Going over the details was one of Jiang Yue's good habits.
Jiang Yue retraced everything that had happened since he'd seen Old Sun at noon.
He simply couldn't imagine that Old Sun had nerves of steel. After raping and murdering a female student somewhere else that morning, could he really have still chatted and laughed with him at noon? Could he even have called to remind him to get to school early?
Then Jiang Yue recalled Old Sun's reaction when the police had restrained him on the podium—all those instinctive responses. There hadn't been the slightest hint of acting, nor any of the resigned relief a criminal might feel after being caught.
That bewildered, utterly astonished expression had looked completely genuine.
Jiang Yue just couldn't reconcile Old Sun with the identity of the killer.
Unless Old Sun was an award-winning actor in disguise, with immense talent for performing—and a split personality.
One personality was a simple, honest teacher. The other was a vicious murderer.
When Jiang Yue returned to the classroom, Deputy Director Shao, who had temporarily taken charge of the class, was still counseling the students.
Du Yifeng couldn't help complaining. "Director Shao, why don't you save your breath and let everyone calm down? We're all adults. We've seen this sort of thing plenty of times on TV. There's no need to keep talking us through it."
In the whole class, Du Yifeng was probably the only one bold enough to talk to a deputy director like that.
Yet Deputy Director Shao couldn't take offense. Instead, he smiled ingratiatingly. "Yifeng's right! You're all adults, so I'm sure you know how serious this is. In that case, I'll keep it brief. Just wait a little longer. Our class bus will be here right at three."
"Jiang Yue, you're the class monitor. Keep everyone in order."
Deputy Director Shao only knew two or three people in this class.
One was Du Yifeng, a prominent figure from an influential family.
Another was Jiang Yue, a genius in his own right. Twenty classes above him and twenty below, everyone revered him as an unbeatable top student.
And then there was Han Jingjing, whose parents were both powerful figures in Star City. He couldn't very well not know who she was.
"Class monitor, what's going on with Old Sun?"
"Would someone like Old Sun really break the law? How could that be?"
Jiang Yue held up a hand. "Don't let your imaginations run wild. The police won't frame an innocent person. Let's wait patiently for the results."
Du Yifeng chuckled. "Not necessarily. Sure, forced confessions aren't common these days, but saying the police will never frame an innocent person? That just means you're too naive, class monitor."
Arguing for the sake of it was one of Du Yifeng's hobbies. He had no real issue with Jiang Yue.
Jiang Yue knew Du Yifeng's temperament all too well. He just smiled, not bothering to waste his breath arguing back.
The bus arrived soon. As class monitor, Jiang Yue was the last to leave. He counted everyone, confirmed the headcount, then boarded last.
"Class monitor, over here! I saved you a seat." Han Jingjing waved and patted the empty seat beside her, calling out to him without a care for anyone watching.
With so many people around, Jiang Yue couldn't very well snub her. Pretending not to notice the complicated looks coming from every direction, he walked over and sat beside Han Jingjing.
As soon as he sat down, Han Jingjing handed him an opened bag of potato chips.
"Here, class monitor! Bus rides are so boring. Have a snack."
"I'm not hungry."
"They're snacks. You can eat them whether you're hungry or not." Han Jingjing brought a chip to Jiang Yue's lips, then leaned close and whispered, "If you don't eat it, I'll tell everyone you asked me to send you a nude."
Good grief. There was no way he could clear his name now.
First, that message had come from San Gou.
Second, no nude had been sent at the time.
And later, in the middle of the night, Han Jingjing had been the one to send that photo—and she'd taken it back almost immediately! He hadn't even had time to inspect and critique it.
But with so many classmates around, Jiang Yue couldn't very well argue with Han Jingjing over the whole story behind the photo.
So he opened his mouth and ate the chip she held to his lips.
That one feeding could've toppled dozens of bottles of vinegar. The air on the bus instantly turned sour.
The boys were jealous of Jiang Yue, and the girls were jealous of Han Jingjing.
"You two are going too far! If you're going to show off your relationship, pick another time. Stop rubbing it in the rest of our faces!" Even Du Yifeng sounded a little jealous.
