At 2:00 a.m., Gu Jiu and the other two took over the dormitory for the cafeteria staff.
A group of ghosts, who had been lashed mercilessly with the Infernal Blood Whip, huddled pitifully in the corner. They stared at the three of them with fear and trepidation in their eyes. Especially the fat chef uncle, who had gotten into a conflict with Gu Jiu during dinner. Hugging his plump self, he wished he could shrink into a ball.
He regretted it to death.
Had he known this would happen, he wouldn’t have bullied those students. He was used to bossing them around, never seeing them as a threat since they never dared to resist. Who could’ve guessed he’d encounter these three nightmares tonight?
He wasn’t the only one regretting it—the other cafeteria staff ghosts regretted it too.
They shouldn’t have sided with the fat chef earlier. Not only did their complaint fail, but they also faced brutal retaliation. Revenge might be delayed, but it never misses its mark.
Chai Yingying returned the Infernal Blood Whip to Lu Ji, then slammed her hand on the table. The table, which had been used earlier by the ghosts for playing cards, instantly shattered into pieces.
The ghosts shuddered in terror.
Chai Yingying barked, “What are you all squatting here for? Go and get us some midnight snacks! Or are you trying to starve your dad to death?”
The ghosts: “…”
Finally, the head chef ghost, who had been pushed forward by the others, trembled as he asked, “W-what do you want to eat?”
Chai Yingying glanced at the mess around her. Earlier, during her whipping spree, not only did she reduce the arrogant cafeteria ghosts to tears, but she also managed to destroy much of the room’s contents. Among the casualties was the midnight snack the ghosts had prepared for themselves.
While the dinners they served the students were barely better than pig slop, the midnight snacks they made for themselves were gourmet-level—visually appealing, aromatic, and made with the finest ingredients.
“Make it the same as your own midnight snacks,” Chai Yingying sneered arrogantly at them. “No cutting corners, and don’t try any tricks. If we find out, we’ll chop off your ghostly heads!”
The last sentence, spoken louder for emphasis, made the ghosts shiver and nod frantically.
A few chef ghosts bolted out of the room like their lives depended on it.
The other ghosts, left behind, looked at them enviously. They, too, wished they could escape. Staying in the same space as these three demon overlords made even the air feel suffocating.
One ghost hesitantly said, “I-I’ll go help them prepare the ingredients.”
“Go ahead.”
With the permission granted, that ghost lit up as though pardoned, and sprinted out in joy.
Seeing this, the other ghosts also tried to slip away, but Chai Yingying stopped them, ordering them to clean up the room.
“If this place isn’t tidied into a livable space within half an hour, I’ll twist your heads off!” Chai Yingying gave them a wicked, witch-like grin, her gaze lingering on the Infernal Blood Whip still lying on the one intact table in the room.
To intimidate them further, Lu Ji had deliberately left the whip out in the open.
The ghosts had no choice but to get to work, trembling as they cleaned.
While the three were wreaking havoc in the cafeteria staff dormitory, the commotion they caused wasn’t small. It didn’t take long before it drew the attention of other players.
Pei Yongyong and her partner came over to investigate. Seeing the trio lounging at a table, sipping tea and eating sunflower seeds, while a group of ghosts frantically cleaned the chaotic room, Pei Yongyong couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow.
The scene looked… a bit off.
Pei Yongyong asked, “What are you doing here, making such a racket? Aren’t you afraid of attracting the dean?”
Hearing the words “Dean,” the ghosts noticeably slowed their movements, cleaning half-heartedly with a clear lack of enthusiasm.
Chai Yingying, naturally, caught on to their little scheme. She sipped her tea and chuckled, “Relax, the Dean went to the East Wing.”
The school cafeteria was in the West Wing, separated from the East Wing by quite a distance. Given the Dean’s usual habits, unless the cafeteria was literally blown up, there was no way he’d abandon his patrol in the East Wing to suddenly conduct a surprise inspection here.
These ghosts, hoping the Dean would show up and catch the students breaking school rules, were bound to be disappointed.
Pei Yongyong and her partner, visibly tense until now, let out a small sigh of relief and sat down to rest for a bit.
By the time the cafeteria staff ghosts brought the prepared midnight snacks, over a dozen players had gathered in the room.
These were players who happened to be nearby, heard the commotion, and came to investigate. Seeing that the group had already occupied the cafeteria staff’s dormitory, they didn’t hesitate to stay and rest as well.
