Ghosts in Medical School Horror Files

Chapter 32

"This...this...no...it can't be!" Luo Shimin and Hu Rongrong's mouths were agape, wide enough to fit two eggs. They tried to think about it for a moment, and Zheng Yubing opened her eyes, her pupils filled with countless pupils. Just thinking about it made them feel a chill run down their spines.

Xia Chen still trusted his eyes. "I want to go in and take a look myself." An older doctor handed Xia Chen a set of sterile clothing. Xia Chen walked to Zheng Yubing's side and gently lifted the eyelid of Zheng Yubing's left eye. He really saw two pupils, and between the two pupils was a small black dot. The older doctor was right; it was a third pupil forming. How could this be? Xia Chen didn't even know how he got out of the sterile room.

An old doctor said, "This situation exists in nature. An eyeball has multiple pupils, allowing it to see from multiple angles without moving the eyeball, with almost no blind spots. This is common among insects, the most common of which is the fly. It's impossible to catch a fly without tools; compound eyes are their advantage. Imagine if humans evolved compound eyes; in future species competition, humans would be in a more advantageous position."

Hu Rongrong said angrily, "What's the use of saying all this? Finding a way to wake my friend is your responsibility. What does the direction of human evolution have to do with you?"

The old doctor lowered his head. "I'm sorry, I've never seen anything like this with your friend in my more than fifty years of medical practice. There may be someone in this world who can save her, but that person is definitely not us."

Another older doctor seemed to want to say something, but he opened his mouth twice and then closed it again, looking like he wanted to say something but couldn't.

"Say what you want to say quickly!" Luo Shimin's face was frightening.

The old doctor said, "I forget exactly how many years ago it was, but it was probably shortly after Yishi Academy was established. I met a patient whose condition was similar to your friend's. We also couldn't think of a treatment. Then a group of people from some department came and took the patient and all the data away."

Xia Chen frowned and asked, "A patient from Yishi School?"

"He seemed to be a biology expert, but I really can't remember his name."

Whenever Xia Chen hears words like biology, medicine, and genes, he thinks of a term that gives him a headache—the Nuwa Project!

"If there's nothing else, you can leave!" Luo Shimin ushered the doctor out.

Five elderly doctors, all over sixty years old, left the intensive care unit with somber expressions.

Xia Chen prayed, "I hope Ye Cheng can make some discoveries!"

006 Confidential Files

Xia Chen dialed Ye Cheng's number and asked impatiently as soon as the call connected, "How's the situation on your end? Have you noticed anything? I have some bad news. All signs point to this incident being related to the 'Nuwa Project,' and it's possible that the Xia Group is secretly supporting it."

Ye Cheng wasn't surprised by Xia Chen's words at all. His tone was slightly tired. "It's only six o'clock now. I'll take a nap. I'll come to the hospital to find you at eight o'clock." Without saying another word, Ye Cheng hung up the phone.

Xia Chen muttered to himself, "What's going on? This kid looks like he hasn't slept all night. Hopefully, his discovery will be useful."

Hu Rongrong asked in a low voice, "Officer Ye, what did you find?"

Xia Chen was taken aback. Hu Rongrong was actually calling Ye Cheng "Officer Ye." The two always argued whenever they met. Could it be that she really liked Ye Cheng? Xia Chen didn't know whether to be happy or sad for Ye Cheng.

Luo Shimin was still thinking about what the doctor had just said when she suddenly asked stupidly, "Is Zheng Yubing going to turn into a fly?" The thought of a beautiful girl turning into a dirty, disgusting fly was terrifying.

"Uh... probably not!" Xia Chen didn't know what to say. Luo Shimin sometimes seriously lacked imagination, and sometimes her imagination was stronger than anyone else's imagination. If time wasn't too tight, Xia Chen would be very interested in studying how she unified contradictions and opposites into a whole.

Hu Rongrong asked, "What should we do next?"

