Dormitory 917.
The shrill screams lingered, and the source of the sound came from two shivering girls at the end of the room.
Ou Ruofei pointed at the head of her bed and screamed in fear. Anian was frightened by her and also screamed. The two high notes came one after another, shaking the whole room slightly.
"Stop shouting! What happened?" The first one to come over was No. 3 Keke.
Ou Ruofei was so unsteady that she almost fell down, stammering, "She, she, I, I'm on the bed! Blood!"
Trembling, she pointed at the blood-soaked bed sheet.
Ah Nian nodded immediately, "That's right, that's right, I told you there was blood, but you didn't believe me!"
She wasn't lying. At first, the bloodstains on the bed were fleeting and not noticeable. But now, the two adjacent bedside tables were covered in bright red, so conspicuous it was impossible to ignore.
Ke Ke separated the two of them and walked over. She reached out and touched it, and said with a chill, "Are you stupid? This is not blood, it's ketchup."
Ah Nian was furious: "You lied to me, I'm not a child anymore!"
Ou Ruofei didn't believe it either, and even felt that the other party was saying this intentionally out of prejudice. She cried out in a tearful voice: "This is clearly blood, you can't—ahhh, why are you pulling me?"
When Keke pulled him over, Ou Ruofei immediately fluttered around in panic like a chicken with its neck pinched. However, the strength difference was too great, and he was dragged to the bed without any power to resist, and forced to put his hands on the sheets.
The sticky and cold touch made Ou Ruofei even more frightened. He quickly retracted his hand and tried to wipe off the blood.
However, after wiping it twice, her movements became somewhat hesitant, and her face, twisted with fear, gradually became stagnant. Finally, she tentatively put her hand in front of her nose and sniffed——
Is it really ketchup???
Ke Ke turned around and lifted the blanket of An Nian in bed number 16, and felt around: "It's still ketchup."
Ah Nian: "Ah?"
She sniffed, dazed and walked over to smell it. Her eyes immediately widened. "How could this be? This is so weird. It was just sticky and scary blood!"
Ke Ke scolded her: "You know blood is scary, but you still call others over to see it. What if they get scared away?"
"Yes, I'm sorry..."
Jiang Lan walked over and examined the position and distribution of the ketchup on the two beds. "Maybe it's the lighting. From a distance, it really does look like the color of blood, but it's different when you get closer."
"But why did ketchup appear on the bed out of nowhere?"
The other girls in the dormitory raised questions from a distance, not daring to get closer.
"It could be a prank by those imposters outside, or it could be something they're trying to mess with our minds during the exam." Keke shrugged. "If there really was blood on the bed, I could analyze it for you, but how do I analyze ketchup? They can't be trying to choke the students to death on it, right?"
I don’t know if ketchup can choke people, but No. 3 choked the others so much that they were speechless and could only leave in disappointment.
The two frightened people unfortunately became the targets of No. 3's sarcastic remarks, "If I were a ghost and wanted to kill you, I wouldn't even have to attack you. I would just lock you two together and you would scare yourselves to death."
Ou Ruofei/Anian: "Woo..."
"Okay, Keke, stop talking." Jiang Lan interrupted No. 3's sarcasm, called her over and whispered a few words to her.
Ou Ruofei didn't know what the two of them said. She just wiped her tears as she saw Jiang Lan walk towards the other four people and asked politely, "Excuse me, can we go up to your bed and take a look?"
She was referring to beds 13 and 15.
The four of them hesitated for a moment. Before No. 15 could say anything, No. 13 suddenly shook his head and vehemently refused: "No, you can't get on my bed!"
Seeing No. 13's tough attitude, No. 15 also shook his head and rejected Jiang Lan.
Ke Ke stood between the two bunk beds and said angrily, "I'm just taking a look, I'm not going to steal your stuff, what are you afraid of? Besides, don't you think about it? The ketchup is flowing down the wall, where is its source? Who is the one sleeping on the upper bunk of these two idiots?"
