The cycle begins to repeat itself today.

I sat on the bed, and my sister, who had gone to wake my parents to bed, returned and sat down on the chair by the wall again: "Mom and Dad have gone to their room. You're not going to sleep so soon, are you?"

"I'm not in a hurry, you should go to bed earlier. Staying up this late every day is bad for your health."

I don't know exactly when my sister goes to sleep, but it's definitely later than mine. I have to wait until she's asleep before I can do anything else.

"Me? I didn't update anything interesting today, so I could go to bed early. But it's too early now, I'll talk about it later."

She continued playing on her phone, and I had to lean against the window, watching her while also looking at the dark night outside.

Chapter Twenty-Five: The Silent Night

It was well past my usual bedtime, and sleepiness was building up rapidly. I tried to stay awake and managed to pull through, but I was already feeling a little dazed.

Finally, my sister finally spoke up, rubbing her eyes. She looked at me and said, "Aren't you sleepy today? You're usually already asleep by now."

"I can only sleep after I see you fall asleep, otherwise you'll be playing on your phone until who knows how long." I didn't care.

It's almost 1 a.m., and I'm already very sleepy, but I'm just biting my lip and tongue to stay awake. People who don't usually stay up late will feel sleepy at a certain time, and if my sister doesn't go to sleep soon, I'm almost at my limit too, and it's very possible that I'll fall asleep at any time.

"If you want to sleep, just call me back." She chuckled, "Then you'll have to stay up all night with me from now on."

"We'll see. Go wash your face and go to sleep, you have class tomorrow."

"Okay. No, it's today now." She deliberately corrected this pointless question, and I didn't bother to reply. I needed to wash my face to clear my head. My younger sister, who seemed to have more energy, washed her face first and went straight to her bedroom, saying goodnight to me before closing the door. I slowed down my face washing, trying to get some contact with the cold water to stimulate my mind. But it wasn't very effective, so I went straight to the refrigerator, found some ice water, and gulped down a large mouthful. The cold liquid flowing down my esophagus even gave my brain a stinging sensation, and my sleepiness vanished instantly.

I breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a bit better. My parents usually sleep soundly until the next morning, and they generally go to bed earlier and wake up later than me. But that's because I'm a high school student, and my schedule is already being squeezed as much as possible. My parents aren't lazy or have leisurely jobs. As for my sister, I'm not sure; I want to check a bit more.

I tiptoed to my sister's room and gently turned the doorknob, making sure not to make a sound. I peered inside with eyes that had slightly adjusted to the darkness. I don't have night vision; even with some adjustment, I could only see blurry things. Her phone, which was charging, was on what should have been her desk. The quiet room was filled with soft, even breathing. She must be asleep. I gently closed the door again.

Although she could stay up late, she could still fall asleep as soon as she lay down when she was tired, just like anyone else. I felt a little relieved and started preparing to leave home. There wasn't much preparation, since I didn't usually bring textbooks or homework home; I just grabbed my schoolbag, which seemed more like a decoration, and headed out. This was the first time I'd left home late at night. I looked up at the sky; the darkness was deeper and quieter than any night I'd ever seen before. Even the barking of dogs was gone. The only dim light I could see came from the streetlights that flickered every few seconds, needing repair.

I walked towards Ye Yuqing's house. I felt like I was acting like a complete psychopath, but I wasn't going to argue with it. I would condemn myself, but no one else would know. Even if someone did find out, this period of time would be reset, and everything would be back to normal. Ultimately, the biggest impact of what I'm doing is on myself. As long as I can accept it and withstand the psychological pressure, my actions won't bring me any pressure.

Regarding the topic of resetting, I glanced at my phone; the current time is—around 1 AM on September 12th. My time hasn't been reset, meaning the start and end point of the time loop isn't at midnight, which is the most likely time. At least, it's not within the loop period that might have started around 9 PM last night. Since it's not a fixed midnight, the next time to confirm is 9 PM on September 12th. If the time reset hasn't started by then, the possibility of a 24-hour timeframe can be ruled out. In that case, at least my actions tonight weren't entirely meaningless.

Next... we can't pin our hopes on resetting the timeline, which may or may not happen. The best approach is to figure things out one by one, arrange the time, and solve all the problems at once.

