The bridge stretched out beneath the night sky, bathed in the cold glow of the full moon. A thin mist hovered over the empty pathways, and the rhythmic hum of distant crickets filled the silence. The institution's CCTV cameras had long since scanned the area, and by now, all students were expected to be asleep in their dormitories.
But Hua Rong wasn't asleep.
She stood at the edge of the bridge, her arms crossed, shifting on her feet impatiently. The wind carried a slight chill, but it wasn't the cold that made her anxious—it was the risk they were about to take.
Then, from the darkness, a figure appeared, running toward her.
Zinchen Liu.
His strawberry-colored hair glistened under the moonlight, slightly disheveled from running, and a backpack was slung over one shoulder. He was slightly out of breath when he reached her, but the excitement in his eyes remained undimmed.
"How will we get out?" Hua Rong asked in a hushed voice, her gaze flickering toward the academy entrance. The watchman sat at his usual spot, half-drowsy, his head occasionally bobbing forward before jerking back up.
Zinchen grinned. "Obviously, the same way the others go."
Hua Rong's lips parted slightly in realization. Of course. She had heard the rumors—students sneaking out at night and returning before the CCTV cameras turned back on—but she never thought she'd be one of them.
Tonight, she was.
Without another word, they moved swiftly through the academy grounds, their steps light against the pavement. They reached the outer wall, where the real challenge awaited. It was high, but not impossible to climb. Zinchen Liu went first, his movements quick and practiced, scaling the wall effortlessly before landing on the other side with a soft thud.
Hua Rong exhaled sharply and followed suit. She gripped the rough surface, hoisting herself up with steady determination before swinging her legs over and jumping down. The moment her feet hit the ground, she felt her heart race—not from fear, but from the sheer thrill of it.
They were out.
Zinchen checked his watch, his eyes narrowing. "How long will it take to get there?"
Hua Rong glanced down the empty road. "If we take the bus, it'll be over two hours."
Zinchen groaned. "Then we should hurry."
The two of them fell into step, making their way toward the nearest bus stop. The streets were eerily quiet at this hour, the glow of streetlights casting elongated shadows on the pavement.
As they walked, Hua Rong couldn't shake off a nagging thought. "But what if we don't find anything there?" she asked, glancing sideways at him.
Zinchen didn't slow his pace. Instead, he smirked. "And what if we do?"
His words hung in the air for a moment before he added, "If we find them—those people—then maybe, just maybe, in return for uncovering the truth, you can ask to leave this place."
Hua Rong's breath hitched.
Breaking Free.
....
Xu Lingwei lay in bed, staring at the empty space across the room. Hua Rong still hadn't returned. He shifted onto his side, frowning. It was already past curfew, and she wasn't the type to stay out this late without a reason. Something felt off.
After a few more minutes of restless waiting, he sighed, threw off his blanket, and got up. If she wasn't back by now, he had to find her himself.
Leaving the room quietly, he walked across the dimly lit glass bridge that connected the dormitories. The campus was silent at this hour, aside from the occasional rustling of leaves in the cool night breeze. He checked the dormitory hallway, and then the cafeteria.
Still no sign of her.
That was when he noticed someone near the water dispenser—Wuhao Li.
Xu Lingwei approached him. "What are you doing here?"
Wuhao Li, startled, nearly spilled his water before turning to face him. "I was just getting water. Why?"
Xu Lingwei crossed his arms. "You seen Zinchen Liu?"
Wuhao Li raised an eyebrow. "No. Why?"
"He's your roommate, isn't he?"
Wuhao Li gave him a suspicious look. "Yeah. And?"
Xu Lingwei leaned in slightly. "Hua Rong is missing too."
Wuhao Li stilled.
It was subtle, but Xu Lingwei caught it—the way Wuhao Li's fingers gripped his cup a little tighter, the slight shift in his posture. He knew something.
"Where do you think they went?" Xu Lingwei pressed.
Wuhao Li let out a slow breath, setting his cup down. "I overheard Zinchen Liu talking earlier… he mentioned Yunxi Town."
Xu Lingwei narrowed his eyes. "That's not exactly helpful. Yunxi Town is big. How do we know where they went?"
Wuhao Li ran a hand through his hair, looking deep in thought. "We don't. But if we want to find out, we have to go there."
Xu Lingwei studied him for a moment. "You're this worried about Zinchen Liu?"
Wuhao Li smirked, but it didn't reach his eyes. "You're this worried about Hua Rong?"
Neither of them said it outright, but they both understood.
After a pause, Xu Lingwei sighed. "Fine. Let's go."
Wuhao Li grabbed his jacket. "Alright. But once we're there, how do we find them?"
Xu Lingwei frowned. That was the real problem. Yunxi Town was huge. If they just wandered around aimlessly, they'd never find them.
"We'll figure it out when we get there," he said. "But first, we need to get out of here without getting caught."
Wuhao Li grinned. "Now that I can help with."
And with that, they made their way toward the academy's outer wall, slipping into the night.
Slipping past the dimly lit hallways, Xu Lingwei and Wuhao Li reached the academy's outer wall. The cold night air wrapped around them as they crouched near a blind spot in the CCTV coverage—a route used by students who sneaked out at night.
Wuhao Li hopped over first, landing soundlessly on the other side. Xu Lingwei followed, dusting off his sleeves as he landed beside him.
"Alright," Wuhao Li whispered. "Now what?"
Xu Lingwei checked his watch. "The last bus should still be running. If we hurry, we can reach Yunxi Town in two hours."
Wuhao Li frowned. "And when we get there?"
Xu Lingwei hesitated. That was the real problem. Yunxi Town was massive. If they didn't have a plan, they'd just be wandering around all night.
"We need a lead," Wuhao Li muttered, pulling out his phone.
Xu Lingwei raised an eyebrow. "You think they texted their location?"
"Not exactly." Wuhao Li opened an app—one meant for tracking ride services. "If they took public transport, they might've booked a ride. Or at least checked a route."
Xu Lingwei watched as Wuhao Li searched through recent rides taken from the academy area. After a moment, Wuhao Li smirked. "Bingo. Two tickets purchased for Yunxi Town… drop-off location: Eastern District."
Xu Lingwei's eyes sharpened. "Eastern District?"
Wuhao Li nodded. "That's where we start."
Xu Lingwei's lips pressed into a thin line. He didn't like how easily Wuhao Li had found that information. "You've done this before, haven't you?"
Wuhao Li grinned. "Let's just say I know my way around certain systems."
Xu Lingwei shook his head but didn't argue. Right now, they needed to move.
The two of them made their way to the bus stop. The streets were empty, the neon lights of the city casting long shadows around them. After a few minutes, the last bus of the night pulled up with a soft hiss.
They stepped inside.
The bus was nearly empty, as expected at this hour. Xu Lingwei sat by the window, watching the academy fade into the distance.
Wuhao Li leaned back in his seat. "You never answered my question."
Xu Lingwei glanced at him. "Which one?"
Wuhao Li tilted his head. "Why are you really doing this?"
Xu Lingwei smirked slightly. "I could ask you the same thing."
They stared at each other for a moment before Wuhao Li scoffed. "Fine. Keep your secrets."
Xu Lingwei just turned back to the window.