Chapter 89#
Farewell#
With Luo Xingyan present in the venue, as an executor, he was experienced in handling such matters.
The moment he sensed the aura of the ghost children, Ye Sheng stood up from his seat, his expression cold as he walked out.
Hera was nearby, right inside the school.
The chandelier swayed, making a terrifying “creaking” sound. But at the welcome gala, the music was too loud, the atmosphere too boisterous, and no one noticed anything wrong. They whispered to each other, joking about whether Principal Yuan Shou had forgotten his lines.
Luo Xingyan leaned back in his chair, head lowered, revealing only his chin, his snow-white teeth crushing the lollipop with a crisp “crack”.
The moment the chandelier detached, he lifted the brim of his baseball cap with his finger, his feline-like vertical pupils emitting an eerie golden light in the darkness.
Suddenly, the power went out in the entire venue.
The music stopped, the lights went out. The world was plunged into darkness.
Everyone was confused, and various sounds of doubt and astonishment arose.
Then, in the tumultuous darkness. Boom! A violent noise came from the stage in the center of the venue.
“Holy crap, what was that sound?”
“Is it an earthquake?”
The chandelier detached from its base and fell straight down, rhinestones splashing and wood chips flying. Just as it was about to hit the ground, a black chain broke through the air, spanning over ten meters, binding and wrapping around it. The shackles strangled all the ghost children, firmly fixing the chandelier high in the air.
The crowd couldn’t see the sudden change clearly and tried to use their phones as flashlights, but no matter how they pressed their phones, there was no response.
“My phone turned off for no reason.”
“Mine too.”
Luo Xingyan got up from his seat and came to Su Wanluo’s side, whispering, “Get everyone out first.”
Su Wanluo’s face was pale, but her psychological endurance and overall quality were far superior to ordinary people. Hearing Luo Xingyan’s words, she knew something had happened, nodded, walked forward quickly, and picked up a microphone at the front.
“Sorry, students, there’s a temporary fault with the gym’s electrical circuit. The welcome gala will end here for now. Please leave the venue in an orderly manner according to your college classes.”
The crowd immediately burst into curses. However, the old gym of Huai’an University had just been on the trending search recently due to vibrations, and the comments section had exposed quite a few supernatural accidents. Feeling creeped out, none of them dared to stay and left quickly.
Luo Xingyan opened his palm. In his hand were two bugs, special tools developed by the Bureau of Paranormal Investigation for emergencies. After confirming that there was no aura of any living person in the entire venue, Luo Xingyan activated the shackles to seal the doors and windows, and crushed the two bugs.
Luo Xingyan said, “Your phone can be used now.”
To prevent ENIAC’s intrusion, all mobile phones available on the market had a “protective barrier” developed by the Ning family. This barrier was the supreme protection mechanism for mobile phones, capable of automatically shutting down when detecting digital heresy intrusion. The Bureau of Paranormal Investigation would also utilize this in emergencies.
Su Wanluo was stunned and nodded. She smelled blood, turned on her phone, and shone it towards the stage. What entered her eyes was the huge chandelier bound by black chains, and beneath the chandelier, a mess of blood.
Her pupils dilated as she saw Yuan Shou lying on the ground.
The chandelier didn’t fall, but the sharp fragments on it still fell, smashing through the stage, flesh and blood flying.
Two crystal bars fell horizontally from high above, vertically severing Yuan Shou’s arms, revealing ghastly white bones, blood almost flowing over the entire stage.
Yuan Shou, with his hands severed, died with his eyes open, his eyeballs almost popping out of their sockets, his face full of fear, pain, and breakdown.
Luo Xingyan had seen too many dead people. After dealing with the matter in the gym, he was about to turn around and find Hera.
“Hurry up and leave, don’t stay here too long.” After warning Su Wanluo, Luo Xingyan pulled down the brim of his hat, retrieved the shackles, clenched them in his palm, and walked out.
Su Wanluo didn’t make a sound.
The moment the shackles were retracted, the chandelier plummeted, smashing a huge hole in the stage.
Su Wanluo stood below the stage, her slender white fingers clutching her phone tightly. She watched Yuan Shou’s body being smashed into pieces. With long hair over her shoulders, on her sickly pale face, her eyes were surprisingly black. The sound in her ears was deafening, but her heart was surprisingly quiet. The bone-chilling cold she had felt from time to time in the old gym was not so clear at this moment.
Su Wanluo walked to the edge of the stage, reached out her hand, and stained her fingertip with a bit of blood. She stared at that touch of bright red and smiled softly. Laughing until the end, she gritted her teeth, her eyes reddening.
