Chapter 18: Terror in the Bathroom

“I told you to keep watch for me, not to chat with my homeroom teacher!”

Inside the security office, Yan Yu and Master Cao were being detained, while Zhang Dagen poured water for them with a helpless sigh.

Master Cao protested, “You can’t blame me for this! I’m over fifty and my eyesight isn’t what it used to be. I only saw that girl when she was right in front of me. Before I could even speak, you’d already come out.”

“Didn’t you say your eyesight was sharp?”

“…Did you really believe that?”

Yan Yu almost wanted to kick this old fraud to death.

Su Han entered the security room, arms folded across her chest, leaning coldly against the desk. “I’ve already informed the school administration. Your actions are serious. You can only leave once your guardians come in person.”

“Really? That serious?” Master Cao exclaimed, “It’s not like we were stealing!”

“I’m not talking about the stealing!”

“But it was this kid who touched your butt, nothing to do with me!” Master Cao declared righteously.

Su Han shot him a fierce glare, and Master Cao quickly fell silent.

Yan Yu put on an innocent face. “Miss Su, it was all a misunderstanding. I have something urgent to take care of. Could you let me off for now and we’ll settle this tomorrow?”

“Trying to slip away? No chance!” Su Han shook her head. “Give me your guardians’ phone numbers. Either your guardians come to collect you today, or the police will!”

“My father died before cell phones were popular…” Master Cao said weakly.

“I’m an orphan. My adoptive mother is at Emei Mountain…” Yan Yu added.

Su Han was speechless. What kind of pair was this, an old man and a boy?

“Don’t you have any guardians here in Rong City?” Su Han pressed.

Yan Yu thought for a moment. There was no way he would let Xia Liu come get him. If she found out he’d snuck into the girls’ dormitory and even touched his homeroom teacher’s butt, she’d be heartbroken.

So Yan Yu silently pointed at Master Cao. “Him, he’s my grandfather on my mother’s side.”

“What? I… I am! I’m his maternal grandfather!” Master Cao was stunned, but quickly caught on.

Su Han and Zhang Dagen both felt a headache coming on. These two were terrible actors—it was obvious they were lying.

“Hmph, don’t think you can get away with this just by refusing to talk!” Su Han sneered. “Captain Zhang, check our records in the academic system and see who Yan Yu’s guardian is.”

“Got it…” Zhang Dagen sat at the computer, input Yan Yu’s name, and then said, “Miss Su, Yan Yu’s guardian… it’s Principal Deng…”

Su Han was taken aback and leaned in to check, unwilling to believe it. The web page clearly displayed “Deng Gaofeng,” and the phone number was indeed her principal’s.

“This kid…”

Su Han felt her anger rising. How was it that no matter what, she couldn’t do anything to this boy?

“Miss Su, it must be a misunderstanding today. It’s getting late and it’s not safe for students to be out. Why not let Yan Yu and the others go, and deal with this tomorrow?” Zhang Dagen suggested quietly.

Su Han slammed the table, startling everyone, then glared at Yan Yu. “This isn’t over, Yan Yu!”

Yan Yu grinned. “So we can leave now?”

“Get out!”

Yan Yu, as if receiving a royal pardon, quickly dragged Master Cao out. As soon as they left the school gate, they hopped onto their little scooter and rattled away.

After crossing several streets, Master Cao finally exhaled in relief. He turned to ask, “Master, did you see any ghosts in that dormitory?”

“Didn’t you just call me ‘kid’ back there?” Yan Yu still remembered Master Cao’s traitorous behavior.

Master Cao chuckled, “I was just trying to get myself out quickly so I could go get help for you! But seriously, did you see a ghost or not?”

“I did. But it wasn’t the one I was looking for.”

“My goodness, there’s more than one ghost in that place?” Master Cao silently marked the girls’ dormitory, Block 2 of Taohua, at Rong City No.1 High, as strictly off-limits—never again would he risk his life there.

“So, where do we go now?” Master Cao asked.

Yan Yu thought for a moment, took out his old mobile phone, and dialed Fatty’s number.

“Boss, what’s up so late? I’m busy studying!” On the other end, Fatty’s breath was heavy, clearly busy “creating new life.”

“Stop watching those films with just two actors—it’s bad for your health,” Yan Yu said. “Do you know where Li Kang and Xu Jin live?”

Fatty was shocked. “Boss, are you serious? They haven’t even come looking for trouble and you’re going after them? That’s hardcore!”

“Quit the nonsense. Do you know or not?”

Yan Yu had no time for jokes. Zhao Qingqing was missing from her dormitory—she must have gone seeking revenge. If he was any later, something terrible could happen.

“I do, it’s in the student directory. Give me a moment, I’ll text you!”

Yan Yu hung up and waited anxiously.

Once Zhao Qingqing started killing, her obsession and resentment would only grow fiercer, turning utterly irrational—leaving nothing but a thirst for blood.

…

In the heart of Rong City, where every inch of land was precious, stood rows of opulent city villas.

Xu Jin lived here.

“Alright… understood, Kang. I’ll go find He Qing tomorrow… Don’t worry, he won’t dare say a thing… Yan Yu? He’s a country bumpkin. Didn’t you contact Brother Da Fei to teach him a lesson tomorrow?”

Xu Jin lay on his bed, a cigarette dangling from his lips. The ashtray on his nightstand was overflowing.

He hung up, tossed his iPhone X aside, stubbed out his cigarette, and headed to the bathroom.

“That Zhao Qingqing… So what if Kang forced himself on her? She killed herself over it? Such a weakling… Kang’s been jumpy lately, keeps saying Zhao Qingqing’s ghost is haunting him. I bet it’s just Master Cao’s tricks. There’s no such thing as ghosts.”

Little did Xu Jin know, as he entered the bathroom, a hazy shadow drifted outside the window…

He didn’t care at all about Zhao Qingqing’s death. He turned on the Bluetooth speaker in the bathroom, sank into the bathtub filled with water, and let himself relax.

From the speaker, A-Mei’s “A Bloody Love Story” began to play.

Steam soon filled the bathroom. Xu Jin lay back in the tub, humming along.

Suddenly, the Bluetooth speaker began to stutter.

“Who is suspicious, who is pitiful, who is innocent—who—who—who—”

The music glitched, making Xu Jin frown. He slapped the speaker with his wet hand, and the sound cut off.

“Broken?” he muttered.

Suddenly, a piercing scream burst from the speaker, making Xu Jin jump out of his skin.

Then came an eerie, lingering peal of laughter.

“Hee hee hee… hee hee… hee hee hee hee—”