Incendie mystérieux

Chapitre 28

How could such an absurd thing happen? From the moment she woke up until now, Lanlan had been in a dazed and confused state, not knowing where she was. She must still be having a bizarre dream in her sleep, right? Bao Cancan, a radiant and noble beauty like the sun, who always played the role of a domineering queen, how could she be lying in bed crying, her lower body transformed into a green worm, weakly and helplessly complaining about heaven and earth? Yes, it must be a dream, that's right.

She let Bao Cancan cry loudly for a while, until her voice gradually became hoarse, and another sound caught Lanlan's attention. A gurgling sound—a sign of hunger. She then remembered that Bao Cancan hadn't had a drop of water since last night, let alone anything to eat. She glanced at the clock; it was almost three in the afternoon. The cafeteria was already closed; there was no other way but to order takeout from the restaurant near the entrance. So she bent down solicitously and asked the silently sobbing girl, "Cancan, what do you want to eat? I'll buy it for you at the entrance."

Bao Cancan's shoulders were shaking uncontrollably, and from beneath her long, flowing hair came this reply: "It doesn't matter, whatever you want."

"Whatever?" Her true meaning was precisely that it absolutely couldn't be casual. Bao Cancan was incredibly picky about food, with a discerning palate and a bad temper. If something didn't suit her taste, she'd rather throw it away than compromise. How could Lanlan, who spent every day with her, not understand this? She nodded, "Okay, braised pork with vegetables over rice, no scallions, ginger, or garlic, lots of soy sauce, and as much chili as possible, right? I understand."

"No vegetables!" Caught off guard, Bao Cancan roared, startling Lan Lan. That狰狞 (zhengning, meaning ferocious or hideous) face was unlike anything she'd ever seen before, filled with hatred and deep-seated loathing—she couldn't help but gasp. Bao Cancan grabbed her collar, her vicious expression making it seem as if she wanted to devour her whole.

"I've become like this because I've eaten too many vegetables! You're so eager for me to eat you, you'd be happy if I turned into a worm, right?! You still want me to eat, eat, eat you to death!..."

The insults rained down like a storm, relentlessly cleansing Lanlan's mind and body, leaving her feeling somewhat melancholic. Bao Cancan had once been such a proud queen, only knowing how to trample on others' dignity to highlight her own superiority, yet she had become so insane because of her physical mutation. The human heart was indeed a fragile and unpredictable thing. Even the most beautiful girl, once stripped of her human race and labeled a monster, did her heart also become that of a monster? After Bao Cancan had vented her anger to the point of exhaustion, she smiled at her with extraordinary calmness, "So, what would you like to eat?"

Bao Cancan's dim eyes flickered for a moment, just like a fleeting shooting star. Lan Lan was certain that something, indescribable and elusive, was contained within them. Then, she resumed her usual haughty demeanor, stubbornly turning her head to the side. "Suit yourself—the money's in your bag, take it yourself."

Lanlan knew perfectly well that besides the braised pork and vegetable rice bowl, Bao Cancan's favorite food was Da Raccoon instant noodles—a surprisingly cheap snack brimming with calories, MSG, and preservatives, yet it was Bao Cancan's absolute favorite. However, for Bao Cancan's health, Lanlan decided to order her a bowl of shredded pork with garlic sauce rice bowl—hot, delicious, and a balanced meal. Passing the convenience store with the steaming lunchbox, she paused for a moment, then picked up a bag of instant noodles. Not only that, but also Yida brand fruit leather, Chacha sunflower seeds, Zhan's pecan kernels, Qingdao dried fish slices… she bought all of Bao Cancan's favorite snacks in one go.

When she returned to the dormitory, Bao Cancan was lying on her bed, her large, unfocused eyes staring blankly into space. The blanket was wrapped around her body, effectively concealing her worm-like lower body. Lan Lan pretended not to notice anything and handed her the lunchbox directly. Bao Cancan's lips moved slightly, and a soft whisper drifted out.

"What did you say, Can Can?" Lan Lan asked her.

"...Could you..." This time, the mosquito-like humming voice was finally a little louder, "...let me be alone for a while..."

