Twenty minutes later, after a few unexpected twists and turns, the test of courage in the laboratory building finally began.
Jiang Wan stood in the middle of the crowd with an unfinished Pocky stick between her teeth. She felt neither excitement nor fear, her attention focused entirely on Zhou Wenxing.
Zhou Wenxing’s System didn’t actually seem particularly dangerous, but having a student in their year who constantly had access to a cheating tool was ultimately unfair to everyone else.
Even setting aside that whole “World Restoration Progress” business, there was something else that concerned Jiang Wan.
After Lin Chengyan’s System left, Lin Chengyan hadn’t merely lost his memory. It was as though he had become a completely different person.
In other words, the transmigrator had been occupying Lin Chengyan’s body. Chu Yishan’s situation seemed similar to his.
Sang Xiaotian’s circumstances, however, appeared to be different.
“Jiang Wan? Jiang Wan.” The Dorm Leader called softly beside her. “You can actually let your mind wander in a building like this?”
“Sure.” Jiang Wan offered her the box of Pocky. “Want some?”
“No, thanks.” The Dorm Leader shook her head rapidly, then rubbed the goosebumps on her arms. “It’s obviously summer, but it’s so cold inside this laboratory building… How creepy. Little Wan, have you heard? Quanzhou was built on an old graveyard. Apparently, students have strong yang energy, so the school uses them to suppress all the yin energy…”
Jiang Wan: “…” That legend probably exists at every school in the country.
“The current time is 7:32 p.m.,” the student leading the event announced ominously, shining his phone’s flashlight up at his own face. “Our rules are simple. First, we’ll all listen to ghost stories together for fifteen minutes. Then we’ll split into groups, enter the laboratory building, and take photographs in the various classrooms. Each group photo earns one point. Flashlights and electric lights are forbidden except when taking photographs. The group with the most points is the most awesome. If there’s a tie, whichever group finishes faster is even more awesome. Any objections?”
Someone confidently raised a hand. “What’s the prize for the most awesome group?”
“We’ve already secured a sponsor! The next issue of the Literary Club’s school magazine will feature a special collection of essays dedicated to the winner! You’ll be showered with compliments from every possible angle. If you can imagine the praise, we can write it!”
Jiang Wan expressionlessly bit through her Pocky stick. “…”
That prize sounded absolutely dreadful. She would have to make every effort to avoid winning.
Apparently, however, everyone present except Jiang Wan thought the prize was fantastic.
“Awesome! Can you write a Mary Sue romance with me as the main character?”
“Can we make requests? Does that mean I can choose anyone I want to write an essay praising me? There are several amazing writers in the school magazine that I absolutely love!”
“Cool!! So when do we start listening to ghost stories?”
“Right now! Everyone, form a circle. We can’t ruin the atmosphere.”
Jiang Wan casually chose a place to sit and listen, firmly determined not to become the winner. Even if she accidentally won by some twist of fate, she would definitely give the prize to her teammate.
After all, her main reason for attending this event was Zhou Wenxing.
With that thought, Jiang Wan glanced casually in his direction and noticed that his face was deathly pale, without a trace of color in his lips.
Jiang Wan: “…”
Could he possibly be… afraid of ghosts?
The atmospheric ghost story everyone had selected came from a midnight radio program. Not only did it have background music, but it was also narrated by a professional broadcaster who could perform multiple characters. The frightening atmosphere was exceptionally well done.
When the eerie sound of a waterphone rang out, the Dorm Leader, sitting to Jiang Wan’s left, grabbed her arm in terror.
Then Jiang Wan heard Zhou Wenxing crying hysterically in his mind.
[System, I can’t listen to this anymore! Hurry up and shut off my hearing!!]
Jiang Wan: “…”
Just then, someone in the crowd asked in a sinister voice, “Anyone feeling scared and thinking about quitting? Zhou Wenxing, your face looks pretty pale. Want to consider dropping out?”
“H-h-h-how could that be possible?” Zhou Wenxing stubbornly held his head high and forced out a stiff yawn. “This story isn’t scary at all. I’m actually getting a little b-bored. Hehehehe.”
Jiang Wan: “…” Stubbornly refusing to admit defeat even when death is staring you in the face. That’s you, all right.
Fifteen minutes passed in the blink of an eye. Jiang Wan stood up and rubbed her arm, which had gone numb from being clutched so tightly. “How are we dividing into groups?”
“Obviously…” Someone excitedly pulled a spirit-writing board from their backpack. “We’ll ask the pen spirit!”
Zhou Wenxing trembled beside them but still insisted on delivering a villainous line. “Heh heh. Looks like things are getting interesting.”
Jiang Wan felt that if this were a horror novel, everyone present would probably be heading straight toward a total-party wipeout.
