Chapter Fourteen: The Innocence of Children

The deceased is among the Reincarnators!

Liu Mengchao couldn't help but laugh aloud. With this, from beginning to end, everything made sense.

Why didn’t the Proxy limit the Reincarnators from escaping Nightview Mountain Town?

Because there was no need. In Proxy Qingyun’s subconscious, the Reincarnators would eventually return to Nightview Mountain! After all the students of Class 3-3 had died, the Reincarnators, in order to end the cycle, would inevitably come back to Nightview Mountain. At that time, only the Reincarnators would remain, dying one after another.

Not bad.

Liu Mengchao smiled at his own judgment. Although the mission was riddled with loopholes and its clues exposed the Proxy’s plan clearly, if it were assigned to an ordinary person, this level of mission design would already be quite satisfying.

What a pity.

Liu Mengchao walked step by step through the rain, gazing at the colorful pool before him.

Sum of the pool: 714,000.

Ready to lose everything, unqualified Proxy?

Liu Mengchao stood still as the downpour continued. One plan after another slowly took shape in his mind.

Fear is an emotion that cannot be eliminated; it can only be buried. Like a pirate hiding treasure, accumulating bit by bit, leaving behind a treasure map, waiting to be unearthed.

All it takes is a trigger. Like lighting a bomb’s fuse—the slender wick catches the flame, then quietly stepping aside, closing one’s eyes.

“Boom!”

Opening his arms, the bomb explodes.

The smile on Liu Mengchao’s face grew wider. He could hardly wait to see the expressions of the Reincarnators.

As he walked slowly through the rain, another figure appeared before him.

Short hair.

Red eyes.

One eye covered by an eyepatch.

“Hello.”

Having seen through the Proxy’s plan, Liu Mengchao was in high spirits.

The girl ignored him and stood still. She held no umbrella; the rain relentlessly struck her face.

“Are you alone?” Liu Mengchao asked again. He had heard of this girl from the otaku Zhao Weijie—the heroine of the story, Minazaki Mei.

His words had an effect. The girl slowly turned her head, her soulless eyes quietly meeting his gaze.

Like a puppet without a soul.

“I think I’ve seen you somewhere before.”

Liu Mengchao continued. Yet Minazaki Mei remained silent, her eyes devoid of any flicker.

“Teacher Mitsukami Renko is dead,” Liu Mengchao said quietly, his voice softer than before, almost drowned out by the rain.

Suddenly, Liu Mengchao laughed.

The girl’s expression changed. Though she said nothing, her brows furrowed slightly, then relaxed in an instant.

“You knew her,” Liu Mengchao said, sitting down in the rain with a sigh. Looking up, he said to Minazaki Mei, “You’re suppressing your emotions.”

“Does it not matter?”

The voice was faint, like raindrops falling onto the ground—clear yet subtle.

“It doesn’t matter. When boys talk to girls, even if it’s the greatest danger, it doesn’t matter,” Liu Mengchao said, still looking up at Minazaki Mei’s short hair gently stirred by the wind.

Hearing such playful words for the first time, Minazaki Mei’s curiosity got the better of her. She lowered her head and looked at Liu Mengchao sitting right in front of her, asking, “It’s raining now. Are you okay being out in the rain alone?”

“You’re fine, I’m fine,” Liu Mengchao said, laughing first. “If a rain shower could knock me down, I wouldn’t be here.”

Minazaki Mei said nothing, but her gaze grew stranger, as if she were seeing the person before her for the first time, staring blankly at Liu Mengchao.

“Would you like to sit next to me? Or continue wandering in the rain?” Liu Mengchao smiled and patted the empty spot beside him. Water covered the ground; it wasn’t a place for anyone to sit.

“Walk...” Minazaki Mei lowered her head and said.

“Perfect. I’m tired of sitting too,” Liu Mengchao stood up. Rainwater trickled down his trousers. “Like you, standing here soaked through.”

Minazaki Mei looked at Liu Mengchao beside her, about to speak, but suddenly stopped. She lowered her head slightly, faced the rain, and continued walking forward.

“Liu Mengchao!”

Just as Liu Mengchao was about to follow, a voice called from behind.

He turned to see who it was.

It was the class president, Sakura Yukari.

“Is there something wrong?” Liu Mengchao looked up at the umbrella suddenly appearing overhead.

“It’s raining outside, Liu-san,” Sakura Yukari said with a smile.

She truly was a gentle person. Liu Mengchao smiled and shook his head, quietly saying thanks. “Well then, thank you for the umbrella, class president.”

Without waiting for her to react, Liu Mengchao bent down and took the umbrella from her hand. The girl was short and was holding the umbrella high to keep him dry—it was already a struggle.

“Cherishing and protecting women is a man’s duty,” Liu Mengchao said, tilting the umbrella slightly toward Sakura Yukari. “So, class president, do you have any other orders?”

“Actually...” Sakura Yukari paused, then recovered herself. “Are all Chinese people like you?”

“A gentleman?” Liu Mengchao laughed, walking alongside her. “I suppose so. Chinese men are generally above average.”

“Well, I’m truly honored,” Sakura Yukari said with a smile. Her eyes twinkled behind her glasses, resembling a shy little girl.

“But... are Chinese men really all above average?” As if to ease the tension with Liu Mengchao, Sakura Yukari hastily changed the topic.

“Yes, absolutely. Because I alone raise the average score!” Liu Mengchao laughed heartily and gave his answer.

Pfft.

What a humorous person! Sakura Yukari looked up at Liu Mengchao holding the umbrella for her, and for some reason, that feeling unexpectedly blossomed in her heart.

“I almost forgot...” Sakura Yukari suddenly stopped and said to Liu Mengchao, “Teacher Zhang was looking for you earlier. He wants to arrange housing for Chinese students studying abroad.”

“Housing? Are we all going to live in the school dormitories?”

“No,” Sakura Yukari shook her head. “Every Chinese exchange student will stay with a local student’s family. It’s said to give a close experience of a different lifestyle.”

“Oh,” Liu Mengchao nodded, then suddenly leaned in close to Sakura Yukari’s ear. “Is there anything else you haven’t told me?”

Boom!

No sooner had he spoken than thunder roared in the sky.

A thick lightning bolt tore the sky in two.

Illuminated by the sudden flash, Liu Mengchao clearly saw Sakura Yukari’s face.

She was afraid.

“Your upper eyelids are raised high, and your lower eyelids are tightly strained,” Liu Mengchao said as he strode toward the classroom.

But Sakura Yukari didn’t stay put; she followed closely, her head lowered as if avoiding his words.

“You’re afraid.”

The moment Liu Mengchao said this, Sakura Yukari’s steps halted.

“Because the curse has begun.”

Rain dripped down the umbrella, splashing in front of Sakura Yukari.

“No...” Sakura Yukari forced a smile. “Teacher Mitsukami’s death was just an accident.”

Liu Mengchao said nothing, only lowered his head and watched her expression.

Her eyes were filled with hopeful longing—yearning to be understood.

“Isn’t that so...” Liu Mengchao raised his head, but his gaze was obscured by the umbrella, unable to see the sky. “Maybe it really was just an accident.”

“Yes!” Sakura Yukari nodded seriously, her short hair fluttering in the wind.

“It must be an accident.”

Boom!

Another bolt of lightning struck from the sky, as if even the heavens were mocking the children’s innocence.

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Because there were classes all day today... this chapter was entrusted to the scheduled updater...

The second update will be at 11 p.m....

Also... what is the Warrior of Love...????

Thanks so much to Ice Silent for the generous tip~~~~~~~