C12 Heading to the First High School!

After a considerable amount of time, Lu Wangshu finished shaving his beard, a marked departure from his usual unkempt, world-weary appearance. Now, he exuded a vibrant energy; his fair skin and impeccably chiseled features made him look exceptionally handsome.

Upon noticing the transformation, Lin Xiangyi couldn't help but comment, "Lu Wangshu, you look so much better without a beard. Why do you insist on growing one?"

"Don't you think I look a bit too delicate without a beard? My complexion is already fair, and without facial hair, it just doesn't seem right to me," Lu Wangshu shared his thoughts.

Lin Xiangyi pursed her lips, clearly unconvinced by his reasoning, but she chose not to press the issue.

After he finished shaving, Lin Xiangyi inquired, "Are you heading to school now?"

"No, I need to eat something first," Lu Wangshu replied, shaking his head. "I've been on my feet all day without so much as a sip of water. That's not sustainable, especially since I'll be up late tonight. I need to have a meal to tide me over before I go."

Hearing this, Lin Xiangyi thought to herself that he did indeed know the importance of taking care of himself.

Despite her thoughts, she acted promptly. Rising from the sofa, she asked, "What would you like to eat? I'll make it for you."

"Anything is fine. I'm not fussy about food," Lu Wangshu answered.

After they had eaten, Lu Wangshu drove to Yongzhou No.1 Middle School, with Lin Xiangyi accompanying him. Naturally, the car would need to be returned to the office; it couldn't remain parked outside the school indefinitely.

Before they parted ways, he handed the car keys to Lin Xiangyi, then turned to leave.

"Remember to stay warm tonight," Lin Xiangyi called after him with a look of concern. "Find a sheltered spot to keep out of the cold."

Lu Wangshu nodded to show he understood, then confidently strode into the school without looking back.

Seeing Lu Wangshu walk away with such resolve, Lin Xiangyi was so frustrated that she stomped her feet inside the car.

It must be said, Lu Wangshu was truly clueless when it came to reading the room.

Without the ability to read minds, Lu Wangshu was naturally oblivious to Lin Xiangyi's thoughts at that moment.

As he entered the school, the security guard spotted him and inquired if his last name was Lu. Wangshu nodded, mentioning he had come to retrieve his school uniform.

The guard handed over the uniform to Wangshu without further ado, but not without a bit of a lecture. "You kids these days are so forgetful. It's one thing to leave behind a pen or a notebook, but to forget your school uniform on the field? Look at you, I hope you've learned your lesson this time," he chided.

Wangshu immediately realized what was happening upon hearing the guard's words.

He had previously asked the principal to keep the matter under wraps, preferring as few people as possible to be in the know. Therefore, when the principal delivered the uniform to the security room, he concocted a plausible excuse.

At Yongzhou No.1 Middle School, there was a steadfast rule that students must wear their school uniforms.

Thus, the principal told the security guard that Wangshu had left his uniform on the field after a gym class.

The pants of the Yongzhou No.1 Middle School uniform closely resembled ordinary black sports pants sold elsewhere, minus the logo. In the dim evening light, the guard hadn't noticed anything amiss with Wangshu wearing his own pants.

Wangshu nodded, offering a friendly smile, "Thank you, sir. I'll head in now."

No sooner had Wangshu set foot on campus than the bell signaling the end of class rang out. Students poured out of the buildings, their laughter and chatter filling the air with the essence of youth.

The lively campus atmosphere lifted Wangshu's spirits, bringing a smile to his face and a spring to his step. Adjusting his slightly slipping backpack, he followed the crowd towards the student dormitories.

The dormitory was a mere ten-minute walk from the school building, with a canteen conveniently situated halfway between the two, thoughtfully designed for the students' needs.

As Lu Wangshu moved forward, he covertly watched everyone around him, searching for any telltale signs.

The student dormitory at Yongzhou No.1 Middle School spanned five floors, with no students housed on the first floor—only the dormitory supervisor lived there.

The supervisor, Mrs. Zhang, was a kind woman in her fifties. She always greeted students with a smile and a nod, though she seemed rather frail, likely a result of the ghost case that had been stirring up anxiety.

It's common for older individuals to hold some superstitious beliefs. With rumors of a female ghost haunting her workplace and being the sole caretaker, it was no wonder Mrs. Zhang felt uneasy.

As these thoughts crossed Lu Wangshu's mind, he glanced at Mrs. Zhang with a touch of empathy.

Sensing someone's gaze, Mrs. Zhang looked up and spotted a student. She offered Lu Wangshu a warm smile. Not wanting to draw attention, he quickly lowered his head and walked away with haste.

The students had reported sightings of the ghost on the fifth floor, so without hesitation, Lu Wangshu made his way up the stairs.

Each level of the dormitory featured two small balconies at the ends of the hallway.

Lu Wangshu headed straight for one of them. The balcony had an ingenious spot for concealment—the angle formed by the outward-stretching floor and the wall.

He stepped into the corner and positioned himself sideways, peering out cautiously.

From this vantage point, Lu Wangshu could clearly observe any activity inside while remaining unseen.

As the evening wore on and the clock struck past nine, the corridor fell silent, devoid of student traffic.

Mrs. Zhang conducted her nightly rounds, ensuring all students were present in their rooms before switching off the hallway lights.

In an instant, the corridor was engulfed in an eerie and sinister atmosphere, chilling to the bone.

It was a good thing Lin Xiangyi wasn't there; such a scene would have terrified her.

Lu Wangshu chided himself with a smack to the forehead. They hadn't been apart long, yet here he was, thinking of her again.

In the stillness of the long night, Lu Wangshu found himself alone, keeping watch in the silence. The ghost girl had yet to show herself, and he couldn't distract himself with his phone for fear that the faint glow of the screen might arouse suspicion. So, he remained standing, waiting.

Before long, Wangshu's mind began to wander. A subtle glint appeared in his eyes as his memories took him back to his second year of junior high. He reminisced about the times he shared with Lin Xiangyi, and a smile crept onto his lips. Those days seemed like the happiest of his childhood.

Whenever he allowed himself to really reflect on those memories, he was filled with a warm, joyful feeling.