Ruan Jiao nodded obediently, then remembered the ghost from earlier and asked, “Where did it go?”
That ghost was clearly drawn by her wound. If it hadn’t been dealt with in time, it would have been very dangerous later. She had seen firsthand how strong these ghosts’ cravings for her flesh and blood could be.
Jun Gongyu nodded. “I dispersed it, but its aura was weak, it was just a fragment.”
“Does that mean I might encounter it again later?” Ruan Jiao immediately felt uneasy.
Most ghosts with some level of power had their own ghost domains and fragments. The destruction of a fragment would affect the main body but wasn’t fatal. With a bit of time and effort, they could create another fragment.
The more powerful the ghost, the stronger its ghost domain and fragments. That was why ghosts were so difficult to eliminate. Often, what people managed to drive away was just one of their fragments.
Jun Gongyu didn’t deny this but instead changed the subject. “The ghost just now was a bit strange.”
When she appeared, she deliberately concealed her aura, so ordinary ghosts wouldn’t notice her immediately. But the ghost earlier, the moment she appeared, immediately tried to flee without hesitation, as if avoiding some terrifying monster.
Although it didn’t manage to escape, its decisiveness was quite suspicious.
“It probably wasn’t an ordinary anomaly.”
Hearing this, Ruan Jiao grew even more worried. She wasn’t afraid of ghosts coming for her; what scared her was the thought of a ghost fixating on her. The idea of a twisted, sinister ghost lurking in the shadows, waiting to attack at any moment, made her scalp tingle.
Seeing how uneasy she was, Jun Gongyu quickly reassured her. “Don’t worry, Jiaojiao. I’ll protect you.”
“Don’t,” Ruan Jiao hurriedly covered her mouth. “Don’t jinx it. Usually, when people say things like that, all sorts of accidents happen.”
“What’s a ‘hair salon’?” Jun Gongyu looked utterly confused.
Ruan Jiao didn’t know how to explain it to her. Besides, after being tense for so long, she suddenly relaxed, and now she felt a slight bloating in her lower abdomen, she needed to use the restroom.
She looked at Jun Gongyu somewhat awkwardly, wanting to ask her to leave first, but she was too scared to be alone.
“Jun Gongyu, I need to use the restroom,” she said shyly.
What did that mean?
Jun Gongyu thought for a moment, then said thoughtfully, “Should I carry you there?”
“No, it’s fine. You can just wait outside the door for me,” Ruan Jiao said, blushing. “But, could you not close the door? And turn your back to me, don’t look…”
So that’s what she meant. Jun Gongyu nodded, obediently turning her back. After repeatedly confirming that the other person really wasn’t peeking, Ruan Jiao finally felt at ease and walked into a stall.
A few seconds later, a voice broke the silence in the quiet room.
“Cover your ears too.”
Jun Gongyu immediately raised her hands and covered her ears, looking very compliant.
Ruan Jiao quickly finished her business, washed her hands, and turned around to find the other person still standing there with her ears covered and her back turned, like a statue.
So obedient.
“I’m done,” she said softly, but there was still no reaction.
So she walked over and pulled Jun Gongyu’s hands down. Only then did Jun Gongyu turn around with a dazed expression, her face clearly saying: Are you finally done? I was very obedient just now, I didn’t look or hear anything.
This terrifying being, whom others avoided at all costs, was incredibly obedient and well-behaved in front of her.
Ruan Jiao felt her heart melting.
“I really like you,” she said, hugging her waist and nuzzling against her.
“I like Jiaojiao too.” Jun Gongyu wore a faint smile on her face, along with a hint of sly triumph at her scheme succeeding.
She was, after all, a ghost, how could covering her ears make her unable to hear? Even if she turned away, her eyes could open elsewhere, seeing everything clearly.
But she couldn’t say it out loud, Jiaojiao would get angry.
Just as Ruan Jiao stepped out of the restroom, her phone vibrated several times in her pocket, as if someone had sent multiple messages in quick succession, all loaded at once.
[Jiaojiao, which restroom are you in? Come back quickly! It’s terrifying, I was just chatting with classmates about gossip, and they told me that girl from the neighboring class committed suicide three days ago… the one who just told us there was someone under the bed. Oh my god, who was that talking to us just now?!]
After reading the message, Ruan Jiao was utterly shocked. How could that girl from earlier be a ghost? They had added each other as friends, and the other person had even transferred money to her.
She immediately tapped on the profile picture of the friend she had just added, only to be met with the glaring words: “This account has been deactivated.”
Not long ago, it had been a perfectly normal account.
The transfer record was still there, but upon closer thought, everything about it felt eerily strange. The girl had bumped into her inexplicably, rambled incoherently, and then Ruan Jiao had gone to rinse her wound because of the injury, only to encounter a ghost right after…
Ruan Jiao sensed a whiff of conspiracy. When overly coincidental events piled up, it was almost certainly premeditated.
Lost in thought, she returned to the classroom, with only a few minutes left before class started. Seeing her return, Xiang You seemed to find her anchor and began pouring out the information she had just heard like a stream of beans.
