NOVGO.NET Chapter 24: Is That Something You Can Just Say?
Chapter 24: Chapter 24: Is That Something You Can Just Say?
Su Luoluo’s heart went ice-cold. Sure, handsome men were easy on the eyes, but this particular sight was anything but.
She shrank back, wanting to say it wasn’t on purpose.
As if things weren’t bad enough, she tripped and fell, her legs sliding out from under her until she was right at the edge of the deep pool. Now there was no way she could explain this away.
When Fu Feng saw Su Luoluo, a murderous glint flashed in his blue eyes, piercing into hers like sharp needles.
Su Luoluo: ’It’s over. After all the work I did to clear my name yesterday, I’m right back to being the villain today.’
She had barely finished lamenting when...
...the system’s notification chimed.
"Friendly Reminder: Host, please be mindful of the target’s Heartbeat Value. It is currently trending downward."
Su Luoluo: "..."
’As if you needed to tell me. I can feel it myself.’
Su Luoluo could only force an awkward smile as she got to her feet. She raised her hands in surrender. "Go on with what you were doing," she said, still smiling foolishly. "I didn’t see a thing."
’In a situation like this, I have to run. What’s the alternative? Letting him stare holes through me?’
With that, Su Luoluo turned to flee.
But before she could, a huge SPLASH erupted from the water. Fu Feng burst from the surface, snatching the nearby beast skin and wrapping it around his lower half.
Before Su Luoluo could take a single step, a hand seized her arm.
Fu Feng’s bone-chilling voice sounded beside her ear. "Su Luoluo, you get more disgusting by the day. How dare you spy on me while I’m bathing."
Su Luoluo shook her head frantically. "I didn’t! I was just passing by and happened to see something by accident."
"An accident? If it was an accident, then why were you sprawled on the ground?"
Su Luoluo was at a loss for words, her mouth dry as she tried to explain. "I really didn’t! You were already gone when I woke up. How could I possibly know you were here?"
Hearing this, Fu Feng studied her eyes, though he didn’t release his grip. He seemed to be weighing the truth of her words.
After a long moment, he asked coldly, "Then what brought you here?"
"I came here to run. I saw something suddenly emerge from the water and stopped out of curiosity. I had no idea it was you..."
Su Luoluo didn’t dare finish the sentence.
"Running? What do you mean, ’running’?" Fu Feng raised an eyebrow, not quite understanding her words.
Su Luoluo licked her lips, a little embarrassed. "I’m trying to lose weight, and running helps with that."
Fu Feng didn’t immediately believe her. He just watched her, looking thoughtful.
Seeing him fall silent, Su Luoluo figured Fu Feng was at least partially convinced. Now she just needed to increase her credibility.
She pressed her lips together and spoke again. "I’m telling the truth. See? I’m still sweating. Why would I be sweating if I wasn’t running?"
"And look, doesn’t my neck look a little thinner? It’s because of running that I’m starting to look this good."
’Sigh. If only the original owner of this body hadn’t had such low credibility.’
’Would every conversation have to be this much work?’
Fu Feng’s gaze swept over her neck. It was indeed much slimmer than before. Not just her neck, either—even her jawline looked a little more defined.
’But even though she’s thinner, she’s still as ugly as ever.’
’There’s no way she’s "starting to look good."’
His lip twitched, and his grip on her arm loosened slightly. "I’ll believe you this one time. If there’s a next time, you..."
"I know! If there’s a next time, you can punish me by making me gain five kilograms."
Before he could finish, her clear voice rang out.
A flash of surprise crossed Fu Feng’s eyes. ’When did Su Luoluo become so... cooperative?’
Su Luoluo had cut in to prove she was serious about there not being a next time, hoping to dispel his suspicions.
However, he still hadn’t let go. She thought for a moment, then upped the ante. "How about ten kilograms?"
"That’s the worst punishment I can think of! If I get any fatter, I’ll be a lost cause."
