Chapter 630: I Smell the Scent of a Melodramatic Plot
Chapter 630: I Smell the Scent of a Melodramatic Plot
Wei Linchen leaned against the table, exuding an air of relaxation all over his body.
Upon hearing Qin Ruan's words, a smile deepened in his eyes, as he replied half-jokingly, "Even if we see through each other, it's better for us to remain good teacher and student."
"Hehe..." Qin Ruan retorted with sarcasm.
While she seemed to be bantering with Wei Linchen, the corner of her eye was constantly assessing the male teacher Kang Dong and the female teacher with black-framed glasses sitting not far away.
Kang Dong seemed to be drawn into their conversation and had relaxed, no longer as nervous as before.
However, the female teacher's eyes were evasive, not daring to meet anyone's gaze, with a tense expression on her face.
Her hand hung at her side, clenched tightly into a fist, and her feet in high heels shifted uneasily, seeming somewhat awkward and uncoordinated.
Qin Ruan wasn't drawn into the conversation either. Instead, she observed the interactions between Wei Linchen and Kang Dong while also focusing on the female teacher, Lu Xianglan, sitting on the sofa.
Lu Xianglan didn't seem to be attracted by the banter between Qin Ruan and Wei Linchen. Instead, she appeared to be in a state of nervous tension, her face tense and expressionless.
When Qin Ruan and Wei Linchen exchanged glances, a meaningful look appeared in their eyes.
Earlier, before going upstairs with Qin Ruan, Wei Linchen had sent her a text message.
In the message, he pointed out that something was off about the female teacher, Lu Xianglan, and wanted to try her out.
As a psychology professor, Wei Linchen had decided to put on a psychological tactic in front of Lu Xianglan.
Qin Ruan had no objections to this plan, but she needed to know the details of the six murders that occurred at Audri School, or else the act would not go smoothly.
Wei Linchen patted his head as if he had just remembered the main point and complained to Qin Ruan, "I got carried away chatting with you and forgot to talk about the main issue."
"Go ahead; I'm listening," Qin Ruan said while leaning back against the back of the chair, as if she were listening intently.
Wei Linchen's smiling expression receded, replaced by a serious and distant demeanor. He spoke in a low voice, "Cheng Xuelan died outside the school. The victims of the murders that occurred after the start of the semester were students from Teacher Kang and Teacher Lu's classes."
According to Teacher Kang, he saw Cheng Xuelan once during the summer vacation outside the school, and I think there might be a connection between the two."
"Crack!"
A crisp sound echoed in the room.
Lu Xianglan stared at the cup on the ground, her head hanging low, appearing at a loss.
Kang Dong stood up from his seat, frowning at her, "Why are you so clumsy? Move your foot inside."
Lu Xianglan adjusted her high heels and moved her foot inward.
Kang Dong squatted on the ground, picking up the broken pieces of glass.
Qin Ruan observed the postures of both of them and a hint of meaning flashed through her eyes.
She withdrew her gaze and asked Wei Linchen, "Did they bully Cheng Xuelan, and she came back for revenge?"
Qin Ruan was quite perceptive.
However, the reality was different from what she thought.
Wei Linchen shook his head, "No, Cheng Xuelan was more introverted and didn't actively provoke anyone, although her interpersonal relationships were not good. She was more of a lone wolf."
Qin Ruan nodded, gesturing for him to continue.
Wei Linchen's cold eyes narrowed as he focused on Kang Dong, who was crouching on the ground picking up the broken glass.
"There was a time during the summer vacation when Kang Dong was giving extra classes to a few students. Before the end of the vacation, he took them out for a meal."
With that statement, Kang Dong, who was crouching on the ground, became tense again.
However, Qin Ruan and Wei Linchen didn't pay much attention to him. Instead, they fixed their gaze on Lu Xianglan, sitting on the sofa.
Her head was down, body trembling slightly, and her tightly clenched hands showed faint blue veins.
She seemed even more troubled than before.
Qin Ruan couldn't tell what she had discovered from Lu Xianglan, but suddenly, her delicate face showed a sinister expression, and her eyes revealed a chilling coldness.
Her icy gaze scanned Lu Xianglan, revealing a hint of disbelief.
Qin Ruan didn't look back at Wei Linchen as she asked, "And then?"
Wei Linchen glanced at Lu Xianglan and lowered his voice, "Among the students Kang Dong took out for a meal were the six victims who died after the school started."
"Including Kang Dong and his tutoring students, there were a total of eight people. On their way to the restaurant for dinner, Lu Xianglan called Kang Dong and the group became nine."
"The dinner took place at night, and the restaurant was next to a nightclub. It was a Japanese cuisine restaurant, and by chance, they encountered Cheng Xuelan, who was entering or leaving the nightclub."
A cold smile formed on Qin Ruan's face, devoid of any warmth.
She turned her head and directed a sarcastic remark at Wei Linchen, "I smell the scent of a melodramatic plot."
Wei Linchen agreed, "It does sound quite melodramatic. In their impetuous adolescence, a group of semi-grown children often see themselves as saviors."
"The students who took the extra classes thought Cheng Xuelan, with her attire, was up to no good in the nightclub. Out of their misguided good intentions, they tried to persuade her to change her ways, unaware that the nightclub was owned by Cheng Xuelan's family."
"To satisfy their self-righteousness, they forced a girl to end her life like this. How foolish and laughable their good intentions were."
