Chapter 282: Taking Over Jiang Li’s Work

10:30 AM, Hua City University of Technology, Liberal Arts Building, Room 207.

The professor at the podium appeared to be in his fifties, yet he was full of energy, with a stern look in his eyes.

Sitting in the back row, Lu Yibei was absent-mindedly listening to the lecture while doodling two turtles in his notebook. He then casually wrote the names “Zhang Shuo” and “Suolang Baima” on the turtle shells.

After discovering the true cause of his father’s death, he wasn’t as angry as he had imagined. He didn’t feel the urge to grab the ancestral kitchen knife, hop on a train, and seek revenge overnight.

On the contrary, he felt surprisingly calm, even more so than he had expected.

Those two guys, after all, were psychics with a psychic energy fluctuation level of A+. Acting out of anger would only lead to death.

Even with “cheat codes” at their disposal…

Everyone in the Lu Family has been a master of cheats, yet they all died young. Lu Yibei scoffed internally.

Although he wasn’t in a hurry to seek revenge on Zhang Shuo and Suolang Baima, he used his authority as an official operator of The Midnight Watchers Society to search for their names in the household registration system.

As expected, among thousands of files, there was no information on the two of them.

“Looks like I’ll have to wait for Jiang Li to return before I can continue the investigation…” Lu Yibei muttered to himself.

When entrusted with a task, one must fulfill it faithfully.

Until Jiang Li returned, whether it was through the haunting chat group to complete bounties for information or investigating on his own, he had to put it aside for now.

Thinking of this, Lu Yibei fiercely drew a smaller turtle in his notebook and wrote “Jiang Li” on its shell.

These three people, each one of them, are complete bastards! Lu Yibei thought angrily.

However…

Although he was currently stuck with the mess Jiang Li left behind and couldn’t continue the investigation, there was another matter that greatly concerned him.

According to the information from the haunting chat group, the entire passenger bus was filled with psychics and hauntings, except for one person who got off early-the scruffy man in ethnic attire who sat next to him and his father.

On the night Lu Ming was attacked, aside from Lu Yibei, twelve ordinary people, including the driver, were caught in the battle and unfortunately died. Yet, that man insisted on getting off the bus when Zhang Shuo boarded, despite the storm outside.

He likely sensed something, or perhaps he recognized Zhang Shuo, prompting him to act.

His choice proved to be the right one.

If he could be found, he might provide unexpected clues.

“Well, students, this semester’s course is now concluded. The next session will be self-study.”

“Also, with two to three weeks left until exams, I hope you all study well and aim to pass.”

“If you fail the exams, don’t come to me for leniency. Poor exam results only show you haven’t studied well or attended regularly. Asking me won’t help.”

As Professor Ma’s words fell, the classroom erupted in groans.

Lu Yibei paused his “curse you with turtle drawings” activity, hands in his pockets, and glanced at Professor Ma, smirking.

This old guy is stirring up trouble again.

While he’s not wrong, isn’t he afraid a student might get fed up and beat him up with a sack?

As Lu Yibei was musing, a boy sitting in front of him suddenly stood up and shouted at Professor Ma on the podium, “Professor, could you highlight the key points for us?”

He was a tall boy, likely due to frequent outdoor activities, with healthy tan skin.

He had clean-cut short hair and wore a simple yet stylish hoodie, making him quite likable.

The boy’s name was Yang Yi, the class president of the freshman Chinese Literature class, popular among classmates, and one of the few names Lu Yibei remembered.

However, Lu Yibei didn’t particularly like him.

The reason was probably because he overheard Yang Yi discussing haunting games with other classmates during breaks.

Since the incident with the reckless quartet at Shihekou High School, he had developed a strong prejudice against such people.

As soon as Yang Yi spoke, the classmates joined in, urging Professor Ma.

“Yeah, yeah! Highlight the key points!”

“Exactly, if too many of us fail, it won’t look good for you either, right?”

Seeing the students urging him, Professor Ma’s face showed a “disappointed in you” expression, ready to scold them when Lu Yibei suddenly stood up, raising his hand.

“Professor, the school already said no key points for finals. I think you shouldn’t do it!”

With these words, the classroom fell silent, everyone glaring at Lu Yibei as if they wanted to feed him to a haunting.

