"Class president, did he say anything? Does he know why Haitao suddenly went back to the haunted dormitory?" Lu Fei asked anxiously.
This whole situation was both abrupt and unnerving. In Lu Fei's memory, Guo Haitao was always a cheerful and optimistic person. Why would he jump to his death out of nowhere?
"Pan Linkai said he doesn't know. After graduation, everyone went their separate ways, busy with jobs and life. Don't overthink it—maybe it was just the pressure of society getting to him," Wang Feng said, trying to reassure him.
"But did he mention anything unusual about their exploration of the dormitory back then?" Lu Fei pressed.
"Sorry, Lu Fei. I'm swamped with work right now. How about you ask him yourself tomorrow when we meet?"
"Alright, thanks, class president."
Lu Fei put down his phone, but he couldn't shake his unease.
The night was long, and sleep was elusive. His mind kept replaying memories of his university days, especially the time spent with Guo Haitao.
Something didn't add up.
Even if Haitao was struggling with post-graduation challenges, why choose to end his life at the haunted dormitory of all places? If he really wanted to jump, there were plenty of other places.
And why now? They had visited that dorm years ago without any issues. Why would trouble arise after graduation?
Moreover, other people had gone to the dormitory too, yet they were all fine.
The unanswered questions swirled in his mind, leaving him restless all night.
By the next afternoon, Lu Fei had barely managed to pull himself together. Changing into a clean outfit, he grabbed some cash, left Tiger in charge of the shop, and headed out.
Traffic during rush hour was a nightmare.
The group had agreed to meet outside Guo Haitao's residential community. By the time Lu Fei arrived, two classmates were already waiting at the entrance.
"Lu Fei, you came!"
One of them was a female classmate dressed conservatively in a black skirt. Her fair, delicate face was makeup-free, and she looked genuinely pleased to see him.
"You're… Xia Yiyi?"
Lu Fei blinked, barely recognizing her.
Back in school, Xia Yiyi always wore oversized glasses and had a nerdy, unassuming demeanor. But now, post-graduation, she had blossomed from a shy bud into a radiant flower.
"Wow, the aloof Lu Fei actually showed up for a class event," sneered the other male classmate, Huang Junkun. His tone was dripping with sarcasm.
"Lu Fei and Guo Haitao were dormmates. Of course, he'd come," Xia Yiyi said, defending him.
"He never speaks in the group chat, skips all our reunions, and now suddenly wants to play the good guy?" Huang Junkun scoffed.
"I've had family matters to attend to, so I don't check messages much," Lu Fei said, keeping his tone polite.
"Family matters, huh? I heard your family runs a business. Are you some rich kid who went straight to inheriting the family empire after graduation?" Huang Junkun asked, eyeing Lu Fei up and down.
"No, just a small business to make ends meet," Lu Fei replied calmly.
"That makes sense! Small businesses require hands-on effort. No time for rest, let alone a car! You'd better work hard—any girl marrying you would have it rough."
Huang Junkun flashed the keys to his Audi, smirking with a hint of superiority.
"Yiyi, why don't you wait in my car? It has air conditioning—much more comfortable than standing out here in the heat."
"No, thanks. The class president and Pan Linkai should be here soon," Xia Yiyi replied, politely declining.
"No need to be so formal. Your dad asked me to take good care of you. We're practically family now," Huang Junkun said, reaching out to grab her slender arm.
"I said no! And stop talking nonsense—you're going to give people the wrong idea."
Xia Yiyi frowned, stepping away and positioning herself behind Lu Fei for protection.
Huang Junkun's face darkened, but he couldn't take it out on Xia Yiyi. Instead, he glared daggers at Lu Fei.
Lu Fei, however, paid him no mind, as the class president and Pan Linkai had just arrived.
"Sorry, I came straight after work, but the traffic was terrible," Wang Feng apologized, sweat dripping down his face.
"No problem, we just got here too," Lu Fei replied, turning his attention to Pan Linkai.
Pan Linkai looked troubled, his expression heavy with unease.
"Now that everyone's here, let's decide—do we pool our condolence money together or give it separately?" Wang Feng asked, wiping his brow with a tissue.
"Let's pool it together. It's the thought that counts," Lu Fei suggested.
"I think separate is better. Some people might contribute less and end up freeloading," Huang Junkun countered, pulling out a slightly thick envelope from his leather wallet, clearly trying to show off.
Pan Linkai visibly stiffened, his discomfort evident.
Coming from a modest background and having only recently landed a job, he could barely spare a few hundred yuan.
"It's better to pool it. We're all classmates—no need to nitpick over amounts," Xia Yiyi said, cutting in and handing her contribution to Wang Feng.
Wang Feng nodded. "Alright, those who want to pool their money, hand it to me. Those who don't can give theirs directly."
He combined his share with Xia Yiyi's and Pan Linkai's.
"What about you, Lu Fei?" Huang Junkun asked, looking smug. "You wouldn't show up empty-handed, would you?"
"I brought a little something—just a small token of respect," Lu Fei said, handing over his envelope.
It was noticeably thicker than Huang Junkun's.
Even Wang Feng hesitated. "Lu Fei, pooling your share might not be fair to you. Are you sure?"
"It's just a gesture. Besides, how could it compare to Huang Junkun's generosity?" Lu Fei said, smiling faintly as he glanced at Junkun.
Huang Junkun's face twitched. Compared to Lu Fei's envelope, his own suddenly seemed… inadequate.
"I'm not one to pretend to be rich!" he retorted defensively, before reluctantly handing his envelope to Wang Feng.
Wang Feng, always focused on the bigger picture, chose not to comment and moved things along.
"Alright, let's head upstairs to see his parents. We can sort out other matters later."
The group entered the modest apartment complex.
Guo Haitao's family lived in an unassuming, middle-class unit.
Wang Feng knocked on the door.
"Mr. Guo, we're Haitao's classmates."
"Please, come in," said an elderly man with graying hair and a weary expression as he opened the door.
The group filed in one by one.
Pan Linkai hesitated at the threshold, his face pale and his eyes filled with fear.
"Linkai, what's wrong?" Lu Fei asked, noticing his odd behavior.