The Devil's Sleeping Beauty

Chapter 256: Connection

Days passed and rumors began circulating in the camps, both high school and college. It was about Fan Jingli who got busted by all his girlfriends after he was caught cheating.

Lu Xingyan didn't have to worry about him anymore as she saw how her sister busied herself with extracurricular activities.

Since they were graduating students, it was busier for them. Students had to lift their grades, they had to do their clearances and such.

Just when Lu Xingyan thought that everything was going well for her, she never thought that she would be seeing the teacher she met at the library, Qin Bai.

"Ms. Lu, we meet again." The teacher said with a small smile.

Lu Xingyan never thought to see him at the Greenhouse. With gloves on, he had a few berries on his palm and scissors on the other hand. He was wearing an apron so that he won't get dirtied by the mud from the pot.

"I'm really saddened when you didn't apply to the Arts club. I was expecting you to be there you know." He had a disappointed look on his face.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Qin... Things were busy and I forgot." Lu Xingyan replied as an excuse.

For some reason, she couldn't help but put up her guards around him. The first time they met, her instincts already told her to avoid him.

"Ah yes. You're a graduating student after all. It's such a shame that you transferred to this school in this semester only."

She made sure to put a safe distance between them. She did not make it that obvious. She pretended to be looking around the place before returning her gaze to him. "By the way, what are you doing here, Mr. Qin?"

"As you can see, I need some of these herbs for tonight's dinner." He replied with a smile as he turned his attention back to the small leaf branch he was holding.

A small glint of light flashed in Lu Xingyan's eyes but it soon disappeared the moment it came. She was knowledgeable enough when it came to herbs. That plant he was holding was surely not edible. It was poison after all. She was standing at a safe distance that's why she was still able to recognize the plant. It was called Atropa belladonna, also called Deadly Nightshade. Two to four berries could kill a child and ten pieces could kill an adult. According to legend, Macbeth's soldiers poisoned the invading Danes with wine made from the sweet fruit of deadly nightshade. Indeed, it was the sweetness of the berries that often lure children and unwitting adults to consume this lethal plant. Its stems, leaves, berries, and roots, and can cause paralysis in the involuntary muscles of the body, including the heart. Even physical contact with the leaves may cause skin irritation.

Lu Xingyan decided to play along with him by acting clueless. "Wouldn't the caretaker of this place get mad if they saw you taking some ingredients here for your dinner?"

He chuckled lightly, "Don't worry, I'm also the adviser for this club so this gives me special permission."

"Oh..." She turned away and continued to look around. It was then that she noticed that there were more poisonous plants around mixed with normal herbs.

Shouldn't this be dangerous? Does the school know this? What if a student accidentally chewed some of the poisonous plants?

She stopped in front of a particular plan, an Oleander. It was another poisonous plant and was considered one of the deadliest plants. It was a beautiful plant known for its striking flowers. Though commonly grown as a hedge and ornamental, all parts of the oleander plant are deadly. The toxins in Oleander are so strong that people have become ill after eating honey made by bees that visited the flowers! Why was something so dangerous here?

"Oh, this one is my favorite."

The sudden voice at her back startled Lu Xingyan. Her heart began racing and her palms began sweating profusely.

Qin Bai leaned down to her level, his head just beside hers which made her hear his voice clearly just beside her ear. She could even feel his warm breath. "Do you know what kind of plant is this?"

She gulped down her saliva before she tried to answer as calm as she could. "What is it?"

"It's called Dodonaea." He replied.

Liar! That was obviously a lie!

This time, Lu Xingyan was sure that Qin Bai was a dangerous man and she trusted her instincts.

"Sorry if I made you wait..." Lu Weichun who entered the greenhouse, trailed off when she saw the scene before her.

Qin Bai was standing close behind her sister, having her cornered there.

Oh, thank goodness! Lu Xingyan never felt so grateful to hear that her sister arrived just in time to save her.

On the other hand, Qin Bai calmly straightened his back and took a step aside before facing the older twin with a smile.

Lu Xingyan took this opportunity to move away like a scared cat. She rushed to her sister's side.

"Mr. Qin?" Lu Weichun didn't expect to see him there.

"Ah, Ms. Lu." He greeted. His eyes landed on the plastic bag she was carrying. "Are you going to have your lunch here?"

"Yes..." Lu Weichun replied. Just like her sister, she suddenly had her guards up after seeing the scene earlier. It was one of those times where their twintuition was at work. Twins always had a special kind of bond. It was like a kind of connection, a thread linking them both together in the most beautiful, sophisticated way possible. It was strange but alluring nevertheless and it only worked whenever they were in danger.

"Then I shall not disturb you both. I will take my leave." He said with a smile.

The twins quietly watched him remove his gloves and apron. Their eyes followed as he left them alone.

"What was that about?" Lu Weichun asked as she finally turned to look at her sister. "Are you alright?"

Lu Xingyan nodded a bit. "Yes... Thank you, Jiejie."