The morning classes were dull, and I couldn’t focus on the lectures. Ever since waking up, I had been preoccupied with the things Chang Sheng had said.
The last time I checked the time, it was already 8:25. In five more minutes, the bell would ring for the end of class.
I was torn about whether to go to the Supernatural Mystery Club that Chang Sheng had mentioned…
Since the lightning strike incident, my life had become a complete mess. Last night, I had nearly lost my life.
Perhaps, in that so-called Supernatural Mystery Club, I could find some help.
Thinking this way, the idea of going to the Supernatural Mystery Club suddenly became more resolute. Besides, I also wanted to see Chang Sheng again.
That man had a strikingly handsome face that was impossible to forget. Such an ethereally beautiful man—I had never seen anyone like him before.
Involuntarily, I recalled the feeling of being held in Chang Sheng’s arms. His embrace was soft and comfortable, but his body temperature was different from a normal person’s. He was cold, as cold as ice.
…
When class finally ended, I gathered the books on my desk and walked over to Jian Ran.
Jian Ran was slumped over the desk, half-asleep. Seeing me, she lifted her head, yawning and stretching.
I placed my books on her desk and said, “I have something important to take care of. Can you help me with roll call for the next class? Thanks.”
“Where are you going?”
“Just out for a bit.”
“I asked where you’re going.”
“Gucheng District.”
“That’s pretty far. What are you going to Gucheng District for?”
“Of course, for something important.”
“What kind of thing?”
“Why so many questions?”
“Just concerned about you. If you don’t want to say, forget it. I’ll help you with roll call, don’t worry.”
Hearing this, I finally breathed a sigh of relief.
In our dorm, only Jian Ran and I were studying veterinary medicine. Jiang Meixin was the wealthy one among us, majoring in finance to eventually take over the family business, while Tang Shishi was studying broadcasting.
“I’m off.”
Jian Ran nodded and slumped back onto the desk, drifting off again.
Leaving the teaching building, I checked the time on my phone. It was almost 9 o’clock, with less than half an hour to go.
As Jian Ran had said, the journey from here to Gucheng District was indeed quite far. Although there was a direct bus, it would take a long time. To make it to the Supernatural Mystery Club on time, I hailed a taxi as soon as I left the school gate.
At this hour, the morning rush was over, and traffic was relatively smooth. After about ten minutes, the taxi stopped in front of Zuixian Lou in Gucheng District.
It was my first time here. Through the car window, I glanced around and noticed that the entire area was filled with ancient buildings from long ago.
After paying the fare, I got out of the car and looked up at the tall ancient building before me. On the black plaque above the entrance were three golden characters—Lou Xian Zui.
No, it was Zuixian Lou. I had to read it from right to left.
Zuixian Lou was a two-story ancient building, its dark wooden doors tightly shut at the moment.
I took a deep breath, climbed the stone steps, and just as I stood in front of the door, before I could even knock, it creaked open on its own. A cold breeze brushed against my face, making me shiver involuntarily.
Perhaps it was because the area was too deserted, but since I arrived, I hadn’t seen a single person around. Zuixian Lou gave me an eerie, unsettling feeling.
I peered inside. The room was dimly lit, a complete mess, with trash and dust scattered everywhere. It was extremely untidy, as if it hadn’t been cleaned in a long time.
“Is anyone there?” I called out.
After my voice faded, there was no response.
“Is anyone there?”
Still no reply.
Summoning my courage, I stepped inside. As soon as I entered, the door behind me slammed shut on its own.
The sudden noise startled me so much I nearly jumped on the spot.
Steadying myself, I looked around. The interior was decorated in an antique style, but the hygiene was terrible. I wondered who lived here without bothering to clean up at all.
“Chang Sheng sent me here to find someone named October,” I called out, carefully stepping over the garbage on the floor as I moved further inside.
“You’re looking for October?”
A childish voice spoke up from behind me, sounding like a little boy’s.
I turned toward the voice, but there was no one there.
“Is anyone there?”
“Are you blind?”
“…”
It wasn’t that I was blind—I genuinely couldn’t see anyone.
“I’m right here,” the childish voice spoke again. Immediately after, I saw a plump black cat emerge from the corner.
The black cat moved with graceful steps, its sapphire-blue eyes fixed intently on me.
Was this cat talking to me?
The thought flashed through my mind, but I immediately shook my head to dismiss it.
Cats couldn’t speak human language.
I scanned the room again. Apart from the cat, there was still no sign of anyone.
“You said you’re looking for October?”
“Who’s speaking? Can you show yourself?”
“Are you really blind or just pretending? I’m right here!” the voice rang out again, this time with extreme impatience.
Following the direction of the voice, I locked eyes with the cat once more.
It was still staring at me, not even blinking.
“What are you looking at? Never seen a cat before?”
“…”
It spoke!
The cat was speaking human words!
“Ah…”
A scream erupted from me instantly.
Terrified, I bolted for the door, but no matter how hard I pushed, it wouldn’t budge.
“Hey, hey, hey! What’s wrong with you? I haven’t done anything to you. Is it really necessary to be this scared?” the black cat spoke again.
A chill ran down my spine.
What had happened last night was already bizarre enough, but at this moment, a cat speaking human words right in front of me was no less strange.
“What kind of ghost are you?” I pointed at the black cat, mustering my courage to speak.
The black cat narrowed its eyes slightly, displeased. “You’re the ghost.”
“You… you’re speaking…”
“What’s wrong with speaking?”
“You’re a cat.”
“So what if I’m a cat?”
“Cats don’t speak.”
“Who says cats can’t speak?”
“…”
The black cat took two steps closer to me and suddenly let out a mischievous chuckle.
“You’re really timid.”
“…”
“Let me show you something interesting.”
With that, the black cat stretched lazily and let out a “meow.” At the same time, its body began to slowly grow larger.
My eyes widened as I watched the black cat transform from a normal-sized cat into a giant creature the size of an adult gorilla in the blink of an eye. I stood frozen in place, completely petrified.
“G-g-ghost…”
The black cat narrowed its eyes, suddenly glaring at me with a fierce expression. It shifted its massive body, step by step, closing in on me.
Instinctively, I backed away, only to bump hard against the door behind me.
The black cat let out a sinister laugh, then bared its claws at me.
Just as it was about to swipe, I saw a white object flying toward us.
It looked like a slipper.