“Chapter 51: Dormitory Ghost Tales (9)”

"Chapter 51: Dormitory Ghost Tales (9)"

◎"I should have always carried you on my back!"◎

"When they headed to the cafeteria, most students had already finished their meals."

"Ren Yi, criticized all morning, seemed unbothered, laughing and chatting with a few first-year students. He had apparently finished his meal, drinking a beverage and engaging in conversation."

"From a distance, Shi You Qing watched and seemed to catch Ren Yi’s eye. The latter turned, smiling and waving, 'Shi You Qing? Why are you eating so late? Come over here, this table’s clean!'"

"While Bo Huai and Feng Bin were still at the window getting their meals, Shi You Qing went straight over, 'What are you guys talking about?'"

"Before Ren Yi could respond, several first-year students chimed in with grins, 'Just some mischief.'"

"'What mischief? Just watching some films, right?' Ren Yi said nonchalantly, 'But it wasn’t me, though. They were the ones browsing wildly in the internet café last night. I was just there to play games.'"

"One of them teased in retort, 'You didn’t play for long either, did you? Later went out to meet an online friend. Who knows what mischievous things you did?'"

"The group burst into laughter."

"Ren Yi’s face changed slightly, but he continued smiling, 'Don’t talk nonsense. I don’t have the guts for that. Just went out for a walk and a chat.'"

"The boys kept teasing, and Ren Yi, with a smile that was not quite a smile, seemed to be enjoying the banter."

"Shi You Qing asked, 'You’re in an online relationship?'"

"Ren Yi replied, 'Yeah, but I’ve lost my phone. She can’t contact me for a while, probably thinks I’m some kind of jerk.'"

"Shi You Qing inquired, 'How did you lose your phone? Was there a thief at the internet café?'"

"Ren Yi explained, 'It wasn’t stolen. I wasn’t careful with my pocket when climbing back through the window. It must have slipped out then... I’ll go look for it tonight. But the teachers already know about that spot. If they seal the window tonight… well, I hope not.'"

"The window they used to sneak out had already been discovered by the teachers."

"This matched Shi You Qing’s speculation. He showed no other emotion, muttering, 'You’re really bold, daring to go out again after being caught.'"

"Ren Yi laughed proudly, 'What’s this? I’m someone who’s even braved the gates of hell!'"

"At this revelation, not just Shi You Qing, but the other first-year students too were taken aback, pressing him for more details."

"Ren Yi took a sip of water, calmly beginning, 'Our school has had three student deaths in recent years. You all know that, right?'"

"At this, everyone fell silent, especially the first-year students. They seemed quite superstitious about such matters at their own school. One of them, after a moment’s thought, said, 'Let’s not talk about that. We’re still living here, talking about such things is unlucky and creepy…'"

"'Look at you all, so timid. Do you think mentioning them will summon their souls? Believe in science!' Ren Yi countered, 'Let’s just say, if I had been less lucky, I would have already met them in the underworld!'"

"'...What do you mean by that?'"

"A year ago, one night I slipped in the dormitory's shower room and got injured. I was rushed to the hospital. The doctors said if I had hit my head a bit harder, I could have died... You guys weren’t at Jing Shan High School then, so you wouldn't know about it. You can ask the upperclassmen when you go back. Ambulances came to the school, and students in the boys' dormitory definitely remember it. I’m not just bragging!" Ren Yi said with a nonchalant air, "Lying in that hospital bed, I suddenly felt like I had cheated death. What's the biggest fear for people? It's death! I had almost experienced it, so what else is there to fear?!"

"Such a declaration impressed the rebellious teenagers listening to him."

"Ren Yi grew increasingly smug, occasionally glancing at Shi You Qing."

"Shi You Qing remained unresponsive."

"Ren Yi, somewhat discontented, remarked, 'You’re not still glad you didn’t go out with me yesterday, are you? Pshaw! If you had really come along, you would have hit the jackpot! The dorm supervisor didn’t check the transfer students last night. If you had been braver, not only could you have had a whole night of fun, but you could have gotten away with it too! If that window gets sealed later, last night might have been your only chance to sneak out and have fun.'"