The four of them shuddered, their breathing quickening. Numbers 13 and 15 were panting especially hard, until number 13 finally gave in: "No need for you, I'll see for myself."
Under the gaze of several people, No. 13 and No. 15 climbed up the ladder to the bed, carefully checked it, and shook their heads: "There is no ketchup."
"Besides ketchup, are there any other abnormalities?" Jiang Lan asked.
The answer is still no.
That would just leave it at that. The few of them put the matter aside for the time being and began to look for clues in the room as Tang Xinjue had instructed them to do over the phone.
By nine o'clock, the dormitory had been turned upside down, and in the end all that was left was a bundle of large black garbage bags, two mops, two brooms, and some scattered cleaning supplies.
The only written clue was a torn-up copy of the "School Spirit and Discipline" book. After it was pieced together, the original words could still be vaguely seen:
"Two points for talking in the hallway, two points for skirts below the knee, five points for secretly possessing a cell phone, three points for chatting in a group..."
"Leaving the dormitory without permission will result in a 10-point deduction, dating will result in a 15-point deduction, and not complying with the requirements of the student union, dormitory management, and teachers will result in a 20-point deduction..."
"For every point deducted, there's a 500 yuan fine and one day of confinement. If more than five points are deducted at once, there's a two-day confinement... What kind of rubbish is this rule?"
Number 3 started cursing as he read: "What kind of university is this? A university jointly owned by a women's prison? Are the students here prisoners who have been re-enrolled in labor camps? Or did they commit murder and arson at the school leader's house and end up in this lousy concentration camp?"
In addition, according to the school rules, there is no dedicated garbage room in the dormitory building - students cannot even go up and down the stairs freely, and the garbage bags in the corridor can only be collected by the cleaners who come once a week.
"Based on the amount of garbage in the dormitory, the cleaner must have not come for at least two weeks."
As Jiang Lan was reading the message carefully, the dormitory door was pushed open and the dusty corridor search team returned.
Number 3 blurted out, "Are you guys digging for coal?"
"I was secretly plotted against. It's hard to explain."
Number 5 waved his hand and carefully took out the four clues from his pocket: "These are the clues we found in the bathroom."
Taken together, these clues basically correspond to the task levels currently presented in the exam, and provide a preliminary outline of the exam.
There were still two hours before the inspection, so without further delay, everyone immediately began distributing cleaning tools and officially started the general cleaning.
Seeing that Tang Xinjue and the other man had not returned yet, Guo Guo and Zheng Wanqing ran to the corridor worriedly to check and bumped into them.
"How is it going?"
Tang Xinjue shook his head: "It's a bit tricky."
The two of them gasped.
If even Tang Xin Jue finds this difficult, then the difficulty of this dungeon...
Time didn't allow for much thought. They first made their beds, then went to their respective posts to clean up the trash. Just putting the debris into the trash bags took a full half hour.
"If I were you, I would throw all the desks, cabinets, clothes, and even the bed into the trash bag."
Number 3 twisted his wrist. "In my worldview, they're all garbage."
Ah Nian panted as he tossed the bathroom trash into a large bag, pinching his nose tightly. "Don't say such discouraging words, Keke. The students living here don't get to dictate the school's rules and environment. I believe if they lived in a normal dormitory, they wouldn't make such a mess... They probably treasure these clothes too."
Number 3 smiled, tied up her bag and threw it into the corridor. "We live here now, aren't we students here?"
Ah Nian refuted seriously: "No, the exam introduction said that we were sent here to experience life."
Number 3 didn't take it seriously. Instead, Jiang Lan, who was mopping the floor nearby, paused, as if thinking of something. "You're right. We aren't actually students of this school. This dormitory is filled with traces of our past lives, so it's not ours."
"So, where did the original 16 students in this dormitory go?"
She was standing there, lost in thought, when another mop suddenly appeared in her sight. Tang Xinjue nodded at her, "I've already mopped the dormitory. Give me the mop, and let's move on to the next task."