She sighed inwardly. The hysterical outburst just now seemed to have completely exhausted Bao Cancan's arrogance; now lying here was merely a young girl crushed by a tragic fate. It was unbelievable that such weak words could come from the mouth of the once arrogant and self-important Bao Cancan. In the past, she would have firmly told her in an unquestionable tone, "Get out, unless I let you in."

That wasn't telling me; it was clearly giving me a command.

This arrogant girl, defeated by such a tragic change in her health? Lanlan knew this shouldn't be happening, but for some reason, after hearing her soft, gentle words, a faint sense of relief welled up inside her, like stretching her limbs for the first time after long periods of suppression, sweeping away all the pent-up emotions in her chest. As she stepped out the door, Bao Cancan seemed to say something again. She only realized what was happening when the door slowly closed behind her.

"Thank you," Bao Cancan said.

A knowing smile played on her lips. A thank you? After working so hard for that lazy woman for so long, this was the first time she'd ever received a thank you. No, perhaps it was the first time Bao Cancan had ever uttered a "thank you"? No wonder her face was so red.

Lanlan looked down at her hands, which were somewhat rough despite her youth. "Thank you," she mimicked Bao Cancan's voice, "Thank you." She imitated it perfectly, her tone full of emotion as she said this to her hands, "You'll hear more of this in the future."

Volume Two: The Metamorphosis of the Spider Lily (Part Five)

She enjoyed a leisurely, inexpensive yet elaborate dinner, and though she hadn't drunk any alcohol, she strolled in the evening breeze on campus, slightly tipsy. She had rushed out without her study materials and hesitated, wondering if she should go back to get them. The thought of Bao Cancan's pitiful and wretched appearance in the dormitory made her hesitate. She considered spending the evening in the reading room, but that night, for the first time, the usually quiet and peaceful girl couldn't sit still. Before eight o'clock, she felt an burning urge to go back.

Was she worried about Bao Cancan getting into trouble, or did she just want to see her current disheveled state to vent her anger? She couldn't say for sure.

Before she even reached the dormitory door, a burst of cheerful laughter could be clearly heard even through the door. Her heart clenched, as if she foresaw something ominous. She pressed her ear as close to the door as possible and easily recognized that it was her roommate Ziyan's voice.

The other one is Bao Cancan.

Lanlan was startled and almost cried out. What?! They sounded like they were having such a pleasant conversation. Had Ziyan also discovered Bao Cancan's secret? Or had she helped Bao Cancan regain her former beauty? Otherwise, how could she be laughing so happily and cheerfully, making everyone who heard her feel as if they were basking in a spring breeze?

"Let me tell you, don't let Haiming's usual gentle demeanor fool you, behind the scenes..." A burst of Bao Cancan's signature silvery laughter rang out, and Ziyan echoed her, smiling silently. Haiming was the class's undisputed handsome guy, tall and quiet, and many girls had a crush on him, including Ziyan. Although Lanlan had never spoken to Haiming, she knew more about his relationship with Bao Cancan than most people did...

She casually pushed open the door and quickly glanced in Bao Cancan's direction. She was lying on the bed in the exact same position as before, the nine-hole blanket completely covering her lower body. Judging from the bulging outline under the blanket, she still had the body of a green worm. Realizing this, Lanlan suddenly breathed a sigh of relief for some reason.

"Are you gossiping again?" she said, pretending to know nothing.

Before Ziyan could even speak, Bao Cancan interrupted her, asking in her usual sharp tone, "Where's the food?"

What food? She was a little confused.

"How stupid! Didn't I tell you to bring lunch? What, have you completely forgotten?" Bao Cancan sneered.

Lanlan was stunned. She glanced helplessly at Ziyan, then looked at her again. Where had Bao Cancan gone, the one who had just stammered "thank you"? In the blink of an eye, she was back to bullying her as before. Her head drooped low, and a weak voice escaped from her tightly pursed lips: "I'm sorry."

"You know that, so why aren't you going?" Bao Cancan's voice suddenly rose eight octaves. "Go now!"

She abruptly rushed out of the dormitory, crouching at the corner of the stairs, tears silently sliding down her nose and into the dust at the bottom. Who gave Bao Cancan such power, allowing her to treat Lan Lan with the same ruthlessness a queen would show a servant? They were classmates, roommates, equals born equal, not master and slave!

