Tu Dan was silent for a while before letting out a low “Mm.”

“Although we obtained the clue… no one knows what dangers exist in the fog.” Tu Dan said in a low voice. “Whether or not to enter the fog should still be considered based on the principle of volunteering.”

After all, she was just a teacher. She had no authority to order students to risk their lives. However, what troubled her most was precisely this—those willing to go might not be capable students; capable students might not be willing to go.

This wasn’t a matter where strength came in numbers. If she pulled together a team of uneven quality to enter the fog, the risks would only increase, not decrease!

Thinking of this, Tu Dan’s brow furrowed even tighter, murmuring: “If we let those people downstairs go…”

“They were able to bring an elderly person and a disabled person out of a game safely, which shows their abilities far exceed ours.” Chen Hui said. “But Teacher, didn’t you say the clue shouldn’t be casually revealed to others?”

Tu Dan froze, then realized her self-talk had been overheard by Chen Hui.

However, this girl had always been very perceptive and composed. Even if only fragments were revealed, Chen Hui could probably guess most of it.

Tu Dan said to her gently: “I don’t want others to know because I’m afraid that after everyone enters the game together, allies will become enemies. Not only will there be infighting, but they’ll also use you all as scapegoats. You’re all teenagers—if you really had to fight adults, what chance would you have?”

Chen Hui asked again: “Does Teacher feel they’re not trustworthy?”

Tu Dan was momentarily at a loss for words.

After a few seconds of pause, she said hesitantly: “Let me think more… let me think more…”

…

The deep night was long.

Downstairs, Shen Mo’s group occupied two dormitory rooms. Shen Mo and Bai Youwei stayed in one room, Tan Xiao and Cheng Weicai in another.

Shen Mo slept on Bai Youwei’s upper bunk.

He was tall and large. If he lay flat, the bed would seem short, exposing half the man’s ankles.

So he could only lie slightly curled up, sighing silently in his heart: This cramped feeling—might as well sleep on the floor.

The bed board was knocked twice, making clear thumping sounds in the dark night.

“Shen Mo, are you up there?” Bai Youwei asked from below.

“Mm.” Shen Mo responded. “Yes.”

After responding to her, there was no follow-up.

Shen Mo waited a moment, then asked: “What’s wrong? Need to use the bathroom?”

The voice from the lower bunk was full of resentment: “Do I have the word ‘bathroom’ written on my face? Every day asking if I need to use the bathroom!”

Shen Mo couldn’t help but laugh.

He was just worried she’d be too shy to bring it up herself…

After a while, Bai Youwei knocked on his bunk again: thump, thump, thump.

“Shen Mo, why don’t you make any sound when you sleep?” Bai Youwei complained. “So quiet, not even the sound of turning over. It’s like I’m the only person in the room. I’m scared.”

Though her mouth said “scared,” her tone didn’t show it at all.

Shen Mo knew she was fussy, troublesome, pretentious, and loved throwing tantrums.

Not wanting to argue with her, he complied and turned over in bed.

Creak… creak…

…creak…

Bai Youwei: “You’re too noisy like that. I can’t sleep.”

“…” He was silent for a moment, then patiently asked her: “Then what do you want me to do?”

“Put a hand down so I know you’re there.”

Shen Mo: “…”

He didn’t respond, so she continued knocking on the bed—thump thump thump, thump thump thump.

Shen Mo had no choice but to lower one arm.

Half a second later, she grabbed it, small hand holding big hand.

Shen Mo looked at the ceiling, feeling the softness in his palm, and said flatly: “Childish, aren’t you? You even complained that the middle school students upstairs are kids. I think you’re not much older yourself.”

After a pause, he asked: “How old are you?”

Bai Youwei glared at the upper bunk bed board and asked back coldly and proudly: “How old do you think I am?”

Shen Mo didn’t hesitate: “Three years old.”

Bai Youwei: “…”

…

After a long while, she snorted.

Snort as she might, she didn’t let go of that dog paw in her hand.