Chapter 10: Stop Pretending

Fear of the unknown is a universal human trait.

That statement is undeniably true, and it explains why I felt a sense of dread toward the person sending those messages.

Yet, people often experience another feeling toward the unknown: curiosity.

The more mysterious something is, the more it draws us in, which is why there’s that famous saying—curiosity killed the cat!

So, I was intensely curious. I wanted to know who was sending these messages and what compelled them to create such a game.

Three hours—this round lasted longer than any previous one. Why? Was it arrogance, after sizing me up through earlier games and deciding I couldn’t possibly succeed this time? Or perhaps the nature of this death required more time to orchestrate.

I glanced around. The victim was a student, so it must be one of us five seniors staying late for extra lessons.

The hint this time seemed more cryptic than before—fear of the unknown. Did it mean something unfamiliar would appear? But why suffocation, not fright?

I raked my fingers through my hair, frustrated. Each round grew harder, surpassing my expectations every time.

The bell rang, signaling the end of class. An entire lesson had passed, yet I remained in the dark about this game.

As I brooded, Fatty suddenly rushed over to me. He said, “Tong Yang, I’ve got big news!”

“Found another new beauty?” I asked blandly. Whenever Fatty mentioned big news, it usually involved some pretty girl or gossip about a school queen.

Fatty grinned slyly. “Not a new one—it's the art teacher, Lin Jue’er!”

“Lin Jue’er?” I was taken aback. “What about the art teacher?”

“Shh!” Fatty gestured for me to keep quiet, then whispered in my ear, “Exclusive scoop—the art teacher broke up with the chemistry teacher!”

“What?” I exclaimed in surprise.

Fatty shushed me again, clearly pleased with himself. “Now, isn’t this big news?”

But that wasn’t what caught my attention. I asked him, so the art teacher’s boyfriend was the chemistry teacher?

“Yeah, they were a perfect match. But yesterday, when I planned to visit the art teacher at the infirmary, I overheard them arguing, and then I heard the words ‘break up’!”

“Chemistry teacher again—why does everything tie back to him?” I muttered under my breath.

“Why ‘again’?” Fatty asked, puzzled.

“Why ‘again’?” I echoed, and suddenly a flash of insight struck me. I exclaimed excitedly, “Now I know why I said ‘again’! I understand now!”

Fatty stared at me, bewildered. “Tong Yang, what’s going on with you…”

I grabbed Fatty’s arms, brimming with excitement. “Thank you, Fatty!”

I left my seat and strode straight to Ye Xinran’s side, took her hand, and pulled her along without a word to the dumbfounded Fatty.

Ye Xinran was startled by my sudden action but said nothing, simply following me.

Our classmates watched as Ye Xinran and I walked out hand in hand, faces filled with surprise.

But I had no time to explain. I dragged Ye Xinran to the end of a deserted corridor.

I asked her, “Tell me everything you know about the chemistry teacher!”

“Huh?” Ye Xinran’s eyes flickered with confusion as she put on a bewildered expression.

“Give me the chemistry teacher’s detailed information!” I demanded, gripping her shoulders in excitement.

Ye Xinran blushed, broke free from my hands, and said, “Tong Yang, what are you talking about?”

“Stop pretending, will you? This is a matter of life and death!”

At my words, her expression changed instantly, turning serious.

“What life and death? And what do you mean, ‘pretending’?”

Seeing her stubborn denial, I sighed, “You’re a police officer, aren’t you?”

Ye Xinran stared at me in disbelief.

“Don’t be surprised—I only realized it this morning!” As I spoke, I touched the corner of my eye, which still throbbed faintly.

“How did you figure it out?” Ye Xinran dropped her look of shock, replacing it with curiosity.

It seemed she wouldn’t let me go without a clear explanation.

I told her that at first, I wasn’t suspicious. But after yesterday’s incident in the archive room, I had to reconsider.

First, when I asked you about checking the archive files, you agreed without hesitation, which was odd, though I didn’t dwell on it.

While I waited downstairs for you, Li Moran showed up instead, and thankfully I managed to hide. The moment Li Moran left, you appeared.

Initially, I thought nothing of it, but looking back, it was too much of a coincidence.

So, I guessed you and I finished class at the same time, but after class I went to wait for you downstairs, while you went up to the archive room to get the keys from Li Moran.

Maybe you argued with Li Moran over the keys—just my guess.

I couldn’t figure out why I waited so long for you, only for you to show up right after Li Moran left.

Then, when we went up to the archive room, you claimed you were going to get the keys, but in reality, you already had them—you just needed an excuse.

But you didn’t expect that I’d managed to open the door myself.

I bet you wondered why Li Moran hadn’t locked the door, but didn’t pay it too much mind.

Then, you asked what I was looking for in the archive room—I didn’t say, but you seemed anxious, even urgent.

I suspect you were the one who tripped me, and the one who tossed the death record file in front of me, am I right?

Ye Xinran’s expression shifted from confusion to shock once more.

I continued, “Actually, none of this made me suspicious at first.

What puzzled me was when we hid together, I saw another file—one containing detailed information on all the students, so thorough it astonished me.

I wondered, what could motivate someone to compile such detailed records?

I didn’t dare dwell on it, since Li Moran suddenly returned, and before we ran out, I tore out a page.

I was also puzzled why Li Moran, despite saying no one could escape, only caught me and let you get away.

At first, I thought Li Moran wouldn’t trouble you and only targeted me, but later I realized you ran faster than me.

Not that I’m mocking you—it’s just my reasoning. Then Li Moran caught me, beat me up, and you called.

I was curious why he only beat me up.

The archive room, as the principal warned at the start of the semester when introducing the student council, was strictly off-limits to anyone but the president and himself—otherwise, severe punishment!

Still, I’m grateful you called and stopped Li Moran from beating me further.

Ye Xinran’s mouth was agape, as if she could fit an egg inside, but she protested, “That alone doesn’t prove I’m a police officer.”

“Of course—those reasons alone aren’t enough.”

I continued…

I was baffled why, after Li Moran caught me in the archive room, I wasn’t punished at all. Considering his hatred for me, he’d love nothing more than to get me expelled!

So I thought, maybe someone wanted me to check the files in the archive room.

No one else would do that, so the only person I could think of was you.

Last night, I happened to see a six-year-old graduation photo online. There was a familiar figure in it—though the photo was quickly deleted, I still recognized you.

I wondered, why were you in a graduation photo from six years ago? That made no sense to me!

And then came this morning.

Again, I was beaten by Li Moran and his men, and then you appeared.

Your arrival made those two who were beating me stand at attention, which struck me as odd. Why would they react like that?

Did Li Moran tell them to stop as soon as they saw you?