Li Huiyuan hung her head in reluctant resignation upon hearing the words, "Well... I'll just look for it myself, sorry..."

Lin Yi didn't say anything, just silently nodded.

If Lin Yi had rashly assured her that he would handle the crisis on her behalf the moment she showed any sign of vulnerability, that would have been nothing short of foolish clownery, something Lin Yi would never do.

Actually, he could have used the time while queuing up for food to observe the Student Cafeteria's interior, trying to locate the position of the Convenience Store;

Actually, after getting his meal, he could pretend to look for a table and then casually stroll around the safe zones of the Student Cafeteria...

But these were all matters for later; he wasn't about to make any rash promises to Li Huiyuan right now. It was best to keep such uncertain promises to oneself and factually do them when the time came, which would be far more useful than speaking too soon.

Therefore, when it comes to refusals, sometimes it's necessary to speak clearly and to the point, to prevent Li Huiyuan from truly putting all her bets on him.

"Oh right..." Li Huiyuan adjusted her emotions in the silence and then slowly asked, "Classmate Lin, can you explain to me what 'contamination' means?"

"Contamination? Did the class teacher tell you something?"

"Not much, she just mentioned that I was 'contaminated' and said that from now on, until I get the Student Souvenir Coin and go back to the office to see her, I shouldn't believe any stranger's words. She didn't explain anything to me..."

"I thought about it because I heard you mention 'contamination' when you were chatting before, so I wanted to ask what that means..."

Lin Yi retorted, "The class teacher told you not to believe any strangers, and you are telling me everything right away?"

"Didn't you ask?"

"Just because I asked, you spilled everything?"

"Then what? I thought... we're not strangers anymore, right?"

Lin Yi couldn't help but say, "We've only met for the second time from yesterday till today!"

"But I..."

But apart from you, I can't trust anyone else. Compared to others, you're already not a "stranger"... Li Huiyuan pursed her lips and kept these somewhat cheesy-sounding words to herself.

Lin Yi sighed deeply, thinking that this girl was really resorting to desperate measures, even daring to board a doomed pilot's aircraft.

About the concept of 'contamination'... it's actually somewhat complicated to explain." Lin Yi briefly organized his thoughts and then explained the concept of contamination to Li Huiyuan in a way that was easier to understand.

Li Huiyuan listened until her face lost all color, her mouth agape with fear.

Lin Yi gave her a moment and then glanced at his watch again.

12:23.

He looked at the clock on the blackboard as well, and the time matched.

Then he brought his gaze back to Li Huiyuan and asked, "I have asked about everything I wanted to know, do you have anything else to say?"

Li Huiyuan shook her head.

"In that case..." Lin Yi proceeded to ask if he could check her back again, "Could you turn your back to me once more? I feel I didn't examine it thoroughly enough when we were on the road; the Pocket Chef seems to have left something related to contamination on you."

Li Huiyuan was hesitant at first, but seeing Lin Yi's serious expression and hearing him mention something potentially related to contamination, she agreed and silently turned her back to him.

Lin Yi sat up straight and seriously started observing Li Huiyuan's back...

To be honest, Lin Yi was also nervous. After observing for about a minute, his expression gradually became ugly.

It wasn't because he had discovered some horrific terror but because —

"Damn it... why can't I activate the exposed Vision at all?!"

"This is killing me! So frustrating!"

A fine layer of sweat began to form on Lin Yi's forehead.

"Um... Lin, Classmate Lin, how is it?" Li Huiyuan asked nervously.

"Uh... this..." Lin Yi's voice trailed off, finding himself in a dilemma, unsure of what to say.

And his reaction made Li Huiyuan's already anxious heart sink even further, her complexion also growing worse...

But in that moment, Lin Yi seemed to have discovered something. There appeared to be a second new scratch mark on Li Huiyuan's back, as fine as a strand of hair!

And he distinctly remembered he hadn't seen that scratch mark when he checked earlier!

Was it because he hadn't looked closely, or was the scratch too faint to see clearly?

But the scratch was indeed very faint, something he couldn't see before, yet now he could see it clearly!

It was a vertical scratch mark, like a strand of hair stretched straight and stuck on her back.

"Could it be that it's just now surfaced?"

"Li Huiyuan."

"Yes?"

"There's a new scratch mark on your back, does it feel uncomfortable?"

"Ah? What scratch mark?"

"A very fine one, like the kind you get from a kitten's scratch."

"I don't feel anything... Where is it?" She tried to reach her back but felt nothing at the scratch mark's location.

"Here." Lin Yi took her fingers and guided them to the location of the scratch.

"I don't feel a thing." Li Huiyuan felt around a few times but to no avail. "Maybe you could try?"

Lin Yi hesitated for a moment, then nodded, "Okay."

Then he reached out his finger and lightly traced the scratch mark.

"Ouch!" Just then, Li Huiyuan let out a small yelp, instinctively arched her torso forward, breaking contact with Lin Yi's finger, "It... it's a bit itchy!"

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