"You!"
The other person was provoked, raising his fist as if ready to charge forward.
"Brother, let's talk this out properly—no need for violence!" Zhang San inwardly groaned. This guy's favorability toward them was a dark red -1, clearly treating them as enemies.
But Chao Musheng was their supervisor and had even helped them apply for their campus cards. Zhang San couldn’t just stand by and watch him get beaten up. With his delicate, fair skin, Chao Musheng probably couldn’t take more than a few punches anyway.
Chao Musheng pulled Zhang San and Brother Shang aside, stepping forward. "Chen Er, if you dare throw a punch, I’ll dare to drop to the ground. Just thinking about you earning another campus warning brings me joy."
Zhang San, effortlessly shoved aside: "..."
What a unique way to threaten someone—pure fuel to the fire.
To his surprise, the NPC named Chen Er actually loosened his fist.
That’s it? That’s it?
Then who were you trying to intimidate with that ferocious act?
Chen Er glanced at the surveillance camera overhead before glaring venomously at Chao Musheng.
Chao Musheng responded with a polite smile.
"You just wait!" Chen Er gnashed his teeth in fury. "Sooner or later, I’ll deal with these two lackeys of yours!"
With that, he turned and stormed off, his seething anger evident even in his retreating figure.
Huh? Deal with who?
Zhang San stared at Chen Er’s disappearing back, eyes wide in disbelief.
Wait, so he didn’t dare lay a hand on Chao Musheng, but he was taking it out on the two of them instead?
Chao Musheng reassured him, "You two are exchange students recommended from other regions. He wouldn’t dare lay a finger on you—unless he wants to get expelled."
"And even if he really loses it, there’s no need to worry. The campus has security patrols 24/7, and every floor of the dorm and academic buildings has emergency call buttons." Chao Musheng led them toward the cafeteria. "Jinghua is a place of education—it values students' moral, intellectual, physical, and aesthetic development above all."
Zhang San and Brother Shang exchanged thoughtful glances, sensing they might have just glimpsed the hidden rules of this school.
"Cafeteria No. 5 is closest to your dorm, so it’s the most convenient for you." Chao Musheng walked inside, guiding them to grab their trays.
"Brother Chao, we haven’t topped up our cards yet."
"It’s your first day—this meal’s on me." Chao Musheng scanned the food counters before his eyes lit up. "Let’s go to Window No. 8."
Behind Window No. 8 stood a slender young man wearing a mask. Though his face was half-covered, Brother Shang could clearly sense the wave of happiness radiating from him when Chao Musheng approached.
"Old Zhou, Old Zhou." Chao Musheng handed over his tray. "I’ll have the butterflied shrimp, garlic spare ribs, stir-fried beef, and blanched greens. The two behind me are with me—put it all on my card."
"Got it." The boy deftly took the tray, piling the plumpest shrimp and largest ribs onto Chao Musheng’s plate.
"Thanks, Old Zhou!" Chao Musheng grinned, balancing his overflowing tray before leading Zhang San and Brother Shang to a corner table once they’d gotten their food.
Brother Shang and Zhang San hesitated before touching the meat on their plates.
In this world, meat was often some unspeakable horror—eating it usually drained players' health points.
"The chefs at Cafeteria No. 5 are consistently excellent." Chao Musheng took a bite of shrimp, his face lighting up with satisfaction.
Brother Shang glanced at him before silently placing a shrimp in his mouth.
Zhang San’s expression flickered, torn between stopping him and not daring to speak up in front of Chao Musheng.
"Try it. It’s really good." Brother Shang devoured the whole shrimp, nudging Zhang San to eat.
What was Brother Shang thinking?
Zhang San picked up a shrimp and bravely popped it into his mouth, eyes squeezed shut.
Whatever. Brother Shang wouldn’t screw him over.
[Ding! Player has consumed a special nutrient-rich meal. Health points +5.]
Zhang San’s chopsticks trembled slightly. This was the first time he’d encountered food in a dungeon that didn’t deduct health points—it actually restored them.
What kind of paradise was this?
"Your approach is wrong. Green’s theorem would simplify this."
"No way, the direction here is clearly reversed."
Overhearing the debate at the next table, Zhang San froze mid-chew.
So he hadn’t been imagining things—this was still a hellish nightmare of a dungeon.
Forcing himself to ignore the discussion, Zhang San turned to Chao Musheng with deliberate flattery. "Brother Chao, that staff member who served us earlier—do you know him? The shrimp he gave you looked way bigger than ours."
"That’s a work-study position for financially struggling students. The guy at the counter is our classmate." Chao Musheng gnawed on a rib. "He’s basically the lifeline of our entire class. If you see him at the counter in the future, make sure to line up at his window—you won’t regret it."
"Thanks for the tip, Brother Chao. We’ll remember."
After the meal, Chao Musheng noticed Brother Shang’s spotless plate—not a single grain of rice remained. "Did you not get enough? I can grab you another serving."
"No, I’m full. I just don’t like wasting food." Brother Shang set down his chopsticks. "The meal was delicious. Thanks for treating us."
"That habit reminds me of a classmate of mine—a retired soldier who returned to school." Chao Musheng studied him curiously. "Did you serve before enrolling?"
Brother Shang’s pupils flickered. After a long pause, he gave a quiet "Mm."
