Monster - Chapter 67

Chapter 67: Yan Ting's Phone

After calling Xing Meilu, Lin Sandie and Wang Lirou wasted no time. They rented a car and returned to Center City. Since she couldn't go home for the time being, Lin Sandie took Wang Lirou's suggestion and brought her luggage to Lou's residence in the Black Goat Walled City.

Lin Sandie had heard many rumors about the Black Goat Walled City, but this was her first time visiting. After navigating a maze of corridors and alleyways, Wang Lirou led her to the top floor of the apartment building where Lou lived and opened the door for her.

Wang Lirou often helped clean Lou's place, so naturally, he had a key.

"Lou Lou didn't say when she'd be back. Do you want to rest for a bit? If you don't know your way around, I can have my boy show you the sights?"

"No, thank you. I'll leave as soon as I drop off my luggage." Lin Sandie surveyed Lou's apartment. It was an ordinary place with slightly yellowed walls, but it wasn't as messy or chaotic as she had imagined. The only thing that struck her as odd was the seemingly large number of rabbit-themed decorations.

Lin Sandie didn't dwell on it. She placed her luggage in the entryway. "I have to go somewhere tonight and I want to get my hair done. I'll have to trouble you to lead me back down."

The paths in the Black Goat Walled City were too complex. Even during the day, the lighting was poor, and Lin Sandie knew she wouldn't be able to remember the way after just one trip.

"A haircut? I can do that!" Wang Lirou's eyes lit up. This was his area of expertise.

Wang Lirou had a very good impression of Lin Sandie. She didn't look down on him like others did, nor did she put him on a pedestal. Just like Lou, she treated him as an equal. Her manner was neither pretentious nor affected; she was polite and gentle. Perhaps because he was so often exasperated by Lou, this woman who looked identical to her but had such a good temperament seemed like an angel sent from heaven in comparison to the unpredictable Lou.

"Hm?" Lin Sandie was a little taken aback.

"I'm the one who does Lou Lou's hair every time she goes out. Come, come, I have my tools right here. What kind of style are you looking for?"

"Just... a little shorter is fine." Lin Sandie was pulled into the living room by Wang Lirou, a bit unaccustomed to such enthusiasm from others.

After pulling her inside, Wang Lirou had already taken out the toolbox he kept at Lou's place. He bustled about, spreading a large plastic sheet on the balcony floor opposite the front door and deftly placing a chair on top of it.

"Come sit over here. I'll go get some hot water and wash your hair first."

"Okay..." Lin Sandie responded a beat too late. She habitually took off her shoes, and as she looked down, she saw a pair of pink, rabbit-headed slippers next to the shoe cabinet in the entryway.

With no other choice, she slipped them on. Mentally murmuring an apology for the intrusion, Lin Sandie walked over to the chair Wang Lirou had set up.

"Have a seat. This is where I usually do Lou Lou's hair too."

"Thank you." Lin Sandie felt a little embarrassed. By now, Wang Lirou had hung a large mirror on the rusty iron railing of the balcony, facing her, and tied a barber's cape printed with countless tiny rabbits around her neck.

"Mm, you look just like Lou Lou, so I know what will look good. Leave it to me." Wang Lirou stood behind Lin Sandie. Seeing her slight unease in the mirror, he gently undid her bun.

"Okay... Should I send Lou a message to let her know?" Lin Sandie asked cautiously, feeling like a child visiting someone's house for the first time.

And indeed, it had been a long time since she had been a guest in someone else's home.

"Sure. Don't mind me, do what you need to do." Wang Lirou had already started wetting Lin Sandie's hair.

Only then did Lin Sandie take out her phone, intending to send Lou a message.

But as soon as she took it out, she saw a new message from Lou.

Lin Sandie, have you had lunch? I didn't eat anything this morning, and I just had a really expensive but terrible lunch at a restaurant here. It just reminded me that I never told you—the food you made before was delicious! I loved it! Will you make it for me again next time?

Staring at the message for a long time, Lin Sandie typed and deleted several times before finally sending back three particularly pointless words: Aren't you annoying?

Soon, Lin Sandie's phone rang. It was Lou.

"Lin Sandie, what are you up to~" Lou's voice, also carrying a southern accent, came through the phone. It was soft, as if she were whining playfully, yet it wasn't cloying. Instead, it always sounded like she was teasing someone.

Her personality was probably so strong that Lin Sandie couldn't ignore it. Just hearing her voice, an image of Lou's beaming face naturally surfaced in her mind.

So my face is capable of a smile that makes others want to smile along with it?

"I can't go home right now. Mr. Wang brought me to your place, and he's cutting my hair."

"Ooh~~ My pajamas are on the rack in the bedroom, hanging on the second hook from the door~~"

Lou was imitating the obsessive-compulsive tone Lin Sandie had once used.

"The underwear is in the drawer under the bed, the second one from the headboard, cough cough," Lou even mimicked the weak cough Lin Sandie had, "I didn't put them in a bag, but they're very clean..."

Lin Sandie was so incensed by the imitation of her speaking style that her face flushed red. She gripped her phone, speechless.

Since when was I ever that fussy?

On the other end of the line, Lou imagined Lin Sandie's expression and let out a burst of laughter. "Hahahaha."

"I'm not staying the night at your place. I don't need to know where those things are," Lin Sandie replied coldly.

