The cycle begins to repeat itself today.

Although she was still sobbing, I could also sense the undeniable determination and seriousness in her voice. I watched as she forcefully plunged the dagger into her own body. She wasn't moving quickly, and she didn't look at the blade, perhaps because I was supporting her chin, preventing her from looking down. But I sensed no desire in her to look down. Her body was trembling slightly; I could feel the same fear of death she shared. The tip of the sword was almost touching her body. I felt I couldn't go on any longer, so I grabbed the hand she was using to commit suicide with my other hand.

"That's enough, that's fine."

I stopped her from doing anything further. She didn't move, letting me press her hand down. I took the short sword from her hand and examined it closely. This time, I could feel her power gradually increasing. I looked at her face; she was looking at me too. I guessed what she was probably thinking.

"Don't worry about me, I don't have the courage to commit suicide."

Her strength returned to normal. My mind was a jumbled mess, I didn't know what I was thinking. After a moment of silence, I calmed down a little.

"I'm so sorry... I did something so awful just now."

I apologized to her. I couldn't be sure that Ye Yuqing was the one who killed me a second time, and it was true that I had done something very wrong to her because of my personal emotions. Regardless, I needed to apologize. Perhaps she found my apology strange, because she looked at me and even stopped sobbing. I withdrew my hand from her cheek. She looked at my withdrawn hand and shook her head.

"No... I won't kill you, I absolutely won't."

She spoke softly. Judging from her actions just now, what she said did seem believable, but given my current situation, I couldn't trust her. In this abnormal state, Ye Yuqing was the only person I had any real contact with. I had tried to explore her past and present, obtaining information that I couldn't discern as true or false, and I had even been killed by her twice with the short sword in her hand… no, to be precise, only once. I could only be certain it was her once, the first time I followed her into the lecture hall. With one sword, she transported me to yesterday, September 11th. And now, I was killed on the night of the 13th and returned to the night of the 12th. I couldn't prove that the person who assassinated me was Ye Yuqing. Not only that, I didn't even know if the attacker was male or female. In the meantime, I didn't care about any of that; all I could feel was the seemingly endless madness emanating from behind me.

Could a girl who would cry after killing someone, a girl I'd hesitate and fear even to kill myself, possibly be that insane? I'm not sure. I haven't had a similar experience, and I can't understand the thoughts and ideas of a madman. But madness combined with wielding a knife makes someone far too dangerous. The police have no reason not to take him into custody; otherwise, it would be a huge threat to life, and they wouldn't allow such a threat to exist. So, did a mental patient escape? Impossible. First of all, this isn't a very big town, and there's no such thing as a mental hospital. Any mentally ill patients discovered would definitely be transferred for treatment. The fact that there's no news about such a madman is already strange enough. The smaller the town, the faster news travels. From the start of the incident, it would only take less than half a day for the news to spread throughout Xiaozhen. The idea of ​​hiding such an aggressive mental patient is simply absurd.

But his madness and murderous intent didn't seem feigned. Normally, how could someone possess such intense negative emotions unless there was a deep-seated blood feud? While I may seem somewhat indifferent to others' affairs, I've always adhered to the principle of avoiding contact with strangers and living a low-key life. I've never actively provoked anyone. How could someone like him appear in my social circle? He is a possibility, but there's insufficient grounds for it. Was it a random attack? That's not impossible. It was past 10 PM, and I didn't see anyone else on that street besides myself. While this is somewhat unusual, it's not incomprehensible, and I, being there, became his sole target. If that's the case, then I'm truly speechless.

But these are all just assumptions. That person could still be the deeply hidden Ye Yuqing, or it could be someone else. I don't know. I lack clues, the very clues necessary to assess the situation. I do know that what I did just a few days ago, I have to do again... I just wanted to get some rest, but they won't even give me that.

I sighed softly and looked at Ye Yuqing. This girl, who kept saying she wouldn't kill me, yet was highly suspicious—I didn't know what to do. This time, I died, and once again, I was lucky enough to come back to life. My death gave me time to struggle; it was painful, and it filled me with rage and a fear of death. As a human being, I cannot be familiar with death, nor do I want to be. I cannot gamble on whether I will be resurrected again. I am just a person without any courage, wanting to live humbly, an utterly normal person. However, some things cannot continue if I don't do them now. There are too many possibilities in this matter; I cannot investigate everything at once. I simply don't have enough time. I must gamble; not gambled will only make my chances of winning smaller. This is a necessary step to survive.

