Following the crowd, Yue Yiyue walked back to the classroom and arrived at the spot marked with her name card.
She casually picked up a book and flipped through it. Seeing the handwriting on it, which was identical to her own daily script, Yue Yiyue felt a chill run down her spine.
Although she had prepared herself psychologically, it was clearly not enough.
Now that this story was fully unfolding, the entire Inner World had begun to come alive. Those students without faces now looked like normal people.
Yue Yiyue could only forcefully compel herself to accept it.
This was her one strength: a strong capacity for acceptance.
"Yue Yiyue, why did you come in with Gu Nanqiu again? Are you dead set on helping her?"
The girl sitting next to her suddenly leaned over. She looked curiously at the person sitting in her seat, staring blankly at the student handbook.
Yue Yiyue looked at the girl who had initiated the conversation with some alertness, but she also understood that she had triggered a plot point. She looked up at the classmate, her eyes full of confusion.
"You shouldn't get involved in their business. Everything will be fine as long as she agrees to be the Class Monitor's girlfriend."
The girl thought about this and covered her mouth, giggling: "She is truly the most beautiful girl I've ever seen. Only someone as beautiful as her deserves the Class Monitor, especially since the Class Monitor has the most power in this class now."
"But this Class Monitor has been slipping badly lately and is about to be sent to the Small Dark Room. I want to try to be the next Class Monitor. Maybe if I get the position, I can also express goodwill toward Gu Nanqiu." Saying this, she looked excitedly at Gu Nanqiu, who was organizing her desk by the window: "She really… for her, I need to speed up…"
Class Monitor? Small Dark Room? Speed up? Hearing the keywords, Yue Yiyue recalled something. Her gaze fell on the student handbook.
The girl didn't notice Yue Yiyue's expression and instead became more cheerful as she spoke: "For Gu Nanqiu, I'd want to have a fling with her even if I get sent to the Small Dark Room. We've all been watching her for a long time. She truly smells so good."
"It's a pity I arrived late, otherwise I would have the right to [approach her]."
Saying this, the girl glanced at Yue Yiyue. Seeing her expression of disgust, the girl seemed to realize something. She leaned closer and asked with some confusion: "You wouldn't be…"
The further she spoke, the lower her voice dropped, afraid of being overheard. She also looked cautiously to either side.
"The last person, Fan Ning, was locked in the bathroom and splashed with water because of this. You need to be careful about who you can touch and who you cannot. The Class Monitor is not someone you want to provoke right now. But if you have the capability to become the new Class Monitor, that's another matter entirely. Also, the balance on your meal card is almost gone; you need to figure something out."
Following the girl's gaze, Yue Yiyue saw a girl in the corner who seemed out of place.
Their positions were not far apart, but Fan Ning's seat was further back, right next to the trash can.
She was petite and looked somewhat shriveled.
But her face was different from the others; it lacked that stiffness, and her eyes revealed a kind of lifelessness.
Her desk was covered with many things, most of which were trash.
This was the bullied student. It was actually because of this issue.
And "balance"… that must refer to the meal card, the universal currency here, which is needed even for food…
Yue Yiyue retracted her gaze and shook her head: "Gu Nanqiu and I are just friends. She doesn't like me interfering in her emotional matters. My heart is willing, but my strength is insufficient."
After saying this, she chatted with the classmate for a few more sentences and continued flipping through the student handbook in her hand, studying what she could do.
Counting the time, it was the first crucial plot point in the book. She had to do something.
She couldn't let things progress to that step.
She absolutely had to do something.
A boorish, hooligan-like voice came from Gu Nanqiu's direction, sounding extremely obnoxious.
It had started. Yue Yiyue looked toward Gu Nanqiu's position with an inner sense.
She saw a man wearing a name card, flanked by two or three people who looked like his lackeys.
He stood by Gu Nanqiu, slouching and looking down at her from above.
"Gu Nanqiu, be my girlfriend, come on. I know you don't like men, but you can give it a try with me."
He scanned Gu Nanqiu's beautiful face, his words carrying a vulgar lightness: "Be with me, and I'll give you whatever you want. After all, I'm still the Class Monitor here."
Saying this, he tugged at the badge around his neck, displaying his advantage.
The people around them looked on indifferently, as if none of this concerned them.
Fan Ning in the corner stood up, looking anxious, wanting to walk over.
But she was blocked by the lackeys.
"Oh, the last lesson wasn't enough? Do you want to come play the hero again?" one of the lackeys mocked.
"Don't you look at yourself? What kind of trash are you? In this class, you are nothing."
Fan Ning looked at the person surrounded by the group, her face deathly pale. She urgently wanted to go in and protect Gu Nanqiu.
Pa—
The whole classroom fell silent for a moment.
A sharp slap landed right on Fan Ning's face.
It was too fast. Gu Nanqiu, sitting in the back, didn't have time to stop it.
Fan Ning's face immediately swelled up, but she only slightly turned her head. There was no extra emotion in her eyes, as if she were numb from being used to such things.
"What are you doing?" Gu Nanqiu stood up furiously, pulling the person behind her. Her brows were tightly furrowed, and she didn't hesitate to throw the book in her hand, scolding: "What kind of fit are you throwing? What are you trying to prove here?"
"Who are you trying to disgust?"
The heavy book hit the Class Monitor's head, leaving him momentarily dizzy.
He hadn't expected Gu Nanqiu to fight back. Covering his face, he said miserably: "Do you really think you're hot stuff?"
"Hey, don't you actually think you're some untouchable snow lotus? You dare to strike me, huh?" He clenched his fist and suddenly sneered: "I happen to like this type of resistance."
