He couldn’t bring himself to tell Chao Musheng that if he and Zhang San failed to clear the dungeon, the NPCs in this world would gradually forget them, as if they had never existed.
Whether they were players or NPCs in the dungeon, they were all just pawns manipulated by the infinite overlord, denied any semblance of freedom.
“Why do you two look so down lately?” Chao Musheng noticed Zhang San and Zhao Shang had been acting strangely these past few days. “Did you have a fight last week and still haven’t made up?”
“Brother Chao, we didn’t fight.” Zhang San was afraid Chao Musheng would see through them. “It’s just… thinking about leaving the school in two days makes us a little reluctant to part with you.”
“I thought you were nervous about the exam the school’s giving you advanced students the day after tomorrow.” Chao Musheng patted Zhang San’s shoulder. “Glad to hear it’s not that.”
“Exam?!” Zhang San’s sorrow instantly evaporated, replaced by shock. “What exam?”
“You’re here for advanced studies—how else would you get your completion certificate?” Seeing Zhang San’s devastated expression, Chao Musheng gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “Don’t worry, I’ll give you the key points to focus on.”
“What happens if we fail?” Zhang San pressed. “Will the school really withhold our certificates?”
“The exam won’t be too hard. As long as the other advanced students complete the tasks assigned by their seniors, they usually pass.” Noticing Zhang San’s lingering unease, Chao Musheng sighed and whispered, “The written exam only counts for 50% of your final grade. Attendance makes up 10%, and the remaining 40% is in the hands of us six student guides.”
Forty percent grading power?
What would happen if a player offended one of the guides?
In a dungeon that prioritized academic performance, failing to obtain the completion certificate was tantamount to a death sentence.
No wonder the players went to such lengths to curry favor with the local students—their goodwill rose so slowly because the guides only cared about their grades.
But one person was different.
Zhang San stared at Chao Musheng in a daze. Brother Chao was different.
He never made them submit study plans. When he saw Shang ge reading physics books in the library, he didn’t scold him—instead, he patiently explained the problems Shang ge couldn’t understand.
Compared to the strict demands of the other guides, Brother Chao was more like a diligent classmate, accompanying them as they explored every corner of the school.
“Young man, class has already started. Stop staring at Chao Musheng.” The professor at the lectern rapped his knuckles on the desk, teasing, “Come on, look at me instead. Back in my day, I was even better-looking than Musheng here.”
Only when the entire class burst into laughter did Zhang San realize the professor was talking about him.
Flushing red, he quickly averted his gaze and straightened his posture.
When the lecture ended, the boys in class walked past Zhang San, mimicking the professor’s tone. “Zhang xuezhang, why don’t you look at me too?”
Zhang San: “……”
He turned to Chao Musheng, only to find the other boy laughing carelessly, books tucked under his arm as he swiped a classmate’s biscuit and slung an arm around their shoulders, walking off with the group.
Zhang San and Zhao Shang trailed behind, watching the students’ retreating figures in silence.
After a long while, Zhang San finally mustered the courage to speak. “Shang ge… I don’t want to do the hidden quest.”
Zhao Shang: “When did I ever say I was taking it?”
Zhang San was both relieved and embarrassed. It took him a moment to reply, “Then… what about the tasks ahead?”
Zhao Shang didn’t answer directly. “There’s something off about the hidden quest itself.”
“What do you mean?” Zhang San frowned.
“The system says completing it grants all rewards, but it never mentions whether we can leave the dungeon.” Zhao Shang switched his book to his other hand. “Do you remember the clearance requirements when we first entered?”
Classmates’ goodwill, the official seal, the principal’s trust, and the student roster.
He had assumed the seal had to be the school’s stamp—until the honorary certificate disproved that theory.
So what exactly was the principal’s trust?
Would obtaining the completion certificate count as literal “trust”?
If the principal didn’t trust them, why would he issue the certificates?
For the first time since entering this dungeon, he began to suspect that this world was… alive.
It wasn’t controlled by the system, nor did it bend to the players’ will.
