Chapter 6: Hello? Mom!

To converse with Zhao Qingqing, one must address the root of the issue. Yan Yu faintly sensed that Zhao Qingqing's death was far from simple. If he could extract some information from Zhou Xiaowan, things would become much clearer.

Zhou Xiaowan sat on her bed, wrapped tightly in her quilt, her body curled up as she lowered her gaze. "Do you really believe there are ghosts in this world?" she asked.

"Do you still need me to prove it?"

"Qingqing's death has nothing to do with me, truly... She just suddenly hanged herself, without a word to anyone..." As Zhou Xiaowan spoke, her eyes grew red with tears.

Yan Yu could tell Zhou Xiaowan was genuinely upset. "Were you good friends with Zhao Qingqing? If you don't know why she died, at least tell me what sort of person she was. Tomorrow, I'll consult Master Cao—perhaps he can help her."

Fresh to city life, Yan Yu kept his foster mother's advice close to heart: be discreet and keep something in reserve, never showing all his cards. This was not cunning, but wisdom.

So Yan Yu decided to use Master Cao as a shield, which would save him much trouble.

Zhou Xiaowan gathered her thoughts and began slowly, "Qingqing was an orphan. She grew up with her grandmother, but her grandmother left her for another city. So Qingqing was almost entirely alone, scraping by on her allowance until she got into Rongcheng No. 1 High School.

"Because of her circumstances, Qingqing was rather shy... or maybe just insecure. The other girls in the dorm avoided her, and at first, I didn't want to get close to her either. But Qingqing was caring; the first night I stayed at school, I didn't even know how to wash my socks, and it was Qingqing who helped me. From then on, we became inseparable friends. I gave her that wooden comb as a birthday present, and she always cherished it.

"A couple of days before the tragedy, she started acting strange, like she was purposefully distancing herself from me. I asked her what was wrong, but she wouldn't say a word. Then... the tragedy struck so suddenly."

From Zhou Xiaowan's words, Yan Yu could sense that Zhao Qingqing had been a kind-hearted girl.

But why would such a girl suddenly hang herself?

"Besides you, who else has seen Zhao Qingqing?" Yan Yu asked. "I mean, after she died."

"Li Kang, Xu Jin, and He Qing—they've all seen her."

"What about Yang Xuefei?"

"Xuefei... she's just a friend of Li Kang's. I heard Li Kang hired a famous exorcist, and she only went along out of curiosity."

"I see," Yan Yu nodded. Zhao Qingqing wouldn't have sought out these people for no reason. Clearly, her death was tied to them in a significant way.

If Zhou Xiaowan didn't know the truth, Yan Yu could try with the others.

"I'll be going now. If Aunt Liu or your father finds me in your room, I'm sure they'll break my legs."

Yan Yu turned to leave, but Zhou Xiaowan quickly grabbed his hand, her voice pleading, "Could you... stay with me? I'm afraid Qingqing will come back..."

"Call me 'Brother Yu,'" Yan Yu raised an eyebrow—Zhou Xiaowan had barely acknowledged him all day.

Blushing furiously, Zhou Xiaowan squeezed the words out, "Brother Yu."

"Good girl, but I still can't stay," Yan Yu chuckled. "But don't worry, you have that talisman on you; Zhao Qingqing won't dare come near. Besides, from her behavior, it doesn't seem like she wants to harm you. I'm just next door—shout if you need me."

Yan Yu knew his boundaries. Aunt Liu had already given him shelter, and he felt deeply grateful. To pursue her daughter would be ungracious.

Zhou Xiaowan watched Yan Yu leave her room, heaving a heavy sigh as she lay back down, but she barely slept all night.

...

The next morning.

Zhou Lide's Cayenne was parked at the entrance to Rongcheng No. 1 High School. Yan Yu and Zhou Xiaowan got out together.

"I have a dinner engagement tonight, so you'll have to walk home," he told them.

Looking at the vast campus and the stream of students with their backpacks crossing through the gate, Yan Yu couldn't help but smile. This was true city life. Ladies, your Brother Yu has arrived!

After getting out of the car, Zhou Xiaowan glanced around and suddenly beamed, "Li Kang!"

At the gate, Li Kang and Xu Jin stood waiting. Seeing them, Zhou Xiaowan hurried over with a smile, and Yan Yu, unfamiliar with the campus, followed behind.

As they approached, Xu Jin remarked, "Xiaowan, why did you bring your distant cousin here? Look at his shabby clothes; don't let the security guards throw him out!"

Zhou Xiaowan blushed with embarrassment. "My cousin's transferring to No. 1 High."

"Really? Who would've thought!" Li Kang grinned. "Your cousin must have some connections."

"But he's not really one of us," Xu Jin said disparagingly, certain that Yan Yu had only gotten in through the help of Zhou Xiaowan's parents.

Yan Yu had no patience for these spoiled rich kids and asked directly, "Xiaowan, where’s the principal’s office? I need to report in."

"First room on the second floor of the Yude Building," Zhou Xiaowan replied eagerly, clearly wanting to shake off this clingy cousin, her pitiful demeanor from last night forgotten.

Yan Yu headed into the school, and immediately—

"Hey, you little beggar! This is Rongcheng No. 1 High School, not a place for panhandling!"

A security guard, easily weighing over two hundred pounds, blocked Yan Yu’s path.

Zhou Xiaowan and the others stood nearby, watching everything unfold. Xu Jin sneered, "What did I just say?"

Zhou Xiaowan hung her head in shame.

"I'm a transfer student here to register," Yan Yu explained.

The burly guard sneered, "Since when does No. 1 High take transfer students? Even if we did, they'd be rich kids or officials' sons. You, looking all ragged, think you can bluff your way in?"

"I’ll say it again: I am not a beggar," Yan Yu frowned. Why were city people so mean?

"Look at you. My second aunt's dog dresses better than you do. Get lost, stop making trouble for me!" The guard waved his hand dismissively, as if shooing away a fly.

"...Just wait."

Yan Yu sighed, turned around, and took out his old mobile phone, dialing his third foster mother.

"Xiaoyu?" came her delighted voice over the line.

"Hello, Third Mom? I’m at the gate of Rongcheng No. 1 High, but a security guard won’t let me in. He even called me a beggar."

"What?! He said that?!" Third Mom burst out, furious. "Wait right there. I’ll have the principal come fetch you personally!"

"Okay!"

After hanging up, the fat guard mocked him, "So you’re calling for reinforcements? What, the Beggars’ Union? Listen, kid, everyone in the three blocks around Rongcheng No. 1 High knows me—Zhang Dagen, head of security. Even if you call the principal, he’ll have to show me some respect."

"How did you know I called the principal?" Yan Yu raised an eyebrow.

Xu Jin doubled over with laughter, turning to Zhou Xiaowan. "Xiaowan, is your cousin a bit unhinged? He expects the principal to come out and greet him?"