Chapter 89

Chapter 89

The windows that had been charred black in the fire had been replaced with white lattice windows in a faintly French style. The brand-new curtains were spotless, and the air conditioner mounted off to the side was new as well, running almost silently.

Even so, Ning Qiuyan still felt cold.

Smoking was forbidden in the dorms, but he broke the rule anyway, quietly lighting a cigarette. Then he called Rong Qi several more times.

News traveled fast. When he had gone to the cafeteria earlier, he had heard other students on campus discussing it too.

“Someone from the freshman class died over by Sujing Lake. Just a couple days ago. By the time they found him, he’d been soaking in the water so long he was all pale. I heard it was a drug overdose…”

“Has there been an official notice?” someone else said. “If there hasn’t, it’s not really right to talk like that. The dead deserve respect.”

“That’s so scary. Why would he be so stupid as to do drugs?”

“Moral decay, that’s what.”

After all, Peng Kaile had lived in the same dorm as them for several months. The roommate who told Ning Qiuyan the news was in low spirits too, and he specifically said to Ning Qiuyan, “Xiao Ning, maybe you should try getting in touch with Rong Qi. I don’t mean anything by it, it’s just… those two were always together. I hope he didn’t get dragged into it too.”

His roommate knew Ning Qiuyan and Rong Qi were on good terms and did not want to slander Rong Qi, so the reminder was very tactful. But Ning Qiuyan caught the message clearly.

After moving into the temporary dorm, Rong Qi had indeed often hung out with Peng Kaile.

Night had fallen. Alone in their old dorm room, looking at the empty bed across from him, Ning Qiuyan felt terrible.

At ten that night, Rong Qi finally called back. His voice was muffled, and he did not sound very alert. “You’re back at school?”

Ning Qiuyan asked directly, “Rong Qi, where are you?”

Hearing the seriousness in Ning Qiuyan’s tone, Rong Qi explained, “At that hotel I stayed in last time. The one where I ran into you and your boyfriend. Ning Qiuyan, did you hear about it? I’m fine… Don’t worry.”

Ning Qiuyan only said, “What’s your room number? I want to come see you now.”

Rong Qi said, “No need. I’ll be back tomorrow. Have you moved all your things?”

Ning Qiuyan said, “…I have. I moved yours too.”

Rong Qi paused. “Thanks. Sorry to trouble you.”

With something like this having happened, neither of them had the desire to chat. They soon hung up.

But the next day, Rong Qi broke his word. He did not return to school at all.

When Ning Qiuyan contacted him again, Rong Qi was uncharacteristically cold. “Stop worrying about me. I know what I’m doing.”

Rong Qi was the first friend Ning Qiuyan had made after coming to Sujing, and he had always been loyal. Ning Qiuyan could not convince himself to leave him alone.

At dusk, Ning Qiuyan scanned a bike and rode to the hotel. The early spring wind was still very cold. He worked up a sweat as he pedaled, and he remembered how, the last time Guan Heng had come, he had ridden a bike just like this from school back to the hotel to see Guan Heng.

He hurriedly propped the bike under the steps and rushed through the revolving doors toward the front desk.

He did not know Rong Qi’s room number, and in the face of his inquiry, the front desk refused to disclose it in order to protect the guest’s privacy.

Ning Qiuyan backed away a few steps. Standing in the resplendent lobby, something suddenly occurred to him, and he dialed Qu Shu’s number.

He was not stupid. From the time he had come to Sujing for his exam to the accident afterward, every time he had stayed at this same hotel. He had even happened to stay in the same room, and even Guan Heng stayed here when he was in town. This hotel had to have some connection to Guan Heng.

Sure enough, after Qu Shu heard what had happened, she told him to wait where he was. Very soon, someone came over with a key card and respectfully led him to Rong Qi’s room.

This was the first time Ning Qiuyan had openly used Guan Heng’s connections.

He had to admit, they were very useful. They saved him an enormous amount of time.

The door opened, but Rong Qi was not in the room.

Judging by the traces of daily life, Rong Qi had already been staying here for some time-very likely, he had not gone home for the entire winter break. Rong Qi was usually someone who loved keeping things clean, but this room was a complete mess. Clothes and socks were tossed everywhere, and there were several takeout boxes on the table.

The hotel staff explained that this guest had not allowed them to provide housekeeping, so they had basically not been inside.

Ning Qiuyan walked around the room and saw two or three very small glass bottles lying by the head of the bed.

He picked one up and looked at it carefully. In an instant, a chill swept through his entire body.

It was a specially made miniature glass dropper bottle, with a capacity of only around a dozen milliliters. Others might not know what it was for, but Ning Qiuyan had seen one with his own eyes before-in the changing room at N°, in Ray’s hand.

Rong Qi’s glass bottles were all empty.

Ning Qiuyan grabbed one and put it into his pocket, then left the hotel in a complicated state of mind. Clinging to one last sliver of hope, he found a quiet place, took the little bottle out, photographed it, and sent the picture to Lu Qianque.

Ning Qiuyan: [Is this Huanle?]

Two minutes later, Lu Qianque called him directly. “Xiao Ning, where did you find something like this?”

Ning Qiuyan told him what had happened and voiced his concerns. “It looks like my roommate may have taken quite a lot of it. I’m not sure. I don’t know what I should do now.”

Lu Qianque asked, “Does Sir know?”

“No,” Ning Qiuyan answered. “I haven’t told him yet. I know you’ve been handling these matters all along, so I wanted to confirm with you first.”