"Let's go to breakfast, I'm a little hungry." Since staying in the ICU wouldn't change anything, it was best to relax a bit. The simplest, most practical, and most effective way was to eat a couple of slices of bread, drink a hot beverage, and chat for a bit. Just thinking about food made Xia Chen's stomach rumble. He'd only eaten a little bit since last night. He felt that food could sometimes be contagious, like a virus, and very quickly at that. As soon as Xia Chen started talking, Luo Shimin and Hu Rongrong also felt hungry.

The three arrived at the hospital cafeteria, which was relatively empty at this time, with the chef busy preparing breakfast. Xia Chen rarely got up this early; he ate two slices of bread and drank half a bowl of black rice porridge, feeling extremely warm and comfortable in his stomach. After filling his stomach, fatigue set in, and since arriving at the hospital, Xia Chen had only managed to doze off for a few hours while sitting in a chair. Luo Shimin and Hu Rongrong hadn't even finished eating when Xia Chen fell asleep in his chair.

Luo Shimin wanted to wake him, but Hu Rongrong stopped her, saying, "He's tired, let him rest for a while." Luo Shimin sat next to Xia Chen for a while and then fell asleep. Hu Rongrong also wanted to sleep, her eyelids drooping. She only rested her head on the table for a short while before buying a bowl of black rice porridge, knowing that Shui Lan would be hungry when she woke up.

Xia Chen had a dream.

late at night.

He walked alone on the narrow, long path. The pale moonlight flowed silently like water. The poplar trees on both sides of the road cast dappled shadows in the moonlight, like ghostly hands trying to grab him. He started running quickly, his hurried footsteps echoing in the darkness. He didn't know why he was running; it seemed he was hiding from something.

Suddenly, Xia Chen sensed someone following him. He couldn't describe the feeling. He turned around a few times, but behind him was only darkness, an endless darkness, and the person following him was hidden within it. Xia Chen sped up, trying to shake off his pursuer, but to no avail. The person sped up as he ran, and slowed down as he slowed down. Xia Chen stopped. Running away wasn't his style; he had to face the terror head-on.

A gust of cold wind swept by. Xia Chen felt a chill run down his spine, and the hairs on his body immediately stood on end. Something was gradually approaching from the darkness behind him. He turned around abruptly, and in that instant, he saw a dark shadow flash by in the darkness.

"Who's there? Come out, I see you." Xia Chen used his usual tactic of scaring people.

Unexpectedly, it worked. A figure slowly emerged from the darkness. It was a woman, a woman Xia Chen knew well. Her eyes were closed, and she had a sweet smile on her face.

"It's you!" Xia Chen smiled, a very happy smile.

The woman opened her arms as if to embrace Xia Chen, but her face suddenly contorted into a ferocious expression. She opened her eyes, each containing countless pupils, each reflecting Xia Chen's image. She lunged at Xia Chen, who was caught off guard. He closed his eyes.

"Hey, wake up." Xia Chen was woken up by someone pushing him. As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw Ye Cheng looking at him with a grin. "Were you having a wet dream, kid?"

"No, I dreamed about her."

Ye Cheng fell silent. He knew who Xia Chen was referring to—a name that made him sad whenever he thought of her.

Luo Shimin stood to the side, desperately wanting to know who the two were referring to as "her," but she managed to hold back with great effort.

"Let's talk about your major discovery." Xia Chen noticed that Ye Cheng's expression was equally bad, as if he hadn't slept all night. "What happened last night? Where's Li Xiao? Why didn't you bring her with you?"

"This young woman is no simpleton. She's been hiding some things from us. Of course, I've known she's suspicious for a while, but I just haven't found any evidence. Last night, after she finished her blood test, she urged me to leave, so I complied and pretended to leave. I hid at the corner of the stairs, and a few minutes later, she came out of the testing room and sneaked into the classified archives room. She used a password to get in; as far as I know, only five people in the entire police station have the password to the classified archives room. I don't know what she did inside, so I waited at the door until dawn before coming out. Then I went back to the forensic room to sleep. I sneaked into her room and found some things in her bag. These are copies I made—double SS-level classified files, downloaded from the national secret information database. Even our chief probably wouldn't be allowed to see these things. She's still sleeping now; I took a nap and then came to find you."

