"Wait…
where am I going? What's going on?" Shi Yao muttered to himself,
the haze of his situation beginning to creep back into his thoughts.
For a fleeting moment, the cozy and strange atmosphere around him had lulled him into a sense of complacency. But now, unease clawed its way back.
Ever since he had stepped into the mystery house, everything felt… off. The surreal sequence of events, the unknown faces, the disorienting warmth of the juice—none of it made sense. Is this a dream? he wondered. Or am I hallucinating?
The question hung heavy in his mind as his gaze drifted down. That's when he noticed the corner of a familiar object peeking out of his bag, hastily packed in the rush.
The faint outline of the book he had grabbed before falling into this reality was unmistakable.
"Isn't this… the book I grabbed?" he murmured, pulling it out.
His fingers ran over its leather cover, tracing the strange, glowing symbols etched onto its surface. He flipped it open, curiosity overcoming him.
The pages were filled with intricate diagrams and flowing script, shifting subtly as though they were alive.
As Shi Yao skimmed through, something caught his eye. "The book also has a character with my name… interesting," he muttered, leaning closer. For a moment, he felt a twinge of unease. Was this some kind of coincidence? Or was it meant for him?
"We've arrived, young master," the driver's voice broke through his thoughts. Shi Yao snapped the book shut and looked up.
The car had stopped in front of a sprawling campus. The school's grand gates towered above, their iron bars curling into ornate patterns. Beyond them, the building stood proudly, its clean lines and tall windows reflecting the morning light. It was the kind of place that exuded prestige and authority—somewhere he was certain he had never been before.
Shi Yao's grip on the book tightened as he hesitated. If this were my usual dream, I would've woken up by now, he reasoned. He glanced down at his arm and pinched the skin hard. A sharp sting confirmed what he had feared. This isn't a dream. The juice felt too real to be a hallucination, but… I don't know enough about hallucinations to be sure.
Taking a deep breath, he decided to follow along, at least for now. There was no sense in fighting something he couldn't understand.
The classrooms were easy to locate, thanks to the workbooks tucked neatly into his bag. Shi Yao followed the instructions without much thought, navigating the bustling school halls with quiet curiosity. Students chatted and laughed around him, the air filled with the buzz of everyday life. Everything felt normal, yet strangely out of reach—like watching a play from behind a curtain.
As he entered the classroom, a boy a bit taller than him immediately approached. His face lit up with a grin as he threw an arm around Shi Yao's shoulders in an overly familiar gesture.
"Yao! Why are you on time today?" the boy teased, laughing as though they shared an inside joke.
Shi Yao stiffened. Physical touch wasn't something he was used to or particularly fond of. He quickly shrugged the boy's arm off, stepping away without saying a word.
The boy blinked in surprise but recovered quickly, brushing off Shi Yao's reaction with an easy smile.
"Fine, fine! Just sit beside me. The seats haven't been assigned yet anyway," the boy said, his tone playful and inviting. He gestured to a desk near the window, clearly expecting Shi Yao to follow.
Shi Yao hesitated, already forming the words of rejection. "I…"
Before he could finish, a cold voice cut through the room like a blade.
"Move."
Shi Yao turned, his eyes narrowing at the source of the command.