Paper Life 17

Shang Nan slowly lowered his hand. His gaze shifted from the ball of shredded paper on the ground to Yu Zhibai's face. He had witnessed Yu Zhibai's malice on his very first day in this world.

—A Paper Person who would fearlessly scare Shang Nan and use illusions to test him. It had even thoughtfully and considerately prepared white butterflies to send Shang Nan off, just in case he failed the test.

Shang Nan was saying, "Don't litter," and bent down to pick up the paper ball, but Yu Zhibai beat him to it, picking it up and throwing it into the trash can. The latter scoffed, "If you're friends with me, you can't date others."

"?" Shang Nan was puzzled. "Why?"

"I will turn them all into Paper People." Human nature is evil at birth; for monsters, whether at the beginning or the end, they are inherently evil. This was the best method Yu Zhibai could think of at the moment. It would prune away all the ill-intentioned people appearing around Shang Nan, one by one.

"Just kidding." Shang Nan patted Yu Zhibai on the shoulder and jumped off the podium. "Let's go."

"Where to?"

"Back to the classroom for class."

[14: I thought it would say it directly. Why didn't it say it directly? Nannan, maybe you should just bring it up first.]

Shang Nan was deep in thought. He also didn't understand why Yu Zhibai kept testing the waters. It clearly understood everything; perhaps it understood even better than he did.

"If I miscalculate and it turns me into a Paper Person, will you take responsibility?"

14 immediately fell silent. True, a monster's behavioral logic couldn't be analyzed or understood using human behavioral logic. 14 could only be certain that some of the other party's behaviors were indeed courtship behaviors.

It was better to wait for Yu Zhibai to speak up himself.

Shang Nan didn't have most of the memories from his original world, except for his name, gender, etc.—information that, even if sealed, wouldn't affect his awareness. So, he didn't know if he had any romantic experience. However, judging by how skillfully he just handled Yu Zhibai, he probably had some romantic experience in his original world.

Shang Nan lay on the desk, staring blankly. If this method could stop Yu Zhibai from wanting to destroy this world, then it wasn't impossible for him to make do and date a monster once.

It was just that Yu Zhibai's thoughts were bizarre. Neither Shang Nan nor 14 could figure out what the other party actually wanted to do or was preparing to do.

......

Lu Yang transferred schools quietly. In the afternoon, Zhang Xueli called Shang Nan to the office.

"I've investigated everything that happened that day. I also know more or less about the past grievances between Lu Yang and student Yu Zhibai. I originally wanted him to apologize to you and Yu Zhibai, but the principal said it's better to avoid trouble. Lu Yang has transferred schools now... The teacher from the school's psychological department wants to invite student Yu Zhibai over for a chat. I was wondering if you could mention it to him. You are peers, and your relationship is quite good now. He also helps you with your studies. It might be more appropriate for you to say it than for me." After learning about those events, Zhang Xueli's biggest worry was whether Yu Zhibai had developed any psychological issues. She spoke relatively subtly, but Shang Nan understood.

"Okay."

After returning to the classroom, Shang Nan told Yu Zhibai about this matter. Yu Zhibai was helping Shang Nan highlight key points. Hearing that he was being asked to go to the psychological department, he slowly looked up. "Calling for me?"

"Nannan, there is nothing wrong with me." He shook his head and whispered.

Shang Nan rested his chin on his arms and tilted his head to look at Yu Zhibai. "The teacher is just a bit worried about you. I'll go with you, okay?" When he said 'okay,' his tone hooked upward at the end, like he was coaxing a kitten or a puppy.

Yu Zhibai looked at Shang Nan, looked at Shang Nan's sparkling amber eyes. It uncontrollably reached out, wanting to touch them, but was interrupted by Zhang Hu suddenly turning around.

Zhang Hu obviously saw this scene too. He hurriedly turned back around, spinning like a top. "Sorry sorry, I didn't mean to, I didn't mean to."

Yu Zhibai's eyes didn't register Zhang Hu's existence at all. He retracted his hand and placed it on his knee.

"Alright." He agreed.

The psychological department was a counseling room established by Changyu High School quite a few years ago. Nowadays, not to mention the high pressure on adults, students were under just as much pressure, only the sources were different.

To prevent psychological issues caused by academic life, interpersonal relationships, etc., the school conducted regular psychological screenings. The counselors hired by Changyu High School were professionals, not some school leader's random relatives looking to waste time. They resolved several extreme cases every year.

Having received Zhang Xueli's email, the teacher at the counseling center had prepared fruit and tea early on.

Shang Nan waited in the outer reception room while Yu Zhibai entered the therapy room alone, where the counselor was waiting for him.

The counselor was a lady who looked very approachable. The wrinkles at the corners of her eyes didn't make her look old; instead, they added a sense of relaxed tolerance.

She poured a glass of water for Yu Zhibai, placed it in front of him, and sat on the single sofa to his right. She smiled, "Do you want an apple?"

Yu Zhibai sat on the sofa, his back straight. He lowered his eyes. "No."

The counselor wasn't annoyed. She smiled, "Are you willing to chat with me about your childhood?"

Yu Zhibai mimicked her smile. "My childhood was very happy." He even shared some childhood anecdotes with the counselor, interesting stories with his mother, and with classmates and teachers.

He didn't appear resistant and cooperated well with the counselor's work. He answered every question very well—healthy, positive, and optimistic, without any signs of depression or negativity. Thus, the counseling proceeded very smoothly.

The counseling session lasted nearly two hours. During this time, Yu Zhibai also completed a questionnaire. His score was passing; there were no issues.

Looking at the smiling Yu Zhibai, the counselor thought about what Teacher Zhang had entrusted her with and felt that Teacher Zhang was probably overthinking it—Student Yu Zhibai's psychological state was clearly very healthy.

