Duan Jingfu's last doubts were dispelled. He had just used his mental power to intimidate Ruan Chen when she was least prepared and asked the most crucial question.
Ruan Chen's answer remained exactly the same as before.
The pulse beating at Duan Jingfu's fingertips was also steady, slightly faster but still within a normal frequency.
Duan Jingfu was unaware that Ruan Chen was already entangled with another timeline. If Duan Jingfu had known, he probably would have found an opportunity to kill Ruan Chen without hesitation.
In Duan Jingfu's mind, Ruan Chen at this moment was just a seventeen-year-old child who was inexperienced in the ways of the world but pretended to be mature.
"It's nothing, there were some confidential documents inside. If you had seen them, you would have had to make a record. But since you didn't see them, it's fine." Duan Jingfu waved his hand dismissively. "Go on, isn't it time for your break?"
Ruan Chen stood up, her eyes still filled with panic, looking genuinely frightened by Duan Jingfu. She said in a low, hurried voice, "Teacher, I'm going to have lunch."
After saying that, she limped away in a panic.
She took two steps out, then remembered something and reached for the broom behind the door, whispering, "Let me sweep this place for you, be careful not to get pricked."
Ruan Chen was referring to the cup that Duan Jingfu had just smashed.
She was clearly still afraid, carefully watching Duan Jingfu's expression.
"Go eat, I'll call the cleaning staff," Duan Jingfu said, his gentle demeanor returning. "Your foot still hurts, and if you fall again, you'll be crying again. Come find me after you finish eating, and I'll get you some medicine."
After a day of activities, Ruan Chen and Wu An were assigned to the same dormitory room.
The two people shared a bunk bed, and the remaining space was used to store necessities such as a wardrobe, computer desk, and bookshelf.
Wu An hadn't returned yet. After a quick wash, Ruan Chen tidied up her upper bunk and leaned against the bed with her laptop.
These days, she's been deliberately reducing her computer usage because of that persistent nobody.
As soon as the computer boots up, a "nobody" dialog box pops up even faster than the main screen.
Do you believe me now? Your tutor is really no good.
For the first time, Ruan Chen replied to Him, saying, "I will naturally make my own judgment about what kind of person the mentor is, but the evil you have committed is beyond question."
Nobody, without even a second thought, replied: "Ruan Chen, I'm just kindly reminding you that you'll eventually become your mentor's guinea pig. Perhaps you should consider our collaboration."
Ruan Chen typed, "I will not cooperate with a murderer, and I will not believe your one-sided account."
There was a few seconds of silence on the other end. [I'm waiting for you to change your mind.]
Ruan Chen slammed the laptop shut and tucked it under her pillow. She then leaned over, reached down, grabbed another laptop bag from the table below, and pulled out the new laptop.
On this computer, Ruan Chen double-clicked the iron gate icon in the lower right corner, activating a shielding wall specifically developed for them. Ruan Chen wasn't sure how useful it was; she was also developing this program herself.
However, it seems to be useful so far. At least there has been no redundant information on this computer, which means that life forms that exist as virtual signals have not yet entered this computer.
Ruan Chen's neatly trimmed and rounded fingertips tapped lightly on the keyboard as she casually searched through the papers under Duan Jingfu's name, especially those about mimicry weapons.
Ruan Chen kept looking until she felt tired and her eyes were sore, but she still couldn't find any useful information. Wu An had returned at some point.
She has a capable appearance and a somewhat unapproachable personality, which is similar to Ruan Chen.
"Ruan Chen, do you want to rest? I'll turn off the lights."
“I’m fine with anything,” Ruan Chen yawned. “Keep it if you want to use it. I brought an eye mask.”
"Okay, I'll wait a few more minutes until the lights go out."
Their conversation was concise and to the point, without any unnecessary words, and was quite harmonious.
The soft clattering sounds coming from Wu An washing up on the lower bunk were from her lower bunk. She was moving very quietly, probably because she was worried about disturbing Ruan Chen.
Suddenly, Wu An stopped moving.
Ruan Chen, who was drifting off to sleep, also sat up, her drowsiness vanishing from her eyes.
A few seconds later, Wu An lowered his voice, which trembled slightly, and asked, "Ruan Chen, was that... a scream?"
"Are there other students playing around?" Ruan Chen did not deny it. "Let's go to bed early and not overthink it. This is the Martial Arts Research Institute."
Hearing Ruan Chen say this, Wu An breathed a slight sigh of relief. Yes, this is the Martial Arts Research Institute, one of the most secure institutions in China. What danger could there be here?
After all, this is one of China's largest arms depots.
“It must be a cat’s meow,” Wu An subconsciously searched for a suitable reason, “The meowing of cats this time of year is quite frightening.”
Wu An continued washing up, and the room returned to peace and tranquility, but Ruan Chen couldn't fall asleep.
She remembered the "people" she had seen in the laboratory downstairs during the day.
The terror in that scream just now was definitely not the sound of playing or a cat meowing.
Ruan Chen got out of bed, pretended to pour water and drink it, and quietly took the scissors and fruit knife from her seat, putting one in her pajama pocket and the other behind her back.
The top button of her pajamas was undone, revealing a black leather cord hidden in her dark hair against her fair skin. Through her clothes, Ruan Chen gently pressed the pendant Su Ze had left her—the missing part of the Seven Star Dragon Abyss.
Ruan Chen took two sips of cold water, put down the cup, and with the crisp sound of the cup hitting the table, another scream rang out.
This time, Ruan Chen and Wu An could no longer find any excuses to comfort themselves, because the scream was getting closer, and the two heard a mixed and indistinct cry of "Help!"
Wu An's face turned pale as he looked at Ruan Chen's back as she stood by the table. He seemed to want to ask Ruan Chen for help, but then he remembered that Ruan Chen was just a student like himself, so he immediately picked up his phone to make a call.
She glanced at her phone screen and completely panicked.
"Ruan Chen, there's no signal!"
"I saw it." Ruan Chen was also looking down at her phone, unable to send any messages, which meant that even if Duan Jingfu and the others wanted to contact her, they couldn't.
“I know the security office, and I also know where my advisor lives,” Wu An hurriedly put on his coat over his pajamas. “Ruan Chen, will you come with me? My advisor said they’ve been staying at the Martial Arts Research Institute during the summer camp, so they must know what happened.”
Ruan Chen glanced back at her and said, "I suggest you don't go. The screams are getting closer to us. It's not safer outside than inside."
Wu An was startled, looked out at the boundless darkness, and shivered again.
How can it be so dark?
Ruan Chen's hand was warm and strong as he pulled her back from the doorway. He reached out and lowered the curtains, covering all the gaps completely, and then dimmed the lights. "Get ready and go to bed."
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