Gu Lili's expression grew grave. "Is it truly possible that the surveillance revealed no anomalies whatsoever?"
"Absolutely none. The roommates of the deceased male students all testified that the victims appeared perfectly normal while asleep, showing no signs of distress. Yet once everyone had fallen asleep, the victims' behavior grew increasingly bizarre—they would wander steadily toward the lake within the campus, and then perish. This occurred on two consecutive nights. Our officers stood watch by the lake both nights and witnessed the third victim approach with a vacant, trance-like expression. When we tried to restrain him, it was as if he weighed a thousand pounds—immovable. It was utterly unfathomable, deeply unsettling."
"That indeed signals a problem. I shall accompany you to the university to investigate firsthand."
"We must hurry. We will devise a plan and coordinate with you accordingly."
"Very well. Allow me a moment to change into inconspicuous attire."
"Understood."
Gu Lili ascended the stairs, swiftly changing into a sports outfit and sneakers. She tied her hair high atop her head, grabbed a backpack, and descended.
Long Yubei cautioned, "Call me if anything arises."
"Of course."
She rose onto tiptoe, kissed him softly, and departed.
...
Declining the police vehicle, she drove her own car to the precinct.
Upon arrival, Director Ma Shijie and the investigating officers meticulously briefed her on the details, presenting photographs of the victims and surveillance footage.
Having reviewed the evidence, she almost immediately surmised, "There may be an unclean presence at work. The three victims neither knew one another nor shared any discernible connections. It's likely these victims were chosen at random. Wait—allow me to disguise myself as a male student and inspect the lake firsthand. Director, please assign someone to research the historical records of deaths at that lake. This could prove crucial."
"Consider it done."
Gu Lili purchased a male wig and enlisted a makeup artist to craft a convincing male visage. Her white athletic wear required no alteration.
Standing before the mirror, she felt a surge of satisfaction. She snapped a selfie and sent it to Long Yubei with a teasing message: \[Just switched looks—do I have the charm to make you bend?]
His swift reply read: \[You certainly have the potential to invite me in.]
Her cheeks flushed crimson as she slipped the phone into her pocket and headed toward A City University.
Upon arrival, she greeted the campus security and parked just outside the main gate.
Descending from the vehicle, she made a beeline for the lake.
Once a favored haunt of couples lingering after class, the lake now bore a somber aura, perhaps the shadow of the mysterious deaths quietly permeating the campus.
When Gu Lili arrived, only a handful of students lingered nearby.
She paced leisurely along the water's edge, her hands casually tucked into the pockets of her track pants.
After a circuit, her phone rang—it was Director Ma Shijie instructing her to proceed to the academic affairs office, where records of previous lake-related deaths were kept.
She wasted no time and went to gather the information.
"Miss Gu, our university has stood for over a century. Since its founding, 136 individuals have died on these grounds."
Taking the files from the principal, she meticulously leafed through each page, committing the victims' photographs and details to memory.
After a single perusal, she had nearly memorized the entirety of the records.
"Principal, the police will be contacting you shortly for assistance. They will explain the situation in detail. Please ensure that no students leave their dormitories after dark tonight. This is of utmost importance. From reviewing the surveillance, three victims have died consecutively. Yet students still wander the campus at night. Clearly, supervision is lacking."