Chapter 45

According to Zhang Xiaochen, the man with the tattoo was named Jiang He. In the real world, he had been a delinquent just like him. They had known each other for years but were never close, because he couldn’t stand Jiang He’s opportunistic nature.

At the mention of this, a look of disgust crossed his face. He spat before continuing, “That kid is a total opportunist. When trouble starts, he runs faster than anyone.”

But he had to admit, people like Jiang He were better at navigating their circle. He quickly gained the boss’s favor and rose through the ranks, while Zhang Xiaochen gradually fell out of favor and found a security job. The two had no contact after that. Although his explanation was simple, his words and expression were complex, suggesting he was recalling some unpleasant memories. Jiang Liu saw this but didn’t press him further.

The situation had just gotten more complicated. One of the five empty seats in the back of Grade 3, Class 5 belonged to a Jiang He. If someone he knew in reality had appeared in the instance, what was his identity? A player or an NPC? Either way, it meant this instance was different from any they had experienced before.

The atmosphere grew heavy as everyone pondered this, unsure of what to say. It was the newcomer, Zhu Yan, who scratched his head and asked blankly, “Then why didn’t you say so earlier?”

A flash of irritation crossed Zhang Xiaochen’s face. He lowered his head and answered sullenly, “I thought it was just someone with the same name.”

Although it was nearing dusk, the midsummer breeze still carried a touch of sweltering heat. The long-sleeved school uniform clinging to his right arm was sticky with sweat, making him very uncomfortable. He instinctively looked down and flicked his arm awkwardly.

Xu Meng didn’t think too much of it and looked worriedly at Zhao Ziming, hoping to draw on his experience as a veteran of The System. “Have you ever encountered a situation like this?”

Zhao Ziming shrugged, looking just as clueless. “I don’t know. Brother Gao never mentioned it.”

The group stood there in front of the photo studio, looking at each other in dismay. Only Jiang Liu was stroking her chin, sizing up Zhang Xiaochen. Her gaze darted back and forth, and though she said nothing, her silent scrutiny was enough to make him break out in a cold sweat. He didn’t dare to look up, unconsciously twirling a pen he had pocketed from the classroom.

Zhang Xiaochen didn’t know how much time had passed, but the pressure from behind him grew heavier, as if an invisible force had formed a pair of large hands that were slowly squeezing his heart. The plastic pen in his fingers spun faster and faster, but it did nothing to alleviate his anxiety. Instead, the chaotic sense of suffocation intensified.

Just as he was about to crack under the pressure and confess everything, Jiang Liu’s gaze suddenly shifted away. At the same time, a light voice floated by his ear—”Let’s find a place to rest first. We’ll investigate more tonight.”

Clatter…

The pen fell to the ground and shattered into pieces, just as a heavy weight lifted from his heart. Zhang Xiaochen heard himself say “okay” in a hoarse, broken voice, and finally let out a long sigh of relief. When he looked up, Jiang Liu was already walking ahead, her shadow stretching out behind her, her steps light.

He had a gut feeling that his perceptive teammate had noticed something but had chosen not to expose his concealment. Zhang Xiaochen wiped the sweat from his forehead and strode to catch up.

Fifteen minutes later, Zhao Ziming stared blankly at the gate of No. 16 Middle School. “Why are we back here again?”

Jiang Liu rubbed her empty stomach, clicked her tongue, and shot him a sideways glance. “You got money?”

Whether it was eating or resting, they needed some funds! Zhao Ziming was speechless, on the verge of tears. He had eaten so well with Jiang Liu in the last instance that he had forgotten this crucial detail! This was the true face of an instance! Food, clothing, and shelter all depended on oneself. Sometimes, you even had to sleep under a bridge!

He couldn’t bring himself to smile. He looked at the school gate, then at Jiang Liu who was fiddling with her phone, and suddenly had a stroke of genius, slapping his forehead. “I get it! You want to get a free meal from Sister Yang?”

How could he have forgotten! What was the relationship between Jiang Liu and Yang Caisi? How could she possibly suffer like a normal player, starving one meal and feasting the next! A ready-made benefactor was right here, just waiting to be embraced!!!

Jiang Liu was speechless. “…”

Her fingers paused on her phone, and she gave the inexplicably excited Zhao Ziming a strange look.

Should she tell this silly kid that she was just planning to steal a meal card and get a free meal from the cafeteria? But before she could say anything, Zhao Ziming had already started planning his free-meal scheme. “But how do we find Sister Yang? Should we go back to Class 5 and check?”

It would have been fine if he was the only one with the wrong idea, but he managed to lead the others astray as well. They all looked at Jiang Liu with expectant eyes, like hungry little lambs waiting to be fed by their mother.

Xu Meng smiled sweetly and assured the new member, Zhu Yan, “Don’t worry, Sister Jiang will have a way!”

Faced with such gazes, Jiang Liu fell silent for a moment, then quietly slipped her phone back into her pocket and changed direction with a turn of her heel.

Fine. She was just following the will of the people. It definitely wasn’t because she wanted to see her.

As Jiang Liu muttered to herself, a smile she wasn’t even aware of curved her lips.

***

Yang Caisi was deep in thought in the school’s records room. It was a Saturday evening, and the person on duty had temporarily left for dinner. The surveillance cameras were no obstacle for her, and she had slipped in without much effort. Her fingers skimmed over rows of names, finally landing on one line.

Grade 3, Class 5, Homeroom Teacher: Qiao Ke.

So it is him.

Yang Caisi absently traced the two characters, the smile on her lips gradually fading. Her phone suddenly rang, the word “Sister” flashing on the screen. Her eyes lit up instantly. Without even considering how Jiang Liu could have contacted “Teacher Yang,” her fingers had already answered the call faster than her brain could process.

