Chapter 401: A Ripple of Imagination
Luo Nan had screwed the pooch!
People from Xie Junping's group didn't appear when one needed them to appear. Not one of them came. It was only during the most embarrassing time did these people come delightfully popping out one after another.
Well, forget about Xie Junping's group. What about Mo Han and Mo Peng? Weren't they having a good time at the reality battlefield, at the Uncanny Valley? Why the fuck did they come back?
Actually, Mo Han and Mo Peng came back because they were a bit worried. They didn't understand why Luo Nan gave up his hero seat when he was playing so well and had a great situation going on. He had told everyone that nothing was wrong through his wristband, but how could anyone believe him?
With Mo Han and Mo Peng coming back, the others came back as well like flapping geese. The only ones who didn't come back were Yue Qin and Turner. Those two should be purposely hiding due to the embarrassing actions of Yue Zheng.
But when it came to embarrassment, who could compare to Luo Nan in this moment?
The intimate actions between him and Cat Eyes were completely seen by Xie Junping, that idiot, with his own two eyes. Oh, and then there was Xie Junping. His angle might have been more slanted, but he probably was able to piece it together with Xie Junping's reaction.
Yep, it was Xie Junping's reaction.
That bro's reaction was far too exaggerated. He gaped, stunned, not saying a word. The first thought that came into his mind was to turn around and leave.
The fuck you want to walk away for!?
Even if Luo Nan and Cat Eyes were acting quite vaguely in a intimate way, what are you acting as an innocent boy for, you old player? Doesn't this encourage the others to have their imaginations go wild?
Luo Nan drew in a deep breath. Cat Eyes' sweet fragrance of alcohol still remained between his mouth and nose, and the fine sensation of her hair still remained on his lips. This suddenly woke him up and made him feel a bit grateful to this old player.
Since the matter was so sudden, Luo Nan had frozen on the spot. He didn't even think about moving out of the way. He still gave off an intimate feeling with Cat Eyes, when in reality, all he had were his lips on Cat Eyes' forehead.
If Xie Junping hadn't overreacted like this, then the situation would have turned even more chaotic. Instead of the current formation, Mo Han, Mo Peng and the others would have come charging in like bees. They would certainly have seen the whole thing head on. Now that would have been an explosive disaster!
Luckily, the current situation could be saved.
Luo Nan immediately straightened his back and stood up. He did this in such a rushed manner that his knee bumped into the coffee table. The bang rang out quite clearly in the room.
At the entrance to the room, Xie Junping was soon pushed inside as Mo Han, Mo Peng, and the others came in like a swarm. What had once been an empty room was completely packed in an instant. There was no fear of there being leftovers out of the fruit platters and beverages that Xie Junping brought.
Luo Nan took advantage of the chaos to drag his stiff and aching legs outward in the form of two steps. He nearly bumped into Xue Lei, who carried a plate with alcohol, in the process. His best friend shifted to the side, maintaining balance with the plate with alcohol. His dedication to his work was just like that of a real bartender. He had a pure expression that said, "I don't know jack about what just happened." However, his twinkling eyes long since betrayed himself deeply.
In comparison, the Old Player Xie Junping, after forgetting his manners at the very beginning, took it upon himself to form the model example of no-good friends with Hu Huaying. He chatted and laughed casually, saying, "Is Nanster getting to know a beauty?" After delivering the fruit platter and beverages, he quickly reversed the chaotic and suspicious atmosphere in the room, causing the room to become quite lively.
Cat Eyes acted quite steadily throughout all this. Her behavior didn't really change. It was as if everything that just happened was an illusion. She even gestured with a curl of her finger towards Xue Lei, taking a cup of whiskey from the plate he was holding. She swayed the cup slightly once it was in her hand, letting the ice and alcohol make a slow and monotonous clinking sound. Her actions gave off the feeling of casualness and at ease.
