Although Nan Yue had no experience teaching children, she wasn't completely at a loss. The mission likely wasn't just to let them experience being teachers, but both the Teacher’s Code of Conduct and Director Wu had emphasized the importance of performing their duties well.
"Today, we will study Lesson 4."
Nan Yue opened the textbook, recalling the relevant techniques she had learned in school.
Then, her gaze paused on the page.
"Teacher, do you need us to read aloud?"
Nan Yue looked up. The speaker was a girl sitting in the first row. She was exceptionally beautiful, with thick black hair and very fair skin. Her eyes were large and bright, and her brownish pupils made her look like a little deer.
Nan Yue saw the nameplate on her desk. "Li Xue'er."
"Alright, everyone, let's take turns reading."
This was likely the teaching method they were used to. None of the children objected, and they stood up one by one to read the textbook in clear, loud voices.
However, Nan Yue's heart sank bit by bit amidst the crisp voices of the children.
"Lesson 4: The Girl in the Restroom."
"The light in the building's restroom had been broken for a long time, always flickering. It was very scary at night."
"Xiao Hong told her roommates that the manager would come to fix it soon, but many days passed and the light was still broken."
"Yunyun always said there was someone in the restroom, standing still in the last stall. She was frightened every time she went to the restroom."
"Xiao Hong said Yunyun was mistaken. The last tile had fallen off and was being repaired, so it couldn't be used."
"The restroom light was still not fixed. Xiao Hong reported it many times, but it was useless."
"Honghong also saw someone standing in the last stall of the restroom while she was using it."
"How strange. There was clearly only Xiao Hong on this floor."
"New tenants came to the building. The tenants always complained that the restroom light didn't work."
"They also saw it. There was someone in the last stall of the restroom."
The classroom fell silent. Nan Yue paused for a moment, then softened her voice. "Everyone read very well. Let's discuss the central theme of this text."
Children of this age who hadn't received a formal education spoke their minds freely. Faced with such a nonsensical article that could hardly be called a textbook lesson, they couldn't say anything substantial.
After a long, messy discussion that took up most of the class time, the lively children finally seemed like real people, showing a bit of youthful energy.
They scrambled to express their views, but Nan Yue remained deeply concerned about the text.
Who chose this material? With such lessons being taught, it was no wonder the children produced those kinds of drawings.
"Teacher, I have a question."
Nan Yue looked at Li Xue'er, who was raising her hand high. Seeing her effort to catch the teacher's attention, Nan Yue gave her a smile.
"I want to know why Xiao Hong didn't go to see who exactly was occupying that last stall?"
Li Xue'er tilted her head. "Maybe that was her friend. Friends should be together. Did they end up together in the end?"
Li Xue'er's words made Nan Yue's skin crawl. "Everyone has different ways of handling choices. No single choice is necessarily the correct one."
Li Xue'er pouted. "There is. Director Wu said there is only one correct choice for everything."
"I want to know what the teacher would do."
Nan Yue silently observed the quiet students in the classroom before finally speaking. "I wouldn't use the restroom at night."
"Even if they are friends, they shouldn't be playing in the restroom."
A look of confusion appeared on Li Xue'er's face; clearly, Nan Yue's answer was not within her expectations.
Nan Yue looked at the students. "I want to ask, who wrote this textbook?"
"Director Wu. The textbooks we study and the drawings we copy are all provided by Director Wu."
Nan Yue narrowed her eyes slightly. Why was the school warping the students' values like this?
The bell rang.
The students stood up in unison and bowed to Nan Yue. Even after class ended, there were no students running or playing around. Everyone stayed quietly in their seats; even those talking kept their voices very low.
Nan Yue tidied her books but hesitated and decided not to take the textbook with her.
"Teacher Nan."
Li Xue'er ran to the podium and peeked over the edge, her hands gripping the wood.
"Teacher Nan, I really like you. Please don't leave, okay?"
Nan Yue smiled and patted her head. "Why do you say that?"
Li Xue'er pursed her lips. "The previous teachers were like that too. We all liked them, but they left very soon."
Li Xue'er sighed like a little adult. "People who like us can't stay in the school for long."
Nan Yue prodded gently. "Why? Who made them leave?"
A hesitant expression appeared on Li Xue'er's beautiful, delicate face. She looked back at the door, where Director Wu was standing not far away, watching the children in the classroom without moving.
Li Xue'er immediately let go and scurried back to her seat.
Nan Yue walked out of the classroom, and Director Wu seemed to be waiting for her.
"Don't get too close to these children."
Director Wu frowned. "It's not a good thing for teachers and students to have too close a relationship."
Nan Yue asked tentatively, "Was the curriculum... written by you?"
This time, Director Wu's face visibly contorted for a moment.
"...No. It was written by the person in charge."
Nan Yue's eyes lit up, and she wanted to ask more, but Director Wu avoided her as if she were the plague.
"Don't ask what you shouldn't ask. Just do your work well."
The sound of chopping vegetables came from the direction of the cafeteria; it seemed the kitchen had already begun preparing dinner.
Nan Yue returned to the dormitory. The next class was drawing, which Bai La La went to prepare for. Zhao Zhenzhen, as the life teacher, was tidying the students' dorms, so neither was there.
Nan Yue closed the door, walked to the window, and lifted the wire bed with one hand.
She flipped the bed over as quietly as possible, and densely packed red characters came into view.
"Hell! This is hell!"
"How could they... the children... so pitiful... the teachers... how could they..."
"Don't believe! Liars! Lies!"
The dense text was layered upon itself. At first glance, it looked like moving insects, making one feel a bit dizzy.
Nan Yue did the same to the other two beds and saw the same things.
It was as if someone, year after year, had hidden under the beds and tirelessly written these words.
Was the person who lived here a previous teacher? What had she discovered? What exactly was the school doing?
Who exactly was... the person in charge?
Nan Yue returned the dormitory to its original state, pondering the current clues.
The visible Teacher’s Code of Conduct was posted in everyone's dormitory, but there were contradictions between it and Director Wu's words.
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