Chapter 355 – Your family’s plum blossom is lost again (32)
“Yeah! Shishi, you’re amazing! You parachuted straight in and nearly got a perfect score.”
“Sigh, speaking of nearly perfect scores, Yan Luo is the real genius here. This was probably her best performance yet, right?”
…
Wang Shi’s grip tightened abruptly.
So even with the system, she was still ranked behind Yan Luo?
…How could that be possible?
The group chatted enthusiastically, completely oblivious to the frightening look in Wang Shi’s eyes. She couldn’t help but glance in Yan Luo’s direction.
This time, there was no attempt to hide the malice in her gaze.
But it was only for a fleeting moment before she withdrew it.
No need to rush. No need to rush… This was just an accident. She had underestimated Yan Luo a little. After all, Yan Luo was practically the most favored by fate in this world.
Born into a privileged family, with Mu Ci watching over her…
How enviable.
Though she spoke humble words, the unwillingness in her heart spread like wildfire.
She still maintained a polite smile, joking along with the other girls around her.
Meanwhile, at the other side of the room, Yan Luo lay sprawled on her desk, completely unwilling to face reality.
Suddenly, a hand reached over from the side and forcibly lifted her small head. Yan Luo jumped in shock, her fair face turning even paler with nervousness.
She blinked dazedly at the person in front of her.
Mu Ci, as usual, refused to wear the school uniform. Today, he was dressed in a light blue short-sleeved shirt. For once, there was no trace of drowsiness in his expression. His brows were slightly furrowed, and the playful smile that usually hung at the corners of his lips had vanished. His eyes locked onto Yan Luo.
Sweat beaded on Yan Luo’s face, and her round, bright eyes only made her pallor more pronounced, making her look all the more fragile.
Mu Ci had been chatting idly with a few classmates nearby when he noticed the little girl slumped over her desk. He wasn’t sure if she was asleep or what.
On a whim, he decided to tease her. But the moment he got closer, he realized something was wrong.
Her small body trembled slightly, and her fingers clenched so tightly that her fingertips had turned white.
This was definitely not the posture of someone resting peacefully.
Without thinking, Mu Ci took two quick steps forward and lifted her face with his hand.
And what he saw was… this.
He felt a slight tremor in his fingers, though he wasn’t sure if it was his own hand shaking or hers.
A surge of anger flared up in his chest. Mu Ci, who had always been used to doing as he pleased, suppressed his rising irritation for once. The heat of his frustration settled in his throat, making his voice a little huskier as he leaned in cautiously.
“Luoluo?”
Feng Tang, who had been working on a problem beside them, was startled by Mu Ci’s sudden movement. She glanced at Yan Luo’s face, then at Mu Ci’s expression, and immediately got up to make space for him.
Mu Ci gave Feng Tang a slight nod before moving around to sit beside Yan Luo. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, his voice soft as he coaxed her, “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”
Yan Luo had already been struggling to suppress the unease bubbling inside her. The moment a familiar presence leaned in, she instinctively moved closer—without thinking, she buried herself in Mu Ci’s embrace, wrapping her arms around his waist.
Complete, unreserved dependence. A way of interacting that had long become second nature between them.
It probably wasn’t the right time for such thoughts, but Mu Ci couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of satisfaction to this kind of reliance, one that belonged solely to him.
[*Ding*—Mu Ci’s blackening value -3 (64/100).]