"Du Yifeng, no one could rub it in your face. Don't think I don't know that you've flirted with at least five girls at our school," Han Jingjing shot back.
"Oh? I didn't know you paid so much attention to my love life, Jingjing! Could it be that you like me but are too shy to say so, and are using our class monitor as a prop?"
"If you were the last man on Earth, I might consider you."
"Are you asking me to wipe out every other man for you? That's a pretty big challenge, Jingjing. How about you pick something else?"
Honestly, Jiang Yue didn't mind Du Yifeng's sharp tongue at all. In fact, he was a little grateful. Once Du Yifeng started talking, everyone's attention shifted to him.
At least Jiang Yue was spared some of the teasing.
It wasn't that he disliked Han Jingjing. He just wasn't used to being watched by a crowd of people wearing sour expressions. That was far more exhausting than watching a movie with Han Jingjing.
As he turned his gaze from the scenery outside the window, he caught sight of his deskmate, Li Yue, sitting alone in the corner.
She sat apart from everyone, like a lone orchid in a deep valley. Lonely or isolated, she remained quiet and untroubled, as if she were detached from the world around her.
They were young, after all. Amid all the laughter and horseplay, everyone seemed to forget about Sun Bin—until the bus stopped.
The moment they got off, they were all dumbfounded.
This wasn't a hospital, nor was it a medical examination center.
According to their location, they were at a laboratory in the high-tech zone.
Wasn't this supposed to be a physical examination? Why had they been brought here?
Buses came and went through what seemed to be separate entrances. The groups never crossed paths, and they couldn't see what was happening with the other classes.
The first part of the examination was a blood draw. That wasn't unusual.
But the second part was strange.
Inside one room, there was no medical equipment. Instead, they found a new type of strength-testing machine. It tested their arm strength, punching power, explosive strength, and overall strength.
After completing the two tests, they were sent out of the laboratory and back onto the bus.
Testing a little over a dozen people had taken two or three hours.
From the expressions on their faces as they returned to the bus, it was clear they were all baffled. This physical examination was nothing like what they'd imagined.
Aside from the blood draw, they had no idea what the other test was about.
"Does the college entrance exam have special physical fitness requirements now?"
That was the best explanation many of the students could think of. Given their experience and knowledge, most couldn't imagine anything beyond that.
Jiang Yue was probably the only person there who remained calm—well, the only one besides Du Yifeng.
Han Jingjing might count too. She had high-end earphones in, listening to music, humming along, and snacking, perfectly at ease as if the examination meant nothing to her.
Jiang Yue's calm was genuine, not an act.
After what had happened over the past two days, this examination seemed strange, but he wasn't about to make a fuss over it.
He figured videos of it must already be spreading online. The leaders of the various countries on Gaia Planet couldn't stay inactive forever.
This examination was probably an initial survey of the public. Testing the students was likely just the beginning. It wouldn't be long before they tested everyone.
What he was really concerned about was Old Sun.
By the time the bus returned to school, it was almost dark.
"Top Student, you promised we'd watch a movie together. Don't you dare back out."
"Jingjing, I want to visit Old Sun's home. He's always treated me well. After what happened, his wife and child must be devastated."
Even Han Jingjing couldn't argue with that, thick-skinned as she was.
Taking advantage of the darkness and the nearly deserted campus, Han Jingjing boldly linked arms with Jiang Yue, acting every bit the sweet, dependent girlfriend.
The two headed toward the dormitory building where Old Sun lived.
Behind a plane tree beside the school gate stood a slender figure. She gazed silently at Jiang Yue and Han Jingjing's retreating backs, as if she had become part of the surrounding landscape.
Old Sun's home was already in complete disarray. Nearly all the relatives and friends who could make it had arrived. They all offered their condolences, insisting that Sun Bin could never have done such a thing.
Only Old Sun's mother-in-law was clearly furious.
She chopped vegetables on the cutting board, each blow making it thump loudly, while she cursed under her breath. Again and again, she complained that Sun Bin was useless, barely able to support a family, yet still had the nerve to cause trouble outside.
Seeing the chaotic scene, Jiang Yue stopped.
At that moment, he suddenly wasn't sure he wanted to go in.
Before you continue