Chapter 95: Controlling the Scene

Su Mian's voice carried a sobbing tone, obviously she could no longer bear it; the Si hour paused, then finally let go of her.

After all that turmoil, Su Mian was already somewhat exhausted.

The Si hour turned back into Zhou Ye, holding her in his arms and gently comforting her.

"You've done great, Luo Yi."

His eyes darkened slightly, showing a weary, satiated demeanor.

"Want to go get lunch together?"

Su Mian's mind was a muddled mess; she shook her head.

"Then I'll bring something back for you; you must not skip lunch, Luo Yi."

Su Mian gave a soft 'mm', watched him leave, then flung herself onto the desk, staring blankly at the ceiling.

"How did things suddenly turn out like this?"

……

Afternoon sunlight fell on the desk by the bed; the senior high schoolers napping were roused by a bell, sitting up one after another—some fetching water, some refreshing themselves.

"Twenty-Four Curse? What is that?"

Shen Jiarui had just woken up, her voice thick with nasal congestion.

Awakening of Insects lowered their posture, fingers lightly tapping the desk.

"It's Liang Chuchu's doll causing trouble, Always Peace—your reasoning is wrong."

"The Doll God itself exists, for the curse it brings is an objective and real occurrence."

"Liang Chuchu, out of greed, wanted to invite a deity and date those influential figures; the price the curse demands might be death, or something else, but this year's School Heartthrob is Zhou Ye."

Awakening of Insects paused, then said, "He didn't die—that's strange."

Shen Jiarui: "Does that mean he didn't date Liang Chuchu?"

Awakening of Insects nodded; Always Peace lay on the desk watching the few people, seeming to have become listless after Awakening of Insects said, "Your reasoning is wrong."

Su Mian had been listening quietly, but then suddenly spoke up, "Not necessarily; how can you be sure he didn't date Liang Chuchu?"

The three's gazes focused on her; Su Mian remained calm and composed, looking very credible.

Awakening of Insects: "How so?"

She raised her arm and tugged at the brim of the classmate in front; that classmate, deep in thought, was pulled up and still a bit fiery.

"Chi Luoyi, what are you doing?"

"Has Zhou Ye recently been dating someone else?"

Upon hearing they were there to gossip, the classmate instantly lost their temper and cheerfully spoke up.

"Yeah, someone as outstanding as Zhou Ye would also date? Hard to imagine."

His words surprised several people; if he really were dating Liang Chuchu, why hasn't he died?

The curse had failed; Su Mian drew the curtains, blocking the glaring sun; the few heard the sound and turned back to look at her.

"Last week, when it was my turn to clean, I saw him and his companion in the utility room."

"That companion spat blood, went limp all over; I fled in panic, but later I discovered his companion hadn't died."

Su Mian leaned back, her tone flat.

"The academic term is 'feigned death'; simply put, it's pretending to die—like the protagonist of *The Ring* passing the videotape to someone who hasn't seen it, thereby transferring the curse."

"If my guess is correct, Zhou Ye intends to exchange lives through some feigned‑death method, and this ruse has clearly succeeded."

"Usually Su Mian's reasoning doesn't cite references; her reasoning cuts straight to the core."

"Saying all this nonsense is purely to make them believe; evidently, the goal has been achieved."

【Mian Mian!!!】4399 screamed in the mind.

【What are you doing?! This isn't self‑introducing, is it?! At that time, Zhou Ye and Yi Junxi faked their deaths in the utility room—only you know!】

【If you say that, they'll follow the clues and suspect you, right?!】

4399 was more anxious than Su Mian; sure enough, Awakening of Insects pondered a moment and then spoke.

"Alright, then this afternoon after school let's inquire; if we can't get close to DM, the companion can be a breakthrough point."

Su Mian crossed her arms, seeming to have already guessed the outcome.

"Don't rush, just watch."

Su Mian replied in her mind, "Yi Junxi is still lively; if they investigate, they'll immediately discover I'm lying, so…"

She needs to set things up in advance.

The murderer is either silent and reserved, or takes charge of the scene beforehand.

And Su Mian chose to take a risky path; the reason can only be said that she has sufficient confidence.

In the second period of the afternoon, which was PE, Su Mian stayed in the classroom claiming to feel unwell.

After everyone had left, she slipped out of the teaching building unnoticed and found Yi Junxi resting under the shade of the trees beside the basketball court.

"Sister‑in‑law—" Yi Junxi saw her, about to greet her, but Su Mian stopped him with a glance.

Let's talk somewhere else.

The two went one after the other to a secluded corner behind the experimental building, where discarded sports equipment was piled up; the single bar was rusted all over, as if no one had used it in ages.

Su Mian pulled from her pocket the wooden box containing the 'Binding Snake Bodhi' and handed it back to Yi Junxi.

Yi Junxi froze for a moment, took the box: "Thanks, sister‑in‑law; I thought I'd lost it."

Su Mian withdrew her hand, lifted her gaze to meet his: "I know you dislike Zhou Ye."

The air instantly froze.

Yi Junxi's smile froze on his face; he opened his mouth but couldn't make a sound.

Su Mian stepped forward; though her height fell short of Yi Junxi's, the aura she now exuded made the tall male student unconsciously retreat half a step.

"This isn't an ordinary bracelet, is it?" Su Mian's voice was soft. "A magical item specifically used to restrain snake-like evil things… You carry it with you because you know what Zhou Ye's true form is, right?"

She narrowed her eyes, yet there was not a hint of a smile. "Really unfortunate, I know too."

"Let me guess." Su Mian tilted her head.

"On the surface you're Zhou Ye's lackey, but in reality you hate him to the bone, although I don't know why."

"But… I guess you don't want Zhou Ye to know of Bodhi's existence, otherwise…"

Her icy cold finger touched Yi Junxi's lips, each word piercing his heart: "You will become a traitor, blood surging to your throat, dying without a whole corpse."

"That's what it looks like when one truly feigns death."

Yi Junxi didn't retreat any further; fear occupied his mind, leaving him frozen in place.

"Help me out."

Su Mian put the bead string into her pocket.

"After it's done, I'll return it to you."

【Oh~ So Mian Mian had prepared in advance.】

Su Mian hummed in acknowledgment.

As the instance progresses, someone will surely uncover Yi Junxi; he is the only one who knows that Zhou Ye and Su Mian are dating, and also the only point of breakthrough.

Everyone knows Zhou Ye is dating someone, but not who; she seized this loophole, letting the lies form a closed loop.

––

After school in the afternoon, Awakening of Insects quickly gathered news of Yi Junxi, taking three people to the cafeteria to find him.

Yi Junxi held his tray, and upon seeing the four people, he visibly froze for a moment.