C14 The Determination Did Not Change!

Just like the day before, Lu Wangshu had barely slipped into the nook when he noticed something off about the texture of his schoolbag.

To look more like a student, Lu Wangshu had rummaged through his closet for an old schoolbag. It was empty, not a thing inside, but now the bag felt oddly soft, as if someone had stashed something in it.

Curious, he glanced around to make sure he was alone, then opened the bag to find a thin jacket crammed inside.

It didn't take a genius to figure out that Lin Xiangyi had put it there.

Lu Wangshu pulled out the jacket, draped it over his shoulders, and a contented smile played at the corners of his mouth.

That night, the ghost didn't show up.

And it remained that way for several days.

There's an old Chinese saying, "No need to wear out iron shoes in fruitless searching; what you seek might come easily." Fortune favors the diligent. Lu Wangshu's efforts were bound to pay off.

That evening, Lu Wangshu scaled the wall into Yongzhou No.1 Middle School once more. With his head down and schoolbag on his back, he hurried forward and quickly blended into the sea of students.

Then, he heard someone call from behind, "Wangshu, the Dean wants to see you in his office right now."

Lu Wangshu froze. He didn't know a soul at this school; how could anyone know his name, and sound so familiar at that?

And why was the Dean looking for him? If someone needed to see him, shouldn't it be the principal? Why the Dean?

As Lu Wangshu's thoughts swirled in confusion, a clear female voice answered from behind him, "Oh, okay, I got it. I'll head there now."

Lu Wangshu breathed a sigh of relief. It appeared he shared a name with this girl; the call wasn't for him, but for her.

Hearing the slight reluctance in the girl's voice, Lu Wangshu deduced she must have been in trouble.

Which school doesn't have a fearsome and intimidating Dean lurking behind classroom windows, instilling dread in the hearts of students every day?

He didn't dwell on this episode, continuing on his path without a backward glance.

As the clock struck ten, Lu Wangshu sensed that something was amiss. He was gripped by a strong premonition that the mysterious figure would surely appear tonight. The origin of this feeling was unclear, yet it was powerfully compelling.

Indeed, it wasn't long before Lu Wangshu spotted a woman's silhouette in the corridor. He surmised it was a woman because of the slender frame. The figure was too distant and the corridor too dimly lit to discern any details.

Lu Wangshu held his breath, his gaze fixed on the figure as it slowly approached his location. As the distance closed, he could see that the person had very long hair, which cascaded over their face, completely obscuring it.

The individual was clad in a white robe that seemed oversized. When the occasional breeze stirred, the robe's hem fluttered, enhancing the spectral aura. The figure bore an uncanny resemblance to the wronged spirits depicted in television dramas.

But Lu Wangshu was unfazed by such apparitions. Judging the distance to be close enough, he sprang from his hiding spot and advanced towards the ghostly figure, his eyes locked on hers as he demanded, "Tell me, who are you?"

The ghostly woman, caught off guard by the presence of someone who was unafraid, hastily waved her hand.

Lu Wangshu felt a puff of smoke rise before him and instinctively shielded his eyes and nose with his arm.

Once he lowered his arm, the ghostly woman had vanished, leaving behind only a dusting of white powder on the ground.

Lu Wangshu, intrigued, stooped to sample the powder with his fingertip, bringing it close for inspection. It dawned on him what the powder's purpose was.

The ghostly woman hadn't conjured smoke from nothing; she had thrown a handful of this fine powder, which when tossed into the air, dispersed widely, resembling smoke at a cursory glance.

Lu Wangshu let out a cold laugh. Such a clumsy ruse, and yet he had the audacity to embarrass himself with it. Now, Wangshu was even more convinced that the so-called female ghost was nothing more than a human hoax. After all, what kind of ghost needs to use white powder to make an escape?

At the moment, Wangshu was on the top floor of the boys' dormitory at Yongzhou No.1 Middle School. Any higher, and he would be on the rooftop.

The rooftop was secured with an iron fence door, which was always locked to prevent despondent students from leaping off after receiving poor exam results.

It was clear to Wangshu that the trickster wouldn't have gone up; the only escape route was down. With this in mind, he dashed down the stairs without a second thought.

However, it was odd; Wangshu didn't encounter a soul on his way down. Bursting out of the dormitory, he found the outside just as deserted, showing no signs of recent activity.

Wangshu was at a loss. Could the person be an athlete? How could anyone run so fast that even he couldn't catch up? It was baffling.

He still found it hard to believe. No matter how swift the person was, it seemed impossible that there wouldn't be a single trace left behind.

Checking his watch, he noted it was just past ten o'clock. Mrs. Zhang, the dormitory supervisor, should still be up, keeping watch on the ground floor.

Wangshu headed back, intending to ask Mrs. Zhang if she had seen anyone dash out recently.

To his surprise, Mrs. Zhang was nowhere to be found. The dormitory station was deserted. After searching the area, there was still no sign of her. This was unusual.

From his previous visits, Wangshu had a good grasp of the routine. Mrs. Zhang was supposed to be on duty until eleven before she could leave the station and retire to her room for the night. So where could she have gone?

Lost in thought, he was jolted by the sound of footsteps behind him. Instinctively turning, he discovered it was Mrs. Zhang returning.

Wangshu was taken aback by Mrs. Zhang, and she, in turn, was equally startled by him.

Mrs. Zhang caught sight of Lu Wangshu before her and paused, momentarily taken aback. She then fumbled for words, "Um, student, what are you doing here? It's very late. You should head back to your dorm to sleep. You have classes early tomorrow morning."

"Auntie, where did you go just now?" Lu Wangshu inquired, looking at Mrs. Zhang.

Bypassing Lu Wangshu, Mrs. Zhang made her way into the dormitory office, explaining as she went, "Oh, I just went to use the restroom."

Lu Wangshu clearly doubted her response and pressed on, "But there's only one restroom on the first floor, and it's at the end of this hallway. I've been facing that way the whole time, yet you came from behind me."

"The restroom on the first floor is out of order, so I had no choice but to use the one upstairs," Mrs. Zhang replied, her voice tinged with resignation.

Despite her explanation, Lu Wangshu's suspicions lingered. After a moment's thought, he decisively headed toward the restroom at the end of the first-floor corridor.

"Hey, student, aren't you going to sleep? It's so late," Mrs. Zhang called out with a hint of urgency, watching Lu Wangshu's retreating figure. He seemed not to hear her and continued on his way without turning back.