Chapter 26: One Year Ago

Red light engulfed Qian Cangyi.

Qian Cangyi felt the world spinning around him as pitch-black darkness enveloped his surroundings, making him feel as though he were plunging into an endless abyss.

Deep within the abyss, a bizarre and eerie coldness quietly crept up on him, causing Qian Cangyi to shiver involuntarily. The next second, the darkness receded, and a blood-red full moon rose from below, hanging in the sky like a god in absolute control of everything.

The croaking of a frog echoed in his ears. The blood-red moon above gradually faded, leaving only a faint red outline before it was entirely replaced by a canopy of twinkling stars.

Qian Cangyi looked around and then lowered his gaze to his feet, only to discover that he was standing on the surface of a lake. Ning Jing stood right beside him, and the two of them happened to be gazing at each other, their eyes filled with the exact same confusion.

Just as Qian Cangyi intended to open his mouth and ask, he suddenly realized his body was moving entirely on its own, turning his head back.

Ripples spread across the calm, mirror-like surface of the lake. In the distance, a wooden boat slowly drifted closer. As it approached, the sound of playful laughter shattered the tranquility of the night.

Qian Cangyi and Ning Jing turned their heads simultaneously, their gazes following the movement of the wooden boat. However, this action was completely beyond their own control.

"Zhang Sibo, you're really something! Such a massive pile of summer homework, and you polished it off in three days," a familiar voice rang out, matching Soft Light's voice. The person who spoke was none other than the character played by Soft Light, Yan Ruoxuan.

"It's nothing. I started working on it the moment it was handed out, and there weren't many open-ended questions anyway. The hardest part was just mimicking the handwriting," came another familiar voice, belonging to Starfall.

As the wooden boat drew closer, Qian Cangyi was finally able to make out the facial features of the people on board.

Yan Ruoxuan's appearance resembled Soft Light's, though she looked much younger. The remaining four individuals also bore a striking resemblance to the other four actors. The people sitting in the wooden boat were precisely the five who had entered Heifang Island.

"I really admire you. With grades as good as yours, you're guaranteed to get into a top university," He Hongxin said as he looked at Zhang Sibo, envy written all over his face.

Zhang Sibo scratched the back of his head with his right hand and replied:

"My family's financial situation isn't great. Unlike you guys, I can only study hard. Once I make money in the future, I'll bring my family to live in the city."

"Speaking of which, what are your plans for the future?"

His question instantly stumped the other four.

"I don't really have any plans," Mo An shook his head. "When I was little, I wanted to be an astronaut, but looking at it now, that was a bit of a pipe dream."

"I never would've guessed, you actually wanted to be an astronaut?" Yan Ruoxuan widened her eyes in surprise. "I actually have a goal, and I'm definitely going to achieve it. Let me tell you guys, I was actually betrothed in an arranged marriage before I was even born."

"What?" Duan Ling's eyes widened in disbelief.

"What era is this? Arranged marriages still exist?" Mo An found it hard to believe.

"Haha, of course you guys wouldn't know. My family is actually very wealthy; it's a corporate marriage alliance, but I'm not willing to go along with it." At this point, Yan Ruoxuan let out a sigh. "Forget it, forget it. Let's not talk about such a mood-killing topic."

"I honestly never would've imagined. I suppose this is what you call the troubles of the rich?" He Hongxin spread his hands.

"Speaking of which, Zhang Sibo, you live right by the river, so you must be a great swimmer, right?" Yan Ruoxuan changed the subject.

Hearing this question, Zhang Sibo's face flushed red, and he replied in a voice no louder than a mosquito's:

"I... I don't know how to swim. I'm a total brick in the water. Besides, doesn't the school forbid students from swimming in the lake?"

Yan Ruoxuan was momentarily stunned, and then she pointed toward the surface of the lake and said:

"Look over there, what is that?"

Her gaze was fixed intently on the lake behind Zhang Sibo.

Zhang Sibo turned around to look at the lake.

Yan Ruoxuan seemed to be waiting precisely for Zhang Sibo to make this move. With a smile, she pushed hard against Zhang Sibo's back with both hands.

