Xia Miao appeared on the empty playground wearing only a thin nightgown, her mind still foggy until a cold gust of wind snapped her awake.
The desolate surroundings, devoid of any people, added an eerie atmosphere.
Remembering she had left her school jacket in the classroom, Xia Miao calmly headed toward the school building. In the unlit classroom, she found the jacket draped over a chair. After putting it on, she felt much better.
Just as she was about to leave, she heard movement from the hallway outside.
"Leng Yeting, do you really have a way to keep us alive?"
Leng Yeting was cold and aloof. In his eyes, aside from Ruan Zhizhi, everyone else might as well be insects. He despised wasting words on them, but tonight was crucial—he needed their help.
Suppressing his impatience, he replied, "If I say I can keep you alive, then I won’t lie."
The two men following Leng Yeting were his "classmates." Like him, they had barely survived four rounds of the game. Tonight was the final round—if they made it through, they could finally leave this cursed place.
They had been praying silently that tonight’s "Butcher" wouldn’t be the infamous "Killer Ghost." But fate had other plans—the Butcher tonight was indeed that terrifying monster.
Just as they were at a loss, Leng Yeting approached them, promising that if they followed him, they would find a way to survive.
Leng Yeting said, "If it were any other monster, we might’ve had a chance by hiding. But tonight, it’s the Killer Ghost. You know how relentless he is—he won’t leave a single one of us alive unless we act."
Merely uttering the words "Killer Ghost" sent chills down their spines. They had scraped by in previous rounds because the Butcher hadn’t been him. This time was different—if they relied on their old tactics of hiding, they were doomed.
One of the men, slightly taller, asked, "What’s this method you’re talking about?"
Ruan Zhizhi stood silently beside Leng Yeting, equally curious about his plan.
Leng Yeting gazed out the window into the distance. "Because so few have survived the Killer Ghost’s game, no one has noticed—only on nights when he appears does an extra building appear."
Following his gaze, they quickly realized he was looking toward the cafeteria.
They had been to the cafeteria countless times, but now, something was different.
As a ring of black mist dissipated, a building emerged behind the cafeteria.
Ruan Zhizhi couldn’t help but ask, "What is that?"
Leng Yeting replied, "An abandoned boiler room."
The two men suddenly felt a glimmer of hope—maybe Leng Yeting really could lead them out. They stopped questioning him and prepared to follow.
Xia Miao, hiding in the classroom, overheard their conversation. Her eyes flickered with thought as she decided to tail them quietly.
"Miao Miao!"
A boy’s figure suddenly appeared in front of her, startling her.
Lu Yan smirked. "Scaredy-cat!"
Xia Miao kicked him without hesitation. "Can’t you just show up normally and talk to me?"
Lu Yan rubbed his leg, muttering complaints under his breath but not daring to retaliate. He took Xia Miao’s hand and led her out of the classroom, heading to the infirmary.
"It might get noisy outside soon. Stay here and rest, Miao Miao."
The infirmary beds were neatly made, ready for her to lie down and sleep.
Xia Miao grabbed his hand. "Lu Yan, won’t you stay with me?"
Lu Yan bent down, poking her cheek. "What, scared of the dark? Can’t bear to be without me? How embarrassing!"
Xia Miao glared at him, grinding her teeth at his smug expression. "Lu Yan, are you asking for another beating?"
Lu Yan stiffened, quickly dropping his teasing act. Softly, he murmured, "Miao Miao, I have work to do. I can’t stay."
Xia Miao wasn’t unreasonable. She knew Lu Yan wanted nothing more than to stick by her side, but if he had to work, he must be even more frustrated than she was.
Reluctantly, she conceded. "Then hurry back. I’ll wait for you to come get me."
Lu Yan’s gaze shifted, as if he was suppressing something. He forced his usual carefree grin, but his fingers lingered on her cheek, tracing her skin as if memorizing the sensation.
"Miao Miao."
Xia Miao frowned. "What’s wrong?"
He lowered his head, nuzzling her face. "I might be gone a long time. If the sun rises and I’m not back… leave on your own, okay?"
Xia Miao nodded. "Okay."
Lu Yan kissed her fiercely several times before pulling away. "Be good and stay here. I’m off to work!"
Watching his retreating figure, Xia Miao couldn’t shake the odd feeling that this was a final goodbye—as if they’d never see each other again.
"It’s not like we’ll never meet again. Why does he seem so sad?"
"If you leave, of course you won’t see him again."
Xia Miao whipped her head around. "Who’s there?"
A partition curtain slid open, revealing a tall figure in a white mask, his leg in a cast, lying motionless on the adjacent bed. He had been so silent that no one noticed him.
Xia Miao’s eyes widened in recognition. "You’re that movie star!"
"Wait…" Her gaze dropped to his injured leg, and a realization struck her.
Fang Keai had once mentioned her crush was recuperating in the infirmary after a leg injury. But the man she and Lu Yan had encountered earlier had hurt his hand…
"Do you… know a girl named Fang Keai?"
The man’s eyes lit up. "I do."
The only reason he’d been stuck here so long was because Fang Keai hadn’t visited him.
Xia Miao broke into a cold sweat, realizing she might have done something terrible.
"Hold on—" She looked up. "What did you mean when you said I’m about to leave?"
The man explained, "Survivors of five games can leave Crimson Moon Academy. Tonight’s Butcher is the Killer Ghost, but he hid you here instead of hunting you—meaning he’s letting you go. This is your fifth game. You’ve survived."