Chapter 56: Yucai Middle School

After lunch, there was an hour of break time.

The players decided to start searching for clues. Tan Manyu had a special mission, so after leaving the cafeteria with Li Zhi, she pretended to whisper something and then left on her own.

Li Zhi glanced around, then chose a direction they hadn’t explored yet.

Along the path beneath the teaching building were greenery bushes. Beyond them stood a row of small buildings, with a signpost at the intersection pointing toward the Book Reading Room, Clinic, and Sports Equipment Room.

High schools usually didn’t have full libraries, and Yucai Middle School was no exception. The reading room, about the size of a regular classroom, was locked. Inside, scattered bookshelves held dusty books lying haphazardly. Li Zhi peeked through the window but found nothing useful. She turned and walked toward the clinic.

The blue wooden door was slightly ajar. Through the window, she saw someone in a white coat behind the medical curtain organizing the medicine cabinet. She knocked lightly, then stepped inside.

“I’m feeling a bit unwell in my stomach,” she said.

The school nurse emerged from behind the curtain. When their eyes met, the fake pain on Li Zhi’s face instantly melted into a bright smile.

She didn’t say a word—just looked at him with twinkling eyes and smiled.

Li Jianxi seemed slightly uncomfortable under her gaze. He looked away casually and asked, “Where does it hurt?”

On the screen, the Zhi-Xi shippers exploded in excitement:

【It’s HIM! He found her again! This time he finally got here before she needed him!】

【My ship is back together!!】

【The way Li Jianxi looks at Li Zhi? Definitely not innocent! He remembers her! He hasn’t forgotten!】

【What even is this NPC’s purpose?!】

【Go Li Zhi! Use his presence to max out his affection! Get all his items!】

...

Li Zhi slipped her hand into her pocket, brushing against the sunflower keychain.

So it did work.

She sat down on the examination bed, still smiling as she recalled the edited video she’d seen on the forum before entering the replica. She couldn’t help glancing at his legs—yes, both intact.

Li Jianxi caught her stare and hesitated. “What are you looking at?”

“Your legs are long,” Li Zhi said matter-of-factly.

Li Jianxi: "..."

Li Zhi grinned. “Teacher Li, long time no see.”

He lowered his eyes. “Where exactly does your stomach hurt?”

Well, each replica came with its own role. He was sticking to character, she realized with a sigh. “I ate too much. Just a little bloated.”

“Bloating doesn’t require medicine.” He handed her a pack of digestive tablets. “Walk it off.”

She took two pills, chewing slowly. Li Jianxi noticed, then silently fetched her a cup of water. Holding the disposable paper cup, she asked, “Teacher Li, how long have you worked here?”

“Two years.”

She asked, “Has the school always had such high college admission rates?”

He thought for a moment. “Not until recently. The new principal implemented educational reforms two years ago.”

“How exactly did he reform the school?”

Li Jianxi shook his head. “I don’t know. I’m just the school nurse.”

Looks like his knowledge was limited by his role this time. Understandable—if he could give all the clues, there wouldn’t be a game to play. Even friendly NPCs only provided hints within the system’s rules.

Li Zhi looked at the beautiful NPC before her. His presence made her want to confirm so many things. But for now, the priority remained the current replica’s mission.

She finished the water, hopped off the bed, and waved goodbye. “Teacher Li, I feel better now. Thank you. See you next time.”

Li Jianxi gave the faintest nod.

Leaving the clinic, she went to the sports equipment room. It was also locked. Through the window, she saw cluttered piles of equipment. Finding nothing useful, she headed back toward the teaching building.

During the break, the building was mostly empty. A few diligent students sat scattered in classrooms. As she rounded a corner, she heard someone reciting The Peacock Flies Southeast from the hallway beyond.

Wang Zhiyuan, who had been called to the teacher’s office during class after failing a recitation test that morning, had only returned before the second lesson started. Li Zhi had observed him then—he didn’t seem physically punished.

