After staying up all night and spending the day investigating the Outang Corporation, Derek was utterly exhausted. As soon as he lay his head down, he fell asleep.
When he woke, it was already 10:40 p.m. The classroom, once bustling with students, was now empty. However, as Derek sat up, he was surprised to find Gu Qin seated beside him, watching him quietly.
She hadn't changed her clothes.
That familiar red plaid jacket. Those beautiful, expressive eyes.
Seeing her again filled Derek with an inexplicable sense of excitement and a faint sweetness in his heart.
Could this be… the feeling of a first crush?
"When did you get here?" Derek asked, breaking the silence.
"I arrived at ten. You were still asleep," Gu Qin replied with a gentle smile.
"You should've woken me up! I made you wait so long!" Derek checked his phone and apologized.
"I couldn't do that. You worked so hard last night," Gu Qin said, shaking her head.
"It wasn't hard at all. It's what I should do," Derek replied quickly.
The two exchanged a glance, then fell silent.
"I went to the Outang Corporation today and met Xia Yichu's uncle, Xia Yanguì. I found out Xia Yichu's schedule and location. He's returning to Cangsong City tomorrow, and I'll use the opportunity to get the truth about your sister's murder," Derek explained, recounting his day.
Having promised to help her, Derek was determined to see it through.
"Thank you so much. Be careful, though. The Xia family is not to be trifled with," Gu Qin said earnestly.
"I'm not afraid of ghosts; why would I fear people? Don't worry about me," Derek replied, puffing out his chest confidently.
"Sometimes… people can be scarier than ghosts," Gu Qin murmured with a touch of sorrow.
"Maybe… Oh, by the way, could I have your phone number? That way, I can update you with any news," Derek said, seizing the moment to ask for her contact information.
"I always forget my number. Give me yours, and I'll call you," Gu Qin said, pulling out a small pink phone.
"Sure." Derek recited his number, and when Gu Qin's number appeared on his screen, he exhaled in relief and saved it immediately.
"I might turn my phone off during class, so if you can't reach me, try again later," Gu Qin explained.
"Got it," Derek replied, smiling. Getting her number felt like a promising start.
"Are we keeping vigil tonight?" Gu Qin asked, glancing toward the restroom.
"Yes, I need to see her," Derek nodded. If they didn't find Gu Ling tonight, only one night would remain to complete the task.
"Let's check it out. Maybe she'll show up tonight," Gu Qin suggested.
"Alright," Derek agreed, standing up.
As Gu Qin walked cautiously ahead, Derek couldn't help but feel a sweet warmth in his heart. What had started as a mundane ghost-hunting mission had turned into something unexpectedly comforting because of her presence. He even found himself looking forward to the evenings—less for the ghost hunt and more for the chance to see her again.
After this mission, will I have another reason to spend time with her? Maybe I should ask her out for a meal.
When they reached the entrance to the women's restroom, Gu Qin stopped and nervously glanced back at Derek.
"I'll go in and check first," Derek said, guessing she was still scared. He stepped into the restroom ahead of her.
"It looks like someone's in there," Derek said quietly, retreating to Gu Qin.
Gu Qin peeked inside and saw the middle stall door was locked, as if someone was inside.
"Knock on the door and check if someone's really there. If there is, I shouldn't go in," Derek said.
"How do you know… whether it's a person or a ghost?" Gu Qin asked, her wide eyes filled with tension.
"Good point," Derek admitted, realizing the locked stall could very well house Gu Ling, the ghost he sought. If so, this was the perfect chance.
"Is anyone there?" Derek called loudly into the restroom.
No response.
"Is anyone there?" he called again, stepping closer to the stall.
Still no response.
As Derek prepared to knock on the stall door, Gu Qin grabbed his arm.
"I think… I saw feet…" she said, trembling as she bent down for another look.
"If there are feet, it's probably a person, right?" Derek reasoned, instantly alert, ready to activate his ghost domain and capture Gu Ling if necessary.
"Who says ghosts don't have feet? Plenty of ghosts in movies do," Gu Qin countered nervously.
"True," Derek nodded.
"Still, I'm not sure if I saw it clearly. Take a closer look," Gu Qin said, nudging him forward.
"Alright," Derek sighed, bending down to peer under the stall door.
There were indeed feet. A girl squatting. Wait… what was that?
The dim light made it hard to tell. He leaned in for a better look.
Oh no.
"Did you see a ghost?" Gu Qin asked anxiously when Derek didn't move for a while.
"No," Derek replied, standing up with a flushed face. He quietly stepped out of the restroom.
"What did you see? Why is your face so red?" Gu Qin asked curiously.
"Uh… I checked carefully. There's no ghost, just a girl squatting in there," Derek explained awkwardly.
"How can you be sure she's not a ghost?" Gu Qin asked suspiciously.
"Because… um… just trust me, she's definitely not a ghost!" Derek stammered, his embarrassment deepening.
"Oh?" Gu Qin seemed to catch on.
"Let's wait outside for a bit," Derek suggested, taking a few steps back.
"But what if it's my sister? If we miss her now, who knows when we'll get another chance," Gu Qin said, still reluctant.
Just as Derek steadied himself to re-enter, the sound of the stall door unlocking echoed from inside the restroom.