A black mist had somehow enveloped the entire dormitory area. The surroundings were deathly silent, as if something was deliberately isolating everything.
In the thick fog, Ye Qiu looked at Yue Yiyue, who was lying on the bed in a daze. She kneaded the soft flesh, her hoarse voice containing a smile: "Little baby, why are you so easily overwhelmed?" Yue Yiyue was drowned in scorching, affectionate kisses, and her mind was churned into mush by the other's actions. She whimpered, struggling to hold the person in front of her, gasping for air. Her fingernails uncontrollably dug into Ye Qiu's skin, leaving marks of affection. Finally, she lay in a trance in the other's arms, whispering softly: "N… Qiū… don't bite, I…"
Ye Qiu looked down at the beautiful body covered in marks belonging to her—vivid flowers, symbols of love.
"Don't overdo it. It'll be hard to remove later." A detached voice came from nearby. A massive tentacle separated Ye Qiu, who was about to lean in again. Gu Nanqiu's figure emerged from the dense fog, took Yue Yiyue, and pulled her into her own embrace: "Don't violate the rules here. Wouldn't it be better to consider how to appear reasonably by her side after Yue Yiyue's body is no longer being rejected?"
If Yue Yiyue were conscious now, she would see two Gu Nanqius. Unfortunately, the moment Gu Nanqiu appeared, she fell into a deep sleep. In her dream, Gu Nanqiu will be accompanying her.
"I rushed over as soon as I sensed it. Tsk, how petty." Ye Qiu put on her jacket, shrugged, and complained about Gu Nanqiu's arrangements: "I only kissed her twice. This place is too dirty. Seriously, why did you choose a place like this?" "Just to tell you, Gluttony is still hunting Yue Yiyue, that loophole. He's such a thick-head. I already told him Yiyue's situation is special."
Gu Nanqiu responded with a cool "Mm," while thinking and holding Yue Yiyue's hand, recalling the memories in her mind. Soon, like Ye Qiu that afternoon, she slowly rubbed the calloused hand of Yue Yiyue, gently kneading it.
"Ugh, how much longer do I have to play this pitiful role—" Gu Nanqiu was irritated by Gluttony, who inexplicably started that damned game and dragged poor little Yiyue into it. It also caused her to miss out on university. If it weren't for the main god, she'd really like to skewer Gluttony and feed him directly to Yue Yiyue as a tonic. The main body hasn't woken up since being damaged last time, and the clones are scattered somewhere. Yue Yiyue will have to wake them up later. It's too much trouble.
"Aren't you enjoying the acting?" Ye Qiu raised an eyebrow: "Don't worry about that too much. Calming Yiyue down is the most important thing. I only managed to steal one kiss when she was brought here, and that damned fish head interrupted."
"The nest will be built." Gu Nanqiu recalled the house she asked the other one to look at: "Hmm, just set it up the way you did before. After all, you said she really likes that set-up, saying it felt like home…" Home. This was an alien concept to a monster, but Yue Yiyue's opinion was what mattered.
"Yes, it's a pity she can't stay there. Gluttony's broken game rule insists on Yiyue dying." Ye Qiu looked with regret at the not-yet-fully-developed Gu Nanqiu standing beside her—the same appearance, but with a few more touches of youthful freshness. This body was created specifically for Yue Yiyue from the very beginning, so no matter where, Yue Yiyue would be attracted to this body. No matter how many times Yue Yiyue's memory was wiped, she would fall in love with her again the moment she saw her. This realization excited Ye Qiu again. But now, she couldn't do anything. This shell was too fragile and needed a little more time.
Gu Nanqiu didn't reply. She bent down and straightened Yue Yiyue's clothes. The shared sensory perception between the co-bodies made her clearly know the feeling of every kiss mark, and she savored it. After a long time, a strange, hollow voice with a hint of divinity came from the dark mist: "She will eventually return to become one… As for over there… wait until things are over…"
When she woke up again, Yue Yiyue's mind was blank, but her body felt exceptionally comfortable, as if she had undergone physical therapy—very relaxed. Did something just happen? She sat there feeling a little lost until her eyes landed on Ye Qiu. Ye Qiu had already changed the sheets on her bed and added a mattress that looked very soft, brought from who knows where. Did something unpleasant happen between them just now? But she had absolutely no memory of it. The only thing she remembered was Nanqiu coming back for a visit. Said something and then left.
