Chapter Five: The Demon of Schooling

Stolen

Huai Xu retracted his head and then got out of bed

Oh! I know this! Huai Xu nodded, his gaze continued to dart around.

The principle of this is that it lights up when powered on

What was your world like before?" Zhou Li seized upon a point in Huai Xu's words

Oh

"No, not at all." Huai Xu's eyes were fixed on the hyacinth, "Why does that plant grow in the water? There is no soil, and the roots are all white from soaking."

The bottom of the pan-fried dumplings is crispy and golden, providing an excellent texture

Well

This is the problem; if I don't finish it, I will have to stay up late. I need to submit it to the teacher first thing tomorrow morning

"No, I just remembered that I need to go sweep the floor early today." Zhou Li quickly picked up the milk and drank it all in one go

"Monsters? Spirits? Deities? Strange beings?" Huai Xu responded with a look of confusion in his eyes, seemingly as uncertain about these questions as Zhou Li. "The most commonly mentioned are still the monsters, along with some rather unpleasant curses. As for where we come from... I have heard other monsters say that we might not be beings of this world, which is why you do not like us"

How long have you been awake

... ...

"Having just eaten, do not run. It is fine to arrive a little later," Aunt Jiang advised

Where do you sleep? In the basement? In a coffin? In a cave?

"So what exactly are you?" Zhou Li asked, tightly pursing his lips at this question. "Where do you come from?"

After finishing a bowl of rice noodles, he looked up and saw Huai Xu standing behind Aunt Jiang, staring at him without blinking

It is about the same

Does that monster want to eat people

Oh

When you go out, turn left and walk straight; there is a large red house with the words "Pearl in the Palm" written on it. I will show you these characters later. Inside, there are many beds and sofas, and you will definitely find a way to get in.

How long ago was that

Fresh milk, boiled eggs, a bowl of non-authentic Kaiyuan rice noodles made with last night's pig trotter soup, and a plate of pan-fried dumplings

Have you not done it yet

Aren't you afraid

The faint sound produced by the friction between the pen tip and the paper is easily drowned out by the sound of the rain

Zhou Li wrote for a while, and when he turned his head, he saw Huai Xu still leaning against the ladder of the bunk bed, staring at him with wide-open eyes. That face was truly exquisite, like a masterpiece painstakingly created by a seasoned painter, a visage that seemed too meticulously refined to belong to the natural world.

"Has it been more than a year? I remember..." Zhou Li expressed his doubts, "Aren't there quite a few of your kind? There are also many who accompany each other. Why don't you go find them?"

I will not eat this egg; it is for you to supplement your nutrition

Rest assured

"Is this your room?" Huai Xuming asked knowingly, his gaze fixed on the table lamp in front of Zhou Li. He suppressed the desire to reach out and touch it, saying, "This little street lamp is quite unique. I've always wanted to know how this thing lights up!"

Oh, I also attended elementary school there.

Are they all like this as well

So you specifically waited for me at that intersection tonight

You just mentioned that you heard other demons say that you might not belong to this world

Oh

"I will take care of it for you." Aunt Jiang put down her chopsticks, stood up to get a bag, and at the same time broke a banana from the coffee table. Suddenly, she paused and said, "Why are you sweeping the floor again today? Didn't you just sweep it last week? Was it the teacher or a classmate? If it shouldn't be your turn to sweep, I will go to your school this morning to take a look!"

Are you going to school

Do not eat it

Stepping out of the building, the sky remained a deep blue, mostly obscured by the greenery of the trees in the community.

Just stay here for one night, I am not rushing you

I am very capable

Try it, be quick with your actions

You said you just woke up, have you been sleeping for a long time

Huai Xu turned around to look at the bunk bed, assumed a crouching position as if to jump, but before leaping, he restrained his strength, took off his shoes, and climbed up the wooden ladder in an orderly manner

Zhou Li withdrew his gaze, held the pen and thought for a moment, then continued to find words to say to him: "How have you been over the past year? Were you also around here before?"

Where did your shoes come from

It is quite troublesome. Zhou Li saw that enormous figure through the retractable gate, not far from the school entrance, blocking the tree-lined path.

