Simulated Crime, This Criminal Doesn’t Seem to Be Acting

Suddenly, everything went dark. When she opened her eyes, it was still pitch black. The oppressive feeling from all around made Ye Sangsang realize that she had been buried.

Being buried underground wasn't a pleasant experience. The first thing to control was her breathing, and she had to do it immediately to conserve the little air left in her pocket. Her mind had to quickly process three things: where she was, what she needed to do, and how she was going to do it. She quickly arrived at an answer.

After feeling around her surroundings, she quickly determined that not only was she buried, but she was also tied up in a bag. The bag was sealed, and the air inside was so scarce it was almost non-existent.

She reached out and started moving slowly toward the bag's opening. Because her posture was crouched, she had to exert a lot of effort to extend her hand and feel for the bag's opening.

Perhaps the strap wasn't tied tightly enough, or maybe it had come loose during transport, but Ye Sangsang didn't have to struggle much to pull it apart.

However, this didn't mean she was saved.

She felt herself slowly starting to breathe with difficulty, and her face began to flush from the lack of oxygen.

Crouching her body, she created a small space to get some air, but it was quickly consumed in those few moments.

Her arm started digging upward into the dirt. Without any hesitation, she went directly upward to create a way for air to come in.

She didn't have any fear to overcome, so she just pushed upwards diligently.

Perhaps knowing there was definitely a way out, Ye Sangsang continued to hold her breath and exert force.

Finally, just as her breathing was about to fail, Ye Sangsang's fist broke through the soil.

The slender, pale hand, once it felt the fresh air outside the soil, quickly retreated downward.

Although the dirt would fill up the passage she had made, the loose gap her fist created allowed oxygen to enter.

She took a couple of breaths and began to dig herself out.

【Ahhhhh! Her hand came out! Scared the hell out of me, I thought I was watching a horror movie!】

【Me too! I was wondering why the camera kept focusing on this newly dug hole.】

【I got such a shock! I thought there was a bug in the game! Almost reported it.】

【My Sangsang sister, my big Sangsang sister, actually crawling out from the ground! The game's dungeon is way too absurd!】

The audience kept peering at the hole, and after almost two minutes, they suddenly saw an arm emerging from the ground.

This entrance was undoubtedly too intense for the audience’s nerves and was way too dramatic.

After Ye Sangsang's arm broke through and she breathed fresh air, she received information about the game's dungeon.

Originally thinking she was a buried victim, now she was told she was a criminal.

After some thought, Ye Sangsang wasn't too surprised.

Because reality is, unless someone is mentally ill, criminals always have a "reason."

Of course, she didn't agree that victims must seek ten or a hundred times the revenge; after all, that wouldn't pass the censors, and she wouldn't be able to play the game.

Her thoughts wandered off. Anyway, victims could also turn into criminals. Given her current situation, that might be the reason.

After reading the game dungeon's task list, Ye Sangsang gradually pushed the mud aside and created a passage to climb out.

"Croak croak croak" "Chirp chirp chirp" "Ssssssss"

Sitting on the hole where she was buried, Ye Sangsang listened to the sounds of insects and birds around her and looked at the big pit behind her.

This situation made her feel like a murder and burial.

The killer probably thought she was dead and wanted to avoid being found, so they buried her?

After a while, Ye Sangsang got up and walked up the slope.

It was really dark at night, and if there weren't lights up ahead, she wouldn't have known which way to go.

As she climbed, she started reading the information.

The person's name was Lin Ying, currently 15 years old, studying in the third year of a decent private middle school. Her grades were good, and her family had a comfortable life. Her parents were a doctor and a teacher.

Her name, Ying, meant "heroic," but she herself was far from being heroic. Instead, she was soft-spoken with a bit of weakness, due to her strong-willed parents.

The rest of the information included her usual persona, family address, and details about her parents, relatives, friends, and classmates.

However, as with the previous mission, there was no mention of who buried her or who the killer was.

This meant she had to, like the first dungeon, find the target and exact a careful and perfect revenge.

She checked what she had on her and found that her ID, student ID, and even money were gone.

Initially estimating, she was about eleven kilometers away from Lin Ying's home.

It would take her about three and a half hours to walk there.

