Chapter 110: Back to School
Sometimes, death could be extremely close. Death could be on the same bus with us. Gao Ming put away his phone and walked to the back after reading Liu Yi’s message. He walked past the bandaged man and sat beside Zuo Bo. Zhou Sisi looked behind her curiously. She had no idea why Gao Ming suddenly left.
“Long time no see.” Gao Ming stared at Zuo Ba silently. He saw the wounds on Zuo Bo’s fingers and neck. This was the evidence left behind by Zuo Bo’s mental illness. Zuo Bo mumbled something. Gao Ming had to lean close to hear clearly.
“Pavlov’s dog, Thorndike’s cat, Skinner’s guinea pig, Bandura’s doll, Kohler’s Mentality of Apes, Tolman’s mice maze…”
“Psychological experiments?” Gao Ming had memorised these things before. Zuo Bo was not a social person. He seemed to be trapped in a class. After some time, Zuo Bo suddenly stood up. He looked at everyone on the bus and scratched his face. “Is it recess? Why are we not in class?”
“Zuo Bo, you’ve graduated.” Gao Ming consoled Zuo Bo softly, “We’ve all graduated.”
“Then, why are we in the same place? Do you want to lure him back?” Zuo Bo turned around and bent down. His face was almost stuck to Gao Ming’s face. His eyes were bloodshot.
“Lure whom back?” Gao Ming was confused.
“It’s him!” Zuo Bo couldn’t explain it. He scratched many wounds on his face and then returned to his previous state. Zuo Bo seemed to know something. Gao Ming tried to remember their time in university. Zuo Bo’s mental breakdown was not without warning. He often talked to himself during classes, like he had an invisible friend.
The bus continued to move. The atmosphere within was not affected. The students sang, played games and drank. The passengers appeared to be lulled by them. They didn’t realise how much time had actually passed.
“We’re here.” The bus didn’t arrive at the holiday villa but at Han De Private School.
Before everyone could react, the driver with the black band drove the bus into the school. Then, he plugged out the key and ran out of the bus. The driver abandoned them without warning.
The luxury was like a test box dropped in the rain. Every passenger was a lab rat.
“Don’t form any habits. Remember to be human.” Zuo Bo stood up in a hurry and ran out into the rain. After that, everyone received a message from Zuo Jun.
“10 years ago, we were friends in school. 10 years later, I wonder if everyone still has a memory of that period. This school is our holiday villa and a theme park to help us remember our past.
“Everyone’s school number is the same as in the past. The school has a canteen, infirmary, library, hostels, pool and so on. You can do anything you like. I hope everyone has a good time.”
People didn’t feel alarmed by Zuo Jun’s message. Instead, some thought it was very creative and new.
Gao Ming took Zuo Bo’s seat. He saw the shadow gathering on the windows, and his heart raced. They were sent by the bus driver into the anomaly. The communication was cut off. Only the haunted chat group could be used. In other words, Zuo Jun, who sent them messages, was not the original Zuo Jun.
“Zuo Jun joined the east city investigation centre and worked for Situ An. Is there a reason why he has gathered all of his school friends here?”
The students gradually got off the bus. Liu Yi found Gao Ming, “What do you think?”
“Ghosts are sending messages in the chat group. We have too few clues. We should follow the rules for now.” Gao Ming was not the kind to follow the rules. He was waiting for the opportunity. Some of the students braved the rain and ran into the nearest hostel block.
“Look! Zuo Jun even prepared hostels for us. He’s afraid that we’d be wet from the rain, so he has prepared a change of clothes for us at the hostel.”
“This is just a reunion. Why the need to do so many things?”
“You don’t get it. This is a nostalgia-themed park. High school is so many people’s precious memories. He must have paid a lot to get us the tickets to this place.”
The walls were hung with welcome posters and every student’s name and picture.
On the blackboard next to it, there were several white papers with notices for students who were moving in.
“Welcome to the student hostels. For the student’s safety and to create a conducive and warm learning environment, the logistics and security department has come up with these rules. Please follow them closely.
“1. Follow the designated resting and sleeping hours. Wake up on time and sleep after the lights are out. Do not stay in the hostel during class hours.
“2. Do not make loud noise. No alcohol, cigarette or fighting allowed.
“3. Take care of your beds and public amenities. Keep the public areas clean. Don’t litter. Don’t pour leftovers down the sink to prevent the pipes from getting stuck. After using the shower, clean up the hair properly. If there’s any damage, please report it to the class teacher for maintenance.
“4. Follow the electricity usage rules. Students are not allowed to install additional plugs.
“5. Follow the hostel management’s rules. Once the hostel doors are closed, no one is allowed to leave. If there’s an emergency, you need the permission and registration with the management on duty.”
There was a nail under each student’s picture. A small key with a red rope hung on the nail. Behind the key was the number of the bedroom.
“Should we check out the bedroom first?” Xi Wan walked in front. “I haven’t stayed in a hostel for so long already. I quite miss this.”
“You city people are so unique,” The math committee member, Du Bai, became a teacher after he graduated. He didn’t miss this.
“The male hostels are from floors 1 to 3. The female hostels are from floors 4 to 7. If you find anything, keep in touch.” Liu Yi told Gao Ming before she was dragged away by the other girls.
“Gao Ming! We share the same room again!” Du Bai and the monitor Xuan Hui walked beside Gao Ming, “Come on. We’re in Room 1314.”
The hostel building was large. There were many rooms on each floor, but there were no other students except Gao Ming’s group, perhaps because it was class hours.
“He built a whole school just to find the feeling of youth. Such a waste of money.” Du Bai couldn’t understand it. He took out the key and opened the door to Room 1314.
Six students shared a room. There were 3 bunk beds. There was an air-cond, mosquito net and so on.
“It feels like we’re students again.” Du Bai sighed when their phones rang. Zuo Jun fired off another message, It’s now time for class. Please leave the hostels within 30 minutes!
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