“……”

Isn’t this the same snitch from before?

Haven’t we already isolated him?

How is he not sulking yet, still causing trouble! The students thought.

On the podium, Professor Ma nodded appreciatively at Lu Yibei.

That’s the student I had high hopes for!

“This student is right; the school already said no key points. Alright, you may sit down!”

Professor Ma gestured for Lu Yibei to sit down, but seeing him still standing, he asked, puzzled, “Do you have anything else, student?”

“Yes, Professor, I haven’t finished yet!” Lu Yibei nodded.

“I also want to say, since we can’t have key points, could you kindly highlight the non-key points? It’s almost New Year, consider it as accumulating some good karma for your descendants, right?”

Not highlighting is just lacking virtue.

Amid the students’ restrained applause, Professor Ma’s mouth twitched, and after a few seconds of silence, he said, “I won’t highlight either key or non-key points, but…”

“In the next class, I’ll have your senior brother come to see you. Whether he’ll help you, I can’t say.”

With that, he glared at Lu Yibei and said sternly, “Lu Yibei, get out here!”

The students watched as the slightly thin figure left, their gaze shifting from disdain for the snitch to admiration for a hero’s sacrifice.

In the hallway.

Professor Ma stood by the window, back to Lu Yibei, arms crossed, chin raised at a forty-five-degree angle, gazing out the window.

A perfect “if you don’t coax me, I won’t be happy” tsundere pose.

Lu Yibei shook his head helplessly, “Don’t be mad, Old Ma. I’m just worried you’ll provoke a student one day, and they’ll beat you up with a sack.”

“Hmph!” Professor Ma snorted, “I’ve been teaching for over twenty years, always with this style, and never had such a situation.”

Lu Yibei, “……” Always with this style?

It’s a miracle you haven’t been beaten to death.

Wait, no!

Lu Yibei recalled seeing Professor Ma perform his daily “coin divination” ritual before heading home in the lab and suddenly understood why.

By frequently using copper coins to divine the auspiciousness of his route home, he not only avoided haunting attacks but also avoided being beaten by students!

Having copper coins is impressive? As if no one else has them! Just you wait, next time something happens, see if I save you!

Lu Yibei scoffed internally, stepped forward, and pulled out half a pack of spicy strips from his pocket, offering one to Professor Ma.

“Alright, alright, have a spicy strip to calm down.”

Taking the spicy strip from Lu Yibei’s hand, Professor Ma noticed something amiss as soon as he brought it to his mouth.

“You brat, eating in my class?”

“No way, I just like carrying spicy strips with me.” Lu Yibei replied expressionlessly.

Does anyone carry spicy strips with them? Professor Ma didn’t delve further but changed the subject, “What have you been busy with lately? You’re hardly seen.”

“Me? I’ve been working part-time.” Lu Yibei replied.

Professor Ma furrowed his brow slightly, “Are you short on money? If you are, you can apply for a scholarship! Look at Gu Qianqian; she’s applied, and I reckon she’s almost got it.”

Wow! Didn’t realize that little trickster Gu Qianqian not only sells fake medicine to fleece me but also secretly fleeces the school! Lu Yibei scoffed internally.

“If you ask me, you should stop those odd jobs and focus on studying. By the way, what kind of part-time work are you doing?”

“Protecting the lives and property of Hua City’s citizens, combating criminal forces.” Lu Yibei replied proudly, like a little justice warrior.

Professor Ma’s eye twitched, initially wanting to mock Lu Yibei, but recalling his indeed unusual abilities, he held back.

“Well… what about the matter I mentioned last time, what do you think?”

“The matter from last time…” Lu Yibei paused, weakly saying, “You mean the affair between the grade director and his graduate student?”

“Or the principal having thirteen identical wigs at home?”

“Or…”

“None of those!” Professor Ma interrupted, “You brat, can’t remember serious matters, but remember the gossip I casually mentioned?”

“I’m talking about participating in the research project with me.”

Lu Yibei, “……”

So that’s what it was?

Why is he so fixated on researching these things?

What’s so interesting about that pesky little sister? Always lazing around, sneaky and mischievous.

However…

Lu Yibei suddenly recalled Meow Xiaoqi mentioning a few days ago that some scheming people had their eyes on Gou Meng, and his heart tightened.

