Chapter 26
Chapter 26
The woman embraced Hanako and wept. “Hanako, Mother missed you so much.”
Jiang Shuli had the same face as the dormitory matron, but she was much thinner, weighing barely ninety pounds.
Hanako hugged Jiang Shuli back. “Mother, I missed you too. Hanako has been doing very well, so you don’t need to worry about me.”
Jiang Shuli said, “I thought all of this was a dream.”
She raised her head and looked at Xiao Huai. “I think I’ve seen you in my dreams.”
In those dreams, she inspected the dormitories of Ivy Girls’ School every night.
The version of her within the dream had another personality.
Xiao Huai looked at Jiang Shuli. “That wasn’t a dream. It was only a false world. But in that world, your daughter and your younger sister are both still alive.”
He returned Hanako’s diary to Jiang Shuli.
She froze briefly before accepting it.
Xiao Huai crouched and studied her in silence.
He seemed to see countless dark shadows shrouding Jiang Shuli.
His instincts told him that this was the source of the contamination.
Jiang Shuli herself was the source. Trapped within her own world, she could not separate herself from it.
Xiao Huai knew that nothing he said could persuade her.
How could an outsider ever truly enter another person’s heart?
Only time could heal her wounds.
After handing Jiang Shuli the diary, he waved and turned to leave.
Hanako raised her head and watched Xiao Huai’s retreating figure.
He merely waved and said softly, “Good night. Sweet dreams, everyone.”
* * *
After returning to Ivy Girls’ School, he went to Class 44.
It stood empty. No one else could possibly be there.
No He Lecheng. No other players.
No tests and no homework.
Yet the game continued.
He laid his head on the desk and waited for the seventh day to arrive.
The monster NPCs he had burned would revive, but after being incinerated over and over, they had long since developed PTSD.
They did not dare approach when they saw Xiao Huai.
So he slept even more soundly at his desk.
More precisely, he lost consciousness completely.
He slept for two full days.
When he woke, his wounds no longer hurt as badly. He changed his bandages, bought something to fill his stomach, and was preparing to explore the school when his ears twitched.
He had heard an unusual sound.
Leather shoes clicked against the floor. Xiao Huai looked toward the doorway and saw Smiling Tiger appear behind the lectern with a test paper in hand.
“Hello, Xiao Huai.”
“He Lecheng.”
Xiao Huai spoke the name coldly.
He Lecheng smiled. “Since you’ve already discovered my identity, I would much rather hear you call me by my true name: Loki.”
Mockery glinted in Xiao Huai’s eyes. “Is that so? For now, at least, your identity is still He Lecheng.”
The corners of Loki’s eyes lifted. “True, but won’t all of you be leaving soon? I hope you’ll remember me after you’re gone.”
“And then?”
“Then I’ll invite you to dine with me at the gods’ feast,” Loki said with a smile.
Xiao Huai arched a brow. “You’re that certain I’ll obtain an invitation?” And what made Loki think he would accept the dinner invitation even if he did?
Judging by the comments in the livestream, only some players received invitations to attend the gods’ feast.
“Of course.” A rose appeared in Loki’s hand. “With your potential, how could you possibly fail to clear the fifth floor?”
Xiao Huai chuckled. “That’s still a long way off.”
Leaning back in his chair with both hands resting on his thighs, Xiao Huai said coldly, “I thought I wouldn’t see you again before the game ended. I didn’t expect you to come here.”
“Don’t forget, I’m still your homeroom teacher.”
“So? Did you come to torment me one last time before I leave?”
Loki laughed, a cunning light flashing in his eyes.
“Why would I? This is only a first-floor instance. How could I possibly treat a novice that way? I came to administer your exam.”
Xiao Huai was speechless. Still, judging by the date, his standardized exam really was scheduled for today.
So he walked up to Loki and extended a hand.
But what met his fingertips was not a test paper. It was a leaf.
Xiao Huai froze and looked up at Loki.
Loki had already vanished, leaving only his voice behind.
“My friend in the second-floor instance can hardly wait to meet you.”
Xiao Huai examined the leaf. Carved on its back were the words: Second-Floor Instance: *Diamond Magnate*.
A slogan was written on the front: Beauty Is Justice.
[Ding! First-floor instance Ivy Girls’ School is about to close.]
[Objective complete: Survive until Day Seven.]
[Calculating number of players who cleared the instance… Successful clears: 14.]
[Congratulations! Player Xiao Huai has earned the highest rating among all participants: S-rank. Leaderboard points awarded: 1,000.]
[Calculating rewards: Seven days of standby time awarded; current time remaining: seven days. Base livestream popularity awarded: 3,000; current popularity: 3,100. Survival Coins awarded: 3,000; current balance: 11,650 Survival Coins.]
[Congratulations! Player Xiao Huai received a total of 412 views in the Gods’ Livestream during this instance. Of those viewers, 302 gods expressed strong interest in you and look forward to your next broadcast.]
[Notice: You have received gifts from the gods. Would you like to view Gift Storage?]
Notifications continued to populate the system interface. Xiao Huai arched a brow. He had not known Gift Storage was even a feature.
Gifts sent by gods during a game did not immediately enter Gift Storage. They were only deposited there once the game ended and its rewards were settled.
When Xiao Huai opened Gift Storage, he found countless roses and bottles of red wine, along with several postcards bearing rather indecent messages.
Xiao Huai: “…”
As expected, these gods would never casually send him useful items that might help him clear a game.
No wonder some people chose to become believers of the gods.
Only after a player became a god’s believer would they receive more useful items than ordinary players.
Of all the gifts, the one that left Xiao Huai most speechless was probably the little dress.
[Gift from Chaos: One pink dress. The finest velvet for the person it suits best.]
Slightly angered, he closed Gift Storage. All he wanted now was to change his clothes, take a long, satisfying shower, and rest for a few days.
A beam of light shone down from above as the system notification chimed.
[First-floor instance Ivy Girls’ School complete.]
Xiao Huai was pulled out of the game and plunged into a white glare so bright that it hurt his eyes.
“Don’t miss out! Clues for every second-floor game! Not 998, not 998, only 990!”
Countless game-loading nebulae floated through the area, each bearing the name of a game.
The sky was pure white. Giant holographic words hovered overhead: [First-Floor Game Instances]
A dense crowd had gathered here. Most people stared around in confusion, while others moved through the throng handing out flyers.
Just then, someone gently tapped Xiao Huai on the shoulder.