Otherworld Advance Team
Chapter 279 - 272: Open and Hidden Struggles

Chapter 279: Chapter 272: Open and Hidden Struggles

"Luo’er does have some issues, but I think your approach is wrong. You should know what Luo’er wants, but you never seem to satisfy him." Li Si advised.

"Luo’er wants to go to the Otherworld to find his mother, but his grandfather doesn’t want him to leave. I’m stuck between the two of them. The old man is in his eighties now, his greatest wish is for Luo’er to be by his side." Wang Xu couldn’t help but sigh whenever Luo’er was brought up.

"Regardless, he’s scared of you, which is why he’s reluctant to share everything with you." Li Si stated.

"You, what exactly has Luo’er offered you that even you’ve turned against me?" Wang Xu grumbled, frowning.

"Look at what you’re saying, I’m just stating the facts." Li Si responded, chuckling.

"Rubbish, I won’t let it go just like that. Once they’re back at the camp, I’ll see to it that they’re dealt with!" Wang Xu said angrily.

"Achoo!" Luo’er, who was currently having his porridge, crinkled his eyebrows as he sneezed.

"What’s wrong, Luo’er, do you have a cold?" Tangmo asked, putting down his porridge and looking worried.

"It’s a bit salty!" Luo’er grimaced.

"I’m sorry," Tangmo tasted a spoonful, then said remorsefully, "I’ve added too much salt again."

"Never mind, it’s not especially salty." Luo’er shook his head.

"I’ll go get something else for you to eat then!" Tangmo said, getting up to leave.

"No need, I’m full!" Luo’er said reluctantly.

Tangmo turned around, smiled at his expression, and asked, "Luo’er, do you not want me to leave?"

"No, it’s not that..." Luo’er stuttered.

"Really, if you’re reluctant, just say it. I’ll stay by your side." Tangmo said, returning to the edge of the bed with a radiant smile.

"Tangmo..." Luo’er seemed somewhat at a loss under Tangmo’s overpowering presence.

"Luo’er," Tangmo bent down, cupping Luo’er’s cheeks with her hands, her eyes heavy with intent as she gazed at him.

"Tangmo, you’re acting strangely." Luo’er said uneasily.

"Luo’er, who treats you better, me or Yue’er?" Tangmo asked, a playful smile playing on her lips.

"Why would you ask that?" Luo’er asked, taken aback.

"No counter questions, just answer me!" Tangmo admonished playfully.

"Well..." Luo’er hesitated for a moment, then said, "Both of you are good to me."

Ever since Cheng Ziang’s suggestion last time, the task of taking care of Luo’er fell to the two girls, each of them caring for him half a day. The excuse was to not tire out the girls, but their true intentions were clear as day.

At his reply, the smile on Tangmo’s face disappeared. She gazed absentmindedly at Luo’er, her hands stroking his face gently as she said, "That’s not good, Luo’er. It’s not okay to be torn between two. Girls get jealous easily. This isn’t okay, Luo’er."

"Eh?" Luo’er looked at her blankly, not understanding what she meant. She had asked him who treated him better, her or Baiyue. But it was obvious that Tangmo meant something deeper.

"It can only be me or Yue’er, Luo’er. You can only choose one." The smile returned to Tangmo’s face, but that smile sent chills down Luo’er’s spine.

Her fingers trailed down to his bandaged injury. She was gentle, so Luo’er didn’t feel any pain.

"Luo’er," Tangmo gently caressed his wound, "I was there during your surgery. So now, I know how to perform surgery too. If you get hurt in the future, I can do the surgery for you!"

Her gaze grew more intense, her smile now eerily strange, "If your hand is injured, all we have to do is cut it off. Don’t worry, I’m good at what I do, you won’t feel any pain, and I surely won’t let you die. But then, you’ll be handicapped, Luo’er. But it’s okay, I still won’t leave you, I’ll stay with you forever..."

Her tone was gentle, but her words were frightening. Luo’er stared blankly at her, feeling a chill. He was reminded of the dream he had, where Tangmo was just like this - sickly and strange. But compared to his current situation, maybe it wasn’t a dream.

Tangmo’s head lowered further, her hazy eyes staring intently at Luo’er. Her lips were slowly drawing closer to his. Luo’er didn’t know how to reject her or even dare to resist.

At this crucial juncture, there was a knock on the door. Baiyue entered, her head down and a platter of food in her hands, not noticing the two people.

"What a bummer!" Tangmo straightened up and looked at the door, her mouth muttering discontentedly.

"Sister Moumou, it’s time to change shifts now!" Baiyue said respectfully, but there was no trace of respect for Tangmo in her voice.

