Chapter 7: Not a Precedent

What are you going out for?

Zhou Yichen immediately pressed for an answer, with a businesslike demeanor.

I drank milk and my stomach hurts, I'm going to the restroom.

Lactose intolerance?

Wang Zhe asked concernedly, Su Mian nodded, Zhou Yichen sneered, and instantly everyone's gaze fell on him.

When we were together, how could I not have known you were lactose intolerant? You're clearly lying.

What's in the middle of your ears?

Su Mian lifted her hand and gently pressed her temple; the irritated feeling made her want to cough again.

He didn't know, because Su Mian never touches dairy products, and Zhou Yichen never asked.

Damn... you two... know each other?

Wang Zhe was a bit surprised, but the current atmosphere wasn't suitable for discussing this, so after speaking he shut his mouth, his eyes constantly glancing at the two.

When he looked at Su Mian, it was with deep sympathy.

How did I end up with a scumbag like Zhou Yichen? No wonder beautiful women are a bit short‑sighted.

Wait...

The class beauty Zhou Yichen had been bragging about, whom he chased for two years—could it be her?!

After figuring this out, Wang Zhe widened his eyes, a bit unable to believe it.

Is the world really this small...?

Cough... cough.

A light, rapid cough broke the silence, and everyone looked toward Su Mian.

Su Mian's shoulders trembled slightly, her slender fingertips rested by her lips, her eyelashes fluttered, and the corners of her eyes instantly reddened.

The side braid she wore today gave off a cold, fragile beauty.

Zhou Yichen became even more convinced of his thought.

Su Mian is already frail, but she only coughs violently when angry.

In the past, whenever this happened, Zhou Yichen would pat her back and gently coax her, but now he interprets this emotion as embarrassed anger.

I've been with you so long, I know you well; how could you have any lact—

Shut up.

Su Mian spoke coldly; before Zhou Yichen could react, she looked away and asked.

Have you ever played Script Murder Game?

The four of them paired off and looked at each other, all shaking their heads.

Su Mian sighed, her voice hoarse from the earlier cough.

Script Murder Game is divided into two types, canonical and variant. Simply put, canonical books have no ghosts or monsters—they're set in the physical world; variant books have supernatural elements, i. e., the usual ghosts and monsters.

Do you think Orphan Grudge is canonical or variant?

Variant, I guess...

Wang Zhe said uncertainly.

Then that's correct.

Human bodies naturally combust, temporal displacement, rule‑concept killing, Wraith curses—any of these could be the cause of her death.

Empty words can't discern the real culprit; you'd have to have accumulated virtue for half a lifetime to get it right by sheer luck.

But as far as I know, Zhou Yichen—

She slightly furrowed her brows, shaking her head with a half‑smile.

You don't have that.

Zhou Yichen's face instantly turned ashen; although he knew Su Mian was right, he still wanted to refute out of pride.

Su Mian didn't notice Zhou Yichen's mood shift; her gaze fell on the Electronic Watch, and she suddenly realized the DM had disappeared again.

There are 30 minutes left for discussion.

They've wasted a lot of time.

【Ah, Mian Mian, you should be glad that the DM of this Instance is him.】

As silence settled, they one by one began idle chatter.

Why?

【Having dealt with so many Hosts, he's the laziest Dungeon Master I've ever seen; he doesn't care about anything, and after cueing the process he just wants to clock out】

【Um... in human terms, if other DMs are high school teachers, then he's a university professor, the kind that doesn't take attendance】

Su Mian's eye twitched, and opposite Zhou Yichen couldn't sit still again.

Su Mian, after all we've been together so long, how can you have the heart to speak to me like this?

But he was so brutal on his first day.

Every time Su Mian sees that DM, she inexplicably recalls the scene of Zhou Yichen's neck being broken on the first day.

Even though she was given some nutrient solution last night so she wouldn't starve, she knows that was out of her duty as Dean.

A gentle saint cloaked in skin, but at his core an extremely indifferent judge.

【A top‑grade creation of the Lord God, naturally possessing the ability to awe hearts and control players; moreover, as long as you don't touch his bottom line, he's still easy to talk to】

Su Mian: 'What is his bottom line?'

Zhou Yichen leapt to his feet; cursing him was one thing, but now ignoring him for a few moments—does he really think he's the old Zhou Yichen, still soothing her?

Yu Maomao, seeing the situation turn sour, quickly grabbed him, but he brushed her off by half an inch; Zhou Yichen pointed with his finger at the girl whose expression remained unchanged.

【His bottom line is...】

"Su Mian... you mother—"

"Don't give me any face, you shameless one."

Before the last few words could be spoken, Zhou Yichen's face turned deathly pale as he let out a wail.

A pencil, from who knows where, flew in and pierced the finger he had extended, snapping the bone with a crack, and blood splattered onto the faces of those nearby.

【Player violated Character Setting.】

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!"

"Who is Su Mian? Little Lin Xiaofan..."

A tender, bone‑piercing voice came from behind Zhou Yichen; the DM gently straightened up, his tone as gentle as coaxing a child to sleep.

"There's no one named Su Mian here, my child; haven't you woken up yet?"

He slowly pulled the pencil out, and the finger went "clack" as it fell to the ground.

"Then just sleep a little longer..."

Zhou Yichen's hands trembled with pain, he nearly fainted in an instant, and fell straight backward.

The DM casually shifted aside, making no attempt to catch him.

【Because the player violated Character Setting, he'll have his performance deducted.】

Su Mian's mind went completely blank at the scene before her.

How could a pencil pierce a human finger bone?

Her breath came in short gasps; she wiped the blood from her face with a trembling back of her hand. The DM slowly lifted his head, his eyes beneath the Mask landing on her.

Su Mian's pupils contracted sharply.

Did she just... also call out Zhou Yichen's name?

"Mi Guo..."

Dean whispered her name, "Who is Zhou Yichen?"

He thought exactly the same as Su Mian.

He is the brutal, indifferent Judge.

The girl's face instantly went pallid, her nail sank into the flesh, and she forced herself to stay calm.

Su Mian's voice trembled a bit, her mind racing.

"Yesterday... I didn't sleep well, I dreamed of... insignificant people."

The air solidified for a moment, and everyone present was pressed by the terrifying atmosphere to the point of breathlessness.

Su Mian lowered her head, trying to adjust her breath to appear more credible.

In her line of sight appeared a black handkerchief with gold edging; Su Mian slowly raised her head.

That hand wiped the blood from her face.

Gentle, slow, cautious.

It made one unconsciously lower their guard.

But she dared not move a muscle; she feared the icy silk handkerchief might suddenly turn into a blade and slice away her Face Skin.

The imagined scene never occurred.

She heard a man sigh, as if indulgent, yet also helpless.

……

"No precedent, Mi Guo."