Chapter 34

Chapter 34

Ding! Congratulations, Host, for giving someone a friendly reminder. Merit Points +10. Current Merit Points: 410. ///

Wei Sen left the dormitory, but she did not take the roll book with her. Instead, she took a photo of it and privately sent it to everyone in Group B except Xia Susu.

During the break, Huang Xinze sent Wei Sen a private message.

[Huang Xinze: After I mentioned Yu Ming’s name, the thing outside the door kept repeating, “Xiao Ming.” Looks like that’s probably him.]

After seeing the message, Wei Sen was basically certain that the old lady’s grandson outside the door was Yu Ming.

But right now, Yu Ming had not gone home, nor was he in the classroom. So where exactly was he?

With that question in mind, Wei Sen headed for the sports field.

At present, it had already been confirmed that Class 2, Grade 3 was supposed to have forty-four students, but one Yu Ming was missing.

And Yu Ming’s disappearance was most likely connected to Wang Hua and Sun Qiang.

Everything had happened inside this elementary school, so the principal had to be someone in the know as well. Perhaps this “Yu Ming” was the key to unlocking the principal’s secret!

What was more, the School Rules specifically emphasized that there were only forty-three students in the class. If an extra student was discovered, they had to leave the classroom immediately and report it to the Academic Affairs Office.

So Bai Xue might also know something about Yu Ming, but she had chosen to hide it too…

Wei Sen arrived at the sports field. Chen Lin had already gotten there ahead of her. She was wearing a green tracksuit, with an iron whistle hanging in front of her chest.

Chen Lin saw Wei Sen as well. Their eyes met, and they exchanged a tacit nod.

Soon, the break ended. The class bell rang, and the students of Class 2, Grade 3 emerged from the thin mist, walking toward the center of the sports field.

Thanks to Wei Sen’s warning, Chen Lin had already mentally prepared herself, but when she saw a group of children walking toward her like marionettes, their pairs of deathly white eyes fixed on her, every hair on her body still stood on end.

“Don’t be afraid. Treat it normally. Just don’t violate the rules,” Wei Sen reminded her from beside her.

“Mm!” Chen Lin took several deep breaths and watched as the students stiffly walked up in front of her.

With trembling fingers, she gripped the whistle and blew hard.

The students seemed to receive some kind of summons. They began weaving through one another, and in the end, every single one landed in the correct position, standing in neat rows in the exact same order as their seats in the classroom.

In the first row was still that little girl in a red dress.

Chen Lin opened her watch and projected the roll book. Taking a deep breath, she said, “We will now take attendance. When your name is called, please raise your hand and answer.”

Chen Lin began calling the roll, while Wei Sen silently memorized each person and the name corresponding to them from behind her.

…A long while passed.

“Guo Xiaolan.”

“Here.” The Little Girl in Red raised her hand.

Wei Sen’s gaze locked onto the little girl. It was still unclear why all the other students were wearing school uniforms, yet this little girl named Guo Xiaolan was wearing a bright red dress.

Did that red dress have some special meaning?

And was the Eerie Entity that had tried to kill them outside the Infirmary on the first night really this little girl?

Could Yu Ming’s disappearance also have something to do with her?

“Attendance is complete. Next, everyone follow me for warm-up exercises. First set, head movements. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight! Two, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight…”

After speaking, Chen Lin began leading everyone through the exercises. Her face flushed red, and her movements were not very coordinated.

But no matter what movement she made, the forty-three students would imitate it in perfect unison. Even if her posture was wrong, they still copied it exactly.

Chen Lin finally managed to finish all the warm-up exercises stated in the PE Teacher Rules. At last, as if a huge weight had been lifted from her shoulders, she blew the whistle again. “Next, free activity!”

The students mechanically dispersed toward all sides of the sports field.

Some began jumping rope. Some squatted on the ground to play marbles. Everything looked completely normal.

Wei Sen paid particular attention to Wang Hua and Guo Xiaolan.

Wang Hua and several little boys went together to the sandpile by the entrance of the Gymnasium and started playing with the sand, while Guo Xiaolan walked straight toward the Infirmary.
“Sister Sen, what do we do now?” Chen Lin asked.