This was a somewhat desolate road, but according to the map, it wasn't some remote wilderness. It was a road leading to a villa area.

If she had money, she could walk out for three minutes and catch a car, and it would take less than ten minutes to get her home.

But unfortunately, she had no money, and Lin Ying's parents wouldn't allow her to pay on delivery.

Whether they were at home or not was uncertain.

Her body was injured, making it hard for Ye Sangsang to walk fast combined with her constantly brushing off the dirt, she moved even slower.

It was around 10 PM at night, and she was gradually approaching the road outside the villa area.

Under the cold white light of the street lamps, an empty and desolate road stretched out, with trees on both sides. Behind Ye Sangsang, a person slowly followed, gradually catching up to her.

The black figure was tall and subtly quickened his pace.

【! ! ! Sangsang, be careful!】

【Is this world so dangerous? It's only 10 PM, and it's 2025; is it really so unsafe?】

【The previous commenter, this is our current time. Traveling alone at night in an unpopulated area, especially in a place like this, is always risky. There's never absolute safety.】

The audience was worried, even though most knew Ye Sangsang was a tough character. Such scenes still made people sweat for her.

Sometimes, being strong doesn't necessarily give you the upper hand.

Ye Sangsang continued to shake off the dirt. She wore the usual white T-shirt and black pants of a student. Once dirt got on these clothes, it felt like it would never come off, making her feel uncomfortable all over.

Especially since she had long, straight black hair, making her look even more delicate.

At that moment, a rough hand landed on her shoulder, preparing to move from her shoulder to her neck and mouth.

The man's other hand directly reached for her lower body.

But before he could finish his offensive words, his hand moving toward her lower body was caught by her wrist and quickly bent toward her palm, rendering his wrist completely useless.

Just as his other hand clenched into a fist, ready to hit Ye Sangsang's temple, a slender white hand extended, bypassing his fist, and continued the same move as before.

At that moment, Ye Sangsang had already turned around, her speed so quick that her long hair drew a semi-circle in the air as she spun. Her other hand had already completed the turn, leaving no chance for any counterattack.

The man's two wrists were bent inward, rendering his hands completely useless.

After turning around, Ye Sangsang pressed forward, bending the man's arms inwards even more harshly.

"Ahhhh!"

A scream that seemed to pierce through the forest echoed out.

"Thud"

The next second, overwhelmed by pain and a small guiding force, the man couldn't control himself and fell to his knees.

Ye Sangsang didn't make any further moves, just standing there, locked in the stalemate.

"Please... please forgive me!" The man's trembling voice begged for mercy.

Ye Sangsang curled her lips, releasing her grip on the man's wrists. Seeing that he was suddenly powerless, he ended up prostrating himself completely.

【Sangsang, you're amazing!】

【So satisfying! Just the way it should be!】

【Sangsang is so strong! I'm raising my flag for her!】

Seeing this scene, the barrage of comments flooded the screen, so dense that if not for the super-intelligent filtering, it would have covered the entire screen.

With a large number of viewers, the live broadcast quickly reached 250,000 people, and the viewer stickiness was extremely high, with gifts continuously being sent.

Compared to other anchors who needed to beg for tips, Ye Sangsang's audience would actively tip just by watching her performance.

Ye Sangsang, however, didn't care much; she could guess the audience's reactions but didn't pay much attention.

She looked at the man in front of her, slowly picking himself up from the ground.

This body was heavily injured, and now these movements made her hurt all over.

But as the man rose, several bills fell out of his pocket.

She glanced at them; with this money, she could probably take a taxi.

"Let's go," Ye Sangsang thought to herself, her expression remaining calm and composed.

The man stood up, flexing his wrist as he looked at the injured girl in front of him. Despite her injuries, her delicate features and pure, gentle aura were still evident. His eyes flickered with something unreadable.

Thinking it was just a coincidence, the man took an unconscious step forward.

But in the next moment, he was once again forced to bend his wrist by Ye Sangsang.

Surprised, the man quickly exclaimed, "Ouch, ouch, ouch! I wasn't thinking of anything bad!"

Ye Sangsang, however, simply reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.

Instead of taking money, she dialed 110.

[??? I don't get it, why not just take the money and leave?]

[Calling the police?]