"What kind of information is this amazing?" Xia Chen snatched the information from Ye Cheng's hand and eagerly began to read it. Luo Shimin leaned over and started reading with him.

SS-level classified file. Entry date: June 29, 1983. Location of the incident: Yishi Academy, Shangjing City, a major city in northern China.

The first victim, Zhou Junbo, was a professor at Yishi College and a leading expert in the domestic medical field. He was an authority on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, with many years of clinical experience, and his numerous papers had garnered significant international attention. On May 30th, his assistant found him collapsed in the laboratory. After being taken to the hospital for examination, he was found to be in good health with no abnormalities. Twenty days later, he died at Yishi City Hospital at the age of 54. His body was cremated before an autopsy could be performed. According to medical staff at the time, Zhou Junbo's eyes exhibited abnormalities after he fell into a coma, with multiple pupils, the cause of which remains unknown.

SS-level classified file entry date: October 20, 1984; Location of incident: Yishi Academy

The second victim, Wan Huishui, was a professor of genetics at Yishi College and one of the first experts in China to engage in research on genetic material. She studied at MIT in her early years, where her advisor, Dr. Denise Boswell, was internationally renowned for her research in biological genetics, and Wan Huishui was his most outstanding student. In 1980, Wan Huishui declined high-paying offers from abroad and returned to China to serve the country. She continued her research on genetic material at Yishi College, the specifics of which are unknown. On the afternoon of October 2nd, Wan Huishui collapsed alone in a classroom. Her symptoms were the same as the first victim, and she died fifteen days later. Experts immediately performed an autopsy, discovering abnormalities in the brain; the brain tissue within the cranial cavity was pasty, and an eye was found within it. The body specimen was preserved and archived in the Beijing SS-level Evidence Room, file number 8512.

SS-class classified file entry date: April 4, 1987; Location of incident: Yishi Academy

The third victim, Wei Wen, a national first-class professor and biologist, became a visiting professor at Yishi College in February 1985 and lectured there after retiring in 1987. He was found unconscious at home on April 1st of the same year and died three days later. There were no obvious injuries on his body. The cause of death is unknown. The autopsy revealed polymyalgia (multiple pupils) in both eyes, well-preserved brain tissue, and no eyeballs were found. Preliminary suspicion is that it was premeditated murder; the perpetrator, method, and motive are unknown. The file is permanently sealed. Archived at the SS-level Evidence Room, Beijing City, No. 3603.

SS-class classified file entry date: July 17, 1993; Location of incident: Yishi Academy

The fourth victim, Xia Guangxi, one of the heirs of the Xia Group, entered Yishi College in July 1993. On the evening of the 4th, he went for a walk alone and did not return home that night. On the morning of the 5th, he was found unconscious on the Yishi College playground. His initial symptoms were the same as the previous three victims. He was not given immediate medical attention and was taken to the Xia Group. He was pronounced dead on July 15th, and his body was cremated without an autopsy. It is speculated that this was the work of a serial killer, deliberately targeting the Xia Group.

SS-class classified file entry date: September 8, 1999; Location of incident: Yishi Academy

Victim No. 5, Jing Zhixiu, a medical worker specializing in human anomalies and skilled in treating intractable diseases, was invited by the Xia Group to lecture at Yishi Academy on August 23, 1999. She was under tight security throughout the visit, arriving at Yishi Academy on the 25th. On the evening of the 27th, she was attacked at her residence; all security personnel were unconscious, suspected to be under hypnosis. Jing Zhixiu died on September 5th despite resuscitation efforts. The cause of death was brain death. An autopsy revealed that her brain tissue was pasty, and one eye was found inside her skull. Both eyes and the eye inside the skull were preserved as specimens and are archived in the SS-level Evidence Room of Shangjing City, file number 4426.

