Chapter 16 The Disappearance of Li Yiqian

"Run!" Chu Feifan grabbed Su Jiner's hand and dashed toward the door.

Behind them, the monstrous figure suddenly sped up, its malevolent gaze fixed on the fleeing group as more blood oozed from its mouth.

"So disgusting!" Lin Yuan also bolted outside.

The fog outside had thickened, making it nearly impossible to see each other's faces even when standing close. Heart still pounding, they stared back at the second-floor archives room of the student council building.

"What was that horrible thing? A ghost?" Lin Yuan whispered, patting his chest.

"It's already eleven. Let's get out of here! Oh, right—we can check those documents another time," Chu Feifan said.

"Uh… actually, I took them with me." Su Jiner waved the files in her hand.

"You're not supposed to take those out," Zuo Yi said helplessly.

"It's fine. Since you already have them, just keep them for now. But only the four of us know about this." He paused. "Return them to me after you're done."

Su Jiner nodded.

By the time they returned to their dorm, it was already 11:15, yet the room remained eerily silent.

"Seems like Xiaonan and Qianqian still aren't back," Su Jiner said as she unlocked the door. The moment it opened, a chilling gust of wind swept over them, making them shiver.

"Was the window left open? Why is it so cold?" Lin Yuan flipped on the light switch.

The room was empty—Du Xiaonan and Li Yiqian were indeed still missing.

"Where did they go? Why aren't they back yet?" Su Jiner murmured in confusion.

"Yeah, it's so strange! Do you think something happened to them?"

Su Jiner shook her head. Everything was just too bizarre. Her thoughts were a tangled mess, with no clear explanation in sight.

"Let's wait until tomorrow. If they still don't return by then, we'll have to report it to the police."

"And what about that thing in the archives? I can still smell the blood!" Lin Yuan scrambled onto her bed.

Blood?

Su Jiner looked down at her feet.

Nothing? How could there be nothing? Was it really just their imagination earlier? But why did they all hallucinate the same thing at the same time?

"Xiao Yuan, why isn't there any blood on our feet?"

Lin Yuan glanced at her own feet. "You're right! The room was covered in blood, so why are we clean?"

"Was it really just an illusion? But that monster felt so real… and that disgusting smell of blood."

"Ever since we came to this school, so many weird things have happened. I don't know if we brought this curse with us or if the school was always like this."

Su Jiner stayed silent. She had no answers either. Everything was just too strange—was someone behind this, or were there really supernatural forces at work?

The next morning, Du Xiaonan returned—but Li Yiqian was still missing.

When Du Xiaonan came back, she looked exhausted and terrified. Her face was deathly pale, her entire body trembling as she curled up under her blanket, shivering uncontrollably.

"Xiaonan, what happened? Where's Qianqian?" Su Jiner stood beside her bed, looking up at her.

"I don't know. When I woke up this morning, she was gone."

"Woke up? Where were you staying last night?" Su Jiner pressed urgently.

"We barely arrived at the place when someone knocked us out. When we came to, we were in a pitch-black room—no windows, no sound, nothing." Her voice quivered.

"Was Qianqian with you then?"

"Yes. Even though we didn't speak, I could hear her breathing beside me."

"And then?"

"Then… I wanted to talk to her, but before I could say anything, I smelled this strange fragrance… and then I passed out again. The next time I woke up, I was in the woods outside campus."

"Qianqian never spoke to you the whole time?"

"No. She just sat there quietly, like she was far away. The air around us was freezing, but… the cold felt like it was coming from inside me. It was terrifying."

Even though it was late autumn, the weather wasn't cold enough to make someone feel frozen. And last night in the archives, that same bone-deep chill had seeped into them.

"Get some rest first. We'll talk more when you've recovered. You look awful." Su Jiner returned to her bed, deep in thought.

"Jiner, what do you think?"

"I don't know. Everything is just too strange. But I feel like whoever's behind this has a bigger plan."

"A plan? So you still think this is man-made?"

"Yes."

