Fourth Campus

Chapter 14

"That's why I came to you, hoping you could help me."

"Me? Why choose me? I'm completely overwhelmed and can't make sense of anything."

He smiled. "You're the best candidate right now. You've been caught up in this, and if you're willing to help me, all the mysteries will be revealed."

"I'm also very eager to uncover these mysteries, so I've agreed to help you. But you have to tell me how."

"The first thing to do is to thoroughly understand the ins and outs of these events. I know you're investigating yourself, but your current investigation is all in vain. First of all, that restricted area is off-limits to everyone. Even if Zhao Jun doesn't stop you, the hospital administration will stop you if they find out."

"You know Zhao Jun is preventing us from getting in there?" I was surprised again.

"I don't know, but I can imagine. Zhao Jun's return to school from prison was the result of my efforts."

"Could he be your informant too?"

Chen Yiming laughed heartily, "Good, it seems I didn't choose the wrong person after all. You're very perceptive. Indeed, I did try to contact him after he got out, but unfortunately, he didn't want to get involved again, and I didn't force him."

"So you guessed he stopped us from going in."

"That's exactly right."

"Perhaps this time, our collaboration can truly unravel these mysteries," I muttered to myself.

Chen Yiming smiled and said, "Yes, I'm very confident. You don't need to worry about your safety during this process; I'll protect you secretly. The first thing you need to do is get a good night's sleep tonight, and come to my place tomorrow to learn all the details of the case."

PART 5.

The next day, as soon as Chen Yiming saw me, he handed me a stack of case files.

"The first death on your campus occurred at the end of 1994. After extensive investigation, it has been confirmed as a suicide. The deceased was a third-year female student in Class 2 of the Dentistry major. The method of suicide was hanging, and the reason was heartbreak."

The Fourth Campus: Séance (4)

"Late 1994, Class 2 of the Dentistry Department?" I thought to myself, "Could this person be the girl who committed suicide because of jealousy with Nami Ikeda?" I quickly opened the file.

Sure enough, it contained Nami Ikeda's interrogation record.

"The second case," Chen Yiming said, "is the disappearance of Meng Li, which has become quite bizarre. She still hasn't been found. One after another, more people have died in that forest. Apart from Li Xiaofei, whom Zhao Jun killed in self-defense, the causes of death for the other four are very mysterious. Chaotic footprints and signs of struggle were found at the scene, but after forensic examination, they were all left by the deceased themselves."

"I've heard about that too. How did you arrive at your death certificate conclusions?"

"Based on the evidence collected at the scene, no one else was present when the deceased died. However, it's strange that the deceased had bruises from a struggle, all of which were inflicted by the deceased themselves. We can only analyze this from a psychiatric perspective; the deceased may have suffered from severe schizophrenia. We also questioned their classmates and learned that the deceased had exhibited abnormal behavior and uttered incoherent statements before their death. Therefore, the final death certificate report is: 'Suicide due to severe schizophrenia.'"

As I put the file away, I asked, "Since a reasonable death certificate has already been issued, why are you still conducting an investigation?"

Chen Yiming's expression turned serious. "The death certificate seems reasonable, but this so-called reasonableness is not worth scrutinizing. We also have no way to find new evidence. You know, determining the nature of a case requires evidence, not reasoning, although reasoning is very important."

"So you're just going to draw a conclusion and call it a day?" My question carried a hint of sarcasm.

"There's nothing we can do about it. As I just told you, the evidence we had at the time could only prove this much. But I've always doubted this conclusion. First, putting aside Li Xiaofei's death, after Meng Li disappeared, four people suddenly died in that forest within a very short period of time, all for the same reason—the chance of such a coincidence is almost zero. Second, the four deceased didn't know each other in their daily lives, had different personalities, and lived in vastly different environments. Why did they almost simultaneously develop severe schizophrenia? This is something worth further investigation. Third, although the four deceased had no contact with each other, the investigation revealed that they all had some connection with the missing Meng Li. In this respect, Li Xiaofei also knew Meng Li. Fourth..." "All those who died in that grove had exhibited strange behavior and told their friends they saw another version of themselves. Their symptoms of schizophrenia and the hallucinations they experienced were completely consistent—there must be something wrong! Fifth, after the deaths, many people vaguely saw the deceased's figures in that grove. I don't believe in ghosts, but I don't understand why so many people experienced hallucinations if it was truly a hallucination. Especially when I connect the fourth and fifth points, it becomes even more unbelievable—the deceased saw another version of themselves, and were seen by others after death; connecting this with the crime scene investigation results seems to suggest that someone identical to the deceased is the murderer." At this point, Chen Yiming's thick eyebrows furrowed tightly.

I got goosebumps all over; I remembered Meng Li's suicide note:

"Yes, I saw another version of myself in the real world, a 'me' that wanted to kill me."

