The Hand of Confession – Chapter 91

Volume 4: Days of Making Mischief at School

Urban Ghost Stories

Indiscriminate Random Killings

After the first fatal example, no one dared to leave anymore.

Among all the people engaged in serious discussion, only Lou Jingmo and Shen Maomao’s group stood out as different. Four people – one male and three females – sat together without communicating, creating a somewhat awkward atmosphere.

After about twenty minutes, a player sitting by the window suddenly said, “Teacher Yue is back!”

Twelve people immediately moved, returning to their seats and unanimously pretending as if nothing had happened.

The classroom became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

In this silence, Lou Jingmo suddenly said, “Maomao, I bought a new mechanical pencil. Want to see it?”

Shen Maomao: “What?”

Lou Jingmo pulled out the mechanical pencil on her own, showing it off to Shen Maomao like a simpleton: “My grandmother bought this for me. It was the last one in the store. Look, it even has little rabbits on it. Isn’t it perfect for you?”

Shen Maomao: “??” What’s going on? Has Lou Jingmo been possessed??

Though still confused, Shen Maomao’s blind trust in Lou Jingmo led her to play along with the act: “Ah… well… yes, I’d like to buy a pencil like that too…”

After the initial stumbling sentences, their conversation became more natural, and the two began whispering about trivial topics.

This acted like a signal, and the others around them seemed to understand something, as everyone began talking. The twelve people managed to create the atmosphere of an entire class, making the classroom as noisy as a vegetable market.

When Teacher Yue pushed open the door and entered, this was the scene in the classroom.

He walked to the podium step by step, bent his index finger and tapped the blackboard, causing chalk dust to fall in a flutter: “Students, quiet down.”

The twelve people instantly fell silent, all staring at him with wide eyes.

“Since I don’t quite remember who all of you are yet, I’m going to take attendance now, and especially commend those students who are still persisting with their studies.” As he spoke, he pulled his lips into a slight smile that carried an indescribable, mysterious hint of bloodthirst.

Shen Maomao, now comfortable in her role as a child, immediately clapped and cheered upon hearing this: “Yay!”

After that cheer, she awkwardly closed her mouth—because she was the only one in class who had cheered, making it stand out oddly.

Teacher Yue asked her with a smile: “Why didn’t Maomao leave? Don’t you want to go home for the holiday?”

Shen Maomao replied with a sweet smile: “Report to Teacher Yue, since Momo isn’t leaving, I want to stay and play with her.”

Teacher Yue smiled: “Is that so? Student Shen Maomao is indeed different from others.”

Shen Maomao looked bewildered: “?” How was she different again? What exactly was different? Was this good or bad?

Without further explanation, Teacher Yue directly said: “Now let’s start roll call. When your name is called, please say ‘present.'” With that, he opened the attendance book and began calling names according to the list… or rather, what could be called a death list.

The students sat upright, diligently playing their roles as students, raising their hands and responding one after another.

Lou Jingmo, Golden Retriever, Ren Yue, and many other names Shen Maomao didn’t recognize were called, but notably absent was her own name.

After finishing roll call, Teacher Yue closed the attendance book and said, “This class is almost over. I hope everyone will study diligently in the upcoming classes. In four days, we will have a mock exam, and I hope everyone can achieve good results…”

Shen Maomao anxiously raised her hand: “Teacher Yue! You didn’t call my name!”

Teacher Yue smiled: “I already remember who you are, so there’s no need to call your name.”

A chill ran down Shen Maomao’s back, and she almost couldn’t maintain her innocent expression: “Okay, Teacher Yue, I have no more questions…”

“I need to handle some matters. Students should stay in the classroom for self-study. I will check the surveillance cameras, and no one is allowed to leave the classroom during class time, or I will severely punish any violators.” After saying this, he walked straight out of the classroom.

Only after his figure completely disappeared did the other students turn to her with expressions of either sympathy or schadenfreude [taking pleasure in another’s misfortune].

Ren Yue walked to Shen Maomao’s side, hesitantly placing her hand on her shoulder, and consoled: “Maomao… you’ll be fine, right?” Her tone was very uncertain.

Shen Maomao subtly avoided her hand and replied with a smile: “Thanks for the blessing.”

Then she turned to Lou Jingmo: “Sister Lou! Will I survive?!”

These two short sentences clearly revealed the closeness and distance of relationships.

Ren Yue couldn’t help showing a sad expression, which made Shen Maomao’s heart soften a bit, but she quickly suppressed it.

Lou Jingmo didn’t answer her question, but instead looked at Ren Yue and said: “If you truly care about Shen Maomao’s wellbeing, stop contacting her.”