The speed at which she answered surprised the person on the other end. Then, Jiang Liu’s pleasant voice, laced with a faint static, came through the receiver, sounding somewhat unreal.

“Is this Teacher Yang? I’m Jiang Liu, the student who climbed the wall this afternoon.”

“I’m hungry. Can you treat me to a meal?”

Simple, direct, and completely straightforward. It was clearly Jiang Liu’s style. The emotion in Yang Caisi’s eyes was almost overflowing, but her tone remained stern, like a dignified old teacher. “Where are you?”

A low chuckle came from the other end, so close it felt like the person was right next to her ear, causing Yang Caisi’s ears to inexplicably turn red. Then she heard Jiang Liu’s reply, “At the school gate.”

Yang Caisi said, “Wait for me,” and then reluctantly hung up. She couldn’t help but pat her flushed cheeks, a strange thought occurring to her that perhaps this wasn’t such a bad thing. Since she wasn’t the main NPC, did that mean she could now do many things she couldn’t before without being detected by the monitoring system? At this possibility, a spark of inspiration flashed in Yang Caisi’s mind, and an idea began to take shape.

She took one last look at Qiao Ke’s file before putting it back in its place and silently slipping out the door.

***

In the cafeteria of No. 16 Middle School. Yang Caisi still wore her plain glasses, the thin gold frame making her features look even more delicate and gentle. Despite her best efforts to maintain a stern demeanor, she couldn’t hide her outstanding beauty.

She placed the tray on the table and started a conversation to fill the silence. “You must be day students, right? Our school’s cafeteria is quite good. You should try it.”

After speaking, she personally picked up a chicken leg and gave it to Jiang Liu, her expression strangely maternal. “You’re at a growing age. Eat more.”

The others who witnessed this fell silent. Open your eyes and look! Jiang Liu’s plate is already piled with twice as much food as yours! Why are you still feeding her?!

Zhang Xiaochen watched this, speechless, and couldn’t resist nudging Zhao Ziming, trying to gossip with him again. But for some reason, the usually enthusiastic Zhao Ziming was acting strangely today. He had been burying his head in his food since they sat down, not saying a word. So, Zhang Xiaochen had to scratch his nose in puzzlement and stop talking.

Zhao Ziming, who already knew everything: Heh, this is just standard procedure. What kind of relationship do those two have? Can we even compare?

Unlike Jiang Liu, Yang Caisi’s table manners were also refined, but she ate truly slowly and deliberately, unlike Jiang Liu who ate at lightning speed. After finishing only half a plate of food, she slowly put down her chopsticks, glanced at the others, and asked, “Did you have a fight with your family?”

Under the circumstances, that was what any normal person would think. Jiang Liu took a sip of soup, her eyes sparkling. With a look of pure satisfaction, she nodded repeatedly, her voice already tinged with grievance.

“My parents were fighting, and they both said they don’t want me anymore. Teacher Yang, I have nowhere to go.”

She said this without batting an eye, which made Zhu Yan’s jaw drop in admiration. Teacher Yang was stunned for a moment, feeling the topic was a bit heavy. She couldn’t help but offer some comfort. “Don’t worry. I’ll help you talk to your parents. I’ll take you back to the dormitory to rest later.”

She sighed, looking exactly like a considerate teacher who didn’t know how to offer advice due to lack of information. Jiang Liu immediately expressed her gratitude. “Thank you, Teacher Yang! You’re such a good person!”

Yang Caisi almost broke character, a hint of resentment in her eyes. But Jiang Liu was completely oblivious to the fact that she had just been friend-zoned and continued to eat with gusto. Yang Caisi sighed faintly and turned her gaze to the others. “What about you all?”

Before they could speak, Jiang Liu had already come up with excuses. “Ziming’s parents are on a business trip, and he’s scared to stay alone. Xiao Meng told her parents she was coming out to keep me company. And as for Xiaochen…”

She spoke with such conviction, arranging suitable reasons for everyone in the blink of an eye. The “scared to be alone” Zhao Ziming was furious but didn’t dare to speak up. When faced with Teacher Yang’s suspicious gaze, he had no choice but to force out a couple of tears. “I… I’m scared…”

This kid was often with Gao Yuan; how could Yang Caisi not know his character? Now, he was crying with a contorted expression on his cool face, leaving one speechless.

Why is this kind of disgusting? Ugh!

Yang Caisi turned her gaze back to Jiang Liu to cleanse her eyes and quickly cut him off. “Alright, then you all go together.”

The teacher’s dormitory was not far from the cafeteria. Teacher Yang settled them in and then went to supervise the evening self-study session. The group took a comfortable nap and arrived at the photo studio entrance right on time at midnight. The old residential complex had no streetlights, only a few lights from the adjacent street. Jiang Liu skillfully picked the lock, and under Zhu Yan’s shocked gaze, she flicked her hair. “Let’s go.”

The moment they stepped inside, a wave of cold air washed over them, instantly dispelling the summer heat. Zhu Yan shivered involuntarily. Zhang Xiaochen flicked on the light, and the room was instantly illuminated. The photos on the wall seemed to come to life. They hadn’t seemed unusual during the day, but now, knowing something was wrong, they had an inexplicable eeriness.

Jiang Liu only glanced at them before her expression turned grave. She had noticed something was wrong. On the table, which had been clean and tidy before, now sat a ten-inch photo frame, deliberately placed face down.

She quickly stepped forward and flipped it open, instantly freezing on the spot. It was a simple candid shot. The person in the photo was relaxed, with a faint smile playing on her lips. The reflection on her glasses obscured the expression in her eyes, but her face was strikingly familiar—

It was, surprisingly, Yang Caisi.