’Surely that oath was harsh enough,’ Su Luoluo thought. ’There’s no way he won’t believe me now!’
Fu Feng’s eyebrows raised at her words. ’If she gained another ten kilograms, she’d probably look like a ball. That oath is pretty vicious, indeed.’
He finally released her, shaking out his arm as he walked away.
Seeing her arm freed, Su Luoluo took several deep breaths of relief.
’The crisis is finally over.’
’Looks like I can’t just run around aimlessly next time. If I stumble upon someone bathing again, I’ll never be able to talk my way out of it.’
After Fu Feng left, she ran for a while longer until she felt she had done enough.
She circled back to the deep pool to wash her face.
The purple birthmark on her face had faded significantly, but traces of it remained. ’Looks like I’ll have to keep using the Black Phoenix Fruit Leaves mask.’
’I should get some pearl powder, too. If I treat the marks while also whitening my skin, the process should be faster.’
’And I need to sort out a house.’
She didn’t want a repeat of what had happened last night.
After freshening up, Su Luoluo headed toward the tribal encampment.
Halfway there, Su Luoluo felt her body aching all over, most likely from sleeping on the muddy ground all night.
As she walked, a few females spotted her and smiled slyly.
"Luoluo, you look a bit tired. Are you feeling unwell?"
Su Luoluo pressed a hand to her lower back and nodded. She felt so weak at that moment that she barely registered what they were saying.
Seeing her rubbing her back and looking so lethargic, the other females covered their faces and snickered.
Su Luoluo found their behavior rather odd.
As she was wondering about it, Su Nuannuan approached with a radiant smile. "Luoluo, did you sleep well last night?"
In truth, she didn’t need to ask to know the answer. Su Luoluo had been with Fu Feng last night; how could she possibly have slept well?
She only asked because she wanted to hear Su Luoluo admit with her own mouth that she had slept poorly and fought with Fu Feng.
Even better would be if she’d tried to force herself on him, only for Fu Feng to throw her out of bed in disgust yet again.
That way, no matter how much good she’d done these past few days, it wouldn’t be enough to overcome the scandal of being thrown out of her own Beastman mate’s bed.
Before Su Luoluo could speak, one of the other females gave Su Nuannuan an all-knowing look and snickered. "Nuannuan, don’t you worry. I’m sure Luoluo slept very well this time."
Su Nuannuan forced a stiff laugh. "Is... is that so?"
"Of course. Look at Luoluo, rubbing her back and legs. She must have worn herself out yesterday," the female continued suggestively.
Su Nuannuan never imagined the female would say something like that.
She couldn’t help but eye Su Luoluo up and down. ’Could she have really consummated her union with Fu Feng?’
’No, impossible.’
’How could Fu Feng possibly be interested in such an ugly hag?’
Su Luoluo’s eyelid twitched when she heard that.
’These people in this primitive society are way too open!’
’How can they talk about consummating a marriage right in front of everyone?’
She was about to shake her head and deny it, but then she caught the furious, exasperated look in Su Nuannuan’s eyes out of the corner of her vision.
A small smile played on her lips. Without confirming or denying anything, she said, "Last night? Yes, it was quite tiring."
Hearing Su Luoluo’s "confession," the female reacted as if she’d just heard a bombshell, but she kept her expression calm. "The first time is always like that," she said. "It won’t be so uncomfortable once you get used to it."
Su Nuannuan was suspicious of Su Luoluo’s words and was just about to question her further.
Just then, Lan Ya came walking over from a distance.
Seeing Su Luoluo standing there, she immediately started railing at her. "Su Luoluo, you slacked off again today! You didn’t pick a single piece of wild fruit. You can forget about eating breakfast!"
Lan Ya was still holding a grudge because Su Luoluo hadn’t given her a single bite of chicken the day before. Now, seeing her, she let all her anger out at once.
Su Luoluo had no interest in wild fruit anyway. She gave Lan Ya a dismissive glance. "That’s fine. If I can’t eat, I can’t eat. I’ll just make my own breakfast."