Translator: CinderTL
In the dim light, a tall structure loomed, its reflective surface nearby resembling a lake.
"What is this?" Fatty's eyes slowly widened.
"It's a swimming pool," Yuan Xiaoyi said.
No one could have imagined that Yuan Xiaoyi's phone contained a photo taken late at night in a swimming pool!
"I know what you're thinking," Yuan Xiaoyi said, taking a deep breath. "It's exactly as you suspect. Xiaoran sent it to me." She looked at the group and whispered, "After she disappeared."
If Huai Yi remembered correctly, Xiaoran was the girl who had gone to the swimming pool alone late at night to take photos and then vanished.
"She actually took a picture?" Huai Yi felt a chill run down his spine.
Yuan Xiaoyi didn't react to their surprise. She remained fixated on the photo, as if mesmerized. "You... you need to look here."
Her trembling finger pointed to the edge of the photo, where a blurry outline could barely be seen. It appeared to be something perched atop the tall structure.
At the very top of the structure was a small platform, and on it, a sliver of white was visible.
Yuan Xiaoyi's fingers shook as she slowly zoomed in on the photo, as if giving herself time to process what she was seeing.
As Yuan Xiaoyi zoomed in on the photo, a collective gasp rippled through the crowd.
There, poised on the high diving platform, stood a pair of feet, so pale they seemed to glow even in the darkness.
"Xiaoran actually captured those things," someone muttered.
It was the other young man besides Wang Qi, his voice weak and strained. Jiang Cheng remembered his name: Wen Liangshan.
Wen Liangshan's words seemed to trigger something in Yuan Xiaoyi. She abruptly raised her head, her eyes bloodshot. "I know you probably won't believe me, but every morning before dawn... every single morning, I receive messages from them—and they're always the same!"
"Just photos—the swimming pool, the library, the abandoned sports field, the medical building, even the sculpture hall!"
"And you know what's even stranger? Every time I wake up, those photos vanish, as if none of it ever happened."
"Unless I constantly try to remember them—forcing myself to recall their faces, their words—the photos will reappear briefly, only to vanish again."
"They're driving me insane!" Yuan Xiaoyi clutched her hair in agony, strands already torn between her fingers. "They're blaming me... blaming me for sending them to such a dangerous place!"
"The only thing I can do now is find them and prove they existed in this world," Yuan Xiaoyi said, her voice trembling with desperate conviction.
"I can feel it—they're not dead. They've just been hidden away, hidden by those terrifying things in a place that's nearly impossible to find, waiting for me to rescue them."
"If I forget them too, then they'll truly be gone!" Yuan Xiaoyi's voice rose hysterically.
It was clear that the torment she had endured was beyond their comprehension. By day, she was dismissed as delusional by those around her, and by night, she was haunted by the photos.
Having gathered enough information for the day, and fearing Yuan Xiaoyi's impending breakdown if they pressed her further, they offered a brief reassurance and hastily took their leave.
With daylight still lingering, they decided to explore the campus, using the opportunity to familiarize themselves with this new world they had entered.
Fatty, who still harbored romantic notions about university life, had his dreams shattered by Jiang Cheng's brutal words. Jiang Cheng then proceeded to taunt him with tales of haunted swimming pools and medical buildings, ominously suggesting that the school might have been built atop an ancient burial ground to suppress vengeful spirits.
Jiang Cheng possessed a remarkable talent for storytelling, often punctuating his tales with sound effects that left Fatty dumbfounded. Even Wen Liangshan cowered, his face twisted in a pleading expression, begging him to stop.
"Get serious," Shen Mengyun interjected, finding Jiang Cheng's antics unbearable. "The more you act like this, the more obvious your fear becomes."
Jiang Cheng paused, a faint blush rising on his cheeks. "Nonsense! I'm not scared at all!"
Knowing Jiang Cheng's unreliability, Shen Mengyun ignored him and approached the middle-aged man. They walked and discussed their next objective.
Undeterred, Jiang Cheng shamelessly trailed after them.
As they rounded a corner past a classroom building, they ran headfirst into someone emerging from the main entrance. The encounter was a collision of fates.
For a moment, everyone's faces registered surprise.
It was none other than the Old Professor whose lecture they had crashed earlier.
The professor, dressed plainly and clutching a cloth bag from which a yellow compass protruded, widened his eyes at the sight of Jiang Cheng and the others.
Fatty's heart sank. "Oh shit, we're doomed!"
Escape was no longer an option. Jiang Cheng stepped forward and bowed deeply. "Professor, good afternoon! Your lecture on fluid dynamics today was absolutely brilliant. We students learned so much."
The Old Professor adjusted his reading glasses, sized Jiang Cheng up and down, and said gravely, "Please, Director, there's no need for such formality. Please rise."
The crowd exchanged bewildered glances. "???"
Fatty's eyes widened. "Who knew he was such a cheeky old rascal?"
To everyone's surprise, Jiang Cheng remained calm and collected, his face composed and his heart steady. He rose smoothly and said matter-of-factly, "I apologize for making you witness this, Professor, but I was truly indignant. How could students be so disrespectful towards such a brilliant lecturer?"
"I apologize for my impulsive behavior, but if I encountered such disrespect again, I still wouldn't be able to restrain myself. I hope you understand."
Shen Mengyun's gaze toward Jiang Cheng shifted, becoming unreadable.
The professor studied Jiang Cheng with an inscrutable expression for about five seconds. Then, he opened his worn cloth bag, pulled out a black, slightly tattered notebook, and retrieved a pen from his pocket. "What's your name?"
The crowd cast pitying glances at Jiang Cheng, sensing trouble. Wen Liangshan, in particular, wore a smug, gloating expression.
Jiang Cheng took a deep breath, adopting an air of dignified defiance, as if ready to face any punishment without regret. "To answer your question, Professor, my name is Wen Liangshan."
Wen Liangshan: "I'll get you for this!"
But before Wen Liangshan could make another move, Fatty and Huai Yi grabbed him from either side, clamped their hands over his mouth, and dragged him away.
Fortunately, the Old Professor was completely focused on Jiang Cheng and seemed oblivious to the commotion beside him.
After noting Jiang Cheng's name, the Old Professor closed his notebook and nodded approvingly. "Young man, you possess remarkable courage. I admire that. You have a spirit that is sorely lacking in today's society."
"I can see you're an honest person, incapable of playing the deceptive games so common these days. I happen to need an assistant to help with some auxiliary tasks, and I believe your character would be perfectly suited for the role."
"If you agree, I'll submit your name. As my assistant, you'll receive official credentials that will make navigating campus much easier. What do you say?" The Old Professor's eyes sparkled with genuine admiration.
Jiang Cheng hesitated.
"You're not interested?" The Old Professor was surprised. This position was highly coveted, with many students vying for it tooth and nail.
Not wanting to pressure him, the professor began gathering his belongings, assuming Jiang Cheng's silence meant refusal.
But just as he turned to leave, a hand suddenly grasped his arm.
"Professor," Jiang Cheng said, his eyes slowly reddening and his voice hoarse, "I just wanted to clarify... When you register me, please use the name Jiang Cheng. Wen Liangshan is my stage name—I just mentioned it without thinking."
"You have a stage name?" The Old Professor adjusted his glasses, unfazed by the name issue. "Do you have any special talents?" he asked eagerly.
"I'm alright," Jiang Cheng replied demurely. "My family always taught me that it's good to have many skills."
(End of the Chapter)
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