The Whole Family Are Villains, I’m the Group Pet 159

Chapter 159

Xing Nuo walked through the campus, looking at the tree-lined paths and the old, but charming, buildings.

The senior student, showing them around, pointed at a distant building.

“That’s the men’s dormitory. You can familiarize yourselves with the campus for the next two days. And don’t forget to buy your military training uniforms. Training starts next Monday.”

Xing Nuo, his eyes wide, thought, University so big!

Much bigger than his elementary school.

The senior student, unable to resist any longer, crouched down and, looking at Xing Nuo, asked with a grin:

“What’s your name, little one?”

Xing Nuo, startled, gripped his brother’s hand tighter and replied:

“I Xing Nuo.”

The senior student, finally able to indulge her love for cute children, pinched Xing Nuo’s soft cheek.

Xing Nuo, shy around strangers, his face turning red, quickly hid behind his brother.

Shen Baizhou, his arm protectively around Xing Nuo, his voice lazy, said:

“Don’t bully my little brother.”

The senior student, finding even his voice attractive, that lazy, youthful tone perfectly matching his handsome face, asked, puzzled:

“Why did you bring your little brother to registration?”

She had seen students come alone, or with their entire families, but never just with a younger sibling.

Shen Baizhou, the doting brother, not wanting to explain, just shrugged.

“We’re here. Gotta go.”

The senior student, still having orientation duties, could only sigh regretfully and wave goodbye.

Shen Baizhou, effortlessly carrying his suitcase, Xing Nuo trying to help by holding one side, his little teeth gritted with effort, climbed the stairs.

After two flights of stairs, Shen Baizhou wasn’t even slightly out of breath, but Xing Nuo, his “help” minimal, was panting.

He wiped his forehead and said:

“Suitcase so heavy.”

Shen Baizhou poked Xing Nuo’s slightly puffed-out cheek.

“Look at you, so tired.”

As if he had carried the suitcase all by himself.

Xing Nuo huffed, ignoring him, and continued his “help,” his small arm straining.

As they were climbing the stairs, a picture of Shen Baizhou appeared on the university’s confession wall.

[OMG! This hottie with the silver hair is in our school! Does anyone know his name, age, height, major?!]

Replies quickly appeared:

[I know! He’s in our psychology department!]

[He’s at least 6 feet tall. I just saw him. He was with an adorable little kid!]

[He has a kid?!]

[That’s his little brother!]

[So close! I almost thought I could be an instant mom!]

Fourth floor dorm.

Shen Baizhou was the last to arrive. Living nearby, he had waited until the last day to register. His roommates were already there, having settled in.

Seeing Shen Baizhou and the little one with him, a roommate greeted them shyly.

“I’m in bed number one, Xu Keming. Two of our roommates are out, and the other two are in the bathroom.”

Shen Baizhou nodded, wiped a chair clean, and placed Xing Nuo on it.

He took out some fruit from his suitcase, washed a persimmon, and gave it to Xing Nuo.

“Have a snack. I’ll take you home after I unpack.”

Xing Nuo, holding the persimmon, which was almost as big as his face, took a couple of bites, his mouth stained orange.

The sweet, juicy fruit made his eyes crinkle into a smile, and he offered it to his brother, who was wiping the desk.

“Big Brother, you eat. Sweet.”

Shen Baizhou took a bite, put Xing Nuo back on the chair, and climbed onto his bed to make it.

He hadn’t brought much, only one set of clothes, and was done unpacking within minutes.

Not planning to stay in the dorm on his first day, he was about to take Xing Nuo home when his other four roommates returned, the small dorm room suddenly filled with noise and youthful energy.

“Hey, you’re in psychology too?”

“Dude, you’re so handsome! No problem finding a girlfriend!”

“Is that your little brother? Let me hold him! Hehehe!”

One of them, particularly fond of children, offered Xing Nuo some cookies.

“Call me Big Brother! Then you can have some!”

Xing Nuo, shy, hid behind his brother, peeking out, his eyes wide as he looked at the university students.

Shen Baizhou, his usual aloofness returning, said:

“We’re leaving. Not staying in the dorm tonight.”

