Chapter 61: Her boyfriend could crush a coquettish troublemaker with a single slap (24)

While some were still trying to discern the truth of the words above, the man with glasses had already lost control and stood up first. "I told you she was dead! Tian Susu is the dead one! It must be her! I saw her killed with my own eyes, yet here she is, perfectly fine! There's something wrong with her!"

His emotions were running high as he spoke, and he immediately charged toward Tian Susu, intent on snatching the movie ticket from her hand.

Tian Susu was startled and sought refuge beside Jiang Xun. Jiang Xun reacted swiftly, kicking the glasses man to the floor. "Don’t be impulsive! We haven’t figured things out yet!"

The glasses man fell but quickly lunged again, grappling with Jiang Xun in a frenzy, screaming, "It’s her! She’s the dead one! I saw her killed with my own eyes! She can’t be alive! You’re all bewitched by her! If we don’t kill her, we’ll all die!"

Unnoticed, a line of text appeared on the screen: [No loud disturbances.]

Suddenly, blood spurted from the glasses man’s mouth, along with his tongue. Jiang Xun’s face was splattered with crimson, and instinctively, he pushed the man aside with force.

The glasses man collapsed, his head striking the steps, choking on his own blood. Before long, he clutched his throat, turned his head to the side, and lay still.

His glasses shattered on the floor, and the movie ticket fell, soaked in blood, now just a useless scrap.

Jiang Xun stood frozen, the scent of blood assaulting his senses. After a long moment, he involuntarily stepped back, as if he had never imagined he would kill someone. Desperately, he wiped his face clean.

Cha Lan laughed, his laughter ringing out with satisfaction, as if finally vindicated. He cheerfully pointed at Tian Susu. "You killed Mei Yun."

Then he pointed at Jiang Xun. "And you’ve killed someone too."

Cha Lan said gleefully, "You’re all murderers, just like me. Murderers, all of you."

A new message flashed on the screen: [Regrettably, the search failed. Please identify the deceased within ten minutes.]

A clock icon appeared, counting down.

Jiang Xun looked at Tian Susu.

Tian Susu shook her head in panic. "It’s not me, it’s not me… I really don’t know anything."

Cha Lan said, "If it’s not you, then who? Jiang Xun, don’t forget, yesterday only Yin Huanmian and I didn’t leave, but Tian Susu vanished for several hours. None of us know where she went or who she met. Aren’t you suspicious?"

Jiang Xun replied, "It can’t be her."

Cha Lan: "How can you be so sure?"

Rather than being certain Tian Susu wasn’t the dead one, it was more as if Jiang Xun was certain nothing bad could happen to her.

Did Jiang Xun have some strange sense of trust in Tian Susu?

Tian Susu retorted, "Cha Lan, you’re actually the most suspicious one. You’re acting like a totally different person now… Maybe you’re possessed by a ghost…"

Frightened, Tian Susu hid behind Jiang Xun. "I’ve known Cha Lan for many years. He was never like this before. Jiang Xun, he’s definitely not right!"

But Jiang Xun didn’t respond to Tian Susu.

The three were now steeped in mutual suspicion, while only Yin Huanmian, sitting in the last row, watched the unfolding drama in silence, as if it had nothing to do with her.

In Cinema Hall No. 2, the lighting was dim. Every seat was taken, with old people and children alike present, some sipping drinks and munching popcorn, all avidly watching the live feed on the screen. When the glasses man died first, some in the audience voiced their indignation.

But their disruption was swiftly silenced, as patrolling attendants twisted their necks.

Xue Yan sat in the best viewing spot. Unlike the others, he held a bag of candy, occasionally crunching loudly. Yet even as patrols passed, none dared touch his head.

In truth, his seat created a vacuum around him. Unless someone had a death wish, no one sat nearby.

But there was indeed someone who seemed to have such a wish.

Boss Shu sat to Xue Yan’s left, bringing his own cup of rose tea. Watching the screen, he whispered, "Let’s bet on seat seven, row five surviving till the end."

Xue Yan glanced at him.

Boss Shu smiled, "Consider it repayment for the favor you did, bringing your wife out of her nightmare last time."

Xue Yan smirked, "Alright."

Every time, the townsfolk held a gambling session in the cinema, betting on who would survive. Some became rich overnight; others lost everything and ended up sweeping the streets.

Ever since Xue Yan won a big house years ago, he never joined such bets again.

Of course, his last win wasn’t mere luck—he simply picked someone, then threatened all the ghosts, ensuring his chosen survived.