SS-level classified file entry date: March 25, 2003; Location of incident: Yishi Academy

The sixth victim, Taichi Uchida, son of Teru Uchida, chairman of the Daiwa Foundation, entered Ishigakuin University in March 2003. He was a good student and had a penchant for women. On the evening of the 20th, he was attacked while studying alone in the school building. He suffered severe external injuries, suspected to be the result of the attacker's vengeance. His symptoms were more severe than those of other victims, and he died on the 24th. His body was taken away by Japanese authorities, but no autopsy was performed. Preliminary investigations suggest the perpetrator had strong anti-Japanese sentiments and was highly likely a woman. The investigation yielded no results, and the file has been permanently sealed.

SS-level classified file entry date: November 14, 2005; Location of incident: Yishi Academy

Victim No. 7, Qi Xin, a cardiovascular specialist and student of Victim No. 1 Zhou Junbo, was hired by the Xia Group in March 2005 to conduct research at Yishi Academy. She was attacked and fell into a coma in her studio on September 29th and died on November 12th, making her the longest-surviving victim. Her symptoms and autopsy results were identical to the other victims. Both eyes and the eyes inside her skull were preserved as specimens and are archived in the Beijing SS-level Evidence Room, file number 9900. The killer's methods were illogical, and there were no effective treatment options; special handling is recommended.

Xia Chen closed the folder, his face ashen. Luo Shimin's face was ashen. Ye Cheng asked, "What are your thoughts after reading this?"

"I really want to see what eyes would look like growing out of a human brain, and what would double eyes look like as compound eyes. I can't imagine what human eyes would look like as fly-like compound eyes."

Luo Shimin said with a sob in her voice, "So Zheng Yubing is about to die!"

Xia Chen clicked his tongue and said, "The information mentioned that the murderer might be able to use hypnosis, which reminded me of a sensational event that happened in Shangjing City not long ago."

Ye Cheng pressed his forehead and thought for a long time, but couldn't remember anything. "Stop teasing me, just tell me what it is."

"The Xia Group bomb attack! Are you out of your mind? How could you forget this case? At first, we suspected it was Luo Shimin's brother, Luo Xie, but Luo Xie later confirmed that it wasn't him. No one was injured in the attack, and the Xia Group's staff were hypnotized and don't remember what happened. You were even at the scene."

"But what does this have to do with the files?" Ye Cheng countered.

"All the victims in the seven cases, except for the Japanese victim number six, worked for the Xia Group. The files also suggest that the murderer deliberately targeted the Xia Group. Furthermore, all six victims were experts in medicine or biology, and it is very likely that they were killed because they participated in the 'Nuwa Project.' Hu Rongrong met a woman in the intensive care unit last night. This morning, I asked the nurses at the nurses' station, and all four of them fell asleep while on duty last night. This has never happened before. I used to welcome the idea that they had been drugged, but now it seems that they may have been hypnotized."

Ye Cheng wanted to ask Hu Rongrong if she was alright, but in the end, he didn't ask. If something had happened to Hu Rongrong, they would definitely have told him immediately.

Luo Shimin exclaimed, "Zheng Yubing's father, Zheng Tianyu, works for the Xia Group." This explains why Shui Lan was unharmed, and why the woman even called for an ambulance for her.

"There's one more thing..." Ye Cheng scratched his head, "The first murder occurred in 1983, which is 25 years ago. Even if the murderer was 20 years old when he committed the first crime, he would be 45 years old now. The figure Shui Lan saw was a young woman." As Ye Cheng spoke, he realized something, "Could it be a mother and daughter!"

"That possibility cannot be ruled out. Hypnosis requires strong mental strength, and mental strength can be inherited. In comparison, what I'm more curious about is, if the 'Nuwa Project' started more than 20 years ago, I really want to know what they were researching? They couldn't possibly be trying to create humans, could they?"

Ye Cheng said, "Let's talk about the current case first. According to the timeline in the data, Zheng Yubing has no more than a month to live, and the shortest time is probably tomorrow. Time is of the essence. Do you have any other discoveries?"

"The file describes a third eyeball being found inside the victim's skull, while Zheng Yubing has a strange eyeball on the back of his left hand. Hu Rongrong said she saw the strange eye open. Does this count as a discovery?"