“You said you would do whatever I wanted, right? Lift your head up.”

I said those words again, and I saw fear once more fill Ye Yuqing's face, her already dried tears welling up again. But what I did was different from before. I shouldn't have trusted her, a girl who had indeed killed me and was now a prime suspect in this second instance. However, rather than trusting someone who had never shown her face and whose existence I didn't even know, choosing Ye Yuqing, whom I was relatively more familiar with, made me feel more at ease.

Before me stood Ye Yuqing, her eyes wide with surprise, as if we were about to touch. I was returning a favor to her, something she had once done to me. I didn't know how others did it, nor did I need any reference; I simply pressed my lips together, nothing more. A few seconds, or perhaps ten seconds—I don't know how much time passed—before I regained my almost completely swayed composure. I leaned back slightly, looking at her still bewildered face.

"I'll trust you this once, and I hope you won't let me down."

Chapter Fifty-Seven: Hidden Killing Intent

I did kiss Ye Yuqing with a clear purpose. Judging from her behavior so far, she's been following her own desires, seeking something from herself—which I bluntly interpret as a sense of validation. This is precisely what she's lacked for years, and I don't think this is a major problem. A few days ago, tonight, just minutes, maybe ten minutes ago, I explicitly rejected her on the rooftop of the teaching building. If, as she says, she has nothing but me, then my existence is far more meaningful to her than I imagine. Her compliance stems from not wanting me to dislike her, and this likely arises from her own distrust. She lacks confidence in her ability to gain the trust of others, which is probably one of her long-standing problems. Therefore, under these circumstances, this is the best solution I can think of.

I know I'm not good with words. Even if I used a thousand words, there's still a high chance I'd create distance between myself and Ye Yuqing. While that would achieve the same effect, the time and results wouldn't be under my control. Since there are more stable conditions available that save time, why shouldn't I use them? I'm temporarily not considering the irreversible impact my current actions might have on my life. What do these consequences matter if I'm dead? As long as I'm alive, there's always a chance to make amends for my mistakes, even if it takes a long time.

Ye Yuqing's reaction was even stronger than I expected. As I leaned back slightly to get a better look at her expression, I saw large tears welling up in her eyes before sliding down her cheeks. Her mouth was slightly open, but no sound came out. I guessed she wanted to cry but was trying her best to suppress it. I bit my lip. Since I'd already done it, I might as well go all the way. Shame was something I had to cast aside at this moment.

I gently loosened my grip on her face, wiped away her tears with my thumb, and said to her in the gentlest voice I could muster, "Cry it out. You can do whatever you want with me. I'll always be here for you."

I felt an intense loathing and disgust, all directed at myself. Ye Yuqing hadn't done anything wrong; she just wanted someone's approval, and that person just happened to be me. And I, now that person, was trying to deceive her with such lies. I loathed myself, but I knew I had to do it. And because of this, my self-loathing intensified when Ye Yuqing cried. I had ultimately become this—a liar. No matter how many times time could rewind, no matter what I become in the future, this experience will be deeply etched into my soul; I will never forget it. But as compensation, I will do everything I can to make it up to her. However, not now. I have other things I must do. If I don't finish this, the price I've paid will be reduced to ashes.

In my arms, Ye Yuqing cried out loud, unrestrained and filled with sorrow. My hand gently stroked her back, but her cries didn't register with me; I was thinking about other things. Making the most of the time was what I needed to do right now.

First, let's confirm the sequence of events. As the starting and ending point of the cycle, which was 10:17 PM on the 12th, I remember this time, and I'm glad I've developed the habit of checking the time whenever something seems amiss. Yesterday, at 10:17 PM on the 12th, Ye Yuqing and I walked out of the school together. Judging from the location where I was killed and the timeline rewinds, Ye Yuqing and I should have been walking on the street with the popsicle stall, but we hadn't reached the entrance to that alley yet, because I didn't turn back with her. I remember this, and I have a relatively clear impression of my location. I asked Ye Yuqing questions the whole way, because I felt there wasn't enough time. I even rested briefly on the pedestrian bridge, asking some questions and learning about some things that had happened to Ye Yuqing in the past. Then Ye Yuqing invited me to her house. She wanted to "dedicate" herself to me, while I wanted to find answers to my questions and check on Ye Yuqing's family situation. I restrained myself and nothing too outrageous happened. After making some small promises, I left her house. So far, I haven't thought of any problems.

