C7 Chapter 7

She leaned in and said in a hush, “Know why I’m not eating?”

“Why?”

“Because the food in this cafeteria... is poisoned.” Liang Jing said it in this ridiculously low, eerie voice.

I spit the very last bite of rice straight onto her face.

“What the hell is wrong with you? You trying to kill me? I’ve barely been in the city two days, and you’re already getting me murdered. Listen up—if I die, I’m haunting you. I’ll—” I wailed, half sobbing, mourning the life I was apparently about to lose...

“Shut up!” Liang Jing slammed the table. I froze instantly. “Why are you screaming like that? I said the cafeteria food is poisoned. I didn’t say what you’re eating right now is poisoned!”

I stopped crying, glanced at the chicken wings on her tray, grabbed one, and shoved it into my mouth. Chewing, I mumbled, “What do you mean?”

Liang Jing rubbed her forehead like she had a headache. “I’m telling you—there’s a rumor this cafeteria’s haunted.”

“Seriously?” I jumped up again, but this time from excitement.

“Sit down, you idiot!” Liang Jing scanned the room nervously. “I heard it from an upperclassman. Last year, a student ate here, got food poisoning, and died before he even made it out of the cafeteria.

“After that, the cops showed up and everything got buried. The school told everyone it was a murder and had nothing to do with the cafeteria, but they never found the killer. This place was dead for a whole year because people said the guy’s ghost never left. He was furious—so whenever he saw food, he’d spit in it. If you ate it, you’d get poisoned, get freakishly weak, and if it happened a few times... you’d be done.”

My eyes went wide. “So someone actually died from that?”

Liang Jing waved a hand. “No idea. It was last year, and the school doesn’t let people talk about stuff like this. Now it’s a new year, new freshmen—people will probably forget soon. This cafeteria’s already gone through three different investors. What can you do? Even college kids don’t mess with creepy stuff like that.”

I shot back, “Then why aren’t you scared?”

Liang Jing lifted her chin. “Because I’m not just a college student with a solid education—I’ve also got a heart full of grit!”

I snorted. “Yeah? Then prove it. Come with me and let’s catch that ghost!”

“Like you even know how to catch ghosts?” Liang Jing looked even more dismissive.

I flicked my hand. “Do you even know what a local is? It means I’ve seen—and can do—stuff you wouldn’t believe.”

Maybe I looked a little too confident, because Liang Jing started to buy it. Half skeptical, she asked, “You really can catch ghosts?”

“Meet me at midnight at the entrance to the dining hall. Then you’ll see.”

“Fine! But if you’re lying to me, I’m cutting off your manhood!”

Me: “.......”

Why did it suddenly feel cold down there?

That night, after my roommates were asleep, I quietly got up, got dressed without making a sound, and slipped out. I jogged over to the dining hall entrance. Before I even got close, I spotted a figure standing there. Huh—guess she’s got more guts than I thought. She got here before me.

But when I came closer, I realized it wasn’t Liang Jing at all.

What the hell! Where’s that freshman who was supposed to have food poisoning? Why is it a headless ghost now? And where’s Liang Jing? Don’t tell me she got eaten.

As the headless ghost got closer and closer, something suddenly felt off. This “ghost”… didn’t have that creepy, cold vibe at all. Unless—

I swung my arm and yanked the headless ghost’s outfit right off.

I was beyond done. I marched up and flicked her forehead twice—hard—like my dad used to do to me. Over and over. Honestly? Kinda satisfying.

Liang Jing burst into tears on the spot. “Ow… that hurts~”

“Hurt my ass! You’re such an idiot you oughta be hauled out and—”

I hadn’t even finished talking when she suddenly grabbed my arm and pulled me into the bushes. I stared at her, on guard. “What are you doing? I’m not that kind of guy—I don’t mess around!”

“Give me a break.” Liang Jing rolled her eyes. “Security. Night patrol.”

“Huh?” I followed where she pointed, and sure enough, there were two figures with flashlights. It hit me then—if those two guards had seen Liang Jing dressed like that a second ago, it would’ve been hilarious.

“What are you laughing at?” Liang Jing caught my grin and asked, annoyed.

I shook my head right away and nodded toward the cafeteria door. “Can we get in?”

“It’s locked!”

“Watch me.” With that, I picked up a tree branch and pretended to pry at the lock. Really, I just used brute force and snapped it. The moment the door popped open, Liang Jing stared at me in shock. “With skills like that, you’ll never go hungry.”

I rolled my eyes. “When I can make a living off my looks, why would I need to turn to crime?”

“Tch!”