"Oh, really?" All five teachers in the office stared fixedly at Ye Chu, as though they would devour him the next second.
Ye Chu felt a little panicked, but kept it off his face. "Yes." He hadn't expected all the teachers to be in the office, and he wasn't confident that one bottle of poison could kill so many monsters.
The invigilator's eyes bulged. "Nonsense! I clearly saw you writing a cheat sheet! Don't try to fool me!"
"Sir, I already explained. I was bored after finishing the test, so I copied the answers from my paper onto my scrap paper."
Seeing the math teacher's expression turn cold, the invigilator trembled, his voice shaking. "You think I'd believe that?!" He had intended to bring the math teacher a student to eat so that this homeroom teacher would look out for him at work later. He hadn't expected to arrive at the wrong moment and have everything veer away from his plans.
A sheet of paper on the side of a cabinet suddenly caught Ye Chu's attention. It was another set of rules:
[If you see this sheet, it means a teacher has called you into the office. You are in extreme danger! You are in extreme danger!! You are in extreme danger!!!]
Ye Chu: "..."
No need to keep repeating it. There are five monsters here who want to eat me. I know I'm in extreme danger.
[1. Please comply with the teachers' requests as much as possible. The teachers will keep you safe. 2. Human eyes are black. If a teacher's eyes turn red, please find an excuse to leave the office if possible. Please leave as soon as you can. 3. You may ask the music teacher for help. The music teacher likes students who sing well. Sing to her, and she will take you out of the office. 4. Please remain standing in the office. If a teacher asks you to sit in a chair, do not sit down. Do not sit down. 5. Teachers and students can also be friends. Students may sit down to talk with teachers. If you don't sit down, the teacher might get angry. 6. If someone knocks on the door at this time, please stop the teachers from opening it. The person outside is your companion. Don't let him fall into danger too.]
Facing five red-eyed teachers, Ye Chu said, "..."
[Seriously? Someone actually ended up facing five red-eyed monsters at once? How can he be that unlucky?]
[What now? Is Ye Chu going to die here?]
[I bet Ye Chu will leave the office safely!]
[Then I bet Ye Chu's game ends here!]
[You two above are on the wrong set, aren't you? This isn't the variety show "Escape from the Dead." It's "No One Survives." What's with all the betting...]
Still wearing a cold expression, the math teacher said to Ye Chu, "You must be tired of standing, young man. Why don't you sit for a while?"
Ye Chu looked into those scarlet eyes. He wasn't sure which of rules four and five would help him. If only Su Fengzi were here.
Whatever. I'll take a gamble.
Ye Chu gritted his teeth. "Sir, I'll stand for a while. I sat for too long during the exam."
The moment he said it, the math teacher's expression changed. His already unpleasant face grew even uglier.
Ye Chu: I'm screwed. I bet wrong.
Meanwhile, the invigilator seized the opportunity to fan the flames beside the math teacher. "Look, you can tell at a glance that he's dishonest. He won't even listen to you. How could he be a good student? So he must have cheated. But I'm so well-behaved, and I'm your good colleague. You'll believe me, won't you?"
Ye Chu: ...There's a two-faced ghost here. I'm not kidding.
Ye Chu put his hands behind his back and lowered his head. His slightly long bangs lay neatly against his forehead, his lashes quivering as he pressed his lips together. "Sir, I really didn't cheat. You have to believe me."
Then he lifted his head. His eyes were red-rimmed and shimmering with tears, making him look utterly pitiful.
[!!! What could he possibly have done wrong?! What could he possibly have done wrong?!]
[Believe him already! One look tells you this isn't Ye Chu's fault!]
[Even if he really did something wrong, he had his reasons!!]
The math teacher froze for a moment at the sight of him. Even his blinking slowed considerably, and his voice unconsciously softened. "Yes, I believe you."
The invigilator: !!! How can he be this good at manipulating people?
Ye Chu: Heh. Who doesn't know how to act?
Ye Chu lowered his tearful eyes and nodded gently, looking like a frightened little rabbit.
[Ye Chu: a face that makes every argument valid.]
[Ye Chu: clearing the game with his face.]
[Ye Chu...I can't keep this going. What a badass.]
The invigilator clutched the math teacher's arm and imitated Ye Chu's pitiful pose. "You have to believe me! You can tell he's just trying to win your sympathy!"
The math teacher shoved him away and said coldly, "Shut up."
The invigilator wanted to say more, but a glare from the math teacher made him swallow his words.
"Sir, may I go back now?" Ye Chu took a few steps backward as he spoke, ready to leave this hellhole at any moment.
"Wait. To be fair, we should check the surveillance footage."
Ye Chu stopped retreating. They couldn't check the footage. He had tossed Wu You a paper ball. If they checked, both of them would be done for.
Ye Chu suddenly felt dizzy. Small black spheres appeared all over the walls. Puzzled, he reached out to touch one. With a buzz, the spheres suddenly opened, revealing yellow eyes. Their pupils stared straight at Ye Chu.
Ye Chu: "...!!"
He raised his hand and slapped himself. When he opened his eyes again, the office had returned to normal. The five monsters were watching him in confusion.
He couldn't stay any longer, Ye Chu thought. His mental state was already being affected. The consequences of staying would be unimaginable.
He turned his attention to the music teacher, who had been hiding in the corner all along. Whether the third rule was true or not, he had to try it. If all else failed, he would use the poison to fight his way out.
Either way, he couldn't stay in this hellhole.
Ye Chu cleared his throat twice, then suddenly burst into song. "The boundless horizon is my love, flowers bloom beneath the endless green hills..."
The music teacher took two excited steps forward. The other four teachers: "???"
"What rhythm gets us swaying the most, what song brings us the greatest joy..."
The music teacher waved her hands to the beat. The other four teachers: "???"
"The winding river flows down from the sky, into a sea of countless vibrant colors. Fiery songs are what we long for, singing as we go is when we feel most free. If we're going to sing, let's sing our hearts out."
The music teacher's eyes shone. She swayed and clapped along to the rhythm. The other four teachers: "???"
"You are the loveliest cloud on my horizon, let me keep you here with all my heart."
The music teacher: "Keep you here!"
The other four teachers: "..."
When the song ended, the music teacher patted Ye Chu's shoulder as though she had found a kindred spirit. "Come, let's go to the music classroom and talk. Not many people appreciate this obscure song."
Ye Chu: "?" Looks like you'd have plenty to talk about with those square-dancing aunties.
He had just sung whatever came to mind. At the time, that was the only song in his head.
Under the other four teachers' stunned gazes, the music teacher led Ye Chu out of the office.
Once he was out of the office, things were easier. Ye Chu discreetly slipped his shoulder out from under the music teacher's hand. "Ma'am, let's talk about music next time. I just remembered I still have some homework to finish."
"All right." The music teacher looked deeply disappointed. "Then how about we discuss 'Moonlight over the Lotus Pond' next time?"
Before you continue