Chapter 90: I Am Not Me
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
The room immediately fell into a dead silence.
Xi Mo almost held her breath at the same instant.
She was different from Ruan Yesheng; this was the first time she had heard the term "cicada breeder" and had no idea what the so-called "cicada" was. However, since Yan Tinghuan mentioned "afraid of scaring," it definitely wasn't something that looked like a cicada.
With the faint light coming through the window, Xi Mo could vaguely see Yan Tinghuan's head move slightly.
Yan Tinghuan's head lowered, and her hand also rose, eventually covering her own mouth.
At first, Xi Mo didn't understand why Yan Tinghuan covered her mouth, but then she suddenly realized.
It wasn't covering her mouth; she was spitting something out of her mouth and catching it with her hand.
That "cicada" was actually kept inside Yan Tinghuan's... body?
Even Xi Mo, who was usually calm, found it hard to accept, a cold sweat breaking out on her back.
After a moment, Yan Tinghuan lowered her hand and stood as usual. From the relaxed posture reflected in her silhouette, it seemed she had released the cicada, but Xi Mo saw nothing and heard no strange sounds.
However, she felt as though something had been added to the room, though she couldn't see it.
The lights turned back on, filling the room with brightness, and illuminating Yan Tinghuan's smiling face.
Yan Tinghuan's gaze shifted sideways at Xi Mo, then toward Ruan Yesheng, smiling meaningfully: "Goddess, are you alright? It's all my fault. Because things were urgent, I had to release the cicada quickly. I didn't consider that you might not know about cicadas. It must have scared you. I'm really sorry."
Actually, Ruan Yesheng had already told her in a text message that she had confessed to Xi Mo about being a cicada breeder. Yet, Yan Tinghuan still had to put on an act here, going through the motions.
Ruan Yesheng played along, saying, "It's fine. Yesheng already told me about some of your things. I also know you’re here to monitor the sounds from next door with Xi Mo. Feel free to relax here. Don't worry about me."
"Really?" Yan Tinghuan pretended to be surprised: "You know about this?"
Ruan Yesheng thought she was overacting but still nodded with a serious expression.
"It seems my Ruanruan really trusts you, Goddess." Yan Tinghuan smiled like a big bad wolf. "Since everyone knows I'm a cicada breeder, I don’t need to hide it in front of you. To be honest, I'm different from both of you. I'm not an actress, my acting skills aren't great, and I hate keeping secrets. Since it's all out in the open, I can be as comfortable as I want."
Saying this, she casually pulled out a chair and sat down.
Xi Mo remained still, but her eyes instinctively scanned the room, though she still found nothing. Ruan Yesheng knew a lot about Yan Tinghuan, and now she was in Ruan Yesheng's guise. She couldn't just ask questions rashly, but what was happening now was far beyond her usual understanding, and she had to be concerned.
Fortunately, Ruan Yesheng understood her and kindly asked the question for her, speaking to Yan Tinghuan: "Although Yesheng told me some things about you being a cicada breeder, I'm still not quite clear. Has that cicada been released?"
"It’s already been released, into the next room." Yan Tinghuan didn’t hold back, treating the room like her own home, picking up a tangerine from the table and slowly peeling it.
"How did it go out?" Ruan Yesheng continued, asking for Xi Mo, "I didn’t see the cicada you mentioned, nor did I hear any sounds."
Xi Mo perked her ears up and listened carefully.
"The cicada released like that certainly can't be easily seen, or else it would be too easy for the other party to notice, right? It goes out through the door crack, and it enters the next room through the same crack." Yan Tinghuan knew what Ruan Yesheng was thinking and answered while peeling the tangerine, and squeezing a piece of the fruit into her mouth. "Mmm, this tastes quite sweet."
Xi Mo thought to herself, if it passes through the door crack, then that so-called cicada must be very small in size.
"So, how do you monitor?" Ruan Yesheng actually already knew the answer. When she first met Yan Tinghuan, she had asked about it, but now, for Xi Mo's sake, she had to ask again.
Yan Tinghuan replied, "I am one with the cicada. Once I release it, the cicada becomes my eyes. What it sees, I see. As for the situation next door, I know it clearly."
"What’s the situation now?" Ruan Yesheng's gaze became sharper.
This was the question she wanted to ask herself.
Yan Tinghuan ate the tangerine as if she were watching TV while eating, saying, "There is a woman in the room now. She looks to be in her forties, with a worn and tired face. Her hands are full of calluses, so she’s probably someone who does heavy physical labor regularly."
Xi Mo could tell that Ruan Yesheng was very concerned about the situation next door. But she assumed that Ruan Yesheng, now pretending to be herself, wasn’t in a position to ask too many questions about the next room, so she helped her out by asking, "What is the woman doing?"
Ruan Yesheng pursed her lips and smiled, saying nothing more, allowing Xi Mo to ask on her behalf.
Yan Tinghuan raised her eyebrows slightly, "She’s cleaning."
"Hotel staff?"
"No, she’s not wearing a uniform." Yan Tinghuan was enjoying herself: "The way she’s cleaning, rummaging through boxes and even looking under the bed, it seems she’s using cleaning as a cover to search for something."