“Split up and investigate. I’ll follow Guo Xiaolan. You go ask Wang Hua about Yu Ming’s whereabouts.”

“Okay.”

Wei Sen tailed Guo Xiaolan all the way to the Infirmary. Xu You, who was inside, saw her as well. Their eyes met, but neither of them spoke. Instead, they both watched to see what Guo Xiaolan would do next.

Guo Xiaolan stood at the Infirmary door and politely knocked.

“What’s bothering you, student?” Xu You opened the door and asked from inside.

Guo Xiaolan blinked, her hollow eyes fixed on Xu You. “I’m looking for Doctor Xie.”

The moment Xu You heard that, she instantly went on high alert.

Guo Xiaolan was about to walk into the Infirmary, but Xu You immediately blocked the doorway with her body. Guo Xiaolan then started moving forward and backing up over and over at the entrance, like a bugged NPC.

Xu You looked up at Wei Sen.

“She’s from Class 2, Grade 3. Lock the door from the inside, quickly!” Wei Sen reminded her.

She remembered that Xu You had mentioned one of the school doctor’s rules-

Zhihui Primary School has only one school doctor. There is no second one, but some students may remember incorrectly. If anyone mentions another school doctor, confirm their identity. If they are a student from Class 2, Grade 3, there is no need to respond. Return to the Infirmary at once and lock the door from the inside until the person outside leaves.

“Get in here!” Xu You shouted.

“I’m fine. That rule is for you!” Wei Sen reminded her again.

At that moment, Guo Xiaolan, who had repeatedly failed to enter the room, began developing black cracks across her skin. Just like what Wei Sen had seen before, the thing inside her was about to crawl out through her skin.

Xu You hesitated no longer. She shut the door at once, and the sound of the lock turning came from inside.

Guo Xiaolan, shut outside the door, slowly returned to normal. Her steps stopped as well.

“Doctor Xie isn’t here,” she said, then turned and slowly walked away.

Wei Sen stepped forward, crouched down, and blocked her path. “Xiaolan, do you still recognize Teacher?”

Guo Xiaolan blinked and looked at the person in front of her, then stiffly nodded. “Hello, Teacher Wei. Is Teacher Wei also here to see Doctor Xie because you’re sick?”

“Mm. Xiaolan, where do you feel unwell? Why are you looking for Doctor Xie?” Wei Sen asked.

Guo Xiaolan lifted a pale finger to her lips and lowered her voice. “I can’t say. It’s a secret.”

Wei Sen thought of the vaginal speculum she had seen in the Infirmary last night, something that should never have existed in a place like this, and a vague, terrible suspicion formed in her heart. Testing the waters, she asked, “Is it a secret between you and Doctor Xie?”

“Yes.”

“It’s all right. You can tell Teacher. Teacher will keep your secret for you.” Wei Sen took the little girl’s hand. That tiny hand was freezing cold, without the slightest trace of body heat.

“I can’t…” Guo Xiaolan shook her head stiffly. A hint of fear even appeared on that deathly pale face. “He has a long, long telescope. He can watch me forever and ever. If I tell Teacher, Doctor Xie will get angry. When Doctor Xie gets angry, he’s very scary.”

A chill of disgust ran through Wei Sen’s entire body. Looking at the little girl before her, she no longer felt the fear she had at first. Instead, a measure of pity rose in her heart.

“Good girl. Teacher understands.” Wei Sen stroked her head and said, “Remember, Doctor Xie is already gone. You don’t have to come to the Infirmary anymore.”

Guo Xiaolan blinked again. “R-really?”

“Mm. Really,” Wei Sen said seriously.

The corners of the little girl’s mouth slowly stretched toward both sides, revealing an eerie smile. Yet in her previously empty, ghastly pale eyes, there seemed to be a faint glimmer of light.

“Thank you, Teacher Wei. Is there anything Teacher needs help with? I can help Teacher too.”

Hearing that, Wei Sen tried asking, “Do you know where Yu Ming is right now?”

Guo Xiaolan’s lips twitched. The corners of her mouth split all the way to her ears, and her smile grew even stranger. Staring straight into Wei Sen’s eyes, she slowly said, “He’s right here.”