"But what about last night? And Li Ran's death? If it's really a person, why would someone scream for help and then kill themselves?"

"Those things are hard to explain. But do ghosts really exist? I just can't believe it." She paused. "Forget it. Let's focus on finding Qianqian first. I hope nothing's happened to her."

"Should we check those documents now?"

"Later. First, let's go to the woods Xiaonan mentioned."

"But what if it's dangerous?"

"We don't have a choice. Can we just stand by and do nothing if Qianqian's in trouble?"

Lin Yuan shook her head. Strangers dying was one thing, but Li Yiqian was her friend—she couldn't ignore this.

"Let's go take a look."

"Should we call those two?"

"Which two?"

"Oh, come on! Everyone can tell how Chu Feifan feels about you. Don't play dumb!" Lin Yuan grinned, nudging Su Jiner's arm.

"I don't know what you're talking about. And right now, I don't have time to think about that. It's just the two of us going." Su Jiner's face flushed slightly.

She wasn't oblivious to Chu Feifan's feelings—every time their eyes met, she could sense the intensity in his gaze. But right now, she had no room in her mind for such thoughts.

By the time they left the dorm, they had already reached the school gates. The woods weren't far, and though the area was remote, the presence of a well-known university meant plenty of businesses had sprung up nearby. Since it was the weekend, many students were out and about.

Su Jiner and Lin Yuan headed toward the woods on the right side of campus, closer to the foot of the mountain. Du Xiaonan hadn't specified exactly where she'd woken up, so finding clues would be like searching for a needle in a haystack. Su Jiner knew it was a long shot, but she still felt compelled to go—maybe they'd stumble upon something. One question gnawed at her: Why had Li Yiqian been taken while Du Xiaonan was left behind, even returned to the woods?

"The ground's covered in leaves. How are we supposed to find anything?" Lin Yuan grumbled.

"I know it's unlikely, but I just have this strong feeling we need to be here. Like something's about to happen. And I think Du Xiaonan's hiding something from us."

"Hiding what? She was terrified! Why would she lie?"

"I don't know. Maybe she has her reasons. Wait—someone's up ahead." Su Jiner pulled Lin Yuan behind a tree.

Voices carried toward them.

"It's Chu Feifan and Xu Lingling," Lin Yuan whispered from behind Su Jiner.

"Let's go. Eavesdropping isn't right."

"But they're talking about you!"

Su Jiner froze as the conversation reached her ears.

"You like Su Jiner, don't you?" Xu Lingling's voice was sharp.

"What if I do? What if I don't? It's none of your business," Chu Feifan retorted, his back to her.

Xu Lingling suddenly grabbed him. "I don't care if you love her. I just know I love you!"

Chu Feifan pushed her away. "Feelings can't be forced. You're right—I do like Su Jiner. But that has nothing to do with you."

"So it's true! What's so special about her? Are you bewitched by her looks? How could you?" she shrieked.

"Shut up. Don't you dare talk about her like that. And stay out of my life—unless you want me to hate you." His voice was low but firm.

"Wow, he's really into you," Lin Yuan muttered.

"Let's go. We have things to do."

Su Jiner hadn't expected to hear his confession like this. She wasn't sure if she should be happy—her chest just felt… strange.

As they turned to leave, something on the ground caught her eye.

"What's that?" She bent down and picked it up.

"Hey, isn't that the hairpin Li Yiqian always wears?"

"You recognize it?"

"Yeah! Yesterday morning before they left, I saw her take it out of the drawer and put it on. I even told her it looked pretty!"

"Then why is it here? And Xiaonan never told us where they went to investigate."

"Oh! You're right—I didn't even think of that."

"Are you sure this is Li Yiqian's?"

"Positive!" Lin Yuan nodded emphatically.

"Then why is it here? Xiaonan said they were locked in a dark room. How did her hairpin end up in the woods?"

The more she thought about it, the stranger it seemed. Was Du Xiaonan lying?

"Come on. Let's go back and ask her what's really going on."

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