“Professor, when exactly is your research project? I thought about it, and if the timing is right, I’d really like this opportunity to improve myself.”

I’ll go check it out; if the pesky little sister is fine, I’ll just treat it as self-improvement, no loss! Lu Yibei thought.

Seeing Lu Yibei relent, Professor Ma’s face lit up, “No rush, no rush, it’s still early! The project won’t start until after the seventh day of the New Year, won’t interfere with your exams or the holiday.”

“But you must hurry with the registration; there’s only a week left.”

So, nearly two months left? Lu Yibei mused, nodding, “Alright, Professor, please sign me up!”

“Hmm?” Professor Ma furrowed his brow, “Why are you agreeing so readily this time?”

“Because of love.” Lu Yibei replied earnestly.

Professor Ma’s old face reddened, “You brat, I’ve always treated you like a granddaughter; you can’t…”

“You’re overthinking it.” Lu Yibei interrupted coldly.

“Oh.” Professor Ma responded awkwardly, after a long silence, he said quietly, “Got any more spicy strips? They’re quite tasty.”

Of course, they’re tasty! Can other spicy strips compare to those transformed by psychic energy? Lu Yibei glanced at Professor Ma, silently pulling out a spicy strip from his pocket, “Just one!”

“Why are you so stingy? How about giving me half a pack?”

“You wish!” Lu Yibei said, breaking half a spicy strip and placing it in Professor Ma’s hand.

Professor Ma, “……”

11:30 AM, the class bell rang.

After getting the exam key points from the senior brother overseeing the self-study, the students visibly brightened and left joyfully as soon as the bell rang.

Human sadness doesn’t connect.

Lu Yibei watched them leave like watching silly deer, packed his backpack, and was about to leave when Yang Yi stopped him.

“Lu Yibei, right?” Yang Yi smiled, “You were so cool today, speaking up for everyone!”

Lu Yibei eyed Yang Yi with a peculiar look, “Wasn’t I always obviously cool?”

“Uh…” Yang Yi’s mouth twitched, forcing a smile, “It’s like this, a few of us who get along well are planning to hang out before exams, relax a bit, and wanted to invite you.”

“Sorry, I might be paralyzed tomorrow.” Lu Yibei replied.

Yang Yi, “???”

Taking advantage of Yang Yi’s brief confusion, Lu Yibei grabbed his backpack and dashed out of the classroom.

Lu Yibei knew the few people who often hung out with Yang Yi.

A bitch, a naive sweet girl, an African exchange student, and Yang Yi, the “popular guy.” If you add someone like him, a “psychic,” what kind of lineup is that?

Wouldn’t it be the standard lineup for a death scene in an American horror movie?

I’d be crazy to hang out with you guys! Lu Yibei thought.

3:12 PM, Hua City Folk Culture Administration Bureau, Bai Kai’s office.

“Name?”

“Bai Xiaohua.”

“Gender?”

“Female.”

“How big?”

“28A.”

“Hmm?”

Bai Kai paused, looking up at Lu Yibei across the desk, surprised, “I’ve heard of steel beams being 28A, but never people. How small is that?”

“Don’t insult my wife!”

Lu Yibei interrupted Bai Kai, slumping in his chair, eyeing him sideways, and sighed, “I say, Shui-Ge, we’re pals, right? Do we need all these fancy procedures?”

“Yibei, be serious. The process… Even if you’re temporarily taking over as the main operator, it requires proper procedures, you understand?”

Lu Yibei, “……”

Over the next hour, under Bai Kai’s guidance, Lu Yibei filled out a bunch of miscellaneous electronic forms, not knowing their purpose, and uploaded them to The Midnight Watchers Society’s database, completing the process for temporarily taking over Jiang Li’s duties.

After finishing the forms, Bai Kai solemnly took out a box from the drawer and pushed it toward Lu Yibei, “Take a look; this is the work Jiang Li was responsible for.”

Lu Yibei looked at the box, about the size of a shoebox and less than half its thickness, feeling a surge of joy, “Looks like the work isn’t as difficult as I thought!”

“Yibei, don’t get too excited.” Bai Kai reminded seriously, “This is just the directory of the work.”

Lu Yibei, “???”