If it was alive, then what did it see them as?
The other players remained oblivious to the impending exam, only growing increasingly frustrated as their guides piled on more assignments.
Qing Cai flopped onto his dorm bed the moment he returned, complaining about his guide forcing him to memorize study points. After ranting to no response, he sat up to find Zhang San scratching his head over a notebook, Zhao Shang scribbling furiously, and Wan You—most baffling of all—actually working on a test paper.
“You can solve these?” Qing Cai couldn’t believe it. Was Wan You, of all people, capable of handling such difficult problems?
Wan You capped his pen and closed the ink bottle after finishing the last question. “I’m going for a walk.”
Before entering the infinite space, he had once won academic competitions.
But then…
The relentless bullying made him afraid to excel, believing that if he stayed mediocre, they’d leave him alone.
Young and naive, he didn’t realize that losing his academic standing also cost him his teachers’ protection, only emboldening his tormentors further.
On the day he was dragged into this world, cornered in a bathroom while they laughed at him—what had he been thinking?
If he became beautiful, more beautiful than anyone else, would someone finally like him? Would someone stand up for him?
The school’s artificial lake was vast. Wan You walked for a long time without circling all of Swan Lake.
A few cats darted past his feet, fish clamped in their jaws. He nearly stepped on one’s tail, jerking his leg back just in time.
“Meow?” The last cat—a small orange one—paused to glance at him, then froze.
Wan You took a step back.
The kitten stared up at his eyes for a long moment before meowing again.
Hearing it, the two cats ahead turned back, sitting in a neat row to stare at him.
Human, did you steal the school’s lightbulbs and put them in your eyes?
The feline monarch had never seen such enormous eyes.
A rare spectacle—it had to fetch its human friend to admire them too!
Wan You shivered under the trio’s scrutiny, but when they simply trotted off after a while without attacking, he exhaled in relief.
“What’s the use of your fancy degree? Do you have any idea how unbearable it is to look at your plain face every day?”
“Every time I go out with you, I feel like everyone’s laughing at me.”
A couple argued behind the trees. The girl, her hair in a low ponytail, didn’t raise her voice despite the boy’s insults, only gritting out, “Get lost!”
The boy stormed off. “Fine! I’ve been wanting to dump you anyway.”
Wan You’s frown deepened, fists clenched tight.
"What kind of toad has the audacity to lick a swan and then blame the swan for having wings?" Chao Musheng emerged from the grove, rolling his eyes so hard they might get stuck. "Get lost. This is swan territory—no business for toads here."
The boy, thoroughly humiliated by Chao Musheng's taunts, flushed crimson. But alone and unwilling to provoke a student from Jinghua University, he could only hurl a final threat at the girl before scurrying away.
Since Chao Musheng's arrival, Wan You had stayed silent. As he turned to leave, he found the three kittens that had bolted earlier now blocking his path.
"Meow! Meow! Meow!"
Rare one, you can't leave yet. Our human hasn’t noticed you properly.
Though Wan You couldn’t understand their cries, something about the way the cats stared at him felt... odd.
Glancing back, he saw Chao Musheng comforting the girl not far away. She was crying—softly, but the sound carried clearly.
Wan You despised people like Chao Musheng. Or perhaps it was more accurate to say he envied them.
Good looks, top grades, adored by teachers and peers alike, never burdened by poverty or illness, never fearing bullies.
Chao Musheng watched as his classmate’s tears streamed down. Patting his pockets, he realized he’d forgotten tissues.
"Here." A pack of tissues appeared in front of the girl.
"Thank you." She hid half her face behind a hand, embarrassed.
"No problem." Wan You pointed to a nearby bench. "Sit and rest for a bit."
Once she settled, he added awkwardly, "Looks aren’t everything. Don’t listen to that nonsense."
Somehow, his words only made her cry harder.
At a loss, Wan You shot a pleading look at Chao Musheng—the guy he disliked—urging him to step in before the sobbing became endless.
