Chapter 14

Temporary Cards

At this precise moment, the players finally felt the full, crushing hostility of the instance bearing down on them.

The microscope gleamed under the laboratory lights with a terror all its own.

"This is too important — I don't dare touch it." Zhang San, watching the NPCs' affinity ratings toward the players drop three points in the span of thirty seconds, scrambled to speak. "The facilities back home are nothing like this. I've never seen equipment this advanced — I'm scared I'd break it. I just want a photo with it to make everyone back at school jealous."

The other players looked at him sideways.

This guy — willing to grovel this shamelessly just to keep an NPC happy?

Zhang San was watching the affinity number above the NPC's head flickering. Cold sweat was gathering in his palms.

"The finest equipment still exists to serve scientific progress. Don't put it on too high a pedestal." The senior fixed his gaze on Zhang San. "Zhang San, right? Your main focus is computer science?"

Zhang San watched the senior's affinity toward him shoot from 21 all the way up to 35.

That big a jump?

"Yes — that's right."

The senior turned to Chao Musheng. "Musheng is also a computer science student, and his schedule for the next ten days aligns with yours. He'll be your primary contact for this visit."

The players only now realized that among the six hosts, specific ones had been assigned to specific guests.

Several of them felt a quiet envy toward Zhang San — knowing your point of contact this early made it much easier to build rapport.

Zhang San, however, was not feeling particularly lucky. Of the six hosts, Chao Musheng was the only one with no readable affinity value. And of course that was exactly the person he'd been assigned to.

The fact that these NPCs could address him by name and knew his designated background precisely meant this arrangement had been fixed from the moment he'd stepped into the instance.

"Musheng is ranked first in his year in computer science, and two months ago he assisted a professor on a major national research project." Perhaps because Zhang San was showing the highest affinity return, the senior added a few extra words of guidance. "Make good use of these ten days — learn from him. You'll gain a lot."

"Senior is too kind — Zhang San and I will push each other to improve." Chao Musheng, uncomfortable being praised, redirected smoothly. "Senior is the one who's genuinely remarkable — half the professors in the school are competing to take him as a postgraduate student. Everyone here helping with the hosting is outstanding in their own department. I hope the next ten days are good for all of us."

Noticing the visiting students still looked too intimidated to approach the equipment, Chao Musheng offered: "Shall we head to the library next?"

The senior nodded. "Let's go."

Zhang San dropped back to walk beside Shang-bro at the rear of the group. "What background did the system give you?"

"Computer science."

"Then you're probably with me — both under Chao Musheng." Zhang San listened to the NPCs ahead of them describe every tree and paving stone on campus — even the roadside statues, donated by various foreign nations — and took a slow, steadying breath. "The affinity scores swinging this wildly in just a few minutes — I honestly don't know how we're supposed to get through ten days of this."

He activated a sound-dampening item to keep the conversation private. "When we didn't touch the equipment in the lab, the lead NPC's affinity toward us dropped 3 points. But after I spoke up, it jumped 13. All from one sentence."

Shang-bro turned over what Zhang San had said in the lab. Two things stood out: that their facilities back home were inferior, and that every classmate back there would envy a photo with the microscope.

"It means they take pride in the school's reputation — they care deeply about it." Shang-bro studied the students passing them on the path. "The other key point is that they're recognized as outstanding students themselves. That means they'll have some sympathy for students from less privileged environments, which is why the senior made a point of telling you to learn from Chao Musheng. My guess is that for the next ten days, they'll be paying close attention to our attitude toward studying."

Zhang San scratched his head in quiet anguish. For someone who had been a committed underachiever since childhood, this instance was hell difficulty.

As they walked, Chao Musheng noticed two people had fallen behind. He stopped and waited. "Keep up."

When Zhang San and Shang-bro caught up, Chao Musheng looked at the man beside Zhang San. "You're Zhao Shang — same school as Zhang San?"

Shang-bro nodded. "I'll be in your hands for the next ten days."

"Don't mention it." Chao Musheng fell into step beside them. "The campus is large — once today's tour is done, you can explore at your own pace. For now, stay with the group. I'd hate for you to get lost."

"Meow."

A cat's head emerged from the flower bed along the path. Chao Musheng reached down and gave it an experienced scratch. "Little Tangerine — what are you doing out here?"

"Mrrrow." The cat's eyes narrowed contentedly, its head pressing into his palm.

"This is one of the campus strays — spayed and vaccinated, looked after by the staff in the academic affairs office." Chao Musheng explained to the two of them. "The cats and dogs on campus have all been vaccinated. They're gentle — don't be startled if you run into them."

Zhang San felt a flicker of opportunity. "Should we walk it back to the academic affairs office now?"

He'd been trying to figure out where that office was. And now the chance had come to him.

"No need — she knows her own way back." Chao Musheng stood, easing the cat back into the flower bed. "Little Tangerine is very clever."

The three of them rejoined the group. Zhang San glanced back and saw the little cat still trying to follow. She clearly had a fondness for Chao Musheng. "Xiao Chao, she really likes you."

"It's not just this one." The third-year female host had overheard, and sounded mildly resentful. "All the campus cats and dogs like him. One time a kitten refused to wear its flea collar and bolted up a tree — we spent ages coaxing it down with everything we had. Musheng was just walking by and the kitten jumped into his arms on its own."

