Reality Programming Association

Chapter 81: Chapter 34: Everyone Succumbs

After sending a text message to his cousin to say he was safe, Yu Xian prepared to head from the North Campus to the South District.

Although both dorm areas were on the same campus, the raging rainstorm made the journey as arduous as a pilgrimage. His cousin’s two-piece raincoat was fast losing its effectiveness. Freezing rain poured down his collar, and his wet clothes clung uncomfortably to his body. By the time he finally trekked back to the School of Physics boys’ dormitory, it was nearly one in the morning.

As Yu Xian pushed open the dorm room door, he braced himself for Shi Zuozhou’s booming voice. After all, with the internet down, these severe internet addicts must be going crazy. They might even be playing cards in the room by now.

However, the room was pitch black. In the light spilling in from the hallway, Yu Xian saw that all three beds were empty. The blankets were piled up messily, and though the computer screens on the desks were dark, the power indicators on the towers were still lit.

”Old Shi?” Yu Xian called out tentatively as he flicked on the light switch by the door. Sure enough, no one was there.

Yu Xian frowned. He wondered where the three of them could have gone with the rain this heavy and the outside completely flooded. Could they be visiting other dorms, or had they gone down to the first-floor lobby to leech off the signal?

He didn’t dwell on it. He was far too exhausted; all he wanted right now was a hot shower and to crawl into bed. After locking his backpack in his cabinet and taking out his washbasin and towel, Yu Xian turned and headed for the washroom at the end of the hall.

He splashed cold water on his face. In the mirror, he looked pale, with dark circles forming under his eyes. He had taken in too much information today, and his brain felt like it was about to explode. At noon, he heard from his cousin that the smiling suicide case had been dropped. Then tonight, he bought that audio file, only to listen to his senior and Wen Xiao analyze it for ages without finding any solid leads.

Carrying his washbasin out of the washroom, he rounded the corner toward his dorm just in time to spot three figures sneaking suspiciously into the room ahead. Before he even reached the door, he could hear hushed laughter coming from inside.

”Are you serious? It’s that amazing? Quick, copy it for me! Let me have it.” It was Shi Zuozhou’s voice, laced with unconcealed excitement.

”Yeah, why would I lie to you? The guys next door from Optoelectronics are all completely hooked on it,” roommate Li Boxue said in his distinct Northeastern accent.

”I tried it out this afternoon when you guys were gone. The feeling... man, it’s unparalleled,” Zhang Yang said, his voice tinged with agitation.

When Yu Xian pushed the door open, the three guys in the room were huddled around Zhang Yang’s computer, looking at something. Seeing Yu Xian walk in, Shi Zuozhou waved him over with an excited, sleazy grin.

”Hey, Old Yu, you’re back just in time! Quick, bring your phone over. Let me share something good with you.”

Yu Xian set down his washbasin and looked at the trio, who acted like they were conducting some underground rendezvous. He waved them off with a smile. This sort of thing was all too common in a boys’ dorm. Sharing ”movie resources”—especially when a fierce storm raged outside and the internet was down—was inevitable. These guys had too much excess energy and needed an outlet.

”Forget it. Keep it for yourselves and enjoy. Just don’t overdo it.”

He really wasn’t in the mood. His mind was fully occupied with those chaotic waveforms and the papers he had read that afternoon.

”Prude,” Shi Zuozhou chuckled, not pushing the issue. He turned back to Zhang Yang. ”Is it done copying yet?”

”It’s done. Take it.”

Zhang Yang flipped off the dorm lights, leaving only the few blue lights on the computer towers glowing in the dark.

Yu Xian climbed into bed and pulled his blackout curtains shut. Listening to the seemingly endless sound of the heavy rain outside, he got ready to sleep. Without internet, he could only watch some previously cached videos to help him fall asleep.

He scrolled through the video files on his phone while reflecting on the day’s events. First was the news that the smiling suicide case had been dropped; there hadn’t been any new victims in a month. Then there was the wild spread of the ”Northern Hemisphere Artificial Rainstorm” rumor, which had hit the trending searches. He had spent the whole afternoon reading papers and gaining a deeper understanding of his parents’ research. And then there was... the Midnight Bus audio.

As he scrolled, his finger suddenly stopped.

Something felt off. Why was the dorm so quiet?

Under normal circumstances, if these guys were watching that kind of ”movie resource,” there would at least be some noise right now—rustling, or the squeaking of beds. When they were done, they would inevitably make a few dramatic remarks about how time flies and vow to start studying hard the next day.

But at this moment, other than the sound of the rain outside, the dorm was dead silent. The only sound was the steady breathing of his roommates.

An inexplicable sense of incongruity pricked his nerves like a needle.

He snapped his eyes open, yanked the blackout curtains aside, and turned on his phone’s flashlight. Without even bothering to put on his shoes, he stepped out of bed. The sense of unease grew heavier. Without a word of warning, Yu Xian pulled back Shi Zuozhou’s curtain.

When the flashlight beam swept across, he clearly saw the scene on the bed. Shi Zuozhou was lying on his back, hands folded over his stomach, his expression as serene as if he were waiting for some sort of ritual. His eyes were squeezed shut, and a goofy, honest smile even hung on the corners of his mouth.

BUZZ—

A string in Yu Xian’s mind instantly snapped. This was no ”movie resource”!

”Old Shi!”

Yu Xian ripped Shi Zuozhou’s earphones off, grabbed him by the thermal shirt, and forcibly yanked him up off the pillow.

”Holy crap! Who is it?!” Shi Zuozhou was startled. He took a moment to steady himself before realizing it was Yu Xian. ”Old Yu, what the hell are you doing?!”

”What are you listening to? Take those earphones off!” Yu Xian stared fixedly at him, his voice trembling slightly in the dark. ”What exactly were you guys passing around just now?”