Chapter 9: One Hundred Thousand Whys

When I got home, I hid myself in my room and examined the sheet of paper. It was a record of every student in my class, including myself. My personality was described in detail, and even the mysterious recovery from my serious illness at age eleven was noted.

Why?

I was trapped in my room, pondering these questions. Why would the student council archive such detailed information about students? Why was there a record of deceased individuals at the school that matched my own experience exactly? Why did Xinran Ye take the initiative to lead me to the archives? Why did Mo Ran Li show no interest in our visit to the archives, only beating me up?

These four questions kept circling in my mind.

The first three seemed easy enough to solve. The first—ask the principal, and perhaps the reason would be revealed. The second—ask the chemistry teacher, since he seemed to be present for every incident recorded in those statements. The third—perhaps Xinran Ye would tell me herself. The fourth—Mo Ran Li wasn't a fool. Why did he only rough me up after seeing me in the archives with Xinran Ye? Was it just to curry favor with her?

But I dismissed that theory. Even if he wanted to please Xinran Ye, he had no need to go to such extremes. Judging from the way he attacked me, it seemed more like he was angry, or venting his frustration. Considering the importance of the archives room, a mere beating wasn't sufficient.

That meant someone must have told him not to make things difficult for us. Who could that be?

And then, there was the question of the person who sent the text messages. What exactly were they—human, or ghost?

I didn't know why I thought of ghosts. Perhaps it was the instinct of living in China, where anything inexplicable is inevitably linked to the supernatural.

I was no exception.

But since these strange events were happening in the school, they must be connected to the school itself.

I opened my computer and went to the school’s official website, but found nothing amiss. Then I searched online and discovered a forum post.

Its title read: “The Terrifying Third High School of Yue Dong!”

Wasn't Yue Dong Third High School the very school I attended?

I clicked in immediately. Reading the content, I nearly smashed my computer in frustration—it was nothing but clickbait!

The content didn’t match the title at all. It only praised the school's virtues: the most advanced multimedia equipment in the country, the best classroom groups nationwide, the strictest school regulations.

There were even photos attached.

I was exasperated. The poster must be working for the school’s PR. I closed the thread in resignation, but just as I did, a familiar figure flashed in one of the photos.

I wasn’t sure if I’d imagined it, but when I reopened the thread barely a second later, it had been deleted!

What the hell?!

I tried several times, but the post remained deleted, and the poster couldn’t be found.

What was going on? Was this a deliberate setup?

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I shook my head. Impossible. It was only a second—no one could act so precisely, even intentionally.

That left coincidence. Maybe the poster deleted the thread just as I finished reading.

Thinking back to the familiar figure in the photo, I broke out in a cold sweat.

On the third day, I walked along the school road as usual. It was Saturday, so only us seniors were there for extra classes, much fewer people than usual.

Unexpectedly, I was stopped halfway by Mo Ran Li.

He approached with two burly crew-cut youths, grinning smugly. “Tong Yang, all alone?”

Seeing the malicious intent in his eyes, I knew another beating was inevitable.

“What’s the meaning of this, Mo Ran Li?”

“No special meaning—just want to teach you a lesson!” With a wave of his hand, the two toughs started closing in.

At that instant, I took off running!

Who’d be stupid enough to stand there and wait to get beaten? If Mo Ran Li were alone, maybe I’d take him on, but these two were strong and quick!

I didn’t get far before one of them kicked me to the ground.

“Running? Let’s see where you run!” With that, they began punching and kicking me.

“Stop!”

Just as I’d lost count of the blows, a stern shout rang out. Xinran Ye strode up, righteousness on her face. The two toughs immediately halted and stood up straight.

“What are you doing?!”

I smiled bitterly inside. Sister, why not wait until I’m half dead before playing the hero?

Mo Ran Li came over as well. The two thugs glanced at him, and he waved them off. They left.

Xinran Ye came to my side, helping me up.

I gasped for breath, brushing footprints from my uniform. The pain in my stomach and eye made me involuntarily suck in a breath.

Seeing her concern, I deliberately moved closer to Xinran Ye, smirking at Mo Ran Li.

Sometimes revenge isn’t an eye for an eye. Instead, if he hits me, I’ll use his reasons for beating me to provoke him.

That was exactly what I was doing now. He hit me, and Xinran Ye cared more about me. So even though I’d been beaten, Xinran Ye was anxiously helping me, and I made sure Mo Ran Li saw me smile.

He must have felt terrible, staring at me furiously.

“Xinran, why are you protecting him?” Mo Ran Li was obviously furious.

“I’m not protecting him. The way you act only makes me dislike you more!” Xinran Ye replied coldly.

“I…” Mo Ran Li pointed at me, but couldn’t speak.

I smiled faintly.

“What are you smiling at? Are you stupid? Why didn’t you run?” Xinran Ye suddenly scolded me inexplicably, then let go of my arm and headed toward the school.

I watched her go, dumbfounded.

I wanted to run, but how could I outrun those two?

I looked at the gritted Mo Ran Li and deliberately puffed out my chest as I walked past him.

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As I passed him, he said, “Tong Yang, don’t think you’re anything special. You and Xinran live in different worlds.”

I sneered.

Different worlds? I’d never thought there’d be anything between Xinran Ye and me, nor did I pay it any mind.

But after this incident, my curiosity about Xinran Ye grew. I could even guess why she helped and approached me.

And I also understood why Mo Ran Li targeted me.

Entering the classroom, I noticed many students looking at me curiously.

It made sense—covered in dirt, and judging by their stares, I probably had a bruise at my eye.

Fatty came over and asked, “Tong Yang, didn’t I tell you not to get too close to the class monitor? You didn’t listen! Everyone knows President Li likes her.”

I shot him a glare, suspecting he’d witnessed my beating.

I looked at Xinran Ye, who sat with her head down, reading.

My curiosity about her only deepened.

I closed my eyes to ease the pain in them, while my mind raced.

The archives room, Xinran Ye, Mo Ran Li, and the two toughs from this morning…

Li Yizhong’s death, Chen Bin’s death, Liu Jianzhou’s death, Liu Yan’s death, and the student who died in the infirmary…

I reviewed all the events, realizing I’d overlooked something—something crucial. I could sense that if I recalled these missing details, the truth behind these “accidental deaths” might come to light.

But what had I missed? What was it?

I analyzed the commonalities.

The victims were all students, all died at school, all from accidents or suicide!

What else? What had I overlooked?

Just then, the bell rang.

I opened my eyes, wincing as my bruised eye throbbed. But when I saw a handsome man enter the classroom, I began to ponder.

Chemistry class, and the handsome man was our chemistry teacher—Xiangjie Yin.

I’d only learned his name yesterday, and it suited him. Many girls in the class swooned over him.

He stood at the podium, wearing a charming smile as he lectured on chemistry, but I soon grew drowsy. The pain in my eye made me close my eyes.

Buzz, buzz, buzz—my phone vibrated.

I snapped my eyes open. The pain flared, but I barely noticed, because the Reaper had returned.

“In three hours, a student from this class will die of suffocation. Find the correct target within the time limit to clear the game! Hint: Fear of the unknown is a universal human trait…”

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