Chapter 127: Three Are Missing One, None Can Be Spared 20

“Anyway...” Zhou Bushan’s eyes flickered. “Next time your soul leaves your body, be sure to call me.”

“Mm, got it.” Shi Xianyu nodded.

There wouldn’t be a next time; she never really had an out-of-body experience to begin with.

Everyone gathered in the corridor and discussed for a while, finally deciding to head to the girls’ dormitory together.

Along the way, Zhou Bushan kept reassuring everyone, “Don’t be afraid. There are so many of us, full of positive energy! Even if we meet a ghost, it wouldn’t dare to do anything to us.”

Such reassurances had little effect; everyone’s expressions grew numb, their eyes darkly fixed on the path ahead, and they barely bothered to speak.

It wasn’t until they entered the apartment building, where the light dimmed and the stifling atmosphere finally shifted.

“Xia Yu, which floor does that senior who was strangled by her ex-boyfriend live on?” someone asked.

Xia Yu kept her head down as she walked among the crowd. “I don’t know. I’ve only heard the rumor, but I’m not sure about the exact floor or room number.”

Wang Aiguo squeezed through the crowd, nervously watching both sides of the corridor. “...According to the rumor, the senior’s ex-boyfriend climbed in through a window, so it’s probably the first floor. Let’s hurry upstairs.”

When they reached the second floor, Shi Xianyu pointed to the walls above and below. “It should be this floor, right? Based on the cafeteria’s usual pattern, restless spirits linger where they died. The walls here look older than downstairs; the lower floor must have been repainted.”

“Let’s go, hurry!” Wang Aiguo was terrified. “Don’t stop here—let’s get to Du Xiaoling’s dorm!”

He pressed forward so much that no one could walk properly. Someone sneered, “Is there any difference? They’re all haunted anyway.”

Wang Aiguo tried to be brave. “At least Du Xiaoling’s someone we know, three years of schoolmates and all!”

A cold snort came from someone else. “Yeah, we were classmates with her for three years, and this is how she treats us.”

Everyone fell silent.

When Du Xiaoling was mentioned, they all used to praise her—calling her beautiful, smart, and helpful. Now, only silence remained.

Shi Xianyu looked at these people and wanted to say that the reason they were trapped probably had nothing to do with Du Xiaoling. But she had no evidence in hand, and even if she spoke up, what difference would it make?

They quietly ascended the stairs. The sound of their footsteps echoed faintly in the empty dormitory building, the atmosphere grim and the air chilly.

Du Xiaoling’s dorm was the innermost room on the fourth floor.

Shi Xianyu asked, “Does every student live in the dorms?”

“Yes. Our school is semi-closed; we can only go out on weekends and holidays.”

Someone added, “After Bai Yuxi got to know Du Xiaoling, she purposely switched dorm rooms to live with her.”

Shi Xianyu casually asked, “Oh? Which room did Bai Yuxi live in before?”

Everyone fell silent again...

This unusual quiet made Shi Xianyu slightly stunned. She didn’t understand why such a simple question provoked this reaction. She instinctively glanced at Bai Yuxi and Lu Min ahead, who continued walking steadily without any intention of responding.

Then Xia Yu replied softly, “Yuxi used to live on the third floor, in the same room as me.”

Shi Xianyu was a bit surprised.

Xia Yu paused for a moment, then whispered, “When Du Xiaoling died, we had already graduated and the dorm was long emptied. There shouldn’t be anything left inside—no clues.”

Zhou Bushan said, “Since we’re here, let’s take a look.”

They soon arrived at the dormitory door.

As usual, Zhou Bushan waved his peach wood sword around but sensed nothing unusual. He glanced at Shi Xianyu. “Looks like the dorm is still relatively safe...”

He grasped the door handle and tried to turn it. It wasn’t locked and opened easily.

Inside was exactly as Xia Yu said: empty, with nothing but desks, chairs, and beds. Only on the bed by the window on the right side were scattered sheets of paper.

Zhou Bushan picked up one and glanced at it, his expression darkening slightly.

Other students picked up the remaining sheets and then looked toward Xia Yu.

Shi Xianyu asked, “What’s written on the papers?”

Zhou Bushan handed one to her with a subtle expression. “They’re IOUs...”

“IOUs?” Shi Xianyu took it and immediately saw the signature was Xia Yu’s. The content showed Xia Yu borrowing twenty thousand yuan from Bai Yuxi.

Shi Xianyu gathered all the IOUs from the others. Each one was Xia Yu borrowing money from Bai Yuxi, with amounts ranging from several thousand to over a hundred thousand. Altogether, it added up to nearly a million yuan.

Given Bai Yuxi’s family background, this was probably insignificant money to her. So why were these IOUs deliberately written?

In this empty room, the sudden appearance of a pile of IOUs signed by Xia Yu was a clear and pointed clue.

Shi Xianyu turned to look at Xia Yu.

But Xia Yu was staring straight at Bai Yuxi.

Xia Yu asked, “Yuxi, why are the IOUs I wrote to you on Du Xiaoling’s bed?”

Shi Xianyu was momentarily stunned—it turned out this bed used to belong to Du Xiaoling.

Bai Yuxi buried her head in Lu Min’s arms and murmured, “They’ve... always been kept with Xiaoling.”

Xia Yu laughed bitterly, a laugh more painful than tears. “Right, it makes sense to keep them with her. Even whether I can borrow money, you had to ask her for permission, didn’t you?”

Bai Yuxi said nothing.

Lu Min frowned. “Yuxi lent you money out of kindness. You don’t have to treat her like that.”

“I’m not talking to you!” Xia Yu suddenly snapped. “How long have you known her?! I’ve grown up with her for over ten years! When I talk to her, do you have the right to butt in?!”

Lu Min said coldly, “It’s because of your temper that you push your friends away. Du Xiaoling probably couldn’t stand it either, which is why she suggested Yuxi make you write IOUs. No matter how good a friend, you’re not supposed to be her ATM.”

“Bai Yuxi!” Xia Yu refused to look at Lu Min and fixed her gaze on Bai Yuxi. “I want you to tell me exactly what’s going on! If you’re unhappy with me, tell me directly! There’s no need to make Du Xiaoling—or this random man who popped out of nowhere—say it for you!”

Bai Yuxi finally looked up, glanced at Xia Yu, and whispered, “Lu Min isn’t a random man. Lu Min is my boyfriend...”

“Then tell me why the IOUs were kept by Du Xiaoling!” Xia Yu demanded loudly.

Lu Min held Bai Yuxi protectively and frowned. “Yuxi’s been struggling for a while now. Xia Yu, you should watch how you ask your questions.”

A classmate chimed in, “Yeah, the debtor acting more domineering than the lender.”

“Du Xiaoling couldn’t stand it either, so she stepped in for Bai Yuxi, right?”

“Why bother arguing now? Aren’t we here to find the killer? I think this is physical evidence! Xia Yu hated Du Xiaoling because she was close to Bai Yuxi, so she killed her!”

“Yeah, the IOUs are evidence! Otherwise, why would there be a bunch of IOUs here? Clearly, Du Xiaoling’s restless spirit is trying to give us a hint!”

“...Xia Yu, did you also harm Wan Qianqian?”