Looking at the thin arms of the girl in front of him, Jiang Lan shook his head subconsciously: "No, the mop is too heavy and it will easily crush you. Let me take it."
As soon as she said this, Jiang Lan smiled, realizing that she had said something illogical based on her first impression.
Judging by the way Tang Xinjue had kicked the skeleton away, there was no way she was a weak girl who couldn't even lift a mop. But her initial impression of fragility was inexplicably profound, even affecting her subconscious. When she faced Tang Xinjue, she couldn't help but feel a sense of concern for the weak.
Tang Xin Jue smiled. "It doesn't matter. Once the information we see forms logic, we easily become accustomed to it and ignore the opposite side of the information, right?"
Jiang Lan handed over the mop and said in a hoarse voice, "Thinking trap. I try to think carefully, but I still can't avoid falling into it. Exams often take advantage of our characteristics and set one death trap after another."
"So to avoid pitfalls, I always remain skeptical of everything."
Tang Xin Jue handed over a rag. "Whether it's explicit or implicit, hints or rules. Especially when you see something with your own eyes. It turns out that much of the information given in the exam is often nonsense. The real danger lurks in what it wants us to do."
Jiang Lan seemed to be lost in thought.
After a moment, she took the rag and said, "But at least there are some things I won't doubt. Like my roommate and the teammates I've already confirmed."
She raised her head, her brown eyes fixed on Tang Xinjue: "Just like now, I believe you, so I also believe the information you give me. There is no doubt about that."
"You guys are all speaking Chinese, but I don't understand a single word."
While wiping the cabinet, Zheng Wanqing was doubting her life in her mind.
Guo Guo: "Miss, what do you know? This is called a battle between masters, every move is fatal... Actually, I don't understand it either. God of Secrets, to round up, does Jiang Lan understand what we mean?"
Tang Xin Jue: "I think I've pretty much understood it, but I can't be too specific. After all, we can't confirm whether it's safe to talk in that environment, and we don't have any evidence. If Jiang Lan wants to know more, she'll come to us."
Zhang You sighed slightly: "If I had reacted faster, I would have taken that photo in advance."
When they saw the black paper with red words in the bathroom, they were both momentarily surprised. However, the next second, the entire paper suddenly rotted away rapidly, and in the blink of an eye, only a charred mass remained, indistinguishable from the dirt on the wall, leaving no evidence.
Tang Xin Jue consoled him, "The scarlet letter is vague, and even if we take a picture of it, it might not mean anything."
[They are all liars]——Who are the liars?
Is it the school, the health inspectors, the imposters... or other students?
[Don't stay here]——What does this refer to?
Is it the bathroom, dormitory building, school or copy?
More importantly, the identity of the person who wrote this sentence determines the position and authenticity of this sentence.
Tang Xin Jue speculated, "I think it's highly likely that the person who left the message was a former student here."
Only those who have truly lived here and been restricted by strict rules can better fit the characteristics of the blood-written instructions on the back of celebrity posters.
Zhang You added: "If that's the case, then she's most likely accusing the school. Could the health inspection actually be a scam?"
Guo Guo shuddered. "Thank you. I've already imagined ten horror stories. If there's going to be a fight, remember to let me know where you are so I can rush over."
After all, she is just a support, and she will definitely die if she is left alone.
Tang Xin Jue smiled and said, "Don't worry too much. If the truth can be revealed quickly, or even a direct confrontation, it would be better than a prolonged tug of war."
Of course, there was the second half of the sentence she didn't say: her premonition about this exam just slid into the most difficult possibility.
…
At 10:30, the cleaning was basically completed.
"Student Zhang, let me get the mop for you."
"Thank you for your hard work, Zhang. I'll help you wash the rag."
"Student Zhang, do you need me to wash your coat? I'll wash your gloves."
In just an hour and a half, the entire dormitory's focus shifted to Zhang You. Even No. 3, who could not speak without sarcasm, spoke in a gentle manner and attentively handed Zhang You an air freshener.