The jumbled memories couldn't be sorted out immediately. She looked at Ye Qiu, who was sitting opposite, seemingly savoring something, and noticed a bite mark on her lip corner. Yue Yiyue's subconscious told her not to ask.
"Speaking of which, your rejection of the hook she specifically prepared for you made her quite angry." Ye Qiu looked at Yue Yiyue with a smile, shaking the booklet in her hand. Seeing what Ye Qiu was holding, Yue Yiyue frantically checked her pocket, which was empty. When did Ye Qiu take it?
"Should I have accepted?" Yue Yiyue rubbed her head, which was throbbing from overthinking. She had directly refused the Dean of Students' invitation earlier, only requesting this booklet after repeated persuasion, specifically to avoid unnecessary complications. The original novel didn't feature the Dean of Students. Without consulting Gu Nanqiu, she dared not act rashly, nor did she feel the need to take the extra risk. After all, the person kept saying time was running out, which sounded strange, like a scam to create false urgency.
"Hmm—not accepting was probably better." Ye Qiu didn't explain. She walked to the dorm door and locked it: "Alright, you already know I was called by Gu Nanqiu to protect you. Don't be so wary of me."
After saying this, Ye Qiu grabbed her toiletries bag, walked onto the balcony, and stood by the sink. She looked down at the identical, but different colored, toothbrushes arranged there. She savored the memory of Yue Yiyue's pitiful, dazed look beneath her. She touched the lip that the other had angrily bitten until it bled, and chuckled softly.
Yue Yiyue leaned against the balcony door. Since she was in the dorm, she had already taken off her jacket and tossed it onto the bed, wearing only a simple white T-shirt and her hair tied in a casual bun. She lazily stretched, revealing her slender waist, where the red marks hadn't fully faded. Ye Qiu looked at her, teeth itching, feeling the urge to bite something to relieve the sensation. But the person is conscious now, so it's inconvenient.
Ye Qiu averted her gaze, placed her various toiletries onto the shelf, and chatted with Yue Yiyue intermittently. Most of it was Ye Qiu asking. Asking if Yue Yiyue was comfortable living here? What were her plans for the future? A sisterly-like interaction. Yue Yiyue answered vaguely, thinking they might not see each other again anyway.
Before going to sleep, Ye Qiu jiggled the key in her hand and attached a hook to the dorm door, adorned with a pink lamb pattern. It looked exceptionally cute.
"That way, it'll be clear who leaves the dorm without their key—" Ye Qiu winked slyly and hung the key up. Yue Yiyue wondered why she bothered with this, but still hung her own key up as well. Ye Qiu stood there admiring it for a moment, then inexplicably blurted out: "I'll add it when I get back." Yue Yiyue was too lazy to answer. She yawned and collapsed onto the bed, wrapping herself up tightly in the blanket.
Without the familiar scent beside her, Yue Yiyue felt inexplicably unaccustomed. She turned over, looking at the old, severely damaged ceiling. She suddenly remembered Zhang Yang had a single room, right? The moment that thought occurred, worries floated up like bubbles. Would Zhang Yang kick off the blanket at night? Would she cover Gu Nanqiu up? Would their blanket be too thick?
Afraid of disturbing the person on the other side of the room, Yue Yiyue cautiously turned over, looking at the arch of Ye Qiu's form beneath the blanket. She inexplicably smelled a strange fragrance that made her feel exceptionally safe. Consciousness slowly drifted away. Feeling something slick brush against her neck, Yue Yiyue thought: I think I forgot to apply medicine to my wound…
Hot, inexplicably hot, like entering an oven. But there was something cold, like jelly, by her hand. Yue Yiyue instinctively leaned toward it. She hugged the object tightly, contentedly rubbing against it. Because of the excessive heat, the blanket was kicked off, and her clothing shifted with her movement, revealing the perpetually porcelain-white skin hidden beneath. Seeing this, the tentacle immediately hooked the clothing and pulled it down, then pulled the blanket back over her.
A sticky fluid slowly spread over Yue Yiyue's neck. It then greedily clung to Yue Yiyue's lips. Yue Yiyue was completely unaware of this, having fallen into a deep dream. It was a sweet dream, featuring her and Gu Nanqiu. In the dream, they were in a pleasant cafe, with vibrant green plants and an air of vitality, looking delightful. Gu Nanqiu sat beside her, focusing on her with eyes full of smiles. She wore a simple shirt, a rough-looking handmade ring on her finger, and held a cup of coffee that looked quite bitter, happily talking about how much she looked forward to university life.