After spending half the night battling wits and courage against ghosts, it was a lie to say they weren’t exhausted.
Plate after plate of beautifully presented and aromatic midnight snacks was brought out, tempting everyone’s taste buds.
Chai Yingying pulled out several crates of cold beer, inviting everyone to eat and drink together.
Midnight snacks were best paired with cold beer for the ultimate satisfaction.
Gu Jiu started by picking up a salt-and-pepper shrimp and placing it in Lu Ji’s bowl before biting into a charcoal-grilled oyster he handed her. The rich, garlicky flavor burst in her mouth, making her narrow her eyes in delight.
The chefs at this aristocratic school were indeed skilled.
Chai Yingying couldn’t hold back any longer and began eating. After a busy night, she was so hungry that her stomach felt glued to her back. The tantalizing aroma of the food only made her hunger more unbearable.
Seeing the three of them eating with gusto, the others hesitated.
It wasn’t that they weren’t tempted, but they couldn’t fully trust the cafeteria ghosts. No one had forgotten the horrifying pig slop they were served at every dinner, which assaulted both their eyes and taste buds. Considering how the ghosts had just been punished by Gu Jiu and her group, it wasn’t impossible they might try to tamper with the food. While it probably wouldn’t kill them, it could still be troublesome.
Pei Yongyong couldn’t help but ask, “Aren’t you afraid they might have done something to the food?”
“They didn’t get the chance.” Gu Jiu smiled and motioned for them to look behind the chefs.
The players turned their heads. As one of the chef ghosts carried a plate of spicy stir-fried crab into the room, they noticed a group of small paper figurines trailing closely behind him. The figurines were watching the ghosts intently, ensuring they had no opportunity to sabotage the food—or sneak off to call for reinforcements, like the Dean.
Gu Jiu explained, “There are paper figurines guarding the cafeteria outside. You can eat without worry.”
Hearing this, the players finally felt reassured and joined in the midnight feast.
B-rank players had appetites comparable to beasts. The cafeteria staff ghosts made over a dozen trips back and forth, utterly drained by the time the group was finally full. They were so exhausted they looked like they might evaporate on the spot.
Chai Yingying, watching from the side, mocked them mercilessly. “Is this all you’ve got?”
The cafeteria ghosts seethed in silent fury but dared not respond.
It was now 3:30 a.m.
Having eaten and drunk their fill, the group felt relaxed and slightly drowsy.
Lu Ji suddenly spoke up, “Ah Jiu, do you want to go back and rest? There’s still plenty of time until dawn; we can catch a few more hours of sleep.”
Gu Jiu blinked and smiled brightly. “Sure. Shall we go to your dormitory?”
“Of course,” Lu Ji replied, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something unusual about Gu Jiu’s tone. When he glanced at her and saw the serene smile on her face, it seemed as though the air itself had turned sweet. His heart began pounding uncontrollably.
Pei Yongyong asked, “You two are going back to the dorm to rest?” Seeing them nod, she frowned. “Why go to all that trouble? You could just rest here. Those ghosts wouldn’t dare object.”
The “those” she referred to were the cafeteria ghosts lined up against the wall.
Noticing the players’ gaze, the ghosts immediately plastered on flattering smiles—so ingratiating it was almost nauseating. Their earlier arrogance during dinner was nowhere to be found, leaving the players in an extremely good mood.
For the first three nights in the game world, the players had visited the cafeteria to explore, but they’d largely ignored the cafeteria ghosts. Certainly, they hadn’t gone so far as to discipline them or demand midnight snacks.
It seemed these ghosts assumed the players were as easy to bully as the other students, which emboldened them to serve pig slop and openly mock them.
Before Gu Jiu could respond, Chai Yingying waved her hand dismissively.
“This place is filthy, and it’s full of middle-aged uncles and aunties. It’s not fit for a proper lady’s standards. Let’s head back to the dorms.” She spoke with a smile and sauntered after Gu Jiu and Lu Ji.
The other players, seeing the trio heading back to the dormitory, thought it over and decided to follow.
At 3:00 a.m., the campus was eerily quiet, the air heavy with sinister energy.
B-rank players moved swiftly and gracefully, like shadows flitting through the campus, always on high alert for the Dean.