Luo Nan wanted to make way for Xue Lei when he felt that he too had also sunk down to the role of a server. Wasn't this like being a special service personnel? He couldn't refrain from gritting his teeth. He felt quite embarrassed, but then anger surged into his head:
If Cat Eyes wasn't scared at all, what was he scared of!?
The gazes of most people rested upon the sofa at this time. They were unable to see the situation. Cat Eyes was now sitting alone in the master spot of the sofa, while Luo Nan and Xue Lei stood together. There was a fixed distance between the two sides. If there was something that had to be said, then it would be the fact that Cat Eyes’ makeup, dress-style, and bearing gave off an extremely mature and charming feeling. It made these few young boys and girls stupefied just by looking.
Then, most of the people's eyes were drawn to the alcohol Xue Lei was carrying. Tong Hui of the HuiHui-GrayGray Combo struck the nail on the head, "Ardberg, a classic! Wow! You guys actually popped open some whiskey!"
The alcohol content of this whiskey was over sixty percent. The flavor was intense. It was certainly not suitable for youngsters to consume. Xue Lei had discovered this when he opened the bottle. He hurriedly said, "I'm not the one drinking. Whoever wants a drink can come over."
Luo Nan felt his mouth and tongue suddenly go dry in this moment. Perhaps it was because he was feeling diffident, but he felt that Cat Eyes' lingering scent refused to leave his lips. He saw the ice cubes soaking in the amber liquid and felt that it could quench his thirst quite well. The scent was strong as well. He picked up a cup and easily chugged it down.
"Holy shit!" Tong Hui was immediately stunned.
Luo Nan suddenly realized the problem. As soon as the alcohol entered his throat, a painful burning sensation surged through his nose and throat, even though the ice-cubes already diluted the drink. There was also an intense taste that was akin to smoke and baking fire. The surge was so strong that he nearly spat the alcohol out.
Luckily, the mouth and tongue orifice naturally circulated the spiritual pond of nectar upon being stimulator. The liquid moistened the area between the mouth and nose, lingering there and transforming into a burst of intellectual energy. The bottom level was rich in flavor as the liquid flowed down. Luo Nan had truly gulped down the entire cup of alcohol, all the while unaware.
Luo Nan didn't understand how to appreciate alcohol. He was satisfied with not making a fool out of himself. He was truly surprised by this effect of the two orifices of mouth and tongue.
Though this was the case, he absolutely wouldn't drink a second cup.
From the moment he was born, the only time Luo Nan had close contact with alcohol in his sixteen years of life was when he operated alcohol stoves. It was as if a fire burned through his entire body after the alcohol entered his stomach. It scorched his body, and the restlessness he just suppressed seemed to explode forth once more.
He didn't have anything he wanted to do in particular. He just felt that there were many ideas that were meaningless. He watched Cat Eyes turn her head to look above the sofa, getting a sense that she was a calm and composed beauty. He chuckled as he felt this to be more and more the case.
Mo Peng shouted, "Nanster, you sneak! You drank alcohol!"
Luo Nan rolled his eyes, "You're so god damn loud. I'm thirsty!"
He dumped the ice cubes still remaining in the cup into his mouth to prove it. It was all swallowed after some chewing. This was seriously an aggressive method. Mo Peng and the others felt a shiver through their hearts just from watching.
Tong Hui said in admiration, "I can tell you're experienced at this with a single look. I also chugged it down in a single gulp back then, but I simply sprayed it out on my dad's face. Could it be that eating ice cubes can keep the alcohol down?"
It appeared that he had the idea of trying it out at home.
Luo Nan gave him a moment of silence as respect. This brother certainly didn't possess the mouth and tongue orifice and its circulating ability of the spiritual pond of nectar. In any case, the two simulations created by the mix of alcohol and ice shouldn't be life threatening.
With such an interruption, the topic's direction went completely askew. The previous awkward atmosphere was pretty much dispelled. Luo Nan's state of mind became more natural as he took on the responsibility of the host once more and introduced people to one another.