Yue Yiyue scanned the surroundings, her gaze finally resting on the beautiful strawberry cake in front of her, topped with a bright layer of strawberry jam, looking especially sweet. She listened to Gu Nanqiu for a long time but didn't touch the delicate silver fork. She wasn't worthy of such an expensive thing. Just like the kind, inspiring Gu Nanqiu in front of her. She wasn't worthy.
But the Gu Nanqiu opposite seemed to realize Yue Yiyue's thoughts. A gentle smile blossomed on her beautiful face, making Yue Yiyue momentarily dazed. In that instant of distraction, a perfectly sliced piece of cake was brought to Yue Yiyue's mouth. In the real world, Yue Yiyue bit the small, mischievous object near her lip, then found it uncomfortable to bite and spat it out. The little tentacle sensed the person's disdain and shamefully crawled off the bed.
In the darkness, Ye Qiu excitedly stroked the face of the sleeping person because of Yue Yiyue's action. She's truly too adorable. Her finger pressed on the full, rosy lip, applying gentle pressure. Soon, a reward appeared on her hand—a tiny tooth mark. The person on the bed murmured softly: "Strawberry…" "I won't eat it." "I'm not worthy."
The air tonight was unusually stuffy. Clouds had gathered over the roof sometime earlier. Yue Yiyue turned over, smelled the familiar scent, and habitually snuggled into the warm embrace. She adjusted her sleeping posture to make herself more comfortable. A flash of lightning streaked across the sky, illuminating the shadow at the doorway. It stood there for a long time before finally vanishing.
After that day, Yue Yiyue rarely saw Gu Nanqiu. Only at mealtimes would she occasionally see Gu Nanqiu standing quietly next to Zhang Yang, wearing her signature smile. Sometimes Yue Yiyue would meet Gu Nanqiu's gaze. But she would immediately and inexplicably look away. It wasn't avoidance. It was a subconscious desire not to see Gu Nanqiu's current expression. Because she always felt Nanqiu wasn't happy.
Apart from that, Yue Yiyue's life became interesting. First, instant noodles appeared in her backpack. At that point, Ye Qiu would emerge from nowhere, smiling as she grabbed the bag and said she'd go 'handle it.' But one problem was solved, and another arose. Her meals received extra additions. Sometimes it was a rotten rat carcass, sometimes an eyeball, sometimes a human finger—a dazzling variety of forms. Yue Yiyue initially didn't plan to ask Ye Qiu for help with this. She first dug out the bread Fan Ning had given her, thinking she could manage. Unfortunately, after checking the bread, she saw tiny silver needles hidden inside. Yue Yiyue then dutifully followed behind Ye Qiu, mooching off her meals.
If she ignored the dense, red scrawls of "Go to Hell" in her books, and ignored the backpacks that randomly refreshed in the trash can or sink, nothing much had changed.
As usual, after the second class ended, Yue Yiyue stretched, politely declined Ye Qiu's suggestion to hold hands and go to the restroom together, and walked toward the restroom, biting on a mint candy under Ye Qiu's look of 'be careful.' Ye Qiu acted as if something was about to happen to her. Yue Yiyue pondered as she walked: It's just a trip to the restroom. What could happen?
Seven days… Three days have already passed. She wondered how Gu Nanqiu was doing. These past few days, Ye Qiu had been practically glued to her, wanting to go to the restroom and bathe together. After experiencing so much chaos, Yue Yiyue almost accepted Ye Qiu's suggestion to bathe together. But she observed that usually nothing happened during this time, so it wasn't necessary. Everyone needs personal space, and she shouldn't bother Ye Qiu too much.
After using the restroom, Yue Yiyue stood in front of the sink, dispensed the hand soap, and lathered her hands into fine foam. There was still some time before class started. She studied her reflection in the mirror. The appearance she usually avoided was actually not much different from before. Yue Yiyue generally disliked looking at herself in the mirror. She was too ordinary, just a weed carelessly discarded by the roadside. Her only discernible positive feature was her healthy complexion, and a few freckles, but they didn't hide the lifeless, energy-drained look on her face. It was this self who stood next to Gu Nanqiu. Yue Yiyue gave a self-deprecating smile.
