Volume 11: The Days of Traversing Through the Mirror
Estrangement
How did you know I was thinking about what to eat?
It was a little after nine in the morning. Most of the people in Building 18 had gone to class, and those who remained didn’t come out despite hearing the scream. The entire dormitory hallway was deserted—not even a single person was heading to the restroom. It made Shen Maomao suspect for a moment that besides them, there were no other living people left in the building.
The newcomer’s affair was like a farce. By the end, she herself began to wonder if it was a case of “what one thinks of by day is what one dreams of by night”1 and she had just been hallucinating. But she absolutely did not dare to sleep in that bed again. She turned and pleaded with the girls of 3058, hoping they would take her in.
Bai Lu’s disgust for the newcomer was plain to see. Upon hearing this, she immediately refused, “No way. I don’t agree.”
After last night’s talk, Peng Xiaorui had already formed a united front with Bai Lu. Hearing Bai Lu disagree, she chimed in, “I don’t agree either.”
Hai Dongqing and Gan Ze were both silent. Neither of them spoke. After exchanging a glance, they both chose to abstain.
Bai Lu’s and the newcomer’s gazes both fell upon Shen Maomao—one scorching, one expectant. Both were waiting for her to state her position.
Shen Maomao looked at the little newcomer first and asked her, “Was the one who came looking for you your friend?”
The newcomer flinched, her shoulders shrinking back, but her tone was firm. “It… it was her.”
Shen Maomao continued, “Why did she come looking for you?”
The color that had just returned to the newcomer’s face drained away in an instant, as if she had remembered something utterly terrifying. Her whole body began to tremble. She hugged her shoulders, on the verge of crying again, but just as the tears were about to fall, she remembered something. She turned and glanced cautiously at Bed One, immediately stifling her sobs. Choking back tears, she said, “She must blame me for not saving her… I didn’t do it on purpose, I was just so scared… Could it be that she’s not dead at all and is just deliberately trying to scare me?”
Wu Mei gently patted her shoulder. “It might not necessarily be your friend. How could your friend bear to harm you? Don’t think too much about it. Relax a little.”
The newcomer hummed an “en”, but she never looked at her directly, her gaze somewhat shifty.
After they finished speaking, Shen Maomao asked again, “Are you sleeping in the bed that was empty?”
Wu Mei said, “No, I’m the one sleeping in it.”
Shen Maomao: “If that’s the case, then this thing isn’t coming for the bed.”
Then who else could it be coming for? Only this newcomer.
The newcomer understood this as well and nearly broke down again, asking them through sobs what she should do.
Shen Maomao blocked the dormitory door, squeezing Bai Lu and Peng Xiaorui to one side, and said to the others from 3056, “Did you guys hear any strange noises in the middle of the night?”
“Yes,” said the girl in Bed One. “Footsteps came in during the night and then stopped beside her bed.”
The girl in Bed Two, on the bunk above her, continued, “I saw a black shadow. It stood at the head of her bed for quite a long time.”
After saying that, she felt it wasn’t quite right, so she paused and added, “But I was afraid the light would attract it, so I didn’t check the time on my phone. My ‘quite a long time’ might not be accurate; perhaps fear stretched my perception of time. In any case, I don’t know how much time passed before I heard the sound of a blanket being lifted and the bed shaking… What she said is probably true. Something really did climb onto her bed in the middle of the night and then disappear.”
Wu Mei nodded in agreement. “I did feel some shaking from the bunk below me in the middle of the night, but I just thought she was tossing and turning, so I didn’t pay it much mind.”
Shen Maomao had no more questions. She said, “We need to discuss this matter. We’ll give you an answer before tonight, is that okay?”
The little newcomer wiped away a tear and thanked her.
Shen Maomao said, “We have class at ten-thirty. Everyone, let’s get ready and go eat together. We might be able to find out something in the classroom.”
The players had no objections. The girls from 3058 returned to their dorm, and as soon as the door closed, Bai Lu immediately said, “You’re not really planning to let her move in, are you? She’ll bring that thing with her.”
Shen Maomao explained, “I have a feeling… that having an empty spot in the dorm will actually be a very bad thing.”
Bai Lu was silent for a second. “Are you sure?”
Shen Maomao was as honest as ever. “I’m not sure.”
It was as if the words “Are you kidding me?” were written all over Bai Lu’s face.
Shen Maomao’s expression was sincere. “But my intuition is very effective; it’s saved me many times… However, it’s not right every single time. One can’t speak in absolutes. It would be awkward if the cart overturns2.”
Gan Ze finished getting dressed, pulled open her bed curtain, and after a couple of coughs, said, “I think that if it’s really her friend, it probably won’t come after us.”
Hai Dongqing, who had been silent and hadn’t offered an opinion until now, said, “I also think it’s fine.”
Bai Lu threw up her hands in resignation. “Since that’s the case, it’s three to two. Let’s agree, then.”
Shen Maomao smiled. “I’m very grateful that you are all willing to trust me, but please, ensure your own safety first and foremost.”
Compared to the harmony in 3058, the atmosphere in 3056 carried an indescribable awkwardness. It was only after returning from washing up that the newcomer realized she and Wu Mei had been ostracized and isolated by the others.
This ostracism wasn’t blatant, but very subtle, yet it created a discomfort that came from the bottom of one’s heart. While they were washing up, the others left ahead of them. By the time the two of them returned, the others were already dressed and standing by the door.
Upon seeing them, the four even greeted them, saying the dorm room was small and they would head out first, and told them they’d see them at the cafeteria.
The little newcomer was at a loss for what to do, and could only follow closely behind Wu Mei like a pitiful, unwanted child.