[Sang Sister actually called the police, that's quite a milestone.]

The man tried to escape, but Ye Sangsang pressed him down, stepping on his back while glancing at the surveillance camera near the streetlight.

Sometimes, taking the money and leaving isn't the smart choice.

When in trouble, call the police. They'll help her get back home without having to resort to robbery.

A small oversight could lead to unforeseen consequences.

The police station was nearby, so the police arrived quickly, their flashing lights already visible in the distance.

Observing the man Ye Sangsang was pinning down, the officers looked at each other, unsure what to make of the situation.

Ye Sangsang had reported being stalked and that the man intended to harm her, so they had been concerned. But now it seemed they were unnecessary.

Still, they proceeded to take the man into custody.

Three officers had responded to the call. Ye Sangsang sat in the front seat, while the man was escorted by two officers in the back.

At the police station, everyone noticed Ye Sangsang's battered and bruised state.

The leading officer asked, "Did he do this to you?" pointing at the man, now handcuffed and sitting on a chair, pretending to moan in pain.

"No, I fell on my own. He just wanted to follow me and was thinking of doing something," Ye Sangsang replied.

The police began asking for identification, and Ye Sangsang provided her information.

When they learned she was a minor, only fifteen years old, the officers’ disdain for the man grew.

The man was a security guard in a villa district, thirty-something, and he was now hanging his head, not daring to say much.

He had relied on his physical advantage to try to bully someone, only to be taught a lesson.

Soon, the questioning ended, and Ye Sangsang gave the police her parents' phone number for them to call.

Originally, Ye Sangsang had planned to go home herself, asking the police for a thirty-yuan loan and promising to return it later. But considering she was a minor, especially at just fifteen, the police were obligated to call her parents.

Half an hour later, she met Lin Ying’s parents.

Both were around forty years old.

Her father had a somewhat cold demeanor, his eyes hiding a trace of impatience. He looked like an average middle-aged man.

Her mother had a sharp appearance, her slightly upturned eyes full of suspicion and a hint of embarrassment.

Logically, a family like theirs wouldn't have been able to afford the tuition for the prestigious middle school she was currently attending. However, Lin Ying’s mother was a teacher at that school.

As the child of a teacher, Lin Ying received significant tuition discounts. Combined with her good grades, she had been admitted to this school.

When interacting with the police, the couple put on a facade of perfect smiles and civility, appearing as a highly educated and harmonious couple.

The officers chided them a bit, advising them not to let their daughter wander so far alone at night, before allowing them to sign and take Ye Sangsang home.

But as soon as they stepped outside, Qiao Feng immediately pulled her hand away, asking sharply, "Where did you go? And look at you, covered in injuries—did you get bullied again? I've told you, if you stand up for yourself, no one will dare to bully you! How did I end up with such a meek daughter!"

"Look at you, your mother's right—people bully you because you're weak. Why can't you be more like us?" Lin Yu frowned, his eyes filled with disappointment.

Ye Sangsang, like the previous Lin Ying, lowered her head and said nothing.

[I don't know why, but I feel like what they're saying makes sense, yet it feels off.]

[Same here, it sounds familiar, like something you'd want to argue against but can't find the words.]

[The people commenting before, you're right to feel that way. This couple's logic is actually twisted. Is it possible that the problem isn't Lin Ying, but the people bullying her? Would you bury someone just because they're soft-natured?]

The live chat participants, enlightened by this explanation, realized they had been misled by the parents' words. They were, in fact, part of the problem, blaming Lin Ying for everything.@@novelbin@@

Lin Ying's silence seemed to trigger something, as Qiao Feng frowned and said, "Be more outgoing, do you hear me? The kids in your class are the children of influential businesspeople here. If you don't change your attitude, don't blame others for bullying you."

"Why are you like a block of wood? Speak up!" Lin Yu frowned, giving the silent Ye Sangsang a hard push.

Taken off guard, Ye Sangsang stumbled, her injuries causing her to gasp in pain as she frowned at them. "Can I hit them?" she asked, voicing her doubt.

Qiao Feng's eyebrows furrowed even deeper. "If you hit someone, can our family afford to pay for it? Didn't you understand what I said?"

"Just listen," Lin Yu added.

