Nightmare Apostle

Chapter 182: Chapter 160: The Phone Call

Yang Xiao and Song Yan looked at Xu Yu in surprise. Xu Yu gently shook her head, "I don’t want to talk about it now. Later, I’d like to stay behind alone to have a word with you. Is that okay?"

"Of course." This was a perfect opportunity for Yang Xiao and Song Yan to learn more about the case, so naturally, they would not refuse. Moreover, judging by Xu Yu’s demeanor, she must have something important to say.

Principal Wu and the male teacher had no objections to this.

"Principal Wu, Teacher Xu Yu, there’s something I’ve been puzzled about. Aside from you, has no one doubted the case? After all, they don’t have any direct evidence of Teacher Wang abusing students," Yang Xiao asked after some thought.

Upon hearing this, the male teacher couldn’t help but interject, "How could there not be? But who would dare to step forward under the social pressure at that time?"

"During an interview, that woman, furious about some people’s doubts, threw out three questions."

"How could such little kids lie?"

"Would a girl tarnish someone’s name with her own purity?"

"If the victim weren’t a girl, but a boy, would you still remain indifferent?"

Yang Xiao took a deep breath, feeling his blood pressure rise and his fists clench hard. These piercing questions made his head buzz.

Song Yan suddenly stood up. Yang Xiao turned to look at him, "What’s wrong?"

"I need to drink some water, to cool down," Song Yan said, heading towards the tea station where half a box of bottled water was underneath. It was clear he was seething as well.

Grabbing a few bottles of water, Song Yan handed one to Yang Xiao and distributed the rest to Principal Wu and Teacher Xu Yu, as they must be thirsty after talking for so long.

Xu Yu took a bottle of water, twisted off the cap, and sipped it very slowly, as though preoccupied. Her mood seemed low, her complexion dim. freewēbnoveℓ.com

At first glance, nothing seemed amiss, but a strange feeling suddenly washed over Yang Xiao. He couldn’t describe it, but something felt off.

Moments later, he shivered violently as he realized what was wrong. Xu Yu had received the water bottle with her right hand, but then naturally switched to her left hand to open it, a very odd set of actions.

He had observed Xu Yu’s dorm room, and from the placement of her pens and daily items, her dominant hand appeared to be her right.

Thinking back to what Xu Yu said earlier about planning to stay behind later to talk alone with them, Yang Xiao didn’t give it much thought at the time. But now, considering it, what could Xu Yu possibly want to tell them that she couldn’t say in front of Principal Wu, especially since he and Song Yan were the outsiders?

Linking all this together, Yang Xiao’s heart clenched with anxiety. Could it be that Xu Yu wasn’t who she said she was, but a ghost, and they had inadvertently invited a ghost through their door!

The situation was unclear; it would be reckless to act hastily. For now, the ghost didn’t seem to have any intention of killing. Any abnormality might push the situation into an unpredictable abyss. Yang Xiao kept a normal expression, his mind racing for a strategy. The priority was to confirm Xu Yu’s identity.

Immediately, he thought of the video camera.

"Song Yan, this water is too cold. Please brew Teacher Xu Yu a pot of hot tea, and remember to use the fine tea leaves I brought," Yang Xiao turned and patted Song Yan’s leg, instructing him naturally.

Song Yan was momentarily stunned, but in the instant their eyes met, he realized something was wrong. They hadn’t brought any tea, and Yang Xiao was clearly implying something else.

Song Yan agreed to it quietly, heading towards the tea station, while continuously thinking. The hostel’s tea station had two cups and an iron tea tin on it. He had checked it when they moved in, and it was filled with loose, low-quality tea leaves.

It was only when he spotted the DV machine in the corner of the tea station that Song Yan suddenly understood. A chill broke out on his forehead. Yang Xiao had just mentioned making tea for Xu Yu, which must mean he had discovered something, doubted Xu Yu’s identity, and suspected her... of being a ghost!

Inviting a ghost into the room was something Song Yan didn’t want to think about any further.

Song Yan didn’t know what slip-up Yang Xiao had noticed, but now wasn’t the time to ponder that. Pretending to be busy brewing tea, Song Yan fiddled with the old DV camera. Thankfully, Xu Yu and Principal Wu had their backs to him and couldn’t see any of it.

Meanwhile, Yang Xiao kept engaging Principal Wu and Xu Yu in conversation to divert Xu Yu’s attention and buy Song Yan time.

"Hurry up! Hurry!"

Song Yan was extremely anxious, but the DV camera chose this critical moment to malfunction. He tried to aim the lens at Xu Yu’s back, but the screen went black. After several attempts, nothing worked; it seemed like a connection issue.

Hearing the water begin to boil, Song Yan had no choice but to put away the DV camera and take the tea he had brewed over to Xu Yu, "Teacher Xu Yu, have some hot tea."

Song Yan may have been an old hand at dealing with tense situations. Moments earlier he was fraught with anxiety, but when he approached Xu Yu, he switched to his familiar, warm smile, making people feel very at ease.

