Chapter 98: The Haunted House Adventure

I caught up with Xia Mengmeng downstairs. Hearing my footsteps, she turned around. My usual awkwardness around girls kicked in—I stammered, "It's pretty late... I'll see you to your car."

She smiled softly. "Thanks."

Walking beside a pretty girl always made me feel awkward. I tried to explain why Wang Dali didn't come to see her off. When she heard the two of them had fought, Xia Mengmeng frowned, worried. "Tell Wang Dali not to stoop to that kind of person's level. When we were singing, he even tried to hold my hand. I can't stand people who look good on the outside but are rotten inside."

"Can't blame him entirely. His parents divorced early, so he didn't have much family guidance," I replied.

She chuckled. "You sure know how to insult people!"

My face flushed red. Trying to defend my buddy, I quickly changed the subject, praising Wang Dali for being loyal and attentive to girls.

Xia Mengmeng seemed like a well-mannered girl. She responded to every sentence with a thoughtful "Hmm" and listened carefully. Then she asked, "Your name's Song Yang, right?"

I was surprised—after talking so much about Wang Dali, why was she asking about me? "Yeah," I said.

She smiled. "You don't seem like a student."

…

…

"So what am I? A street thug?" I joked.

"No, I feel like although you look young, you're pretty mature inside," Xia Mengmeng said after thinking for a moment.

"Not that great. I'm just born in '95," I said.

"What month?" she asked.

"October."

"Oh, I'm older—I was born in March," she smiled.

"Oh!" I thought for a moment, then remembered the topic. Right, praising Wang Dali. "Xia Jie, my friend Wang Dali…"

She burst out laughing. "By the way, Song Yang, are you really studying electronics?"

We chatted all the way until I saw her onto the taxi. She even asked for my number. After she left, I got a message from her: "Thanks for tonight. Hope we can be friends."

I pondered that—friends? Could this mean Wang Dali still had a chance?

Back at the room, Wang Dali and Ye Shiwen were exhausted from fighting, each occupying a corner of the sofa, eyeing each other warily, faces bruised. Zhang Yan was the only one singing "Break Up Happy" alone.

"Mengmeng?" Wang Dali asked me.

"I sent her off in a taxi. Oh, and I got her number for you," I said.

Wang Dali was ecstatic and promised to treat me to dinner soon, shooting Ye Shiwen a smug, contemptuous glance.

After all that, the three still planned to keep singing until curfew before going back to school—I was speechless.

At 10:30 pm, Ye Shiwen drove us back. He hadn't planned to give us a ride, but I quietly said, "I have a friend who edits for the campus literary club. Want me to spread the word about your legendary deeds tonight?" He shot me a glare and had no choice but to drive us.

But luck wasn't on our side. Halfway there, Ye Shiwen's car broke down. Wang Dali scoffed, "What piece of junk is this? Secondhand?"

"Shut up, or I'll leave you here!" Ye Shiwen snapped.

He got out to check the engine. Zhang Yan dashed into the bushes. This was a pretty desolate road. When she came back, she nervously said, "There's a house over there—actually a villa—but no lights on. Could it be haunted?"

"What's so scary about a haunted house?" Wang Dali proudly patted his chest. "Not to brag, but I've seen plenty of ghosts."

Ye Shiwen asked, "Anyone brought water?"

"What's up?"

"I forgot to fill the radiator. It's dry—need some water," Ye Shiwen explained.

No one had water except an empty bottle from the car. Although some joked about using pee, no one dared say it—guys tend to be more restrained in front of girls, even if the girl isn't that pretty.

There was no convenience store nearby. Ye Shiwen smoked a cigarette in the driver's seat and suddenly remembered, "Hey, isn't there a house by the roadside?"

Zhang Yan said, "What? You want to borrow water there? That place looks creepy."

"What's there to be afraid of? There are four of us," Ye Shiwen said confidently.

"But what if nobody lives there?" Zhang Yan asked.

"There's gotta be a tap even if no one lives there. I'll fill the radiator and leave. They won't call it trespassing," Ye Shiwen said carelessly.

