Derek hesitated to check inside the restroom stall himself, worried it might just be an ordinary girl rather than a ghost. Instead, he nudged Gu Qin forward.
Gu Qin hesitated, glanced at Derek nervously, and finally summoned her courage to peek inside. After confirming what she saw, she quickly retreated to Derek's side.
"So? Was it a person or a ghost?" Derek asked. Judging by her expression and reaction, it seemed the occupant wasn't a ghost.
Before Gu Qin could answer, a tall girl stepped out of the stall, earbuds in her ears and clearly listening to music. She glanced at Derek in the hallway and let out a startled "Ah!" before narrowing her eyes at him. Holding her phone, she took a smug selfie, then quickly walked toward the staircase, disappearing from view.
"That… wasn't your sister, was it?" Derek asked Gu Qin.
"No," Gu Qin replied, shaking her head, disappointment written all over her face.
Derek tugged on her sleeve, and they quietly walked to the stairwell. Listening carefully, they overheard voices coming from the fourth floor.
"I just went to the fifth floor bathroom alone and even took some pictures as proof. What do you think? You lost the bet, so tonight's midnight snack is on you!" said a proud voice. It was clearly the tall girl from earlier.
"You're really bold! I can't believe you actually went!" said another girl.
"Aren't you afraid of running into a ghost?" someone else chimed in.
"Ghosts? She used to bunk with Gu Ling. Even if Gu Ling became a ghost, she wouldn't scare her," teased one of the girls.
"Too bad I didn't see Xiao Ling. But on my way out, I ran into some guy outside the bathroom. Scared the hell out of me!" the tall girl added.
"Was it a male ghost? Was he handsome? Did you flirt with him?" someone joked.
"What male ghost? I know that guy. He's been wandering around here the past few days, looking suspicious," said the tall girl.
"He's been watching you! Lucky you!" another teased.
"Shut up! Stop making stuff up. Let's just go grab our snacks," the tall girl said.
A moment later, the tall girl and her friends descended the stairs, laughing and chatting as they headed toward the school gate.
"She's definitely not a ghost. She's one of your sister's classmates, just here for a bet," Derek explained to Gu Qin, watching the group disappear into the distance.
Gu Qin sighed, saying nothing more.
This was the second night of their vigil. Despite the earlier commotion caused by the tall girl's bet, the women's restroom on the fifth floor remained eerily quiet. Not a single unusual event occurred.
As dawn broke and students began arriving at the school, Derek turned to Gu Qin. "Want to grab breakfast together?" he asked. Having no experience in dating, Derek could only think of inviting her to eat as a way to get closer.
"I'm not hungry. I'd rather go back to my dorm and get some sleep," Gu Qin replied, stifling a yawn.
"I can walk you back," Derek offered.
"No need, but thank you," Gu Qin said apologetically before jogging down the stairs.
"Hey—" Derek called after her, but she was already gone.
With a sigh, Derek scratched his head. It seemed like it wasn't the right time to pursue her. He needed to solve her sister's murder first. His feelings for Gu Qin weren't just casual interest—he genuinely hoped she might become his girlfriend.
After standing there lost in thought, Derek chuckled at himself before heading down the stairs and leaving the campus.
Derek grabbed a quick breakfast on the way back to his apartment. Although he was exhausted, he set an alarm for 9:00 a.m., knowing he needed to be ready for the day.
When the alarm rang, Derek forced himself out of bed. Today, Xia Yichu would return to Cangsong City from Yujing City. According to Xia Yanguì, he would head to the Carnival Valley amusement park around 10:30 a.m. with his girlfriend. After a quick wash, Derek hailed a cab and set off for the park.
Located on the outskirts of Cangsong City, Carnival Valley had only recently opened. It took Derek over an hour to reach the park. By the time he arrived, it was nearly 11:00 a.m.
Using a search card from a previous task, Derek uploaded a photo of Xia Yichu into the system and initiated a scan within a one-kilometer radius. Within seconds, the system pinpointed Xia Yichu's location inside the park.
Following the system's directions, Derek quickly found Xia Yichu near a ride called the "Nightmare Flying Chairs," where he was chatting with his girlfriend.
Xia Yichu was tall and handsome, resembling a Korean pop star. With his family's background and his striking looks, he was the epitome of a rich, charming playboy. Today, he wore oversized sunglasses to hide his face, avoiding the attention of the park's visitors.
His girlfriend, on the other hand, was tall and somewhat athletic, though her ordinary looks made her seem mismatched next to Xia Yichu's striking appearance.
The Nightmare Flying Chairs was a thrilling ride featuring chairs suspended by steel cables. The ride spun the chairs high into the air, 50 meters above ground, while tilting and rotating at dizzying speeds. It promised an exhilarating, nightmare-like experience.
"Let's ride this!" Xia Yichu's girlfriend said excitedly.
"No way, it's too high! I'm afraid of heights," Xia Yichu said, glancing nervously at the towering ride as he removed his sunglasses.
"That's what makes it fun! Don't worry, the chairs are secured with eight cables, and there's a safety harness. It's perfectly safe," she insisted.
"You can ride it yourself. I'll wait for you down here," Xia Yichu replied, putting his sunglasses back on.
"It's boring alone. Come on, ride it with me!" she pleaded.
Looking up at the dizzying height of the ride, Xia Yichu's face betrayed his terror. He shook his head vigorously. While he didn't mind other thrilling rides, this one was far too high for someone with a fear of heights.
Unable to convince him, his girlfriend finally relented. She swiped her card and entered the ride alone, while Xia Yichu stayed outside to take pictures of her with his phone.
"It's so much fun! You'll regret not riding!" she teased from her seat near the entrance, playfully taunting him.