When trapped in the maze, their greatest wish was to escape it.

Now that they were out, they felt even more lost.

The world had changed drastically. Their lives hung by a thread at any moment. Where should they go?

The five students gathered together, discussing in low voices.

Bai Youwei sat in her wheelchair, quietly watching them. Her hands rubbed her plush rabbit over and over, her face showing no ripple of expression.

She could feel tingling numbness spreading through the nerves in her legs.

Since the car accident at age twelve, her legs had sensation for the first time. But she remained silent, not telling anyone.

Because she hated empty rejoicing.

If one data upgrade could restore feeling to her legs, then would a second data upgrade let her stand again?

What was the maze?

…God or demon—she didn’t care.

She only wanted to stand up.

…

The students finally finished discussing.

Zhang Tianyang said, “We plan to follow the Yangtze River south to see if we can find rescue or join up with other refugees…”

He paused, looking toward Chen Hui. “Chen Hui wants to go north. She’s going to Beijing to find Teacher Tu’s son.”

Everyone was shocked.

Teacher Cheng: “That’s such a long journey, and you’re just a young girl…”

“Right, Chen Hui—Teacher Tu’s son must have already evacuated. You won’t be able to find him.” Her classmate also tried to persuade her.

Chen Hui took out Tu Dan’s wallet, opened it, and showed everyone the family photo inside.

“Teacher Tu wrote a letter to her child. I want to deliver the letter to him—return it to its rightful owner.”

The back of the photo had writing on it.

Actually it couldn’t really be called a letter—at most it was a message, just two sentences total.

——Xiao Hui, Mom misses you very much.

——Child, I hope you’re safe.

The two sections had different color depths in the handwriting. Obviously the latter sentence was added recently.

Looking at this photo, everyone fell into silence.

Chen Hui said, “The ID card has an address. If I can’t find the person, I’ll leave the photo at Teacher Tu’s home. Don’t worry—I know my limits and won’t act recklessly.”

She paused, her voice softening somewhat: “Teacher Tu led us this far. I also want to do something for her.”

Hearing this, Zhang Tianyang felt his heart ache and swell. He couldn’t help but say, “I’ll go with you!”

“No need.” Chen Hui smiled faintly. “Your task is to complete what Teacher Tu didn’t finish—leading everyone to find a shelter. Also, don’t forget I have a puzzle piece in hand. Even if I encounter a game, I can protect myself. If all of you came with me, even using two puzzle pieces couldn’t save everyone. So me going alone is enough.”

She and Zhang Tianyang each had one puzzle piece, but there were five students total—they couldn’t exempt all five from games.

Everyone thought it over and found Chen Hui’s arrangement was indeed the most appropriate.

“Don’t worry.” Chen Hui smiled lightly and raised her fist. “I’m quite capable now. Though I can’t compare with you all, those who haven’t been in mazes definitely can’t bully me.”

With this settled, everyone stopped trying to dissuade her.

Shen Mo also asked Tan Xiao and Teacher Cheng.

Tan Xiao was an orphan who’d grown up without family or relatives, only a bunch of rowdy brothers who’d later scattered. He had nowhere else to go now, so naturally he continued following Shen Mo.

Teacher Cheng deliberated for a while.

His wife had passed away in middle age, and all his children were abroad. He’d come to Yangzhou this time because he worried about his elderly parents, but now it seemed the possibility of them boarding a rescue ship was infinitesimal.

After thinking long and hard, Cheng Weicai sighed, “Let’s go to Hangzhou. At my age, I’ve lived enough. If we can really collect all the puzzle pieces, that would benefit society—dying for such a cause would be worthwhile.”

Rather than dying pointlessly in games, better to die with some value and meaning.

Even if just a little.

…