It took me about ten minutes to walk through the pitch-black, deserted streets and arrive near the hospital. Even the hospital was completely dark; everyone was probably asleep at this hour. The silence was eerily profound. I even started to imagine what terrifying things might suddenly jump out from every dark corner—ghosts, zombies, or something like that. I was just forcing myself to walk, following my memory. I entered a side street next to the hospital that led to Ye Yuqing's house and successfully arrived at her building. Just as I expected, her house was also completely dark.

I found a spot where I wouldn't be easily spotted and sat down on the ground, using a flower bed as cover. I kept watch over the only entrance to Ye Yuqing's building. The rest of the time was likely to be meaningless waste of time; Ye Yuqing would be asleep, preparing for her date the next day, while I was here staring, waiting for someone who would never show up. I hoped Ye Yuqing would come out of the building, because that would give me some useful clues. At the same time, I hoped she wouldn't come out, because that would save me a lot of trouble; I wouldn't have to think about following someone at this hour of the night.

But after several hours, I still felt really bored... but I didn't know what to do; I didn't know how to entertain myself. Maybe I should ask my sister for advice on this.

I sit here in the dead of night, outside the house, writing random things in my head to pass the time.

Chapter Twenty-Six: The Smoothed Wall

I sat in the darkness, waiting for Ye Yuqing to appear. Time ticked by, the silence and darkness relentlessly eroding my consciousness. No matter how hard I tried to stay awake, sleepiness steadily crept in. To combat it, I paced back and forth near the flowerbed, did a squat or two, or stretched my body, trying not to stop. I felt that tonight alone, I had consciously exercised the most in recent years. And although I initially felt some excitement from moving my limbs, once that excitement faded, fatigue surged up again like a tide, even more intense than before. I must have done something foolish that backfired.

"Maybe I should take a nap?" That thought crossed my mind, but I quickly dismissed it. What if Ye Yuqing made any move while I was asleep? Then everything I'd done would be for nothing. I'd already persevered this far; there was no reason I couldn't keep going. Besides, if I didn't persevere now, I'd have to start all over again, and everything I was doing now would just be a waste of time. I hate wasting time, especially since I wasn't even close to my limit yet.

I continued repeating these meaningless tasks, squeezing every last drop of my mental energy. I waited for Ye Yuqing to appear, but her prolonged absence fueled my anxiety. I checked my phone; it was already around 3 a.m. At this moment, the stillness and darkness of this place were more profound than at any other time or place. I was about to do one more of my previous exercise routine to stay awake when, perhaps by divine intervention, I finally saw a change in the building.

I noticed a faint light appearing in the apartment on the floor I had previously identified where Ye Yuqing was, on the side where her house was. My attention snapped, and I quickly returned to the flowerbed, concealing myself. I waited, hoping to see more changes, but after a minute or two, the light went out again. They probably turned it off. Was she suddenly thirsty or needed to use the restroom? I wasn't sure; all I could do was continue waiting.

Another minute passed, and I started to relax again. I figured the other person really was just as I had initially thought, having simply gotten up to use the restroom. I was a little disappointed, but I didn't do anything irrational. If I could just hold on for a few more hours, this investigation would be over.

I was about to stand up and continue my previous activities to maintain my mental state when the lights in the building's hallway suddenly turned on again. Hallway lights are usually not always on; most are motion-activated, triggered by the slightest sound. I realized that someone in the building had likely entered the hallway, and this person was very likely Ye Yuqing. I remained hidden.

The hallway lights were turned on floor by floor, then the lights on the top floor kept going out. I quietly observed the building's only entrance. A figure appeared there, and in the light reflected off the wall above, I saw her face—it was my classmate, Ye Yuqing, whom I was starting to get to know a little better. I was a little happy, because my efforts and persistence had paid off, but this happiness was quickly replaced by tension and doubt.

She didn't notice me, but still looked around, seemingly to check if anyone was nearby. I tried to remain quiet so she wouldn't notice me. She didn't have any superpowers and didn't see me deliberately hiding in the darkness. She left, heading downhill, which was probably her usual route to school. I was puzzled. Although I couldn't see Ye Yuqing's expression clearly, I was certain it was her from her clothes and figure. I had seen her several times over the past three days; I couldn't mistake her for her attire. I followed her from a slightly distance. Her destination was clear; without the slightest hesitation, she headed towards the school.

