I returned to the classroom, and Xia Ruyue looked at me with a puzzled expression, asking where I went. I simply said I met a friend, and she didn't inquire further, just reminding me not to forget to buy lamb for her.

I looked at the malice in her eyes and felt a chill. They were starting to become more open about it. It's true, just as Zhang Zhuo said, if I don't take risks, they will soon flay me and devour me.

I made plans to have lunch with Jiang Zhou, and I told him that the lamb from yesterday was delicious, and I wanted to eat more. He readily agreed, a hint of doubt flickering in his eyes, perhaps wondering why I returned to the dormitory yesterday without any issues.

I looked at the spicy dishes in front of me, but I didn't have the same appetite as before. I felt a sense of disgust deep inside. In ancient times, people were called "two-legged sheep," and the cafeteria's lamb was limited. It was hard not to speculate that the lamb was actually human flesh.

Jiang Zhou looked at me hesitating to pick up the chopsticks, a bit puzzled. He stared at me intently and asked, "Ningning, why aren't you eating?"

I forced a smile and said, "I suddenly feel a bit nauseous. I want to pack it and eat in the dormitory."

He smiled and said, "Ningning, you're lying to me."

"You seem a bit off today," he observed.

He suddenly leaned closer, a glimmer of anticipation in his eyes. "You're afraid of me. Why?"

What was he hoping for? He seemed eager to let me know that something was wrong here. Why?

I quickly controlled my slightly trembling hand and said, "Why would I be afraid of you? Actually, my roommate also wants to eat lamb, but she can never get any. She asked me to bring some for her."

After hearing my explanation, Jiang Zhou suddenly realized, "Oh, I see. Ningning, let me pack another portion for you. You can start eating."

Indeed, he had some status in this place. He could even obtain limited lamb.

But if I ate the lamb, it would only increase the pollution in my body. However, if I didn't eat, Jiang Zhou wouldn't let me off.

While Jiang Zhou went to pack the food, I quickly put the lamb on the table into a bag, pretending I had already eaten part of it. When he returned and saw that half of the plate was empty, he seemed satisfied.

He, as usual, escorted me back to the dormitory. I looked at the peaceful dormitory building in front of me, feeling timid, but I had no choice but to go in.

As soon as I entered the dormitory building, I immediately took out the spray mentioned in dormitory regulation 9 and sprayed it all over my body, as well as the bag containing the lamb.

Since the regulations stated that when roommates eat lamb in the dormitory, they need to spray this mist, I guessed that the mist could neutralize the smell.

Sure enough, no one paid attention to me. Perhaps someone caught a whiff of the aroma but gave up because they couldn't locate the source. I didn't know how long the spray would last, so I had to hasten my pace.

Inside the dormitory, Xia Ruyue was indeed waiting for me. I immediately handed her the packed lamb, and she opened the bag and devoured it.

Seeing that the bathroom was empty, I quickly entered, preparing to take a shower.

As the warm water showered over me, I couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. I had evaded another crisis, but who knows what unreasonable requests they would come up with next.

I reached out to the shower shelf and groped for the shower gel to thoroughly wash away the scent on my body. However, my hand touched something smooth, and when I opened my eyes, I saw a red soap.

Dormitory regulation 4: [There should be no red soap in the bathroom. If found, please immediately throw it in the trash bin.]

Instinctively, I prepared to throw it in the trash bin, but the feeling in my hand made me hesitate.

The soap felt heavy, as if something was embedded inside.

After a moment of hesitation, I forcefully broke the soap open and indeed found something inside. I immediately took out the object from thebroken soap, and my heart sank.

It was a small, folded note. I carefully unfolded it and read the words written on it.

"Ningning, be careful. They're watching you. Trust no one. Help is coming."

My hands trembled as I tried to process the message. Who could have left this note for me? And who were "they" that the note referred to? Was someone trying to help me?

Questions swirled in my mind as I finished my shower and got dressed. I couldn't ignore the warning in the note, but I also couldn't let anyone know that I had received it. I had to act cautiously.

I returned to the dormitory room, and Xia Ruyue looked up at me with a satisfied expression, her mouth smeared with grease from the lamb.

"Did you bring me the lamb?" she asked, her voice muffled.

"Yes, I did," I replied, trying to sound casual. "It's in the bag on your desk."

She turned her attention back to the desk and opened the bag eagerly. For a brief moment, I considered telling her about the note, but I quickly dismissed the idea. I couldn't trust anyone completely, not even Xia Ruyue.

I sat at my desk, pretending to study, while my mind raced with thoughts about the note. I needed to find a way to uncover the truth, to understand who was watching me and who was trying to help.

As the evening approached, I made up my mind. I would try to gather information discreetly, observing the people around me, and looking for any signs or clues that could lead me to the truth.

The next morning, I woke up determined. I had to be cautious and alert, but I also had to act normal to avoid raising suspicion. I couldn't let anyone suspect that I knew about the note.

Throughout the day, I observed my classmates and the dormitory staff, trying to decipher any unusual behavior or patterns. But everything seemed ordinary, and I couldn't find any clear indications of who might be watching me.

Days turned into weeks, and I continued my discreet investigation, always keeping my guard up. I became more cautious about what I said and to whom, trying to avoid revealing any secrets or suspicions.

Then, one day, as I was walking back to the dormitory after class, I noticed a figure standing in the shadows near the entrance. It was a person wearing a hoodie, their face concealed.

My heart raced as I approached cautiously, unsure of what to expect. The figure stepped forward, and my eyes widened in surprise.

"Zhang Zhuo?" I whispered, recognizing the person standing before me.

He nodded solemnly and motioned for me to follow him. Without a second thought, I complied, and we moved away from the dormitory building, finding a secluded spot where we could talk.

"I left the note for you," Zhang Zhuo said, his voice low but determined. "I've been watching you, and I know what they're doing. We need to expose them and put an end to their actions."

I was both relieved and intrigued. Zhang Zhuo seemed to be on my side, and he had information that could help me unravel the mystery.

"Who are they?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

Zhang Zhuo hesitated for a moment before replying, "They are a group of powerful individuals who control this institution. They have their own agenda, and they use the students as pawns in their game."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. It sounded like a conspiracy, something out of a thriller novel. But the note, Zhang Zhuo's words, and the strange events I had witnessed all pointed to the existence of a hidden power structure within the institution.

"What can we do?" I asked, determined to fight back.

Zhang Zhuo looked at me with a steely gaze. "We gather evidence, expose their actions to the world, and rally others who are brave enough to stand against them. It won't be easy, but we have to try."

I nodded, feeling a newfound sense of purpose. I had stumbled upon something much bigger than myself, and now I had an ally in Zhang Zhuo.

Together, we would uncover the truth and challenge the power that sought to control us. The road ahead would be treacherous, but I was ready to face whatever lay in store.