A night passed without incident. Though Jiangyx Jiang returning with an unfamiliar girl had startled her roommates at first, their alarm faded quickly after Jiangyx’s flustered explanation.
Suzhan Yue’s gentle, well-mannered demeanor won them over instantly. She was simply too sweet to resist.
With no classes the next morning, they kept their chatter brief despite the late hour, yawning their way to bed. They’d save the deeper questions about this new roommate for daylight.
But when dawn came, Jiangyx and Suzhan Yue had already slipped out of the dorm.
They’d arranged to meet Cheng Yu the night before—to visit someone special.
“I’ve got the gist of the situation.”
A young woman, barely older than Cheng Yu’s group, sat behind a desk. She twirled a pen between her fingers, her expression troubled. This was Xizhu, their class advisor.
“Though… hmm… this young lady, and her roommate—they’re not from our department, are they?”
“No. I’m Computer Science. Qiqi and the others are Art Design majors.”
“Art Design… I rarely interact with their faculty. Even if I step in, I might not hold much sway.”
“No worries, Ms. Xizhu. Just talk to their advisors. They’ll respect your position enough to listen.”
“Mm…” Xizhu hesitated under Jiangyx’s pleading gaze, but couldn’t resist adding a stern note: “Frankly, we advisors prefer students resolve dorm conflicts directly. Involving teachers changes the tone… Why make things awkward?” She sighed. “But… fine. Since you’ve both asked so earnestly, I’ll try speaking to them.”
“Thank you so much, Teacher!” Jiangyx beamed. Cheng Yu simply nodded in approval.
“You’re as kind as you are beautiful, Ms. Xizhu. Truly rare.”
Xizhu’s “kindly” smile turned razor-sharp. “Keep grinning like that, Cheng Yu, and I’ll have you writing a ten-thousand-word self-criticism before you leave this room.”
Cheng Yu coughed awkwardly, eyes darting to the window as if he’d said nothing at all. Jiangyx huffed softly. Suzhan Yue tilted her head, studying Cheng Yu.
She’d noticed something. Both Jiangyx last night and Ms. Xizhu today kept calling him “Chengyu.”
*Hmm… a nickname?*
Innocent and trusting, Suzhan Yue never doubted Cheng Yu’s earlier claim. *If he says his name is Lin Jie, then it must be true.*
Watching Cheng Yu feign innocence, Xizhu rolled her eyes—though the corner of her mouth twitched upward. After a pause, she turned to Jiangyx.
“Where would she stay after moving out? Her old dorm?”
“Our dorm has an empty bed. She can take that.”
“The empty bed… Ah. The one meant for Yexuan?”
“…Yes.”
A heavy silence fell. Both women’s expressions turned unreadable.
*Yexuan?* Cheng Yu frowned inwardly. *Who’s that? I’ve never heard the name.*
A prompt flickered in his vision:
【You recognize the name Yexuan. Inquire further?】
【A: Press them about Yexuan. Reward: A mansion in Beijing’s No. 7 Courtyard】
【B: Stay silent. Reward: +1 random stat point】
Cheng Yu kept staring out the window, unmoved.
*Dangerous people… Just hearing a name nets a mansion?*
He sternly reminded himself: *Curiosity kills.*
“Then… no issues remain. Follow me.” Xizhu stood, leading the trio downstairs to the Art Design department. She walked past offices, scanning doorplates, then stopped abruptly. Pointing at Jiangyx and Suzhan Yue, she ushered them inside one room—leaving Cheng Yu alone in the hallway.
*…Why do I feel so extra?*
He understood, though. Suzhan Yue was the one moving; Jiangyx was her future roommate. This was their matter. He’d only get in the way.
Another prompt flashed:
【Use this downtime to explore?】
【A: Patrol this floor. Reward: An original Da Vinci manuscript】
【B: Stay put. Reward: +1 random stat point】
*The hell?!*
Cheng Yu nearly jumped. *Why prompts out of nowhere? Is there a threat on this floor?*
He planted his feet firmly by the door, waiting silently.
Minutes later, the three women emerged. Their strained expressions hinted at a difficult negotiation.
“What happened? Did their advisor refuse?” Cheng Yu asked.
“Not exactly…” Xizhu exhaled. “She said she understands, but student matters should stay with students. She told us to see the Art Design Student Council President instead.”
“…The Student Council President?” Cheng Yu gaped. He knew university councils held power, but *this*?
“She mentioned the president’s here today for a report. The meeting room at the end of this corridor.”
*The end of this corridor…?*
*So she’s on this floor…?*
Cheng Yu’s mind raced—but Xizhu cut him off with a wave.
“In that case, I’ll leave it to you. Handle it yourselves.”
“Thanks, Teacher~” Jiangyx chirped. Xizhu yawned and walked away.
The moment she vanished, Jiangyx’s sweet mask dropped. She jabbed a finger at Cheng Yu. “You. Coming with us. If that president tries anything, *you’ll* take the hit for us!”
“…?”
*What the actual hell?*
Cheng Yu rolled his eyes but followed, muttering, “How scary can this president be?”
“How should I know? Better safe than sorry. That advisor only gave us a name…”
Jiangyx pushed open the meeting room door at the corridor’s end. Cheng Yu glanced up—and his breath froze.
Across countless rebirths, nightmares had haunted him. But the face that haunted him most wasn’t Blade Brother’s. Nor Linsw Lin’s.
It belonged to a woman he’d met only once.
Her features were seared into his very soul. He remembered her manic grin. The searing pain of the hatchet biting into his back from behind.
Yet Cheng Yu never imagined—
“…Ah. I remember now. Her name is—”
“Shenyufu.”
—that she’d reappear before him again.
