This empty classroom was located at the edge of this floor and seemed to be a multimedia room used for public lectures. A few miscellaneous items were piled on the desks in the front row.
At the moment, only Yu Deng and Lu Yan were in the classroom. The door was half-closed, and no one came to disturb them.
In this unfamiliar environment, Yu Deng, who still hadn't fully recovered his composure, instinctively gravitated toward the person he was familiar with—snuggling into Lu Yan's embrace.
He clutched tightly at Lu Yan's school uniform, his eyelashes trembling incessantly like a frightened and aggrieved kitten, tail drooping, puffed up and seeking comfort.
"Hurry up…" Yu Deng urged, "You can kiss me. I feel awful… If you don't, I'll find someone else to help."
Lu Yan's arms tightened around him as he softly pleaded, "Don't go to anyone else."
Yu Deng was about to say more when Lu Yan already leaned in and captured his lips.
Lu Yan's kissing experience was clearly lacking, and his actions were still clumsy, cautiously exploring and nibbling.
But this gentle kiss, coincidentally, made Yu Deng feel a lot better without overwhelming him to the point of breathlessness.
Yu Deng closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around Lu Yan's neck, their bodies almost pressed tightly together.
He wasn't stingy with his praise: "Lu Yan, you've improved since last time."
His soft voice still carried a trace of his earlier tears, hoarse and lingering. This relaxed and intimate posture was undoubtedly testing Lu Yan's self-control.
After restraining himself and continuing to peck gently for a moment, Lu Yan finally couldn't hold back. He sucked on Yu Deng's tongue, instinctively exploring and claiming every tender corner.
Yu Deng involuntarily tilted his head back, dazed from the kiss. He immediately regretted praising Lu Yan earlier—it was far too soon!
His already damp eyes were now filled with tears, and his delicate face flushed with a rosy hue.
"Enough… I don't want to kiss anymore," Yu Deng weakly tried to push Lu Yan away. "You're so mean. You kiss too hard. My lips hurt… Lu Yan!"
When Yu Deng's tongue brushed against the corner of his mouth, he felt a slight sting as if the skin had been scraped.
Lu Yan closed his eyes briefly and slowly stopped the kiss.
Yu Deng, sitting on his lap, shifted uncomfortably, trying to distance himself. He raised his head and glared fiercely at Lu Yan. "You… you even touched me…"
The elegant and composed young man lowered his eyes, his expression relatively calm, though his slightly ragged breathing betrayed his state.
"I'm sorry, Deng Deng," Lu Yan apologized in a low voice, explaining, "It's hard to control at this age… Don't move."
The veins on the back of Lu Yan's hand were taut as he gently held Yu Deng in place, refraining from any further actions.
Seeing Lu Yan's good attitude, Yu Deng generously decided not to hold a grudge. After the kiss, the unbearable longing for physical contact had eased somewhat, but Yu Deng's mind was still filled with images of solving test questions earlier.
His voice was hoarse and aggrieved, his words jumbled: "Lu Yan, I couldn't solve them, and I couldn't leave. That question even bit me…"
As he spoke, Yu Deng recalled the despair and fear he had felt earlier. His tears almost started flowing again.
"Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you warn me that Guihuai High School's exams were like this…"
"I'm sorry. I didn't explain it clearly," Lu Yan apologized once more, his warm, dry palm gently patting Yu Deng's back to soothe him.
After a few more minutes, Yu Deng finally calmed down and quietly asked, "So… were those things I saw just now real?"
"No, they weren't real," Lu Yan replied.
Yu Deng blinked. "Oh..."
Did that mean those terrifying, animated exam questions just now weren't real but instead a hallucination of some sort?
"So, what were those things?"
"It's a bit complicated," Lu Yan patiently coaxed. "Dengdeng, just go back and finish the test first. I'll explain everything once you've handed in your paper, alright?"
"But I can't do it," Yu Deng said with a distressed expression. "You know I'm not a top student... Lu Yan, your test papers here are just too hard."
Yu Deng was very reluctant to return to the classroom and continue the exam. Looking up hopefully, he asked, "Can't I just not go back to take the test? It's just a quiz, isn't it? It shouldn't matter if I don't take it, right?"
"Dengdeng, quizzes are still exams. It's better to get a score," Lu Yan sighed. He leaned close to Yu Deng's ear and whispered, "I can give you the answers."
