Chapter 89: Because She’s Love-Struck, Her Boyfriend’s Craziness Doesn’t Matter (21)

Lately, unsavory rumors have been circulating at school because the Four Princes have all encountered some trouble. According to whispers, Dongfang Xuan was apparently taken to the police station and wasn’t released until after two days in detention.

As for Nangong Hao, Ximen Lie, and Beitang Jun, all three began taking leave at the same time and have yet to return to school. And it’s not just the three of them—even that Cinderella, Su Youyou, has also taken leave.

So, there are those spreading gossip, wondering if the three boys and one girl had gone off to play at a foursome together.

Bai Yao paid these rumors no mind. She was busy replying to her beloved boyfriend’s message, telling him she’d head home once class was over.

He Cai sidled up to Bai Yao and whispered, “Yao Yao, do you want to guess what happened to our school’s F3 that’s kept them away?”

Bai Yao, knowing that He Cai was the queen of rumors, didn’t bother to guess. She said plainly, “Who knows why they’re not here? It’s not like they bumped into a ghost or something.”

He Cai’s eyes widened in shock. “How did you know?”

Bai Yao looked up. “They really ran into a ghost?”

He Cai nodded fervently. “My family’s maid’s aunt’s nephew’s sister’s uncle’s wife works at the Nangong household. According to people there, after Nangong Hao came home from the party, he’s been on edge ever since. He hides away in his room, refuses to eat or drink, and won’t sleep at night—he just stares wide-eyed and claims a ghost keeps whispering in his ear. He nearly jumped off the roof; it’s like he’s gone mad.”

Bai Yao replied, “Maybe he really did lose his mind?”

He Cai continued, “My family’s driver’s sister’s classmate’s cousin’s brother’s uncle works at the Ximen house. They say Ximen Lie has also turned strange; he often stares at a wall, muttering to himself, and has started hurting himself. Now he’s skin and bones, almost possessed.”

Bai Yao remarked, “Well… maybe he really is possessed?”

Seeing Bai Yao’s indifference, He Cai grew more anxious. “Our security guard’s brother’s wife’s sister’s husband’s cousin works at the Beitang residence. They say Beitang is now terrified of everything—sometimes he claims there’s someone in the mirror, sometimes he says he hears a child laughing under the bed, and sometimes it’s a cat’s yowling in the dead of night. He nearly drowned himself in the bathtub; it’s like he’s got split personalities!”

Bai Yao nodded. “Maybe he really does have a split personality?”

He Cai grew frustrated. “Bai Yao, why don’t you believe me?”

Bai Yao looked innocent. “I didn’t say I don’t believe you.”

He Cai glared at her. “But when I say they saw ghosts, you don’t act scared at all!”

Bai Yao sighed, then covered her face with her hands and feigned terror. “How frightening! Are there really ghosts in this world? What am I to do? Boohoo, what if I run into a ghost too?”

Though Bai Yao’s performance was a bit perfunctory, He Cai found some sense of validation. She also covered her face, trembling in fear. “What if I see a ghost too? They all became strange after the party, and people say your place is haunted. What if something happens to me?”

Bai Yao glanced at her. “You’ll be fine.”

He Cai felt Bai Yao was still just humoring her and said angrily, “You don’t believe me at all!”

But Bai Yao insisted, “I really do believe what you’re saying!”

He Cai was indignant. “Bai Yao, I’m breaking up our friendship!”

But when classes ended and everyone went their separate ways, He Cai came to Bai Yao, looking miserable, to reconcile. “Yao Yao, I’m truly scared—you have no idea, Su Youyou has been admitted to a psychiatric hospital!”

Bai Yao considered for a moment. “I’ve thought of a way to put you at ease.”

He Cai asked, “What is it?”

As dusk fell, Bai Yao led He Cai back to Magnolia House. He Cai, timid as ever, was frightened with every step and clung tightly to Bai Yao, watching her surroundings with suspicion.

Bai Yao opened the door, switched on the lights, and invited He Cai inside.

He Cai asked nervously, “So, what’s this good idea you thought of to reassure me?”

Bai Yao replied calmly, “Look, the lights in my house are on.”

He Cai asked, “And?”

“Come with me,” Bai Yao said.

They stepped outside again, Bai Yao locked the door, and they stood before the house. He Cai still didn’t get what Bai Yao was trying to do.

“I’m about to go out for a candlelit dinner with my boyfriend,” Bai Yao explained, “but I forgot to turn off the lights. If there really is a ghost, maybe it could do me a favor and turn them off for me.”

