Reality Programming Association

Chapter 84: Chapter 35: ”Isolated Island

Shi Zuozhou glanced at the endless darkness at the end of the hallway, shivered, and followed Yu Xian back to the dorm room.

That night, the entire dorm room was exceptionally quiet. Two were in the dream, two in reality. It wasn’t until just before dawn that they groggily fell asleep.

...

「Wednesday morning.」

Yu Xian rubbed his temples and sat up in bed. He subconsciously glanced at the other two beds.

Zhang Yang and Li Boxue were already up.

”Oh, you’re awake?” Zhang Yang said, holding a washbasin, an extremely brilliant smile on his face.

”How’d you sleep last night? I told you, what could be wrong with that audio file? I feel way more energetic than when I stay up all night gaming.” Li Boxue was humming a tune beside him.

Yu Xian opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but didn’t know where to begin.

He pushed open the dorm room door, and the scene in the hallway struck him as even more bizarre.

In the past, whenever he occasionally stayed in the dorm, the men’s dormitory was always dead and gloomy at this hour, full of cranky, just-woken-up students.

But today, the entire floor seemed to be suffused with an indescribable sense of jubilation.

Everyone was washing up, fetching water, and getting ready. They all wore knowing, suggestive smiles, and every single one of them was ruddy-cheeked and brimming with energy.

Whispers came from all corners of the hallway. He could occasionally overhear them comparing notes—what you experienced in the dream, what he experienced.

What happened on that bus in the dream was something perhaps only they themselves knew.

”Old Yu... something seems really off,” Shi Zuozhou said, also noticing the strange atmosphere.

Yu Xian didn’t say anything. He glanced at his phone. Not only was there no internet, but the signal bar also read ”No Service.”

The lack of signal presented another problem. The class suspension for the red rainstorm alert issued by the school was supposed to end today.

But outside the window, rain was still pouring down, and the sky was grim.

With no signal, there was no way to receive any announcements, so the students didn’t know if they had to go to class today.

Fortunately, it wasn’t long before a teacher arrived at the dorm building, making announcements floor by floor with a megaphone.

”Due to flooding in multiple areas on campus caused by the downpour, and with the meteorological station still issuing a red alert for a torrential rainstorm, the school has decided to continue the suspension of classes for student safety.”

”The cafeteria will deliver food on a per-person basis at noon. Students are advised not to leave their dorms unless absolutely necessary. Furthermore, bringing outside personnel onto campus is prohibited.”

The first parts were understandable, just routine announcements. But the last sentence was baffling. ’Why the specific warning to ”prohibit bringing outside personnel onto campus”?’

Unable to figure it out, Yu Xian and Shi Zuozhou exchanged a look, each seeing the unease and terror in the other’s eyes.

After the two of them washed up and returned to the dorm, they pushed open the door to find Zhang Yang and Li Boxue, who had been whispering about something, immediately clam up. Their gazes flickered evasively.

This made the atmosphere in the room freeze.

Shi Zuozhou wasn’t one to keep things to himself. He pulled out a chair and, as if he couldn’t hold back any longer, finally asked:

”Hey, Zhang Yang, Boxue, what was the plot of the dream, anyway? Tell me about it.”

Li Boxue chuckled, scratching his head.

”You’re overthinking it, there’s no plot. It was just a late-night long-distance bus. It ran for over ten hours. I fell asleep as soon as I got on.”

After speaking, he shot a pointed look at Zhang Yang.

”I did a bit better than him. I watched the scenery for a while before I fell asleep.”

The two exchanged a subtle glance, the corners of their mouths curved in a meaningful smile.

It was the kind of smile that said, ”Not for outsiders to know.”

In that instant, it was like a bolt of lightning flashed through Yu Xian’s mind. He suddenly seemed to understand something.

’Why is it that in the students’ discussions in the hallway, different people seem to have experienced completely different details?’

’Because this isn’t a movie at all, nor is it a narrative game with a pre-written script.’

’What the audio file provides is merely a ”container,” a completely free ”sandbox.”’

’It sets up a stage: a bus that never reaches its destination.’

’As for what happens on that stage, it’s entirely up to the dreamer.’

’In this absolutely private, absolutely real, absolutely responsibility-free dreamscape, what do they want to do most?’

’That’s also what makes this dream so terrifying. It’s like a magic mirror, capable of reflecting the deepest, most hidden, and even darkest desires of a person’s heart.’

’It doesn’t use force to control you; instead, it uses your own desires to lead you, step by step, toward that end.’

’But the problem is, just as Senior Sister Yiyi said:’

’”The memories of the dream are perfectly preserved, which means their ’weight’ becomes the same as real memories.”’

’If this bus runs for long enough, will the uninhibited actions in the dream start to change a person’s personality?’

’What will these people become?’

Yu Xian didn’t dare to think about it anymore.

He hadn’t stockpiled any food in the dorm. From the looks of it, the storm wouldn’t stop in a day or two. He wasn’t sure how long Shi Zuozhou’s supplies would last, but it definitely wasn’t enough for two people. It seemed he had to go back to his cousin’s place after all.

He quickly packed his things, put on his backpack, raincoat, and boots, and said goodbye to Shi Zuozhou.

”Old Yu, you’re still going back? This rain looks like it’ll never end. Is it safer at your relative’s place than here in the dorms?” Shi Zuozhou asked, a little worried.

”It’s fine. I have food stockpiled there, and I have internet.”

Stepping out of the dormitory building, the world outside was still a chaotic mess.

When he reached the South Gate, Yu Xian found the path ahead was blocked.

A huge crowd was gathered at the school gate. They wore raincoats of all colors and held a sea of multi-colored umbrellas, a dense mass of people completely blocking the already narrow entrance.