The foam washed down the drain. Yue Yiyue cupped water and splashed it onto her face, chasing away some of the drowsiness. The light above her flickered a few times, illuminating a figure behind Yue Yiyue holding an art knife. Her eyes were bloodshot. Seeing Yue Yiyue finally alone, she raised the knife—
Squeak. The restroom door opened. The sound of leather shoes stepping on tiles rang out, soft and muted. The light flickered again. Footsteps sounded, finally stopping behind Yue Yiyue.
Yue Yiyue, who was washing her face, rubbed her eyes: "I'll be done soon, classmate."
"No rush. I just missed you and came to see you." Gu Nanqiu's voice came, carrying a soft, marshmallow-like sweetness. Yue Yiyue instantly looked up, surprised at the face reflected in the mirror. She awkwardly wiped her wet hands on her clothes, turned around, and looked at the person in front of her, feeling uncomfortable: "Why would you miss me?" "We see each other every day at the cafeteria." Yue Yiyue looked at the person in front, whose face was pale, lips colorless, with slight dark circles under her eyes, looking somewhat haggard. The further she spoke, the quieter her voice became.
"But you're avoiding me." Gu Nanqiu stepped forward. Yue Yiyue subconsciously stepped back, her waist hitting the cool sink.
"I'm not…" Yue Yiyue thought about the past few days. She was just eating, studying, and sleeping normally.
"I say you are." Gu Nanqiu bit her lip. Her soft, boneless hands wrapped around Yue Yiyue's waist and tightened, pulling her completely into her embrace.
"The bed in Zhang Yang's dorm is not comfortable at all." "It's so cold sleeping alone. I always wake up shivering at night." "Zhang Yang also won't listen to me. She just keeps repeating everything she's done for me." Her forehead rested gently on Yue Yiyue's shoulder. Her dark long hair tangled with Yue Yiyue's. Tears dampened the thin T-shirt, making Yue Yiyue's shoulder twitch from the heat.
Outside the restroom, people came and went. Inside, Yue Yiyue hugged Gu Nanqiu back: "It will be fine once we get out." "Only a few days left." "Yes, it will be fine once we get out." Gu Nanqiu shifted. Her hot breath spread across Yue Yiyue's neck, causing a fine itch. "Yiyue, I really missed you. When we get out, let's go for coffee together. I know a good place." Gu Nanqiu rubbed against her, whining playfully. "Then let's go see a movie and I'll treat you to hot pot." "And at night, let's take a walk in Xijiao Park."
"Okay." Gu Nanqiu like this was like a small celestial being testing human resolve in a mythology novel. Her beautiful peach blossom eyes stared intently at Yue Yiyue. At this moment, it seemed Gu Nanqiu's entire small world could only hold Yue Yiyue. Yue Yiyue blushed and patted Gu Nanqiu's shoulder. She closed her eyes and nodded haphazardly: "I'll listen to whatever you say then!"
"Then you have to sleep with me tonight." "My place is so big and empty. It's scary to sleep alone, especially during a thunderstorm."
When returning to the classroom, passing Zhang Yang's class, Yue Yiyue looked at Gu Nanqiu, whose face was much better than before, and rubbed her slightly sore neck. Gu Nanqiu said that everything would be fine after these two days. But Yue Yiyue felt it wouldn't be that simple. She felt something brewing, like a storm approaching.
Ye Qiu looked at Yue Yiyue's expression and smiled like a cunning kitten: "Did you see Gu Nanqiu?" It's a pity Gu Nanqiu's identity couldn't cross the line too much, otherwise she'd press the person against the restroom wall and kiss her senseless. In that kind of setting, Yiyue would definitely be excited, having to worry about someone walking in.
"I just ran into her while using the restroom." Yue Yiyue didn't know the nonsense running through Ye Qiu's head. She pulled out a book, casually flipped through it twice, and carefully recalled if she had overlooked any details. But she still had no clue. Speaking of which, Fan Ning had been exceptionally quiet these past few days. So quiet that she was practically nonexistent.
Her peripheral vision caught Fan Ning, who had moved back to her original seat after Gu Nanqiu's departure. Their eyes met. Yue Yiyue inexplicably shivered. Ye Qiu timely draped her school uniform jacket over Yue Yiyue, blocking that unsettling gaze. She looked at Yue Yiyue seriously: "I have something to take care of. Wait for me in the dorm tonight, and don't open the door for strangers."
Back at the dorm, Yue Yiyue initially didn't understand what Ye Qiu meant. Until Fan Ning's voice sounded at the door. Yue Yiyue seemed to grasp the deeper meaning of the words.
