Chapter 70: The Office [Part 3]

Life inside the Internet Addiction Center was unbearably dull. In the blink of an eye, three days had passed, and aside from staring vacantly in their dormitory, Yan Yu and his companions spent most of their time in a daze on the playground.

Before and after each meal, they were required to sing songs of repentance in the main hall. Every time, the students had to sing with hysterical intensity, their tears and cries expected to be genuine. Yang Yongsheng would watch from above, singling out those whose lamentations were not loud enough, sending them to Room Thirteen for electrotherapy.

Because Yan Yu and his friends were newcomers, they had been spared from such torment for now.

Over these days, Yan Yu felt as though he had glimpsed the very depths of hell. Outside, no one was allowed to walk together, lest it be considered forming cliques—punishable by electric shock. Boys and girls could not walk side by side or whisper to each other, for fear of being accused of early romance—punishable by electric shock. At night, even the slightest sound while sleeping could draw the attention of the patrolling instructors—again, electric shock.

In just three days, the lively spirits of Fatty and Hao Zhuang had been utterly extinguished. Though they had not yet experienced the electric shocks, it seemed as if their very selves had been drained away. Their expressions were vacant, and they sang the songs of repentance with extraordinary seriousness each day.

Their only gain was that Li Zhixian, through Zhang Hongwen, had managed to learn about Feng Liang's situation. Every night, Feng Liang was taken by Instructor Yan to Yang Yongsheng’s office. Two hours later, he would be returned, but no one knew what happened within those walls.

That night, at nine o’clock, Yan Yu and his companions were locked into their dormitory right on schedule. The occasional screams from Room Thirteen left them all sleepless.

“What time is it?” Yan Yu suddenly asked.

Fatty and Hao Zhuang did not respond, but Li Zhixian answered, “It’s eleven.”

Eleven o’clock was when Instructor Yan would come for Feng Liang.

Yan Yu jumped down from his bed, rapped on the bunks of his friends, and said, “Time to get to work. If we succeed tonight, this center and Yang Yongsheng will finally face the punishment they deserve!”

The three scrambled to get up. Yan Yu retrieved a talisman he had smuggled into the center from beneath his mattress and tucked it into his pocket.

As they finished gathering their things, the dormitory door suddenly opened. Zhang Hongwen stood at the threshold, keys in hand, looking nervous. “This is as much as I can do for you. If you get caught, don’t mention my name.”

“Thank you,” Yan Yu nodded.

Zhang Hongwen hurried away.

The four crept out of the dormitory. The corridor was deserted, but downstairs, a dozen parents were keeping watch. The center was small, yet no one had ever managed to escape—thanks in large part to these brainwashed parents.

“What now, boss?” Hao Zhuang whispered.

“Yang Yongsheng’s office is in the treatment building across the way. We have to get over there.”

No sooner had Yan Yu finished speaking than Fatty suddenly noticed someone standing at the end of the corridor.

For a moment, their hearts leapt into their throats.

Only Yan Yu remained calm. “Don’t worry. It’s Instructor Yan.”

Li Zhixian, unaware that Instructor Yan had been possessed by Feng Liang’s ghost, was still nervous.

Instructor Yan approached and spoke quietly to Yan Yu, “You’re acting tonight?”

“Take us to the treatment building, and remember—do not commit any more violence,” Yan Yu replied sternly.

Instructor Yan nodded and led the four of them down the stairs.

On the first floor, one of the parents recognized Instructor Yan and called out, “Instructor Yan, where are you taking them so late at night?”

“These kids aren’t sleeping properly. I’m taking them to Room Thirteen for some treatment,” Instructor Yan replied coldly.

“Need a hand?” the parents asked, laughing.

“No need. I can handle them myself,” was the curt response.

They passed through the parental blockade unscathed and entered Room Thirteen in the treatment building.

“That was terrifying,” Fatty exhaled deeply. Had they been discovered, the punishment would have been the electroshock device.

“Boss, what do we do next?” someone asked.

“There needs to be noise coming from Room Thirteen. You three stay here. Li Zhixian, you’re coming with me to Yang Yongsheng’s office!”

If there were no screams from Room Thirteen, the parents would quickly become suspicious.

“You’re not taking me with you?” Instructor Yan grabbed Yan Yu.

“Don’t you trust me?” Yan Yu retorted.

Instructor Yan was silent for a while, then let go.

Yan Yu and Li Zhixian had just stepped out of Room Thirteen when Fatty began to shriek as if being slaughtered. Li Zhixian was terrified but stuck close to Yan Yu.

Room Thirteen and Yang Yongsheng’s office were on opposite sides of the first floor, and to reach the office, they had to cross the main hall—risking discovery by the parents outside.

The two hid in a corner and watched the parents standing guard. Only now did Li Zhixian understand why Yan Yu had brought him.

“Can you do it?” Yan Yu asked.

Li Zhixian’s face was resolute. “Do you think we can really escape this place?”

“Give me a little time. Tonight, everything ends,” Yan Yu whispered.

“I believe you.”

After saying this, Li Zhixian stood up and walked straight toward the parents outside. Only by drawing their attention could Yan Yu safely reach Yang Yongsheng’s office.

“Let me out! Let me out!” Li Zhixian suddenly screamed, drawing every parent’s eye.

“What’s going on? Someone’s out! Quick, catch him!” The parents rushed forward as Li Zhixian dashed away.

Seizing the opportunity, Yan Yu hurried across the hall to the far side of the building, moved quietly, and crept toward Yang Yongsheng’s office.

He didn’t have much time. Whether or not anyone was inside, he had no choice—he had to go in.

As he neared the office, Yan Yu’s expression darkened.

It was already eleven at night, yet lights still glowed inside the office, and he could hear faint voices.

Yan Yu carefully approached the window and peeked inside.

“Miaofu, have you thought it over? If you please me, I can make your life here much easier,” Yang Yongsheng was saying.

Inside, Chen Miaofu, whom Yan Yu had met before, was kneeling on the floor. Yang Yongsheng sat before her, his face twisted in a lecherous, repulsive grin.

“Uncle Yang... please, I beg you, let me go... I can’t agree to this…”

“You can’t?”

Yang Yongsheng’s smile vanished. He grabbed Chen Miaofu by the hair and slammed her head against the desk several times. “How about now?”

Chen Miaofu’s head was soon bleeding, and she sobbed helplessly. “No... no…”

Yang Yongsheng snorted and, without hesitation, undid his belt, forcing himself on Chen Miaofu.

Chen Miaofu was so terrified, she couldn’t even fight back.

“In here, I am the emperor! Anyone who defies me meets only one end!”

“You can tell your parents if you wish—let’s see who they’ll believe: you or me!”

It was because of her supposed early romance that Chen Miaofu had been sent to the Internet Addiction Center by her parents.