Yu Deng's eyes widened in surprise as he stared at him. "But isn't that..."
Isn't that cheating?! Before the exam, Teacher Wang had even emphasized the rules to them. Yu Deng had imagined that students caught cheating might even be strangled on the spot by Teacher Wang's neck.
"Shh." Lu Yan placed a finger on Yu Deng's swollen, damp lips. "As long as no one finds out, it doesn't count as breaking the rules."
Yu Deng blinked blankly, looking up at him.
Lu Yan's expression carried a faint hint of mockery as he explained, "Besides, the teachers wouldn't suspect me. Top students always get some special privileges, don't they?"
Yu Deng half-understood, listening as Lu Yan began reciting the answers word for word, even detailing every step.
"Tongtong, Tongtong, hurry and help me remember this, please," Yu Deng softly called out to his system. "I'll forget all this if I try to remember it myself. Besides, the target himself said it was okay to cheat—come on, help me out!"
System 01 could only comply with its host's small request: […Alright.]
After a round of cheating, Yu Deng was escorted back to the classroom by Lu Yan, who had already handed in his own paper and waited outside.
"Feeling better now? There's still more than half an hour left; hurry back and finish your test."
Teacher Wang walked down from the podium, circling Yu Deng to closely observe his condition before allowing him to return to his seat.
Under Teacher Wang's watchful eyes, Yu Deng returned to his seat. Sure enough, the pen that was supposed to have been swallowed was still lying intact on his desk. However, the test paper had some stains on it.
With the help of the school's top student, Yu Deng felt inspired and managed to finish all the answers before the exam ended. Relieved, he set down his pen and glanced at his classmates.
Most of them were calmly and swiftly writing on their papers, like the boy sitting in front of him, who had asked him a question earlier and was now scribbling furiously. But a few students showed expressions of pain, similar to how Yu Deng had felt earlier. One student was even mechanically chewing on a scrap of paper.
Yu Deng shivered.
The dungeon hadn't seemed too creepy a few days ago, but now it was becoming increasingly unsettling...
Did no one think it was horrifying that failing to solve problems would lead to being devoured by the questions? And their Teacher Wang—how could they be so indifferent to the fact that he wasn't even...
Not even human anymore.
"Dengdeng, I don't think anyone finds it strange," Lu Yan said softly, matching Yu Deng's hushed tone. "Because this is the most normal punishment."
From Lu Yan's explanation, Yu Deng pieced together the situation.
The students at Guihuai High School had long become accustomed to it. Subconsciously, they believed it was only natural to be punished if they didn't study hard and struggled with exams.
Those suffocating and terrifying hallucinations were the most routine punishment—a consequence imposed both by their environment and themselves.
The students were familiar with the process of hallucination punishments and usually managed to snap out of it. However, repeated exposure could cause someone to become completely lost, unable to distinguish hallucination from reality.
Of course, according to Lu Yan, this only applied to NPCs. Yu Deng realized that if a player entered such hallucinations without external help or the ability to break free, they might not survive even once.
"Then... don't they find Teacher Wang's appearance odd?" Yu Deng asked. "I mean, it's obvious that he's not even..."
Not even human anymore.
Lu Yan lowered his gaze. "Because invigilators need to closely monitor every student's condition at all times, it's considered normal."
Yu Deng struggled to digest such an absurd setting.
The feeling was too strange… Being in such a bizarre, topsy-turvy environment where almost everyone took it for granted made him feel like he was the abnormal one.
It left Yu Deng feeling short of breath.
[This dungeon really is oppressive. A lot of minor mistakes within reason are magnified, and everyone thinks these eerie things are normal, but only the player realizes something is wrong.]
[Exactly. If you stayed in here long enough, you'd probably lose the ability to tell what's normal.]
[No wonder this dungeon lasts two months. I can't take it anymore, and it's only the second week... How will our baby break through this? Maybe they should just destroy the dungeon altogether!!]
[But those guys coveting our baby seem different. It feels like they know something's off.]
[Support our baby wreaking havoc!!]
Lu Yan watched the sullen Yu Deng and said softly, "At first, I never thought you'd transfer to Guihuai."
It was like the purest, most beautiful flower had fallen into a terrifying swamp.
So pitiful, yet so resilient and pure, untouched by the filth, drawing countless covetous gazes.
Lu Yan's heart raced as he gazed at Yu Deng. The secret feelings that had been planted the moment they first met had grown into a towering tree, leaving no room for denial.
