Chapter 46

Chapter 46

Ning Shuo didn’t refuse. “It’s ‘holding hands.'”

There was a world of difference between “holding hands” and “holding a hand.”

If Ning Shuo hadn’t known that Ning Wang likely didn’t understand the nuance-and that he himself only knew because of the vast amount of webnovel knowledge he’d absorbed in the modern world-he might have suspected Ning Wang was doing it on purpose.

He had already prepared an excuse in case Ning Wang asked about the difference, but Ning Wang only gave a soft “Oh” and tightened his grip.

Ning Shuo: ?

As they walked side by side toward the second-floor guest rooms, Rao Lin and Song Zhu returned after finishing their inspection of the first floor.

Seeing the two of them walking hand-in-hand, Rao Lin paused and then turned to Song Zhu. “I want to hold hands too.”

Song Zhu pushed away Rao Lin, who was trying to seize the opportunity to act spoiled, and said seriously, “Roses are everywhere on the first floor.”

Ning Shuo let Ning Wang continue holding his hand; it was quite warm, anyway. “The third floor is the same. Aside from roses, the paintings are all of the sky.”

Ning Wang said nonchalantly, “I was targeted just now. Like my brother, I saw silver-gray shimmering objects gathering.”

Rao Lin leaned over again to grab Song Zhu’s hand, and this time Song Zhu ignored him. “Rao Lin and I didn’t see anything. I asked Xiao Li just now, and she didn’t see them either.”

In other words, it really was related to the level of one’s Good Deed Points.

Xiang Henian had heard that the petals might attract Ghosts/Monsters, so he had already taken the opportunity to throw his petals away when he went out for a breath of air.

Rao Lin had been watching him and picked them up as soon as he tossed them. “I must say, my temper has really improved. In the past, I would have just snatched them directly.”

The petals didn’t look like anything special to the naked eye. Rao Lin handed them to Luo Li. “Take a look.”

Luo Li spat out her candy and placed the petals in her palm. She sat on the floor facing north and pressed her hands together in prayer.

Ning Shuo and the others had never seen this before, so they watched quietly from the side.

About half an hour passed. When Luo Li opened her eyes, a faint flash of purple light seemed to flicker through them for a moment. “It’s done.”

She opened her hand; the petals in her palm were now withered and broken.

Rao Lin took the petals and sniffed them. “It’s corrosion.”

Luo Li said expressionlessly, “The roses are, at most, a transitional element. They aren’t the source or the conclusion.”

Seeing this, Ning Shuo gained a general understanding of why Luo Li was described as “Skilled in Prediction” in the forum posts.

He wasn’t sure which Script she had obtained this ability from, but she could analyze items within a Script to make deductions about the plot.

Rao Lin asked, “Are they a threat to us?”

Luo Li replied, “No, it’s just that the Murderer likes them. The real problem lies with something else.”

After finishing her prediction, Luo Li looked somewhat exhausted. She leaned against Qi Yang and said, “You guys discuss it first. I’m going to sleep for a bit.”

Qi Yang hurriedly tucked the blanket around her.

The other four stepped out of the room. After telling Qi Yang to look after Luo Li, Ning Shuo said, “I want to go outside the Ancient Castle to take a look.”

Rao Lin frowned. “Now?”

Ning Shuo nodded. “Since the roses aren’t a danger to us, I think it’s worth a try.”

Rao Lin countered, “The main gate is being watched. If you jump out the window, how will you get back up? I checked this afternoon; there’s nothing to use for climbing…”

He stopped mid-sentence.

Ning Shuo gave a dashing smile. “I can fly.”
Ning Shuo’s debate against the group ended in a successful victory, with the added bonus of bringing Ning Wang along.

Ning Wang’s reasoning was as follows: in case something happened to Ning Shuo, he could help wake him up.

Ning Shuo thought about it and realized it was true. Neither of them was safe right now; it was best not to be left alone if possible.

Ning Shuo leaned against him, feigning weakness. “Then I’ll have to trouble my younger brother.”

“It’s no trouble to serve my brother.”

Rao Lin watched the two of them return to their room. “…Teacher Song, don’t you think those two are even more ‘gay’ than us, the actual couple?”

Back in the room, Ning Wang wrapped an arm around Ning Shuo’s waist and they landed safely.

However, just like at dusk, even though they were above the clouds, it still felt like they were stepping on solid ground.

Ning Shuo looked up at the sky.

It was already dark, and nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

Why would the windows be designed like that?

Just as Ning Shuo reached out to pick a rose, Ning Wang beat him to it. “Watch out for the thorns.”

Ning Wang had completely anticipated what he wanted to do; he didn’t just pick the flower, he pulled it out by the roots.

Under the moonlight, Ning Shuo carefully observed the rose.

The roots were clean, with only a few wisps of drifting clouds clinging to them. The freshly picked rose was vibrant and beautiful, showing no obvious flaws.

Ning Shuo tossed the rose into his Backpack. “Let’s go back first.”

However, as soon as they reached the window, they saw an argument taking place at their bedroom door.

Rao Lin and Song Zhu were blocking a Manservant at the entrance. “Entering a guest’s room whenever you please… I don’t think that’s the etiquette taught at Rose Castle, is it?”

The Manservant’s expression was eerie, looking as if he might transform into a Ghost/Monster at any second. “Xiao Wei just said she saw the two guests return to their room. I am here to deliver the clothes for the guests to wear tomorrow.”

Rao Lin reached out. “Just give them to me. I’ll pass them on.”

“No, the clothes must be delivered into the guests’ hands personally to avoid any damage.”

“Hey, you brat, are you throwing shade at me…”

Song Zhu’s voice was cold. “We are helping you deliver the clothes because we want to be helpful. Are you going to reject our kindness?”

The Manservant’s expression fractured-half madness, half fear of this so-called “kindness.”

Finally, the madness took the upper hand. “According to the King’s regulations, guests are not allowed to leave the castle privately. The castle’s Servants must uphold the rules established by the King at all times. I must confirm whether those two guests are in the room.”

“If the two guests are truly in the room, why haven’t they come out after we’ve been arguing at the door for so long?”

The stalemate continued at the door. Since Rao Lin and Song Zhu were “good people” who were exceptionally favored by the King, their actions were perfectly in line with their personas, and the Manservant couldn’t do anything to them.

But they also couldn’t make the Manservant leave when he had a legitimate reason.

As the two sides clashed, just as Rao Lin was considering whether to use force, a slight movement came from behind them.

The Manservant pushed them aside and finally saw the scene inside the room.

On the side of the bed near the window, the corners of Ning Wang’s eyes were flushed red, looking as though he had just been up to something.

Ning Shuo was pinned beneath Ning Wang, his lips slightly red and glistening with moisture.