She got up in the early hours of the morning, instead of sleeping at home, she left the house without a backpack or anything. What was she up to? I felt like I might have stumbled upon some clues that could lead to a major discovery. The fatigue I had been feeling earlier was quickly fading, replaced by a surge of excitement. I followed her all the way to the school gate.

The iron gate at the school's main entrance was closed. Someone would open it at a fixed time each day, and then lock it again at the same time. I saw Ye Yuqing standing in front of the gate, and while I was wondering if she knew how to open it, she unexpectedly went to the wall next to it. I watched as she laboriously moved a not-so-small stone to the edge of the wall, then, using it as a stepping stone, she jumped slightly, grabbed onto the top of the wall, and nimbly climbed over. Through the iron gate, I saw her continue walking towards the direction of the senior high school building. I quickly went to the edge of the wall, stepped onto the stone, and checked the wall's construction.

This wall was built to prevent unauthorized individuals from entering the campus. It's impossible for it to be without any protection, yet Ye Yuqing managed to climb over it. The wall now appears slightly different from before. Then, I discovered a section of the wall where the broken glass had been completely smoothed out; it was definitely wide enough for a person to climb over from one side. Both the left and right sides of the wall were studded with numerous pieces of broken glass – a deliberate measure to prevent anyone from scaling the wall.

They probably hadn't expected anyone to deliberately smooth out the glass on the wall, and since the wall wasn't short, no one noticed even though this section of glass was worn down. I'm slightly taller than Ye Yuqing, and standing on the rock, I could just see the smoothed-down wall. Like her, I grabbed the edge of the wall and laboriously climbed over. I'd almost never done anything like this before, and while climbing, I cut my hand on a shard of glass. It was a small cut, but the bleeding wasn't severe, so I didn't pay much attention and kept following in the direction Ye Yuqing had gone.

Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Back and Forth Trips

As I expected, I followed Ye Yuqing to the foot of the senior high school building. She skillfully untied the chains simply wrapped around the iron gate, pushed it open wide enough for a person to pass through, and slipped inside. I watched her indistinct figure ascend the stairs from below, finally reaching the door of the lecture hall. I was tempted to follow her, and just as I was about to move, I noticed she had moved back to the railing, scanning the open space facing the building. I quickly pulled back to avoid being seen.

Fortunately, she probably didn't notice me. She reopened the lecture hall door and went inside. The light was dim now, and there were no lights on in the building; the lecture hall was pitch black, and I couldn't see anything. If I wanted more information, I had to go upstairs, or at least to the lecture hall door. I had no choice but to take the risk, and the event that reset time had given me a little courage to face failure. I began cautiously making my way upstairs.

I tiptoed towards the stairs and entered, constantly watching my surroundings and above. The night is mysterious; it can bring tranquility, but it can also shelter malicious intentions—I am a prime example. However, Ye Yuqing might also use this darkness to ambush me before I'm discovered. I still haven't proven my resolve to die, so I must handle this matter with extreme caution. Fortunately, I reached the fourth floor, my classroom floor, and heard no strange noises or figures suddenly appearing behind me. Of course, there was no Ye Yuqing nearby, no one lurking with a knife ready to kill me.

I stood at the top of the stairs, close to the wall, listening intently, but apart from the occasional whistling wind, I couldn't hear anything. I hesitated, wondering whether to go into the lecture hall. I didn't have any particular psychological aversion to lecture halls, but that was only when Ye Yuqing wasn't there. I touched the spot where my heart was, feeling a dull ache there. This pain was suppressing my courage, making it impossible for me to go forward.

Should I give up now? That's impossible. How could I leave something like this for next time? If I give up this time, will I be able to muster the courage next time? I bit my tongue, mustered what little courage I had left, and was about to walk into the lecture hall through the main entrance when I heard a very clear thud of something heavy falling to the ground. I was startled. Although I forced myself not to make a sound, my fear vanished completely with the sound of the heavy object hitting the ground.

A sound like clapping came from inside, along with a girl's voice.

"In that case, there shouldn't be any major problems tomorrow. I should be able to see him at the agreed time, right?"