He took a step forward, trying to get closer to Gu Nanqiu, intending to subtly leave his scent on her to make her submit as planned.
But before he could take two steps, his face was knocked sideways by another thick book.
"Which idiot was that?"
He cursed loudly.
Yue Yiyue retrieved the book, turned her head to look at the repulsive man, and said in a very unfriendly tone, emphasizing each word: "Class Monitor, Teacher Kong wants you to attend a meeting."
The man, referred to as the Class Monitor, saw the book in Yue Yiyue's hand and sneered: "The school allows fighting. After all, only the strong survive here."
Saying this, he threw a punch at Yue Yiyue. Yue Yiyue was prepared and quickly shifted her body, but the movement was too fast, and her hand hit the desk, scraping a bit of skin.
Yue Yiyue flipped the pages of the book in her hand, making a loud hualala sound, and then pressed the book directly against the face of the stinking man: "Fine, we can discuss that later, but—"
"Look closely. Student Handbook, Article 3: 'It is strictly forbidden for male and female students to get too close or to engage in romantic relationships.' Violators will be barred from taking the next monthly exam. I heard you've been slipping quite a bit lately. If this continues, you'll be sent to the Small Dark Room."
She looked at the Class Monitor with extreme disgust: "Is it not utterly despicable to use such a method to prevent Gu Nanqiu from taking the exam, so she can be locked in the Small Dark Room with you?"
"If everyone starts to follow your example and engage in malicious competition, breaking the school's rules, what do you think will happen to you, as the source of the trouble, will you be disposed of?" When Yue Yiyue said this, she paused, meaningfully turning her gaze to the people around.
She ignored her own slightly red and bruised hand and pointed to another female student: "After Gu Nanqiu's ranking drops, you'll be the second. Do you think someone might follow suit?"
"Thinking you've found a loophole, and then…"
The face of the girl being pointed at changed drastically.
Yue Yiyue had deliberately misinterpreted the Class Monitor's pursuit as malicious competition and dragged the second-ranked student into it. All the onlookers who had intended to watch the show suddenly became alert.
The unspoken rule of this school—that violating school rules would lead to being locked in the Small Dark Room—made everyone fearful.
Most students who came out after being inside were like newborns, completely changed.
Everyone knew that many had become new vessels.
They had worked so hard to get these bodies.
No.
It couldn't happen.
The people around them looked at the Class Monitor with strange expressions.
Under such scrutiny, the Class Monitor's face contorted for a moment. Just as he was about to say something to refute, a rush of hurried footsteps sounded at the door, and then the door was hammered loudly: "Why hasn't the Class Monitor of this class gone to the meeting yet? What's going on? Don't you want to do the job anymore?"
Hearing that voice, the Class Monitor's arrogant attitude instantly changed. He immediately pulled his uniform tightly shut, glared fiercely at Yue Yiyue, and walked toward the door, not forgetting to drop a final line: "You just wait."
After the man left, Yue Yiyue's taut nerves finally completely relaxed. She had pinched her hand blue and purple out of fear, but mostly, there was a sense of excitement.
A thrill that she had actually managed to do it.
With the Class Monitor's departure, this little drama ended.
The two lackeys, having lost their leader, also tucked their tails between their legs and returned to their seats.
Some curious classmates came over to ask Yue Yiyue how she saw through the Class Monitor's malicious intentions.
They looked at Gu Nanqiu with concern: "It's true. I was also misled before, thinking the Class Monitor genuinely liked Gu Nanqiu, which is why he pursued her so brazenly."
She patted her head: "If a teacher found out about this, the Class Monitor definitely wouldn't get into trouble, but Gu Nanqiu would definitely be locked in the little room. That would be too pitiful."
Sounds of agreement came from around, and everyone suddenly started to praise Yue Yiyue and worry about Gu Nanqiu.
They were all showing affection for, showing affection for this poor, bullied soul.
"We thought the Class Monitor was sincere and were going to let him [approach her], especially since he promised us $#%^&^$"
"Yes, yes. We didn't expect he was just trying to monopolize Gu Nanqiu and take her away. He ruined our $star$&^$."
They spoke in coded language that Yue Yiyue and Gu Nanqiu couldn't understand, regretting that they had actually believed the bastard's words.
Gu Nanqiu noticed Yue Yiyue's slightly trembling hand. She appropriately joined the conversation, first thanking Yue Yiyue and patting her shoulder with lingering fear: "Thank you all for speaking up for me just now. I was so scared; he's been harassing me constantly."
Saying this, Gu Nanqiu looked up, tears welling in her eyes: "I just hope that if he seeks revenge later, it won't involve any of you. And I want to apologize to Fan Ning, who was bullied because she helped me."
Everyone followed Gu Nanqiu's gaze and saw the somewhat malnourished young woman behind Gu Nanqiu.
She stood quietly behind Gu Nanqiu, but her expression seemed uneasy.
The class was silent for a moment.
Soon, a few girls walked over to move a desk closer for Fan Ning.
With the matter progressing to this point, Yue Yiyue didn't need to do anything more. She returned to her seat, feeling annoyed as she looked at her hand.
Outside the window, a strange noise suddenly rustled. Yue Yiyue looked up. A white dove flapped its wings and flew away, startling a chorus of chirping birds.
Buzz, buzz, buzz—
A familiar sound came from inside the desk.
Yue Yiyue looked down at a mobile phone that had appeared in the desk at some point…
"Damn him, he's despicable! Baby, you need to disinfect yourself well. I'll rip him open sooner or later."
"He is so annoying—"
"Baby, do you need me to give you a hint?"
"Give me a little favor, okay~"