"Are you still in school?" Zhou Li asked, somewhat surprised. "Where do you attend?"

Well

... ...

The meaning of the rain has not stopped.

Aunt Jiang has already prepared breakfast

He did not lie down either, but sat on the edge of the bed, his legs dangling down through the space between the guardrails

Is that so

Oh, aren't you fearless?

Anxiety within the locust tree: "Go ahead and write!"

Then why are you on that tree again? You weren't there a few days ago

Suddenly, he turned around and looked at Zhou Li's bed: "This bed is also quite unique, but why do you need to sleep in two beds by yourself? Do you have a maid or something?"

Huai Xu gently tapped the egg and then peeled it off, causing the eggshell to fall away intact. He first sniffed it, then brought it to his mouth and took a small bite.

Huai Xu sniffed and said: "There are monsters in this place, two of them"

What happened

As he reached the school gate, Huai Xu keenly noticed the change in his demeanor and curiously asked, "What are you doing? Is your teacher up ahead?"

Zhou Li discovered that something seemed to be reversed, and just as Huai Xu's gaze paused on the hyacinth on his desk, ready to ask the next question, he preempted him: "Do you often stay in that tree?"

I do not know either, and I do not have a schedule like you do. In any case, I feel it has been a long time, and the world has changed significantly.

So what are you still afraid of

I am afraid, you are watching television

Oh, you go ahead.

"Eat up." Zhou Li handed the pan-fried dumplings to Huai Xu

What are you studying

I will go and take a look then

Zhou Li bought a marinated egg outside the community and ate it while walking

I don't know, just walking around

Yes, that's it

Dressing, washing the face, and brushing the teeth

Is that so? What a coincidence

How about I go with you

The places you cannot see

It has been more than a year

What great courage... People are no longer afraid of demons! Huai Xu lamented about the state of the world

What are you doing to me? The locust tree sequence is inexplicable, isn't this your breakfast?

They arrived before me

What is a test paper

See when you wake up

Picked up

I will tell you once I remember.

Zhou Li's footsteps echoed slightly, sounding very clear in the quiet corridor, almost too quiet

That is a hyacinth, one that cannot be drowned

Pinyin, recognizing characters

He withdrew his gaze, turned around, and silently picked up the pen. The noisy sound of the rain outside made this early summer night seem particularly tranquil

The next morning, when Zhou Li woke up, it was still dark outside. A half head was hanging over the edge of the upper bunk, staring straight at him, which startled him greatly

enmmm......

There is also a monster in the school

Then if you want to sleep on top, sleep on top; if you want to sleep below, sleep below

Over there. "Huai Xu pointed in a direction, but seeing Zhou Li with his back to him, he added, "It is the place where the walls along a long street bloom with flowers in spring."

It looks quite new

"Hyacinth," Huai Xu repeated

Um... Huai Xu hesitated for a moment, "Aren't you afraid that I will eat you tonight?"

Huai Xu reluctantly took the pan-fried dumpling, stuffed one into his mouth, and immediately squinted his eyes.

The leg is no longer shaking!

Oh, is it that one?

How do you know? I don't, it's just a coincidence. Speaking of which, it seems that we are indeed fated to meet.

You are going to take the university entrance examination

After completing two sets of exercises in a row and writing a diary entry, Zhou Li stretched and turned his head to see Huai Xu, who had unknowingly taken one of his elementary school Chinese textbooks and had already read nearly one-third of it.

Oh, Jiuwan Junior High School, the one next to Sanxiao.

The upper bunk revealed half a head: "Are you asleep?"

Zhou Li also lay down on the bed

I see now

This was something I bought when I was young. At that time, my brother and I slept together, with him on the upper bunk. As we grew older, we no longer slept together. After entering middle school, this bed was also moved to this house.

I came from a small town, walking all the way until I arrived here. It is nice here; there are not as many monsters as outside the city. I have been in the city for over half a year, usually wandering around wherever I want to go. Sometimes I also visit places that you humans enjoy, but I have to do it secretly. Occasionally, I even go to school. As soon as Huai Xu starts talking, he becomes very happy, his eyes sparkling, and he can go on for quite a while.