A hand gently rested on her shoulder, and she immediately stopped sobbing. It was Ziyan; her typically Chinese, yellowish, and flat face seemed especially warm and human under the dim streetlights.

She sighed first.

"Don't be too sad, she..." Ziyan gestured towards the dormitory with her chin, "She's always been like this. We girls knew about her a long time ago, didn't we? What's hateful is that the boys and teachers were kept in the dark all along."

Lanlan nodded silently and listened quietly as she continued.

“But you’re too docile.” She affectionately brushed a stray strand of hair from Lanlan’s temples. “Look at the four of us in the dorm, who does she boss around the most? It’s you, not the other two. Why? Because you’re so obedient! You do whatever she tells you to do, like you’re her maid. If you’re not around, even if she dares to order me around, I’ll give her a good scolding. I said, ‘Don’t you have hands?’ Haha, look how angry she was then, her whole face turned green!”

Ziyan laughed happily. On the one hand, Lanlan admired her courage, but on the other hand, she felt uneasy. Would she suffer some hidden loss if she went head-to-head with Bao Cancan like this?

“I’m not afraid of her at all,” Ziyan said proudly, raising her eyebrows. “I just don’t believe in this nonsense. No matter how capable she is, she can’t control everything.”

Although she spoke with great bravado, Lanlan sadly understood that while she couldn't control everything, Bao Cancan had enough skill to create a small cloud to obscure the blue sky above Ziyan...

When Lanlan brought over the rice bowl, Bao Cancan was lying on the bed watching a DVD. Upon seeing the rice bowl, she immediately let out a brief gasp.

"Great! I was just about to eat this!" She smiled sweetly at Lanlan and eagerly stretched out her hands. "You're so reliable, just like Lanlan!"

Lan Lan was stunned again. Her attitude had completely reversed the moment Zi Yan wasn't around—it was too sudden! Bao Cancan wolfed down her lunchbox, her eating manners so messy it was astonishing. Lan Lan remembered that she had just eaten a full box of juicy rice with toppings that afternoon, and her snacks—she looked around the dorm and found the floor littered with sunflower seed shells and food packaging remnants, a scene of utter devastation like a typhoon had swept through—were all gone. Noticing her surprised gaze, Bao Cancan playfully stuck out her tongue and gave an embarrassed smile: "I was really hungry, so I ate a little too much."

It seems that not only her figure has changed, but also her appetite. She devoured the entire box of rice in a flash, and finally patted her stomach with satisfaction, which immediately rumbled a few times under the covers.

"Can Can, are you full?" Lan Lan asked worriedly.

"Hmm~ I'm about 70% full," Bao Cancan replied casually. "Alright, to maintain my figure, I'll eat less tonight."

Lan Lan silently picked up the broom and began cleaning up the battlefield she had created. Bao Cancan frowned slightly, then suddenly brought her face close to Lan Lan's.

“I’m telling you, Lanlan,” she began, “I just feel like this can’t go on.”

Lanlan nodded in agreement. Indeed, even if she could deceive her classmates for a while by covering herself with a blanket, how could she fool them forever?

“I’ve thought about it,” Bao Cancan said, her expression more focused than ever before. “How about I say that I suddenly developed a leg ailment and can’t walk for the time being? We can say that it’s a hereditary disease, and that I don’t need injections but can only take a secret Chinese medicine formula, and that it will get better naturally after taking it for a while—do you think that makes sense?”

It's barely acceptable... but her 360 admirers will definitely do everything they can to visit her in the hospital...

"That's why I value you so much!" She warmly grasped Lanlan's hand. "I need your help, Lanlan!"

Volume Two: The Metamorphosis of the Spider Lily (Part Six)

To better care for Bao Cancan's daily needs, Lanlan rented a room on the first floor of the girls' dormitory. The downstairs auntie initially insisted that school rules couldn't be violated, and that even if there were vacant rooms on the first floor, they absolutely couldn't be rented out. However, when Lanlan appeared before them pushing Bao Cancan in her wheelchair, her beautiful face, as delicate as a pear blossom battered by rain, and with glistening tears in her eyes—this somewhat transgressive request was readily granted.