After leaving her house, I hadn't slept for over twenty-four hours. My mental state was terrible, and I was desperate to get home and sleep. The walk was the same as usual... no, something else happened. I remembered the situation I encountered that night when I walked uphill from Ye Yuqing's house, through the hospital, onto the main road, and then on my way home. There was that sound behind me, but when I turned around, I couldn't find anything. I even became more alert out of fear. I walked past the intersection leading home, heading towards the police station, but after a while, the sound behind me stopped. Carefully walking back, I only saw a drunk man I hadn't seen before, lying under the bus stop sign. Seeing that drunk man relaxed me then, and my mental state couldn't support any deeper thought. I didn't think about anything and just relaxed and went home. Now, thinking about it, that's impossible.

The entrance to my house is over 200 meters from the police station; I could even see the police station before the sound stopped. The drunk man, however, collapsed just a few meters from the entrance to the residential area. If it really was that drunk man, I shouldn't have heard any further sounds. Moreover, the sound was rhythmic, a rhythm even I, in my dazed state, could discern. It even stopped when I stopped and looked back, which was the main reason I became afraid. How could I have forgotten?

How could I have forgotten?!

I was already being watched in the early hours of the morning.

Chapter Fifty-Eight: Happy Leaves

My body grew colder with this discovery, and my caresses of Ye Yuqing involuntarily stopped. I felt a lingering fear and helplessness. In my mental state at the time, if the other person had really wanted to kill me, I probably wouldn't have been able to resist at all. But why did he give up? Was it because I was almost at the police station and he was too scared? How could that be? How could a killer who couldn't kill me that day, and then came back the next day to take my life, let me go so easily just because I was a little close to the police station? Besides, I turned back afterwards. Why didn't he kill me then? Was it because he had already left? Is that possible? If, as I had guessed before, he killed me on a whim, would she have left empty-handed...? No, that's not right, she might have already succeeded...

I remembered the drunk man collapsed under the bus stop sign. The lighting was dim, and I don't have the habit of checking if someone is dead without a reason. Besides, I was desperate to get home and sleep, so I had no way of knowing whether the man was drunk or dead. But, are there really people like that these days? I looked up at the exit of the alley I was on. There was a house on each side of the exit, and on the wall of the house on the left, there was a very noticeable protrusion with a small, flashing light. I had no other answer; it must be one of the surveillance cameras that were everywhere in the town. They covered the entire area and were working day and night. Apart from those reckless gangs, would someone really choose to commit murder in such an open place? Wouldn't that leave an unusually large amount of evidence? I couldn't understand it.

Ye Yuqing had stopped crying at some point. She loosened her grip on me and leaned back against the wall. I only noticed her movement when she let go and looked at her.

Are you feeling better?

She nodded, then looked at me with a slightly choked voice and said, "I'm sorry, I got your clothes wet."

I then noticed that my collar was indeed wet with Ye Yuqing's tears, but it wasn't a big deal, and I didn't care. I had a lot to investigate, but regarding what might happen tonight, I'd probably have to relive it all. Last time, I went to Ye Yuqing's house to ask her some questions and stayed until after 11 PM, which was probably when I was being watched. I don't remember the exact time, but it was around 11:20 PM. I had checked the time before, and the memory hadn't completely faded, so this time I had to go to her house again, stay until that time, and then return the way I came last time. This time, I needed to find at least some clues.

"Are you still able to stand up? Let me take you home first."

She nodded slightly, then stood up, leaning against the wall for support. I realized the short sword was still in my hand, and I casually put it into my bag.

"Could...could you come to my place for a while?" Ye Yuqing hesitated for a moment before asking. Looking at her, having gone through what had happened before, I knew exactly what she meant. Although I wasn't ready to cross the line, staying at her place until 11:20 was a must. I nodded and agreed. She didn't show much expression, standing there obediently. After I finished packing my things, I called her over and prepared to leave.

