CHAPTER 35: CHAPTER 8: LOVE LETTERS BURNED IN THE FIRE

She raised her eyes to look at the originally dark green iron gate, which had now turned pitch black, contemplating something in her mind.

Suddenly, her eyes narrowed, "Wan Jun, didn’t you mention before that there was a fire in the old district?"

Being called like this, Chen Wanjun was startled and took a while to regain her senses.

"Yes, yes."

Chen Wanjun, being good at socializing, often heard various campus gossip from her. Sometimes she spoke so much that she might not even remember it well herself. But the incident of the old district catching fire was particularly memorable.

Because this was the second major event since Qing University was established.

At that time, the new dormitory had already been completed, but for some reason, students hadn’t moved in yet. Then, one night, a dormant dorm suddenly erupted in a bizarre fire.

The source of the fire was never found, and no suspicious individuals were identified. However, fortunately, the fire did not spread quickly and almost only burned down that one room, not affecting any other students.

After this incident, the school immediately issued an order. Within one day, all students moved to the new district.

And this area was sealed off, becoming a ’forbidden zone’ of Qing University.

Compared to the various strange ghost stories, this fire seemed quite inconspicuous.

But looking at the pitch-black gate in front of them, Chen Wanjun’s expression became particularly peculiar.

"Yun Chu."

"Could it be this dormitory?"

Dormitory 404.

It didn’t sound auspicious.

The group silently prepared themselves for any fright they might encounter upon entering.

As the door opened, the expected smell of something having burned did not appear. Instead, Mu Yunchu detected a faint fragrant scent.

Everything inside was so ordinary. Not only were there no traces of the fire, but it was so clean and tidy that it seemed as though someone came here to clean every day.

A gentle breeze swayed the dark red curtains slightly, making Mu Yunchu turn her gaze to the books on the table being blown open.

She walked over and picked up one, only to find that it wasn’t a book at all but letters.

The once white paper had turned a burnt yellow, clearly evidence of surviving the fire. The text was incomplete, but it could faintly be discerned to be love letters.

Moreover, it was clear they were between lovers.

From the initial shy exploration, to the passionate confessions in the middle, to the affectionate exchanges later on...

Dozens of letters seemed to let Mu Yunchu see the process of this couple getting to know each other, becoming acquainted, and then falling in love.

Mu Yunchu pondered for a moment, closed her eyes, and the Heavenly Mechanism symbols vividly appeared in her mind. An incomplete story unfolded.

"No wonder..."

"What?"

The two beside her thought Mu Yunchu was talking to them.

"No wonder the female ghost would seek out Zhao Qingqing." Mu Yunchu’s furrowed brows refused to relax, and her eyes reflected deep worry.

She spoke almost inaudibly to herself, "I heard your request."

In places unnoticed, another breeze seemed to blow through, lifting the curtain again, like a tacit response.

She gently put the letters back in their place.

"Let’s leave here for now."

Hearing this, Chen Wanjun and Yu Lan exhaled long breaths. They wished to jump straight downstairs.

Back in the dormitory, seeing Mu Yunchu so calm, they assumed she had a solution and asked expectantly, "How’s it, Yun Chu?"

"Did you figure out a way to save Qingqing?"

Instead of answering, Mu Yunchu asked, "Can you contact Zhao Qingqing’s family?"

The next morning, Chen Wanjun and Yu Lan got up early.

To be precise, they hadn’t really slept much the previous night.

Because they really couldn’t sleep.

Though they didn’t witness anything terrifying firsthand in the old district, they sensed that the situation was not that simple from subtle details.

They even vaguely realized that they managed to walk out of the old district safely thanks to Mu Yunchu.

Last night, following Mu Yunchu’s suggestion, they contacted Zhao Qingqing’s parents.

Soon, Zhao Qingqing’s father would rush to the school from afar.

With matters on their minds, everything they did seemed difficult.

Seeing Mu Yunchu casually wake up and ask them if they wanted breakfast, they asked somewhat puzzled:

"But when Qingqing’s dad arrives, we won’t be able to eat well. Why not wait a bit?"

Yu Lan thought the same.

For them, every moment he didn’t arrive was another moment of restlessness.

Once he took her away, their time would be much freer.

Mu Yunchu glanced at the clock on the wall, "It’s still early."

"Her father won’t arrive until ten thirty."

The two were surprised and curious.

How could such an accurate time be calculated?

This resulted in every ensuing minute of waiting being filled with a mix of emotions.

Even at ten twenty-nine, they didn’t dare blink, staring straight at the clock, counting down silently in their hearts.

"Ten, nine, eight... two, one"

At this moment, a knock on the door sounded precisely.

The two: !!!

"No way..." Chen Wanting hurried to open the door, and seeing the person outside, her eyes widened in disbelief.

"This is too accurate!"

The visitor was Zhao Qingqing’s father, Zhao Hongbin.

Exactly at ten thirty, as Mu Yunchu had said, he knocked on the room door.

Zhao Hongbin didn’t know what they were talking about and wasn’t in the mood to find out, anxiously checking on his daughter’s condition.

Seeing him dusty and with a fine layer of sweat seeping on his forehead, it was apparent how anxiously he rushed here.

Yet even so, he didn’t forget his gentlemanly manners. While packing Zhao Qingqing’s things, he thanked Chen Wanjun and the others.

"Thank you so much, I’ll take Qingqing to the provincial hospital now."

"Once she recovers, you’re welcome to visit our home."

Zhao Qingqing’s father was over fifty years old.

Previously, she often mentioned how her family doted on her, now confirmed upon meeting him.

Just as he was about to lead her downstairs, Mu Yunchu, who had been silent at the back, suddenly stopped him.

"Qingqing’s condition can’t be treated at the hospital."

The pleasant voice, like a spring breeze through the woods, uttered words that made people’s hearts feel as cold as in midwinter.

"She’s being haunted by a ghost."

Three different degrees of shocked gazes simultaneously turned to Mu Yunchu.

Zhao Hongbin was shocked and disbelieving.

The other two didn’t expect Mu Yunchu to be so blunt.

They quickly turned to look at Zhao Hongbin.

It’s over.

Judging by his expression, he didn’t believe it.

Sure enough, his reaction in the next second confirmed their guess.

"Haunted?" Zhao Hongbin’s deep eyes showed a hint of surprise, and then an undeniable smile.

The smile was both amused and helpless, a complete dismissal of Mu Yunchu’s words as a joke.

"Young lady..."

"Zhao Qingqing visited the old district of the school the night before the incident." Mu Yunchu cut in, disrupting his reprimand.

The man’s expression visibly changed.

His demeanor immediately shifted.

His eyes flashed with shock and panic.