"Really? That little bump on your hand is really your eye? I'd better go see it for myself." Ye Cheng pulled Xia Chen and Hu Rongrong towards the intensive care unit. "There's one more thing I need to tell you. Only the three of us know about the file. Don't tell anyone else. Pretend you know nothing in front of Li Xiao. I'd like to see what that little girl is up to!"

007 Confidential Evidence Room

The three of them passed by Shui Lan's ward and happened to run into Hu Rongrong, who was carrying a lunchbox. Seeing them, Hu Rongrong asked, "What are you rushing off to?"

“Let’s go see Zheng Yubing,” Luo Shimin said.

"I'm going too." Hu Rongrong put her lunchbox down at the door and followed. "What did that stinky cop find?"

“He…” Xia Chen gently tugged at Luo Shimin, who had almost blurted out Ye Cheng’s instructions, having completely forgotten them. Xia Chen’s reminder brought her back to reality, and she changed her mind, saying, “He didn’t find anything. We should go see Zheng Yubing; perhaps we’ll find something new.”

Hu Rongrong scoffed, "I've never seen a policeman dumber than him. I really can't understand how he became a policeman."

Ye Cheng retorted, "Crazy woman, this is none of your business."

"Here we go again!" Luo Shimin and Xia Chen walked over and let the two of them argue behind them. Ye Cheng and Hu Rongrong argued all the way to the intensive care unit.

“Something seems off.” Ye Cheng peered through the glass door for a while and then turned back to say, “I remember last night when I looked at her, the small bag was on the back of her left hand, but now it’s almost up to her wrist.”

"Impossible." Xia Chen peered through the door and saw that the small bump seemed to have moved; it was almost at his wrist. Luo Shimin and Hu Rongrong confirmed it after looking at it; the small bump had indeed moved.

"What if Zheng Yubing dies when the small bag moves onto her head?" Luo Shimin let her imagination run wild again.

Xia Chen said, "That's possible."

Hu Rongrong was startled. "What do you mean by that?"

Xia Chen and the other two remained silent, the atmosphere suddenly becoming heavy. Hu Rongrong had already lost a good friend; if something were to happen to Zheng Yubing, it was uncertain whether she could bear it. Luo Shimin could only keep saying, "Zheng Yubing will be alright, don't worry," though she could hear the lack of conviction in her voice. Hu Rongrong stared at Ye Cheng, her gaze complex.

Ye Cheng's phone rang. It rang at just the right time; it was Li Xiao calling.

Li Xiao's tone was filled with joy, "I've made a major discovery. Several similar cases have occurred at Yishi Academy. Where are you? I'll get the information for you. You have to treat me to a meal; I had a lot of trouble getting this information."

Ye Cheng tried to make his tone sound as cheerful as possible, "I'm at the hospital, hurry up and come, we're all waiting for you."

Hu Rongrong asked in confusion, "What did I miss? You look not happy at all, you dead cop."

"You don't want to know." Ye Cheng winked at Xia Chen and Luo Shimin, indicating that they should pretend they knew nothing after Li Xiao arrived.

Half an hour later, Li Xiao arrived at the hospital. Ye Cheng found a quiet corner in the hospital courtyard. Li Xiao took out her files and handed them to Ye Cheng. Ye Cheng took a look and saw that the number of cases had decreased from seven to six, with the Xia Guangxi case being removed. Some information had been modified, unfavorable information about the Xia Group had been omitted, the "SS-level confidential" designation had been removed, and the printed paper had been replaced with archival paper.

After reviewing the documents, Ye Cheng handed them to Xia Chen and asked, "Where did you get these documents?"

“I searched all night to find it in our bureau’s archives.” Li Xiao’s expression showed no sign of discomfort.

Ye Cheng pressed on, "How come I've never seen it before?"

A hint of panic flashed in Li Xiao's eyes. "Perhaps you were too careless. Why are you saying these things? We should be discussing the case. Zheng Yubing doesn't have much time left. We need to find the person who attacked her quickly."

Xia Chen put down Li Xiao's file. "I'm thinking of going to the SS-level evidence room mentioned in the file to see those specimens. Maybe they will be helpful to us."