There's definitely something wrong with this murder mystery game

Normal University Affiliated High School.

In Class One of the senior year, just as Xu Xi finished her classes for the day and was about to leave, she heard someone passing a message that the teacher was calling her to the office.

The other students weren't surprised to hear this message, assuming that the teacher had some instructions for the class representative. Only Xu Xi knew clearly that there must have been an issue with the monthly exam!

At that moment, she didn't know what happened, but she zoned out briefly, and by the time she snapped back to reality, the exam bell had already rung.

The last monthly exam was to assess the current academic status of the seniors, and it was a very important one, yet she had messed up at this critical time.

Xu Xi sighed and resignedly stood up to walk toward the teacher's office.

...

In the office, Xu Xi's homeroom teacher, Mrs. Liu, was looking at test papers with a furrowed brow and a serious expression.

She didn't even have to look at the name on the test paper to guess that it was definitely the Chinese language paper she had submitted three days ago.

"Teacher." Xu Xi stood obediently beside the desk.

"You're here," Mrs. Liu said with a calm face, putting down the paper and sliding it towards Xu Xi, before continuing, "You did quite well in your other subjects, even improved from last time, but your Chinese..."

"I'm sorry," Xu Xi quickly bowed her head.

Mrs. Liu shook her head and said, "I see the first part of your essay was written alright, but then it abruptly ends in the most critical paragraph. It makes the whole piece seem unfinished, incomplete. Why didn't you continue writing?"

With her usual lack of expression, Xu Xi's voice was calm and clear, "When I got to that part, I suddenly felt my thoughts weren't flowing, so I stopped to think about it. But I didn't realize I got so absorbed that I lost track of time."

...

Hearing this, Mrs. Liu was almost at a loss for words.

Looking at the ink stains on the paper, it was evident that the girl had stopped writing for a long time, seemingly lost in thought, to the point where the ink had almost pierced through the paper.

So she was penalized a few points for her presentation.

Mrs. Liu tapped her fingers idly on the desk and spoke with heartfelt sincerity, "This kind of situation isn't good. If you forget the time like this during the college entrance exam, then the problem won't be as minor as it is now."

Xu Xi accepted the advice with humility, earnestly admitting her mistake, "Yes, I understand, I'm sorry, I'll pay attention to it in the future."

The girl took the admonition with utmost seriousness and sincerity, her demeanor and words so flawlessly executed that not even a hint of fault could be detected.

After giving a bit of a lecture, Mrs. Liu gradually felt it was pointless.

She picked up the paper and handed it over with a sigh, "Alright, you can go back now, but you must watch out for this next time. Also, remember to finish this essay and hand it to me."

"Okay, thank you for your hard work, teacher," Xu Xi nodded as she took the test paper, but she didn't leave immediately.

Mrs. Liu looked at her with an inquiring gaze.

Xu Xi's dark eyes were clear and calm, and her delicate and beautiful face was impassive as she spoke, "Teacher, would it be possible not to mention this to my brother?"

As she said this, her gaze sharpened, almost too intense to meet directly.

Mrs. Liu was momentarily taken aback, then couldn't help but smile wryly, "Don't worry. I haven't told your brother, as I know you didn't do it on purpose."

Xu Xi breathed a sigh of relief, a light smile gracing her lips, "Thank you, teacher."

...

Evening.

As they edged into summer, the days grew longer, and the sky was still a vivid blue, with only tinges of orange-red twilight at its edges.

Xu Xi, holding her test paper, walked back towards the classroom while gazing at the ink spots she had left behind, lost in thought.

After school, the classroom was left with only a few students. Some were busy scrambling for seats in the cafeteria, some headed straight for the study room to bury themselves in their books, and the rest were just too lazy to move.

Shao Dandan was propping up her chin and boredly reading a book when she suddenly saw Xu Xi enter through the door, and her eyes lit up.

She didn't know why, but ever since she'd noticed how much Xu Xi and Qiuzi looked alike, she couldn't help but pay attention to this ice queen she normally had little to do with.

The more she looked, the more she felt that Xu Xi and Qiuzi were quite different, at least the former wouldn't tea someone!

However, while Xu Xi might not have any faults in her character, she was extremely cold towards others, and unless you were a chatterbox, any face-to-face encounter would surely be painfully awkward.

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No matter what you said, she would listen seriously, but if you couldn't get the conversation going, she would only occasionally make a sound to show she was listening.

So, in the end, you were the only one talking.

Without being a chatterbox or naturally sociable, no one could handle it!

Shao Dandan took a big gulp of water from her thermos, then took her notebook over to Xu Xi's front desk and sat on the chair facing the girl.

Xu Xi looked up at her.

"Xi, what did the teacher want to see you for? — Hey, have your test papers been handed out?" Shao Dandan asked the appropriate question to strike up a conversation and then noticed the monthly test paper on the girl's desk.

"Mm, I didn't write the composition well, so the teacher wanted to talk to me," Xu Xi replied indifferently.

"Mine's probably the whole paper I didn't do well," Shao Dandan smacked her lips and then asked, "Do you have anywhere to go later?"

Xu Xi glanced at her, then at the notebook in her hand: "Later."

Shao Dandan spread out the notebook and said with a grin, "Then let's study together!"

Xu Xi didn't refuse, she took out her draft paper intending to finish the incomplete composition, while Shao Dandan reviewed on her own, occasionally asking the girl a few questions.

The two got along rather well because, though Xu Xi was not talkative, when it came to solving problems, words were inevitably abundant.

No matter how much she streamlined her language, she still had to spit out that string of problem-solving principles!

Shao Dandan happily talked to herself, smoothly transitioning from discussing study problems, to her own embarrassing moments, and then onto the latest gossip.

That's how girls start building their relationships.

As the sun moved westward, the sky outside the window was stained with a rich sunset hue, spreading like blood ink.

"Hey, speaking of which," Shao Dandan looked at the evening glow and suddenly lowered her voice, "Xi, do you remember the jumping incident a few days ago?"

Xu Xi raised her head slightly and glanced at her.

Shao Dandan continued, "I heard people in school discussing this morning that it wasn't a suicide but a homicide! The perpetrator who pushed the person off the building was a girl, and the police have already identified her."

"Is that so," Xu Xi replied simply.

"They say that the two were lovers. She killed him in anger because he cheated, how scary!" Shao Dandan wore a gossip-filled expression.

"I see," Xu Xi responded noncommittally.

"I also heard that the girl originally wanted to pin the crime on someone else, but then the police found evidence on the rooftop, and she still refuses to admit it!" Shao Dandan didn't mind her indifferent response at all.

"Oh," Xu Xi nodded.

"Apparently the girl accidentally left her student ID on the rooftop. If it were me handling it, I definitely wouldn't make such a low-level mistake!" Shao Dandan said in a low voice, even clicking her tongue in disdain.

This time Xu Xi didn't respond, she just gave her a meaningful glance.

…