Since there were no issues, Teacher Zhang should be able to rest assured. The potential problems she worried about didn't exist.

"I heard from Teacher Zhang that your grades are very good. Don't put too much pressure on yourself," the counselor said gently while organizing the questionnaire. "If there's anything, you can come here to find me."

"Okay, thank you." Yu Zhibai knew the session was over. He stood up, opened the door, and walked out. When he stood in the reception room, Yu Zhibai's tranquil expression slowly turned cold.

Shang Nan was not in the reception room. It was quiet and empty; even Shang Nan's scent was missing.

A dark hostility immediately flooded Yu Zhibai's eyes, shocking his limbs into stiffness. Its face turned deathly pale as it stiffly turned its head to look out the window.

The counselor opened the door and followed him out. Yu Zhibai was disturbed by the noise of the opening door, and it was about to turn around to face her.

"Ding~"

The phone in Yu Zhibai's pocket chimed. Its deathly pale complexion slowly faded, becoming gentle and moist again—it had only set a message notification sound for Shang Nan.

"Student Yu Zhibai, is this your pen?" the counselor asked, holding a fountain pen with a faded casing.

Yu Zhibai turned around, revealing a shy, boyish smile. "It's mine, thank you, Teacher."

He smiled so shyly and obediently that the counselor felt this was truly a child who couldn't be any healthier.

Only after walking out of the psychological department did Yu Zhibai take out his phone to check Shang Nan's message.

[Nannan: Teacher Zhang asked me to go to her office to ask about the monthly blackboard newspaper. I'll wait for you in the classroom.] Shang Nan also sent a sticker of a smiling little sheep.

Yu Zhibai silently saved the sticker.

The sky had long since darkened. It was almost nine o'clock. In a little while, evening self-study would be over.

Everyone was in evening self-study right now. From the psychological department to Yu Zhibai's classroom, there were two buildings in between. The corridors were silent. The first and second-year students had already finished class, but people in some classrooms hadn't left yet. The lights were on; entire buildings were lit up.

Yu Zhibai didn't take the elevator. He walked up the stairwell, having to make several turns. The lights in the stairwell were voice-activated, so every so often, Yu Zhibai would cough.

"Ah..." A sticky male voice sounded above Yu Zhibai's head.

Yu Zhibai raised his paper-white face to look up, curbing his blood-red lips into a smile.

Actually, the sound was very faint, inaudible to humans, but Yu Zhibai was not human.

Yu Zhibai changed his route. It followed the increasingly loud sound, eventually standing outside the door leading to the rooftop.

A large iron lock hung on the heavy iron door, but the door was open a crack, about the width of a palm.

Yu Zhibai bent down, pressed his face against the crack, and peered at the scene before him with one eye.

Two boys, one on top of the other. The one on top had the one below pinned against the wall. The previous sound had clearly come from the one below. In such cold weather, both were dripping with sweat.

In the night, clothes were stripped and scattered on the ground. The cries were somewhat like a cat in spring, noisy and annoying.

But Yu Zhibai watched with great gusto and seriousness, his eyes full of inquiry, until the taller boy looked up and saw Yu Zhibai.

Yu Zhibai blinked and grinned. The corners of his mouth slowly extended, the arc widening continuously, as if his whole face was being split into upper and lower halves.

A terrified scream exploded hoarsely on the rooftop.

"Ghost!!!!"

The two boys were scared out of their minds. Clutching their clothes, they scrambled and rolled away.

There were no surveillance cameras in the stairwell, only security guards patrolling at set times.

Yu Zhibai straightened up, went downstairs, and leisurely walked toward the classroom.

Zhang Xueli was very generous and bought several boxes of imported fruit to reward everyone for studying hard. Shang Nan was given a large pineapple and a box of cherries, and he took the same for Yu Zhibai.

He didn't lack food, but things falling from the sky always felt more delicious.

When Yu Zhibai returned, Shang Nan saw that he seemed to be in a very good mood and couldn't help but feel strange. "Was the counseling successful?"

"Mn, the teacher said I am very healthy." Yu Zhibai nodded gently and said.

Shang Nan: "..."

[14: ...]

Yu Zhibai drew the scene he had just witnessed, only the protagonists were swapped out for him and Shang Nan. Shang Nan's legs were longer and his waist was thinner. He had said that Shang Nan possessed a skeleton that was beautiful beyond reproach.

He knew how to make paper effigies, so naturally, he was also good at drawing. He didn't draw a face for himself, but he drew one for Shang Nan. Shang Nan's face was already deeply ingrained in his mind; there was no need to compare it with the real person repeatedly.

When the time came, he could give the finished product to Shang Nan as a gift. Shang Nan liked him, so Shang Nan would definitely like it.

Near the end of evening self-study, Shang Nan saw Yu Zhibai still buried in his writing and drawing. Unable to hold back, he leaned over. "What are you busy with?"

Yu Zhibai's pen tip paused slightly. After a few seconds of silence, he revealed a somewhat shy expression and handed the sketchbook to Shang Nan. "Can I do this with you?"

Shang Nan saw the drawing on the sketchbook clearly and almost choked on his own saliva. He snatched the sketchbook away. Remembering they were in class, he managed to restrain himself. "Yu Zhibai."

"Hm?"

"What exactly do you want to do?" Shang Nan didn't believe Yu Zhibai understood nothing. If it could draw this kind of picture, was there anything it didn't understand?

Yu Zhibai's pitch-black eyes gazed gently at Shang Nan. The expression in his eyes was thick, dense, damp, and viscous. After a long while, he whispered, "I like you, Nannan."

The author has something to say:

Nannan: You were gone for quite a while.

Xiao Bai: I took a class while I was at it.