Tangmo reluctantly looked at Luo’er, pressing her fingers against her lips, and then on Luo’er’s lips, indirectly kissing him. Then she stood up, waved at Luo’er, and regretfully said, "Luo’er, see you tomorrow!"

"See you tomorrow!" Luo’er answered unwillingly, seeing Tangmo leave him, the huge stone in his heart finally fell, wishing she would not come to take care of him tomorrow.

Tangmo stood up, walk up to Baiyue, looked at the food she was holding, and declared, "Luo’er says he is not hungry, so you don’t need to bring him any food!"

"It’s okay, if I get hungry later, I’ll eat it myself!" Luo’er spoke first before Baiyue could state her opinion.

Tangmo turned around to give him a glance, then glared at Baiyue, gritted her teeth, lowered her head, didn’t say a word, and left the room directly.

After watching Tangmo leave, Baiyue closed the door, now only she and Luo’er were left in the room. Thinking that she was going to be alone with Luo’er, she inexplicably felt a touch of panic, getting a little flustered.

Before leaving, she asked Cheng Ziang for some advice on how to maintain goodwill with Luo’er. During this time, Cheng Ziang was always taking her side, which made her believe Cheng Ziang was trustworthy.

Cheng Ziang told her that the best way to have a high goodwill with Luo’er is to take the initiative. In terms of feelings, Luo’er has a passive personality, and girls will have more chances if they are proactive!

Therefore, Baiyue came here this time with the determination to stake everything on a single throw. Whatever the case, she did not want to be defeated in front of Tangmo. After all, compared to Tangmo, she was the first person to be with Luo’er, although they were both immature and did not understand each other’s feelings back then.

Taking a deep breath, Baiyue’s eyes became determined again, she brought the platter to Luo’er’s front, then placed it on the table. However, she quickly became panic-stricken, unsure whether she should sit next to him or on the chair.

"Sit down!" Luo’er, seemingly noticing her struggle, patted the edge of the bed and said with a smile.

"Thank you!" Baiyue spoke softly, then sat down next to him.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, she again fell into a struggle. After hesitating for a long time, she finally asked, "Would... would you like to eat something?"

The moment the question came out, she wanted to slap herself. It was obvious that Tangmo had already said Luo’er wasn’t hungry, yet she still asked such a silly question.

"Don’t be so nervous, I’m not hungry. I won’t eat food, nor people!" Luo’er added humorously, seeing her tense expression.

"Then, then I..." Baiyue’s mind went blank, she suddenly reached out to Luo’er’s shoulder, and leaning towards his face with her eyes slightly narrowed.

"What are you doing?" Luo’er was stunned, used his hand to block her face, and asked in surprise.

"That...I, I..." Baiyue stammered and couldn’t explain, her face getting redder and redder, until it spread behind her ears, making her look as if she had a high fever.

"You don’t have to be like Moumou; I’m not used to that." Luo’er explained.

"Is, is that so..." Baiyue flushed, wished she could find a hole to crawl into. With Luo’er’s comment, it was obvious he had guessed her intention to kiss him.

"Lately, Moumou has been acting strange and you, being a good girl, shouldn’t learn from her. I’m even a little scared of her." Luo’er sighed earnestly.

"Really?" Baiyue withdrew her hand, her blinking eyes full of surprise.

"Ever since we came back from the forest, she seemed to have changed into a different person. I wonder if you can feel it." Luo’er said with a furrowed brow.

"Hmm." Baiyue nodded and didn’t say much. Although she and Tangmo stand on different grounds, she didn’t feel comfortable talking behind Tangmo’s back.

Luo’er pursed his lips, hesitated for a long time, but ultimately decided not to tell Baiyue about that dream. After all, it was just a dream, and he didn’t want to incite panic among his teammates about Tangmo.

"That... I... I would like more conversation with you." After long-minute hesitation, Baiyue finally made up her mind and stuttered her request to him.

Luo’er was taken aback for a moment before bursting out laughing, and gently agreed, "Of course, what shall we talk about then?"

"I, I..." Baiyue fumbled for a while in anxiety, then took out a thick diary from her bag, and said, "Can I tell you a story?"

"Of course!" Luo’er agreed with a laugh.

"Then, I’ll start now..." Baiyue opened the diary, flipped through it, and began to translate.

Luo’er has always admired Baiyue’s learning ability. She always learns languages faster than anyone else, whether it be English, Russian, or Tasta language. But such an excellent young girl seemed so naive in her feelings, not knowing how to sustain her emotions.