Translator: 549690339
The next day, Bai Youwei woke up a bit disoriented.
The light in the attic had been on all night, and it had been raining outside continuously. She couldn’t tell how long she had slept. She learned from Yan Qingwen that it was now seven thirty-five, realizing she’d probably been asleep for about four hours.
After a night’s rest, both Li Li and Lun Ang looked substantially better. However, Zhu Shu’s face was flushed, seemingly feverish.
While tidying up the beds, Su Man muttered under her breath, “Not even saying anything about catching a fever, trying to tough it out for who to see, purposely wanting to attract someone’s sympathy, aren’t you…”
Zhu Shu, feeling dizzy and unwell from her fever, leaned against the wall, staying silent.
Feeling re-energized today, Li Li hit back directly, “What’s the big deal with being ill? Zhu Shu’s previous injury had just gotten better, and she’d gone underwater several times yesterday. Isn’t it normal for her to fall ill? You think everyone is as strong as an ox like you?”
Staring at him, Su Man’s chest heaved incessantly, fuming with anger. She then rounded on Zhu Shu and vented all her frustration, “Are you happy now?!! A man has stepped up to defend you! Are you satisfied now, stirrer of trouble?!”
Li Li walked over directly, standing in between the two women. Pointing at Su Man’s nose, he scolded, “I think you’re the actual troublemaker! If she says she’s sick, you accuse her of being melodramatic. Now that she’s keeping quiet, you’re accusing her of stirring up trouble! Can you clarify what exactly she should do to please you?”
Zhu Shu opened her mouth to mediate, but thinking about Su Man’s character, she closed it again.
She shouldn’t say anything at this time, it’d only add fuel to the fire.
If she said anything now, Su Man would surely hate her even more, thinking she was putting on a sanctimonious act.
“Li Li! You bastard!!!” Su Man’s eyes were red with anger.
Lun Ang joined in from the side, “Yeah, Li Li, you are really going overboard… You’re a guy, go easy on her…”
“Damn it!” Li Li retorted in indignation, “When did I ever not accommodate her? I can’t recall how many times I’ve done so since we were kids! Ask her, how many times I’ve taken the blame for her during childhood? How many beatings I’ve taken?”
Simultaneously furious and irritated, Su Man wished she could pounce on him and hit him!
If it weren’t for the bandage across Li Li’s chest reminding her that he was still injured,
She would have probably launched at him long ago!
In the tone of an elder brother, Lun Ang commented, “Li Li you’re a man, stop harbouring grudges let’s all say less, we’re not even certain we can escape from here…”
Consumed with grief and anger, Su Man glared at him with reddened eyes, ranting, “Who knows what love potion Miss Goody-Two-Shoes has swayed him with! Now he talks nothing but nonsense to me!!!”
Zhu Shu, holding her forehead,
Looking around at everyone, Yan Qingwen spoke calmly, “Since we all have this much energy, let’s discuss how to entertain our guests.”
The air went quiet in an instant.
Neither of the two quarrelling parties spoke.
Scanning everyone, Shen Mo said calmly, “I’ll go.”
Bai Youwei raised her eyelids slightly, looking at him.
Yan Qingwen also turned to look, ” If successful, summer will pass; if unsuccessful, the rain will flood the second floor too.”
He paused for two seconds, turning to everyone, “If there are no other suggestions, for the second visit, let’s try using these beads.”
The beads in the bottle gave out a faint glow.
They were bigger and fuller than pearls, emanating a warm orange glow under the light, reminding everyone of marbles played with during childhood.
Yan Qingwen glanced at his wristwatch, saying, “The final hour of preparation, everyone change into the dollhouse clothes.”
He went downstairs with Shen Mo.
Li Li and Su Man, who had been arguing, glanced at each other, temporarily setting their conflict aside as they also headed downstairs.
Mr. Cheng, Tan Xiao and Pan Xiaoxin also followed in succession.
Only Bai Youwei, Lun Ang, and Zhu Shu remained in the attic.
Zhu Shu, still clutching her burning forehead, sat down beside Bai Youwei. After a moment of silence, she asked, “What do you think how likely is it that it’s the beads?”
Bai Youwei frowned, looking at Zhu Shu.
“You haven’t said much since yesterday ” Zhu Shu tentatively asked her, “Is the answer these beads?”