"With eyes that pretty, who knew your judgment would be so terrible?" Chao Musheng sat beside the girl, scooping up Orange Cat, who had been weaving around his ankles, and placing it on the bench. "Even if you’re into charity cases, at least pick someone with decent character."
"Meow?"
Orange Cat stretched its neck, craning to see why the girl was crying. The other two kittens circled her feet, tilting their heads in unison.
Faced with three curious feline faces, the girl’s tears faltered.
Then she recognized Chao Musheng beside her and flushed. "Oh... it’s you."
"Seriously? I’ve been comforting you this whole time, and you’re just noticing now?" Chao Musheng plucked a tissue from her hand to wipe his own sweat. "Alright, let’s hear it. Roast that toad. I’ll be your free therapist."
Wan You’s gaze darkened as he stared at the tissue in Chao Musheng’s hand. Those are mine. My tissues aren’t for pretty boys.
"You need one too?" Chao Musheng noticed Wan You’s stare and handed him another tissue. He then lifted Orange Cat into the girl’s lap. "Scoot over, make room for our dear Wan You."
Silently, the girl shifted aside with the cat.
Strangely, the urge to cry had vanished.
"Sit." Chao Musheng patted the empty space next to him.
Wan You: "..."
He took the tissue silently... and sat down beside Chao Musheng.
Let it be known—he really disliked guys like Chao Musheng.
The girl sniffled. "We dated for two months. Just now, I saw his phone... he was sharing private things about me with his roommate."
Chao Musheng: "Not your fault. The toad tricked you."
"He seemed so perfect at first. I thought I’d found someone who really understood me."
"Two months?" Chao Musheng seized the detail. "So you were together before the department’s selection competition this semester?"
The girl nodded. "Y-yes. Why?"
"No wonder you didn’t make the cut this time, despite being one of the top students." Chao Musheng sighed dramatically. "That toad’s face radiates bad luck. He drains his partners—career, academics, everything suffers."
The girl’s sorrow evaporated instantly. "Wait, really? How do you know?"
Even Wan You forgot his dislike, staring at Chao Musheng in shock. He knows fortune-telling too?
"A passing hobby." Chao Musheng adopted a sage-like tone. "My father studies religious anthropology. I picked up a thing or two."
Had he claimed to be a mystic, the girl might’ve dismissed it. But mentioning his professor father lent credibility. She straightened, convinced.
"So that’s why he won first place in his lab competition after we got together!" she gasped. "He stole my career luck!"
She grabbed her phone. "If I block him now, will it stop? Once we break up, we’re not partners anymore, right?"
"Fate severs the ties the moment you part," Chao Musheng intoned. "This is the end of karmic bonds. What he took will return to you in time."
"Good." She blocked the jerk with a relieved exhale. Close call—almost let that scumbag leech off me.
"I’ve got lab data to finish. I should go." She set Orange Cat on the bench, thanked Chao Musheng, and dashed off, suddenly energized.
Wan You blinked, speechless.
After a pause, he muttered, "You... could you read my fortune too?"
This is a parallel world anyway. If soul-eating monsters exist, a face-reading NPC isn’t that weird.
Chao Musheng: "..."
Wait, he actually believes this?
"Meow! Meow! Meow!"
Orange Cat leaped into Chao Musheng’s lap. Human, pay attention to this rare one!
The other kittens clambered onto the bench, pawing at his legs.
"Enough." Chao Musheng patted each kitten’s head before setting them down. "Go play."
Satisfied their human had noticed Wan You, the cats vanished into the bushes.
Watching them obey Chao Musheng so readily, Wan You felt a pang of envy. "You own them?"
"No. They’re the school administration’s cats." Chao Musheng brushed off stray fur. "The senior mentoring you mentioned you’ve improved a lot lately."
Wan You stiffened, expression shifting before he looked down. "Your school... has a great learning environment."
Exactly like the university I dreamed of in the orphanage.
Chao Musheng smiled. "Thanks."
Wan You scowled. "I was complimenting the school, not you."