"Yiyue, I forgot something here." The person outside said in a dark, gentle voice. "I need to come in and get it. They said these things must be taken tonight—"
It wasn't dark yet, and Yue Yiyue hadn't turned on the dorm light. The doors and windows were closed, covered with privacy paper, so the figures inside wouldn't be visible. Yue Yiyue stood still, not daring to breathe, pretending she hadn't returned. The knocking outside became more frantic, as if she was certain someone was in the room. Yue Yiyue silently closed her eyes.
"Are you trying to kill me too?" "Does everyone want me dead?" "Yue Yiyue, are you jealous of me?" "You hypocrite—"
The normal tone transitioned to heart-wrenching cries, and finally to curses. Yue Yiyue remained silent. It wasn't that she didn't want to. It was that she couldn't… Yue Yiyue looked at the blood flowing under the door seam. It was clear to anyone that opening the door meant death.
The person at the door seemed finally exhausted from wailing. After some rustling sounds, a confused voice asked: "Eh, how did it flow in…" The voice was bewildered, carrying a hint of innocence. Soon, the sound of something heavy being dragged echoed in the corridor. Yue Yiyue remained quiet. She wouldn't be naive enough to be curious about this. Moreover, she was firmly convinced that the other party wouldn't give up so easily.
What should she do now? Her peripheral vision scanned the balcony window, which was open for ventilation… She closed the balcony window and the bathroom window, but Yue Yiyue still felt uneasy. After much deliberation, she finally pulled the balcony door shut and drew the blackout curtain. She needed to make it look like no one was in the dorm. After observing the surrounding terrain, she chose a position highly suitable for escape. Ye Qiu said: Just don't leave the dorm. The employee handbook also stated: Respect student privacy; do not enter dorms without permission.
Her palms were sweating. Yue Yiyue suddenly missed Ye Qiu. If she were here, she would surely propose conditions with her usual careless, effortless ease. She would probably agree to any condition out of fear. The sound of something flapping outside the window came. Yue Yiyue thought: I knew it.
A muffled thud sounded. Yue Yiyue frowned. She was beginning to doubt this so-called employee handbook. But Ye Qiu had said the same thing. There were no convenient weapons she could use, and Yue Yiyue wasn't sure if she could actually defeat this kind of monster… In this emergency situation, Yue Yiyue had to stay alert. The most important thing now was survival. She had to live.
The sound of glass breaking seemed to come from the wall. Yue Yiyue looked at the door, hesitating. Going out meant certain death. But what about staying inside? A gamble? Could she gamble? If she could, should she consider using that blue shirt, or that faction card? Think, you idiot, think. In the darkness, Yue Yiyue subconsciously bit her finger, extremely anxious. Ye Qiu must have known this would happen tonight. She was kind enough to give a warning.
The crack in the glass grew larger. Yue Yiyue thought for a moment, then hid in the gap between the bed and the wall, a visual blind spot. At this moment, she could only pray that Ye Qiu hadn't lied to her, that as long as she didn't go out, she would be fine… She constantly reminded herself that going out was the definite path to death.
Footsteps sounded outside again. But this time, the footsteps were exceptionally steady. A knock sounded. This time, it was Ye Qiu's voice. "Yiyue, I'm back." "Open the door for me."
The moment the familiar voice appeared, Yue Yiyue felt that her savior had finally arrived. She looked back at the glass window, which was almost completely shattered. The impact sounds stopped along with the footsteps. The knocking at the door sounded again, urging Yue Yiyue to open it. Just as Yue Yiyue was about to answer, her gaze fell on the hook at the door. She saw only her key, which she had hung up earlier… She slowly stopped walking, It's probably easy to imitate a person. Yue Yiyue quietly covered her mouth and crouched in the corner.
She didn't know how long she endured in the darkness. Behind her, the sound of something relentlessly hitting the glass continued. It didn't completely shatter even after a long time. Yue Yiyue had gotten used to the sound, even finding it somewhat hypnotic. At the door, there were strange pleas for help again and again. Sometimes it was Gu Nanqiu, sometimes Ye Qiu, sometimes Zhang Yang. The goal was the same: to lure Yue Yiyue out.