Now hearing his voice again, she walked toward the stairwell.

Sure enough, Wang Zhiyuan sat on the stairs, textbook open on his lap, muttering lines while looking anxious.

“Wang Zhiyuan,” Li Zhi called, stepping beside him. “Why are you memorizing here?”

He looked up briefly. “I didn’t want to disturb others studying in the classroom.”

He resumed reading aloud, clearly struggling. Li Zhi sat beside him, listening patiently.

“You’re overthinking it. The more you panic, the harder it gets,” she advised gently.

He groaned, covering his head. “I don’t have time! Teacher Liu said she’ll check me again after school today. If I fail again, I’ll get sent to the principal’s office!”

Li Zhi asked casually, “What happens if you go to the principal’s office?”

“I don’t know—but it can’t be good!” Fear flickered across his face. “Even Xie Cong behaves himself after coming back from there. They must’ve punished him hard. I heard the principal has a taser—I don’t want to get hit!”

With that, he buried his ears in his hands and resumed frantic memorization. Li Zhi quietly got up and left.

Break time ended quickly.

Before afternoon classes, the players regrouped in the classroom. Zhou Jianzhang gathered everyone: “Let’s share what we found.”

Bei Xuan spoke first: “We checked the girls’ dormitory.高三 students moved to the new campus already—several floors are empty. Rumor says students move there in their final year for better Gaokao prep.”

She glanced at Li Zhi before continuing.

Another player followed: “We went to the administrative building. Most offices were locked. Nothing useful.”

Li Zhi asked, “Did you see the principal’s office?”

The player thought. “Yes. Top floor. Also locked.”

Li Zhi seized the opportunity to share Wang Zhiyuan’s clue: “The principal’s office might be key. Students with poor grades or disciplinary issues are taken there. We should ask Xie Cong what happened to him.”

“Xie Cong?!” Lian Qinglin raised his hand eagerly. “I just heard his name too! Supposedly, a girl in this class committed suicide because of him.”

Everyone turned.

“She confessed, got rejected, fell into depression… then jumped,” he explained. Pointing at a nearby window: “From right there.”

The player sitting near that seat instinctively backed away from the window.

Li Zhi frowned. “When was this?”

Lian thought. “About six months ago. Last semester.”

As he spoke, students began returning to class. The players exchanged info and returned to their seats. Li Zhi glanced at Tan Manyu—she shook her head.

Her mission was far more complex than clearing the replica. No clues weren’t unexpected.

Across the aisle, she saw Liao Ze sit down. Leaning closer conspiratorially, she whispered, “Liao Ze, I heard a rumor.”

He immediately leaned in. “What kind of rumor?”

Li Zhi lowered her voice: “I heard a girl in our class died by suicide over love.”

Liao Ze rolled his eyes. “That’s common knowledge here.”

Li Zhi sucked in a breath. “It’s real?”

“Of course. I saw her jump.” He pointed to the same window Lian mentioned. “Right from there. During evening self-study.”

Li Zhi pressed, “Was it over a guy named Xie Cong?”

Liao Ze gave her a look. “You’re a transfer student but sure know a lot. You didn’t think Xie Cong wiping her blackboard or taking out the trash once meant he liked her, did you?”

Li Zhi asked, “Then what happened?”

Liao Ze shrugged. “Same as you know. Rejected confession, then she jumped. Don’t ask about it anymore though. Teacher Liu considers it a stain on her career.”

Li Zhi nodded, scanning the class. “Who’s Xie Cong?”

Liao Ze leaned back lazily. “Middle row. Handsomest one.”

Li Zhi searched among the young faces, finally spotting the most well-defined features.

Just as the bell rang, she hurried to his desk, confirming his name from the tag.

Xie Cong.

A tall, handsome boy was solving a math problem. Noticing someone beside him, he looked up politely.

“Classmate, anything wrong?”