Translator: CinderTL
The atmosphere in the classroom crackled with energy. The elderly professor lectured with renewed vigor, and the students responded with enthusiastic engagement. Even the first student Jiang Cheng had corrected earlier eagerly raised his hand to answer questions, though he didn't get a single one right. Jiang Cheng and his group watched quietly from the back row.
Just as class was about to end, a girl entered through the rear gate. She appeared quiet and reserved, carrying an ordinary backpack. She paused briefly upon entering, a flicker of confusion in her eyes, but then, as if losing interest, walked straight to an empty corner seat in the back row. She sat down naturally, either without a book or choosing not to take it out, and lowered her head, lost in thought.
Jiang Cheng recalled that when they had first entered the classroom, the back rows had been fully occupied except for that corner seat. Could it have been reserved for her?
A few minutes later, the professor began calling roll. Jiang Cheng noticed the girl's name was last on the list: Yuan Xiaoyi.
After class, everyone left in groups except for Yuan Xiaoyi, who remained silently seated until the room had emptied before finally standing up.
As Yuan Xiaoyi passed by, Jiang Cheng noticed her vacant expression, as if her soul had fled.
"Something's wrong with that girl," the middle-aged man murmured.
No sooner had they left the classroom than Jiang Cheng spotted Zha Zhanpeng, the student he had scolded earlier, hiding behind a corner. Seeing them emerge, the boy hurried over with a forced smile, carrying a bag of chilled beverages, clearly fresh from the vending machine. "Director, Teacher Wang, you must be tired. Please, have a cold drink to quench your thirst."
Jiang Cheng didn't refuse when Zha Zhanpeng pressed a bottle of green tea into his hand. He narrowed his eyes, slowly twisted open the cap, and took a small sip.
Fatty, parched with thirst, grabbed a peach-flavored sports drink. He twisted off the cap and drained the whole thing in one long gulp.
Zha Zhanpeng immediately offered another bottle, saying politely, "Teacher Wang, please don't drink so fast. It's bad for your health."
Just as Jiang Cheng needed someone to question, Zha Zhanpeng had appeared at the perfect moment.
"What's your name?" Jiang Cheng asked casually.
"Zha Zhanpeng, Director," the boy replied, his obsequiousness growing even more pronounced.
"I noticed you performed better in the second half of class today," Jiang Cheng said. "Let's forget about what happened earlier. I won't mention it to your academic advisor, but I can't guarantee other students won't."
"As long as you don't tell the student affairs office, I can handle things on my end," Zha Zhanpeng said, visibly relieved.
Jiang Cheng glanced at him before turning his gaze down the nearly empty corridor. "What's the deal with that girl who came in last today?"
"Director, are you talking about Yuan Xiaoyi?" A strange expression flickered across Zha Zhanpeng's face. "Just ignore her. She's got a screw loose."
"Young man, watch your language," Huai Yi said sternly.
"No, no, Teacher Huai! You don't come here often, so you might not understand. Yuan Xiaoyi really has mental problems—she's delusional!" Zha Zhanpeng swallowed nervously, worried that Jiang Cheng's group might misunderstand. He leaned in to whisper, "She's completely unhinged. The things she says are terrifying. None of us dare talk to her. Just... just stay away from her."
"Delusional?"
"Exactly! She keeps insisting her friend went missing right here on campus, but guess what? Not a single teacher or student has ever heard of this 'friend'!"
"Never even heard of them!"
"The registrar's office checked too—there's no record of anyone like that!" Zha Zhanpeng exclaimed anxiously. "Doesn't that prove she's out of her mind?"
"Is that so?" Jiang Cheng stroked his chin, feigning interest. "We're new here; no one's mentioned this to us."
Zha Zhanpeng grinned broadly. "The Director and teachers are all very busy. Who would bother you with such a trivial rumor?"
Having asked enough questions, the middle-aged man turned to Zha Zhanpeng. "Which class are you in? We might need to contact you later to learn more about the students."
"Teacher, I'm in Oil Storage Class 1. You can reach me anytime. Oh, and I'm the class monitor."
"What about Yuan Xiaoyi?" Jiang Cheng interrupted. "Where can we find her?"
"Her?" Zha Zhanpeng paused, surprised that they wanted to seek her out. "She doesn't have many friends. Most people avoid her. I heard someone say they saw her in the small grove to the east."
Zha Zhanpeng expertly played his role as an informant, leading Jiang Cheng's group down a shortcut to the grove. "Director, I shouldn't go any further," he said. "It wouldn't be good if she recognized me."
After Zha Zhanpeng scurried away, Jiang Cheng's group approached cautiously. Sure enough, behind a tree, they found Yuan Xiaoyi sitting alone.
She crouched behind the tree, her body curled into a tight ball, looking utterly pitiful from behind.
Though most people disbelieved her story, Jiang Cheng and his group were convinced. They were ninety percent certain that the missing friend she described was the Old Madam's granddaughter.
In other words, finding this friend and returning the brooch to her would complete their mission.
Hearing footsteps behind her, Yuan Xiaoyi flinched violently, turning with the wide-eyed fear of a startled fawn.
"Don't be nervous, classmate," Jiang Cheng said bluntly. "We believe your story and want to help you find your friend."
"Who... who are you?" Yuan Xiaoyi's voice was barely audible, but she remained wary.
"We haven't met your friend, but we were hired by her grandmother to help," Jiang Cheng explained, his charming smile, which would have had wealthy women in a bar's private room scrambling to buy him champagne, now feeling like a lifeline.
"Grandmother..." Yuan Xiaoyi slowly stood up, her expression puzzled. "Whose grandmother?"
"Whose else? Your friend's grandmother," Fatty blurted out, his patience wearing thin. He was beginning to suspect the girl had lost her mind.
"But I have five missing friends," Yuan Xiaoyi said, her eyes wide with confusion. "Which one are you talking about?"
The moment the words left her lips, the atmosphere in the room turned icy.
"Five friends?" The middle-aged man gasped, taking a sharp breath. He had anticipated difficulties, but this was far beyond his expectations.
Once everyone had calmed down, they gathered around her.
At first, Yuan Xiaoyi seemed reserved, but as she spent more time with them—especially after realizing they weren't there to mock her but genuinely believed her and wanted to help—she gradually opened up.
"I'm sorry for doubting you," she sobbed. "But... I just don't understand. How could five people vanish into thin air? And why does everyone claim they've never even seen them before?"
(End of the Chapter)
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