Yue Yiyue went from initial fear to numbness. Now, she was sitting on the bed, wrapped in a blanket, ready to sleep. She just hadn't washed up yet, feeling a little dirty. Various wails and cries for help continued outside the room. Yue Yiyue didn't dare to move, not an inch. Her courage wasn't particularly great; she could only ensure she didn't court death. Because it was highly likely that this was also a trap, designed to trick her into going out. When will Ye Qiu return? She genuinely missed her. And she was a little worried about the other's safety. It was dangerous to stay outside at night. Yue Yiyue leaned against the headboard, staring blankly at the door. Her eyelids felt heavy, difficult to keep open. Her consciousness also began to waver.
Ye Qiu held the key, looking at the thick layers of bloodstains at the door and the tightly shut door. She touched a yellowed talisman in the corner, covered in layers of black scabs. It looked unusable now. Really, she's too stubborn. The sound of the door opening and closing echoed. Ye Qiu looked at the person sleeping soundly on the bed. Perhaps due to mental exhaustion, she hadn't even changed her clothes. She was huddled under a blanket, looking pitiful.
She casually hung the key on the little lamb hook. "Yiyue, get up and wash up. I'm back." Although she wanted to just carry her there, the time wasn't right yet. Ye Qiu regretfully watched the person on the bed stir, rub her sleepy eyes, and dazedly stand up. She mumbled for the light to be turned on.
"Cover your eyes, okay?" Ye Qiu reminded softly. Click. The dorm's fluorescent light turned on. Yue Yiyue finally saw the person at the door. The school uniform was stained with many brown marks. They didn't look like blood, more like mud. Like she had fallen. Yue Yiyue looked at the key hanging on the little lamb hook, finally completing the pair. The heart that had been stuck in her throat finally returned to its place.
"It's good that you're back. That…" Seeing Ye Qiu still composed and at ease, Yue Yiyue pointed to the balcony: "I'm not sure if that area can still be used." "You should go check it out first." Yue Yiyue walked over and opened the door.
"It's an illusion." Ye Qiu explained, walking toward the bathroom. Standing at the bathroom door, she tossed the soiled clothes into the washing machine, washed her hands, and returned, rubbing Yue Yiyue's head. Like stroking a puppy's head, it was complimentary: "So good. You really followed the agreement, good girl~" The rising tone carried pleasure. Yue Yiyue didn't resist such praise.
"Tha… thank you. You've been helping me all along, and you warned me." Yue Yiyue controlled her expression: "Go wash up first. You must be uncomfortable like that." Her peripheral vision glanced at the balcony. The glass was smooth and intact, without a single crack. If it weren't for the dried red marks on the floor, Yue Yiyue would only have thought the earlier event was a nightmare.
After both had washed up, Yue Yiyue sat on the bed, wide awake. But there was nothing to pass the time with. If Gu Nanqiu were here, she would listen to Gu Nanqiu talk about what happened during her vacation, what she did before, and where she wanted to travel in the future. When they were together, Nanqiu loved to talk about the future. Hiking together, watching movies together, traveling to unfamiliar cities together, watching the sea together, raising cats together. Nanqiu even mentioned renting an apartment together in the same city after graduation. Most of the time, Yue Yiyue just listened to these things that felt very distant to her. After all, she wasn't sure if she would live to see that time. In the original novel, she only survived until her senior year. Not because "Yue Yiyue" could survive, but because Yue Yiyue served as a background character, only encountering supernatural events again during her senior year.
Recalling this now, Yue Yiyue vaguely felt that something was different. Yet she also felt it was reasonable.
"The other side is itching to kill you now." Ye Qiu's voice suddenly sounded in the dorm.
"Can I not die?" A dull voice sounded, accompanied by the owner's messy hair from just waking up, her eyes unfocused. From Ye Qiu's perspective, she looked adorable.
"What do you think?" Ye Qiu propped her chin on her hand, appreciating the scene. She looked at Yue Yiyue with interest: "You need my help."
"But I don't want to agree to your demands." Yue Yiyue sighed: "I have no special skills. I'm not sure if I can offer you things of corresponding value." Yue Yiyue spoke seriously, as if agreeing to this matter was a major ordeal.
"Don't think that way." "I'll state my conditions first. You think about it carefully." "I want a blue shirt and black pants." Ye Qiu said, sounding a bit troubled: "I need to find these items to successfully complete my mission and get out." "But I've searched the entire school." "Including tonight. I heard there was some in a certain cabinet in the teaching building, and I made a special trip there again." The rest of the sentence was left unspoken, but Yue Yiyue knew the answer.