Lu Qianque said, “This is indeed a Huanle bottle. The dropper helps conserve the dosage. One bottle is enough to last an addict several days. If you found several little bottles like this, then that means your roommate has probably been taking it for a while already.”
Ning Qiuyan felt as if he had been struck by lightning. Had Rong Qi gotten hooked as early as last semester, back when he was always going out with Peng Kaile under the excuse of “playing games”?

He hurriedly asked, “Then what should we do now? How can I help him?”

“That thing isn’t a drug as defined by the human world at all. You can’t help him. We’re already working on cleaning up the source, and it’s almost over. There will also be an official plan to prevent it in the future,” Lu Qianque said. “Stay out of it.”

Lu Qianque’s attitude was the same as Rong Qi’s.

They both told Ning Qiuyan to stay out of it.

Ning Qiuyan: “…”

Hearing his silence, Lu Qianque gave a soft laugh and said helplessly, “I know you’re worried about your friend. All right, I’ll handle this personally. I’ll be coming to Sujing again in a few days. Leave it all to me, okay?”

Gu Yu had already been sent away by Lu Qianque. Lu Qianque would be staying in Sujing for quite some time, and he would arrive a little earlier than Guan Heng.

Ning Qiuyan didn’t understand the undercurrents within the society of Vampires. He only vaguely sensed that the situation was very complicated, so thorny that even Lu Qianque and Guan Heng were finding it difficult. Bringing up his own request at a time like this would only be adding to the trouble.

“Thank you,” Ning Qiuyan said sincerely.

“Xiao Ning, we’re family,” Lu Qianque said. “There’s no need to say thank you.”
After Ray’s terrible death, and after the lesson he’d learned last time, Ning Qiuyan was very obedient this time. He didn’t plunge in headfirst and take reckless risks.

One night, during a video call, he took the initiative to tell Guan Heng about it.

At the time, Ning Qiuyan was in the Black House, installing a projector he’d bought online with his own hands.

There still wasn’t much furniture in the Black House. The projector stand was installed beside the fireplace, aimed at the gray brick wall ahead, and the screen had already been put up. He planned to place two soft cushions with backrests beside the fireplace. When Guan Heng came, they could curl up here together and watch movies. There were still plenty of films on the list he’d made for Guan Heng that they hadn’t watched yet.

Guan Heng asked, “Is he the friend we ran into last time?”

“Yes,” Ning Qiuyan said. “His name is Rong Qi.”

Guan Heng remembered that boy.

He asked again, “Are you upset?”

Ning Qiuyan gave a small sound of acknowledgment and said, “I just think it’s a real pity. Rong Qi is actually very talented. No, gifted. He often has all kinds of amazing ideas, and he knows how to use a lot of software. Even the electronic music he casually puts together sounds great.”

The fire leaped in the hearth, and Ning Qiuyan’s shadow on the floor moved with it.

On the other end of the call, Guan Heng, far away on Du Island, listened quietly.

Guan Heng’s silent tolerance unconsciously gave Ning Qiuyan the urge to confide in him. He said to Guan Heng, “I know there are far, far too many talented people in the world. Even just at our school, people with that kind of gift are everywhere. It’s just… you know, Rong Qi is a good person too. He’s loyal, he’s generous, and we have things in common. Being around him really feels comfortable.”

“But… it feels like a lot of things have changed.”

“He made a mistake. I want to help him turn back before it’s too late. But he’s especially proud. Even if I really can help him, we might never be the way we were before.”

Ning Qiuyan was slow to warm up to people, but he longed for friendship.

Ray’s death had stirred more sympathy in Ning Qiuyan than anything else, but Rong Qi was completely different to him. Back in Wutong, his only close friend had been Su Jianzhou. After coming to Sujing, the person he had thought he might truly befriend was Rong Qi.

He had thought their relationship would keep deepening like this. Even if they couldn’t reach the point of being confidants, even if they couldn’t become best friends, Rong Qi would still be the person he was closest to in his graduation album. They would stay in touch years later and make plans to go drinking together.

Only after this happened did Ning Qiuyan realize with a start that things didn’t always develop in the direction you “thought” they would.

“Not everyone will live up to your expectations,” Guan Heng said in a low voice. “No matter what their reasons may be.”

Guan Heng understood Ning Qiuyan’s regret.

This time, it was Ning Qiuyan’s turn to listen quietly.

Guan Heng said, “A good beginning doesn’t mean there will be a good ending. People are like unique magnetic fields. Over the course of your life, you’ll draw many like-minded people to your side. But those who share your path at the beginning may end up going in the completely opposite direction.”

“There’s no need to feel sorry.”

“Partings and reunions, comings and goings-anyone can be a passerby in your life.”

What Guan Heng said made sense. It was also an undeniable truth.

Ning Qiuyan thought for a moment, then said, “It might not be that pessimistic. This is all just me making wild guesses. There’s no obstacle that can’t be overcome. Maybe if I take the initiative, he’ll be able to let go of the barrier between us…”

“Ning Qiuyan,” Guan Heng suddenly called out, his tone turning a little cold. “It’s not worth it.”

Ning Qiuyan froze.

Guan Heng had always encouraged him to do what he wanted, supported him in making friends, and shown great tolerance toward everyone around him. This was the first time Ning Qiuyan sensed a kind of chill indifference from Guan Heng.

It was rational, as if even feelings could be measured and weighed.

“Don’t waste your energy on a passerby,” Guan Heng said mercilessly. “You’ll meet friends who are more worth it.”