Ye Sangsang repeated, "Can I transfer schools?"

Qiao Feng's face grew impatient. "The school is excellent; why would you want to transfer?"

Lin Yu chimed in, "What's going on in your head? This school is the best in the area; why would you want to transfer?"

Ye Sangsang persisted, "I want to transfer schools."

Qiao Feng glared at her. "Listen to me, the school is great. It's your own problem. Face the challenges; don't think about transferring just because of a little difficulty."

[This is so suffocating. Those parents are impossible to communicate with. And a 'little difficulty'? Look at Sang Sister's condition—she really has the nerve to say that!]

[They just want their daughter to fawn over those kids.]

[They pressure her to be outgoing while constantly negating her, insisting she just follow their wishes.]

The audience understood the tragic reality of someone in this situation.

Not only was she in danger from external threats, but even at home, she received no comfort, only blame and denial.

Based on what they had seen, if the original person hadn't managed to survive, she likely would have been buried alive.

They felt that even if she told her parents about her ordeal, she wouldn’t receive any comforting words.

Ye Sangsang pursed her lips and followed them home.

The viewers didn't question why Ye Sangsang didn't reveal her suffering because they could see that her parents wouldn't care. Arrogant and cowardly, they were too weak to even stand up for their daughter, let alone consider transferring schools.

After washing up, Ye Sangsang found a first aid kit and treated her injuries.

Earlier, she had deliberately asked those questions to gauge their stance. Depending on which side they took, her plans would change accordingly.

After applying the medication, she returned to her room.

Lin Ying didn't have a habit of keeping a diary, so usually, she would keep her thoughts to herself.

However, Ye Sangsang found some intriguing articles about school bullying in the form of old newspaper clippings. There were no relevant search records on the room's learning device.

The clipped newspaper articles all ended with the victim's death.

Bullied to death, yet the bullies weren't punished and continued to live freely.

Perhaps she had once considered calling the police? Or reaching out to her parents for help?

The latter she had likely tried, and the former was unclear, but even if she had sought help, with her parents mediating, the outcome would undoubtedly have been disappointing.

Ye Sangsang read through each article, then under the cover of night, she went to a blind spot in the neighborhood where the security cameras couldn't see her. She lit a lighter and burned the articles, kicking the ashes into a man-made pond before leaving.

This action fit her intentions.

After enduring unspeakable torment and narrowly escaping death, seeing these articles must have sparked something in her—a quiet, simmering rage.

Returning home quietly, Ye Sangsang tidied herself up, feeling the occasional pain in her body. Slowly, she closed her eyes and fell asleep.

After skipping through time, she felt that her injuries had healed a bit and weren't as painful. Her most severe injuries were the marks on her neck from being choked and the kick to her ribs. The former had left her gasping for air and led to her being declared dead, while the latter she suspected might be a slight fracture. The rest were various bruises from being beaten, a small circular burn on her back, and abrasions on her fingers.

By the next morning, some previously unseen bruises had surfaced. Standing in front of the full-length mirror in her underwear, she saw that more than half of her body was covered with various new and old scars, large and small.

【It made my eyes sting just looking at it.】

【It’s terrifying. Looking at the marks on her neck, she must have been choked into unconsciousness. No wonder she was declared dead and buried. If Lin Ying had died, this would have been another bullying case that ended in death, where the bullies would have gotten away with little to no punishment. It's just another social news headline about how justice is rarely served in such cases.】

【It’s horrifying. Those people are not human. Only animals can do something like this.】

Ye Sangsang moved slowly, and the pain flooded her mind.

It took her some effort to finally get dressed, put on her backpack, and head to school.

She didn’t go with Qiao Feng.

Qiao Feng taught the seventh grade and would leave later.

Besides, they didn’t usually go to school together anyway.

As she arrived at the school gate, the gruesome injuries on her face, which had worsened after a night's sleep, caught the attention of many.

All the way to her classroom, numerous students gave Ye Sangsang curious glances.

With the game's highly intelligent prompts, players could accurately find their designated seats.

By the time she arrived, many students were already in the classroom.

At her desk, there were some remnants of past unpleasant memories.

She sat down calmly, as today the desk seemed clean.

Probably because the bullies thought she was dead.