They were practically begging to die.
Thinking of that, Jiang Wan recalled something from the English exam she’d graded that afternoon. “Party of death.”
Zhou Wenxing turned pale with shock. “How did you know?!”
Jiang Wan: “…” So it was you! The person who single-handedly dragged down the English proficiency of our entire year!
Cheng Lixue checked the time. “Let’s just split into groups randomly. If we get back too late, someone will notice.”
“…Fine.” The other student reluctantly stuffed the spirit-writing board back into their bag and opened a thoroughly modern random-draw app. “Come on, technology changes lives.”
Although the Dorm Leader clung to Jiang Wan’s arm and refused to let go, fate had other plans. In the end, the person assigned to Jiang Wan’s group was Zhou Wenxing.
Zhou Wenxing thumped his chest, his laughter sounding terribly forced. “Just follow me, Jiang Wan. If you get scared, hide behind me. I’ll protect you! If you can’t walk anymore, I can even carry you like a princess!”
Jiang Wan regarded his obvious fear and stubborn bravado, then walked toward the stairs without a word.
Zhou Wenxing hurried after her and swallowed nervously. “W-w-where are we going now?”
“To take pictures.” Jiang Wan thought for a moment, then mischievously suggested, “Let’s start with the anatomical model classroom on the third floor.”
Zhou Wenxing: “…Ha. Hahaha. Exactly what I was thinking!”
Jiang Wan felt her way up to the third floor, while Zhou Wenxing followed reluctantly behind her.
As they headed toward the anatomical model classroom she remembered, Jiang Wan suddenly thought of something else. “Oh, right.”
Zhou Wenxing flinched at her unexpected voice. “What?”
“When are you jumping into the artificial lake?” Jiang Wan asked lazily. “Your Placement Exam score was lower than mine.”
Zhou Wenxing was distracted from his fear for a moment. “How is that possible?! I clearly—”
He managed to swallow the rest of his words just in time and instead spoke to his System internally.
[I looked up all the questions I couldn’t solve online and got people to help me answer them! How could my score still be lower than hers?!]
The System replied tactfully, [Perhaps that’s simply what it means to be the female protagonist.]
Zhou Wenxing: [But I can’t swim!!]
Jiang Wan: “…”
Zhou Wenxing was truly an extraordinary individual. Not only was he afraid of ghosts yet participating in a test of courage, but he had also wagered that he would jump into a lake despite not knowing how to swim.
One day, his own stubbornness would get him killed.
Jiang Wan stopped walking. “Stand here. Don’t move.”
Zhou Wenxing shuddered. “Why?”
Jiang Wan raised her phone, positioning both of them within the camera frame. “Taking a picture for points.”
The flash went off with a bright burst, and they successfully earned their point for the anatomical model classroom.
Jiang Wan casually posted the photograph to the test-of-courage group chat, checked the other groups’ progress, and remarked offhandedly, “If there were three people in that photograph, the horror effect would be perfect.”
Zhou Wenxing forced a smile. “Three wouldn’t be enough. Make it four.”
As he spoke, he took out his own phone with trembling hands and found the picture Jiang Wan had just posted in the group chat. “What a shame. There’s only you and… me… Damn.”
Zhou Wenxing stared at a dark human silhouette in the corner of the photograph. His entire body stiffened. He didn’t dare turn around to look at the bend in the staircase and swallowed loudly.
—Why was there actually a third person?!
“All right, next classroom.” Jiang Wan put away her phone and said casually, “The others are making pretty good progress. We might not get first place.”
Zhou Wenxing no longer cared about winning or showing off. He grabbed Jiang Wan’s sleeve and stammered, “Th-th-there really…” There really was a third person!!
Jiang Wan looked back at him in confusion. “Really what?”
Zhou Wenxing urgently called his System.
[Play some cheerful, normal music to give me courage!!]
The System began singing.
[Give me a hug, come on, give me a hug!]
Jiang Wan: “…” So noisy.
With the singing interfering, Zhou Wenxing finally managed to summon a little courage. “There really was a third person in that photograph!”
“…What are you two doing here?” someone suddenly asked.
“We’re just…” Zhou Wenxing instinctively began answering before abruptly realizing that the question hadn’t come from Jiang Wan.
An utterly terrified scream escaped his throat. Without daring to look back, he turned and sprinted for his life.
Jiang Wan watched his surprisingly athletic escape. “…” Fight or flight. Very good. A textbook psychological response.
Although Zhou Wenxing had fled, Jiang Wan didn’t move. She calmly turned around, took a look, and greeted the newcomer.
“Teacher Fan. Out catching couples again?”
Teacher Fan, from the Third-Year High School teaching team, was famous throughout all six grades for his enthusiasm for catching romantic couples in every corner of the school.