When Shen Maomao and her group went out together, they saw the two of them waiting at the door.
Wu Mei smiled at them and said, “We’ve been waiting for you for a while. Let’s go.” She didn’t mention where the others had gone at all.
The little newcomer glanced at them timidly, like a delicate dodder flower3.
The seven of them walked forward in four separate groups, and it was Gan Ze who ended up being left behind. She didn’t seem to mind, however, simply trailing unhurriedly at the very back of the group. She would cough from time to time, her slender body swaying in the wind as if she might be blown away at any moment.
Willow catkins4 filled the sky, but they hadn’t had time to prepare masks, so for now they could only cover their mouths and noses with their hands, squinting to prevent the oncoming fluff from flying into their eyes.
As expected, they didn’t find the other four people in the cafeteria. The group sat together, finished their meal, and then headed toward the classroom.
There was only one class today, located on the sixth floor. There were two elevators at the base of the academic building. The screen on the left one was dark, while the right one was stopped on the second floor. A few people were queuing up neatly in front of it.
When they arrived at the classroom, they immediately spotted the four other players sitting in the back. The girl from Bed Two waved, gesturing for them to come and sit.
This major didn’t have many students, only about fifty or so. There was a large empty area at the back of the classroom, and the players and NPCs were separated by two rows of desks, as distinct as the Jing and Wei rivers5.
Seeing that they were all present, Zhang Xiao walked over from the front, asked them for their photos, and then inquired, “How was your stay yesterday? Are you settling in okay?”
Everyone nodded.
Bai Lu said, “It was great. Thank you for your trouble, Class President.”
Zhang Xiao waved her hand. “It’s nothing. Well, I’m off to hand in the photos. See you.” With that, she walked out of the classroom through the back door.
There were still ten minutes until class started. Shen Maomao could constantly feel subtle gazes falling upon them. The NPCs had their heads together, talking and pointing at them. From time to time, they would let out a couple of surprised gasps and huddle together to chuckle softly, as if they were watching monkeys in a zoo.
Gan Ze said, “They might know something.”
Shen Maomao nodded. “Should we grab one and ask after class?”
Everyone was silent for two seconds, then Bai Lu said hesitantly, “…How do we grab one?”
Shen Maomao made a gesture of pulling something over a person’s head. “Put a sack over them?”
Wu Mei showed a worried expression. “Wouldn’t that be too impulsive?”
Shen Maomao said, “I’m just making a suggestion. Whether or not you use this method is up to you all.”
The girl from Bed One said, “It’s only the second day. There’s no need to be so extreme. We can just go and ask after class; we might find something out.”
Soon, the class bell rang. The old professor opened his book at the lectern and began to drone on and on. They didn’t understand a word of what he was saying, and the class passed in a fog6.
After class, the professor snapped his book shut, picked up his teacup, and strode back to his office with vigorous steps to get more water.
Bai Lu volunteered7 and proactively went to the front to try and talk to a few of the girls. However, the people she approached were either on their way to the restroom or heading downstairs to buy water. In the end, a whole group of them simply flopped down onto their desks and started catching up on sleep, as if she were some kind of pathogen. It left Bai Lu feeling a bit at a loss herself.
It was Zhang Xiao who came over from a distance and asked her, “What’s wrong? Is something the matter?”
Bai Lu said frankly, “It’s nothing. I just wanted to ask if there’s a gym nearby, but it seems like no one wants to talk to me.”
Zhang Xiao said, “We liberal arts students are all pretty reserved, you know. You all just arrived, so everyone feels a bit awkward. It’ll get better in a few days. There’s a gym at the back gate of the East District, and the membership is quite cheap. How about I take you to have a look after class at noon?”
Bai Lu glanced back at the other players, somewhat hesitant.
Peng Xiaorui quickly ran over and asked, “Can I come along? I’d like to check out the place too.”
Zhang Xiao nodded. “Of course, no problem.”
And so, the matter was settled. The bell for the second half of the class rang, and the old professor returned with his water cup. Everyone went back to their own seats. Bai Lu whispered to the others, “The two of us will go probe the situation from her mouth in a bit.”
Wu Mei said, “Be careful with everything.”
Soon, it was time for class to end. The NPCs all stood up, packing their things while chatting about what to eat for lunch. Shen Maomao’s thoughts were also lured away by the snack stalls at the East Gate. With a solemn expression, she began to ponder whether she should have Malaban8 or guandongzhu9.
There were quite a few people waiting for the elevator, so they all took the stairs together.
Zhang Xiao said a word to her friends and then left with Bai Lu and Peng Xiaorui.
Shen Maomao and Hai Dongqing walked at the very back of the group. Hai Dongqing asked her, “What are you eating?”
“Guandongzhu!” The words slipped out. After saying it, Shen Maomao froze for a second. “How did you know I was thinking about what to eat?”
Hai Dongqing pursed her lips. A smile seemed to spread in her eyes, but when Shen Maomao looked closely, all that remained in them was confusion. “I don’t know… It’s just lunchtime, so I asked casually.”
Shen Maomao’s old face flushed red, embarrassed by her own wishful thinking.
The author has something to say:
Went to get a filling today wuwuwu, the cold, cold drill was just drilling all over my tooth.
✨ Unlock Early Access to Chapters! ✨
Choose your perfect membership at bamboopandatl.net:
📚 Full Access ($4.99)
• Advanced chapters of ALL ongoing novels
• Access to complete finished novels
• Ad-free reading experience
📖 Single Novel Access ($1.49)
• Advanced chapters of ONE specific novel
• Ad-free reading for chosen novel
PayPal is the only current payment option!