Chapter 97: Death Class 7 (Part 21)

The group exchanged glances, their expressions solemn. How could they resolve a resentment that ran so deep?

Xiao Muyu didn’t want to look at those words anymore. She flipped forward, and the art style changed again. Clean strokes outlined a pair of gleaming eyes. Even without the contours of a mouth or face, they could tell the eyes were smiling, as if watching someone.

Xiao Muyu recognized it instantly. “It’s Lin Xue.”

Zuo Tiantian and the others remained silent. They could see the artist’s attentiveness in the sketch. She had used the pencil tip to patiently and meticulously outline the whites of the eyes and the pupils.

“She draws well,” Chen Kaijie said quietly, his feelings mixed.

More of Lin Xue’s portraits were scattered here and there among the pages further forward. One was of her sleeping and another of her solving problems, each so true to life.

The artist had closely observed her subject, and every portrait was filled with emotion.

Zuo Tiantian felt uneasy. After a long pause, she softly said, “She must really like her to draw her so meticulously.”

She thought about how Liu Ya’s classmates didn’t treat her well, and only Lin Xue had stayed by her side. Yet, in the end, they extinguished the light in her heart, making her even more resentful.

Xiao Muyu finished flipping through the sketchbook. She glanced carefully at the last pages again before putting it back.

Shen Qingqiu remained silent as she searched Lin Xue’s drawer but found nothing inside.

Xiao Muyu also scanned it once and saw nothing. “Looks like only Liu Ya has clues.”

She signaled for the others to leave first. The group then waited for Su Jin on the small path behind the school buildings.

Su Jin received their message. She told the students to tidy up briefly before letting them leave.

“So, did you find anything?” Su Jin hurriedly asked as she rushed over.

Zuo Tiantian was still agitated. She took a deep breath, then carefully described what she had seen to Su Jin.

Su Jin couldn’t help but sigh. “Those bullies brought this upon themselves. Who could stand something like that? If it were me, I’d probably want them to pay with their blood, too.”

But this wasn’t the time to dwell on sorrowful thoughts. Remembering those few drawings, Su Jin frowned. “We could use this as evidence to prove Liu Ya is one of the culprits. The mummy that wanted to kill those six people… isn’t it the embodiment of Liu Ya’s curse, helping Lin Xue take revenge?”

Xiao Muyu thought for a moment. “It’s possible. Since she painted them, Liu Ya must be clear about the origin of that tall mummy.”

Unfortunately, even though the team had found these clues, they couldn’t stop the night from coming. Xiao Muyu didn’t know how to avoid the impending danger. Now that they knew who the culprits were, they could confront Liu Ya and Lin Xue. However, no one could predict what might happen if they did. Things would get even worse if they angered them.

Shen Qingqiu could see her dilemma. She waited for the right time, then asked, “What’s wrong? Ran into a tough problem again?”

Xiao Muyu nodded. She glanced at Shen Qingqiu before looking around at the other three, her expression serious. “We’ve gathered nearly all the evidence. The only thing missing is what the police did that got Chen Kaijie targeted, what prevented Lin Xue from being rescued in time that day, and how Liu Ya burned her hands but failed to save Lin Xue.

“But the story progress has reached an impasse because the people involved are either dead or have forgotten, and no one apart from Lin Xue and Liu Ya can give us a complete account.

“Based on the setting, Zhang Zhu should be the hunter tonight. Even if we avoid danger tonight, it won’t solve anything, and we still won’t be able to complete the story. So, I think we can’t just resign ourselves to our fate. Should we act first?”

She’d been uncertain at first. However, some of her thoughts gradually came together as she spoke. She had already decided on a course of action.

“Your reasoning is sound.” Shen Qingqiu leaned against the camphor tree by the side of the road, smiling slightly at Xiao. “For better or worse, we know the outcome if we don’t act—we won’t be able to clear the instance. So, you mean we should confront Lin Xue and Liu Ya, right?”

Xiao Muyu nodded but still hesitated. It was only the third day. Was it too rash? Maybe waiting for one more round would reveal new clues.