What followed was much simpler. Lanlan packed their things and moved into the new dormitory to avoid the gaze of the other girls. Although Ziyan and the others thought Bao Cancan's illness was really too strange, as long as it didn't bother them and they only kept Lanlan as a companion, they had nothing to say, adopting a "mind your own business" attitude. After settling in, Lanlan went to class as usual. As expected, as soon as she entered the classroom, she was greeted by a bath of stares from everyone. Bao Cancan was sick! This earth-shattering news spread to the ears of all the boys in the class in an instant. The vanguard went up to Lanlan, who was closest to Cancan, to ask, while the others eagerly awaited secondhand or even thirdhand information from others. Before the morning classes were over, more than a dozen boys had already secretly slipped out of the classroom and disappeared without a trace. Bao Cancan's illness might be a disaster for her, but for them, it was a rare opportunity bestowed by heaven. Who wouldn't want to seize this rare opportunity to win her favor while the beauty was in trouble? No one wants to lose at the starting line. Lanlan glanced back discreetly. Although Haiming was sitting upright, his flushed cheeks betrayed the subtle turmoil in his heart. He couldn't possibly be unhurried, watching helplessly as his brothers rushed ahead of him, vying to fawn over Bao Cancan. She couldn't help but think of the secret buried deep in her heart, the secret about Haiming…

How did this conversation begin? When Bao Cancan and Lan Lan were eating in the cafeteria, Hai Ming and a girl walked past them, chatting and laughing amiably. Neither of them noticed the two girls behind them, but Lan Lan recognized the girl as none other than Zi Yan. Seeing her so happy, Lan Lan couldn't help but sigh with envy. Bao Cancan coldly observed her envious gaze, then suddenly leaned closer mysteriously: "There's something that's been bothering me..."

"Huh?" She finally came to her senses. "Really? What should we do then?" She was really worried about Bao Cancan.

A shy smile played on her lips as she lowered her head and whispered in a low voice, "Really... I'm not sure if I should tell you..."

Lanlan knew this was her usual tactic of playing hard to get, so she went along with her wish and eagerly asked her, "Tell me quickly, tell me."

"I'm only telling you this, because you're the only person I trust..." Can Can glanced around mysteriously before bringing her mouth close to her ear, her hot breath tickling her. "You have to swear to God you won't tell anyone else..."

“That’s it…” Lanlan felt her voice growing softer and softer, until it seemed to emanate from hell, like a witch’s incantation, “Haiming confessed to me!”

"Remember that night watching the meteor shower? He asked me to meet him under the peach tree, and then he said to me," Bao Cancan's eyes gleamed like glass marbles in the dark, sending chills down my spine, "He said he liked me, from the very first day he saw me... Lanlan, what should I do? Ziyan, and several other girls like him, they like him terribly, but he fell in love with me at first sight. He said he can't live without me... Ugh!" She exaggeratedly grabbed Lanlan's hand, "I'm so annoyed!!!"

Really? Lanlan looked at her suspiciously. Why did her troubled eyes flash with a light that was a mixture of ostentation, pride, and cruelty? Her lips were turned down so sadly, yet why did a smug smile, a smile of arrogance, emerge from those two rows of pearly white teeth?

Lanlan carried her backpack, the books inside so heavy that she could only stagger back to her dormitory, one step at a time. From afar, she saw a long line forming outside the girls' dormitory—a line made up entirely of young men, flowers, fruit, chocolates, and cakes. The line stretched beyond the stairwell, leading straight to the football field, but its starting point was just outside their temporary dormitory window. Can Can! Everyone was calling out that name; Can Can! Everyone's eyes were filled with that name; Can Can! That name was deeply imprinted on everyone's body, seeping through their skin, through their veins, piercing right into their hearts.

And what about Can Can? Lying on the bed, her stunningly beautiful face was visible beneath the covers, adorned with an incomparably sweet smile. Her exquisitely sculpted, snow-white wrist moved gracefully and slowly, exuding an indescribable charm and allure! Who could have imagined that wriggling under the covers was the plump body of a green worm!

"Lanlan!" she called out energetically, clearly in a great mood today. "Aren't you going to come and help? Look how hard they're working to carry that!"

