HM Chapter 38

The footsteps outside the door stopped, followed by the sound of a key being inserted into the lock. However, they quickly discovered the door wasn't locked and easily pressed down the handle to open it.

Two boys wearing the same blue-and-white uniforms entered. They were both strikingly handsome, unusually tall for their age, each about 1.9 meters. Standing before Yuan Yuxue, they had to slightly look down to see him.

The boy with a smile on his face spoke first, "So, someone is here. A new student, huh? Hello, I'm Zeng Bai, and we'll be roommates from now on."

The other boy, with a slightly colder demeanor, remained silent, his pale gray eyes quietly observing Yuan Yuxue. Zeng Bai introduced him, "This is my cousin, Tang Yuan. He's not much of a talker, so don't mind him."

Yuan Yuxue responded with a simple "Mm."

He appeared just as reticent as Tang Yuan.

Fortunately, with three people in the room, at least Zeng Bai was friendly and enthusiastic. After asking Yuan Yuxue's name, he eagerly invited him to explore the campus and shop for some necessities.

"After all, it's where we'll be living for four years," Zeng Bai sighed. "I've heard Huai University's rules are very strict. You can only leave once a year, and you have to wear the uniform."

Yuan Yuxue seemed to grasp something and declined the invitation. "I prefer to go alone," he said.

As he left the dormitory, he heard Zeng Bai whispering to Tang Yuan.

"Looks like our new roommate isn't very sociable."

…

This dormitory building seemed quite old. Though spacious, its facilities were aging, and the exterior was far from appealing. The peeling white paint on the walls, yellowing tiles, and damp green moss gathering in corners formed dark gray streaks.

The building, facing south to north, rarely saw sunlight, making it even more gloomy and oppressive.

After leaving the dormitory, Yuan Yuxue saw a notice board with a map for new students.

He scanned and recorded the map, considering where to investigate first.

…The cafeteria.

Yuan Yuxue quickly made his decision. Just then, his uniform pocket began to vibrate slightly. He hesitated for a moment, then took out a mobile phone.

Yuan Yuxue quickly searched for information on how to use the phone, opened the screen, and turned off the alarm, just in time to see a message notification pop up.

The phone's owner seemed to be in several school groups, including the “Huai University Class of 2021 New Student Group.” The message displayed was from a student with the nickname “Mumu Game Team Looking for Members ~,” asking if anyone wanted to play a survival game with them and form a team.

In this special instance environment, where NPCs outnumbered players, this was a subtle way for a player to seek allies. Usually, such hints would get responses, especially from newcomers looking to band together. However, for a robot like Yuan Yuxue, understanding such nuances was challenging. So, he calmly exited the chat and continued toward the cafeteria.

Yuan Yuxue entered the largest of the four cafeterias on the Huai University campus. It wasn't meal time yet, but the windows were open, and a few students were scattered around.

Following the other students, Yuan Yuxue lined up, swiped his card, and mimicked the previous student by getting two vegetarian dishes and one meat dish. He then sat alone at a table to eat.

The cafeteria food looked ordinary and tasted bland. But for Yuan Yuxue, who had never encountered such warm meals before, the flavors were novel, and the main dishes were quite satisfying to his taste buds. Observing how others used chopsticks, he clumsily mimicked them and finished his meal. Afterward, he followed the others and placed his tray in the collection rack for cleaning, realizing the forty-minute safety period was nearly over.

The investigation had yielded some feedback.

For instance, the cafeteria food was decent.

Yuan Yuxue silently mused as he prepared to head to the academic building. Suddenly, the system panel refreshed.

The panel, woven from silver beams, flashed before him—

**[Instance: Huaiyin Ghost School Activated

The annual freshman season has arrived, and you have become a freshman at Huaiyin University.

Here, you will meet friendly classmates, knowledgeable and kind teachers, and helpful administrators, learning fascinating knowledge that will benefit you for life.

That is, as long as you do not violate the school rules.

Main Task: Complete one school rule and survive until the game ends.

Side Tasks: 1. Do not let any NPC discover your identity as a player.

Pass the in-class tests.

Violate one school rule.]**

What does it mean to complete one school rule?

Yuan Yuxue pondered and decided to include the side tasks in his objectives as well.

Do not be discovered, pass tests, and…violate one school rule.

This seemed to contradict the instance introduction and was obviously dangerous.

As Yuan Yuxue finished reading the task prompts, his pocket vibrated again. He opened it to find a new top-pinned group chat.