She could feel the various gazes directed at her—curious, confused, and malicious.

Ye Sangsang calmly checked the schedule, took out her books, and waited for the teacher to arrive.

Some people always make noise before they even appear.

Chaotic and loud laughter echoed, and several students, wearing their loosened and modified school uniforms, walked into the classroom one after another.

The atmosphere in the classroom changed instantly, becoming stifling and silent.

After the group entered, Ye Sangsang counted five of them.

Three boys and two girls.

Their eyes landed on Ye Sangsang, and the noise around them immediately stopped.

“Holy sh*t,” one guy blurted out instinctively.

The others stepped back unconsciously, then realized that this world doesn't have ghosts.

So, the person in front of them was most likely still alive.

The group exchanged glances. This person was indeed resilient to show up at school today after what happened yesterday.

Thinking about it, they all sat down in their respective seats without any excessive movements as they usually did.

Many students in the class felt puzzled, wondering if something they didn't know had happened today.

On Ye Sangsang’s side, her eyes flickered slightly.

Because five mission boxes popped up right in front of her, a spectacle she had never seen before.

She quickly read through them.

Now she was curious about what this person had gone through to warrant such a meticulous plan for revenge.

The first mission was targeting the boy sitting in front of her, with blue streaks in his hair and his loose-fitting school uniform hanging off his shoulders. His name was Su Yang.

As for the method, Ye Sangsang thought she might be a bit sick herself.

But after seeing the way she planned to carry out the mission, she realized the other person was just as messed up.

【Mission Objective: Kill Su Yang, ensuring his death is treated as an accident.】

There were also pictures of the proposed crime scene and some general instructions for carrying it out.

Ye Sangsang studied them closely, then raised an eyebrow slightly.

At that moment, the boy in front of her, sensing Ye Sangsang’s gaze, turned around to look. His eyes landed on her multicolored face.

“Lin Ying, are you planning to tattle to the teacher with that face of yours?” He pulled his lips into a smirk, mockingly taunted Ye Sangsang, and looked her up and down with a condescending gaze.

The tone and action clearly showed immense disdain for Ye Sangsang.

He was also well aware that as soon as he spoke, the person in front of him would obediently stand up, bow, and apologize for whatever he disapproved of.

In the past, it was getting drenched in dirty water or having clothes glued together with adhesive.

Just then, someone threw a compact powder at her.

Followed by a contemptuous laugh, “Put some powder on it. If the teacher catches you, we’ll make sure you experience something even more exciting.”

Ye Sangsang, as expected, slightly lowered her head, took the compact powder that had landed in her lap, stood up, and walked out of the classroom.

She walked slowly to the bathroom, taking her time to powder her wounds thickly.

By the time she returned, the teacher had already started the lesson.

Seeing Ye Sangsang standing at the door, the teacher’s eyes flashed with annoyance. “If you don’t have any sense of time, you should just leave this school.”

“I won’t be late next time…” Ye Sangsang said softly.

The teacher picked up the textbook and didn’t say anything else.

But Ye Sangsang didn’t enter the classroom. Based on her understanding, stepping in right away would only further provoke the teacher, who seemed to be holding back some annoyance.

Of course, whether she entered the classroom or not, it would be the same. If someone wanted to bully you, almost any action could become a pretext for an attack.

For instance, now, the teacher looked at her and said, “Come in! I don’t know how someone can be so clumsy. No wonder you’re Qiao Feng’s daughter. You two are just the same—seemingly harmless but full of wicked schemes.”

Ye Sangsang nodded and sat down at her seat.

She noticed the water stains on the chair, took out a tissue from her pocket, wiped it clean, and sat down.

As she opened her textbook, it was soaked, the ink smudged into splotches, making the words unreadable.

At that moment, the teacher turned around, and a paper ball flew onto her desk.

She took the crumpled paper ball and found insults written on it. She glanced slightly to the direction the ball had come from, and saw someone raising an eyebrow at her, challenging her.

【Help, this environment. Are these people treating Lin Ying like a toy?】

【Deliberately bullying the weak, with malicious intent that seems to have no reason at all.】

【Reminds me of my school days. Just because I was a bit timid, I was bullied without any reason.】

There’s no need for a reason. As long as I dislike you, don’t like what you did, or simply hate your existence, they’ll bully you.

