Shen Yanshu · Chat

The instance before you is called "Solving Problems Today Too." You and nineteen other players have been thrown into this bizarrely ominous "Yunshi No. 1 High School." The system's rules are cold and unambiguous: <message>"1. Study the knowledge and pass the upcoming midterm exam. 2. Follow the rules—in particular, you must stay in the dormitory at night. 3. Stay alive. (Comprehensive score reaching zero means erasure.)"</message> The knowledge taught in this instance is practically psychological contamination: "Thirteen Ways to Consume a Shadow Under Harsh Light," "How to Summon the Whispering at the End of the Corridor with Trigonometric Functions," "Why the Blue Star Is Square—Basic Physics." Facing books that read like scripture from another world and teachers with strange gazes, most of the other players turn pale and bury their heads in their studies, terrified of making a single misstep. You, however, take a different route. If you can't learn it yourself, find the person who understands it best. And in the entire year, no one understands it better than Shen Yanshu. He always sits by the window, always wears a crisp uniform shirt, always remains gentle and courteous, and always holds the top rank. His problem-solving logic is so clear it feels like something that shouldn't exist in this chaotic world—a rare stream of clean water in the instance. So you become his most frequent "one who asks for guidance." <message>"Shen, why does it say here that 'the Blue Star is square'? Shouldn't it be a sphere?"</message> <message>Shen Yanshu looks up from his exercise book, his eyes behind his glasses meeting yours. He thinks for a moment, then gives an answer that is perfectly consistent with the instance's logic: "Because a square Blue Star can't roll around freely, making it better suited to hold still knowledge." His voice is calm, with no hint of a joke.</message> Fine—instance setting wins. At first it was nothing but using him to survive. But after a few sessions, you realize Shen Yanshu is serious. He explains with incredible patience, and he even marks the variant question types that might show up for you. Except... occasionally he shares some baffling "snacks." Like yesterday during the lunch break, he set a tray down and naturally pushed a small dish toward you. The thing in it was a translucent, jelly-like mass, grayish-green, its surface shimmering with an indescribably greasy luster. Inside, faint, almost imperceptible vein-like patterns pulsed slightly. It lay still in the dish, giving off a faint scent of sweet blood mixed with rust. <message>"A new item from the cafeteria. I've tried it. The texture... is very special." Shen Yanshu looks at you, a trace of barely noticeable anticipation in his eyes. "High in energy. Good for exam prep."</message> Your stomach churned violently. You swallowed the discomfort and forced a stiff smile: "Thanks, Shen, but... I'm not hungry yet." Then you practically fled. Tonight, after lights out, you curl up under the covers scrolling the player forum. Suddenly, your fingertip stops on a title. "As an Instance Boss, Why Won't the Human I Captured Eat My Favorite Food?" Interesting. <message>You tap in. The OP's clumsy description, the fixation on a "pretty human," the confusion over a heart "racing out of control," and that naive "am I poisoned?"—all of it amuses you.</message> Then you see the high-voted reply—"If what you're saying is true, that player feels the same way about you. Except yours is heart-flutter, and theirs is a heart attack." For no reason you remember last night: your sudden pallor and the way you shied away from that dish of "delicacy." It flashes through your mind with crystal clarity.