The lights inside the house remained on.

“You see?” Bai Yao said. “No problem.”

He Cai was just about to relax, when her face suddenly changed. She gripped Bai Yao’s arm, trembling. “Y-Yao Yao… the lights inside just went out!”

Bai Yao glanced at the now-dark windows. Indeed, the lights were off. She shrugged at He Cai. “If the ghost is kind enough to help me save electricity, then even if there is a ghost, it can’t be a bad one. What’s there to be afraid of?”

He Cai’s body relaxed. “So that’s it… nothing to be scared of.”

Two seconds later, He Cai suddenly clutched her head and screamed, “Not being scared means there really is a ghost!”

She turned and bolted, shouting as she ran, her composure utterly lost, “There’s a ghost! Mama!”

Bai Yao blinked in confusion. She truly didn’t see what was so frightening, but oh well—she was rather fond of this little sycophant, He Cai, so she might as well humor her.

There were no cars passing by the bus stop at Magnolia House. He Cai crouched by the roadside, shivering with fear, nearly breaking into sobs. She should never have trusted that Bai Yao was normal!

After a while, her phone vibrated with a message from Bai Yao—a photo.

In it, an orange-haired boy was climbing a stepladder with tools, repairing the electric meter. He Cai recognized him as Bai Yao’s boyfriend.

Bai Yao sent another message: [The electric meter broke and tripped the circuit just now, so the lights went out.]

So that’s what happened.

He Cai breathed a sigh of relief, still crouched by the roadside.

A car suddenly stopped in front of her. The window rolled down, revealing a man whose face bore the marks of sleeplessness. He grinned roguishly, “Miss He, here again to visit your classmate?”

He Cai nodded, a little embarrassed as she stood up. “Officer Chen.”

Chen Shuo said, “Hop in, I’ll give you a ride.”

She glanced around at the darkness, and hurried into his car. At least he was a police officer—surely not a bad person.

Chen Shuo said casually, “If I remember right, your friend is called Bai Yao, and her boyfriend is Lu Sheng?”

As she fastened her seatbelt, He Cai replied, “Yes, her boyfriend’s name is Lu Sheng.”

Chen Shuo chuckled. “Funny thing is, I know Lu Sheng too. I wonder how those two ended up together. Miss He, you and Miss Bai are close—you must know a lot.”

He Cai gave him a curious look.

Night had fallen, and the moon had risen.

Bai Yao steadied the ladder as Lu Sheng climbed down after checking the meter. When he was safely on the ground, she threw her arms around him. “Lu Sheng, you’ve worked so hard!”

His hands were still dirty, so he didn’t dare hug her back. Instead, he nuzzled her cheek and smiled, cheerful as always. “Yao Yao, it was nothing!”

As he leaned in, his collar shifted, revealing marks that had yet to fade.

Those were from the night of the party, after everyone had left. Bai Yao had refused to let Lu Sheng take off his costume, and together they’d played a rather risqué game of Big Bad Wolf and Little Red Riding Hood—so intense that the marks on their bodies still hadn’t vanished.

Lu Sheng glanced at the meter. “It was just an old meter tripping the circuit. I’ve fixed it—there won’t be any more problems. You can rest easy, Yao Yao.”

She looked at him, nestled into his arms with a smile. “Of course—I have nothing to worry about.”

Lu Sheng wanted to pat her head, but remembered his hands were dirty. So instead, he kissed her lightly on the corner of her lips. “It was just a minor power trip, Yao Yao. Don’t be scared.”

“I’m not scared at all.” Bai Yao sighed. “It’s just that poor Cai Cai is so timid—she’d rather believe in ghosts than believe I’m the First Emperor of Qin.”

Lu Sheng’s expression turned odd.

Suddenly, Bai Yao brightened. “I know what we should play tonight! Let’s turn off all the lights and play ‘possession by a ghost’!”

Lu Sheng was speechless.

Was her idea of ‘possession by a ghost’ even proper?

In the “Friendly Neighborhood” group chat, several messages popped up.

Master Chef: [This kid keeps turning off other people’s lights, so he has to be punished!]

A short video followed.

A mass of black mist, shaped like a person, crouched in the kitchen corner, sobbing as it scrubbed plates stained with ketchup and chili sauce. The pitiful look on its face was truly heartbreaking.

Who would have thought, in its former life, that even in the world of ghosts, bullying existed?