Xi Mo paused for a moment, then said, "She must be looking for something very important that the deceased left behind. Let her search. The police are probably already keeping an eye on her. Once she finds it, the police will step in."
"She's searching very thoroughly, it’ll probably take a long time," Yan Tinghuan stretched lazily. "Let’s rest for now and wait and see."
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
Xi Mo knew that Ruan Yesheng had been worried about this matter, otherwise, she wouldn't have chosen to sleep here tonight. She specifically reminded her, "If anything happens, just tell us immediately."
"Don’t worry," Yan Tinghuan glanced at her sideways. "But Ruanruan, I can understand why you're concerned about the next room, but why would the Goddess also want to stay here with you? You two are quite in sync."
Xi Mo: "..."
After a brief pause, she said, "Xi Mo is also curious about this."
"Oh, so it's curiosity," Yan Tinghuan grinned mischievously, looking at Ruan Yesheng. "So, Goddess, when are you leaving? This surveillance could take a while. She might not find anything, and we might have to keep watching all night."
"I won’t be going back tonight," Ruan Yesheng replied calmly. "I’ll sleep here. I want to see the progress as soon as possible."
"I admire your curiosity, Goddess, but where will you sleep?" Yan Tinghuan asked. "There’s only one bed. We can’t all squeeze in together, can we?"
Xi Mo: "..."
Ruan Yesheng smiled, "Well, I’m going to sleep with Yesheng. As for whether Yesheng wants to sleep with you, I can’t make that decision."
Xi Mo: "..."
Yan Tinghuan then turned to Xi Mo, "Ruanruan, what do you say?"
Xi Mo walked over, poured a glass of water, slowly took a sip, and then with a cold expression said, "Don't ask me, I'll sleep in the chair."
Ruan Yesheng: "..."
Yan Tinghuan: "..."
Finally, Xi Mo couldn't maintain her usual composed appearance in front of others. She said bluntly, "The bed's over there, you two figure it out."
It was easier to act in front of strangers, but with Yan Tinghuan, she felt like she was sitting on pins and needles. Yan Tinghuan and Ruan Yesheng were too familiar with each other and much sharper than Feng Tangtang. While responding, Xi Mo had to constantly worry if she would be seen through.
Especially since she had already made up her mind to confess to Yan Tinghuan and explain the truth about the exchange with Ruan Yesheng. Yan Tinghuan was much more capable than she had imagined and even controlled the cicadas. Even though Yan Tinghuan didn’t know the method to reverse the situation, at least she wouldn’t find such things strange. It was better to have someone so capable to discuss matters with than to remain clueless with just herself and Ruan Yesheng.
Moreover, Ruan Yesheng trusted Yan Tinghuan so much. After thinking it over, Yan Tinghuan was the most suitable person who knew the truth.
It was better to say it now than to delay.
Xi Mo moved a chair and sat down, her gaze heavy as she looked at Yan Tinghuan. "Anyway, the surveillance will take a long time, and we have nothing else to do. I want to tell you something now. When you hear it, don’t be surprised."
Ruan Yesheng saw her serious expression and knew she was about to lay all her cards on the table.
"What is it?" Yan Tinghuan continued to focus on eating the tangerine. She was so bored that she was already on her second one.
Xi Mo stared at her for a while before finally speaking: "I am not me."
"What?" Yan Tinghuan understood everything but pretended to be confused.
If Xi Mo found out that Ruan Yesheng had already told her the truth, Xi Mo, who had been tricked so many times, would definitely deal with both of them. For the sake of Ruanruan's happiness, she had to smooth things over.
Ruan Yesheng also looked at Yan Tinghuan, playing along: "I am not me either."
"What does that mean?" Yan Tinghuan, getting more into the act. If she didn’t become an actress, it would be a waste of talent.
Xi Mo pointed at Ruan Yesheng: "I am actually her."
Ruan Yesheng looked at Xi Mo: "She is actually me."
"Wait a minute." Yan Tinghuan, enjoying the drama more and more, said, "What do you mean by you are her, and she is you? I’m completely confused."
Xi Mo cleared her throat, feeling a subtle sense of relief after holding this secret in for so long. She finally said, "What I mean is, I am Xi Mo, not Ruan Yesheng. One day, Ruan Yesheng and I swapped bodies, and that’s how I became her."
Ruan Yesheng said, "That’s right. To avoid being found out, Xi Mo and I can only pretend to be each other."
Yan Tinghuan ate another piece of tangerine, her eyes rolling as she carefully observed the two of them. Finally, her gaze settled on Xi Mo: "So what you're saying is, my Ruanruan’s body is now yours, and your body now belongs to my Ruanruan?"
Xi Mo: "…"
It wasn't exactly wrong.
But it sounds weird somehow.
Yan Tinghuan smacked her lips: "Wow, this is so exciting."
Xi Mo: "…"
Are you sick again?!
She suppressed the bulging veins threatening to appear, and said, "I'm not joking with you."
Author's Note:
Reminder: This article is actually quite complicated, and it will become more complicated as you go to the end. In many cases, you need to look at the front and back, otherwise it may lead to some gaps in understanding.
Tomorrow is the Lantern Festival. Happy Lantern Festival~
