Chapter 94: Because it's you, try again

Option A was a pair of snake eyes, option B was a dead little kitten, and Su Mian recognized that this cat was the little tricolor cat she often fed.

She hesitated slightly, option C was a bottle of spilled medicine, option D was completely black with nothing, likely indicating darkness.

Su Mian hesitated between A and B for a moment, then finally chose B.

The reading passage was a nutritionally empty ghost story, and Su Mian couldn't muster any interest.

She quickly finished the test wanting to hand it in early, but saw the red‑clothed teacher leaning over Shen Jiarui's desk, Shen Jiarui tears streaming nonstop, yet she kept her hand over her mouth, afraid to make a sound.

Finally the female teacher left, returning to the podium.

Su Mian went up to hand in her paper; the female teacher glanced at her sheet, nodded satisfied, and waved her away.

As Su Mian walked out of the classroom, she instantly felt bright and clear, the gloom vanishing without a trace.

Afterward Jingzhe came out, then the bell rang, and only Shen Jiarui and Chang Anning left with the crowd.

"I checked for a long time, the later questions are too weird—what happens if I fail?"

Chang Anning said, still frightened.

"Nothing will happen, as long as you didn't speak during her proctoring."

Su Mian rarely spoke, and everyone turned to look at her.

Level C events are the easiest of all event tiers; among the four players, only Su Mian and Shen Jiarui had read the class rules, so the red‑clothed teacher only chose to scare those two.

Or perhaps it was to look after newcomers; she was still experiencing her first random event with no deaths.

"By the way, what option did everyone pick for the first multiple‑choice question?"

Chang Anning stroked her chin, "I feel everyone's a bit different."

"A messed‑up dish, a zero‑point test paper, a dead little bird, and the seabed."

As soon as Jingzhe finished speaking, she noticed the three people looking at her with strange eyes; she immediately put her hands on her hips, her tone arrogant and loud.

"What kind of look is that, haven't you seen an earthling who can't cook?"

Then she gave a light cough, trying to change the subject.

"And you? Ragdoll cat?"

"A snake, a dead little kitten, a medicine bottle, and a patch of black."

After hearing Su Mian's answer, she was a bit surprised, "A snake? You're afraid of snakes?"

Su Mian nodded, a little puzzled, "Huh, what's up?"

Jingzhe wanted to say something but held back, pulling Su Mian aside, "You're afraid of snakes, yet you walk so close to Si Shi—you don't know……?"

She furrowed her brows, lowered her voice, "Si Shi's true form is a snake."

As the words fell, Su Mian's downcast eyes lifted instantly, and the fingers in her pocket twitched slightly.

She took a deep breath before speaking slowly.

"This time's DM…… is it also him?"

Not surprisingly, Jingzhe nodded.

After seeing her nod, Su Mian's hand tightened slightly, her brows knit, and her eyes filled with unspeakable emotion.

"You…… what's wrong?"

"Nothing."

Su Mian quickly replied, "I have something to do now; you go eat first."

Jingzhe didn't understand, but still nodded, "Stay safe."

After they parted, Su Mian immediately headed upstairs, wanting to go to the class where Zhou Ye and Yi Junxi were, but as she stepped out of the stairwell, she stopped.

What did she want to say?

Su Mian's mind went blank.

Indeed, when she heard Zhou Ye—also Si Shi—her heart deep down relaxed, and there was a hint of joy she herself hadn't noticed.

The joy of reuniting after a long separation.

But did Si Shi really want to see her?

Although that string of Bodhi beads posed no threat to Si Shi, Yi Junxi's holding such a thing clearly showed ill intent.

Yet inexplicably it ended up in her own hand, leading Si Shi to mistakenly think she actually disliked him.

What's worse, she even exchanged her talisman for points.

What's the difference between that and selling someone else's gift for money?

Saying this now is too late, Su Mian thought; let me explain what I can.

So she lifted her leg again, peeking at the back door of Zhou Ye's class; inside was empty, a flash of disappointment, and she decided to go eat first.

As a result, turning around she almost bumped into someone's chest; she immediately braked and looked up.

They stared at each other in silence.

She didn't know where to begin, her pink lips twitching slightly.

"You…… is this really your true appearance?"

"Or is the snake‑bodied face his real face?"

This time he wasn't wearing a mask, his hair wasn't red, and it's not strange that Su Mian didn't recognize him.

Si Shi shook his head, put the earphones into their case and slipped them into his pocket.

"Luo Yi, coming to find me at this time—do you want to eat together—"

"Si Shi."

Su Mian interrupted him, head down, speaking muffled, "Sorry."

As the words fell, the person before her suddenly fell silent; Su Mian looked up and saw those eyes turn amber‑colored vertical pupils, her breath caught, and she swallowed.

"Are you still afraid?"

Su Mian didn't speak, but hearing an extremely faint sigh, 'That's fine then.'

Si Shi went around Su Mian, intending to go in, the girl with her head down grabbed his arm and muttered softly, like a mosquito buzzing.

Si Shi, carrying her on his back, curled his lips, lifted his eyelids, 'Mian Mian, what did you say? I didn't hear clearly.'

Try again.

She choked slightly, then spoke haltingly.

Before she could get an answer, the door slammed shut with a 'pah–' sound, and she was pushed onto the Desk.

Those beads are your follower's, not mine.

Hmm.

Si Shi responded with a sound, showing no emotion, he somehow pulled out a ribbon and covered Su Mian's eyes.

If I remember correctly, it's that Root used on her in the Lavender Flower field in the previous Instance.

The light seen through the ribbon dimmed; she knew Si Shi had turned into his snake form, and just thinking of such a scene made her scalp tingle again.

Call my name.

He lifted Su Mian's hand and placed it on the smooth snake body; the scales were a bit rough to the touch, so she only dared to touch with her fingertips.

Si Shi...

Her attention was entirely on her hand, but Si Shi was somewhat dissatisfied.

Call me A Si.

Her slender fingers paused slightly, then Si Shi pressed her hand fully onto him; Su Mian's heart jumped, and her voice became a bit airy.

A...... Si.

The sensation shocked Su Mian greatly; she didn't know if it was because she knew it was Si Shi, so she didn't feel disgusted or particularly uncomfortable, and thus she began to feel it with her whole being.

Dry, soft.

From top to bottom it's very smooth, but from bottom to top it feels slightly rough, because it's against the scale direction.

Suddenly Su Mian gasped, and Si Shi grabbed her waist and lifted her up; she plopped onto the snake's body, and her whole body went on alert.

No, impossible!

She began to struggle, biting her lower lip and pushing him away with her backhand, but the tip of his tail hooked her ankle, as if unwilling to let go.

You can do it, Mian Mian.

Si Shi Kiss her head top, his nails turned black, matching the shiny black of his snake body, and he lightly stroked the girl's back.

It won't hurt you, and neither will I.

A Si...

Su Mian's voice carried a sob, clearly indicating she could no longer bear it.