Reality Programming Association

Chapter 89: Chapter 37: Adventure in the Rain 2

Yang Yiyi’s fingers tightly gripped a black USB flash drive. It contained all the correspondence emails and experimental audio track files they had just copied from the computer—evidence damning enough to get them killed.

”Let’s go. Don’t look at it anymore. We’re running out of time, and I’m not sure if your advisor can see the access logs remotely.”

Yu Xian reached out and turned off the computer tower, plunging the laboratory back into darkness.

The noise outside seemed to have quieted down a bit. The rioters might have moved to other floors or were busy vandalizing the facilities in the lobby. This was their best chance to leave.

Instead of taking the main entrance, Yu Xian and Yang Yiyi bypassed it by taking the fire escape next to the W112 laboratory to reach a side door.

As they pushed open the heavy fire door, cold wind and rain instantly poured in. Outside was a complete mess. Shattered glass and splashed red paint covered the ground, looking like pools of dried blood under the overcast sky.

Yu Xian pulled down the brim of his raincoat, hiding most of his face, while Yang Yiyi followed him mechanically. Sticking close to the base of the wall and using the landscaping as cover, they splashed through the puddles and avoided the flashlight-wielding figures on the main road, sprinting all the way toward the West Gate.

Due to the heavy rain and the ongoing riot, the security booth at the West Gate was completely empty. Even the vehicle barrier gate was left raised.

Yu Xian wanted to take Yang Yiyi to the apartment he rented next to the university town, which wasn’t far from the West Gate. He had been renting the place since his freshman year. It was close to the campus, and although it was small, the security was passable. Since he had been staying at his cousin’s place recently, the apartment was currently vacant and could serve as a perfect hideout for Senior Sister Yiyi during this period.

Pressed for time, Yu Xian hadn’t even let her return to her dorm to grab a change of clothes or daily necessities. There was no telling when the other side would notice something was amiss. If they were intercepted during that time, the risk would outweigh the reward, and all their efforts would be in vain.

Half an hour later, the two finally stood in front of the familiar front door.

The apartment had an electronic keypad lock. Yu Xian’s hands were shaking slightly, and he entered the wrong passcode a few times before finally getting the door open. A wave of stuffy, unventilated air greeted them. Fortunately, he had cleaned the place up before leaving with his cousin last time.

Yu Xian quickly pulled Yang Yiyi inside, shutting the door behind him and locking the deadbolt from the inside. Only then did the heavy anxiety lift, allowing the two terrified students to finally breathe a sigh of relief.

He walked over to the window and drew the thick curtains tightly shut before turning on the room’s wall sconces.

”We’re safe,” Yu Xian said softly as he turned around.

Yang Yiyi leaned against the door. Looking completely drained of strength, she slid down to the floor.

Yu Xian found two dry towels in the bathroom and handed her one. ”Dry off first, Senior Sister. I usually live here alone, so you’ll have to make do for now.”

Yang Yiyi took the towel. Her body was still trembling slightly, whether from the cold or the lingering fear, it was hard to tell.

”Yu Xian... the logs...” Her voice was weak; she was still hung up on the login records.

”Don’t think about that right now,” Yu Xian said, finding the kettle to boil some water. ”Even if they notice, they won’t find this place anytime soon. Just stay here with peace of mind for the next few days and don’t go anywhere. Who knows how long this rain will last anyway? Besides, won’t the login logs be overwritten after a month?”

Yang Yiyi nodded, mechanically wiping the water from her hair.

Right then, the phone in Yu Xian’s pocket suddenly began to vibrate, the sound jarring in the quiet room. His heart tightened. He pulled out the phone, and a name flashed on the screen: Zhengze.

He glanced at Yang Yiyi, who was sitting on the floor, gestured for her to stay quiet, and answered the call.

”Hey, Zhengze.”

”Xiaoxian! Where are you? What did that text you sent me mean? What’s W112?”

On the other end of the line, Yu Zhengze sounded extremely anxious. The background noise was filled with the chaotic howling of wind and wailing police sirens.

”I heard something happened at the university. I’m stuck over by the riverbank and can’t get through. How are you holding up? Are you hurt?”

A wave of guilt washed over Yu Xian. He hurriedly replied, ”I’m fine, Zhengze. That text... I was just heading back to campus to find a classmate... to get some materials. I’ve already left the school grounds now. I’m heading back to the place I rent.”

”You went back to your place?” Yu Zhengze seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. ”Then don’t go near the university. I heard it’s complete chaos over there. The cell signal is dead inside, and the whole place has turned into a madhouse.”

Yu Xian glanced at Senior Sister Yiyi in the corner. ”I’m in the apartment right now. The doors are locked, the windows are closed, and it’s very safe.”

”As long as you’re safe. Alright, I won’t talk any longer. The situation here is a bit urgent.”

”Zhengze, you stay safe... too.”

A burst of chaotic shouting came from Zhengze’s end. Before Yu Xian could even finish his sentence, the call disconnected.

Yu Xian gripped his phone. By the dim, yellowish light, he saw that Senior Sister Yiyi had already curled up in the corner of the sofa, looking utterly exhausted.

However, cracking the audio file couldn’t be delayed. There was no telling how many students across the JCU campus had boarded that Midnight Bus.

”Senior Sister, is the source audio file that suppresses the MCH neurons on the flash drive?” Yu Xian squatted beside the sofa and asked softly.

”It’s in the ’TDI_Source’ folder in the root directory... What are you going to do?”

”I have a friend majoring in computer science. I asked her yesterday to help analyze the audio waveform of the Midnight Bus. If we have the source file for MCH suppression, she can run a comparative analysis. It might help her.”

Yu Xian knew that even though Senior Sister Yiyi harbored deep suspicions about her advisor, such internal information theoretically shouldn’t be shared with outsiders.