Though I didn't like Ye Shiwen much, it'd be troublesome not getting back to the dorm before 11 pm. We were all in the same boat. He locked the car and the four of us took the bottle and headed toward that house.

Pushing through thick grass, a two-story European-style villa stood silently in the dark. The house was impressive but gave off an oppressive vibe—bad feng shui, maybe.

A gravel path led to the door, but grass had grown over it. Nearby were piles of dried manure—human or animal, who knew? The street-facing windows were mostly broken; this place was clearly abandoned.

Zhang Yan stammered, "That house looks scary. Ye Shiwen, why don't you go in alone?"

"Coward," Ye Shiwen snapped. "Ghosts don't exist. Stop hesitating."

Wang Dali called out, "If you go in, I'll go too! Who's scared?"

I waved my hand calmly, "Let's go."

Zhang Yan didn't want to be left alone. As the three of us pushed open the door, she shouted, "Wait for me!" and followed in.

The first room was the living room. The walls were peeling from wind and sun. The tattered curtains fluttered faintly. The old floorboards creaked underfoot.

Facing the door was a U-shaped staircase. A faint starlight filtered in, like a scene from a horror movie.

At the foot of the stairs, Ye Shiwen frowned and refused to go up. Wang Dali mocked, "Calling others cowards, but you're the first to chicken out." His words were bold, but he gripped my shirt tightly.

"It's too dark!" Ye Shiwen made an excuse. "I'm afraid of falling on the stairs—that'd be worse."

"Use your phone as a flashlight," Wang Dali suggested.

"Phone's dead. You go ahead and light the way," Ye Shiwen said.

"Sorry, mine's dead too!" Wang Dali shook his head repeatedly.

I gave up. "Fine, I'll go first. Follow me."

With my "洞幽之瞳" night vision, I didn't need a light. I climbed the stairs confidently. After a hesitation, the three followed. I glanced back and saw all three holding their phones—so much for "dead batteries," these scaredy-cats.

Halfway up, Zhang Yan suddenly screamed, "A hand grabbed me! A hand grabbed me!"

I turned and saw her skirt caught on an electrical wire. She laughed embarrassedly.

The second floor had many rooms. I told them to stop and listened carefully. Wang Dali asked what I was listening for—ghosts?

"What's there to fear? People are scarier," I said.

"Don't joke. No one lives here," Ye Shiwen scoffed.

"Are you sure? These abandoned houses are often shelters for homeless or even roaming killers," I said seriously.

Their faces paled. I wasn't trying to scare them—just giving them a heads-up.

After careful listening, the place seemed empty. I wasn't afraid of non-threats. Even if a ghost appeared, I'd just be startled for a second.

We checked the rooms one by one. Zhang Yan nervously asked, "A bathroom with a tap is usually at the end of the hallway, right?"

"Right, this way," I nodded.

The corridor was pitch black, like a dark, endless tunnel. There was no moon that night.

I paused, letting Ye Shiwen go first, but he hesitated, signaling me with his eyes, "Go on."

"You first," I smiled wider.

His face darkened. He stepped back, "No, you go first. My eyes aren't as good, I'm afraid I'll fall."

I chuckled inside. If you're scared, just admit it—no one will look down on you.

I led the way. At the corridor's end was a bathroom, but no water—the pipes were rusted. Ye Shiwen cursed. Zhang Yan asked, "So, are we spending the night in the car?"

"Here's fine too. Much better than the car," I said, pulling open the shower curtain with a bang that startled everyone.

"Song Yang, please don't scare me. I don't want to stay a second longer in this creepy place," Zhang Yan said.

"Fine, let's get out of here and find a ride," I agreed.

Just as we turned to leave, a door along the corridor suddenly swung open.

Zhang Yan stammered, "Why did that door open? Was there wind?"

She peeked inside and suddenly screamed shrilly, ears nearly ringing. Tears streamed down her face. Ye Shiwen asked in shock, "What's wrong?"

Zhang Yan shook her lips but couldn't speak.

Ye Shiwen went to check and came back pale and stiff. I lightly patted him, startling him.

"What is it?" I frowned.

"There's... a dead body inside!" Ye Shiwen gasped.