…
After running all the way to the second floor and finding a corner to hide in, Zhou Wenxing finally realized Jiang Wan hadn’t followed him downstairs.
He glanced back toward the pitch-black stairwell but couldn’t summon the courage to return. Instead, he tremblingly opened the group chat and called for help.
“JIANG WAN IS MISSING!!”
The group chat, which had been quiet except for the occasional photograph, instantly exploded.
“What do you mean Jiang Wan is missing?! Aren’t you two on the same team?”
Zhou Wenxing’s hands were shaking so badly that he mistyped two out of every five characters. After considerable effort, he finally managed to explain what had happened, his message riddled with errors.
Everyone looked back at the photograph Jiang Wan had posted earlier.
Damn! There really was a human silhouette in the corner!
“It’s over, it’s over! I’m going to burn that spirit-writing board right now and see if it’ll bring Little Wan back!”
“I called Little Wan twice, but she didn’t answer.”
“I’m going to the third floor to look for her!”
“Me too!”
“Be right there!”
A large group of students charged up to the third floor, armed with an assortment of thoroughly unsuitable weapons.
Unfortunately, instead of finding Jiang Wan, they encountered Teacher Fan, who stood holding a flashlight with an expressionless face.
Teacher Fan pushed up his glasses. “Explain yourselves. Why aren’t you attending evening self-study in your classroom? What are you doing here?”
Everyone: “…A-a study discussion session.”
Teacher Fan: “Without turning on the lights? And without bringing any books?”
Everyone: “…W-we’re exchanging knowledge from the heart.”
…
Jiang Wan, who had already reached the gathering point on the first floor, looked at a classmate who was playing with fire.
“…What are you doing?”
The student turned around in fright, then was overwhelmed with joy. “It really worked! The pen spirit released you!!”
Jiang Wan’s phone had been temporarily confiscated, so she had no idea what had happened during those few minutes. Somehow, though, she no longer particularly wanted to know.
It seemed better not to find out.
She raised her chin. “Put that fire out first. You’ll definitely get a disciplinary warning if someone catches you playing with fire… The school doesn’t allow lighters. How did you start it?”
“Didn’t we watch that documentary before?” the student said proudly while extinguishing the flames. “I made fire by rubbing wood together!”
Jiang Wan: “…” You’re quite an extraordinary individual yourself. “Where is everyone else?”
Two minutes later, having heard the whole story, Jiang Wan glanced upstairs.
Teacher Fan had probably rounded them all up by now.
Still, it wasn’t a big deal. After a brief lecture, they’d be released back to their classrooms, just as she had been.
At that moment, another message appeared in the group chat.
It was Zhou Wenxing, asking cautiously, “Have you found Jiang Wan yet? Can someone come rescue me? I think I twisted my ankle while running away…”
Jiang Wan sighed.
Men. Useless.jpg
Five minutes later, the students who had finally been released by Teacher Fan encountered Jiang Wan on the first floor.
She was carrying Zhou Wenxing in her arms like a princess.
Zhou Wenxing covered his face tightly with both hands, but that didn’t stop his unscrupulous classmates from taking photographs that would haunt him for the rest of his life.
Several tall, burly boys approached with malicious “hehehe” laughter and promptly pulled him out of Jiang Wan’s arms.
“There’s no need to trouble Jiang Wan over something so minor. We’ll send you straight to the afterlife… No, no, we mean we’ll take you to the school medical station.”
Another group surrounded Jiang Wan, speaking in exaggerated, dramatic tones.
“I’ve already thought of a title for the special essay collection! I’ll call it Little Wan’s Bizarre Adventure in Building Six!”
Jiang Wan refused. “No.”
“I’ve got an idea too! I’ll write Western fantasy! A female knight and her three useless men!”
“You’re not allowed to write that.”
“Okay, okay. Then I’ll write a story about…”
“YOU’RE NOT ALLOWED TO WRITE ANY OF THEM!”
Quanzhou’s Confession Wall updated overnight with the photograph Zhou Wenxing most wanted erased from his life.
Lying in the school medical station, Zhou Wenxing stared lifelessly at the view count and the neat rows of “Hahahahaha” comments beneath the post.
He was emotionally exhausted.
[System, I think Jiang Wan would make a better Host for you than I do.]
The System tried its best to comfort him.
[Host, rather than thinking about that, perhaps you should worry about something else.]
Zhou Wenxing: [Go ahead. Nothing could possibly make me feel more hopeless than I already do.]
The System: [You still have to jump into the artificial lake, even though you can’t swim.]
Zhou Wenxing: “…”
A literal party of death.
He slowly opened the Transmigrator Forum and created a post.
Newbie on My First Mission Seeking Advice: What Should I Do When the Protagonist Is Absolutely Destroying Me?