It sounded like she was talking to herself, and the only thing I was certain of was that the person speaking was Ye Yuqing. It was very quiet around me; I heard footsteps, and I quickly lowered my pace and went downstairs. I didn't make any loud noise out of panic. I didn't have anything in my bag or on me that could make a rattling sound. The only things that could make noise were my phone and keys. Needless to say, my phone was already on silent mode; I hadn't even turned on vibrate. I had also put my keys in my pocket; unless some very violent movement caused them to fall out, they wouldn't make a loud sound.

I slipped downstairs smoothly, walked out of the iron gate, and returned to the spot where I had previously concealed myself. I once again hid within the artificial vegetation, peering through the loose gaps at the stairwell of the teaching building. I saw Ye Yuqing descend the stairs, appearing quite relaxed; I could even faintly hear her humming. With her back to me, she pulled the iron gate shut again, looped the chain a few times, restoring it to its previous secure state. Even if it wasn't completely restored, it wouldn't matter; after all, many people arrive at this building early every morning, and who knows, someone might unlock the chain and go upstairs first, so the chances of being exposed were slim.

After doing all this, Ye Yuqing headed back the way she came. I hesitated for a moment, wondering whether to follow her or wait until she left before going upstairs to look for clues. I quickly decided that I had to continue following her. My original purpose for this operation was to confirm whether Ye Yuqing had been in contact with anyone. She hadn't made contact when she came to the school, but she might have run into someone when she went home. When doing things, especially investigating things like this, it's better to stay focused. Besides… because I was quite frightened by the commotion Ye Yuqing had caused, I didn't have the courage to stay alone in this almost completely dark teaching building. To put it bluntly, I was scared. But there was no other way. Investigating in a panic would not only be ineffective but might also leave a lot of easily traceable clues. I didn't want that to happen, so I had to continue following Ye Yuqing.

Following Ye Yuqing, I arrived at the school gate once again. I thought she would try the same trick again, but I didn't find the large rock she was supposed to use; there wasn't any such large piece of trash in the school. However, I quickly figured out what she was planning. She didn't stop at the spot where she had climbed over from outside the school before, but instead walked to the other side, to the building housing the first-year high school students. Although the town's student population had increased over time, this single building was no longer enough for the first-year students. The new multi-purpose building was located between my classroom building and this first-year building, housing all the second-year students and most of the first-year and third-year students. The current first-year and third-year buildings were essentially just old buildings.

Next to this old building, although there's a wall, it's not very high. The school side has some vegetation, making it easy to climb over. However, the part outside the school is too high, even much higher than the section Ye Yuqing climbed over before. So, the school probably didn't bother with it and let it remain there. Unexpectedly, it's now become one of Ye Yuqing's routes to and from school…

The school will also pay the price for their negligence.

If I hadn't been able to stop Ye Yuqing's suicide.

Chapter Twenty-Eight: The Harvest Late at Night

After Ye Yuqing climbed over the wall, I secretly followed her. She didn't leave immediately; instead, she moved the large rock that had been tripping her by the other side of the wall to a less conspicuous spot, then returned the way she came. I hid inside the wall, watching her walk away. Only after we were about the same distance I had been following her from before did I climb over the wall where she had left the school. There wasn't even a shard of glass here; it was easy for me.

After landing, I quickly followed the direction Ye Yuqing had gone. There were probably very few people around in this area now, so finding her couldn't be easier. I followed her all the way back to her house. She didn't encounter anyone along the way, nor did she show any signs of searching for anything; she simply went straight home. I arrived at the spot where I had been earlier, watching the light in the apartment I had assumed belonged to Ye Yuqing turn on and then off. Although I had previously considered this Ye Yuqing's home, I wasn't entirely certain. Now, I was 100% sure it was her house.

Her house was once again shrouded in darkness, blending into the silent environment. I, however, began to think about other things.

Tonight's operation was indeed quite fruitful.

Firstly, while it's uncertain whether Ye Yuqing came into contact with anyone inside the school, the fact that she went to the school late at night and only stayed for a few minutes strongly suggests she was simply checking if her previous preparations were working properly. This shows she takes her date tomorrow, or rather, tonight, very seriously. The fact that she would leave home late at night, brave the darkness, climb over the wall to get to the school, and even be willing to stab anyone who gets in her way is definitely not an ordinary thing.