I do not lack nutrition

How do you know

"My deskmate can't come today, I'll help her clean, just for this one day." Zhou Li had already put on her shoes and took the small bag.

Good

The ground is covered with locust flowers, soaked by the rain and sticking to the earth, creating a myriad of star-like specks.

Zhou Li stepped out the door, while Huai Xu stood in front of him

A bit fake

With a snap, Zhou Li turned off the light, preferring not to see anything.

I don't remember, anyway, it wasn't like this

Is that an estimate?

Do you feel unfamiliar? Then what do you still remember

"Wipe your hands and mouth." Aunt Jiang handed a few more pieces of paper to Zhou Li.

Huai Xu followed closely behind Zhou Li, going wherever Zhou Li went, occasionally looking around with curiosity.

The eyes immediately squinted again

... ...

I will go out later to buy a marinated egg, I like to eat that. Hurry up and eat, after you finish, go take the elevator

Well, I am leaving

Zhou Li has somewhat understood that the person who just said to him, 'Ask away, I will tell you everything I know,' is actually still confused himself and cannot provide him with much useful information. Moreover, he is not very confident in the reliability of this information.

Logically, dawn has not yet arrived, but for some unknown reason, he has reverted to his male form.

Oh

"Then you should be stronger than me," Zhou Li said, "So where are you going later? After the rain stops."

I have special teaching techniques

No

"Do not be afraid." Zhou Li put away the paper and closed the window at the same time

Zhou Li did not wait for the elevator, but instead turned and walked into the stairwell entrance, where the light suddenly dimmed, appearing a shade of green.

Yes

"What happened?" Aunt Jiang noticed his gaze and turned to look behind her

They are all unwilling to engage with you, so why would they say these things to you

Zhou Li eats very quickly

I did not say I am not afraid

Let's go! Huai Xu quickly put down the book

"Could it be that you are very impressive?" Huai Xu was instead puzzled.

This looks similar to what I have eaten before. Huai Xu pointed at the banana, but it is not as big and not as good-looking. I had it in the mountains

They all dislike me; the younger ones avoid me, and the older ones refuse to let me stay in their territory. Perhaps it is because I resemble a human. " Huai Xu said this with a hint of anger, "Actually, I am quite easy to get along with, I believe.

Oh!

He did not disturb him again

It's fine, just sleep like this; after all, I don't often sleep on the upper bunk. I have to get up early tomorrow morning

Hmm. I don't remember much, occasionally I can recall a little bit; it seems that everyone who should wake up feels this way. A hint of confusion appeared in Huai Xu's eyes, as his mind was filled with only fragments that could not be connected, and each time he touched upon them, it was quite painful. To cope with this discomfort, he could only force himself to stop reminiscing.

I am wet

Oh

I learn very quickly

What are you looking at me for!" Zhou Li asked in a lowered voice

"So good!" Huai Xu exclaimed, then pointed at Zhou Li's bookshelf, which was densely packed, "Have you read all these books?"

Do monsters really eat people

"Take the eggs with you to eat on the way!" Aunt Jiang shouted, "Do you want to bring some dumplings as well?"

Two elegantly curved calves swayed before his eyes, resembling those made of jade

"Yes, keep your voice down, don't attract..." Zhou Li turned to remind Huai Xu, but he found that there was nothing behind him; instead, a faint voice from Huai Xu came from ahead.

I am going to write the exam paper now, you just stay here

Bananas are very delicious

I am not impressive; you are the impressive one. You can even come up to the twenty-fifth floor. If you want to eat me, I have no way to resist. " Zhou Li stood up and walked towards the bed. "I am going to sleep now; you should sleep as well.

The locust tree sequence seems to have understood

Did people in the past fear monsters? Zhou Li asked

Zhou Li hesitated for a moment, glanced at the bunk bed, and quietly asked, "When are you leaving?"

Hello, do you often bully a human? Probably about this tall, relatively thin

"How did you get up to the twenty-fifth floor?"

You may go if you wish, just do not cause any disturbances at my school

Most of them are textbooks

I am very impressive. The voice of Huai Xu was muffled and unclear