Chapter 40:Weird Campus 9 Suspicion

Oh, right.

She suddenly remembered—she was already dead.

Under heavy dark circles, Hanako’s eyes dimmed.

“Think again. How many people?” Shen Musi asked gently, smiling warmly.

“Three! Definitely three!” Hanako’s eyes shook with fear, her hoarse voice shouting.

If she weren’t a ghost, she’d be sweating.

“Anything else to ask?”

“No.”

Shen Musi glanced at her ladies’ watch. “Five minutes till class. Let’s go.”

She reached the door, noticing Xu Nian hadn’t moved. Turning back, “What’s wrong?”

“How do you know class is in five minutes?” Xu Nian asked directly.

She remembered—no rule mentioned class times, and Shen Musi had been with her all day, with no clue about schedules.

“Hm?” Shen Musi looked puzzled but answered, “There’s a timetable in my desk with class times.”

“Can I see it?”

“Sure.”

Shen Musi agreed readily.

Hanako’s face lit up. Finally, these two devils are leaving!

She’d waited long enough.

Under Hanako’s relieved gaze, they left.

“Wait,” Xu Nian paused at the door, something clicking. Holding the handle, she told Shen Musi, “I have more questions for Hanako. Wait a sec.”

She stormed back in.

Hanako’s smile froze, turning awkward as Xu Nian reentered. Her bruised face forced a grimace worse than crying. “Anything… else, miss?”

Xu Nian pointed at her soaked blue pleated skirt. “Your school uniforms—are they standard issue?”

“Yes… yes…” Hanako answered weakly.

As expected.

Xu Nian was sure—though faded, Hanako’s and Shen Musi’s uniforms matched in detail.

Outside, Shen Musi stared at the chain caught in the door, separating them, sighing with regret.

Xu Nian was too sharp.

Through the door crack, she watched Xu Nian with Hanako, a spark of jealousy flaring, her smile fading, eyes glinting with obsession.

Control yourself.

Her fists clenched, knuckles whitening, nails digging crescent marks into her palms.

She couldn’t be found out.

Not with her task unfinished.

Once she dealt with some troubles, she’d punish Xu Nian properly.

“I might have more questions later,” Xu Nian said politely, warning Hanako of future visits.

Hanako, drained, waved limply and drifted back to her stall.

Xu Nian stepped out.

“Done?” Shen Musi’s figure loomed close, her warm arms wrapping Xu Nian’s, so near Xu Nian could count her lashes.

“Yeah, let’s go.”

One minute apart, and her deskmate seemed clingier.

Shen Musi linked their arms, humming cheerfully.

Xu Nian’s gaze lingered on her.

Her deskmate wasn’t simple. First, the name shared with someone Yuan Shen and Qi Dong knew—dead. Then, matching Hanako’s uniform.

One coincidence? Maybe. But so many?

What was Shen Musi’s deal?

Lost in thought, Xu Nian stumbled, dizzy. Shen Musi caught her, steadying her, then stepped back.

Unlike the Young Lady.

The Young Lady would’ve… taken advantage, maybe swept her into a princess carry.

“Deskmate?” Shen Musi cupped her face, worried.

“Just tripped. Thanks.”

Xu Nian pushed her away, keeping distance, missing the brief chill in the air.

Ignoring Shen Musi, she headed for the classroom, leaving her behind.

She’d thought of the Young Lady too much, nearly forgetting her goal.

Finding the “key” was the priority.

No distractions.

Clearing her mind, she pushed open the classroom door.

Xu Nian and Shen Musi entered, the air between them odd.

They took their seats.

Behind them, Yuan Shen and Qi Dong exchanged looks, surprised to see them unharmed, clothes pristine.

Qi Dong scoffed softly, loud enough for them to hear.

Both, lost in thought, ignored it.

One minute until class.

“Deskmate, here’s the timetable. Wanna see?” Shen Musi slid a noted-up schedule across.

Xu Nian tensed.

Was she about to say Nian Nian?

She was, wasn’t she?

Shen Musi held the timetable in one hand, pulling an English book with the other for the next class.

Xu Nian took the schedule, noticing two distinct handwritings. One seemed familiar, but from where?

Since leaving the last horror world, her mind felt foggy, memories of others blurred—except the Young Lady’s, vivid as ever.

She memorized the class times and returned the paper.

Shen Musi, still retrieving her book, dropped a paper that fluttered toward the floor.

Xu Nian caught it just before it landed.

Rough to the touch, it had been crumpled, covered in “hate” written repeatedly, scratched out, the paper nearly torn by furious pen strokes.

“Oops, dropped it. Thanks, deskmate.” Shen Musi snatched it back, thanking her.

Xu Nian’s gaze fell on Shen Musi’s English book, spotting a familiar name.

She froze.