It was simply because Zhang You's cleaning ability was so strong that she could clean faster than everyone else combined. Furthermore, the cleanliness of the places she cleaned was clearly on a different level than others.
"Stack three chairs for me and I'll clean the fan and the chandelier."
Zhang You jumped down from the door, leaving everyone in amazement at the dormitory door that looked like it had been renovated.
"Isn't the chandelier too difficult or dangerous? Ruo Fei and I will help you press it."
Anian was very worried.
"Comparatively, I feel that the place where you two are is more dangerous."
Number 3 complained mercilessly.
A Nian: qwq
After piling up ten large garbage bags, everyone began to sort them carefully according to the cleaning rules.
No garbage cans can be put in the trash can, no miscellaneous items can be put on the table, and no toiletries can be put in the bathing area... Finally, everything was done at exactly 10:55.
“I never want to do a thorough cleaning again in my life.”
No. 5 and No. 6 supported each other and barely stood up, cheering themselves up.
Cleaning is only a prerequisite, the more important part is the sanitation inspection.
As the minute hand moved slowly, everyone's heart slowly lifted.
"bite"
At 11 o'clock sharp, the corridor suddenly became dark.
There was no figure, no sound, and no prompt.
The corridor was still blocked on all sides, without any stairs or entrances or exits, and there was no sign of any change.
Tang Xinjue frowned. She was about to communicate with her roommate when her mind suddenly buzzed, followed by an indescribable sense of confusion that enveloped her entire sea of consciousness!
…
"From today on, you'll be living here. The dorms are spacious and luxurious for 16 people, and the cost is only twice as much. You students are really getting a great deal."
"Graduate? Don't worry, our school is authentic and guaranteed. As long as you pay the money, it will be no different from other universities."
"The teaching building is still under renovation, so there are no classes for now. What textbooks do you need? The infirmary teacher has asked for leave, so please drink more hot water."
"Go home? No, the school rules clearly state that you are not allowed to leave the school except on special holidays. You are not allowed to talk back to the teacher! Put me in solitary confinement!"
"The cafeteria's equipment is broken recently, so we won't be delivering meals to you these few days. You can buy instant noodles at the school's special price."
"Cleaner? Didn't they come last month? No way, you have no hands or feet, and you still need a cleaner to serve you?"
"Did you see what happened to her? If the school finds out you're secretly using your phone to contact your family again, this will be your future."
…
"Of course, don't worry. Our school is a formal university with a certificate. As long as you pay the fees on time and stay patient for four years, you will be guaranteed to have both a diploma and academic qualifications, and you can find a normal job in society..."
"...Wait, what is this? What is this thing?"
The blurry fog was slowly peeled away by the shrill screams. Tang Xinjue endured the pain in his head and mobilized his mental strength to remember these sudden and piercing sounds and chaotic images firmly.
Finally, the picture gradually became clear, and a dirty and smelly dormitory appeared in the "field of vision".
The girls, whose faces could not be seen, screamed and cried, and the middle-aged men and women in formal attire panicked. Outside the dormitory door, a thick black fog spread, gradually engulfing everything.
They locked the door, but later realized that the dormitory they designed had no windows - this was a closed space without any exit, and it would be closed forever, with no chance of seeing the light of day again.
Amidst a terrifying roar, the scene suddenly shrank and disappeared. Tang Xinjue opened his eyes abruptly, sweat dripping onto his palms.
She still stood in the dormitory, next to 15 other girls who had woken up one after another. There was no black fog in her mind, nor any sign of the health workers checking in.
There was only a solitary whiteboard on the floor at the door to the dormitory, with three lines of words written in red pen on it:
Inspector: Student Union
Inspection result: Failed
Punishment: One day of confinement
"Look, the exam information on the app has changed!"
Following Guo Guo's prompt, he saw an extra line of words appear below the original message on the phone screen:
[You failed the hygiene inspection on the first day and are being punished with confinement. But it's okay, unexpected things always happen when you experience life, and this will become an interesting and unforgettable memory in your learning career.]
[Today is your first day in Dormitory 917]
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