Ye Sangsang kept the paper ball in her desk.

“Ding-ling-ling…”

The bell rang, and class was over.

Ye Sangsang remained seated in her desk, but many students had already left the classroom, understanding the situation.

They didn’t want to provoke the five bullies and end up like the second victim.

Ye Sangsang could feel the five people closing in around her.

With the information provided by the mission analysis, Ye Sangsang had a basic grasp of the five individuals.

The leader among them was Zhou Qingyue, the only son of the school’s largest shareholder. Unlike the others, he didn’t like to directly issue orders but quietly observed their actions from the side.

So at the moment, he sat on a nearby desk, calmly writing something, appearing polite and well-behaved, like a proper academic overachiever.

Yes, he even had excellent academic performance.

Lin Ying was a good student but didn’t merit the level of teacher’s protection that Zhou Qingyue enjoyed. Zhou Qingyue, based solely on his grades, was someone the teachers adored.

The school was like a small society, and people follow those who are stronger.

Thus, the others voluntarily became his lackeys, serving his every command.

Calculating it all, Lin Ying herself was strong enough to kill all of them.

The crime scene showed that whoever planned this really knew the bullies well and probably had these thoughts before. Last night, pushed to their limits, knowing they were in a fight where either they or she would die, they decided to start putting their plan into action.

“Impressive! Didn’t die after all, huh? Could barely crawl back here.” At that moment, Su Yang’s hand was on Ye Sangsang’s shoulder.

Another boy leaned over and slung an arm around Su Yang’s shoulder. “To be honest, let’s try again and see if she’s really that lucky this time.”

Ye Sangsang sat there obediently like a quail, trembling silently and lowering her head.

They loved scenes like these the most, as they were thrilling and satisfied their sadistic desires.

"What about drowning? Let's see how long she can hold her breath!" A girl in a shortened school uniform smiled maliciously, her gaze fixed on Ye Sangsang's exposed, fair, and delicate neck.

Su Yang immediately patted Ye Sangsang's shoulder. "I think that's a good idea. She volunteered herself, so if she dies, it's not our fault."

"It'll also wash away that stench of poverty. It's truly disgusting," another boy said, glaring at Ye Sangsang.

At that moment, a girl to Ye Sangsang's right picked up a book, rolled it into a tube, and slammed it hard against Ye Sangsang's head, snarling, "Did you hear that? After school, you're going to the swimming pool."

The book hit her head with a dull thud, and Ye Sangsang lowered her head.

"Too noisy," a voice suddenly said.

The classroom fell so silent you could hear a pin drop. The few people who had been talking immediately fell silent, their expressions solemn.

Feeling the tension, they whispered to each other, "Don't make such a racket; the boss is upset."

He sat there quietly, as if everything around him was unrelated to him.

But everyone, including Ye Sangsang, the new arrival, knew that he was the one in control of it all.

Since he didn't object to the swimming pool plan, it meant he had agreed.

Su Yang patted Ye Sangsang's shoulder and threatened her in a low voice, "Remember to be there at six sharp. If you're not, those photos and videos of yours will be all over the internet."

Ye Sangsang understood; it was Lin Ying who was being threatened with this.

Soon, Ye Sangsang lowered her head and meekly agreed.

Perhaps because she had agreed to entertain them in the afternoon, she wasn't too hassled for the rest of the day, though insults and crumpled papers still occasionally hit her head, body, or desk when the teacher wasn't looking.

At five thirty in the afternoon, students began to leave one by one, and Ye Sangsang also started to pack her wet schoolbag.

Instead of leaving, she found a rooftop still catching some sunlight and spread her textbooks out to dry.

Then she quietly crouched down and waited, waited...

After twenty minutes, she checked the watch she had retrieved from her bag. The time was just about right. She got up and ran to the swimming pool.

As the best private school in the city, it boasted both indoor and outdoor swimming pools, basketball and football courts, a science center, and even a mini golf course. The luxury of these facilities exceeded many people's imaginations.

This also gave these students a sense of security, knowing that someone would always back them up.

When Ye Sangsang arrived, it was exactly six o'clock.

In the temperature-controlled swimming pool, a figure was swimming.