Xie Junping and Hu Huaying were all older students of Acumen College. They were older than Mo Peng and the others by about five years. It would be easy for them to blend into the friend group if they could act humbly.
The third wheel was none other than Du Yong, or Sissy Du. Luo Nan had only met him once in the past by chance and could only give him a simply introduction. Well in any case, Tian Qi was here. Even though Du Yong had resigned as the president of the Mystic Arts Research Society in a sorry manner, it was easy for Tian Qi, a basic member, to give everyone a detailed introduction of Du Yong.
But Cat Eyes' identity made things hard. She just sat on the sofa, donning a smile that wasn't really a smile. She couldn't be described as close or distant. There was also the issue with her name. It was quite awkward introducing her.
"Dance teacher?" The group of boys and girls were quite confused. This didn't line up with Luo Nan's usual social circle.
Papercut and Tian Si had returned not too long ago by now. Papercut didn't even have time to greet Cat Eyes and be Luo Nan's teacher of etiquette, but he was a man of action, ready to shoulder responsibility. He pulled Tian Si to him and said, "Didn't you say that you've also garnered some interest in the mystic arts recently? Aside from the school society that your little brother is a part of, the Society actually has a few interest and enthusiast gatherings in the school as well. For instance, we are like-minded people who have gathered together. Cat Eyes is a veteran member of the Society. You two get closer to each other in the future."
Tian Si had yet to talk upon returning to the room. However, her gaze mostly fell over to the sofa, spending half the time on Luo Nan and half the time on Cat Eyes.
Tian Si's heart went into a panic from suddenly being seen through by Papercut, but, after all, she possessed a clever mind. She immediately understood the pretext, walked forward, leaned over, extended a hand over the coffee table, and said, "Hi Sister Cat Eyes. I am Tian Si. Please give me lots of advice in the future."
Cat Eyes remained sitting on the sofa. She merely extended a hand to touch Tian Si lightly. She appeared a bit cold as she said, "Advice is out of the question, but since you've entered this circle, there will be opportunities to exchange experiences."
Tian Si gave a gentle laugh, "I haven't officially entered."
"You're involved with a certain someone. Do you think the date is far off?"
Tian Si stared, her gaze locking with Cat Eyes'. Her eyes appeared to be hazy, but beneath the surface was a sharpness and coldness. There was also a hint of "I understand everything" contained within.
Her heart ached a bit, and she was stupefied for a time.
The two highly attractive women were separated by a coffee table. It was an exceptionally gorgeous picture, but under the dim lighting, the dark hues quietly shifted to the lead character.
There was an instant when the clamoring room suddenly went quiet, but this silence was soon drowned by Papercut's fake laughter.
Papercut had done things quite well, but he underestimated the power of the youngsters' brains.
"Something's a bit strange." Mo Han and Mo Peng whispered to each other, "Have you realized it? All the people Nanster know seems to be older sisters."
"Oh, or maybe aunties?"
Pierced through the heart!
Luo Nan held back a smile and shot a sidelong glance. Cat Eyes was very dispirited nowadays. Her lips were blazing red, and her half concealed cheeks were rather pretty and flirtatious. Their age difference was quite clear under the dim lighting when matched with Luo Nan, a fifteen, sixteen year old student. Perhaps she really was twice his age. It was normal to call her an auntie.
But once the power of the imaginations of young people were unleashed, not even standard weapons of mass destruction could stop it. Mo Peng said, "Could it be an improper love? A blazing fight within the harem?"
"Stop talking shit! Maybe they're just friends! Friends despite the difference in age!"
"But right now the problem is that all of the girls that Luo Nan hangs out with are all older than him. There's something odd about this trend. Why is it like this?"
"I heard Nanster's family circumstances is like this."
"What about my family?"
"I'm talking about his biological parents. His mom and dad aren't with him. He might be longing them or something. Perhaps he is more inclined toward an Oedipus complex?"
