The next day, no one knocked on the door until noon.
Jing Minghe jumped out of bed to open it. Standing at the door was a tall, good-looking boy wearing black-rimmed glasses. He appeared to be quite refined.
However, the first thought that flashed through Jing Minghe's mind upon seeing him was "refined scoundrel," wondering if this was one of his premonitions.
The bespectacled boy saw Jing Minghe and smiled familiarly. "Hello, Teacher. I'm Liang Ye, the student representative. Are you Teacher Jing?"
"That's me."
A gleam flashed in Liang Ye's eyes. "Excellent, Teacher. We'll start with the kickboxing class today. Please follow me."
"Alright."
Jing Minghe acknowledged, then turned to nod at Tong Zheng and Wan Zuo inside the room, signaling them to search for clues elsewhere in the school. He then left with Liang Ye.
As soon as they stepped out of the faculty apartment, Jing Minghe directly asked Liang Ye, "Do you know why the teacher who jumped from this apartment committed suicide?"
Liang Ye paused at the mention of this, lowered his head, and gave a wry smile. "You know about Teacher Ding's suicide? That happened months ago. We've almost forgotten about it."
"I heard about it accidentally and just don't know the reason," Jing Minghe said, glancing at Liang Ye.
Liang Ye responded with an "Oh." "I'm not very clear on the reason for Teacher Ding's suicide. The school has sealed off the news and forbidden us students from spreading rumors."
"Is that so?" Jing Minghe narrowed his eyes, then asked, "Were you familiar with Teacher Ding? What kind of person was he?"
"No," Liang Ye shook his head. "Not familiar. I never took his class."
Jing Minghe scoffed. "If that's the case, how did you know which room he lived in? When you passed the second floor, didn't your gaze linger in that direction?"
After Jing Minghe's statement, Liang Ye stopped walking and turned to look at Jing Minghe intently. Finally, he only said, "Teacher, let's go. We'll be late otherwise."
Liang Ye neither admitted nor denied it. Jing Minghe did not press further, smiled faintly, and said, "Okay."
Upon arriving at the school gymnasium, the students had already gathered. Jing Minghe quickly counted them. Including Liang Ye, there were thirty-two students in total: eleven girls and twenty-one boys. However, as his gaze swept over them, he felt an inexplicable sense of strangeness.
At that moment, the students were standing in twos and threes, and even though Jing Minghe was standing before them, they continued to whisper to each other, looking quite undisciplined.
Of course, Jing Minghe knew he wasn't actually here to teach these students. They were merely a step in completing his quest.
"Liang Ye," Jing Minghe said to Liang Ye, "Have everyone warm up first."
"Yes, Teacher."
Liang Ye went to organize the warm-up according to Jing Minghe's instructions.
Jing Minghe stared intently at each student. After a careful observation, he finally understood the peculiar feeling he had when he first glanced over them.
Because, except for Liang Ye, everyone else's facial expressions were synchronized. They blinked simultaneously, opened their mouths simultaneously, smiled simultaneously... it was as if someone was controlling everyone's facial expressions at the same time.
Although their facial expressions were the same, their other body movements and actions were completely different. However, in this regard, it only made things even more eerie.
Perhaps these students were no longer alive. Then what about Liang Ye? Why was he different?
As Jing Minghe was contemplating this, Liang Ye walked over.
"Teacher, how long should we warm up? Can we start?"
As soon as Liang Ye finished speaking, a male student suddenly screamed as something pulled him into the air.
The students standing on the ground had the exact same expression as him. They looked up at him, but no sound came from their mouths. The only voice in the entire gymnasium was that of the male student being pulled into the air.
Liang Ye abruptly pulled Jing Minghe, his voice slightly anxious. "Teacher, save him quickly."
Jing Minghe asked unhurriedly, "How can I save him? I can't fly."
"But you are a teacher," Liang Ye's tone suddenly became much colder.
"Oh?" Jing Minghe raised an eyebrow and smiled. "You think teachers are omnipotent?"
"Teachers aren't omnipotent, but no teacher would stand by and watch a student die, would they?" Liang Ye stared at Jing Minghe, a smile playing on his lips.
"Die?" Jing Minghe let out a cold laugh and suddenly leaned forward, approaching Liang Ye. In the moment Liang Ye was stunned, Jing Minghe smoothly pulled his arm out of Liang Ye's grasp, then said in a deep voice, "How do you know he will definitely die?"
Before Liang Ye could answer, Jing Minghe had already retreated and turned towards the student who was still shouting while being pulled into the air.
The classmates seemed to sense Jing Minghe's approach and turned to look at him.
As they looked at Jing Minghe, their expressions changed, becoming blank.
Jing Minghe smiled and said to them, "Stop looking. All of you, go outside. Teacher will save this poor student."
Seeing that no one moved, Jing Minghe turned to look at Liang Ye. "If you want me to save him, obediently take your classmates outside. Good students listen to their teacher."
Liang Ye tugged at the corner of his mouth. The words "listen to their teacher" seemed to be an unavoidable command, and he obediently led the other students out of the gymnasium.
After Liang Ye and the other students left, only the male student suspended in mid-air and Jing Minghe remained in the gymnasium.
Jing Minghe unhurriedly walked to the basketball backboard, leaned against it, and looked up at the air. "Come out. State your demands directly. There's no need for these theatrics."
"..."
With a thud, the male student was thrown aside, lying motionless on the ground, no longer making any sound.
Jing Minghe narrowed his eyes, and a figure gradually materialized.
As expected, it was the young teacher he had seen on the rooftop of the faculty apartment. However, he said nothing, merely cast a indifferent glance at Jing Minghe before disappearing without a trace.
Jing Minghe shrugged helplessly and walked over to examine the male student who had been thrown to the ground.
Just as Jing Minghe was about to get close to him, the male student suddenly stood up, as if nothing had happened. He bowed to Jing Minghe and exclaimed loudly, "Hello, Teacher."
Jing Minghe was speechless. He twitched the corner of his mouth, waved his hand, and said, "Alright, go call your classmates in. We'll begin the class."
"Yes, Teacher."
Jing Minghe watched the male student's retreating back, deep in thought.
He could guess about five or six tenths of what had happened to that young teacher, but what role did these students play? And... who was the other protagonist who should exist?