"Shi You Qing just uttered a noncommittal 'Oh.'"

"Finding him boring, Ren Yi scoffed and walked away."

"Shi You Qing also stood up and moved to a different table where no one was sitting. Soon, Bo Huai and Feng Bin joined him."

"Taking the bowl and chopsticks Bo Huai handed him, Shi You Qing spoke softly while eating, 'Do you know about Ren Yi’s grades?'"

"Bo Huai replied, 'I’ve seen his records. He’s severely lopsided in his studies, excels in physics and chemistry but often fails the other subjects.'"

"Shi You Qing pondered, biting his chopsticks."

"After eating, he went straight back to the classroom. Yu Ze and Zhang Yong Bo were not there."

"Standing at the door, he gestured upwards, and the other players, understanding his intention, exchanged looks before gathering on the rooftop."

"Before Shi You Qing could speak, Li Da unexpectedly dropped a bombshell, 'Zhang Yong Bo is dead.'"

"Silence ensued."

"Ye Jing, in shock, exclaimed, 'What?'"

"Li Da continued, 'I was in the restroom when I ran into Chen Zheng and Yu Xiao Hui. As that uncle was always hanging out with them, I thought of exchanging information with him. I casually asked where Zhang Yong Bo was, but those two looked confused and asked who Zhang Yong Bo was...'"

"Everyone understood then."

"That's the fate of a newcomer who dies on the first night."

"To prevent players from affecting the development of the copy, the system erases all memories related to the player from the NPCs' minds after a player’s death."

"The atmosphere was heavy with tension."

"How did he just die?" Zhang Yu couldn't comprehend. "It’s not even the time for the nightly bravery test... During the day, it's allowed to walk with others, and as for the rules, he must have read the school and dormitory regulations..."

"That fool overheard your conversations," Zong Zhu Yuan scoffed, his eyes still harboring the anger left from the abandoned teaching building, fixated on Shi You Qing. "He knew your hints and probably wasn’t alone when breaking the school rules... Well, he's dead now, and it's quieter."

"After his words, several complex glances were cast towards him, retreating quickly when Zong Zhu Yuan noticed."

"Zhang Yong Bo might have been unlikable, but he was just an ordinary person. So far, he hadn't harmed anyone. Even Zhang Yu, who initially disliked him, couldn't help feeling troubled upon hearing of his death – it was still a human life."

"Zong Zhu Yuan’s remark naturally made him seem dangerous and ruthless, unfit to be around."

"Especially with Zong Zhu Yuan’s currently irritable demeanor."

"Consequently, led by Ye Jing, several people instinctively moved closer to Shi You Qing."

"Both Shi You Qing and Feng Bin offered a strong sense of security – the former with his gentleness, the latter with his solidity. Though Bo Huai by their side still simmered with a murderous air, he was usually stoic in emotion and unlikely to suddenly lash out in a frenzy..."

"Meanwhile, Shi You Qing was preoccupied with several intricate leads, unconcerned with the thoughts of those around him, and began, 'Zhang Yong Bo probably learned about Ren Yi’s phone outside the window not long ago. Knowing he could break school rules by acting alone, he likely used that window to search for Ren Yi’s phone for clues... But he didn’t know Ren Yi had already revealed to the teachers the purpose of that first-floor window. Given the current situation... the cause of death seems to be getting caught by a teacher outside the window.'"

"‘Yu Ze’s also missing,’ Ye Jing added anxiously, ‘He’s not...'"

"‘He’s fine,’ Li Da yawned, 'Before coming here, my desk mate mentioned bumping into Yu Ze in the restroom, saying how this transfer student doesn't fit in...'"

"Feng Bin frowned, glancing at Shi You Qing."

"Shi You Qing diverted the topic, 'If there are no other leads, let's head back.'"

"‘Lu Ming Liang gave everyone in class a sticker photo!’ Seeing Shi You Qing about to leave, Ye Jing quickly pulled out a photo and handed it over, 'I asked him about it, and he even gave me one...'"