Ye Yuqing and I emerged from the alley; the streets were much less crowded. Our plan had deviated from the original plan, but that was due to my own emotional state, and I couldn't blame anyone else. However, it did save us the time we'd spend resting on the bridge. While it's possible we were being watched while resting on the bridge, the timing was now different, making perfect synchronization unrealistic. I felt it was better to skip this phase. If I followed the original plan without problems, it would prove I was being watched earlier than before I went home tonight—between leaving school and arriving at Ye Yuqing's house. If problems arose, it would prove this period wasn't directly related to whether I was being watched or not, so I wouldn't lose out either way.

I walked with Ye Yuqing towards her house. After crossing the street, we came to the pedestrian bridge. It was as cool as ever, making me want to linger there for a while. However, my plan was far more important than I thought, so I didn't stop. But I was still cautious, carefully observing my surroundings to see if there were any suspicious people. Although I didn't have high hopes, more opportunities are always better. However, my observation skills didn't improve because of my wishful thinking, and I still didn't see anything suspicious. Anyway, I didn't have high expectations, so I wasn't disappointed.

After crossing the pedestrian bridge, I had only taken two steps when I realized Ye Yuqing had unknowingly moved behind me again. When I turned to look at her, she was also looking at me, but this time with a brighter smile on her face. I didn't know what she was happy about; trying to understand her thoughts was a bit difficult for me, so I simply asked her directly.

What are you laughing at?

"...I just suddenly remembered that you were following me, so you knew where my house was without me leading the way." Her smile faded slightly, which I could tell; she still lacked confidence in herself. Although this was the second time for me, it must have been a rather important statement for her.

"Just relax when you're with me."

"Ah."

This time, she nodded happily. I turned around and walked towards her house, with Ye Yuqing following behind. This feeling made me feel a little strange. It was clearly her house, yet I was the one leading the way. I wasn't sure if I had the right to do so, but I didn't think it was necessary to care so much. As long as Ye Yuqing didn't mind, it wasn't a big deal.

"By the way, can I call you Yezi from now on? It doesn't seem right to keep calling you by your name."

"Ok!"

She nodded happily.

Chapter Fifty-Nine: Tiny Scars

Arriving at Yezi's house with her, I quickly lost interest after a brief observation. I'd already seen it once before and knew what I wanted to know; most people are essentially the same, with little difference. Although I didn't notice anything unusual on the way up, it didn't mean I wasn't being followed. Perhaps because of what had happened before, Yezi had lowered her guard considerably, or perhaps too much. Upon entering her house, she immediately told me she was going to take a shower, though she phrased it as a request for my opinion. I didn't answer, because she had already taken my silence as consent. I already guessed what she was going to do next; if I didn't accept, nothing bad would happen even if I didn't refuse, so I decided to leave it for now. Instead, I went to the window in her dining room. The curtains were drawn, making it feel like an airtight room, even though it was on the top floor.

Ye Zi hadn't turned on the dining room lights, making it considerably darker here, but that was just right for me. I stood by the bed, slightly parting the curtains and peering downstairs through the gap. From here, I could barely see anything downstairs; there were hardly any lights in the area. I'd hidden down there before at night, and even when Ye Yuqing came down, she hadn't noticed me. Naturally, I couldn't see anything from here either. I didn't have the ability or equipment to see the darkness discreetly, so I had to abandon this futile attempt to observe downstairs and sit quietly in her living room, waiting for 11:20. Sitting in the living room, I realized the bathroom in Ye Zi's house wasn't very soundproof; I could vaguely hear the sound of running water. I uncontrollably imagined scenes I couldn't see, and to escape this awkwardness, I once again carefully observed Ye Zi's living room.

As before, Yezi's living room was clean and tidy. Although there were quite a few expensive-looking items, everything was neatly organized and categorized, without a trace of dirt or mess. This is quite remarkable for a girl living alone. Personally, I wouldn't bother cleaning areas I rarely use; I figured I'd just clean them later without ever using them. Yezi is a clean girl, that's the information her home conveys, but she's not a loving mother, that's also the information her home conveys. The dust-covered room, even to an outsider like myself, clearly indicated her strong resentment and estrangement from her parents. This even led her to avoid the room her parents used to live in; the musty smell of decay in that room was the best proof. I can't think of any other explanation for why such a clean girl would ignore it.

