SES Chapter 48 V2

They went in and sat down. Mu Dai kept writing her message while Luo Ren ordered. When she finished and looked up, he wasn’t at the table. He was by the kitchen, talking to the owner.

When he came back, she handed him the phone.

He read carefully, expression tightening. After a pause, he set the phone down and tapped the table.

The food arrived. Luo Ren just said, “Let’s eat.”

No point ruining her appetite—he’d tell her after.

The dishes were mild, but Mu Dai’s throat hurt to swallow. She took tiny bites, constantly sipping water or soup to help it go down. She wondered just how bad she’d sounded while screaming. She’d been too panicked to remember. Why hadn’t anyone taken a video? It’d at least be memorable.

When she was nearly done, Luo Ren finally spoke.

“Yiwansan’s father, mother, and the old chief—all their bodies were recovered. So if it was the clam, it kills, but it doesn’t… eat. To find out what happened to Yan Jiuxiao, we’ll have to search underwater.”

Which meant… Yan Jiuxiao’s body might still be down there?

Mu Dai shivered.

The restaurant owner came over with a plastic container. Mu Dai assumed it was for Hongsha. But the lady smiled at her and said, “You’re the one who shouted herself hoarse, right?”

Seriously? Even the restaurant owner knows?

Mu Dai glared at Luo Ren. You’ve got money, right? Go buy an ad spot on national TV. Say I screamed for help so hard I lost my voice—thanks for making me famous.

The owner handed her the box. “This is a local remedy—vinegar-marinated snow fungus. Eat some daily, and your voice will be back in no time. It’s what old sea shanty singers used to do when they lost their voice.”

Mu Dai was a little embarrassed but accepted it.

By the time they reached the hospital, it was late. Hongsha was still awake, flipping through a cheap magazine. When she saw Mu Dai walk in, her eyes lit up and she jumped up from bed, not at all like a patient needing rest.

She was over the moon. “I almost drowned, but I remember—you held on to me and wouldn’t let go. I was so touched. I even thought, if I died, I’d visit my grandpa in a dream and tell him to give you a raise.”

After surviving, Hongsha turned into a chatterbox, thanking Mu Dai and Luo Ren nonstop. Her main point: Reward! Raise!

Mu Dai was quietly grateful she couldn’t speak—it saved her the trouble of politely declining with “No need, no need,” and let her just smile like she was encouraging the raise.

Luo Ren came over and asked if Hongsha wanted to be discharged. The hospital wasn’t great, smelled bad too. She instantly agreed, even raised both hands (well, almost—her leg still hurt).

He went off to make arrangements, telling Mu Dai not to wander. As soon as he left, Hongsha gave her a sly look.

“Who is he? You know him, right? When you said you were calling someone for help, was it him?”

Mu Dai nodded.

“What’s he to you—boyfriend?”

Not quite, she thought. That time, she hadn’t said yes, and then…

Then, after that night, when they talked, the whole thing with Ping Ting getting possessed again happened, and somehow their relationship felt stuck, like they were moving backward instead of forward.

But still, Luo Ren treated her differently from everyone else, didn’t he?

Mu Dai looked down, not nodding, not shaking her head.

Hongsha guessed, “Mutual crush? Unspoken feelings? One-sided? Early stages?”

Pretty close. Then she shouted, “Phew! That was a close one!”

Close? Mu Dai blinked.

“I almost developed a thing for him, you know?” Hongsha explained. “He’s handsome, saved me, and paid for my hospital bills without a word. And when he had to bleed me…”

She’d been in pain, tears in her eyes, staring at the three-edged needle. Luo Ren had calmly said, “Turn your head. Don’t look.”

His voice was low and steady. It made her heart flutter, and she obediently turned away.

Good thing she didn’t go further down the wrong road. Still, falling for someone before even getting a chance to date them? So tragic. She clutched her chest. “I need to lie down. I’m heartbroken. Give me five minutes.”

Mu Dai was torn between laughing and crying. Hongsha lay down dramatically, then peeked at her. “Nope, still not better. Mu Dai, do me a favor—let me feel better. I won’t give you that raise. Deal?”

Mu Dai’s eyes narrowed. She pressed Hongsha’s head down and turned her face toward the wall.

Hongsha stiffened, thinking mournfully, So now I’ve lost both love and money. Great.