Just then, a mechanical voice sounded:

[Attention! Dorm lights out at 6:00 PM. Do not leave the dormitory after lights out! Consequences will follow!]

The strange announcement made the roommates look around, puzzled.

“What was that? Did you hear that?”

“Strange. Is there a loudspeaker in here? I can’t find it.”

As they wondered about the source of the announcement, Xu Keming’s face paled, and he leaned against his desk, his expression dazed.

Xing Nuo, standing near him, seeing his pale face, asked with concern:

“Big brother, you okay?”

Xu Keming opened his mouth, about to speak, when the mechanical voice sounded again:

[Dorm rules: 1. Wake up at 6:00 AM. No loitering in the dorm. 2. …]

A series of rules were announced, making the roommates even more confused and uneasy.

“What the…what’s going on?”

“Doesn’t it seem…too quiet?”

Even with the door closed, the noise from outside should have been audible.

But now, after the strange announcement, the dorm was eerily silent, as if they were the only ones there.

Xu Keming, his head spinning, clutched his forehead, then suddenly said:

“I know what’s happening!”

Everyone looked at him, including Xing Nuo, who was holding a half-eaten persimmon, his eyes wide with curiosity.

Shen Baizhou also glanced at him, then at his watch.

It was almost six o’clock.

Xu Keming, still trying to compose himself, under his roommates’ increasingly anxious questioning, said:

“This happened to me before! I thought it was a dream, but it’s happening again!”

One of his roommates, over six feet tall, hid behind another roommate, his face pale with fear.

“What do you mean? Xu Keming, don’t scare us!”

“Is this some kind of prank?”

Xu Keming, knowing how unbelievable it sounded, his voice rising slightly, his tone urgent, said:

“I’m not joking! There’s something else in our world! Something terrifying!”

Xing Nuo’s eyes widened, and he dropped his persimmon, the juice staining his face.

He blinked, his eyes filled with fear, and reached out for his brother.

“Big Brother, let’s go home!”

Shen Baizhou picked him up, wiped his mouth with a tissue, and hummed in agreement.

“Okay.”

He was about to leave when Xu Keming blocked his path, his face a mixture of fear and determination.

“You can’t leave! The rules said we have to be in the dorm by six! It’s almost six o’clock!”

Afraid Shen Baizhou would do something reckless, he quickly explained what had happened to him before.

“A few years ago, when I was in high school, I was walking past a food stall when I was suddenly pulled into some kind of…street game!”

“I hid in the food stall’s cart and saw terrifying monsters eating people, and all sorts of strange things. Then I somehow returned to reality.”

“We can’t leave now! It’s exactly the same as before! The strange announcement, then the terrifying things…”

The other roommates, also prioritizing their safety, although still skeptical, also tried to dissuade Shen Baizhou.

“You have your little brother with you! It’s too dangerous! Don’t go!”

“What if there’s a monster outside, like Xu Keming said?”

Shen Baizhou sensed a monster waiting outside the door, its hunger palpable.

Having suppressed his aura for so long, the monster didn’t sense Shen Baizhou’s true nature, just its anticipation of a meal after six o’clock.

Shen Baizhou, holding Xing Nuo, glanced at his watch and walked towards the window.

“It’s okay. I’ll be back before six.”

Xing Nuo had school tomorrow, and children needed their sleep. He couldn’t be late for his first day of class. He had to go home, have dinner, and go to bed.

Xing Nuo, clutching his brother’s sleeve tightly, his heart pounding, looked up at his brother’s familiar face, the cool, damp scent of the sea calming him slightly.

The roommates couldn’t stop Shen Baizhou, and they watched as he opened the window. Before they could say anything, the familiar campus scenery outside was replaced by a dilapidated, desolate landscape.

“Holy crap! We’re really not in the school anymore!”

They stumbled back from the window, their faces pale with fear.

Shen Baizhou looked down, the ground now much closer, the fourth floor having become the first, and, holding Xing Nuo with one arm, easily climbed out the window.

“Don’t close the window. I’ll be back before six.”

He then jumped, disappearing with Xing Nuo.