chapter 54

Tang Yuan?

This name doesn’t sound like a character from the Instance.

“Doctor Tang Yuan, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

A waft of rose fragrance drifted over from behind them.

The lady, exquisitely dressed, gracefully entered from behind and walked straight to Tang Yuan, extending her hand for a light handshake.

“It’s a bit remote here. The coachman took a wrong turn, which delayed us by a day. I’m terribly sorry,” Tang Yuan said apologetically. “Is Miss Lilith doing well?”

“You know how she is-always the same,” the lady sighed. “You’ve had a long journey. Let’s all have breakfast first.”

Everyone sat down.

“The hospital has been so busy lately. Thank you for making the trip,” the lady said politely to Tang Yuan. “Please feel free to stay at the Manor for the next few days.”

“I’m afraid I don’t have that much time,” Tang Yuan sighed, sounding rather troubled. “It’s been extremely busy lately. We’ve taken in quite a few new patients, and the hospital is short-staffed.”

On the surface, everyone was focused on eating, but in reality, their ears were perked up, listening intently.

“Your Dean really should hire more staff, with so few medical personnel.”

“We’re planning to recruit nurses soon,” Tang Yuan replied with a cheerful smile.

“Miss Lita, have you been sleeping well these past two nights?” the lady suddenly changed the subject, turning to Tu Nan.

She was slightly taken aback and didn’t respond immediately.

Why would the lady suddenly ask her this question?

If it was out of concern, with so many people present, why single her out?

She couldn’t help but overthink it.

Every Instance is intricately connected to fairy tales, and the princess’s identity is rather special in the story of the Princess and the Pea. There might be some trap waiting for her.

“Not particularly well,” she said, her eyes shifting as she sighed. “I’m sensitive to unfamiliar beds, so I haven’t slept well these past two nights.”

[The lady’s Favorability towards you: 30 (She has a slight fondness for you)]

She hadn’t slept well, yet the lady’s Favorability towards her increased.

“Just now, the Maid told me that while tidying your beds, she found a pea,” the lady narrowed her eyes slightly. “Why was there a pea in your room?”

Last night, Jenny had placed her potted plant on the bedside table, and this morning, when they woke up, the crop in the potted plant had ripened.

Jenny had excitedly hugged the potted plant and kissed it several times; the pea must have fallen onto the bed at that time.

“That was my mistake,” Jenny spoke up from the side. “I brought a potted plant of peas and accidentally dropped a pea onto the bed.”

Tu Nan hesitated for a moment, then deliberately said, “No wonder I didn’t sleep well last night. I kept feeling something poking me, and when I got up, I was covered in bruises. So it was that pea.”

A glint flashed in the lady’s eyes as she smiled, “Only a princess’s skin is so delicate. It seems you are a true princess.”

[The lady’s current Favorability towards you: 50 (She likes you very much)]

Just as she expected, the Favorability had indeed increased, though she still didn’t understand why.

Tang Yuan listened to their conversation with great interest. Upon hearing the lady’s words, she glanced lightly at Tu Nan, hinting, “It seems I should congratulate the lady. Only a princess is qualified to be Lilith’s companion.”

“It still depends on whether Lilith likes her,” the lady smiled, pressing her lips together. “All of you were invited by me; everyone has a chance.”
Perhaps Tang Yuan knows something.

Tu Nan glanced at Tang Yuan, making up her mind to find an opportunity to talk to her alone.

After breakfast, George came to assign tasks.

“This morning, the doctor will conduct a follow-up examination for Miss Lilith. Please feed the Pets as you did yesterday, and in the afternoon, everyone will accompany Miss Lilith to play.”

They had to go feed the Pets again.

Tu Nan paused and looked at Alan.

He appeared as usual, showing no sign of anything unusual.

She thought for a moment, then walked over to Qin, who, surprisingly, didn’t react immediately and only looked at her after a brief daze.

“Are you alright?” Tu Nan asked in a low voice.

Qin shook her head, her face pale and her voice a little hoarse. “Do you need something from me?”

“There’s something I think you need to know.” Tu Nan looked into her eyes, hesitating a little.

She could tell that Bob and Alan were very important to Qin. If she told her what happened last night, it might be a heavy blow.

But Qin had the right to know the truth.

“What is it?” Qin asked listlessly.

“It’s about Bob and Alan.” Tu Nan glanced discreetly at “Alan,” lowering her voice.

Qin looked at her in surprise.

“If you’re going to tell me this ‘Alan’ is fake, I think I’ve already figured that out,” she said coldly.

“No.” Tu Nan shook her head. “I know where the real Bob and Alan are.”

Qin trembled all over, looking at her in disbelief, her voice shaking with excitement.

“You-you mean, they’re still…”

“Calm down,” Tu Nan interrupted her. “I think we should talk somewhere else.”

Qin calmed herself, following Tu Nan to a deserted corner.

“Can you tell me now?”

Tu Nan exhaled. “What I’m about to say may sound crazy to you, but I promise you, it’s all true.”

Qin frowned. “What exactly do you want to say?”

“Bob and Alan have turned into two Lambs,” Tu Nan said. “Do you remember the crying Lambs yesterday? That was them.”

Qin’s expression froze on her face. After a long while, she looked at Tu Nan in disbelief. “How… how do you know?”

Tu Nan briefly recounted what had happened last night.

Qin was stunned for a moment, then covered her face with her hands, her shoulders trembling slightly.

“It’s all my fault… I knew they weren’t strong enough, but I arrogantly brought them in anyway…”

“What do you plan to do about the fake one?” Tu Nan looked at her, feeling uneasy but still had to ask.

Qin’s trembling shoulders stilled. She lowered her hands from her face, her eyes slightly red at the corners, but her gaze was chillingly cold.

“I need to figure out what it really is. I will kill it and avenge them…” She paused. “Since it can turn people into Lambs, maybe it also knows how to turn Lambs back into people.”

Hatred burned in Qin’s eyes, as if she had completely fallen into her own world.

Tu Nan looked at her expression and frowned.

In the Instance, the last thing you should do is act on emotion and abandon reason. But seeing Qin like this, if there was a way to save Alan and Bob, she would do anything.

Tu Nan suddenly began to doubt whether telling Qin this was right or wrong.