Chapter 358 : Explanations Are Just Excuses
"This is so uncomfortable~"
Lying on her side awkwardly, Ling Ning watched as Jiang Xue and Chen Ruo delved into a passionate discussion. With her hands bound behind her back, she could only shift uncomfortably, further irritated by the rope rubbing against sensitive spots.
Most importantly, she desperately needed to use the bathroom.
If she’d known this would happen, she wouldn’t have had that bottle of soda at lunch. Now, Ling Ning felt like she was nearing her breaking point.
Meanwhile, Chen Ruo was fully immersed in her conversation with Jiang Xue, completely oblivious to the desperate glances Ling Ning was throwing her way. Despite several pointed looks, Chen Ruo remained unaware.
Finally, Chen Ruo seemed to sense Ling Ning’s gaze. She glanced over with a questioning expression, silently mouthing, "What’s wrong?"
"I need to use the bathroom," Ling Ning mouthed back. To ensure Chen Ruo understood, she repeated the phrase silently.
Chen Ruo blinked, confused. She only caught the word "I" and nothing else.
"I… I what?"
Chen Ruo’s clueless expression made Ling Ning want to scream. She considered repeating herself again but quickly noticed Jiang Xue glancing in her direction. Swallowing her frustration, she composed herself, pretending nothing was amiss.
Jiang Xue glanced between her Teacher and teacher, still suspicious that there was some unspeakable secret between them.
Ling Ning was on the verge of breaking her silence when Jiang Xue stood abruptly. "Excuse me, Teacher. I need to use the restroom," she said to Chen Ruo, looking slightly embarrassed.
Both Ling Ning and Chen Ruo perked up at the opportunity. Finally, Jiang Xue would leave the room, giving them a chance to fix the situation.
"Of course! Go ahead—take your time. Using the restroom is a vital part of life," Chen Ruo replied solemnly.
"Thank you," Jiang Xue said before leaving.
As soon as Jiang Xue was out of sight, Chen Ruo hurried to Ling Ning’s side. Without even closing the door, she pulled off the blanket and began untying the ropes.
"I’m so sorry. I didn’t expect Jiang Xue to come by," Chen Ruo apologized.
"It’s… it’s fine," Ling Ning said through gritted teeth, her body squirming as she desperately tried to contain herself. She silently urged Chen Ruo to work faster and hoped Jiang Xue would take her time in the bathroom—or maybe not. If Jiang Xue came back quickly, she’d see this scene and misunderstand even more!
"What were you saying earlier? I only understood the first word," Chen Ruo asked while working on the ropes.
"I said, ‘I need to use the bathroom.’"
"Oh…"
Chen Ruo continued to fumble with the knots. "Wow, this is more complicated than I thought. Why did I tie it like this?"
"Are… are you done yet?"
"Almost! Just give me a moment!"
Meanwhile, in the bathroom, Jiang Xue stared at herself in the mirror. Something about her teacher and Teacher had seemed off all day. Were they hiding something? And why did her chest feel tight whenever she saw the two of them exchanging glances?
Was she getting sick?
Splashing cold water on her face, Jiang Xue shook her head to clear her thoughts before leaving the bathroom.
As she approached the room, she heard snippets of conversation between her teacher and Teacher. Words like "bathroom" and "untying" floated through the door.
Curiosity piqued, Jiang Xue pushed the ajar door open slightly.
The sight that greeted her left her stunned.
Her Teacher was kneeling on the bed, bound in bright red ropes, while her teacher worked behind her, presumably untying the bindings.
"Finally done!" Chen Ruo exclaimed triumphantly as she freed the last knot. Turning to Ling Ning, she noticed her frozen expression. Following her gaze, Chen Ruo spotted Jiang Xue standing in the doorway, wide-eyed and dumbfounded.
"What do I do when my disciple catches me in shibari? Urgent! Asking for a friend!" Ling Ning thought in panic. She hadn’t expected Jiang Xue to return so quickly. She was doomed!
"Um… Jiang Xue, let me explain!" Ling Ning blurted out desperately.
"I… I’ll just wait outside," Jiang Xue said with a bitter smile. She closed the door quietly behind her, leaving the two women alone.
She finally understood why her teacher and Teacher had been acting so strange. And now, she knew why her Teacher had been hiding under a blanket.
Jiang Xue had always suspected the relationship between her teacher and Teacher, but seeing this still stung. Why did it hurt so much?
In the room, Chen Ruo looked at Ling Ning, panicking. "W-What do we do now?"
"Forget that for now. Just get these ropes off me—I can’t hold it anymore!" Ling Ning squirmed, her discomfort evident.
"R-Right!"
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"Phew~"
Standing in the bathroom, Ling Ning looked at her reflection in the mirror and let out a long sigh of relief. Finally, she was free. However, the humiliation of being caught by her disciple still weighed heavily on her mind. She had no idea how Chen Ruo was handling the situation outside.
"Ugh…" Ling Ning sighed again. After tidying herself up, she reluctantly left the bathroom.
In the living room, Chen Ruo was sitting stiffly, facing Jiang Xue, who wore a neutral expression.
"Like I said, that’s exactly what happened! We’re not perverts! Absolutely not!" Chen Ruo was saying earnestly.
Ling Ning stepped in and chimed in solemnly, "Yes, just as your teacher explained, we weren’t playing any weird games. Definitely not."
"I understand," Jiang Xue replied with a smile.
But in her heart, she couldn’t help but recall a certain saying:
"Explanations are just excuses, and excuses mean it’s the truth."
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Author’s Note:
"Someone motivate this lazy fish already!"