As he spoke, Wei Linchen's words were filled with sarcasm.
As he finished, Kang Dong suddenly stood up from the ground, his eyes bloodshot with fatigue.
"No, they didn't intend to hurt Cheng Xuelan's self-esteem. Afterward, I made them apologize; they were innocent."
Wei Linchen wore a contemptuous expression, asking coldly, "If they were innocent, why did Cheng Xuelan come back for revenge?"
"I don't know. I don't know why it turned out like this!" Kang Dong seemed to be breaking down after days of torment. He was gradually losing control.
He squatted on the ground, murmuring to himself, each sentence a question, but he didn't know if he was asking himself or someone else.
Seeing this, Qin Ruan and Wei Linchen turned their gaze to Lu Xianglan, who was sitting on the sofa, her head down, trying not to reveal any expression.
Wei Linchen suddenly called out, "Teacher Lu?"
"Huh?" Lu Xianglan raised her head slowly, her face pale and bloodless, her eyes unfocused.
Her condition seemed to be worse than before.
Her forehead looked ashen, even though she had carefully groomed eyebrows. In Qin Ruan's eyes, they were now merging into one continuous line.
There were faint traces of wrinkles on her forehead, which looked like the Chinese character 川 (chuan).
Her eyes appeared vacant, as if she was drunk or half-awake, displaying a look of exhaustion.
Qin Ruan saw this and a cruel and cold glint flashed in her eyes.
When Lu Xianglan raised her head, Wei Linchen also looked at Qin Ruan, blocking her way.
Seeing her change in expression and the dangerous gleam in her eyes, he knew she had probably noticed something.
His knowledge was limited as he couldn't see everything.
Qin Ruan's strength surpassed that of Qiao Nanyuan and Lu Wenbin, so he believed she might be able to provide answers to his doubts.
Last night, when he saw Lu Xianglan, he hadn't sensed anything amiss from her.
However, today, when he gathered the two teachers to discuss Cheng Xuelan's cause of death and the details of the other six victims, he sensed something subtle from Lu Xianglan.
It was a feeling that arose from his keen awareness as a celestial master.
Staying quiet all the while, the headmaster, Liu, who had been like a transparent person beside them, noticed that the atmosphere in the room wasn't right and froze in nervousness.
He cleared his throat, wanting to ease the tension and asked, "Daoist Wei, what's the current situation?"
Wei Linchen shrugged, appearing tired.
He hadn't slept well last night, and today, he was on edge while investigating the school.
Qin Ruan's arrival had eased his tension somewhat.
Just then, Qin Ruan suddenly stood up.
She strode towards Lu Xianglan, approaching her quickly as the latter's eyes flickered in panic.
"What are you doing?"
Lu Xianglan stood up nervously, trying to avoid Qin Ruan's approach.
Qin Ruan's eyes, filled with hidden violence, fixed on Lu Xianglan, her voice cold as ice, "Who are you?!"
Before entering the room, Qin Ruan had taken a glance at Lu Xianglan's face.
Apart from her excessively pale complexion, she didn't detect any malevolent aura from her.
But just now, she seemed to see a shadow of Cheng Xuelan in Lu Xianglan, despite their different faces. Their facial features resembled each other.
Lu Xianglan appeared like an ordinary person, without emitting any malevolent aura.
But just now, Qin Ruan had faintly sensed the presence of the malevolent aura from Lu Xianglan.
She was clearly possessed!
Lu Xianglan winced in pain as a result of Qin Ruan's rough handling.
She struggled to stand up, loudly shouting, "I don't know what you're talking about. You hurt me! Let go!"
However, Qin Ruan didn't loosen her grip. Instead, she leaned in and stared coldly into Lu Xianglan's eyes, her voice icy, "If I'm not mistaken, you are Cheng Xuelan, aren't you?"
Although it sounded like a question, her tone was filled with absolute certainty.
Lu Xianglan's pupils contracted suddenly, and she quickly retorted in a frantic voice, "Are you crazy? Cheng Xuelan is dead, how could I be her? Let go of me, you madwoman!"
Lu Xianglan struggled, trying to tear Qin Ruan's arm off.
After a while, Qin Ruan remained unmoved.
Lu Xianglan swung her hand again, attempting to scratch Qin Ruan's face.
Qin Ruan snorted disdainfully, her face showing no emotion.
Under Lu Xianglan's gaze, she clenched her fist and struck her flat abdomen forcefully.
"Bang!"
The sound of the punch hitting the body echoed in the room, leaving everyone stunned.
No one had expected Qin Ruan to be so violent.
Even Kang Dong, who had been crouching on the ground, was shocked and quickly regained his senses. He stared in astonishment as Qin Ruan bullied Lu Xianglan.
"Stop it, stop it! Miss Lu is a woman, if you keep hitting her like this, you'll kill her!" Principal Liu, was also taken aback by Qin Ruan's swift action.
Everyone feared that someone might die if the violence continued.
Kang Dong still remained on the ground, appearing stunned.
Listening to the heavy thud of Qin Ruan's punches, he was sweating profusely, "Daoist Wei, she might die if this goes on!"
Wei Linchen's face remained calm, and he didn't stop Qin Ruan.
He understood that Qin Ruan had her reasons for acting this way, and he trusted her judgment.
The atmosphere in the room grew tense, and everyone's eyes were fixed on Qin Ruan and Lu Xianglan, who was being mercilessly beaten.