“On what grounds?!” Ren Yue asked, both confused and dissatisfied. “Maomao and I have been friends for so many years. Why should I cut ties just because you say so?”

Lou Jingmo beckoned to her with her index finger, signaling her to come closer, then whispered: “I suspect the Cleaner thinks Shen Maomao is an NPC. If that’s true, she won’t have to worry about being hunted by the Cleaner.”

“So that’s how it is?!” Ren Yue’s eyes widened in surprise, then she lowered her eyelids, lost in thought. “I understand. I’ll try to survive on my own. I won’t bother you anymore, Maomao.”

Shen Maomao remained silent, not stepping up to defend her as she had countless times before.

Ever since learning that Ren Yue wasn’t a newcomer, regardless of how this situation would end, they could never return to how things were before.

Now that “outsider” wasn’t Lou Jingmo, but had become Ren Yue instead…

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Having thirteen players in Class 1-1 didn’t mean they were the only ones in this instance. There might be players in other classes, or some players might have chosen to stay behind…

But none of that mattered anymore.

The players waited nervously throughout the afternoon, but not only did the Cleaner’s killing not come, they didn’t even witness any supernatural phenomena.

At lunch, Lou Jingmo invited Golden Retriever and Shen Maomao to go out, specifically excluding Ren Yue.

Ren Yue felt reluctant but too embarrassed to follow, and could only swallow her pride as she watched the three leave the classroom.

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Shen Maomao couldn’t understand what Lou Jingmo was thinking.

She had always suspected something was wrong with Ren Yue, yet now she was telling her about Shen Maomao’s identity. Wasn’t she afraid Ren Yue would betray them?

Lou Jingmo asked puzzled: “Why should we be afraid?”

Shen Maomao exclaimed excitedly: “Could it be that you don’t take these Cleaners seriously at all? Are they completely unable to threaten you and your people?”

Lou Jingmo: “What are you thinking? What I mean is, whether she talks or not, you’ll be gone when your time comes anyway.”

Shen Maomao: “…” So in the end, she was still saying she would die?

The information they currently had about the instance wasn’t comprehensive enough to determine the basic plot or escape method, and they didn’t even know if the exit would be somewhere in this school.

Their only clue was the small black umbrella that brought death, typically appearing in the hands of parents coming to pick up their children after school. Parents who received the umbrella looked as if they’d been soaked in ice water—pale-faced with a cold aura.

Lou Jingmo asked her: “Do you know what urban legends are?”

Shen Maomao nodded: “I can’t give you an exact definition, but I know what it means.”

“Urban legends don’t focus on beginnings and ends, nor do they explain in detail why these events occur. They’re mostly strange or supernatural stories, most with horror elements, which makes this instance different from any you’ve experienced before.”

Shen Maomao had been through three worlds—a construction site, a village, and a manor. Each world’s story had a beginning and end, with ghosts mostly seeking revenge, defining players as accomplices, which was why they targeted them.

But this instance was completely different—the supernatural beings killed indiscriminately, players became purely victims with no resistance against the supernatural forces. Moreover, death triggers seemed to follow no pattern, almost randomly selecting unfortunate players as victims, with survival depending entirely on luck…

It was extremely headache-inducing.

Thinking about it this way, Shen Maomao felt quite lucky—although there had been some scary moments, she had at least survived until the third day of the game.

Lou Jingmo reminded her: “Teacher Yue doesn’t seem to suspect your identity, remember to keep pretending to be an elementary school student. If your identity gets exposed for no reason, it means your dear friend has betrayed you.”

“What if…” Shen Maomao bit her lip, “I mean, what if. What if Teacher Yue still thinks I’m an elementary school student at the end?”

Lou Jingmo said coldly: “That just means she hasn’t had time to tattle yet.”

Shen Maomao: “…” It seemed Sister Lou really hated Ren Yue.

After their brief exchange, they returned to class.

The classroom atmosphere was heavy, with all players on edge, ready to face supernatural beings that could appear from anywhere.

Other teachers showed no reaction to the small number of students in class, teaching as usual, and soon the day was over.

Nothing happened throughout the entire day, and while police came and went in the courtyard, it had no effect on the students in class.

When school ended in the evening, twelve people lined up at the entrance, waiting for parents to pick them up.

Shen Maomao stood at the back, her eyes fixed on the entrance, watching two black umbrellas that stood out among the many others, her heart pounding.

As the black umbrellas drew closer, she finally saw clearly who was holding them.

It wasn’t her cheap mother, nor were they Ren Yue’s or Lou Jingmo’s family members.

It seemed Ren Yue had dodged a bullet.

The two people at the front of the line turned pale instantly, as if they’d already seen their fate.

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