Ye Sangsang walked in slowly.

The group of people in swimsuits glanced over.

"Hey, coming to the swimming pool without a swimsuit?" one girl sneered.

Another one smirked, saying meaningfully, "We've all seen what she's got; wearing one or not doesn't matter... if we really want to see, we can just strip her."

Laughter filled the room, accompanied by taunts about her figure and face.

Ye Sangsang stood there, her head down, looking helpless.

At that moment, Su Yang reached out and shoved Ye Sangsang into the water.

"Ah!"

The sudden action startled Ye Sangsang, who let out a panicked scream.

"Splash!"

"Woohoo, I can't swim... woohoo..."

The four of them stood by the pool, arms crossed, coldly watching Ye Sangsang struggle.

Whenever her hands tried to grab the edge of the pool, they would stomp on them, forcing her back down.

Ye Sangsang trembled and struggled.

After about seven or eight minutes of playing, Su Yang seemed to get bored. He reached out and pressed Ye Sangsang's head hard underwater.

This time, there was no sound except for her struggling.

Laughter of approval filled the air.

A little while later, they got tired of it.

But they wouldn't let Ye Sangsang get out, ordering her to stay in place.

She lowered her eyes as three of them received messages and said their goodbyes to Zhou Qingyue, heading home.

The family rules of these students were mentioned in their profiles.

Su Yang, being unloved by both parents, didn't dare leave as long as Zhou Qingyue stayed, so he also got into the water.

He and Zhou Qingyue started racing each other.

Ye Sangsang quietly climbed out of the pool herself, picked up a carelessly discarded towel, and left.

From the surveillance cameras, she was seen exiting the swimming pool and heading toward the teaching building where she had dried her books.

After some time, she emerged from a secluded corner.

First, she went to the school cafeteria's water bar, then entered the swimming pool through a side door used for cleaning up trash.

Knowing the routines of these people, the swimming pool area was completely empty.

But Ye Sangsang still observed carefully before entering.

She found the men's changing room and chose the second shower stall.

Su Yang wouldn't choose the first stall, which was Zhou Qingyue's exclusive spot. At the same time, he wouldn't stay too far away to ensure he could hear any orders.

Wearing gloves, she turned on the shower and filled the pipe with crushed ice she had taken from the school's water bar.

Then she took some transparent shower gel from the stall and carefully applied it in the right spot.

If she stopped there, it wouldn't be fatal.

So she chose a second spot: the steps at the entrance.

She coated the second step, the one that would be stepped on when going down but not when going up, with the transparent shower gel.

Then she moved a wooden dressing stool with sharp corners about ten centimeters forward and wiped away the shallow marks left by the movement.

After meticulously cleaning all traces, Ye Sangsang turned and left.

The shower gel here didn't even need to be cleaned; it was the regular product used in the men's shower room.

When the cold water hit him, Su Yang would panic for a moment, and his feet would slip.

Given his nasty personality, he wouldn't endure the discomfort and would storm out to find someone to blame.

He would step on the second slippery step and fall forward, hitting his head on the wooden dressing stool.

Leading to his death.

This was the result of carefully observing Su Yang's personality and habits. Although Ye Sangsang didn't understand why Lin Ying was so familiar with Su Yang's habits in the men's shower room, she knew that if everything was calculated precisely, Su Yang's death was inevitable.

The essence of this challenge was about meticulousness. The biggest fear for a murderer was leaving traces that could lead to their capture.

However, given such intricate details, it was hard to say what would happen to Su Yang in the end.

Back on the rooftop, Ye Sangsang waited for a long time until her books were dry before she timidly picked up her bag and left.

The next day.

As soon as Ye Sangsang arrived at school, she heard about Su Yang's death.

According to the mission's instructions, the first task—Su Yang's death—was treated as an accident.

Su Yang's family received some compensation, and the matter was swept under the rug.

Not even the police were involved.

His pride and the capital he used to bully others ended up being a mere speck that the school chose to suppress for the sake of its reputation.

Ye Sangsang sat in her seat, her gaze flicking toward Zhou Qingyue from the corner of her eye.

Looking at him, the first target of her mission, left her with some doubts.

For instance, why was the body discovered the next day...