026. Coward
“Is it true? Haunted?”
“And you’re going to exorcise it?”
“Right now?!”
In the dorm at night, Zhang Shaoqing’s incredulous questions echoed through the air.
He stared at Wen Yang, looking completely flabbergasted as he scratched his head. “It’s just for some money, aren’t you scared you’ll end up as the main dish?”
“I don’t drink, I’ll sit at the kids’ table.”
Ning Chu had already decided where to sit at Wen Yang’s funeral feast.
If it wasn’t for Wen Yang breaking down today and spilling the beans, he’d have had no idea this guy was ready to serve himself up as a buffet for ghosts.
Not only does he have to watch out for those vixens chasing after Wen Yang, but he also has to be wary of the ghosts who also find Wen Yang appealing.
“Is it really necessary to curse me like that?” Wen Yang spread his hands helplessly. “I’m just going to check things out tonight; tomorrow I’ll ask my uncle how to deal with it, or have him handle it himself.”
“I think we should just call your uncle in right away, otherwise we might all end up making our grad school applications!” Ning Chu tried to scare Wen Yang, wanting him to back down.
“My uncle isn’t in great health,” Wen Yang frowned awkwardly.
Honestly, he’d drained his essence dealing with ghosts back in his youth—how could he be in good shape?
Ning Chu rolled his eyes silently, pretty sure he had just activated the ghost-hunting plot of a novel. Right before writing this scene, he had binge-watched a ghost exorcism series. Since he couldn’t get enough, he figured he’d write himself a bit.
The plot was roughly this: late at night, Wen Yang goes solo to the teaching building at school, encounters a ghost in red, and swiftly stabs the ghost with a sharp object to exorcise it after several attempts, resulting in the ghost collapsing and completely vanishing.
What on earth am I writing?!
Thinking of this, Ning Chu felt like slapping himself.
So there really are ghosts in this world, and they can be seen and touched by people.
Now that felt even more dangerous.
“I’m heading out.”
“Wait! I’m coming too!” Ning Chu could not rest easy and hurriedly grabbed Wen Yang’s arm. “Hold on, we need to bring some self-defense weapons.”
“Why take this so seriously?” Wen Yang was both amused and exasperated. “There are no ghosts in this world! It’s probably just a prank.”
“But your uncle is the one who deals with exorcisms!”
“Right, and he said it’s just superstitious nonsense.”
That’s probably because your uncle doesn’t want you to know the true nature of exorcism, huh?
Ning Chu couldn’t be bothered to argue further, turning to Zhang Shaoqing, he asked, “Are you coming?”
“I’ve been wanting to say I’d go together!”
“What about Wang Jie?”
Wang Jie was still battling it out in a game and quickly rejected them at lightning speed. “Promotion match! Don’t disturb me!”
This hopeless gamer!
Three people, plus a one-meter-sixty combat-inept kid…
Ning Chu scanned the dorm, trying to find something to use as a weapon, but Zhang Shaoqing opened the closet and pulled out a massive wrench.
“Ta-da, a weapon!” He looked overly excited, weighing the wrench in his hand, then swung it into the empty space, grinning, “No problem! If there really is a ghost, I’ll bash it to d*ath with this!”
You’re hiding such a lethal weapon in the dorm?! Planning to transform into a serial killer tonight or what?!
Ning Chu shivered at that unsettling, twisted grin of his, feeling as if he was looking at a future villain. Unconsciously, he took a step back to keep his distance.
“Also, here’s a fruit kn*fe.” Zhang Shaoqing pulled out a small blade from a drawer and handed it to Wen Yang, saying, “If you really see a ghost, just run!”
“I already said, there are no ghosts in this world,” Wen Yang sighed, “My uncle is into superstitions—why don’t you guys believe?”
He tried to dissuade them two, but Ning Chu was already lacing up his sneakers, looking anxious, while Zhang Shaoqing, wrench in hand, was bursting with enthusiasm as if he were gearing up for a scary encounter.
“Fine…”
Wen Yang shook his head helplessly. “I feel like you two just have nothing to do at night and want to stir up some thrills with me.”