"That's it?" Yue Yiyue subconsciously glanced at the cabinet above her head, asking uncertainly.
"Yes," Ye Qiu smiled: "That's right, because you and I are on the same side." "Speaking of which, why don't you try to get Zhang Yang to join your side?"
In one sentence, Yue Yiyue's mind was suddenly clear. She slapped her thigh: "You're right. The rules never said a person can only switch sides once!" Thinking of this, she immediately got up, grabbed the key, stepped onto the stool, and retrieved the blue shirt.
Seeing the item in Yue Yiyue's hand, Ye Qiu wasn't particularly surprised. "So it was with you." She just said this blandly, then told Yue Yiyue to place the item by the head of the bed.
"It's time for this to end."
As she was about to fall asleep, Yue Yiyue heard Ye Qiu's calm voice from the other side. A strong sense of unease surged up again.
When Yue Yiyue woke up, Ye Qiu's bed was empty. The blanket and everything else were pulled away, as if the person who slept there wouldn't need to return. Pushing open the door, Yue Yiyue saw a dark-faced Zhang Yang and Gu Nanqiu. Gu Nanqiu was smiling, like a cunning little fox whose plot had succeeded, bringing her reward to claim credit.
"I found a chance and used the faction-switching card—" "I still couldn't bear to see classmate Zhang Yang being bullied, so it's better if she joins our side."
Just as Ye Qiu had warned yesterday, Yue Yiyue now realized that Gu Nanqiu must have reached some agreement with Ye Qiu privately. As expected of the protagonist of this novel, thinking ten steps ahead. This made her feel like a burden. Yue Yiyue looked at Gu Nanqiu awkwardly.
"You really are lucky to be alive. Good thing you didn't agree to the Dean of Students' trap." Because they were now on the same side, Zhang Yang's hostility toward Yue Yiyue seemed reduced. Perhaps because she knew she couldn't deal with her now: "If you had agreed, you really would have been stuck here completely, becoming an employee here." "At that time, I regretted it for a moment, thinking it would have been great if you had agreed." She wouldn't have to go through the trouble of trying to kill this useless person who only knew how to stand next to Gu Nanqiu. If it weren't for Gu Nanqiu…
Remembering what she had promised Gu Nanqiu, Zhang Yang glanced at Yue Yiyue, who was still standing stunned: "Why are you still standing there spaced out? Go eat breakfast."
Everything seemed to have returned to the beginning. The three of them ate together, discussing how easy yesterday's exam questions were and what to eat for lunch. Yue Yiyue felt that everything seemed to be back on track. Will they be able to leave normally soon? How will they get out? Will Zhang Yang open something and send them out, or what?
"Below—be careful—" "Ah!—That is—" "Quick! Go—"
Splat. A heavy object hit the ground. Warm blood splattered onto Yue Yiyue's clothes. Feathers fluttered in the air like scattered paper money. Yue Yiyue looked down and saw Fan Ning, wearing the blue shirt and black pants, lying on the ground, twitching.
"What? What happened?" In that instant, the entire world seemed to fade. Gu Nanqiu shielded Yue Yiyue, frowning.
"It's Yue Yiyue's deskmate—" Zhang Yang, who witnessed it, cursed: "Damn, that lunatic. How did she…" Yue Yiyue stood stunned for a long time before she reacted: "Quick, go call the infirmary teacher. Maybe there's still a chance." Before she could finish, she saw feathers slowly growing on Fan Ning's head… Finally, she transformed into a pigeon. The pigeon's head, with its ruby-red eyes, stared fixedly at Gu Nanqiu, filled with resentment. Lying on the ground, her body uncontrollably convulsing, she still tried to crawl toward Gu Nanqiu.
"Yiyue, you and Zhang Yang go upstairs. Fan Ning and I need to talk." Gu Nanqiu patted Yue Yiyue's shoulder: "We'll be able to go back soon." Looking at the strange pigeon-head, Yue Yiyue flinched, but still followed Gu Nanqiu's instruction, walking toward the teaching building in the west corner with Zhang Yang.
As soon as they entered, Zhang Yang irritably kicked the paper wall. The fragile paper wall quickly tore open. Yue Yiyue curiously glanced inside. It was a colorful mess, also made of paper, looking eerie.