"Coincidence. Pure coincidence, all of it." Chao Musheng dodged the female host's envious look. "The library's coming up."

"Our school has eight specialist libraries and one central library. The building ahead is the central library, built three hundred years ago. Its collection exceeds three million volumes, and it houses close to a thousand databases spanning every field of study."

"If you need access to the databases, your designated host can help you with that."

The senior stopped outside the library entrance without going in. "The library is open around the clock. Detailed borrowing guidelines are posted inside — feel free to look them over on your own time."

Rules.

The players perked up visibly at the familiar word, eyes sharpening as they studied the imposing building.

"The library requires quiet, so bringing everyone inside for a full tour isn't practical." The senior checked his watch. "I'll leave the remaining time for each of you to spend with your host — get to know each other."

"Come on then, you two — with me." Chao Musheng waved Zhang San and Shang-bro over.

In an unwatched corner, one of the hosts found his gaze drifting to Wan You as he approached — and felt, for a disorienting instant, that Wan You seemed somehow pitiable and endearing.

Terrifying.

Must have overworked his brain spending too much time in the lab.

"Where are we going, Xiao Chao?" Zhang San put on his most ingratiating smile.

"The campus services office — to get you both temporary campus cards." Chao Musheng helped them unlock shared bikes from a rack. "It's a fair distance from here. We'll ride."

They needed bikes just to get to a campus admin office. How large was this school?

Before Zhang San and Shang-bro even reached the door, they heard a voice from inside — unhurried and several degrees cooler than the ambient temperature.

"I can't stamp that here. Go get your department head to sign off first."

"Our advisor told us we could come directly to campus services for the stamp."

"Tell your advisor to come speak to me herself."

Zhang San swallowed. This staff member was going to be a problem.

"Teacher Luo." Chao Musheng strolled into the office with a smile, and arranged himself with cheerful informality against the edge of the desk. "You look great lately — what exercise have you been doing?"

Teacher Luo had been about to demand to know who had the audacity to slouch on her furniture. Then she saw who it was, and the tension in her face relaxed into a smile. "Xiao Chao. Where did you disappear to for the holiday?"

"Stayed home — went to visit family." Chao Musheng glanced at the student still waiting to one side, then set a coffee on the edge of Teacher Luo's desk. "Teacher, I have a favor to ask."

"What is it?"

"You handle this student first — no rush." Chao Musheng settled into a nearby chair with the ease of someone entirely at home here.

Teacher Luo took the form from the waiting student, stamped it without ceremony, then rummaged in her drawer and tossed him a piece of chocolate. "Someone sent this from abroad. Try it."

"It's good." Chao Musheng tried a piece. "Your son keeps sending you things — does he buy everything nice he sees and ship it straight to you?"

That hit exactly the right note. Teacher Luo's smile widened. "So — what have you lost this time that needs replacing?"

"Actually, I haven't lost anything." Chao Musheng leaned over and refilled her tea. "I'm hoping to get two temporary campus cards made up for some visiting students I'm hosting. Without cards, they can't even get into the library properly."

Teacher Luo didn't spare Zhang San or Shang-bro so much as a glance. Every year, people went to considerable lengths to get into Jinghua as visiting or auditing students. Unless they were someone significant, campus services didn't concern itself with them.

"They're not enrolled students, so getting them full cards would be complicated — temporary guest cards are easier to arrange." She produced two blank white cards from her drawer. "How long are they here?"

"Ten days."

Teacher Luo held the cards against the reader. "I've set both cards for ten days' access. They'll expire automatically after that."

"Thank you, Teacher Luo — next time I'll bring you coffee again." Chao Musheng pocketed the cards, then extended his hand with a grin. "A few more pieces of chocolate? This is really good."

"Out, out, out." Teacher Luo scooped up a handful and pressed them into his palm, then shooed him toward the door.

"Keep these safe." Chao Musheng handed the cards to the two of them. "Don't lose them."

"Thank you." Shang-bro understood perfectly well that these were not standard-issue items provided to all players. Chao Musheng had called in a personal favor to get them.

"Don't mention it — students on a study visit are entitled to apply for these. It's just the usual process." Chao Musheng smiled. "Now let's get you to the dining hall. Lunch first, then you can rest."

With temporary cards, they could move around independently without needing him at every turn. His workload had just halved.

Shang-bro tucked the card away carefully. Entitled to apply for, and actually getting one, were two different things. He'd watched how Teacher Luo treated other students. She was not an easy person.

Zhang San had seen the numbers clearly — Teacher Luo's affinity toward them had been a meagre 3 points. Even the cat in the flower bed had shown them 15.

As they reached the ground floor, Shang-bro noticed someone moving to intercept Chao Musheng and stepped forward to block them.

"Hah." The newcomer looked Zhang San and Shang-bro over with a dismissive sidelong glance, then fixed his gaze on Chao Musheng. "Chao Musheng — got yourself some new lackeys?"

Chao Musheng: "Get your eyes checked. Stop assuming everyone you meet is the same species as you — all teeth and noise."

Zhang San's head snapped around.

The perpetually smiling Chao Musheng could talk like that?