"‘Isn’t that what we guessed already?’ Li Da remarked."

"‘No, it’s not just that,’ Ye Jing stammered nervously, 'When he said he'd give me one, he first reached into his pocket! After searching for a while and not finding it, he then looked in his drawer and found one for me!'"

"Li Da instantly perked up, 'That means the photo in his pocket is missing!'"

"‘Exactly!’ Ye Jing agreed."

"Shi You Qing took the photo, examining it for a while, then suddenly suggested, 'For tonight's bravery game, let’s gather those NPCs in one dormitory.'"

"Ye Jing was stunned, and Li Da laughed outright, 'Have you forgotten the dormitory management rules? With such a large group, it’s impossible to not walk together. It just can’t be done.'"

"Bo Huai was about to speak when Shi You Qing interjected, 'I have a way.'"

"He then murmured something under his breath."

"In moments of focus, Shi You Qing's eyes, larger than average and half-shrouded by long black lashes, lacked any hint of humor. Under the sunlight, they held an unusually captivating glow."

"Zong Zhu Yuan, indeed harboring a mischievous plan, had been leaning against a pillar far away, not listening to Shi You Qing's plan. His mind was preoccupied with how to scare him that night to even the score. Accidentally catching a glimpse, he suddenly froze."

"Really good-looking, not just the facial features. Beneath those long black lashes, those gentle eyes became increasingly likable the more one looked... and after a while, intriguingly enigmatic."

"A gust of wind blew as Shi You Qing, surrounded by the others, started descending the stairs."

"Zong Zhu Yuan was left alone on the rooftop."

“……”

"Realizing he had just been gazing at someone like a besotted fool, Zong Zhu Yuan suddenly snapped out of it."

*

"Yu Ze was still nowhere to be seen."

"The last two periods in the afternoon were for physical education. After completing various tests with the teacher, the students had free time on the sports field."

"Throughout the afternoon, as Shi You Qing searched for clues, he noticed something — Zong Zhu Yuan had not only failed to digest his mood from lunch but had become even more irritable, his face clouded with anger, virtually radiating a 'do not approach' vibe, deterring even the NPCs from getting close."

"...An old player, indeed. Shi You Qing mused, bewildered. How could he not have been worn out by all these copies?"

"During the last PE period, while observing the NPCs, Shi You Qing suddenly twisted his ankle. He couldn’t even explain how it happened; he was just walking, then his ankle twisted, and he fell to the ground..."

"Bo Huai, who was initially checking clues near Hu Lei, turned around, his expression dramatically changing. He pushed through the crowd and rushed over."

"Shi You Qing had barely been on the ground for half a minute before Bo Huai swiftly picked him up and carried him toward the infirmary."

"The infirmary wasn’t far, but Bo Huai was visibly tense, gripping Shi You Qing's legs tightly as if it wasn't just a twisted ankle but a severe injury."

"Shi You Qing, wincing in pain, grumbled from Bo Huai’s back, 'I was walking fine... How could I even twist it like this...'"

"Bo Huai paused, then said through gritted teeth, 'I should have carried you the whole time!'"

"Shi You Qing shook his head, 'No, I mean it's just my bad luck...'"

"Seemingly obsessed, the other retorted stubbornly, 'I should have carried you the whole time!'"

"Shi You Qing: '...'"

"At that moment, the wind was strong, and a crisp 'ding-ling' sound came from a nearby classroom, the sound of small wind chimes some girls had hung by the window."

"He paused, eyes downcast, suddenly feeling as if he had heard those words before, in a place with wind chimes."

"Also somewhere with wind chimes."

[?Author's Note]

"Thanks to the angels who irrigated with nutrient solutions: Feng Jing Nan Nan, 24 bottles; Luo Shui Fu Deng, 10 bottles; A Man Who Doesn't Respect Himself is Like a Rotten Cabbage, 1 bottle;"

"I'm very grateful for everyone's support and will continue to strive!"