Translator: CinderTL
Chu Jiu leaned against the safety gate, her eyes filled with despair.
No matter how strong she tried to appear, the young college girl couldn't help but tremble with fear as she watched the darkness slowly closing in on her.
Her body began to shake. Though she couldn't see the figure, she could feel the icy chill emanating from it.
In the darkness, a pair of bloodthirsty eyes stared at her, ready to claim her life.
The moment she closed that safety gate, her fate was sealed. Yet, she couldn't explain why she had made that decision.
Perhaps it was because, after witnessing Sister Chen Yi, Hua Luo, and Wan Yuanning's lives burst like fireworks before fading into silence, she couldn't bear to abandon anyone and leave.
Maybe she just didn't want to face the cowardly version of herself anymore.
She was tired.
The weight of what was depicted in that painting was too heavy. She chose to escape, leaving the painting to Banana Wolf. It was better to rid herself of such tormenting things as soon as possible.
The moment she passed the painting on, she reverted to her most authentic self—a girl who could feel fear, terror, and tears.
The scenes from this mission flashed through her mind frame by frame, like a movie.
Sister Chen Yi's last smile as she opened the car door and jumped out; Hua Luo, who clung desperately to the Ghost's legs, shouting at her to run into the darkness and never look back.
Wan Yuanning, who rarely spoke and would even blush when making eye contact with others.
Who could have guessed she was so skilled? The way she charged at Wei Jinting to buy time for Chu Jiu resembled a butterfly darting into flames.
Banana Wolf was a gentle soul too, as evident from his attitude toward Weng Qing.
Chu Jiu's lips curled into a faint smile.
When he returned and was surrounded by everyone for questioning, his hands fidgeted nervously, like a boy caught in a puppy love.
Then there was that chubby man named Jiang Fugui. Chu Jiu felt an inexplicable fondness for him.
She wasn't sure why, but perhaps it was because he didn't look like a bad person, which made her trust him instinctively.
After Sister Chen Yi left, he kept repeating his so-called survival tips to her, unaware that what he was saying was the most basic knowledge.
She not only understood it but knew far more than he did.
Yet, seeing the earnest look in his eyes, Chu Jiu couldn't bring herself to interrupt him. She listened patiently, occasionally nodding in agreement.
This only fueled Fatty's excitement, and he repeatedly praised her for her remarkable understanding.
Finally, another man appeared in Chu Jiu's thoughts.
He lived up to his name.
Hao Shuai.
He seemed unreliable, with a face that exuded an air of purity, yet Sister Chen Yi had spoken of him engaging in shameful deeds.
How should she put it?
She couldn't quite figure him out. His expressions were far more vivid than his inner thoughts. Sometimes, even when standing right beside him, she felt an invisible barrier between them.
His aloofness stemmed from the depths of his heart.
It was as if he cared about nothing.
At the start of the mission, he would leer at her or Wan Yuanning, but after Sister Chen Yi's death, his demeanor changed instantly.
To this day, she still remembered the moment the car emerged from the tunnel. Sitting in the back seat, his hand froze mid-air, and the fear in his eyes was unmistakable.
Like a child who had just lost their favorite toy.
At least in that moment, Chu Jiu was certain that he was willing to save Sister Chen Yi.
But if the word "love" were used to describe it, it would be somewhat presumptuous. She had an indescribable feeling in her heart.
Perhaps what he truly wanted to save in that moment wasn't Sister Chen Yi, but himself.
And after realizing that Sister Chen Yi had completely become a thing of the past, never to return, the fear in that man's eyes quickly faded, replaced by an uncontrollable rage.
"Creak—"
Chu Jiu's body froze, and then a hand tightly gripped her arm, the immense force dragging her into the darkness.
The door was closed very, very softly.
Chu Jiu could sense that someone else was nearby because she could hear their breathing.
But she couldn't tell if this person was human or a Ghost, so she huddled in the corner, covering her mouth, not daring to make a sound.
The person seemed to press their ear against the door and listen for a while, then slowly walked toward her. "It's me," the voice was very low.
It seemed the danger outside the door hadn't passed yet.
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The moment she heard the voice, Chu Jiu was so excited she almost jumped up—it was Jiang Fugui!
"Keep your voice down," Fatty hurriedly covered her mouth. "That thing is still outside. Do you want to die?"
Then Fatty pulled Chu Jiu, and the two of them moved to the balcony far from the door. "Why are you here?" Chu Jiu asked in surprise.
Fatty shook his large head, seemingly just as confused about the situation. "I don't know either. I remember being with Hao Shuai and Banana Wolf, but when I turned around, they were gone."
"Dead?" Chu Jiu's face turned pale. She had just handed the painting to Banana Wolf—could he really have died so quickly?
If she had known, she would have let him stay to cover their escape.
"No, no," Fatty quickly explained. The two of them briefly recounted their respective experiences and finally pieced together the sequence of events.
Banana Wolf had encountered himself after separating from them.
It was also because the time was too tight when they bumped into Banana Wolf, and there was no time to say more.
The chilling feeling outside the door still lingered, but for some reason, it remained outside without attempting to break in.
After all, a Ghost wouldn't be stopped by an ordinary door.
As if she had thought of something, Chu Jiu's expression changed instantly. She mustered her courage and tiptoed to the door, then crouched down to carefully inspect the doorframe.
After a while, she stepped back and sighed in relief. "It's not the painting frame. This room probably isn't a new Urban Legend. The painting isn't in our hands, so the thing outside isn't in a hurry to kill us. It just needs to trap us here."
Chu Jiu's suggestion was met with strong agreement from Fatty.
"Let's see if there's any rope or something like that," Chu Jiu whispered. "If there isn't, we'll tear the curtains to make a rope, lower it from the balcony, and climb down. Maybe we can escape."
Fatty thought for two seconds, then put on a serious expression. "That's the only way. I actually thought of it earlier, but I didn't say it."
"Because I didn't think it was perfect," Fatty added.
"Brother Fugui, you're the smartest," Chu Jiu tactfully gave him an out, especially since the Ghost was still guarding the door, and there was no telling when it might break in without warning.
Chu Jiu handed the flashlight to Fatty and took the phone that Hua Luo had last given her. The two of them slowly searched the room.
The flashlight beam swept across the walls, and a spot in the middle caught Fatty's attention. There hung a large photograph.
It showed a man and a woman.
It looked like a wedding photo of a newlywed couple.
(End of the Chapter)
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