"But I myself can't believe this reasoning; it's utterly absurd," Chen Yiming's voice trembled. "Perhaps behind this absurdity lies a grand conspiracy."

"I've read Meng Li's suicide note," I said.

"A suicide note?" Chen Yiming stared intently at me. "Is she really dead?"

"The suicide note stated that she saw another version of herself, being hunted by that version of herself."

"Where is that suicide note?" Chen Yiming grabbed my shoulder.

I shook my head. "I don't know either. I haven't seen the suicide note. I only saw it in the séance log. It also mentioned Meng Li's diary, from which the suicide note was found. It also said that Meng Li had two diaries, and the whereabouts of the other one were unknown."

Chen Yiming pulled out a cigarette and started smoking it furiously.

The tobacco burned out quickly, and Chen Yiming crumpled the cigarette butt in anger. "Actually, I've been searching for that diary for the past few years."

I was surprised again. "You already knew about Meng Li's diary?"

Chen Yiming seemed not to hear me. He pulled out a package from the thick file and handed it to me.

Upon opening the bag, I was surprised to find three exquisite diaries.

"Of the five people who died after Meng Li's 'disappearance,' three had a habit of keeping diaries," he said. "Among the deceased's belongings, I found these diaries, and each diary showed a common thread: after Meng Li's disappearance, the contents recorded began to deviate from normal human thinking."

I opened a book and started reading.

"Whose diary did you read about Meng Li's suicide note from?" he asked.

"An organization within our college, the Séance."

Chen Yiming nodded. "I know this organization. I also know that it has been investigating the deaths that have occurred over the past few years."

"Then why don't you collaborate with them? They seem more suitable than me, and I don't know much about them."

Chen Yiming smiled. "You don't need to ask anymore. You'll understand in time." He took a sip of tea to clear his throat and continued, "Actually, the case was closed a long time ago. It wasn't a case I handled alone. If I keep pursuing a case that everyone has already reached a conclusion on, I'll face resistance from many sides."

"Obstacles? Investigating a case is your duty, and someone's going to obstruct you?"

Chen Yiming laughed loudly, "Haha, I'm only five or six years older than you, but you're still a naive student. These are the unspoken rules of the game in society. Listen, I'm reopening a case that's been reviewed by many people and is already closed. If it really turns out as I suspect, what does that mean for those people? It means they made a mistake in this case, and who's willing to take that responsibility? This is the pressure I'm under internally. Because I can't investigate through normal procedures, and I'll also face obstruction from your hospital, I have no choice but to find someone deeply involved in this incident, yet not directly connected to it—that's you."

The Fourth Campus: Séance (5)

"Am I not directly involved in these things? I saw the dead people too, though very vaguely."

Chen Yiming's expression turned serious again. "Everything you've seen is just a warning. The mastermind behind it all doesn't want to get rid of you yet. That's one of the reasons Zhao Jun refused to cooperate with me—he doesn't want to die. He's been living peacefully since returning to school. As long as he stops investigating the conspiracy behind these events, he's no longer threatened by fear!"

"You mean to say that Li Xiaofei wanted to kill Zhao Jun because..."

"It seems Zhao Jun has told you everything. That's right, I think so too. Zhao Jun discovered some secrets, and Li Xiaofei was likely a key figure connected to those secrets, so he killed Zhao Jun to silence him. Unfortunately, Li Xiaofei is already dead, and Zhao Jun refuses to reveal any further details."

I closed the diary, stood up, and paced back and forth in my office. "Can you guarantee my safety?" I was surprised myself for asking such a question. Maeda Reiko and Zhao Jun had repeatedly urged me to give up the investigation, but I hadn't wavered. However, Chen Yiming's words made me hesitate.

Chen Yiming sneered, "What? Now you're scared? You only get scared when someone truly supports you?"

"Afraid? If I were afraid, I would have stopped everything long ago!"

Chen Yiming laughed and said, "That's how human curiosity is; the more it's suppressed, the stronger it becomes. But when someone truly supports you, your fear outweighs your curiosity."

I was speechless. I even suspected that he might have the same "mind-reading" ability as Reiko Maeda.

"Alright, don't worry," he said. "I'll protect your safety, as long as you follow my instructions. Actually, you've already investigated a lot and must have gathered quite a few clues, some of which I might not have even found. Your only problem right now is that you're completely confused by this mess. Don't you need someone to help you sort things out? That person isn't Maeda Reiko, nor Zhao Jun, but me!" After saying that, he patted my shoulder twice. I felt his hand was heavy and strong.

The Fourth Campus: Morgue (1)

PART 1.

Lin Duyu and Xu Zhifei slept until evening before reluctantly getting out of bed. As soon as Xu Zhifei opened his eyes, he started rambling on and on, talking about his gaming achievements, followed by complaints about the dullness of campus life and his inability to find a girl he liked.