There was no clock in the living room, but her TV was always on. The black screen displayed white numbers in the corner; it was about 30 minutes until 12:20, meaning I'd have to stay quite a while longer to leave. I sat in the living room, lost in thought, but I realized my attention wasn't completely diverted by my actions. The sound of water in the bathroom had stopped sometime earlier, and I clearly heard her push open the sliding bathroom door. Sensing someone approaching from the other side, I turned to look. Standing at the boundary between the dining room and living room was Ye Zi, completely naked except for her pink underwear. I'd miscalculated. Although I already knew what Ye Zi was going to do tonight, I hadn't expected her to make her entrance like this.

I quickly averted my gaze, but even with my eyes closed, the image of Ye Zi's snow-white, voluptuous body remained vivid in my mind. I couldn't bear to think about it anymore. I tried biting my tongue to stay awake, but I'd been biting my tongue quite often lately, and the slight pain no longer bothered me. But I couldn't let myself continue like this. I bit harder, and I even felt a slightly metallic taste in my mouth. No matter how much I struggled, Ye Zi's movements were unaffected. Even when I turned my head to look at her, I could feel her slowly walking towards me. I heard soft murmurs nearby; I knew Ye Zi had sat down next to me. Neither of us spoke. But if this continued, things would only remain in this stalemate.

"Ye Zi, go put your clothes on first," I said to her without turning my head, not daring to look back. Although I rarely interact with people, my normal physiological reactions don't disappear. I was also interested in Ye Zi's body, but neither the time, the place, nor the situation allowed me to do so. Ye Zi is a good girl; she's currently in an abnormal situation because of someone else's mistake. Her indulgent attitude towards me is also abnormal. After learning about her background, my feelings for her are more of sympathy than anything else that should be smashed to pieces and thrown in the trash. I don't know if Ye Zi is an adult or not, but my birthday is in October, so I'm definitely not an adult yet, not to mention my student status. Crossing the line is absolutely unacceptable. More importantly, if I indulge myself, the nature of this matter will be fundamentally changed, which goes against my original intention and is the most unacceptable outcome for me.

"Did I do something wrong again? Or is my body not satisfying you?" She spoke in a lonely tone, her words alluring to me: "Is it because you stabbed yourself with a knife that you've become unattractive? I really didn't mean to."

Ye Zi's words reminded me of the terrible things I had done to her not long ago, and my remorse for her once again overwhelmed my thoughts, pushing away the wicked ideas that had been swirling in my mind. I turned to look at her, seeing her face, her still-warm, crystalline body, and the barely noticeable scar on her chest. My wicked thoughts were ultimately suppressed by reason. Looking at her face, I spoke what I wanted to say.

"Let's talk again."

Chapter Sixty: The Goal of Change

Yezi was still sitting on the sofa in the living room, while I ran into her bedroom and started rummaging through her wardrobe. She was decisive; although still shy, she left herself no way out. She threw all the clothes she was wearing that day, along with any spare clothes, into the washing machine and let it roll up. Although I had suppressed my wicked thoughts, I still couldn't continue talking to Yezi dressed like that. She was easy to talk to, but she was also stubborn once she made up her mind. I told her to find something to wear first, but she just kept her head down and wouldn't move. Reluctantly, I had to find something myself. It took me quite a while to search Yezi's wardrobe. I didn't know how she organized her clothes, so I could only search around. If I was lucky, I might find something to cover her up, but my luck wasn't good, or rather, it was terrible. I found all her underwear. I didn't have the idea or the courage to touch it, so I quickly closed the closet and continued searching on the other side. I couldn't figure out how Yezi's clothes were arranged.

I found a white dress on the far left of the wardrobe. Although it was sleeveless, it was still much better than the underwear Yezi was wearing. I took it out and examined it briefly. Judging from the length, it shouldn't be a dress she wore as a child. After all, not many girls like to wear dresses these days, and I hardly ever see them. Although I had some doubts about whether Yezi could even fit into it, I took it anyway. If it was a childhood dress, I could just change it; there was no need to hesitate. I took the dress and left her room, leaving the light on, because I wasn't sure if I would ever go back into that room.

"Come on, Yezi, put your clothes on." I waved the dress in front of her, but she only glanced at it twice and didn't move. I had no choice but to try another approach. Although it was a bit narcissistic, it actually worked quite well for Yezi in her current state: "Sweetie, put your clothes on. I want to see how you look in this dress."