"Damn it, this dog-shit life is finally over." Zhang Yang vented all her frustration on the wall, cursing as she walked. "These past few days, Nanqiu and I found the real Boss: Fan Ning." She recalled the past few days, running up and down to fulfill her promise to Gu Nanqiu, and nearly being discovered. How thrilling. But thinking about Gu Nanqiu's promise to her, she felt it was all worth it. "Fan Ning wanted to possess your body. So, for your sake, Gu Nanqiu dragged that lunatic Ye Qiu into this." She quickly summarized the events Yue Yiyue had missed. But there were other twists to the story that Zhang Yang didn't need to explain further to this lucky idiot. "Nanqiu is purifying Fan Ning now. After that, you'll be able to leave." Zhang Yang stopped walking. She glanced at Yue Yiyue following obediently behind: "Nanqiu has waited for you for a long time. You must treat her well afterward." "I strayed down the wrong path and accidentally solved some trouble for you. Consider yourself lucky."
Reaching the end of the corridor, Zhang Yang stopped: "Wait for Gu Nanqiu here. I won't stay. I'll definitely miss Nanqiu if I see her." "Remember to apologize to Nanqiu for me. I was too selfish… Also, please tell her I love her. I love her passionately." Zhang Yang gave a self-deprecating smile. She touched the hair tie she had secretly kept on her wrist, which belonged to Gu Nanqiu and still carried a trace of her scent. One wrong step led to endless mistakes. This outcome is what I deserve. But I don't regret killing those two brain-dead boys. Zhang Yang waved her hand casually: "I'm leaving." Yue Yiyue didn't need to ask where Zhang Yang was going. She was already dead, so there was no need to ask further.
"Thank you. I'll tell her." If Zhang Yang hadn't ultimately chosen Gu Nanqiu, they wouldn't have reached this point so easily.
"It was only for Gu Nanqiu." Leaving this final statement, Zhang Yang walked toward the dense darkness with her hands in her pockets, her figure completely disappearing.
Yue Yiyue found a corner to squat in, waiting for Gu Nanqiu. The surroundings were pitch black and unusually quiet. Yue Yiyue felt confused. She had won simply by doing nothing. Gu Nanqiu must have been doing something crucial these past few days. When did she figure it out? Why didn't she tell me? But even if she had told her, it wouldn't have helped much. She was a bit of a burden. And Ye Qiu… Why did she give the blue shirt to Fan Ning to wear? And why did she push Fan Ning down? Where is she now?
Yue Yiyue wiped the bloodstain off her face, thinking miserably: I'm so useless. I read the book, but little of it was useful once I got here. She remembered the person who would accompany Gu Nanqiu on future adventures… I guess I'll just be her background character.
"Yiyue, we're going back now." Gu Nanqiu's voice sounded. Yue Yiyue instantly stood up: "Is it resolved?" In the darkness, Gu Nanqiu's voice carried a hint of exhaustion: "Mm. I've resolved it. I'm sorry. This whole thing started because of me." Gu Nanqiu turned around, looking at the pigeon feathers dancing in the air. The scenes she saw in Fan Ning's mind reappeared.
Fan Ning said she only played some harmless pranks. Fan Ning said she didn't intend for the person to suffer that way. Fan Ning said she was just joking. Fan Ning said she just wanted to get close to Nanqiu, she had waited so long. Gu Nanqiu didn't want to hear the rest. It was too boring.
"We guessed the story's direction wrong. Fan Ning was the bully. She is here experiencing what she did in life, paying for her sins." Gu Nanqiu withdrew her gaze and sighed: "Evil eventually reaps what it sows. Yiyue, do you think Ye Qiu's method of fighting violence with violence was the right way to resolve everything?" In the darkness, Yue Yiyue felt Gu Nanqiu's warm hand and grasped it: "It's hard to judge, but I think she's quite nice." "She's just very mysterious. I always feel like she knows a lot of things."
"Is that so?" Gu Nanqiu chuckled softly: "Not casually judging others is a very good habit." After speaking, she collapsed into Yue Yiyue's arms: "Will you carry me through the door? I'm so tired—" Yue Yiyue looked at the "door" with the white light not far ahead, and scooped Nanqiu up: "You worked hard. Let's go home."
The final pieces of the puzzle have fallen into place, revealing Fan Ning as the true culprit and bully, Zhang Yang's tragic devotion to Gu Nanqiu, and the complex manipulation by the "Qiūs" (Gu Nanqiu and Ye Qiu). Yue Yiyue is now safe and heading out.