She had heard many bedtime stories when she was little.
The theme of the stories was always that good and evil will have their retribution. It turns out it’s true, heaven is watching what people do.
*
Ye Sheng left the old gym and walked west all the way.
The old gym was in the East Campus. He left early, and there were basically no pedestrians on the tree-lined path. Ning Weichen walked halfway, suddenly reached out and grabbed his wrist, smiling: “Brother, I think we should go this way.”
Ye Sheng was slightly stunned, then nodded. Following the aura of the ghost children, they actually ended up next to Lover’s Lake.
After Duan Shi died, the water of Lover’s Lake visibly began to become clear. The street lamp in front of the Truth-Testing Bridge was dim, with a few moths hovering around.
Ye Sheng pursed his lips tightly, then looked towards the red building not far away with his almond eyes.
After a long silence, Ye Sheng said calmly, “Ning Weichen, do you remember? When we first came to Lover’s Lake, we also sensed the aura of the Story King. The Story King continued writing on Duan Shi, but didn’t alert the Bureau of Paranormal Investigation. Because it wasn’t him personally, but the protagonist of his story.”
Ye Sheng whispered, “We have seen Hera here long ago.”
“Andrew said Hera is the dead Liang Binhai. But I agree more with your view, the premise of Hera is a human.”
“He is a living person with high social status.”
“He knows the evil done by every murderer because he can contact every victim. He works at the City Third Hospital.”
“He can enter and exit Huai’an University normally because he always has a suitable reason.”
Ye Sheng walked forward, through the woods, through the walkway, and saw the scene behind the red building.
An iron gate was embedded in the wall, flanked by tall trees, the ground covered with withered leaves in autumn.
Next to the iron gate, a line of words was clearly written.
[Medical School Female Dormitory Area]
A black car was parked in front of the medical school female dormitory.
Liang Qingqing stood on the steps, taking a large suitcase that Dr. Liang took out from the trunk, looking helpless: “Dad, although the season is changing, there’s no need to bring so many clothes over.”
Dr. Liang said, “Since I’m coming anyway, might as well bring more.”
Liang Qingqing waved her hand: “Then just drop them here, I’ll take them up myself. I live on the second floor, don’t need to climb many stairs.”
Dr. Liang frowned and said, “Where are you going later?”
Liang Qingqing said briskly, “To the old gym. Luoluo gave me a ticket for the welcome ceremony, I came out during the intermission.”
Dr. Liang scolded in a low voice, “Didn’t the old gym just have vibrations some time ago? Why is the event held there? Your school leaders are really outrageous.”
Liang Qingqing said, “Oh, vibrations aren’t a big deal.” She opened the car door and pushed Dr. Liang into the car: “Alright, alright, you go back.”
Dr. Liang frowned tightly. The face that was refined and easy-going to outsiders was always serious and earnest to his daughter: “How many times have I told you not to go to such dangerous places? Why do you never listen to me? And that club of yours, quit it early too.”
Liang Qingqing: “I’m timid, joining the ghost research club is to exercise my courage!”
Dr. Liang was still worried: “Did you forget what happened three years ago? It’s fine if these things are fake, but if they are real, getting entangled could cost you your life.”
Liang Qingqing: “I haven’t forgotten, but aren’t I alive and kicking with nothing happening now? You are so naggy, go quickly, go quickly.”
Dr. Liang couldn’t do anything about his daughter. After a long silence, he suddenly whispered, “Qingqing, when will you ever grow up?”
The evening breeze blew up the withered leaves on the ground. The temperature in Huaicheng dropped by more than ten degrees after autumn began.
Liang Qingqing, wearing a water-blue dress, sneezed from the cold. She rubbed her nose, smiled and acted coquettishly: “What’s there to struggle about? You agreed that I don’t have to get married or have children for the rest of my life. Can’t I be your daughter and not grow up for the rest of my life? Alright Dad, standing here is freezing me to death. I’m going back to the dorm first, you go back early too.”
She carried the suitcase, swiped her campus card to open the dormitory gate, and waved to her dad while walking inside.
High heels stepped over the withered yellow leaves on the ground. She looked back under the moonlight and lamplight, only to find her dad standing stiffly in front of the car door, not getting in.
The knowledgeable and omnipotent dad in her memory seemed somewhat different. In the dim light of the street lamp, she saw the silver-white in his hair.
Liang Qingqing was stunned.