I was disgusted by what I said, but it did have some effect on Yezi. She hesitated, but finally reached out and took the dress, then stood up. I stepped aside to make way for her to go to her room, but Yezi didn't seem to care as much as I did, or rather, she was completely oblivious to my presence. She unfolded the dress, looked at it, and then put it on from head to toe, like she was wearing a sweater. I couldn't think of any other way to wear such a dress; the neckline didn't seem to be able to open too low, so this was the only way. After putting on the dress, Yezi straightened the hem slightly and stood there, her face slightly flushed.

Yezi is a very pretty girl. She had just finished showering, and her hair was still wet. She looked adorable in this white dress. Although I don't know why this dress allowed me to see the fabric of her bra on both sides of her chest, making it look even more alluring than before, it was still a relatively normal outfit, and I couldn't ask for more. I complimented Yezi, and she lowered her head, looking even more shy.

"Ye Zi, you are indeed very beautiful. If only you were a little more confident, you would be even better."

Hearing my words, Yezi seemed a little happier, but she quickly fell back into a daze, one hand unconsciously stroking her recently injured wound, which somewhat dampened my smugness. I reached out and pressed on her shoulder, pushing her back onto the sofa, and then sat down next to her. If it were only this much, I could easily control myself; after all, I'm not some beast driven by desire.

"In all these days, the only happy thing that has happened to me is seeing you looking so beautiful in a dress. What about you, Yezi, has anything happy happened to you?"

I saw her nod without hesitation, then look at me. I realized that what she was happy about must be related to me, whether it was the fruit of her long-term preparations, or... or my approval. It should be something to be happy about for her. I seem to have asked a silly question, but I don't think it's a big deal to ask it. To be honest, although Yezi's past experiences were quite tragic, I now feel a little envious of her. I envy that the problems she worries about aren't too difficult to solve. Of course, this is just me, someone who hasn't personally experienced what she went through, making sarcastic remarks. How much pressure must there be to make such a good girl stand up and kill someone? I can't imagine.

I came here with the goal of solving the problem, and if it's possible, I'll definitely give it my all; otherwise, I don't see any chance of success. Addressing Yezi's issue also requires a fresh approach and plan. I thought about it and realized that the previous method wasn't bad, although there are some things that need to be changed.

"Ye Zi, do you think your life has any meaning?"

She nodded, looked at me, and shook her head. I didn't understand the meaning behind her gesture, but that didn't stop me from continuing with my plan.

"Like future goals, desired careers, and the life you dream of—do you have any of those? I don't. Right now, I'm just drifting along, living one day at a time. I've been having a lot of trouble lately. Why do people have to interfere with me when I've already lost all meaning in life? It's so unfair, isn't it? I hate this." I looked into Yezi's eyes: "I know what you want to do, Yezi, and I can tell you, I'm really interested. But not now, because people keep causing me trouble. I have a ton of problems to deal with right now, and I don't have time to spend with you all the time, you understand?"

I watched as Ye Zi's face gradually darkened, but her gloom wasn't directed at me; it was directed at those who were causing me trouble. It was a bit too much.

"Ye Zi, how about we make a deal? If you're obedient and get at least 30 red marks or higher in the next 50 tests, no matter how big or small, I'll grant you one request, okay?"

To provoke her, I gently stroked her face with a hint of suggestion, and she did indeed seem to ignite her fighting spirit as I had hoped.

Chapter Sixty-One: Reconstructed Memories

I have my own thoughts and considerations regarding the concessions made to Ye Zi.

Firstly, since we're already in our final year of high school, given our school's habit of finishing the textbooks in the first two years and then doing practice tests in the second, there will be more tests, and the frequency of tests will inevitably be much higher than before. Every subject requires a large number of practice tests to improve scores, which is one of the most common methods used by most high schools to boost grades. It's low-cost, efficient, and very convenient for monitoring students' learning progress. A large number of tests will reduce students' fear of the upcoming college entrance exam and increase their test-taking adaptability. This approach is naturally beneficial to the school. Although the cost is the loss of most of the so-called "free time," constantly robbing time from other areas to make up for it—similar to robbing Peter to pay Paul—from the perspective of improving scores alone, it is undoubtedly a very effective method. However, even the most effective method requires a process.

