That night, the atmosphere in girls' dormitory 441 was much more lively thanks to Tao Bing'er's arrival. Tao Bing'er was the kind of naughty girl who chattered endlessly. She had a wide range of interests and topics, from astronomy, geography, history, and sports to makeup and hair care—she could offer you an impromptu exposition. If you objected, her saliva could drown you.
However, Qin Yanping got along well with her. She was kind-hearted, and although Tao Bing'er had played a prank on her, she didn't take it to heart. She had been spoiled at home since she was a child, and it was rare for her to have a lively and active peer to be around. Furthermore, they shared bunk beds, so she couldn't help but listen to everything Tao Bing'er said. The two girls, one a talker and the other a listener, complemented each other perfectly.
Su Ya was completely different from the others. She had been silent since entering girls' dormitory 441. She pulled a copy of Anne Boleyn's collection of novels, "Farewell Vivian," from her backpack and lay on her side, her back to the light, quietly reading. She was so absorbed in her reading that she didn't even stir. Fang Yuan, lying on the lower bunk, was barely aware of Su Ya's presence. Only the occasional subtle rustling reminded her that she was sleeping on the upper bunk, the sound of Su Ya turning pages.
Later, Tao Bing'er and Qin Yanping's conversation grew increasingly captivating. When the topic turned to music, they discovered they were both avid Twins fans, one for Gillian Chung and the other for Charlene Choi. Excited, they both rose from their beds and went to the hall to search online for and download Twins' new songs.
After the two left, the bedroom finally quieted down. Perhaps exhausted, and perhaps even nervous from the previous shock, Xu Zhaodi fell asleep as soon as she relaxed. She, on the other hand, could eat and sleep well; it's said that people like her tend to live happier lives.
In the quiet night, Fang Yuan felt a touch of melancholy. During the day, she seemed like any other girl, chatting and laughing, youthful and beautiful. But at night, especially when it was late and she couldn't sleep, all pretense seemed cumbersome, and she could clearly hear the sobs deep within her heart. At that moment, the whole world had forgotten her. In the boundless night, she seemed so small and insignificant, no different from a mayfly with only a day to live. Only her familiar breath accompanied her, reminding her that she was still alive.
Thoughts drifted haphazardly in the night, and the past weighed heavily on her soul like lead. She could never escape it. Like a sorrowful, heavy melody, it drifted into her cerebral cortex with her breath, squeezing the nerve cells there, tightly constricting them, suppressing and suffocating them until her body became stiff and solidified, unable to move!
She hated this feeling!
Life is full of paradoxes. She avoided the past, yet she constantly recalled it. No matter how painful it was, she had to occasionally turn it over and savor it. Perhaps, subconsciously, she feared losing her memories. Even if such memories were excruciating, they at least proved she was a living entity undergoing a process of growth.
After a long period of wandering thoughts, fatigue finally took hold of her upper cerebral cortex. Fang Yuan closed her eyes, letting her brain rest for a moment.
When she opened them again, the fluorescent lights in the bedroom had been turned off. A few rays of cool moonlight streamed in through the rusty window frames, illuminating Fang Yuan's face. She reached out her slender fingers and gently stroked them, fragments of moonlight dancing between her fingers.
Fang Yuan couldn't sleep, so she quietly got out of bed and dressed. At some point, Su Ya had rolled over and fallen asleep facing outward. In the clear moonlight, Fang Yuan could clearly see Su Ya's face. She had never observed her so closely before—the aloof and arrogant aura she exuded made it impossible to look directly at her.
Now, Fang Yuan was faced with a flawless face, incredibly beautiful, as if meticulously sculpted by an artist. A sudden chill ran through her, and she remembered her father's warning: Don't trust in things that are too perfect, for the forces that create perfection are often evil and terrifying.
Fang Yuan turned and left.
The moment Fang Yuan turned, Su Ya's eyes suddenly opened, gleaming with greed. Her once-beautiful face, too, became ferocious with greed. Her rosy complexion gradually faded, turning gray-black; her snow-white skin began to shrink and discolor, tightening and folding, revealing dark sinews. Her long, flowing hair, so proud of her, withered and turned like gray weeds. She leaped from the bed, her gaze like a venomous snake about to bite. Her nails grew sharp and pointed, pinching Fang Yuan, just enough to pierce the aorta in her neck.
Fang Yuan felt a cold breeze creep into her back. She turned again, facing Su Ya's bed in bed number 8. She didn't see Su Ya.
The ferocious demonic figure faded into thin air the moment she turned, leaving only a faint shadow. Unfortunately, Fang Yuan couldn't see it; she only saw an empty bed.
Fang Yuan was puzzled. Where had Su Ya gone? She couldn't have vanished in such a short time. Unless—unless she was blinded.
Fang Yuan rubbed her eyes, then opened them again. Sure enough, Su Ya was lying there, soundly asleep in the same position she'd first seen.
In the other bed, Xu Zhaodi slept soundly, snoring steadily. Qin Yanping and Tao Bing'er's beds were empty. Were they still surfing the internet?
A faint, cold light flickered in the hallway of girls' dormitory 441.
Fang Yuan left the bedroom and walked into the hallway. Still no one was there.
The cold light was from Qin Yanping's computer.
The computer was on. Fang Yuan got closer and saw that the screen was showing the horrifying and disgusting photo of Cheng Li's corpse again!
Weren't they here to download Twins' new song? And now, what was this? With Qin Yanping's audacity, how could she dare to see this again? Was Tao Bing'er teasing her again? If so, Tao Bing'er was quite bold, but where were they now?
Just then, the sound of running water filled the bathroom, a clear, piercing sound. Fang Yuan was suspicious. Who would be washing in there so late at night? Besides, she didn't hear any footsteps. On such a quiet night, who could walk without making any sound?
Cold sweat broke out on Fang Yuan's back, and the wind blew it chillingly. She had a vague premonition that something terrifying was waiting for her in the bathroom, and once she entered, she would never be able to leave.
She wanted to escape, to escape the impending tragedy. Fang Yuan wanted to go back to the bedroom and wake Xu Zhaodi to go in together. Or maybe she didn't even need to go to the bathroom at all, just hide under the covers and sleep until dawn.
But then a voice seemed to echo in her ear, gently calling her:
"It's time... Come!"
She knew the voice so well, so trusted, yet she couldn't place its origin. It echoed around her, like a dream whisper, emitting a captivating, piercing power that constantly irritated her eardrums.
Fang Yuan couldn't resist the richness of the sound. Her steps involuntarily moved toward the bathroom.
The bathroom door was ajar, and the rushing sound of water intensified, as if it had detected her arrival.
Fang Yuan reached out her fingers, grasped the handle, took a deep breath, and then, holding her breath, carefully and slowly pushed the door open.
Her pupils contracted with nervousness, like a cat in the night.
What did she see?