[Huai University Class of 2021 Language Department Library Management Major 1 and 2 Class Group]

Class Teacher: @all members, please come to Fengdu Building, room 404, for a freshman meeting within twenty minutes. Latecomers will face consequences.

Fengdu Building was a comprehensive teaching building Yuan Yuxue had seen on the notice board earlier, located at the campus center, not far from the first cafeteria but quite a distance from the dormitory. Without using campus transportation, it would be difficult to arrive on time.

Yuan Yuxue moved quickly, walking for about ten minutes to reach Fengdu Building. Since the semester hadn’t officially started, the building was sparsely populated, and the elevator was marked as out of order, forcing him to use the stairs.

Yuan Yuxue swiftly climbed to the fourth floor, finding room 404 as the fourth room down the hall.

Several students were already seated in the classroom, occupying the prime spots in the third and fourth rows.

As Yuan Yuxue entered, one of the new students waved at him.

“Yuan Yuxue, over here!” The boy smiled warmly, showing his white teeth. “Let's sit together.”

It was Zeng Bai.

This time, Yuan Yuxue didn’t refuse and sat beside him.

Zeng Bai started a friendly conversation, “You got here pretty fast. This class teacher is really strict, suddenly announcing a meeting and giving only twenty minutes. I was worried I wouldn't make it.”

Yuan Yuxue replied, “I was nearby.”

“So were we, near the library. The library at Huai University is quite famous and beautifully built,” Zeng Bai nodded, then casually asked, “Did you notice anything unusual?”

Without hesitation, Yuan Yuxue answered, “The cafeteria.”

“Hm?” Zeng Bai's eyes widened slightly, leaning in closer, his gaze fixed on Yuan Yuxue, “What's unusual about the cafeteria?”

“The food tastes good,” Yuan Yuxue replied.

“…” Zeng Bai fell silent for a moment, “Is that all?”

Yuan Yuxue glanced at him and said no more.

He had just answered Zeng Bai's question uncontrollably—a strange feeling. So Yuan Yuxue decided not to talk to him for now.

Zeng Bai's expression turned odd, but he didn't press further.

The classroom gradually filled with freshmen from the library management major. Though some seats remained empty, about forty students, roughly the combined total of two classes, were present.

Twenty minutes after the announcement, a woman in her forties entered the classroom. She was thin, almost emaciated, wearing a bright blue uniform jacket that didn’t match her demeanor, looking somewhat comical. She stepped onto the slightly elevated platform, her deep-set eyes scanning the students with a severe gaze.

The classroom fell silent; no one whispered or chatted, everyone respectfully waiting for the teacher's instructions. There were no disciplinary issues, so the teacher skipped the stern introduction, saying, “My name is Yan. You can call me Teacher Yan or Class Teacher Yan.”

Just as she finished, there was a timid knock at the door. A young girl stood there, her cheeks flushed from running or nervousness, beads of sweat on her nose, looking at her fearfully, “Teacher Yan.”

“I'm sorry, I'm a bit late,” she stammered. “The dormitory is far from here…”

Teacher Yan’s expression grew stern, her face darkening, prompting the players in the class to silently pray—

Hopefully, this girl is an NPC, not a player.

Otherwise, this would be a standard opening kill!

Unexpectedly, Teacher Yan didn’t reprimand her harshly or make her stand outside. Instead, she said coldly, “Come in.”

As the girl awkwardly took a seat in the first row, Teacher Yan continued, “Tomorrow is the first official day of classes. Download your schedule from the academic system.”

“I have nothing more to tell you except to remember to strictly follow the school rules.”

Teacher Yan opened her computer, and the screen displayed a document with the title in bold red font:

[School Rules]

[To all students of Huaiyin University:

No skipping classes.

Return to the dormitory by 20:00. Lights out by 21:00. No lighting or talking after lights out. Any noises you hear at night are just horror movies being played by the dormitory manager, nothing to worry about.

All teachers will wear uniforms during class. Ignore non-uniformed teachers and report them to the administrator. If you see a teacher in a red uniform, leave immediately, do not acknowledge their presence, and do not look back.

Follow the school rules. The rules may be updated at any time. Wishing all students success and a smooth graduation.]

Except for the first rule and the first part of the second rule, the rest of the school rules reeked of something sinister.

The classroom was silent, with some students showing signs of fear and anxiety.

Teacher Yan's gaze swept over the freshmen once more.

Her voice was hoarse as she repeated, “This concludes the first class meeting.”

“Let me emphasize once more—follow the school rules strictly.”