"You're seeking death!"
Luo Nan nearly shattered the empty glass in his hand through a strong grip.
Can you two be any fucking louder? Don't you know that a good portion of the people in this room are ability users? This is slander!
Two people in the room spat before the thought ended.
Papercut had just taken a glass of wine from Xue Lei and sipped a mouthful. He had come back a bit later, but he lacked resistance since he avoided the most awkward time period. He simply couldn't take it, choking on the peat-flavored whiskey.
The other one who spat was Xie Junping. In his case, he spat out mineral water. It was a bit odd.
Luo Nan saw that Xie Junping actually didn't touch a drop of alcohol. He didn't even drink any flavored beverages. He just held a glass of mineral water. Plus, did Mo Han and Mo Peng whisper that loudly? How was Xie Junping, who was almost five meters away, able to hear him? When did his eyes and ears turn this sharp?
Luo Nan studied Xie Junping seriously. The two hadn't met each other face-to-face that much in recent times. Xie Junping appeared a bit thinner than before, and his mind was running quite decently. It was quite funny that he was wearing very old-fashioned Chinese robes. Such outfits were worn by old uncles and grandpas for morning training. It was inharmonious with the gaming center no matter how one looked at it.
Yet, Xie Junping behaved quite professionally. It didn't seem to be cosplay. Luo Nan recalled that Xie Junping had mentioned something about magical spells and other factors. The situation was certainly quite odd. However, right now was not a good time to ask about this.
Luo Nan was able to see Papercut's penetrating insight of future at this time. For instance, Mo Han and Mo Peng were peers of the normal world. They shouldn't be put together with Cat Eyes and them. There were many subjects that could not be talked about.
Papercut narrowly avoided the danger of having alcohol burst out of his nostrils. He felt that he needed to increase his brainwashing intensity and faced Mo Peng and the other young boys and girls to infuse them with his words, "Us people really like those mystical and mysterious stuff. We get together quite often to exchange what we've learned. Cat Eyes and I just so happened to be in the area, so we took this chance to come over and have some fun. Please ignore whatever things that may ruin the fun."
"Oh, no wonder. Nanster wanted to enter the Mystic Arts Research Society before." Mo Peng knew of this matter, visualizing the situation perfectly in an instant. However, his gaze still remained shifting around the sofa area.
Harems and the like should have nothing to do with hobbies, right!?
Mo Han's ability to accept mystical and mysterious things was a bit lacking in comparison. He turned to ask her few best friends, "Mystic arts....like tarot cards?"
"Tarot cards are super effective!" Qiu Peipei, who had been quiet all this time, was actually a fanatic of this field. She was excited. This caused a new topic to ripple among these girls. Though it was quite distant from the cover up that Papercut made, this was truly the most ideal situation.
Luo Nan gave Papercut a 'like' in his mind. He remembered that he had said the same thing back at Ocean Sky Cloud City. Back then he fooled Xie Junping and Hu Huaying. Right now it was Mo Han and Mo Peng's turn. But it conformed well together. There were no flaws.
"Look, the Mystic Arts Society can certainly help." Xie Junping whispered to Du Yong with an expression of "I'm right."
Du Yong had a hybrid expression of restlessness of skepticism, "There are many branches in the mystic arts. Magical spells are a very specialized field."
Papercut's ears were sharp. He turned to look at him, "What did you say just now? Magical spells?"
Du Yong's patience had long since been eliminated by the many and complicated introductions earlier. All that was left was impatience. Papercut's words were equivalent to opening up a dam. He didn't care about the current occasion. He simply raised his voice.
"I've been in a club with Old Xie recently. We bumped into a fellow practitioner who said that they can draw us into this field. But there is a test of spiritual initiation that requires the assistance of magical spells."
His voice was sharp, and his words were quick. The field touched upon was mysterious. The few words surprised the group of young boys and girls.
Was everyone living in a different dimension?