After chatting for a bit more, Principal Wu stood up, preparing to leave, "It’s getting late, so we’ll be heading back now. Teacher Xu Yu surely has more to discuss with you in private."

Seeing this scene, Yang Xiao immediately rose to his feet. He now dared not let Principal Wu leave—he suspected that the reason Xu Yu had not made a move was precisely because Principal Wu and another person were present.

"Mr. Chu, do you have more to say?" Principal Wu asked.

Yang Xiao politely grasped Principal Wu’s arm and pushed him back down, "Principal Wu, we still have a lot to discuss, Ms. Shengnan is a common enemy of ours."

"Humph, that Zhong Yayi is the worst of them all, so many people’s homes were ruined and lives were lost because of her, and yet she has the nerve to come back to make a film, living off the blood and tears of others!" the male teacher said angrily.

"Zhong Yayi is the one known as Ms. Shengnan?" Yang Xiao was unfamiliar with the name.

Principal Wu nodded slowly, "Yes, her original name was Zhong Yayi. After she became famous, she changed her name, and now she is called Sun Shengnan."

Song Yan, puzzled, asked, "How did her last name change too?"

"Her originally surname, Zhong, came from her father. After the incident, to make a statement, she cut ties with her father and took her mother’s surname instead."

A moment later, Principal Wu seemed to suddenly remember something, "Teacher Zhao, could you go move the car? Our parking spot is too conspicuous, we don’t want to cause trouble for Chu Xi and the others."

Principal Wu was very thoughtful. He was worried that Director Ding might notice their private interactions, which would cause trouble for Chu Xi and Song Yan.

Teacher Zhao took out his car keys and headed towards the door. Song Yan also stood up at the right moment and followed, "Teacher Zhao, I need to go down and get some things. Let’s go together."

There were some questions that couldn’t be asked in front of Xu Yu. Now, Song Yan’s judgment aligned with Yang Xiao’s—Xu Yu might be problematic. However, Principal Wu and this Teacher Zhao should be fine. If there were three ghosts, the two of them would have already been dead the moment the door opened.

Once they walked down the stairs, Song Yan asked with a smile, "Teacher Zhao, I didn’t expect you to arrive so quickly. Did you pick up Teacher Xu Yu from the school?"

"Ah, it’s kind of a coincidence. The principal and I had just driven to the school when we ran into Teacher Xu Yu. So, we didn’t waste any time," Teacher Zhao explained. freēwēbnovel.com

Song Yan felt a jolt of anxiety in his heart and cursed silently. Teacher Xu Yu was not found by Principal Wu; they had simply bumped into her by chance.

A moment later, another question popped into Song Yan’s mind. If Xu Yu was a ghost, then Yu Mi was the first one to open the door—why hadn’t she been targeted?

"Teacher Zhao, did our colleagues on the fourth floor tell you anything?" Song Yan probed.

Unexpectedly, Teacher Zhao’s reply left Song Yan frozen in place, "She didn’t say much. We came at an awkward time, she was taking a shower, so we didn’t feel right about intruding. We just did as she said and came to find you."

"She didn’t open the door for you?!" Song Yan was shocked.

"No... no, she’s a young lady in the middle of a shower. We... we didn’t feel it was proper to enter," Teacher Zhao said.

Song Yan’s expression darkened immediately. It was unlikely that Yu Mi had the leisure to take a shower at such a critical moment—she was lying, clearly unwilling to take the risk of opening the door.

Gradually, Song Yan recalled his exchange with Yu Mi on the phone. Her attitude was off even then. He chastised himself for his carelessness this time, not realizing he had been taken for a fool by the young girl Yu Mi.

"What’s wrong?" Teacher Zhao looked at Song Yan, sensing his mood was off.

"Oh, nothing, I was just thinking how thoughtless Yu Mi is, not coming downstairs to greet you," Song Yan said with a smile, taking out his phone, "By the way, Teacher Zhao, could you give me your mobile number? I’ll save it for easier contact in the future."

After saving Teacher Zhao’s number, Song Yan changed the subject, "Could you also give me Teacher Xu Yu’s number? I’ll save that as well."

Teacher Zhao, unsuspecting, complied, and then went out to move the car. Once Teacher Zhao was a good distance away, Song Yan stood in the empty lobby of the inn and dialed Teacher Xu Yu’s number.

Song Yan held his breath subconsciously.

Moments later, the call actually went through, and as a familiar voice sounded on the other end of the line, Song Yan felt the hairs on his body stand on end.

"Hello?"

It was Teacher Xu Yu’s voice.

"Is this Teacher Xu Yu?" Song Yan asked in a lowered voice.

"Yes, it’s me. Who is this?" The voice on the other end was somewhat noisy, confirming that it wasn’t coming from the room upstairs, but rather sounded like it was from a street.

Song Yan finally confirmed that the one upstairs was an impostor—a ghost in disguise. He and Yang Xiao were now in trouble.