After speaking, he suddenly froze, inwardly regretting his words—how could he have forgotten that Chao Musheng was an NPC not to be offended within the dungeon?
"I'm part of this school, so praising it is the same as praising me," Chao Musheng replied, unbothered, even smiling. "Do you like our school that much?"
"Yeah." Seeing that Chao Musheng wasn’t angry, Wan You decided to throw caution to the wind. "But what does it matter if I do?"
No matter how nice this place was, it was just a dungeon created by the System.
He didn’t know why the System had designed such a peculiar dungeon, but he knew players only had two outcomes upon entering: death or successfully leaving and returning to the System’s space.
"There’s an exam the day after tomorrow. Do your best," Chao Musheng said, standing up. "Top performers get rewards."
Wan You scoffed. He wasn’t a real student of Jinghua—what use did he have for high marks?
In the middle of the night, Zhang San woke from a nightmare to find a faintly glowing face staring from the opposite bunk, nearly scaring him out of his skin.
Upon closer inspection, it was just Wan You reading under a flashlight.
"Bro, are you trying to give me a heart attack?" Zhang San rubbed his eyes and sat up, glancing at the empty bed beside Wan You. "Where’s Qing Cai?"
"He climbed out the window two hours ago," Wan You said casually, tucking the book under his pillow. "There’s only one day left before the dungeon ends. He made plans with another player to sneak into the principal’s office and steal the official seal and student registry."
Zhang San: "How do you know that?"
"I left a listening device in Room 402." Wan You wrapped himself in his blanket. "Also, as a friendly warning—they plan to pin the blame on you two after they get what they want, to gain the principal’s trust."
"But we’ve never had any beef with him—"
"Are you still half-asleep and not thinking straight? When it’s life or death, what won’t players do to clear the dungeon?" Seeing that Zhao Shang was also awake now, Wan You added, "Keep it down. I’m going back to sleep."
He needed to be well-rested for tomorrow’s exam.
Late at night, Chao Musheng and five other alumni in charge of reception were urgently summoned to the academic affairs office.
The office was brightly lit. By the time Chao Musheng arrived, several people were already standing inside.
Two male students crouched in the corner, their hands cuffed.
"Senior, what happened?" Chao Musheng stepped beside the senior. "What did these exchange students do?"
"The principal just signed a high-confidentiality research collaboration with Kunlun Enterprises yesterday, and today these two snuck into the office," the senior said gravely. "There’s something off about them."
"Student identities go through rigorous screening before they’re recommended to our school. Even their blood types are in the medical reports—how could suspicious people still slip in?" Just then, Chao Musheng noticed one of the students suddenly opening his mouth as if to spit something out. He quickly pulled the two people nearest to them away.
Clack, clack, clack.
A glass bead rolled to the corner.
Qing Cai: ?
System, why did my escape bead fail?
Police officers with anti-explosive equipment stepped forward and carefully inspected it before announcing, "No need to panic. It’s just a glass bead."
Everyone else in the room: ?
They’d thought he was about to spit out some secret weapon to blow them all up. Turns out it was just a glass bead—never mind, then.
"Rebirth: I Tried to Play Spy but Got Caught and Attempted to Feign Insanity to Escape the Law," the senior girl muttered, adjusting her glasses. "This isn’t a drama. Faking insanity won’t work."
The one truly close to losing it was her—because one of the captured exchange students was under her supervision.
Her rival would never let her live this down.
Chao Musheng glanced at the near-hysterical senior girl and couldn’t help but pity her. Talk about bad luck.
His phone suddenly buzzed incessantly. He opened it to find the Chao Family Bay group chat blowing up.
Why were so many people chatting in the middle of the night?
The group was in chaos—apparently, the troublemakers they’d caught during the Dragon Boat Festival had no identification and were likely foreign spies.
Reading the messages, then looking back at the two cuffed exchange students, Chao Musheng felt his worldview shake for the first time.
There are this many spies around me?
Something’s not right here, isn’t it?
