Chapter 33: The Locked Doors and the Impatient Crowd

Ten minutes later, people would be dying. Qiao Xia had no time to worry about his homeroom teacher’s potential wrath; even if he faced repercussions later, nothing could stop his urgent steps.

Self-preservation was paramount!

With these thoughts, Qiao Xia quickly left the classroom doorway, sprinting towards the first floor of the teaching building.

“Qiao Xia, get back here! I’m calling your parents!”

Behind him, Wang Li, his homeroom teacher, raged, her voice faintly echoing. Qiao Xia dismissed it as nothing more than a buzzing fly, paying it no mind.

If his homeroom teacher could somehow bring his parents back at this moment, in a sense, it would be a good thing.

At least, in the face of a widespread outbreak of this strange infectious ‘red-eye disease,’ having family by his side would bring some peace of mind, preventing him from spiraling into fear with overthinking.

Unfortunately, Qiao Xia knew his parents’ workplaces were extremely secretive. If they didn’t actively call, trying to contact them would be a pipe dream.

His only comfort was that, due to strong work confidentiality and guaranteed safety, even if the red-eye disease truly erupted, Qiao Xia wouldn’t have to worry about their safety.

Instead, he himself had to strive to survive.

Having learned about future developments from the premonition ten minutes prior, and having personally experienced the frenzied attacks of red-eyed individuals, Qiao Xia didn’t believe his mere three punches and two kicks would ensure his safety.

If that were truly the case, he wouldn’t have died so many times in the premonition.

Therefore, cautious development was key!

No reckless actions.

He had to maximize the use of his two golden finger abilities to ensure he survived to see his family and friends again.

Thinking these thoughts, Qiao Xia arrived at the first floor of the teaching building. Seeing the wide-open glass doors, he secretly rejoiced that no red-eyed individuals had appeared yet; there was still time!

Qiao Xia wasted no time, quickly closing the doors and dropping the lock.

After completing this series of actions, Qiao Xia looked at the tightly shut doors, the heavy stone in his heart finally settling.

With the teaching building’s main doors secured, no matter how fast the red-eye disease spread, it surely couldn’t reach this building, could it?

As for the sturdiness of the glass doors, Qiao Xia recalled the principal once boasting about bulletproof glass. It should be able to withstand the frantic attacks of red-eyed individuals and wouldn’t shatter easily.

****

Just as Qiao Xia finished locking the doors, a sudden clamor erupted from upstairs. As the sound grew louder, a group of students soon arrived at the glass doors.

“Oh my god, did you see the fight at the school gate just now? It was terrifying! Someone actually had their arm cut off—that person is too brutal.”

“Tell me about it! After I saw that, I quickly called the police, but the police station’s line was busy!”

“Hurry up and go see! If you’re late, you won’t see anything.”

“Huh, what’s that person doing by the main door… why did they lock it? Are they crazy?”

Listening to the students’ chatter, Qiao Xia quickly realized they were bored and eager to watch the commotion. They had even abandoned their morning self-study, wanting to rush to the scene immediately.

Some had already pulled out their phones, ready to take photos and post them online, providing first-hand fresh news.

This made Qiao Xia involuntarily twitch his lips, wondering if these people thought their lives were too long, to be engaging in such suicidal behavior.

He had just witnessed the scene at the school gate from his window seat in class, and he was certain it was a sudden attack by a red-eyed individual.

Judging by the inexplicably accelerated infection rate, after being bitten by a red-eyed person, one would quickly become infected with the mysterious virus and transform into another red-eyed individual.

In his previous premonition, although Qiao Xia hadn’t deliberately observed the red-eyed individuals, the constantly approaching Li Peng, a red-eyed person, had allowed Qiao Xia to clearly see a chunk of flesh bitten off his arm, revealing a bone-deep wound.

The once vibrant red blood had turned black.

Thinking about it now, it was truly absurd!

How powerful was the red-eye disease virus to even change the color of blood?

“Due to the prevalent infectious disease, the teaching building is restricted. If you have nothing to do, please go back!”

Qiao Xia listened to their discussions. He didn’t offer many explanations, simply stating directly, hoping to make these curious students return.

While Qiao Xia didn’t need to care about their lives, if red-eyed individuals suddenly appeared when they opened the glass doors, with so many people present, it would surely descend into chaos.

Just imagining such a scene, Qiao Xia immediately decided that no one would pass through this door today, no matter who they were.

If he could wait for the police to arrive, then perhaps leaving the school could be considered.

Otherwise, forget about it!

“Who are you? Why can’t we go out? The school isn’t your home!”

“Exactly! We’ll go out if we want to. What business is it of yours?”

“You dare to be so arrogant alone? You really don’t know how to write the word ‘death’! Do you want us to beat you up badly?”

“Stop blocking! We’re in a hurry to take photos and post them on WeChat Moments.”

Upon hearing Qiao Xia say they couldn’t leave, the students eager to watch the commotion immediately protested. They shouted at Qiao Xia, and some even rolled up their sleeves, ready for a fight, looking as if they would beat him if he didn’t let them out. This left Qiao Xia frustrated.

If it weren’t for the sake of his own life, Qiao Xia wouldn’t care whether these people went out or not.

And as for fighting?

Hmph!

If they really tried to fight, he would absolutely beat them until they cried for their dads.

Because of his consistent training and Liu Ge’s boxing lessons, Qiao Xia felt that while he couldn’t compare to professional fighters, he could easily handle ordinary students, landing every blow with precision and making them cry for their parents.

Therefore, Qiao Xia was fearless.

In fact, his experience of being bitten to death in the premonition even made him want to move his body and vent his frustration.

Here were ready-made human punching bags; if they dared to lay a hand on him, it would be a missed opportunity not to fight back.

“What are you all blocking here for? Get out of my way!”

Just as the atmosphere between Qiao Xia and the students grew tense, a somewhat familiar voice suddenly rang out from nearby.

When the speaker slowly walked closer, Qiao Xia looked at the familiar Visual Kei style—flowing hair, melancholic eyes—and couldn’t help but sigh at his uncanny fate with Li Lin Guan.

How could he keep running into Li Lin Guan everywhere?

Earlier, upon arriving at the school gate, Qiao Xia had received a pile of snacks from Li Lin Guan. Afterward, Li Lin Guan had even respectfully followed him to the door of Class One.

Under the astonished gazes of the students coming and going, Qiao Xia had felt embarrassed and wanted to tell Li Lin Guan not to be so polite, only to be accused of disliking him…

Seeing this, what else could Qiao Xia say? He could only hold the snacks and, under Li Lin Guan’s eager gaze, hurried into the classroom.

“Brother Li, look at this idiot blocking the door! We can’t get out!”

At this moment, upon seeing the notorious school bully of First High appear, someone immediately pointed at Qiao Xia and exclaimed.