Secondly, her actions were unlikely to be a recent spur-of-the-moment decision. Whether it was skillfully scaling the wall, effortlessly getting to the school late at night, or being absolutely certain the iron gate to the senior high school building wasn't locked, all of this requires time and practice. I cut my hand while scaling the wall because I wasn't skilled, but judging from how easily she scaled it, she was clearly not on the same level as me. I would never believe she rarely scaled walls. Moreover, her courage to climb up and down the outer edge of the school building… perhaps it wasn't just courage; it also reflected a considerable amount of practice and experience. Her preparation for this was already quite thorough.

Ye Yuqing's image is starting to become somewhat unsettling to me. Her planning abilities, execution skills, practical skills, and unwavering determination to achieve her goals—how could she be a simple person? And why is someone with such abilities academically at my level, or even worse? Is she simply bad at studying? Perhaps that's true. But she doesn't seem very focused on her studies, so I'll refrain from commenting on that for now.

Now, the most important questions are—why would someone with such exceptional abilities care so much about this so-called date? Who exactly is the other person? Why did Ye Yuqing display such astonishing abilities in this matter? Why doesn't she usually showcase her abilities? Does she look down on studying, or is there some other reason? Also, why would someone with such extraordinary personal abilities choose suicide? What exactly happened to her on the rooftop?

At the same time, I also know that if I want to find the answers to these questions, I must get there after 10 p.m. tonight, before Ye Yuqing jumps to her death. Whether it's Ye Yuqing's experiences, what she went through, or why she committed suicide, as long as I know what happened at that time, most of the questions about Ye Yuqing will be answered.

Although the potential gains are substantial, the risks I must bear are also immense. I recalled the knife Ye Yuqing plunged into my chest, piercing my heart… it must have been a knife, a long-bladed weapon, capable of piercing my body and protruding at least a fist's distance. Where did that weapon come from? The country has extremely strict regulations on lethal objects, and Ye Yuqing's knife, clearly a controlled weapon, was certainly on the list of strictly inspected items. But I can't understand where Ye Yuqing got that knife, or how she brought it into the school. These are questions that need to be investigated.

From now on, I can no longer do anything that might attract Ye Yuqing's attention. I need to maintain my original image to adapt to my current life and find any clues in our conversations. I need to figure out who made the promise with her and what the specifics of that promise were. Only after figuring these things out will I have a chance to completely resolve this matter.

The slightly difficult problem now is how I can observe what's happening up there and find out. Should I use something to take photos? Or should I climb up and hide before they meet, witnessing it all firsthand? The advantage of this is obvious: I could directly observe what's happening up there, and if possible, I could even stop Ye Yuqing's suicide. Whether I want to observe or intervene, going up there myself is the best option. However, the disadvantage is also clear: it puts me in a very dangerous situation, gambling that they won't stab me to death up there like before, or gambling that I'll die or return to the night before these things happened.

Honestly, I didn't want to gamble. It would have been much safer to film what was happening and then think about it slowly to find out what actually happened. I realized it was a ridiculous thing.

If I want to stop what happened to Ye Yuqing, simply being a bystander is clearly not enough. I need to get closer to see the whole picture. If possible, I might even end it all directly. Going to the rooftop is no longer a question of whether I want to go or not. I have to go up and see for myself.

I've made a decision. Today, after 10 a.m., before Ye Yuqing commits suicide, I must be in the VIP section to find out how all of this happened. This is an essential step for me to resolve the problems I'm facing now.

Chapter Twenty-Nine: The First Time Late

I repeated what I had done before, and stayed in this dark place for another three hours until I saw a faint glimmer of light in the sky. Only then did I realize that it was already about 6:10 in the morning.

The place I was originally sitting in was no longer suitable for me to stay. If I continued to sit there, some early risers might see me, and it might even cause all sorts of trouble, which I wanted to avoid at all costs. So I left, but not too far. I calculated the time quickly; it takes about fifteen minutes to get from Ye Yuqing's house to the school, including the time it took to climb over the wall to get to the senior high school building. Normally, her journey to school would take even less, assuming she goes directly from her house to school without any delays.