Bao Cancan accepted each person's gift and wrote down their names, chatting and laughing with them as she went. The group moved extremely slowly downstairs in front of the girls' dormitory. If it weren't for some clever boys handing her two lunchboxes, Lanlan was really worried she would starve to death by the window.

Finally, only one person remained. Lanlan had to muster her strength—wait, isn't that Haiming? What's he doing hiding by the wall?

Bao Cancan had obviously noticed him too, because she immediately told Lanlan to leave and specifically instructed her to close the door. The two whispered to each other through the window for a while, and by the time she spoke again to let Lanlan come back in, Haiming was nowhere to be seen.

"Lanlan~" Cancan said coquettishly, beckoning her to sit down on her bedside. "Tell me, haven't I always considered you my closest best friend?"

Lanlan had no choice but to nod. She continued, "I know you have a kind heart and a soft soul. You wouldn't just stand by and watch me suffer, would you? Ever since I got this strange illness, I haven't had a single good night's sleep. If it weren't for you..." She suddenly threw herself onto Lanlan's shoulder and burst into tears, "If it weren't for you helping me, I really don't know how I would go on living. I'd rather be dead!"

Lanlan's ominous premonition grew stronger. "So, what do you need me to help you with?" she heard her own blank voice.

Can Can let out a soft cry, eagerly raising her face, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I heard there's a place that can grant people's wishes, as long as they pay the corresponding price. For me," she emphasized those three words, "would you be willing to make the trip?"

Volume Two: The Metamorphosis of the Spider Lily (Part Seven)

“Maya, please bring in the girl outside and that…” The astrologer frowned in disgust, swallowing the word “man” back. “…” He hadn’t received a satisfactory “big” job for several days, and his stomach was practically empty.

“Yes, sir!” Maya replied cheerfully, her spirits high. After all, dolls were easier to please, the astrologer thought, reclining in his chair, secretly lamenting his sunken belly. Maya, on the other hand, could easily fill his stomach with some emergency blood plasma from the hospital, or simply buy some pig-feeding plasma protein powder from websites like Taobao and eBay; now, with technological advancements and improved living standards, perhaps in the future we could directly drink artificial blood substitutes, and the wonderful era of vampires not needing to drink human blood would soon arrive… Alas, but for a noble ghoul, that was completely out of the question. “My taste is quite refined,” he said smugly to himself, “young and beautiful women aged 18 to 24, every man’s lifelong dream.”

However, this hard-won female guest left him somewhat disappointed. Judging from the clear, radiant glow of her skin, she was probably around 20 years old. However, to his discerning eye, her complexion was yellowish and dull, her pores large, revealing a roughness characteristic of working women; her features were flat and lacked definition, and her figure, wrapped in heavy cotton clothing, was even less appealing. In short, she was not a beauty.

The girl was clearly more shocked than he was. The man before her, with his exotic face and sharply defined features like a Greek statue, was completely submerged in a sea of black, revealing only a pale, delicate face and a pair of hands. His white-gloved hands sometimes crossed, sometimes deftly separated.

"Ah, you are..." She suddenly recalled the last time she had "braised pork with vegetables" that night. She was carrying a lunchbox and walking hurriedly on the road when she bumped into a man in black, almost knocking the food over... No, thinking back carefully, it's actually weirder that she didn't knock over the food.

After her prompting, the astrologer feigned sudden realization. “Your memory is quite remarkable,” he said, his narrowed eyes sharp as needles. “For example, I wouldn’t remember such trivial matters.”

Is it because you're too eye-catching? In other words, am I just too ordinary? Lanlan thought sadly.

"Then, I sincerely apologize for what happened that night." The astrologer's lips parted silently. "You enjoyed that late dinner, didn't you?"

Before Lanlan could even figure out his question, Haiming, who had been waiting for a long time, couldn't hold back any longer. "Excuse me, I don't think we're here to reminisce. In fact..."

The astrologer's will-o'-the-wisps never left Lanlan before him. "Since that night's encounter," he asked softly, "has anything happened in your life that requires your help?"

He kept bringing up "that night," and even the most oblivious person would have sensed something was amiss, let alone Lanlan. Could there really be some hidden meaning? That night, there was braised pork with vegetables; the next day, after class, back in the dorm, it was dark, and Cancan slept soundly until the afternoon... Wait! She suddenly jolted awake; Cancan's lower body had turned into a green worm—wasn't that exactly what happened that afternoon?

