Chapter Thirty-Nine: My Name is Ye Qingluan

Inside the Luohun Convention Center, when over ten thousand people witnessed Lin Jun’s failed call for help, the police retreat, and the first rescue attempt ending in vain, the audience ought to have felt disappointed. After all, this outcome signified a one-sided victory for the Xia Family Hunting Ground, which was precisely what they did not wish to see.

Yet, reality was quite the opposite. Nearly eighty percent of the crowd began to scream and shout, as though unwilling to let the drama orchestrated by Fang Nian come to such an abrupt close. Some girls even teared up, cursing the students with resentment.

“These students are really something else. Thank goodness they have a teacher like this to put them in their place. If it weren’t for their filthy mouths, that girl wouldn’t have ended up like that.”

“For once, I agree with you. What a bunch of trash! If those students are all hunters, I hope not a single one passes. Better that they’re all finished off and none of them come out.”

“That includes that Xiaoyin girl. Does she think admitting fault is enough? What kind of friend is that? When it mattered, she was nowhere to be found—just sits there and cries.”

“I agree. They should be tormented a bit more, these degenerates. Why give them such good food? A waste of resources, I spit on it.”

…

But just then, a somewhat cool yet deeply moving female voice rose above the noise.

“If you hurl such malicious words at those students, how are you any different from them?”

The girls who had just been ridiculing the students wanted to retort, but as soon as they saw the speaker, they instantly abandoned the thought.

The girl before them wore a high ponytail, her figure athletic and slender. Through her transparent hoodie, one could see the defined lines of her abs. Her facial features were sharp and beautiful, as if perfectly crafted. She sat with one leg crossed over the other, chin propped in her palm, gazing at the three-dimensional projection with a captivating coolness that could enchant even the other girls.

“Sis, you make a good point. How could I be like them, right? Heh… But tell me, do you want the teacher to win this hunt, or the students?”

The cool girl smiled slightly, becoming even more enchanting.

“I don’t think winning or losing is the message that ‘Class Three, Senior Year’ is trying to convey. Listen carefully to what the teacher just said. His aim isn’t to punish anyone—he wants to change them, to make them understand. When a world is filled with positive energy, when people learn to empathize and respect one another, when we are finally free from cyberbullying and verbal violence, the world will be transformed.”

“Just like our own broken world. What we need isn’t blame or regret, but forgiveness and kindness. And I believe the architect of ‘Class Three, Senior Year’ is not merely seeking to change the characters in the hunting ground for the sake of some so-called victory. What he most wishes to change is all of you in the real world.”

At this, the cool girl turned and cast a gentle smile at the group of girls beside her.

“May I ask you a question?”

The very moment the cool girl spoke, the others could barely sit still—her smile was too soothing, too enchanting. They even doubted how such a girl could exist.

“Of course, ask whatever you like.”

“Alright, I want to know, after hearing what I just said, do you still wish to see those students killed one by one by the teacher? Or would you rather witness their transformation? Would you prefer to see them carry forward the teacher’s convictions or spirit, and in turn change more people?”

The girls fell silent at her question, embarrassment creeping onto their faces. The cool girl patted one on the shoulder and smiled gently.

“It’s alright, you’re not really to blame. I just wanted to help you understand the creator’s intent, so you might experience this hunt differently. Keep your spirits up.”

Their hearts melted at once, and they nodded fervently. One girl even nervously fidgeted with her fingers, blushing as she asked, “Sister, can you tell me your name?”

The cool girl beamed sweetly and extended her right hand politely.

“Of course. Hello, my name is Ye Qingluan.”

…

When dawn broke the next day, the students gradually woke from deep sleep. But the instant they opened their eyes, almost everyone exclaimed in surprise—some with delight, others in despair.

“My god, I’m in Room 6! That means I get a feast today!”

“Why am I in Room 22? Did I do something wrong? Why?”

“I’m still in Room 27? So I won’t eat today either? For god’s sake, Fang, what’s your problem? I haven’t eaten in three days—are you trying to starve me to death?”

Lin Jun remained in Room 28, but this time he didn’t resist. Instead, he calmly asked the others, “Who’s in Room 1 today?”

“It’s… Xiaoyin.”

Hearing Xiaoyin’s name, Lin Jun and many others fell silent. They seemed to have grasped the logic behind the room assignments, yet no one chose to speak up.

Then, Ayi, who had been stuck in Room 27 for two days, weakly said, “I can’t take it anymore—I’m starving. Could those in the front save some food for those at the back? If I go one more day without eating, I’m done for.”

Others in the rear echoed his plea, but a boy in Room 9 named Xiaofan only grinned, “I won’t leave you anything. The sooner you starve, the better—spare the rest of us your bullying. Only a teacher like Fang can handle people like you. He’ll let you taste rotten food, let you know what it’s like to live with filth, let you see how shameful it is to trample on others’ dignity.”

As he spoke, Xiaofan suddenly broke down in tears, weeping as if his experiences at school were being relived all over again.

At the usual hour, the food cart arrived, and those at the front ate wantonly, wasting as they pleased. The ones in the middle, no longer picky, devoured what they could in desperation. By the time the cart reached the end, only scraps remained. Starving and dizzy, Ayi resorted to licking the plate clean with his tongue.

After dinner, the students once again discussed Xia Ye’s cause of death. Hoping for a better room the following day, many began to confess, each admitting the wrongs they’d committed against Xia Ye.

Among them was the timid boy Xiaofan, who had posted false pictures and videos online. There was the ponytailed girl who usually led a group of troublemakers to prank Xia Ye, and the class monitor Douzi, who, out of jealousy, often sabotaged Xia Ye’s cello and homework.

After their misdeeds were laid bare, each seemed to realize the shame in their actions. Xiaofan, in particular, was so overwhelmed with guilt he contemplated ending his own life.

“I should have stood with Xia Ye, the weak one, drawing strength from each other. The people I despise most are those who bully the powerless. Yet I became just like them. I cower before the strong, but when facing someone even weaker, I chose to bully them too. Compared to the strong, I am even more contemptible. Teacher Fang, please kill me—I don’t deserve to live.”

On the fifth day, the corridor was once again engulfed in mist, and the students, as always, gradually lost consciousness. Fang Nian, as ever, began his rounds to assign rooms for the next day.

But when he reached Room 28—the only room never to be reassigned—he stopped and gazed at Lin Jun, who was curled up on the floor.

“Will you keep pretending? It’s been three days. It’s time we had a real conversation.”

After a moment, Lin Jun staggered to his feet.