Chapter 149
Chapter 149
The campus at dusk seemed covered in a magnificent golden veil.
Broken light touched the young man’s long black hair, softening even his unruly features.
No one dared disturb him. His dazzling amber eyes held emotions like an incoming tide-calm on the surface, turbulent below.
Suddenly, two hands cupped his face.
Shang Yan looked at the man who had approached. His lips moved. After a long while, he asked with difficulty, “You… were bullied?”
His voice carried a faint nasal note.
Qiao Yu’s black eyes held the sunset, reflecting brilliant light.
He pressed his lips together and smiled. “Not bullied. Isolated.”
Isolation… did not seem much better.
For an instant, Shang Yan looked ready to cry.
Qiao Yu’s fingers slid from his ear to the back of his neck. Tilting his head, he leaned against Shang Yan’s shoulder, inexplicably obedient.
“Don’t be sad. I was the one isolating them.”
Shang Yan took a deep breath and wrapped his arms around Qiao Yu’s lean waist.
The sun finally sank below the horizon, tearing away the gentle filter. Yet the injustice in Shang Yan’s heart had been effortlessly soothed.
As the atmosphere relaxed, Luo Yunmeng emerged from behind Kong Xianya, scratched her head twice, and frowned. “My scalp is itchy!”
Under Kong Xianya’s puzzled gaze, she continued, “A romance-addled brain must be growing.”
Kong Xianya: “So?”
Luo Yunmeng solemnly opened a short-video app. “I need to watch two dismemberment cases and calm down.”
Kong Xianya: “…!”
Sister Zhang, I don’t want fieldwork anymore. Send me back to support, please~
They’re all perverts here!!!
After the final long class ended, Shi Xingguang pushed up his black-framed glasses and went to Class One. He met Xi Qiu returning and offered him a bottle of orange juice. “Bro, give this to Shen Shi for me.”
Xi Qiu frowned and hid his hands behind his back. “Do it yourself.”
Carefree, Shi Xingguang elbowed him. “I made Shen Shi angry at noon. How could I approach her? Help me out?”
Xi Qiu uncharacteristically scowled. “No. Don’t ask me again.”
Watching his best friend leave, Shi Xingguang made a confused noise. “What’s wrong with him now?”
Shen Shi appeared from nowhere and called softly, “Xingguang.”
Hearing his girlfriend, Shi Xingguang immediately forgot everything else. “Shen Shi, you’re not angry anymore?”
She smiled gently. “No. Don’t blame Xi Qiu. He was questioned again and may be upset.”
Shi Xingguang nodded without suspicion. “Bai Panpan and An Yaoqing were pitiful, but Ding Ying deserved to die. At least she can’t bully you anymore.”
Shen Shi pressed her lips together and spoke softly. “Xingguang, don’t say that.”
“Fine. I know you’re kind. I won’t mention it again. Here.” He offered the juice.
Shen Shi accepted it and tugged his hand. “Thank you.”
Embarrassed, Shi Xingguang scratched his head. “No need to thank me.”
She withdrew her hand, concealed disgust flashing through her eyes while her voice remained gentle as water. “Xingguang, can you help me with something?”
Shi Xingguang looked up. “What?”
“While cleaning at noon, I left my English book in the utility room where they keep mops and brooms. Can you get it? I… started my period, and my stomach hurts.”
Shi Xingguang immediately agreed, then took back the juice he had just given her. “Don’t drink this. It’s cold.”
Shen Shi nodded. It was only orange juice. Why act as if it were precious?
Having just reconciled with his girlfriend, Shi Xingguang went straight to the utility room. Shen Shi watched him leave, rolled her eyes, and snorted. “Stupid fatty.”
Shi Xingguang had no idea Shen Shi was a top-tier white lotus-the insulting kind.
He was pleased he could help her.
Without thinking, he went to the school Basement and pushed open the cold, narrow Iron Door. A draft struck him and made him shiver.
Misprinted exam papers abruptly rose in a gale, tracing ominous arcs like butterflies missing half a wing.
Shi Xingguang thought little of it. He entered, switched on his phone’s rear flashlight, and searched for Shen Shi’s English book.
Scrape, scrape…
Something metallic seemed to drag along the wall. Goose bumps covered his arms.
Summoning courage, he aimed the light toward the sound. Nothing was there.
Just as he relaxed, a breathless voice whispered beside him. “Xingguang…”
“Who?!”
His back stiffened and every hair rose.
“Xingguang… I’ve come for your life…”
A bloodstained noose slowly descended before him.
Looking up, Shi Xingguang saw a female ghost in school uniform crouched on the broken ceiling light. Strange nails pierced all four joints. Her blood ran across the ceiling and down to the corner he had illuminated, leaving a horrible streak.
“Aah!”
Shi Xingguang hurled his phone and bolted from the room.
Xi Qiu saw him nearby and felt a bad premonition. After hesitating, he followed. “Xingguang! Why are you running?”
As though possessed, Shi Xingguang screamed while fleeing, making students leap aside. Finally, he burst from the teaching building…
Cheng Dai floated around idly with her noose, then bravely poked Qiao Yu’s shoulder. “Can I… leave?”
“Wait.” Qiao Yu twisted with difficulty in Shang Yan’s arms. “I still have questions.”
Cheng Dai sighed. “Then please hurry. I want to sneak into the library and study.”
Qiao Yu had not expected her to remain so competitive after death. Truly awe-inspiring.
Before he could speak, two figures ran toward them. Xi Qiu chased a slightly chubby boy, shouting anxiously, “Xingguang! Stop!”
Shi Xingguang was pale and sweating. “A ghost… there’s a ghost!”
“Xingguang, stop! Don’t run. The equipment room is ahead!”
“No! Xiao Dai’s Noose! Cheng Dai came for my life…”
Qiao Yu looked at the speechless Cheng Dai standing in the wind and felt deep sympathy.
She had been saddled with a truly unjust blame!