"Alrighty~" Lou's voice was still laced with a smile, the kind that could make one's murderous intent surge.

"Are you in the Disorder Land already?" Lin Sandie took a deep breath, finally managing to control herself before starting to ask for information about the place.

She had read a lot about the Disorder Land online before. She'd heard it was an extremely chaotic place where murder, infighting, and underhanded schemes were commonplace—a world where the law of the jungle reigned. At the same time, because it was vast and sparsely populated, with towns far apart, most of the area was desolate, and the living conditions were harsh.

"I'm in a place called Monkey Town. It feels a lot like a video game, and I'm in the starting village right now. Lin Sandie, how do you want your hair cut? Sister Lirou is very skilled."

"A little below my shoulders." Now that she was free of Yan Ting, Lin Sandie no longer wanted to style herself the way Yan Ting had demanded.

"Hmm..." Lou's voice drawled from the other end.

"Do you have a suggestion?" On this point, Lin Sandie didn't mind hearing Lou's opinion. Since they looked identical, if a hairstyle was attractive, Lou would be a flawless reference.

"Nope. We'd look gorgeous even with a bird's nest on our heads."

Hearing Lou's incredibly vain remark, the corners of Lin Sandie's mouth curled up uncontrollably.

"Maybe you could try dyeing it," Lou continued. "It'll make you look more energetic."

"Any color recommendations?" A hint of a smile was in Lin Sandie's voice. This kind of ordinary exchange felt like a conversation between friends. It was inexplicable.

Lou always had a magical ability to make the atmosphere feel relaxed and natural.

"Pink or orange."

"I'll consider it."

"I have hair dye tools here too," Wang Lirou, who was bustling about cheerfully, chimed in upon hearing them mention it.

"Lin Sandie, are you coming to the Disorder Land too?"

"Yes. My younger brother seems to be there. I need to drag him back to apologize to our parents."

"I'll keep an eye out for you."

"Thank you." Lin Sandie hesitated. There were other things she wanted to say to Lou, like asking why she was being so kind to her, why she would go to such lengths. After all, besides a Legislator Brooch, she couldn't offer Lou much benefit. But she also felt that asking such questions would be a bit melodramatic, and she didn't want to ask over the phone. She couldn't be sure her phone wasn't being monitored.

"Why aren't you as inquisitive as usual today, Lin Sandie?" Lou's voice was tinged with amusement, which made Lin Sandie's ears burn for no reason. Lou spoke as if they were old acquaintances.

Lin Sandie exhaled and replied calmly, "Some topics are better discussed face-to-face."

"You can speak freely. No one can listen in on our conversation now. Want me to tell you something interesting?"

"Yan Ting's phone?" Lin Sandie was sharp enough to guess from that sentence alone.

"You're the annoying one! This way there's no surprise at all, okay?" Lou's mumbled complaint came through the phone.

"What are its functions?" Lin Sandie asked curiously.

"I can tell you, but first, you have to say, 'Thank you, Lou Lou.'"

"...Thank you, Lou Lou." Lin Sandie's face grew warm again, but she really wanted to know what the phone could do.

No, I can't let her control the pace. The realization hit Lin Sandie right after she said it. Before Lou could make any more demands, she quickly said,

"When I gifted you Yan Ting's phone, it came with an attendant obligation to disclose its functions. Please execute this obligation. Failure to do so constitutes a breach, and I have the right to revoke the gift."

Only then did Lou, on the other end, remember that. She had to admire Lin Sandie's cleverness with details. Anything Lin Sandie handled was always firmly within her grasp.

"Do you know that being so calculating and stingy will leave you without a wife?"

"In any case, I don't need a wife like you." Lin Sandie's eyes narrowed slightly, her attitude nonchalant, but the upturned corners of her lips betrayed her delight at having won a round against Lou. She didn't want Lou to always be the one controlling the rhythm of their interactions.

Just then, the phone in her hand vibrated. Lin Sandie looked down and saw a message from Lou.

Name: Yan Ting's Phone

Rank: D (A-Class when used by Lin Sandie)

A stylish red phone. Remaining memory: 100G

Positive Effects:

1. All communications are completely confidential.

2. Has a chance to issue an early warning for events that endanger Lin Sandie.

Negative Effects:

Prolonged use will generate a pathological possessiveness towards Lin Sandie.

Cannot be used by individuals with improper thoughts about Lin Sandie (context-dependent).

Will try every possible method to frame people around Lin Sandie who have improper thoughts about her.

【Special Effects】 When used by Lin Sandie:

1. Can access the entire Leviathan database.

2. Records and monitors mutated individuals; can freely connect to their communication devices.

3. Can be used to freely mobilize the wealth of Yan Ting's entire family.

4. All phone functions are optimized according to Lin Sandie's preferences (e.g., photo settings, music tastes, etc.).

【Special Negative Effects】 When used by Lin Sandie:

1. Must frequently read the love diary for Lin Sandie stored on the phone.

2. Comes with a built-in "Smart Butler Yan Ting," who is highly jealous and controlling.

3. Will occasionally nag Lin Sandie incessantly about her lifestyle habits.

"I've never seen such a maverick item. Lin Sandie, you've got yourself another A-Class magical item." Lou burst out laughing again on the other end, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

Having lost another round, Lin Sandie lowered her head and rubbed her aching brow.

Get instant access to all the chapters now.

Previous Table of Contents Next