But Ruan Jiao wasn’t really listening. Her mind was consumed with the troubling question of what exactly had set its sights on her. She didn’t even notice when the classroom suddenly fell silent.
The crisp sound of leather boots tapping against the floor grew closer, approaching the classroom door. All voices ceased instantly, and dozens of pairs of eyes turned toward the entrance.
There was no warning, no prior agreement, everyone just looked over simultaneously. It was as if some kind of instinct had kicked in. Everyone held their breath, not daring to blink, filled with curiosity about the person about to enter.
A slender, pale leg stepped into the classroom from outside, clad in exquisite black leather boots with thick heels, estimated to be about 10 centimeters high. Even so, her figure appeared incredibly petite compared to the person following closely behind.
A tall figure carrying a suitcase walked into the classroom with her head lowered. She wore a meticulously tailored black trench coat, a scar stretching across her face. Her height was estimated to be over two meters, even among all carbon-based life forms, few could match such stature.
And what’s more, she was a woman. No Adam’s apple, a short ponytail, and a stern, cold expression. She maintained a measured distance from the girl in front, her gaze fixed intently on her.
The girl was strikingly beautiful.
Even though her attire wasn’t particularly flashy, her innate air of nobility was impossible to hide. Every gesture exuded elegance and grace, though it seemed tinged with a hint of disdain for this place.
Her eyes, which should have been alluring and fox-like, tilted upward at the corners, lending her a cold, enchanting aura. She wore dark eyeshadow and deep red lipstick, her black hair meticulously and flawlessly tucked behind her ears.
She wore a plain white shirt with no patterns, paired with a black skirt that accentuated her graceful waistline and the full, perky curve of her chest. Her delicate, fair neck was so pale it almost dazzled the eye, making one overlook the expensive jewelry she wore at first glance.
It was a necklace composed of three delicate diamond strands intricately woven together, each densely lined with slender diamonds. Irregularly placed silver gear-shaped stars adorned the strands, each studded with rare green diamonds.
Beautiful, dazzling, and delicate.
Yet it had no place in this old classroom of Jiang University, standing out starkly against the students seated at their desks.
“Hiss.” A soft gasp came from Xiang You.
Only then did Ruan Jiao snap out of her daze, looking up to see the girl at the classroom entrance who seemed to exist on a different plane from everyone else. Coincidentally, her gaze met those cold, striking eyes.
The other girl was looking right at her.
“Two million. That necklace costs two million. I saw it when I went to Hong Kong with my mom last time. I loved it so much, but she said I was too young for it and didn’t buy it for me.” Xiang You’s voice was tinged with disbelief.
Her family was well-off, but they were far from being able to casually spend two million on a necklace for their child.
Yet, this was just the most inconspicuous piece the wearer had chosen from her jewelry box.
Frowning, Ruan Jiao stared at the unfamiliar girl, certain she had never met her before. But why was the girl’s gaze so blatant, filled with a haughty scrutiny and judgment?
It was an uncomfortable stare.
Did she know her?
This was the counselor’s class, and she had arrived late. As she entered the classroom, she was met with this scene. But her first reaction to the girl standing at the door was to bow and scrape, respectfully asking if there was anything she needed.
A counselor asking a student if she had any instructions. The sight stunned everyone in the classroom, and the long-silent room erupted into heated whispers.
Some even discreetly raised their phones to take a photo. Though the two seemed to be deliberately keeping a low profile, it was impossible to hide the impression that this was a young lady accompanied by a bodyguard.
When a phone camera was aimed at the figure standing at the front, the tall woman who had been silent suddenly moved. She strode directly toward the person holding the phone and, under their terrified gaze, grabbed them by the collar and lifted them off the ground.
“Open your phone and delete the photo. Don’t make me say it twice.” Her voice was low, her eyes wide with menace, as if she were about to strike at any moment.
The student was so frightened she burst into tears, hastily explaining that she hadn’t even taken a photo yet. Still, under the woman’s intense stare, she opened her phone and scrolled through it several times to prove her point.
At the podium, the cold, striking black-haired girl clicked her tongue impatiently, her eyes filled with disdain.
“People from poor places are so ignorant. And you, why didn’t you just smash her phone? Wasting time with all that talking.”
The moment she spoke, the air grew still. No one had expected such cutting, caustic words from this elegant, refined-looking girl. Everyone was stunned.
The tall woman looked tense, immediately bowing her head and apologizing. “I’m sorry, Miss, I…”
“Alright, alright, enough with the nonsense. I’m not here to chat with you,” the girl said with a look of disgust, waving her hand as if swatting away trash.
The tall guy immediately stood up, clenched his fist, and slammed it down on the desk of the student who had been secretly taking photos. The other girl screamed, bursting into tears from fright. Upon closer inspection, she realized it was her phone that had been smashed.
The sturdy phone was instantly reduced to a crumpled piece of scrap metal. Trembling uncontrollably, she was too terrified to even think about demanding compensation.
Everyone around held their breath, afraid that this menacingly tall guy might unleash more violence and drag them into the mess.
“You, how could you do something like this? This is too much. Teacher, aren’t they students too? Aren’t you going to do something about it?” The bespectacled class monitor suddenly stood up, mustering the courage to point at the tall guy and question him.