The withered leaves on the ground were rolled up with a rustle, the tree shadows swaying on both sides. She suddenly remembered when she was a freshman just starting military training, she often heard her roommate crying secretly under the quilt in the middle of the night because she missed home and her mom. Liang Qingqing was a local of Huaicheng and could never understand the helplessness and bitterness of going to university alone in a strange place. But at this moment, she seemed to understand why her roommates would be sad every time they said goodbye to their parents.
She held the suitcase tightly, suddenly wanting to say something, but her dad had already spoken.
Dr. Liang said softly. “Qingqing, it is precisely because you don’t get married or have children that I hope you can take good care of yourself alone.”
“Promise Dad, don’t go to dangerous and unsafe places in the future, okay?”
Dr. Liang stood under the light, his expression showing no emotion, his voice low and slow.
“Don’t trust others easily in the future, and don’t try to be a hero. In any situation, the premise of saving others is to ensure your own safety first. You are just an ordinary person. Allow Dad to be a bit selfish, I only hope for your health and safety.”
“Eat less cold food in summer, wear more clothes in winter. Go to bed early, eat on time, treat your body better. Also, the habit of being forgetful must be corrected. Qingqing, Dad will always leave before you. You must grow up. The most important step in growing up is learning to love yourself properly.”
Liang Qingqing let go of the hand holding the suitcase, rubbed her eyes, and scolded with a smile while rubbing: “Dad, why are you saying these things out of the blue? I’m just returning to school, making it sound like a life-and-death parting.”
Dr. Liang shook his head in silence. He said.
“You go in.”
“Okay.” Liang Qingqing pulled the suitcase into the iron gate, turned around, raised a bright smile and said, “Then I’m leaving, Dad.”
The moment the iron gate closed, she raised her arm high and waved greatly at her dad.
Just like countless ordinary returns to school.
Dr. Liang stood in front of the car door, also imitating her, raising his hand and waving gently.
He watched her dragging the suitcase walking deep into the forest path, against the light, drifting further and further away.
The girl who carried a schoolbag and refused to enter kindergarten, running towards him with tears in her eyes and a pouting mouth.
Now she has grown into such a youthful and beautiful appearance. Carrying a half-person-high suitcase alone, saying goodbye to him calmly and beautifully with a smile. Her back was slender but full of vitality, never looking back.
Dr. Liang slowly put down his hand. After a long time, a light and faint smile appeared on his face.
He turned and got into the car, stepped on the gas, and turned the steering wheel.
The autumn wind rolled up the withered leaves on the ground. In the driver’s seat, Dr. Liang’s gaze turned from gratified relief to numb calmness.
All feelings in the world are for getting closer to each other, only the love of parents for children is for the purpose of separation. Teaching her to read, teaching her to judge people, teaching her to love herself properly, are all to make her strong and independent, to leave home better.
Being a parent is perhaps using a lifetime to say goodbye to one’s children.
Dr. Liang coughed heavily.
On his old and tired face, a layer of faint black mist appeared.
His car didn’t drive towards Jinhu Community nor the City Third Hospital, but drove straight towards Jiahe Mall.
Ye Sheng was not surprised at all when he saw the medical school female dormitory right next to it.
Beep.
He received a photo from Luo Xingyan on his phone.
On the stage, Yuan Shou lay in a pool of blood, his two arms cruelly smashed by the crystal lamp, rolling next to the corpse.
Blindness, loss of voice, deafness, loss of footing, loss of hands.
—So what is the last one?
When they came over, Dr. Liang had just driven the car away. Ye Sheng just took a glance and memorized the license plate number.
He said to Ning Weichen, “Follow him. It was just a suspicion before, but now it’s almost certain.”
Ye Sheng sat in the passenger seat and turned on the radio button.
After the familiar soft music, came the sweet and gentle voice of the female host.
[Okay, commercial break is over, welcome back to Little Mouth Tells Stories. I am your good friend Little Mouth.]
[After talking about school violence yesterday, Little Mouth realized that everyone has experiences of being bullied by classmates in childhood.]
[So Little Mouth will share another story with everyone today.]
[The protagonist of the story is called Little Seven. Little Seven is a simple child. Although he is always excluded and bullied in school, he is optimistic and kind, and has always lived happily. Little Seven has an alcoholic father who likes to beat him at home, so Little Seven has to stay near the school until very late every day.]
[That day was Friday, the weekend holiday, and everyone on campus had left. Only Little Seven was squatting under the corridor reading a book alone. Suddenly, Little Seven heard a scream.]