“That’s not it—Ning Chu baby is just worried about you~” Zhang Shaoqing teased them both.
Ning Chu shuddered, feeling a wave of goosebumps rise. “Get lost!”
“Going to the teaching building at this hour? You’ll probably bump into a couple of lovebirds,” Zhang Shaoqing dismissed Ning Chu’s retorts, grinning, “Just don’t mistake them for ghosts.”
“……”
Why is it that for you two, hooking up is always mentioned so lightly?
Is it that couples in this world can’t even afford a hotel?
Ning Chu sighed internally, and when he looked up, he saw Wen Yang and Zhang Shaoqing already heading out, so he hurried after them, panic flashing in his eyes. “What about my weapon?!”
“You? If you really encounter a ghost, just run faster!”
“Not having a weapon makes me feel so unsafe!”
He jogged to catch up with the pair, glancing at the pitch-black little garden beneath the dorm.
Feeling a little uneasy… Even though it’s true that the books say ghosts can’t hurt people, that they can be exorcised and find themselves flat on their backs with eyes white as saucers, who knows what reality holds?
“I told you, there are truly no ghosts in this world,” Wen Yang reiterated firmly. “It’s just a prank.”
In late September, the annoying sounds of cicadas and frogs had faded, yet the mosquitoes under the streetlamp still swarmed unpleasantly in clusters.
It was already past nine at night, and only a few students were scattered on the road outside the dorm, while the basketball court remained lively, sounds of activity echoing from afar.
Ning Chu kept close behind Wen Yang and Zhang Shaoqing, trailing nervously and casting uneasy glances at the dark corners.
Even knowing it was a beautiful female ghost, he still felt a little cowardly.
“This should be the building,” Wen Yang stopped in front of the teaching building.
Ning Chu instinctively looked up; the entire structure was cloaked in the shadows of the night, and he could vaguely see figures flitting by in the corridor.
“That’s a bit creepy.”
“Scaredy-cat, are you?” Zhang Shaoqing teased as usual, with a playful grin, “Why don’t you wait here for us?”
“Ha! I’ve danced on graves at midnight before!”
Ning Chu shot back disdainfully, but his feet had stealthily moved behind Wen Yang, continuing to mock, “Just watch! You might be the one to run away fastest.”
“Stop squawking, let’s go upstairs.” Wen Yang turned on his phone’s flashlight.
As the light illuminated the dark contours of the teaching building, Ning Chu’s heart settled down a bit.
Following closely behind Wen Yang, the three entered inside.
Due to the semester just starting, Ning Chu had been to the teaching building only a handful of times for freshman seminars.
The first floor housed the lobby, a large auditorium, and offices. As they walked along the corridor toward the lobby, their footsteps suddenly halted.
“Ugh~”
Upon entering the lobby, a low sobbing voice drifted from afar, sending chills down Ning Chu’s spine. He instinctively moved aside, only to suddenly feel a pair of hands grasp his arm tightly.
“I’m freaking out! I’m freaking out! I’m freaking out!” Wen Yang clung to Ning Chu’s arm, his face pale with fear. “Is there really a ghost?!”
“Just hold on and—”
Oh man, look at you, you’re all jelly-kneed and can’t even run fast!
Ning Chu paused, turning to see Zhang Shaoqing had somehow retreated ten meters back.
So I’m the bravest one here, huh?
“Ugh~”
The eerie cry brought a chilling sense of dread, tightening the hearts of all three.
“Slow down~ ha~”
“……”
The grip on Ning Chu’s arm loosened, and Wen Yang nodded vigorously, looking as though he had been proven right. “See? I told you there are no ghosts, just superstition.”
He glanced at Ning Chu beside him, noting how soft and fragrant Ning Chu felt.
“Wow, looks like we really ran into some lovebirds. Tsk tsk.” Zhang Shaoqing had somehow returned to his previous spot, summarizing, “That voice is quite nice.”
You guys just don’t fit the roles of protagonist or villain in the slightest!
