C28 The Strange Su Mo!

As soon as Lin Chen entered the classroom, he caught Su Mo's gaze fixed on him. That look in her eyes... was it excitement, curiosity, or a mix of both? Pondering this, he made his way to the seat next to her and took a seat.

"Got here pretty early, huh?"

Su Tao nodded eagerly, her smile a bit forced as she replied, "Just the usual early!"

Lin Chen's brow creased with suspicion. Something about Su Mo seemed off today, almost as if she were someone else. Wasn't she the type to simply nod and then pay him no mind?

Catching Lin Chen's puzzled look, Su Tao realized she might have given herself away. She hastily adopted Su Mo's typical demeanor, putting on a deliberately serious face.

Lin Chen nodded in approval. Now she seemed more like the Su Mo he knew.

Then, recalling the incident at the school gate earlier that day, he asked with a hint of bewilderment, "Did I see you at the school gate wearing Lolita fashion at noon?"

Su Tao stiffened, her eyes darting about as she defensively said, "You must've been mistaken. I don't wear clothes like that; they're too conspicuous, and I don't like drawing attention."

That was a classic Su Mo response.

Lin Chen nodded, "Yeah... I must have been mistaken. Unless you've mastered teleportation, there's no way I could have seen you there."

Su Tao managed a weak smile, though inside, she was a bundle of nerves.

Lin Chen gave Su Mo another look, his suspicion growing. Why did she seem so different today?

"Why do you keep staring at me? Is there something on my face?" Su Tao asked, her lips pursing in a pout.

Lin Chen shook his head, dismissing the thought.

Then, as if struck by a sudden memory, Su Tao inquired, "Do you like egg tarts?"

Caught off guard, Lin Chen replied, "They're alright. Why do you ask out of the blue?"

With a secretive smile, Su Tao said, "Oh, no reason."

Remembering the morning's events, Lin Chen couldn't help but chuckle, "What, are you planning to bake me some egg tarts?"

Su Tao's face registered surprise before she adopted a haughty expression, "Humph! As if I would!"

Despite being thrown off by Su Mo's adorably dorky reaction, Lin Chen found it endearing.

Their conversation was cut short as the teacher entered the room, and the chatter ceased.

But as the lesson commenced, Su Tao's thoughts weren't on the lecture at hand; they were with Lin Chen.

Overcome by the drowsiness that often strikes in spring and autumn, Su Tao couldn't resist the urge to lay her head down on the desk.

The bell rang, marking the end of class. Lin Chen, observing the girl deep in slumber, tapped the desk with a sense of resignation.

Startled awake, Su Tao quickly straightened up, resembling a well-behaved elementary student.

Lin Chen chuckled, "Class is over."

It took a moment for Su Tao to gather her wits. She rubbed her bleary eyes and mumbled in a daze, "Uh? It's over already..."

While speaking, she stretched and let out a big yawn.

Lin Chen grinned and teased her, "You've got drool all over your face. Wipe it off."

Su Tao paused, then frantically wiped her face, only to realize there was nothing there.

"You tricked me! You big phony!" she exclaimed indignantly.

Lin Chen couldn't suppress his laughter, "Okay, okay, no more teasing. How about we grab some lunch together?"

Su Tao wrapped her arms around herself, putting on an air of haughtiness, "That's better..."

No sooner had the words left her mouth than she wished she could take them back. She still needed to swap clothes with Su Mo!

After a brief pause, she decided, "Actually, never mind. I just remembered I have something to do. I-I've got to go..."

With that, she grabbed her bag and made a hasty retreat.

Lin Chen was left bewildered, muttering to himself, "What on earth was that about?"

Driving up to the school gates, Lin Chen's attention was captured once again by the Lolita-clad girl. He took a longer look this time, and within seconds, his jaw dropped in shock.

That was Su Mo, wasn't it?

Pulling up beside her, Lin Chen rolled down the window and called out, "Su Mo?"

He scrutinized her as she stood there, adorned with rabbit ears, twin ponytails, and a lavish Lolita dress.

At the sound of his voice, Su Mo tensed up and turned mechanically. Seeing Lin Chen, she was on the verge of tears.

"Lin... Lin Chen, what are you doing here?" she stammered.

Completely baffled, Lin Chen replied, "That's my question for you... what are you doing here?"

Su Mo fumbled for words, unable to form a coherent sentence.

Just then, a crisp voice rang out, "Sister! Sister! I just saw him!"

Lin Chen turned toward the voice, his mind swirling with disbelief.

Another Su Mo?