Cold sweat dripped from her forehead. A sense of foreboding crept into her heart. Could it be that Bao Cancan's transformation into an insect was somehow connected to her encounter with this man in the clothes that night?

“We have a classmate who has a strange illness,” Haiming said. “It’s a chronic illness he’s had since childhood, and even the hospitals can’t cure it, so…”

"Is this a mistake?" Maya shouted angrily. "This is an astrology hall, not a clinic! If you need medical attention, go see a doctor!"

“But…” Haiming glanced weakly at Lanlan, “I heard that anything can be done here…”

“Indeed,” the astrologer replied slowly, “However, the price to achieve it is correspondingly high. I’m just afraid that you…” His deep gaze lingered meaningfully on Lanlan’s face, “…cannot afford it.”

They were politely ushered out. Unable to help Bao Cancan out of her predicament, Haiming could only shake his head helplessly, and Lanlan's mood was also quite low. However, the shadow lingering in her heart was not the failed transaction, but the "vegetables and pork stew." Haiming took in her worried expression and assumed she thought the same thing as him, which made him feel a surge of goodwill towards her.

"Lanlan." This was the first time he had called her name on his own initiative. For some reason, upon hearing that gentle and honest voice, she felt a shiver run through her from head to toe, and a warm current flowed into her heart.

"Of all the girls in the class, you're the kindest." Haiming raised his neck high, as if venting his pent-up resentment towards the sky. "The others, hmph! They're all so mean to Cancan!"

Can Can? Lan Lan involuntarily perked up her ears. When did their relationship become so intimate that they called each other by our first names?

“I’ve heard Can Can talk about it all, about the girls,” Hai Ming continued. “They’re all jealous of her generosity, her good manners, and her popularity. They isolate her, ostracize her, and find all sorts of ways to bully her. Even her beauty has become a reason for their attacks…” Lan Lan had never seen such an indignant face before. “I know she’s had a hard time, but thankfully you’re here.” He was silent for a moment, then lowered his head shyly. “If it weren’t for a kind-hearted friend like you, I really don’t know how Can Can would have endured it!”

At this moment, Lanlan was completely speechless, only able to stare in disbelief. Was this the truth? Ever since bumping into Haiming and Ziyan in the cafeteria, Bao Cancan had acted strangely, becoming unusually close to Ziyan. They sat next to each other, ate at the same table, and even Lanlan stood aside, like a pair of deeply affectionate sisters. But strangely enough, from that time on, Haiming and Ziyan never appeared in the same sight of anyone again. Rumors circulated that Haiming suddenly began avoiding Ziyan one day, and some even claimed to have seen Haiming and Bao Cancan sitting side by side in the school's most secluded study room at the strangest moment, whispering intimately to each other. Although they were supposed to be studying, Bao Cancan only held a pretentious political science book in her hand… The stubborn Ziyan never mentioned Haiming's misfortune to her roommates. On the contrary, Cancan, upon seeing Ziyan, would grab her and launch into a long, drawn-out discussion about "Haiming's actions today," all the while stealing glances at Ziyan's expression… Ziyan, oh Ziyan! Lanlan thought sadly, "Look, Bao Cancan, this dark cloud, has silently obscured the clear sky of your love. Even with your heart full of affection, you can't withstand a mere whisper in her ear. What can you possibly use to fight her? You know, men are like that—they'd rather be deceived by a beautiful woman's facade than believe in the sincere heart of an ordinary girl!"

Volume Two: The Metamorphosis of the Spider Lily (Part 8)

With contrasting feelings, the two returned to school listlessly. Along the way, perhaps to express his remorse, Haiming struck up a conversation with Lanlan. Touched by his kindness, Lanlan, for the first time ever, opened up. Even though their conversation was as mundane as plain water, it allowed him to understand the gentle girl more deeply than ever before.

Before even reaching the girls' dormitory, Lanlan felt an unusually sharp chill, like a barrage of arrows leaving her nowhere to hide. It was a gaze filled with malice, the intensity of the resentment instantly sending a cold sweat down her spine. She dared not look in the direction of that gaze, for she knew in her heart that she dreaded seeing a face all too familiar.