"Let’s go. I’ll walk you back to your dorm." Chao Musheng stood, carrying his tray to the return area. His gaze toward Zhao Shang softened slightly.
Back in Room 404, Zhao Shang and Zhang San overheard the other two players complaining.
"This dungeon is full of traps. I didn’t dare touch the meat at lunch, but even the veggies cost me two health points."
Zhang San and Zhao Shang exchanged glances, recalling their own +5 health boost. They stayed silent, sitting on their respective beds.
Weird. They’d all eaten at the cafeteria—why the different outcomes?
"Damn it! The student assigned to me demanded a study plan—due tomorrow morning!"
"Brother Jin, what’s your major?"
"Fundamental Mathematics and Physics."
The player who’d lost health points from veggies fell silent before cautiously offering, "Then… good luck?"
The other player’s frustration boiled over. "Your supervisor didn’t make you write one?"
The first player shook his head.
"What about you two?" Old Jin turned to Zhang San and Zhao Shang. "You didn’t get assigned one either?"
When they shook their heads, Old Jin’s face twisted in fury. "I never even finished middle school! How the hell am I supposed to write a study plan? That bitch is deliberately screwing with me. Just wait—I’ll kill her the first chance I get!"
Zhao Shang frowned. "If you can’t write it, figure it out. Harming an NPC intentionally—do you even want to clear this dungeon?"
"Damn it!" Old Jin stormed into the bathroom, slamming the door behind him.
"What a piece of work." Zhang San scoffed.
"Shh, shh!" The veggie-player nervously eyed the bathroom, whispering, "Don’t provoke him. He’s the infamous Killer Jin—insanely strong, and he’s not above attacking other players."
When Zhang San and Zhao Shang remained unfazed, he rolled his eyes. "Whatever. It’s your funeral—just don’t drag me into it."
A knock sounded at the door. Male players from Room 402 had come over.
"My supervisor started grilling me about engine mechanics. Like I know the first thing about that!"
"Who among you went to the library? I tried sneaking in earlier, but the librarian stopped me right away, saying I needed a card to enter. How was I supposed to know about any card?"
Zhang San kept silent, his hand brushing against the temporary student ID in his pocket.
"I have some news," Wan You said timidly, glancing at the other players. "This Friday, the school is holding its 200th-anniversary celebration. At such an important event, the principal is bound to make an appearance."
In a school-themed scenario, the principal was either the final boss or at least a major character.
"Senior Advisor, I just took over student reception duties. Isn’t it a bit much to assign me guest reception for the anniversary event too?" Chao Musheng lay sprawled on his bed, unwilling to move.
"Nothing could be more fitting. Xiao Chao, you should understand the principle of 'the capable bear more burdens,'" the advisor chuckled over the phone. "The CEO of Kunlun Enterprises will also attend the celebration. Make sure to leave a good impression—it might pay off in the future."
"Consider it settled, then. After the event, I’ll treat you to milk tea."
Listening to the dial tone, Chao Musheng let out a long sigh. He opened the reception group chat, where alumni were passionately discussing how to improve the professional skills of their assigned students.
[The two I’m mentoring are too far behind. I’m afraid I can’t guide them properly, so I told them to draft a study plan first.]
[That’s a good idea. I’ll have my two students do the same.]
[Musheng, why aren’t you saying anything? How are the students you’re mentoring?]
[Yeah, Musheng’s been quiet. Did they upset you?]
Seeing his name mentioned, Chao Musheng quickly replied.
[ChaoChaoMuMu: The two I’m mentoring are doing fine. One of them is a student who returned after military service.]
[A soldier who defended our country? That wasn’t noted in the records. Musheng, make sure to be extra patient with him.]
[ChaoChaoMuMu: Don’t worry, seniors. I’ll take good care of him.]
The players, who had initially been relieved at not having to write a plan, soon received messages from their mentors demanding an 800-word study plan by the next class.
Zhang San and Zhao Shang waited and waited, but even as night fell, they still hadn’t received any instructions from Chao Musheng.
"Brother Shang," Zhang San said uneasily, "should we ask Chao Musheng about it?"
Zhao Shang shook his head. "Don’t do anything unnecessary."
"Alright." Zhang San glanced at the other players, who were scratching their heads over their plans, and whispered, "Let’s go to the cafeteria for dinner first?"
The two headed to Cafeteria No. 5, stopping at the same window where the same student worker served them.
This time, however, their plates weren’t as full as at lunch. Zhang San even noticed the server’s hand trembling as he scooped the meat, shaking off several large slices of beef.
Zhang San: "..."
Buddy, your favoritism is showing.
As they ate, there was no notification of increased health points—nor any decrease.
Same place, same people, even the same food. Why wasn’t it boosting their health this time?
Late at night, the three other players in the dorm were already asleep.
Old Jin glared at the study plan on his desk, his frustration growing. Outside, a cat’s meow pierced the silence.
Annoyed, he stood up, grabbed an ink bottle from the table, and hurled it out the window into the flowerbed below.
The orange cat struck by the bottle let out two pained yowls before limping away into the darkness.
School cafeteria announcement: Students, a balanced diet is key to good nutrition~
[What happened today? My readership spiked—did someone promote my story? Bless you, kind soul. May you live a long, healthy, and prosperous life~]
