Chapter 25: Examination

April 1, Sunny

The exam Xueqiu dreaded had finally arrived, landing exactly one week after she entered the school.

As a nominal “early-admission” freshman, she still hadn’t figured out what set her apart from ordinary people.

Of course, there were obvious differences: ordinary people wouldn’t survive a tentacle monster’s stab through the chest, change gender overnight, or walk away unscathed from Xia Yin’s bullet.

But she desperately wanted to know what her Contract would be.

“No need for an admission ticket, ID, 2B pencil, or eraser. Chang Yi has your file. Just bring your body and brain,” Xia Yin said, mouth full of bread, mumbling instructions by the dorm door.

Xueqiu nodded silently.

Over these days, she felt she’d gotten to know Xia Yin.

For instance, his routine was rigid: up at 6 a.m., in bed by 11 p.m., stricter than her own discipline.

But his meals were chaotic, often skipping one of breakfast, lunch, or dinner, with the others usually instant noodles or self-heating meals.

He’d lent her his student card to swipe, sometimes asking her to grab food, but never went to the cafeteria himself.

His trip there a few days ago seemed like just another “task” on his schedule.

No wonder Ou Ziyun called his cafeteria appearance rare.

As Xueqiu passed Xia Yin, he didn’t look at her, staring instead into the dorm hallway.

Following his dead-fish eyes, she saw the corridor, slightly different today.

A boy, taller than her but shorter than Xia Yin, yawned, holding a bag of soy milk.

Across the hall, the orange-haired twin-tail girl was changing shoes, sneaking cautious glances at Xueqiu.

Then she noticed another girl, also from Room 618—Chisaki’s roommate.

“Morning, Brother Xia! Got classes today?” the girl called, flashing a bright smile.

Unlike Ou Ziyun, this girl had neat, short hair and a tall, athletic build, reminding Xueqiu of a Resident Evil character.

“Su Xi, you’re dressed for proctoring? I thought only juniors could supervise entrance exams… Did the rules change? I haven’t read that pile of junk in years…” Xia Yin rambled, turning a simple reply into a monologue.

“I’m escorting the freshmen. She’s a bit directionally challenged,” Su Xi said, used to his antics, then turned to Xueqiu. “You too?”

Xueqiu wanted to admit she was half-lost herself—her knowledge of the school limited to the office building, dorms, and cafeteria—but waited for Xia Yin’s response.

“Escorting freshmen? Alright, take her then. This shut-in probably doesn’t know her way either. I’ll head straight to Professor Chen—save the old man from throwing a fit,” Xia Yin said.

“Is the professor giving you another assignment?” Su Xi asked, surprised. “But you’re still just a student.”

“No, no, not an assignment. Probably just a full report on what happened in Qingtan, plus some preaching. Basically therapy,” Xia Yin replied.

Before Xueqiu could react, a gentle push on her shoulder nudged her toward Su Xi.

“Do well. Maybe you’ll get an S-rank like me,” Xia Yin said, swallowing his bread, his words finally clear.

*

The exam was in Teaching Building 9, Room 501.

Su Xi led the trio upstairs, whispered something to Chisaki, who nodded eagerly, then bid them farewell.

“Are we about to die?” Chang Mu said suddenly, slurping the last of his soy milk.

“Why?” Xueqiu asked, confused.

“It’s just an exam, but why’d she say goodbye so seriously, like it’s the last time we’ll see her?”

Xueqiu didn’t get his meaning.

In a way, Chang Mu resembled Xia Yin, but with a cowardly streak, like he’d drop to his knees any second, begging, “Don’t kill me, I’m a good citizen!”

“Little Rain’s a scaredy-cat,” the orange-haired girl giggled.

“Little Rain?”

Xueqiu blinked, taking two seconds to realize she meant Chang Mu.

“Mu” did mean “drizzle.” Had Chisaki’s Chinese improved this much? Xueqiu wondered.

Then, Room 501’s door opened, and Carlos stepped out.

“You can enter. Leave phones and electronics outside or with me for safekeeping.”

Xueqiu handed over her phone, expecting a teacher to proctor, not the senior who’d helped her days ago.

Inside, she saw another person—a girl.

Dressed in the Academy’s staff uniform, her long emerald-green hair reached her waist.

She held a file, looking every bit a teacher.

Once the three were seated, Carlos entered, closed the door, and stood aside, seemingly assisting the girl.

“All present. The exam will begin. I’m your proctor, Zena Volmer. I’ll now announce the rules,” Zena said, unsealing the file with a smile—far warmer than the stoic faces Xueqiu had seen lately.

She hadn’t met many stoics, or many people at all.

But two of the few she knew—expressionless guys—included Carlos, now scanning them from the corner.

The room held just five people, including Xueqiu.

Aside from Zena distributing papers, it was silent.

Each got a test, not unlike the hundreds Xueqiu saw in her senior year, but with two sections: “Intelligence and General Knowledge” and “Comprehensive Aptitude.”

Subjects One and Two were combined, which surprised her.

Unlike weekly, monthly, midterms, or mock exams, there was no answer sheet, no ID, no admission ticket—just as Xia Yin had said.

The proctor had everything ready, down to the pens, as if all they needed to do was complete the test.

What about Subject Three? Xueqiu wondered.

She paused for two seconds at the gender field, then neatly wrote “Female” with the pen.

Outside, a faint explosion echoed.