After leaving the police station, walking onto the main street, I felt the air was significantly fresher compared to the oppressive atmosphere inside the station. Perhaps this is the fundamental difference between authority and civilians.
"Hey, you in front! Stop right there!"
I had walked about 500 meters when I suddenly heard someone shouting at me. As I turned around to check, I saw that young policeman running in my direction. The way he raised his fist earlier, looking ready to punch me, made me shiver. Instinctively, I turned and ran.
Moments later:
As someone who hasn't exercised since leaving school, I was no match for this police officer who clearly trained every day. He was even younger than me but easily grabbed the back of my collar. I struggled a few times out of exhaustion but couldn't break free, so I gave up and sat on the ground, glaring at him.
"Officer, I thought we already established that this has nothing to do with me? Didn't you guys already issue a statement clearing me? Why are you still after me?"
He glanced at me with some disdain. "Your fitness is atrocious."
"…" Fine, you're the boss. Whatever you say goes.
Seeing that I wasn't responding, he let me go and sat opposite me. Alarmed by his posture, I sprang up from the ground and stared at him like he was a lunatic.
This guy must have a screw loose, right? Doesn't he find it absurd for two grown men to sit across from each other on a busy street, looking like maniacs?
He seemed dissatisfied with my reaction, stood up, and approached me. "I'll give you two choices: either we find a place to talk properly, or I'll ambush you someday with a sack over your head."
Being the principled person I am, of course, I chose the first option.
We ended up in a park, sitting on a bench. "So, what do you want with me? If it's about Mr. Xu's case, you don't need to ask further—I've already told you everything I know."
"Actually, Officer Li already informed me that those two were dealing with something supernatural, and this matter has nothing to do with you."
If they already knew it had nothing to do with me, why chase me down? I gave him a disgruntled look.
"Oh, by the way, I haven't introduced myself. My name is Lin Zhao."
As he extended his hand toward me, I hesitated, feeling somewhat repelled. Though I had only met him twice, I had figured out his temper—a hot-headed and violent young man. He wasn't someone I wanted to get involved with, especially since he was a cop. But seeing his hand stretched out, and considering that in this city he might very well fulfill his earlier threat, I reluctantly shook his hand.
"Liu Cunxi."
After exchanging names and handshakes, he suddenly dropped his stern demeanor and got up close, looking like a curious child.
Startled by his sudden movement, I took a step back to maintain some distance. "What are you doing? Just say what you have to say. No need to get so close."
This guy doesn't have some peculiar fetish, does he?
"I heard you can see… those things. Is that true?"
Officer Li and his big mouth! I had barely turned around, and he'd already told this guy everything. But why was Lin Zhao looking so excited? Was he mocking me?
"Why are you so happy?"
"That Xu couple's deaths clearly weren't caused by humans. It's incredible. I'd only ever heard from senior officers that once you join this field, you're bound to encounter strange people and events. Can you tell me what it feels like to see ghosts?"
Wow, so this guy already knew everything and just wanted to bait me?
"Being targeted by those things isn't a good thing. Don't ask about the feelings. When you encounter such things, running for your life is all that matters. It's easy for you to talk now, but if you ever face one yourself, you'll realize nothing matters compared to survival."
Obviously, some people still take risks for money, ignoring their own lives. The tragic deaths of the Xu couple were because of their greed.
And now, because they're dead, that little ghost's next target is me.
I didn't expect Lin Zhao to be such a chatterbox. He kept talking to me for nearly two hours. Finally escaping from him, I planned to head back to my dormitory.
While crossing a street, I noticed an elderly woman walking despite the red light. Without thinking, I rushed forward to push her out of the way. But as I got there, she vanished into thin air.
I was still trying to figure out how someone could disappear like that when I noticed a car speeding toward me. It seemed the driver's brakes had failed; no matter how hard they tried, the car wouldn't stop. As the vehicle closed in, I tried to move, but my feet felt like they were rooted to the ground.
At the last moment, someone pulled me to safety, and we rolled across the ground several times, narrowly avoiding the car's wheels.
Everything happened so quickly that I was in a daze. In that brief moment, I had brushed shoulders with death.
As the car drove away, bystanders pointed and whispered about me and Lin Zhao, who had saved me. His angry roar brought me back to my senses.
"Are you insane? Didn't you see the red light? Why would you run into the middle of the street?"
Instinctively, I touched Lin Zhao's hand—it was warm. I could still feel it, which meant I was alive.
Though I didn't understand why Lin Zhao had come back, I was grateful. If it weren't for him, I might have been another casualty under those wheels.
"Thank you."
I tried to stand but almost fell back down; my legs were jelly. Even facing ghosts had never left me this shaken.
Lin Zhao must have noticed how terrified I was. He stopped scolding me and helped me over to some nearby steps to sit down. Only after I had fully recovered did he ask, "What happened to you just now? You don't seem crazy, so why would you do something so reckless?"
"If I told you I saw someone standing there, and I don't know why, but I rushed over on impulse, only to find no one there… would you believe me?"