After their earlier encounter with the Dean’s monstrous transformation, the players knew she was the most dangerous boss at Shengying High during the night. Avoiding her was the best course of action.
Finally, they reached the student dormitory.
The Dorm Supervisor wasn’t at the entrance, likely wandering elsewhere within the building.
After bidding farewell to the other players, Gu Jiu and her group headed to the fifth floor. The room assigned to Lu Ji was the last one at the end of the hall.
As soon as they reached the fifth floor, they ran into the Dorm Supervisor.
The matron now looked entirely ghostly, with a pale blue face, stiff features, blood-red pupils, and greenish sclera. Her jagged ghostly teeth gleamed as she muttered to herself while holding a broom and dustpan, looking like a deranged cleaning lady.
The three and the matron came face-to-face in the hallway.
The sight of them stirred both old and new grievances in her. She raised her broom with a ferocious expression. The broom, her chosen weapon even as a ghost, clearly wasn’t just for show—it was highly dangerous.
As the matron charged, Gu Jiu and Lu Ji moved in unison.
The Infernal Blood Whip lashed out, wrapping around the oncoming broom. In the next instant, a long leg shot out, sending the matron flying.
Chai Yingying crossed her arms and remarked regretfully, “Your combat ability is pathetic. You weren’t great during the day as a human, and now you’re still weak as a ghost! What a disappointment!”
The Dorm Supervisor was nearly driven to madness with rage.
She glared at them, her eyes blazing with fury, muttering, “I’ll tell the Dean about this! You bad kids breaking school rules deserve to be punished with detention—”
Chai Yingying rolled up her sleeves and strode toward her.
The Dorm Supervisor, sensing danger, grabbed her broom and dustpan and turned to flee. However, Chai Yingying caught up to her and dragged her back for another beating.
As she pummeled the matron, Chai Yingying growled, “Just because we didn’t hit you before doesn’t mean we’ll tolerate your nonsense! Keep complaining, and we’ll make your afterlife so miserable that even being a ghost won’t be worth it!”
Leaving Chai Yingying to deal with the overly talkative matron, Lu Ji took Gu Jiu into his dorm room.
The dorm had two bedrooms. Lu Ji occupied one, while the other was unoccupied—or at least it seemed so since the door was always shut. Tonight, it would likely become Chai Yingying’s room.
“Ah Jiu, do you want to shower first or rest?” Lu Ji asked while rummaging through his belongings to find her pajamas. His bag also contained some of her clothes and toiletries.
“Shower,” Gu Jiu replied lazily, leaning against the bathroom doorframe, watching her boyfriend bustle around.
After preparing the bath for her, Lu Ji was about to leave when she grabbed his hand and pulled him into the bathroom, shutting the door behind them with a decisive bang.
She stepped closer, wrapping her arms around his waist, her eyes shimmering with captivating allure, so mesmerizing it felt as though they could steal his very soul. In a soft, inviting voice, she whispered, “Ah Ji, let’s shower together~~”
He felt like his very spirit was being pulled away.
—
Meanwhile, Chai Yingying had just finished delivering a thorough beating to the Dorm Supervisor, ensuring she wouldn’t dare run off to tattle to the Dean. Only then did she leisurely enter the dormitory.
The moment she pushed open the door, her eyes landed on the bathroom. Its door was ajar, and wisps of steam wafted out. Moments later, two entwined figures emerged.
Chai Yingying stared blankly at them.
Upon seeing her, Lu Ji hastily adjusted Gu Jiu’s bathrobe, which had slipped off her shoulders, carefully covering her flushed and delicate skin, still rosy from the steam.
Even though Chai Yingying was a woman, Lu Ji was possessive enough not to let anyone see Gu Jiu’s alluring appearance.
Gu Jiu leaned against her boyfriend, exuding a languid yet irresistible charm. Just looking at her expression and demeanor, anyone could easily guess what the two had been up to in the bathroom.
“Hey, you’re back. Want to shower?” Gu Jiu asked casually.
“…Of course, I do!” Chai Yingying replied, deadpan.
“Great. Then the bathroom is all yours to clean up,” Gu Jiu said as she led a blushing Lu Ji back to the room to rest.
Chai Yingying turned to the bathroom. Through the open door, she could see the chaotic state inside. She couldn’t help but wonder what on earth the two had been doing in there. Could their “activities” have been… particularly intense?
Once again, the single dog suffered a heavy emotional blow.