Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Starting now, today counts as Day One.

Zhou Yiqiang and Huang Pang headed to the Library.

Xiao Ze and Tao Ran, who had originally planned to skip class with us, bit the bullet and went to their lectures instead.

As for me, I decided to go to the Study Room with Sun Huawen to gather information.

[The students in the Study Room are not necessarily normal.]

Sun Huawen gave me this warning before we entered.

The Study Room was bustling with activity. People were chattering away; some had even brought melon seeds and peanuts, making it feel like a tea party.

Everyone here, including myself, had yet to realize the gravity of the situation.

“It’s only seven days. As long as we follow the rules, nothing will happen,” a boy wearing thick-rimmed glasses said.

“It’s not that simple,” a girl with a high ponytail replied. She looked like the type who was very good at English.

Sun Huawen joined the discussion. “Currently, we know of three threats: the teachers, the dormitory check, and the Student Council.”

“Obviously, there are unknown threats as well,” a boy wearing a blue baseball cap added. “I’m Tang Zhen.”

We all introduced ourselves.

The boy with glasses was Li Yun, and the girl was Gao Tiantian.

“The question now is, if the Library, the Study Room, and the dorms are safe, why do we have to flee to them? What exactly are we hiding from?” Sun Huawen lived up to his reputation, hitting the nail right on the head.

Li Yun gasped. “I remember now!”

“What did you remember?” I asked.

“Dead classmates. On my way here, I saw a classmate of mine, but he clearly died during class.”

Sun Huawen immediately pressed him, “Did he attack anyone?”

Li Yun shook his head.

We fell into silence.

What was the purpose of the dead reappearing perfectly intact?

Just then, a new student walked into the Study Room. When I saw his face, my body temperature plummeted from the shock.

It was the guy who had been scrolling through TikTok in front of me during the last class!

How could he be here?

I watched him sit down in an empty seat in the front row, laughing and joking with the students there as if nothing had happened.

I looked at Sun Huawen. He was frowning; he had clearly noticed the guy too.

[The students in the Study Room are not necessarily normal.]

The sentence echoed in my mind again.

A conclusion began to form vaguely in my heart: The dead don’t pose a direct threat to the living?

But their existence certainly wasn’t meaningless.

Then what was their purpose for appearing around us?

“I have a rough theory,” Tang Zhen said. “If the dead don’t kill people directly, then they likely use some means to kill indirectly.”

“I agree with Tang Zhen,” Sun Huawen nodded.

Hearing Tang Zhen’s words gave me goosebumps.

[The dead prefer indirect killing.]

“It’s the first day, so the majority of people in the Study Room are still normal. As time goes on, communicating here will become less meaningful. Eventually, I don’t think we’ll be able to trust anything most people in the Study Room say,” Gao Tiantian suggested. “How about we come up with some questions of our own? Next time we meet, we’ll ask each other. If someone can’t answer, they’re a Traitor, and we terminate communication. How does that sound?”

“Can you guarantee that when someone dies, their memory disappears?” I countered.

“Go feel that guy out,” Sun Huawen said, shooting me a look.

Obviously, ‘that guy’ referred to the one who had been on TikTok in front of me during the last class.

He wanted me to go probe a dead person? No way!

“I’m scared.”

“It’s fine. This is the Study Room.”

True.

[The Study Room is safe.]

I summoned my courage and walked up to the boy.

“Bro… Brother, can I ask you something?”

“What’s up? Go ahead.” The guy seemed perfectly normal.

I felt a bit more at ease and continued, “What class did you have last period?”

“University Physics.”

“Okay, thanks.”

“No problem. Come back again sometime!”

Fat chance. I never want to see you again.

I returned to my seat and reported the situation to Sun Huawen and the others.

Now we could roughly confirm that the memories of the dead were muddled.

Consequently, Gao Tiantian set three questions for us.

One: The oden at School Canteen No. 3 is pretty good. What do you all like to eat?

My answer should be: White radish.
Sun Huawen’s answer should be: Cola.
Gao Tiantian’s answer should be: Roses.
Tang Zhen’s answer should be: Basketball.
Li Yun’s answer should be: Canteen No. 3 doesn’t serve oden.

Two: What movies have you watched lately?

My answer should be: Do you have any tissues?
Sun Huawen’s answer should be: There are no crows in the school.
Gao Tiantian’s answer should be: Hamlet.
Tang Zhen’s answer should be: I quite like broccoli.
Li Yun’s answer should be: Oh, please, stop acting so sophisticated.

Three: What time do you usually go to bed?

My answer should be: This Emperor cannot sleep.
Sun Huawen’s answer should be: As soon as the lights go out.
Gao Tiantian’s answer should be: I’ve been focusing on my health lately.
Tang Zhen’s answer should be: Humans actually need to sleep?
Li Yun’s answer should be: 11:30 PM.

I glanced at the time; nearly an hour had passed. People in the Study Room were starting to leave one after another.

“This is no place to linger. Take care, everyone.”

Sun Huawen and I left the Study Room.