Yu Deng suddenly heard a crackling sound, as if the dungeon system was conducting diagnostics.
[Ding. Triggered Lu Yan's Side Quest (5): Break Up with Lu Yan.]
[Complete within two hours.]
[Note: After completing this mission, the target may display a special reaction. Players must handle it accordingly.]
Yu Deng was bewildered. "?"
Break up with Lu Yan? Special reaction? What kind of system was this dungeon running?
Speaking of breaking up... he did force Lu Yan to be his boyfriend on the very first day he entered the dungeon. But why suddenly break up now? Lu Yan was being so obedient lately.
As Yu Deng was lost in thought, another ding sounded.
[Ding. Triggered Zhuang Lin's Side Quest (5): Drive Him Away, Shatter His Hope.]
[Complete within two hours.]
[This mission may also trigger the target's special reaction.]
This mission seemed far more abstract. There weren't any specific requirements, and at least Yu Deng couldn't figure out what it was trying to achieve.
Yu Deng stood in a daze for a few seconds, trying to analyze the two missions. After much effort, he suddenly remembered he hadn't yet completed the special contract missions for either of them.
It's all this dungeon's fault—so many missions, plus the need to study. He was so busy every day, he nearly forgot something so important.
...
After a grueling mental workout, Yu Deng was starving once he finished his exams. For once, he didn't mind the cafeteria and followed the crowd to Guihuai High School's dining hall.
Maybe it was because he now knew too much, but as he looked at the students around him—even though they were laughing and chatting—he felt as if they were nothing more than walking corpses.
However, whenever these students saw him, they would make way for him to pass. Overall, their attitudes toward him were very friendly.
Yu Deng was puzzled. Back when he first entered the dungeon, he wasn't treated this nicely. Surely it wasn't because they thought of him as the school belle, right?
Shaking his head, Yu Deng temporarily set aside his doubts and guesses, picked a spot, and sat down to eat.
He ate slowly, occasionally raising his head to observe his surroundings. Lu Yan wasn't in a hurry either and waited nearby.
About halfway through his meal, Yu Deng noticed a student at a nearby table who accidentally tipped their tray, spilling half of their food onto the floor.
But surprisingly, the student didn't panic. She just coldly wiped her hands clean.
Yu Deng quickly understood why—a staff member from the kitchen came over to clean up the spilled food. However, they didn't take the careless student with them; instead, they took another student she had pushed forward.
The short student who was pushed forward had a blank expression and followed the staff member away.
It took Yu Deng a while to process what had just happened.
So, in this so-called hierarchical chain, can bullies make someone ranked lower take punishment on their behalf? What exactly is the relationship between this chain, academic performance, and school rules?
Yu Deng scratched his head. He felt like his brain was starting to grow.
At this rate, it felt like he was just one piece of information away from piecing everything together.
Carrying his lingering doubts, Yu Deng finished lunch absentmindedly and walked out of the cafeteria.
If he walked slowly enough, he could still manage to move on his own. So, after just eating, he chose to take a stroll to help digest.
As Yu Deng walked, he bumped his head into Lu Yan's palm, which stopped him and pulled him into a firm embrace. "...Huh?"
"Careful, there's a pond nearby. It seems like you've been distracted since finishing your exams. Is something on your mind?" Lu Yan asked, a vague sense of unease stirring within him.
Yu Deng looked at him. "Hmm, I need to tell you something."
At that moment, Zhuang Lin, who had been delayed by physical training and missed running into Yu Deng in the cafeteria, finally caught up.
The tall, handsome teenager approached and tried to join the conversation enthusiastically. "Do you want me to carry you back?"
"No need. Zhuang Lin, keep your distance and stop following me," Yu Deng said, tilting his head up to look at Zhuang Lin and waving him off. "I need to talk to Lu Yan."
The invisible tail behind Zhuang Lin immediately drooped. "Why?"
"There's no 'why.' Just don't interrupt my conversation."
Zhuang Lin, looking dejected and bitter, was reluctant to leave. He shot a glare at Lu Yan before squatting nearby to eavesdrop.
However, despite being granted the chance to be alone with Yu Deng, Lu Yan wasn't as thrilled as Zhuang Lin might have imagined. After a few seconds of silence, he took the initiative to ask, "What is it you want to say, Deng Deng?"
