Chapter 31: An Unexpected Discovery

Anran only heard a scornful laugh. She knew the person outside was staring at the door, but trapped inside, she couldn't see who it was.

"Hey, you coward outside! Are you mute or something?" Anran deliberately provoked, shouting at the top of her lungs.

However, no matter what she said, the person outside remained silent. Soon, Anran heard the sound of two sets of footsteps fading away into the nearby woods.

Among the trees, a pair of cold, resentful eyes glared at the old school building's entrance. The look was filled with anger and frustration before gradually disappearing into the shadows.

The short, disdainful snort and laugh gave Anran no clues about who was behind this. The person's refusal to speak clearly indicated they didn't want to reveal their identity. Who was it? And what kind of trap had they set for her?

Anran knew whoever had locked her in wasn't going to let her out. She shouted a few more times, hoping someone might hear her cries for help, but it was futile. For now, her priority was to find Zhang Ning.

Relying on the faint sunlight filtering through the dusty windows, Anran took a deep breath, suppressing her anger, and ventured further into the building.

The abandoned school building was covered in dust and cobwebs. The floor tiles were coated with a layer of grime. While the sun was still up, Anran headed for the staircase. The old school building's stairs were made of wood, painted a dark red. Over time, the paint had chipped away in places, revealing the natural color of the wood beneath.

Each step on the wooden stairs produced a soft creak. As she climbed, Anran called out, "Ning—" 

"Ning, are you in here?"

Reaching the second floor, Anran found that even the floorboards were made of wood. She heard no response. Passing by a window, she noticed the building's windows weren't ordinary glass. Instead, they were stained-glass windows placed high on the walls. A faint stream of sunlight ** through, faintly illuminating the air and the particles of dust floating within it.

Spotting some broken pieces of wood in the corner, Anran picked up a sturdy piece to use as a weapon. It was better than facing whatever lay ahead empty-handed.

She glanced up at the stained-glass windows. The sun was about to set. Even during the day, Rosewood was often covered in thick clouds, dimming the sunlight. At night, the town sometimes became shrouded in fog. Anran knew that once the sun set, the old school building would be plunged into complete darkness.

The thought made even the usually fearless Anran feel a bit uneasy.

The stained-glass windows were too high to reach, and the only door was firmly locked. Anran had no choice but to continue climbing.

When she reached the fourth floor, Anran finally heard movement and saw a faint light. She walked steadily toward it. This room didn't seem like an ordinary student dormitory. The large double wooden doors were slightly ajar, allowing a sliver of sunlight to ** through, making the area brighter than the rest of the building.

Anran stopped at the door, not rushing in. She called out, "Ning, are you in there?"

Still, there was no response. Instead, the noises inside grew louder. Anran heard footsteps, and it seemed there was more than one person inside. A strange feeling crept over her, and she couldn't wait any longer. She pushed the door open.

What she saw stunned even the bold and fearless Anran. No matter how vivid her imagination, she could never have anticipated the scene before her.