“You’re worried that confronting them might cause a bigger crisis?” Shen Qingqiu patiently guided her. “Then let me ask you—What would you choose if this were a solo instance?”

Although Xiao Muyu said nothing, her silence was enough to answer.

Chen Kaijie stood up straight and gave her a serious look.

“Leader Xiao, there’s a gap between us and you two, but we’ve made it through three instances together. We’re not the type to cower in the face of death. We didn’t team up with you to ride on your coattails. What I want is for us to work together to survive.

“I can’t guarantee what role I’ll play. However, one thing I know for sure is that I want us to be your strength, Leader Xiao. There are things you have the confidence to do on your own, but I hope having us assures you even more. Risks and rewards go hand in hand; we understand that! I believe in you two.”

Fired up by his words, Zuo Tiantian and Su Jin bobbed their heads.

“Brother Chen is right! For any decision you dare to make, we will follow you no matter what. Just say the word!”

Xiao Muyu looked at her teammates, a complicated feeling swelling in her chest. She couldn’t tell whether it was joy or sadness. The feeling was a bit unfamiliar, but not a first occurrence. The last time she made a guess, they had believed in it just as firmly, and she felt the same way then.

But after living so many years, she had never felt this way until now. She had always thought she was unlucky—no parents to look after her, no siblings, no friends, and she rarely received kindness growing up. Although reason told her the world was beautiful, she always felt it was something meant for others, not her.

It wasn’t about wanting to survive in this game but her unwillingness to lose. Xiao Muyu had never imagined that she would gain the things she had once earnestly longed for here.

Protection without regard for life or death, trust without asking for consequences.

She silently stared at them, then a faint smile appeared on her face. It wasn’t warm but came from the heart—gentle and serene, like water flowing in spring with the thawing of thin ice.

“Thank you.”

Su Jin and the others had hardly ever seen Xiao Muyu smile, whether inside or outside instances. When she didn’t need to give her opinion, she was the quietest member of the team.

In contrast, Shen Qingqiu was a whirlwind of ice and fire. When ruthless, she was the coldest winter; when passionate, she was like a flaming rose.

Xiao Muyu gave the impression of a faint chill in early spring. Although there was a breeze and drizzling rain, it was colder than warm. Those unfamiliar with her couldn’t get close at all.

But beneath the chill, hidden under ice and snow, was spring all along. And now, that spring had finally begun to peek out.

Shen Qingqiu always liked to watch her at moments like this. She suddenly realized she acted flippantly before Xiao Muyu to glimpse the emotions hidden behind her indifferent and calm exterior.

She always felt that the true Xiao Muyu shouldn’t carry this kind of desolation. Xiao Muyu should be softer and more dazzling than anyone else.

Xiao Muyu found it hard to ignore the gaze of the person beside her. If it wasn’t always so open, how else would Su Jin and the others have noticed the impure thoughts Shen Qingqiu harbored?

But Shen Qingqiu’s gaze at this moment was so gentle, unlike her usual frivolous demeanor. Xiao Muyu couldn’t help but glance at her a few times without feeling the need to scold her.

Seeing Xiao Muyu looking at her, the smile in Shen Qingqiu’s eyes grew even sweeter.

Xiao Muyu felt a bit warm in the face for some unknown reason. She quickly looked away.

Su Jin and Zuo Tiantian nudged each other before going first, leaving Xiao Muyu and Shen Qingqiu to walk at the back.

Xiao Muyu didn’t speak, nor did she deliberately quicken her pace. She simply walked side by side with Shen Qingqiu. After a while, she lowered her head and casually said, “Watch where you’re going.”

Shen Qingqiu gave a closed-lip smile, turning her head to look at the road. She stepped closer to Xiao Muyu, then murmured, “You know, smiling more is a good thing, like you did earlier. It looks nice.”

Xiao Muyu brushed away a strand, her expression softening slightly, yet her tone remained calm. “Why bother looking nice?”

Shen Qingqiu paused, then clarified, “Actually, you look nice even when you don’t smile. But when you do, it makes me happy to look at you.”