"Oh... well, I want to break up with you!" Yu Deng cleared his throat and announced to his forced boyfriend, "You're no longer my boyfriend."
Lu Yan froze. "Break up?"
His actions were faster than his thoughts; he grabbed Yu Deng's wrist tightly, as if afraid Yu Deng would turn around and leave. "Did I do something wrong?"
"Hm, you're just... so-so." Yu Deng scrambled for an excuse. "Anyway, back when this started, you were unwilling, weren't you? So let's just break up."
Lu Yan argued stiffly, "That was before. I didn't know how good you were then—I wasn't unwilling."
W-Was that it? Yu Deng racked his brain for another excuse. "Well, it doesn't matter. You kissed me too hard this morning."
Yu Deng opened his mouth slightly and pointed to his lips. "Look, you bit them so hard they're swollen."
Lu Yan lowered his gaze without a word, struggling to suppress the unhealthy, obsessive emotions welling up inside him.
Why give him a taste of such sweetness, only to abandon him?
Was it because Yu Deng had noticed something strange about this place and was scared? Or was it because someone else had taken his place in Yu Deng's affections?
Lu Yan looked like a stray dog, drenched in rain, forlornly hanging his head.
Meanwhile, Zhuang Lin, who had been eavesdropping nearby, was overjoyed.
His smile was unshakable and now firmly planted on his face!
Straightening his clothes, Zhuang Lin prepared to approach Yu Deng with his most polished and presentable image.
On the other side, Lu Yan clutched Yu Deng's wrist and pleaded, "Can we not break up? Deng Deng, I have no parents and no friends. I only have you."
Why did he suddenly look like such a pitiful stray dog? It was so hard to bear.
Yu Deng blinked, belatedly realizing the meaning behind the side quest involving Lu Yan. It felt as though he was... playing with Lu Yan's feelings.
"Well... I'm a bad guy anyway," Yu Deng insisted, remembering his quest. "I'm bored of you. I don't want you as my boyfriend anymore."
Lu Yan stayed silent, gripping Yu Deng's wrist tightly, his eyes reddening slightly.
Yu Deng froze for a few seconds. "Are you... crying?"
Lu Yan lowered his head, his expression dark and heavy. He didn't speak, but anyone could see his sorrow.
Yu Deng softened a little and bit his lip before adding a vague explanation. "Lu Yan, I have to break up with you."
Have to?
Lu Yan, the perennial first-place student in his grade, was far too smart. He suppressed his disappointment and dark thoughts, faintly grasping the underlying implications of Yu Deng's behavior.
Before Lu Yan could say anything, Zhuang Lin—having adjusted his uniform and hairstyle—walked over.
"Ahem."
Zhuang Lin threw a provocative glance at the top-ranked student who had lost his claim, then turned to Yu Deng with eager anticipation. "Baby, have you considered letting me be your boyfriend?"
Yu Deng opened his mouth, recalling the other side quest. He rejected the offer, "No way."
Zhuang Lin's smile also disappeared.
Now both boys, rejected in love, surrounded Yu Deng. After a long silence, Lu Yan finally spoke again.
"Then... what do I have to do to earn your favor again?"
Yu Deng pondered for a few seconds. The quest only required him to break up; it didn't say he couldn't dangle hope in front of them, right? So, he decided to stick to his usual principles.
"First of all, you have to listen to me."
Yu Deng emphasized, "That's the most important thing."
He looked at the two boys one by one, gesturing as he laid the groundwork for his special mission. "While you're both doing okay so far, it's still not enough. I need someone who listens to me completely, who agrees to anything I say and cooperates fully with whatever I do."
The beautiful young man tilted his head, his tone light and playful, as though explaining his preference for a well-trained pet dog.
Hearing this, Lu Yan immediately expressed his stance. "I will do my best to stand by your side again."
The once-proud top student of the grade stood before the one he loved, shedding all his pride and lowering his head in submission, hiding the ambition gleaming in his eyes.
"I'll be the most obedient dog you've ever had."
Yu Deng blinked. "Oh... then I'll watch how you behave."
"Me too!"
If Zhuang Lin had a tail, it would have been wagging enthusiastically by now—no, if he were a real dog, he'd probably already be rolling over on the ground to please Yu Deng.
Unwilling to be ignored, Zhuang Lin declared with conviction, "Baby, don't listen to him! I'd definitely be a better dog than he would!"