Boss Shu suspected Xue Yan would use his method to “win” again if he hadn’t spoken up.

Boss Shu asked, "You haven’t joined a bet in ages. What brings you back today?"

Xue Yan lazily replied, "Yaoyao says if it’s a boy, I’ll have to buy him a house before he can get married. I need to make money for that, so when he’s two and independent, he can move out."

Boss Shu paused, "Are you sure a two-year-old can be independent?"

Xue Yan boasted, "My child will be as clever as me. He’s not stupid—how could he not be independent at two?"

Boss Shu touched his neck, recalling the pain from the last time it was twisted, and nodded, "Yes, you’re right."

Xue Yan added, "Stay away from me. You’ve got a woman’s scent—don’t get it on me."

Boss Shu replied, "You realize you always smell like women?"

Xue Yan’s expression turned cold, "Only I can smell it on myself. Go away."

Boss Shu, maintaining his cultured smile, said, "Alright, I’ll go."

He moved two seats away, catching something in his peripheral vision, and glanced again at Xue Yan.

Xue Yan was munching candy, calculating what size house he’d need to buy for his child to move out early and get married, oblivious to the fact that the rowdy theater had suddenly fallen silent.

Boss Shu, smiling, asked, "Aren’t you worried that Teacher Bai will be angry when she finds out you’ve sneaked off to the cinema for a bet?"

Xue Yan crunched his strawberry-flavored candy, lifted his proud face, and mumbled, "I made sure Yaoyao was inside the school before coming here. She’ll never know I skipped work to watch a movie."

Boss Shu said, "What if she does find out?"

Xue Yan, full of smugness, replied, "It’s fine. I’ll kneel and cry—Yaoyao will feel sorry for me."

Suddenly, Xue Yan caught the familiar scent, and right after, a slap landed on his head.

He looked up in a panic.

Bai Yao stood there like a female fiend; the neighboring audience had moved yet further away. She smiled with deceptive gentleness, "Yes, Yaoyao will definitely feel sorry for you."

Xue Yan’s ear was seized, making him shrink down, pitiful and helpless. "Y-Y-Yaoyao…"

Bai Yao beamed, "No need for you to kneel. Yaoyao will weep for you."

Xue Yan was hauled up by his ear, bending low, begging for mercy, "I was wrong, I was wrong, I really was wrong!"

Those who had suffered his bullying laughed mockingly.

Bai Yao turned, "Anyone who wants to lose their head, keep laughing!"

The others fell silent.

Seeing children among the audience, Bai Yao scolded, "So this is why so many kids called in sick today! You brought them here for the spectacle! At their age, they should be focusing on learning. If they grow up unable to count or write game rules without mistakes, how will they play with tourists?"

Parents bowed their heads in shame.

Two in the audience nodded fervently, "Exactly! Teacher Bai is right! Parents are so irresponsible!"

Bai Yao looked over, "Teachers Wu and Zhao, you’re supposed to set an example, yet you skip work to join the fun. Don’t criticize others!"

And so, Teachers Wu and Zhao also lowered their heads.

Bai Yao released Xue Yan’s ear, pushing him further in and taking a seat herself. She glanced at the nervous Xue Yan, "Don’t block those behind you. Sit."

Xue Yan sat, clutching his candy, casting anxious glances at Bai Yao, cold sweat breaking out on his back.

Boss Shu was amazed; so this was what it meant to be thoroughly henpecked. With Xue Yan as a cautionary tale, Boss Shu resolved never to end up so pathetic.

But that wasn’t the point.

At this moment, Boss Shu, along with everyone else, realized something.

Why wasn’t Bai Yao afraid?

Did she already know something?

But how could that be? On her first day, Xue Yan had warned everyone not to scare her. The townsfolk’s acting was flawless—how could she have noticed anything amiss?

Just then, Bai Yao bent down to pick up something at her feet. She glanced at the eyeball in her hand and called out, "Huahua, come get your eye!"

A one-eyed child timidly tried to get his parent to retrieve it, but the parent only pushed him forward, clearly fearful of the teacher as well.

Huahua had no choice but to run over, trembling, and take the item from Bai Yao, whispering, "T-T-Teacher Bai…"

Bai Yao smiled and patted his head, "Write two essays when you get home."

Huahua ran back, face crumpled in distress, so hurried that he tripped and pulled off the arm of the child sitting beside him, nearly starting another fight between the two.

Boss Shu silently glanced at Xue Yan.

Xue Yan shrank into himself, looking every bit the hapless little victim.

Honestly, Boss Shu suddenly felt a bit envious of him.