Xiao Muyu didn’t know how to respond for a moment. She looked at Shen Qingqiu and slowly shifted her gaze toward the already dark sky in the distance.

Shen Qingqiu didn’t expect her to say anything. The two of them slowly walked behind Su Jin and the others. After a long moment, she broke the silence.

“Nervous?”

Xiao Muyu paused, nodded, but then shook her head.

“Don’t worry, we’ll make it through. It’s only the fourth instance. If we can’t clear it, no one else will.”

Shen Qingqiu had always been so showy and confident, as if nothing could knock her down or scare her. But Xiao Muyu was a little afraid—afraid that this person was too reckless and didn’t care about herself.

They soon reached the girls’ dorm. The group exchanged glances, ready to head up.

But this time, Xiao Muyu stopped Su Jin and the others. “I’ll go up first.”

Shen Qingqiu’s expression changed. She quickly and decisively refused, “No.”

Xiao Muyu gave her a heavy look. “You told me to go ahead and do it, so why are you backing out now?”

Shen Qingqiu hesitated before steeling her face and firmly said, “No matter how you put it, this can’t happen. What if they suddenly turn on you? In the previous instance, we could use an item card, but here, there are restrictions. If something happens, how will you defend yourself?”

She glanced at the others. “If anyone is going, it’ll be me.”

“You?” Xiao Muyu gave her a glance, feeling resigned. “What if you pull out your dagger and start slashing within three sentences?”

Shen Qingqiu frowned in disagreement. “Am I that reckless?”

“I go with you, or I’ll go alone. You decide.” Shen Qingqiu’s expression was as stubborn as a mule, leaving Xiao Muyu no choice.

Su Jin quietly spoke from the side. “Then I’ll go with Leader Xiao…”

“I need to watch over it myself.” Shen Qingqiu decisively interrupted Su Jin. Su Jin immediately shut up, feeling unnecessary.

Xiao Muyu found it exasperating and ridiculous. In the end, she could only give in. As they headed upstairs, she muttered, “If something really happens, we’ll both go down together.”

Shen Qingqiu snorted coldly. “We’ll only go down together if you try to separate from me. Losing you equals losing me, too.”

Xiao Muyu couldn’t help but want to laugh. “Why are you so childish?”

Her rare softness quenched Shen Qingqiu’s irritation.

They had already figured out the layout of Liu Ya and Lin Xue’s dorm room. When they reached the door, Xiao Muyu took a slow breath and knocked. Shen Qingqiu just stood there, watching the door sideways.

A moment later, the door opened. It was Lin Xue. She noticeably froze upon seeing Xiao Muyu, but the surprise didn’t last long before a smile soon appeared on her face.

Liu Ya quickly stepped forward from behind Lin Xue. The vigilance in her eyes told the other two she did not welcome their visit.

“Xiao Muyu, Shen Qingqiu? Is there something you need?” Lin Xue spoke gently. It didn’t seem there was anything unusual about her.

Xiao Muyu’s gaze lingered on Lin Xue before quickly shifting to Liu Ya. She gave a slight nod. “Sorry to disturb you. May I have a word with you both?”

Liu Ya gently pulled Lin Xue behind her by the hand. “I don’t understand. What’s there to talk about with someone we’ve barely exchanged a few words with?”

Xiao Muyu remained placid as she met Liu Ya’s gloomy eyes without hesitation. “Those who barely spoke to you might understand you better than the ones you talk to every day. Don’t you think?”

Liu Ya’s expression cracked slightly, revealing a hint of malice. “What exactly do you want?”

“Let’s talk, shall we? Whether it’s out of hate or love, I think we must talk about it. Some things not only punish others if they continue but also yourself. If you want revenge, why drag yourself into it? You’ve even dragged in Lin Xue—the person you like.”

Xiao Muyu’s words almost laid bare their relationship.

Liu Ya’s expression suddenly shifted, but she didn’t have time to show her anger. Instead, she turned, looking at Lin Xue nervously.

Despite her evident confusion, Lin Xue quickly grasped Liu Ya’s hand, gently saying, “Xiao Ya, let’s talk to them.”