Unknown Intrusion

Chapter 24 Dream

Teaching building

As I walked along, all the classrooms were in disarray, with students sitting in their seats, whispering to each other. I didn't see a single teacher.

I never expected to have so much free time.

After Su Yu took his seat, he saw Cheng Qiaoqiao open a book and whisper to another female classmate.

"Really?" the female classmate asked her in surprise.

"real!"

"I heard they're still grading papers, so there probably aren't any classes."

Are they still grading papers?

With so many people grading them and it still taking so long, are there really that many exam papers?
Su Yu seemed to be deep in thought.

“There have been exams before, but never like this.”

"It seems that it really is a stream-based exam... It's very serious, comparable to the college entrance exam before I transmigrated." Thinking this, he felt a little uneasy.

Even with his time travel and cheat-like abilities, Su Yu still felt nervous at this moment.

Although I did well on the exam, what if there are other factors involved?

No, not just if, definitely.

Exams often don't test academic performance, but rather one's background and political affiliation, especially for mysterious professions. Who wants to raise a traitor or an ingrate?

If you miss this opportunity, changing your destiny will become much more complicated.

"Even if we implement a triage and review process, there's not much we can do right now."

On a sunny day, Su Yu sat lazily in his seat, lost in thought, which made him feel even more idle.

Although we're waiting for the results to be announced, I'm actually incredibly bored during this time.

Class time with no schedule makes it feel like ages have passed since the last one.

That being said, they are still junior high school students in their third year.

If Su Yu remembers correctly, there will be several similar exams this semester.

"Perhaps it's a comprehensive evaluation. If you don't perform well the first time, you'll have a second or third chance, until you graduate."

Thinking of this, Su Yu felt a greater sense of urgency.

Su Yu noticed that only a handful of students were studying with their heads down.

I have a vague recollection of it... It seems like the future looks promising? At least we can all expect to have relatively good jobs.

She turned to look at Qiaoqiao again. Qiaoqiao was looking at her with clear eyes. After silently nodding, she lowered her head again and saw that Qiaoqiao was also reviewing her lessons.

Thinking of something, he said softly, "Qiaoqiao, during your lunch break, go to the gym to feed the cats. I need your help!"

"Mmm!" Qiaoqiao replied without looking up.

I stayed up all night last night, and it was quite a thrilling and frightening experience. I managed to catch up on some sleep, but it wasn't nearly enough.

Now that my tense mind has relaxed, waves of fatigue wash over me.

Su Yu forced himself to continue reading despite his weariness.

No teacher came to teach until lunch break.

Now, even the most oblivious students could sense what was happening.

A female teacher arrived late.

The noisy atmosphere in the classroom suddenly froze the moment she stepped in.

The students were either sitting or standing, but everyone froze, staring at her with wide eyes.

"Your class is hereby notified that afternoon classes are temporarily canceled and will be replaced with self-study."

"Be careful, don't make too much noise. Other classes might still be taking exams!"

During lunch break, Su Yu brought bread for lunch to the gymnasium, called out softly, and then heard a soft meow.

The white kitten peeked out from the shadows of the building, cautiously looking around before slowly emerging once it was sure it was safe.

This is a gray and white tabby cat that often wanders around the campus.

Perhaps it was abandoned on campus, and thankfully it was on campus.

No, Su Yu suddenly realized.

"There seem to be animals in the wild?"

"They certainly don't have these layers of protection, so how do they survive?"

"Unless, that darkness is directed at humanity."

Thinking of this, Su Yu recalled the word "sin" in his daily prayer.

Familiar prayers.

"...In the name of the saints, the crown, Blackshire, and the sailing guild, hear my prayer!" "I will act according to your laws, pay my taxes, and ask for forgiveness for my transgressions, purification from my sins, and protection for my home."

"Cleanse my sins... Humans have special sins, which is why they are specifically targeted?"

"If that weren't the case, why aren't wild animals going extinct?"

Su Yu lowered her head and looked at the kitten beneath her. It often ran around inside and outside the campus, full of energy, and had become a secret pet among some students.

Does it know something?

Watching the kitten rub its head against its black backpack and make soft meows, I felt a pang of affection.

Su Yu lazily tore the bread into small pieces and fed it to the animal little by little.

At this moment, Cheng Qiaoqiao came over to the corridor and joined in playing with the kitten.

“This morning, other schools also sent teachers.” Cheng Qiaoqiao, who was squatting to the side, said with a sigh, her hands supporting her cheeks, looking somewhat worried.

"Don't worry, you did well on the test," Su Yu comforted her.

"Oh, that's not what I meant at all."

"Because if there's a difference in our scores, it will be very difficult for us to get into the same high school again." She exhaled and looked into the distance.

"Graduation is coming soon. Three years have passed in the blink of an eye. Su Su, do you know... I had a nightmare last night."

"So real, so real... I even remember the details." Qiaoqiao's gaze at this moment was like a clear spring, reflecting the boy's figure.

“I dreamt that…you failed your exam and we didn’t get into the same high school.”

Su Yu was slightly surprised.

"and then?"

Qiaoqiao looked worried and somewhat sullen: "I don't want to talk about the rest, but... you're so pitiful."

"I'm unhappy to see you like that... I want to help you, but I don't know how."

The girl, who had just turned fourteen, had a genuine sadness and helplessness on her face.

Qiaoqiao stared at Su Yu in silence, as if the version of herself from ten years later overlapped with the version of herself now.

He was very familiar with that look in his eyes.

"...I think it was probably just a dream." Su Yu listened quietly to Qiaoqiao's words and forced a smile.

"Because I clearly did quite well on the test."

A wave of heartache washed over him, a mixture of anger and regret that nearly overwhelmed him like a violent storm.

It was the emotions of the natives; Su Yu suddenly remembered the system's initial settings.

—It's not about opening up new branches, but about correcting all mistakes, revising them again and again, until there are no more regrets.

Su Yu's alteration of the past does not constitute the creation of a "parallel universe".

Instead, from beginning to end, there is only one river of destiny.

Well, the problem is coming.

Now that Su Yu has changed, Qiaoqiao's fate has changed as well.

Qiaoqiao, who had watched over Su Yu for ten years, has theoretically disappeared.

But did it really disappear?
What was the initial design like?
Su Yu's memory was a little hazy.

"Perhaps that was how it was set up from the beginning... Qiaoqiao may have witnessed the changes, or at least some of them, in her dreams."

"In that case, perhaps she will continue to dream about me in the future... until she dreams about everything."

"That's fine... I can finally give you an explanation, Qiaoqiao, you are still you."

Su Yu gazed at Cheng Qiaoqiao, who had fallen silent.

Her profile was delicate and pretty, yet she carried a melancholy that shouldn't be present at her age.

He suddenly sighed inwardly.

Fourteen-year-old Qiaoqiao, twenty-four-year-old Qiaoqiao, are both Qiaoqiao...

He doesn't want to give up if he can.

That's... fine too.

In that instant, Su Yu suddenly realized that Qiaoqiao seemed to have grown up a little.

Not much, just a little bit.

In terms of demeanor, she is somewhat like her ten years later, dignified and calm, but lacking a bit of liveliness and innocence.

Cheng Qiaoqiao must be quite confused, but Su Yu can't be honest about it right now.

Feeling that the atmosphere made it impossible to continue questioning, Su Yu remembered his original intention and spoke seriously.

"Qiaoqiao, I need your help!"

(End of this chapter)