I hadn't forgotten how Ye Yuqing always arrived at class just in time. I did a quick calculation, and that meant she'd probably be out the door around 6:40, no more than five minutes late. I went to the bottom of this fork in the road. Besides drink shops, there were also breakfast stalls. I chose one facing downhill and went inside. There were already quite a few students on the street; my appearance didn't surprise them, and most of the stalls were catering to those who got up early for school. I bought a few things and sat down to wait. I ate my breakfast as slowly as possible. Although the owner seemed a little impatient, he didn't kick me out.

That's how I got to see Ye Yuqing running down the slope at top speed. The moment I saw her, I checked my phone; it was 6:43, about the time I'd expected. She was running straight towards my shop. I was worried she'd spotted me, and just as I was wondering what to do, she disappeared into a shop next door. I think it was a shop that sold steamed buns or something; Ye Yuqing probably had those for breakfast.

A dozen seconds later, I saw Ye Yuqing pass by my shop again, and I stood up and followed. But perhaps because of the urgency, she ran quite fast, and it was a little difficult for me to catch up with her at my normal pace, so I had to speed up as well. She was eating while running; could her body handle it? Perhaps because she wasn't eating much, she didn't feel any stomach pain, but vigorous exercise while eating or after eating is either very unwise.

Although there were already quite a few students, the lighting had become relatively bright, making it difficult for the scattered students to conceal my presence. I had to quicken my pace to keep up with her, and this stretch of road was proving challenging. I pretended to jog, trailing behind her, and I could still see her at a manageable distance, not losing her. Although jogging with a backpack looked a bit odd, Ye Yuqing probably hadn't noticed me. She walked into the school gate without looking back. I was hoping the school security guards would stop her, since our school rules generally prohibit bringing food into the school; you either have to eat outside or in the school cafeteria. But Ye Yuqing had clearly mastered this rule. She had finished her breakfast before entering the school, thrown the plastic bag into the trash can at the school gate, and then continued running at her own pace into the school.

She walked all the way to the senior high school building, then went upstairs to her classroom. I quickly followed, but when I reached my floor, I was surprised to see a lot of people standing at the door. I realized this must be the situation I'd witnessed earlier, where Ye Yuqing was caught being late and scolded by the Chinese teacher for a while, only being reprimanded after class had started. In other words… I was late.

I stood in the crowd outside the classroom door, faintly hearing the Chinese teacher's scolding voice. It was nothing more than the same things I'd heard before, or the same scolding I often heard. I never thought I'd actually hear these words myself. But it was a necessary sacrifice, since I couldn't possibly monitor Ye Yuqing's movements from inside the classroom. I tried to blend into the crowd, listening to the Chinese teacher's vague, all-encompassing reprimands, not taking it too seriously. When the bell rang for class to start, I walked into the classroom as I had hoped. I walked towards my seat and saw Ye Yuqing looking in my direction with curious eyes.

Had something been discovered? I was slightly worried, but I didn't show any particular expression.

After I walked over, Ye Yuqing stood up and made way for me to get to my seat. I thanked her and went in. Before I even put my bag down, she said to me, "I never thought you'd be late one day."

Her words were easy to understand. After all, I had rarely been late before, almost never. Being late and attracting attention or being remembered by the teacher was never a good thing for me, and I had always tried my best to avoid such situations. So, today I was unusually late, which made her question quite reasonable. But the fact that she took the initiative to talk to me, even if it was just about this, still surprised me.

"It's just that I overslept this morning, it's nothing."

I gave myself an excuse, and whether Ye Yuqing believed me or not was not my concern.

I returned to my seat, and the sounds of students reading their textbooks aloud filled the air. Because I felt a little more comfortable sitting in my own place, I started to feel sleepy.

To be honest, I haven't slept for several hours, and I was already feeling sleepy. Now, with the hypnotic sounds from morning reading, drowsiness just erupted like a volcano. Although the geography teacher doesn't seem to care much about this, that doesn't mean the other teachers are the same. The Chinese teacher not only cares about this, but is also very strict and hates it when someone sleeps in class. I still have to force myself to stay awake.

Fortunately, Ye Yuqing "understandingly" cheered me up: "By the way, what's the date today?"

Chapter Thirty: The Unchanging Strangeness

"What's the date today? I forgot my phone."

Hearing those familiar words made me perk up a little.

September 12th.