If I count each exam individually, one subject per exam, and there are usually one or two regular exams, and a major exam with six subjects at once, the number of exams becomes incredibly daunting—fifty exams. It seems like a lot, but if you're unlucky, you could finish them all in a month. Improving grades isn't easy for most students. While extensive practice can certainly improve grades, the effect varies from person to person. It doesn't become significantly more effective just because a student has a lot of room for improvement. Most students, when doing practice problems, simply leave the ones they don't understand aside, even if the teacher explains them in class later. Perhaps some more motivated students will listen, but usually, understanding the teacher's lectures becomes extremely difficult. This is because teachers assume that students should already understand the parts they've explained so diligently in class; those who don't understand are simply unwilling to learn, and teachers don't need to worry about them—they'll ask questions later or simply let them go. However, in reality, those with poorer grades are the least likely to ask their teachers for help. Their friends are mostly others who also have poor grades, and discussing studies would damage these relationships. Most of these students choose entertainment. While it's unknown what Yezi will choose, her situation will only worsen.

Her grades are about the same as mine, barely passing, but the chances of her getting a perfect score are extremely slim. Even if she decides to work hard now, the gap between her and others is not so easy to bridge. Effort can certainly bring results, but those with more experience reap greater rewards. I know my own grades well, and Yezi is in the same boat—her foundation is riddled with holes. Filling those gaps will take far more than just a month, let alone achieving more than three-fifths of a perfect score in the last fifty exams. I admire and respect those who work hard, but I'm not very optimistic about the results of that effort. Furthermore, Yezi isn't particularly good at studying, making this goal even more difficult to achieve. Frankly, this goal feels more like an empty promise to motivate Yezi.

Although I felt bad for lying to her, I had a clear goal I needed to achieve and couldn't afford to waste too much time and energy on Yezi. To prevent my purpose from being distorted, I also had to uphold my principles. Regarding the promise I made to her, I might find another way to travel; for now, I'd just let myself be driven by that. I checked the time; it hadn't moved much, only a few minutes had passed. I had to stay until the appointed time to leave, but the lack of conversation made me feel a little awkward. Yezi didn't seem to mind; she was looking at me with wide eyes. I didn't know what to say, and facing Yezi like this was also making me feel awkward. I devised a way to get her away by asking her to get me a glass of water. I used this time and opportunity to adjust myself and continue recalling the details of what I would encounter "tomorrow."

Although I briefly recalled the events and found nothing particularly noteworthy, I decided to review them carefully again to ensure I hadn't made any mistakes or overlooked anything. First, I returned home around 11:40 PM. My sister was still awake, sitting in the living room playing on her phone. Perhaps because my tone hadn't been very pleasant when we spoke earlier, she seemed a little angry and her attitude towards me was slightly cold. However, after I explained why I was late, she became interested again. Since I needed to stay up until midnight, I spent some time chatting with her. When I came to my senses, it was already past midnight. After realizing nothing had changed, I was too exhausted to continue and fell asleep on the bed. When I woke up the next day, it was already "tomorrow" morning. I had successfully escaped September 12th; things should be fine now.

The most suspicious person, and the one with the highest probability of killing me, was the one who would follow me to the entrance of the residential area tonight. That was the only obvious suspicious point that came to mind. Then, it was the 13th, which is "tomorrow." I woke up in bed, happy that I had escaped the cycle of reincarnation and that life had returned to normal. I tried to get my life back on track. That day, I went out before it was fully light, and arrived at the classroom at the usual time. Everything was fine, except for a small surprise: Yezi arrived at the classroom early because I said, "I hope to see her at school tomorrow." My intention was to encourage her to cherish her life, but she interpreted it as me wanting to see her at school as soon as possible. However, in the end, there was no problem; she was still alive and well and hadn't tried to commit suicide again during the night, so I didn't care. Then, I stayed there without incident until noon.

No, that's not right. I frowned, remembering something. Ye Zi wasn't the only one whose situation changed at that time.

Chapter Sixty-Two: The Past Repeats Itself

Because I was so focused on Yezi and the murderer whose true identity I didn't know, I almost forgot about something else that was somewhat out of my routine. On the morning of the 13th, when I arrived at the classroom, what seemed unusual wasn't just Yezi, who had arrived early and was waiting for me, but also the group of top students at the very front of the group, discussing something in a slightly annoying voice. I don't remember what they were discussing, but they were making a lot of noise, which annoyed me. That alone wouldn't have made a strong impression on me, but one person was involved in the discussion: the class monitor. Honestly, although she wasn't enthusiastically participating and remained relatively quiet, I still remembered her.