After class, the two girls followed Su Jiner and Lin Yuan back to Room 414.
What they heard next sent chills down their spines.
Five years ago, before the current lab building was constructed, the old lab was still in use. That year, a girl named Xiao Qing hanged herself inside. Since it was ruled a suicide, the school paid little attention. After a brief investigation, the police closed the case, attributing it to academic stress. Xiao Qing had lived in Room 414.
After her death, strange occurrences began plaguing the school—doors unlocking themselves, faucets turning on alone, and, most terrifying of all, weeping echoing from the bathrooms. But no deaths followed... until one night, a piercing scream tore through the air, marking the beginning of true horror.
"What happened?" Lin Yuan leaned forward eagerly.
One of the girls, Ouyang Chunxiao, glanced unconsciously at the window. The other, Wu Nannan, seemed to force a smile, as if trying to lighten the mood. "We forgot to introduce ourselves."
Su Jiner, noting their pale faces, said, "I'm Su Jiner. This is Lin Yuan. And you?"
"I'm Ouyang Chunxiao. She's Wu Nannan."
Wu Nannan turned to Su Jiner with a weak smile, her complexion even paler than Ouyang Chunxiao's.
"Keep going with the story!" Lin Yuan urged, her fear of ghosts outweighed by curiosity.
"Our senior said that after Xiao Qing's death, the whole school lived in fear."
Rumors spread that Xiao Qing's ghost had returned for revenge. Though no major incidents occurred at first, the real terror was just beginning.
That night, the scream came from Room 414.
"Did someone die?" Lin Yuan asked.
"No. The girl who screamed survived. The victim was another girl—she'd gotten up to use the bathroom. When she turned on the light, she found the body hanging from the ceiling fan. The dead girl's eyes bulged grotesquely, her tongue lolling out, blood dripping onto the floor in a congealing pool."
Lin Yuan's eyes widened in horror. Wu Nannan, meanwhile, stared petrified at the ceiling fan above them—which had begun swaying faintly, as if bearing an invisible weight.
"The fan—why is it moving?" Wu Nannan whispered, her voice shrill with fear.
They all looked up. The fan's slow, unnatural sway sent a collective shudder through the room.
"Has Xiao Qing's ghost returned? What do we do?" Wu Nannan's words came out in a panicked rush.
Su Jiner studied the fan, then the window. "Probably just the wind."
She stood and walked to the window. After checking it, she smiled. "Yep. Wasn't closed properly."
Once she shut it, the fan stilled. The tension in the room eased—though Wu Nannan remained deathly pale.
"Did that girl really die?"
"Yes. Her roommate's scream woke everyone. Many were traumatized by the sight."
"What did the police say?" Su Jiner asked.
Ouyang Chunxiao shook her head. "Our senior didn't mention that. We were too scared to ask. Only you'd think of that, Jiner."
"I don't believe in ghosts. If it wasn't supernatural, it had to be either murder or suicide. Hence, the police's conclusion matters."
Lin Yuan smirked. "Since when did you become a detective? And such a pretty one, too."
Su Jiner shot her a look. "I wish. But seriously—how did the case end?"
"Several more died after that. But we don't know the official resolution."
"How did the others die?"
"Not all by hanging?" Lin Yuan guessed.
Wu Nannan bit her lip. "No. One fell from a building. Another drowned. Only the third hanged."
"So, including Xiao Qing, three hangings, one fall, one drowning—five deaths total?"
"All within about a month."
"That's... horrifying," Lin Yuan muttered.
"Anyway, it's been five years. Overanalyzing won't help. Let's just focus on studying." Su Jiner stood, gazing out the window.
The sky had turned ashen. A storm seemed imminent.
"Time flew. It's almost noon—we should grab lunch. See you later!" Ouyang Chunxiao waved goodbye.
"Come visit anytime!" Lin Yuan called after them.
Wu Nannan, still shaken, lingered as if wanting to say more. The moment they stepped into the hallway, she whispered, "Didn't their room feel... off? Like an icy draft kept creeping under my clothes."
"Really? I didn't notice. Besides, the deaths weren't exclusive to Room 414. Only two victims lived there."
Their voices faded down the hall. Su Jiner, lingering by the door, caught every word.
"Jiner, why are you just standing there?" Lin Yuan asked.
Before Su Jiner could answer, Du Xiaonan burst in.
"Huh? Why're you blocking the door?"
"Nothing. Was about to close it when you arrived."
Su Jiner sat on her bed, replaying Ouyang Chunxiao's story. Something felt off—like details were being omitted.
But after racking her brain, she shook her head. Too many detective novels. Why obsess over a five-year-old case?
Glancing at the clock—11:30 a.m.—she called, "Xiao Yuan, lunchtime. We've got afternoon classes."
No response. She turned to find Lin Yuan already asleep on the upper bunk.
"How does she sleep so much?" Su Jiner sighed.
"You guys heading to eat?" Du Xiaonan emerged from the bathroom, where she'd been hiding since returning.
"Yeah. Joining us?"
"Definitely. Hey, Jiner... can I ask a favor?"
"Sure."
"Can I tag along with you and Lin Yuan from now on? Li Yiqian's always off doing who-knows-what alone. I hate being by myself."
"Of course. I thought you had friends in other dorms."
"Nope. And after the story I heard today? No way I'm wandering campus solo!"
"Story? What story?"
Lin Yuan bolted upright at the word.
"I thought you were asleep!"
"I was. But you know I never miss a good story."
Su Jiner rolled her eyes.
"Let's walk and talk." She grabbed her coat.
"Wait for me—one sec!" Du Xiaonan dashed back into the bathroom.
The cafeteria was packed with the lunch rush.
"Over there—empty seats!" Du Xiaonan pointed to a deserted corner.
Oddly, despite the crowd, no one sat there. Students even avoided walking near it.
"Why's this spot empty?" They set down their trays, noticing sidelong glances—some curious, others fearful.
"And why's everyone staring?" Lin Yuan mumbled through a mouthful of pork before gagging. "Ugh, so greasy!"
"Glad I didn't get that," Su Jiner said, nibbling greens.
"Hey, isn't that Xu Lingling with Chu Feifan? Are they dating?" Du Xiaonan squinted through the crowd.
"Looks like they're coming this way." Su Jiner glanced up briefly before resuming her meal.
"Hey, guys!" Xu Lingling chirped, then eyed their table. "Either you're brave, or you've got no idea where you're sitting."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Lin Yuan frowned.
Xu Lingling smirked. "Guess you're clueless. Well, let me enlighten you."
Just then, Chu Feifan slid into the seat beside Su Jiner.
"Mind if I listen too?" he said. "I'd love to know why this spot's off-limits."