode forward and gave the back of Qin Yuran’s head a firm but controlled smack. "Mo Yan’s there," she reminded her, pulling the energetic woman away. "She might fall if you keep doing that."
Qin Yuran snapped out of her panic and looked apologetically at the baby. "Sorry, little Yan. Aunt was a bit crazy," she cooed, immediately squishing Mo Yan’s chubby cheeks again. The baby’s delighted giggles seemed to calm her, and she kept playing with the infant, momentarily forgetting why she had rushed downstairs in the first place.
"Ahem. Can you explain what happened?" PD Xu Cui prompted.
Qin Yuran finally tore herself away from Mo Yan’s charm and shivered dramatically. "Listen, everyone," she said, glancing nervously behind her toward the stairway before turning back. "I got paired up with Han Jiho," she announced with a deadpan expression.
PD Xu Cui, Mo Xingxue, and Su Wanyan exchanged confused glances.
"And?" Su Wanyan asked, genuinely not seeing the issue.
Qin Yuran sighed exaggeratedly and shook her head. "You don’t get it." She launched into a rapid rant. "Han Jiho is scary as hell, okay? And his eyes! His eyes are always so deadpan!"
Su Wanyan noticed a figure slowly descending the stairs behind Qin Yuran. Her eyes widened as she tried to silently signal her friend to stop, shaking her head and widening her eyes urgently.
But Qin Yuran, lost in her tirade, continued. "And he gets physical fast! His hands are heavy—whenever he hits me, it leaves marks all over!"
A low, cold voice cut through the air from directly behind her. "Is that so? Does his eyes give off a vibe as if he’ll murder you?"
Qin Yuran froze. "He’s.. behind me, isn’t he?" she asked timidly, all bravado gone.
Su Wanyan covered her mouth with her hand and nodded solemnly. Yeah, you’re dead meat.
Han Jiho placed both hands firmly on Qin Yuran’s shoulders, the grip tight enough to make her wince. "So, what were you saying again?" he asked, his voice dangerously calm with an unreadable edge.
Qin Yuran turned slowly, eyes wide with fear. "Ha—Han Jiho... What are you doing here?"
Han Jiho smiled, though it didn’t reach his eyes. "Why, did I interrupt your backstabbing?" His grip tightened further.
"What?! When—when did I ever do that?" Qin Yuran stuttered, desperately looking to the others for help.
Su Wanyan shook her head silently, still covering her mouth. Mo Xingxue simply smiled. PD Xu Cui looked away and resumed playing with Mo Yan.
Qin Yuran’s expression screamed betrayal.
"I wasn’t backstabbing you, I was..." She fumbled for an excuse, eyes darting around wildly.
"You were?" Han Jiho pressed, tightening his hold until Qin Yuran felt her circulation falter.
"I was.. I was praising you for your formidable aura!" Qin Yuran said, hoping to appease the enraged Han Jiho.
"Oh really?" He lifted his other hand. Qin Yuran braced herself.
A loud, thunderous clap resounded through the living room as his palm connected with her back. Qin Yuran’s pained cry followed immediately. Su Wanyan and PD Xu Cui both winced, instinctively looking away as if they could feel the impact. Mo Xingxue, however, watched with quiet fascination. Fascinating, she thought.
More thunderous claps followed in quick succession. The chat exploded with horrified reactions:
[I knew that Han Jiho was physical, but I didn’t know it was THIS bad.]
[I can’t watch it, it’s also hurting me.]
[Why does he hit like how a mom hits their disobedient child? Help, I’m getting PTSD.]
[Me too!]
When Han Jiho was finally satisfied, he released Qin Yuran’s shoulders. She rubbed the sore spots vigorously, tears threatening to spill. "That’s what you get for backstabbing," he huffed.
"I won’t do it again," Qin Yuran repeated like a traumatized mantra.
Su Wanyan looked at her with pity but ultimately shook her head. Who told you to run your mouth?
Then she felt a piercing gaze on her. Turning, she met Mo Xingxue’s eyes. There was a strange, almost mischievous light in them that sent goosebumps racing across Su Wanyan’s skin.
She isn’t planning to do that to me, right? Su Wanyan wondered inwardly, suddenly very concerned about her own future.
