At 18:15 on May 8, Year X023, Lin Yi walked down the corridor toward Group B Class 2 with Li Huiyuan.
Most of the incandescent lights on campus had already been switched on. The domain formed by their orange-yellow glow held open a patch of sanctuary. Vast amounts of fog filled the world, constantly seeping beneath the lights, yet no matter how it seeped in, once it entered the corridor, it thinned at a visible rate before finally dispersing.
But when they reached the "Teachers' Office (Group B Class 2)," Lin Yi hesitated, then said gravely, "How about we tell the head teacher about your situation first?"
The head teacher would come to take attendance before the classroom locked at 21:00, but that was still more than two hours away.
Lin Yi believed they had to report something like this in advance, to give the head teacher enough time to make preparations or arrangements.
From what he knew of Head Teacher 039, the head teachers had undergone rigorous training. The Head Teacher Rules might contain ways of dealing with all sorts of situations.
However, all of that was surely affected by timing. If delaying caused a problem, it would be a serious one.
Since her own safety was at stake, Li Huiyuan naturally had no objections and immediately nodded.
Lin Yi helped Li Huiyuan to the Teachers' Office door, then stepped back a little.
Li Huiyuan glanced at Lin Yi, and he nodded to her with an encouraging look.
Li Huiyuan took a deep breath and knocked on the Teachers' Office door.
About half a minute later, Head Teacher 040's voice came from inside. "Who is it?"
"Teacher, it's me... Li Huiyuan. The Li Huiyuan who lost her Student ID at noon, the one you told to buy a Student