Chapter 2

Chapter 2

At that moment, a flash of lightning streaked across the sky outside the window, followed by bean-sized raindrops battering against the glass.

I gripped my phone tightly, holding my breath, not daring to make a sound.

But I suddenly realized that the bedroom door wasn’t locked.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped onto the floor with bare feet.

Even though I moved toward the door as quietly as possible, I didn’t expect Xu Qing’s hearing to be so sharp.

“I heard something. Xiao Nuo, you’re still awake, aren’t you?”

I bit my lip, trembling.

Xu Qing spoke again. “I already heard your footsteps. What’s wrong? Why aren’t you saying anything?”

I forced myself to calm down. Just as I prepared to lock the door, I discovered that this door couldn’t be locked from the inside at all.

“I’m worried about you. Can I come in?”

Xu Qing’s voice was laced with concern.

My breathing quickened.

I realized that if I didn’t say something soon, Xu Qing would definitely open the door and walk in.

I steadied my breathing and said, “Xiao Qing, I just woke up to use the bathroom. I’m a little tired today, let’s talk tomorrow.”

A long silence followed outside the door.

Finally, I heard Xu Qing say, “Okay.”

I breathed a sigh of relief.

But then, my phone rang again.

The caller ID showed Xu Qing’s name.

I frowned but answered the call anyway.

“Xiao Nuo? Is that you, Xiao Nuo?” Xu Qing’s voice sounded pleasantly surprised and full of disbelief.

“It’s me.”

I didn’t understand what Xu Qing meant by that.

But in the next second, the sound of her hysterical sobbing came through the phone.

“These past few days, I’ve dialed your number countless times like a madwoman. Everyone says I’m crazy, but I just wanted to hear your voice one more time…”

An unbelievable thought rose in my heart.

Soon, Xu Qing’s next words confirmed my suspicion.

“Xiao Nuo, you might not believe what I’m about to say, but I have to tell you-in four hours, you’re going to die.”

“The time I’m in right now is one week later. I just finished attending your funeral.”

“You fell from the third floor of the villa and died from a head injury. The police ruled it an accidental fall, but I don’t believe it at all. Because before we went up the mountain that morning, I overheard Lu He on the phone.”

“He bought a massive accidental death insurance policy for you. He must have planned to kill you. Xiao Nuo, I wanted to tell you about this all night, but you never gave me the chance.”

“Maybe this call is a chance given to us by God. Xiao Nuo, please leave that room immediately and come find me. I’ll protect you,” Xu Qing said urgently.

At that point, the call abruptly ended.

My phone screen once again showed a call duration of exactly one minute.

Remaining calls: 4.

The hand holding my phone wouldn’t stop shaking.

Was Xu Qing trying to talk to me earlier just to tell me about Lu He buying the insurance?

I turned my head, only to find that Lu He had woken up at some point.

His eyes were open, and he was staring straight at me.