"What is—" Zhang Sibo stared at the calm water, a sense of doubt welling up inside him. The moment he asked the question, a sudden thrust came from behind. He flailed his hands wildly, brushing against the edge of the small boat, but he could not prevent his body from plunging into the lake.

*Plop.*

"Hahaha! And you claimed you weren't a brick in the water!" Yan Ruoxuan laughed as she spoke.

Zhang Sibo's hands thrashed about on the surface of the lake. "I—" he barely managed to get out before sinking beneath the water again.

The remaining three joined Yan Ruoxuan in laughter, but they merely remained seated in their places without making any move to help.

A few seconds later, Zhang Sibo stopped thrashing his arms and vanished entirely beneath the surface, the water gradually returning to its calm state.

"Wait, something's not right!" Mo An shouted. He quickly grabbed the oars and thrust one toward the spot where Zhang Sibo had fallen in, but no pulling resistance came from the end of the oar.

Seeing this, the smile froze on Yan Ruoxuan's face, and she asked:

"Could it be that Zhang Sibo really doesn't know how to swim?"

Then, she looked toward the other three.

"Which of you knows how to swim? Hurry up and pull him up!"

Her voice trembled slightly. "Hurry!" she shouted again.

However, no one moved.

"Mo An!" Yan Ruoxuan called out.

"I don't know how," Mo An clenched his right hand into a fist. "I don't know how," he repeated.

"He Hongxin?" Yan Ruoxuan looked at He Hongxin.

"I don't know how either," He Hongxin shook his head.

"I... I haven't learned yet," Ning Jing crouched down inside the boat.

Yan Ruoxuan's expression suddenly shifted. Cupping her hands around her mouth like a megaphone, she shouted toward the lake:

"Zhang Sibo, come on out! Stop playing around!"

"Come out!"

The surface of the lake remained as smooth as glass.

Yan Ruoxuan stamped her foot fiercely and then leaped straight into the water.

*Splash,* water sprayed wildly as waves rippled across the lake.

After falling into the water, Yan Ruoxuan thrashed her arms about, performing the exact same motions Zhang Sibo had made moments earlier.

"Hey, have you lost your mind?!" Mo An hurriedly thrust the oar in his hand back toward her.

In her panic, Yan Ruoxuan grabbed hold of the oar.

Using the oar, Mo An dragged Yan Ruoxuan back toward the small boat, and He Hongxin stepped forward to lend a hand when he saw what was happening.

A few seconds later, Yan Ruoxuan was hauled back onto the boat, looking like a drowned rat.

A heavy silence fell over the four of them.

A few minutes later, Duan Ling softly inquired, "Wait, what are we going to tell people?"

Taking a deep breath, Yan Ruoxuan said:

"We'll just say Zhang Sibo fell in by himself."

"If you guys help me keep this a secret, I'll give you a sum of money. To put it simply, you'll sail through high school in absolute luxury."

"As for Zhang Sibo's family, you don't need to worry; I'll compensate them as well."

The three of them exchanged glances, but no one voiced any objection.

Witnessing this, a chill ran through Qian Cangyi's heart.

So, Zhang Sibo had actually drowned a year ago.

Although it was still unclear what specific motive Duan Ling had when making a wish to the Moon God, it was undoubtedly tied to the death of Zhang Sibo.

The blood-red moon appeared once more, and the surrounding scene was completely flooded with crimson light.

When the blood-red moon vanished, the setting had transformed. A new scene unfolded in a living room dominated by pale white tones. Behind a wreath of flowers stood a striking black-and-white portrait of Zhang Sibo. Moments later, two figures dressed in mourning clothes walked into the living room with tearful eyes. The facial features of the man bore a strong resemblance to Zhang Sibo—he was none other than Zhang Sibo's father, and standing right beside him was naturally Zhang Sibo's mother.

Trailing behind the two of them were several others. However, these people were not wearing mourning attire, but rather casual clothes. Following closely behind the adults were Yan Ruoxuan and her companions.

This was a memorial hall.

Zhang Sibo's parents stood on either side of his black-and-white portrait. Turning their heads to face Yan Ruoxuan and the others, they demanded:

"Tell us the truth, how exactly did Zhang Sibo die? He didn't know how to swim at all, let alone go running off to the lake in the middle of the night."