Chapter 49:Weird Campus 18 Breakthrough

The professor’s eyes darkened abruptly, pupils morphing into rectangular slits, flames flickering within. His golden hair fanned out, floating as his voice turned low and raspy, like a demon from hell. “You asked what you shouldn’t have.”

Xu Nian sat calmly, awaiting his transformation.

Black spiral horns sprouted from his head, etched with eerie patterns, exuding an ominous aura. Bat-like wings, veined in dark red, unfurled behind him, their translucent red membranes quivering with each breath.

The professor had fully become a demon.

But Xu Nian’s focus wasn’t on his appearance.

His Chinese got that good after turning?

“Experimental data?” she asked, standing on her chair under his lethal gaze, reciting her notebook’s figures.

She hadn’t left her seat, answering as required.

In the tense wait, the demon’s claw reached for her.

It took her paper.

Shen Musi’s eyes, briefly flashing red, returned to black.

The demon’s black mist faded, the professor reverting to his blonde, blue-eyed form, hair settling. He praised Xu Nian’s data, “Oh! Perfect!”

Nearby, Yuan Shen choked, nearly lifted from his seat by an invisible force, flailing uselessly.

As he dangled, the professor announced, “Class is over.”

Yuan Shen dropped, gasping, collapsing onto his chair.

As the professor left, a voice stopped Xu Nian.

“Xu Nian,” Ran Feng’s face hardened, accusing, “Why didn’t you tell us you could stand on the chair to bypass the rules?”

She could’ve shared that loophole.

Xu Nian’s eyes showed faint confusion. “You never asked.”

Why should she volunteer it?

“You…” Ran Feng’s initial friendliness had long vanished. His mask off, he glared coldly, no longer pretending.

“Pathetic,” Shen Musi remarked pointedly.

“When we find the key and escape, don’t regret it,” Ran Feng sneered, confident he’d find it first.

No one paid him mind. Xu Nian and Shen Musi seemed walled off from the others.

“Can I check your desk?” Xu Nian asked.

“Sure,” Shen Musi agreed readily.

Xu Nian expected resistance, thinking Shen Musi’s ties to the class’s top student, “Shen Musi,” would make her guarded.

She rummaged through Shen Musi’s desk. The books were waterlogged or tattered, but those marked “Shen Musi” had nearly all correct answers, checked in red.

Shen Musi held her hand, tail-wagging excitement in her voice. “Deskmate, I named our duo. Wanna hear it?”

Xu Nian found photo fragments, planning to piece them together.

“Our duo’s called ‘Missing You.’ Isn’t it cute?”

The desk bore vile words and knife-carved curses against the top student Shen Musi. Xu Nian frowned at the malice.

Was the class’s Shen Musi bullied?

“Deskmate, talk to me~” Shen Musi grabbed both her hands, forcing her to look.

“Mm-hm,” Xu Nian mumbled, distracted, eyes on the desk.

“Deskmate, Xu Nian, classmate Xu…” Shen Musi’s voice carried a playful whine.

Xu Nian snapped to, meeting her anxious gaze. Was Shen Musi’s clinginess to stop her from searching?

“Good name,” Xu Nian said, lips curving faintly. “Missing You—sounds nice.”

Shen Musi blushed under her gaze.

Xu Nian had scoured the desk already.

She recalled Shen Musi choosing their seats, even pulling out her chair. Had Shen Musi deliberately picked the top student’s spot?

What a calculated move.

Shen Musi was no simpleton. Xu Nian sensed uncovering the top student’s story would reveal her deskmate’s true identity.

With time before class, Xu Nian turned to the desk behind, dumping its contents for inspection.

Her slender hand casually picked up a pristine textbook. Shen Musi, surprised, said, “Huh? Why’s Qi Dong’s name on this?”

Qi Dong and Yuan Shen, debating how to pin Zhang San’s death on Ran Feng, froze at her voice.

It hit Qi Dong like a bomb, dread crawling up her spine. She rushed over, snatching the book from Shen Musi.

Under Shen Musi’s scornful gaze, Qi Dong saw “Qi Dong” on the cover. Her pupils shrank, panic flooding her.

Muttering, “It’s over… It’s coming for me…”

Yuan Shen, trembling, took the book, confirming “Shen Musi” instead. His legs buckled.

“Shen Musi…” Qi Dong whirled, glaring at the girl sharing the name. “It’s you, isn’t it? Why’re you back? You chose to jump. It’s not our fault…”