"Beep--beep--" Just as Xu Zhifei was talking animatedly, the phone rang. I was about to answer it when Xu Zhifei suddenly jumped down from the top bunk, snatched the phone, and said, "Haha, it must be that beautiful girl I met yesterday calling me. This time, I'm going to have some luck with women!" Then he whispered into the receiver, "Hello."

Lin Duyu and I were completely speechless. The speed at which this kid's facial expressions and way of speaking changed was simply admirable.

Just as we were finishing praising him, his expression changed completely again, turning into one of disappointment and impatience. He handed the microphone to me, saying, "It's for you."

"Okay, I'll be right down."

Just as I expected, it was Lin Musen calling. After hanging up, I put on my coat.

"Xu Zhifei, I really think it's a shame you're not an actor," Lin Duyu teased from the side.

"actor?"

"Yeah, I really admire how quickly your face changes. My admiration for you is like a surging river, endless and boundless, like the Yellow River overflowing its banks..." Before Lin Duyu could finish, I interrupted, "It's out of control! I'm going out, I probably won't be going back to the dorm tonight." With that, I opened the door and walked out.

"Hey, where are you going?" Xu Zhifei's voice came from behind me. I ignored him and headed straight for the stairs.

PART 2.

As instructed by Maeda Reiko, Lin Musen and I went straight out of the school gate, walked along the school wall for more than ten minutes, and entered the fourth campus.

"Isn't it a bit too early?" I asked Lin Musen. Normally, you wouldn't choose this time to steal, especially something like stealing a corpse. There are probably still people in class in the lab building.

"Of course you have to come now, otherwise how will you get in? Will the guards let you in? The only road from the other three campuses to the fourth campus is blocked, as you know."

"What's in your bag?" I asked, staring at the backpack on his back.

"Binoculars! Don't ask any more questions, let's go!"

Two towering laboratory buildings came into view. Although it was already evening, the buildings were still brightly lit, and the professors were still working hard on their research projects.

After passing two laboratory buildings, walk about 100 meters along the main road, and a winding cobblestone path appears beside you, surrounded by a dense forest.

Lin Musen looked around to make sure no one was there, then led me inside.

The bushes rustled in the darkness, and the fallen leaves on the cobblestone path crunched underfoot. This atmosphere made me feel that the morgue was at the end of the path.

I saw the hazy outline of the morgue; it was a row of wide, single-story buildings next to a small earthen mound. The path passed the morgue, turned right, and continued along the mound before disappearing into the dark depths of the woods.

A dense forest, a cobblestone path—where does it lead? Why do I feel like I've been here before? Ah, I remember now, I peeked through the black iron gate of the "Forbidden Area" onto this path. This is the only way from the other campuses to the Fourth Campus. We're heading in the opposite direction, leaving the Fourth Campus and heading deeper into the forest.

After leaving the morgue and walking for about a minute, Lin Musen stopped. He looked carefully at the hill by the roadside, gestured to me, and then climbed up it.

We walked back up the hill to the vicinity of the morgue. Lin Musen hid behind a large rock and whispered, "Okay, here it is. From this vantage point, we can see every window of the morgue."

I also looked down from behind the large rock; the angle was just right, but in the darkness, I couldn't even see the outline of the windows. Lin Musen handed me a pair of binoculars, and I saw that the morgue windows were all translucent windows, close to the roof, and I still couldn't see what was inside.

Lin Musen tugged at my sleeve, gesturing for me to sit down. "Don't worry, once someone goes in and turns on a flashlight or lights a candle, you'll see clearly."

October in the north was already bitterly cold, and if it weren't for that big rock blocking the wind, I don't know how I would have survived the night. Lin Musen and I pulled our collars tighter and began the long wait.

"By the way, you seem to know this place very well. You even know where you can see into the morgue." I whispered to him.

"We used to take this route to our lab classes," Lin Musen said.

"Do we have to pass by the morgue every time?" I couldn't help but shudder.

Lin Musen glanced at me and laughed. "What's so scary about that? We usually come to the fourth campus for lab classes during the day, and we finish class by 5 p.m. at the latest. Only those who do scientific research stay up all night. It's not scary here at all during the day, and we always come in groups."

What if you're alone?

"Just walk faster, or if it's really impossible, you can take a detour from the outside. Of course, taking this cobblestone path will be fifteen minutes faster than taking the detour."

"What time is it now?"

"I wasn't wearing a watch, it was probably past ten o'clock."

"No wonder my eyelids are drooping. Sigh, time is passing so slowly."

Lin Musen placed his hands behind his head, leaned against the large rock, looked at the night sky, and took a long breath. "This is what waiting is like."

"By the way, how did you come up with the idea of joining the Séance Society?"

"It seems to be... because I played 'Ouija board' with some friends during my freshman year of college."