Fourth Campus

Chapter 25

I smiled helplessly again. "Meng Na, it's a fact that I was the only one with Lin Duyu the night he died. Later, when I took Hu Xiaoli and the others back into the secret passage, we found his body at the exit. That's where I first came out. There were no signs of anyone else around his body. As for the three female corpses that chased us, would anyone believe that? Who would believe that the dead can kill?"

"A female corpse!" Meng Na's expression suddenly changed when she heard this word. This was understandable; such a thing was simply unbelievable and terrifying.

"Yes, three identical female corpses." I took another drag of my cigarette and continued, "Moreover, at the scene of Old Man Sun's death, only my and Maeda Reiko's footprints were found. Maeda Reiko is already a suspect, and the Summoning Society will soon be forcibly disbanded by the academy. All this evidence is very unfavorable to me."

Meng Na lowered her head once again.

Looking at Mengna, I felt a pang of sorrow. This poor girl—I still haven't found any clues about her sister's disappearance, yet she's here to comfort me. Seeing her pitiful appearance, I felt an irresistible urge to hug her.

PART 2.

The cold wind whipped at my face, and Mengna, walking beside me, shivered slightly. I took off my coat and draped it over her shoulders. She was such a delicate woman; how could she withstand such a chill? I felt a pang of guilt for making her accompany me on this winter night, wandering the campus.

The Fourth Campus: Nangong Xiaoxue's Diary (2)

"Winter in the north is really tough, let's go back," I said with concern.

Mengna glanced at me, a hint of melancholy in her eyes. "No, let's walk around. I don't want to go back either."

"Are you troubled?" My intuition told me that she must be troubled.

"No, no, I just wanted some peace and quiet. It's cold, but at least on nights like this, the campus is so quiet."

I could tell she was trying to hide something, so I said, "Mengna, you can tell me what's on your mind. Maybe I can help you."

Mengna smiled. "Really, no, it's just that a lot has happened recently, and like you, I can't figure out why."

"Yes, right now, only you can help me find the answer to my problem."

I still really hope you can forget everything that happened.

"I already said this during dinner, and I really want to forget it, but often, running away doesn't solve anything! Lin Duyu is dead, and although Maeda Reiko has been investigating with me, her own situation isn't good either. Now, the only one who can help me is you." I stopped in my tracks.

"But..." Mengna seemed hesitant.

"But what?"

"It's nothing." She continued walking.

"Mengna." I grabbed her shoulder. "Mengna, Lingmin is dead, Lin Duyu is dead, and Old Man Sun, who guards the morgue, is dead too. Aren't you willing to help me uncover the secrets hidden behind these events? Can you bear to let more people die? If Lingmin were your sister, would you be so indifferent?"

Mengna lowered her head and didn't speak. I could feel her shoulders trembling slightly.

"Mengna, I'm sorry, I got too excited." I took my hand off her shoulder.

She slowly raised her head, her dark, watery eyes glistening with tears. "Lin Yuan, I'm sorry, I wanted to help you, but I couldn't."

This left me completely confused; it seemed she was having some kind of trouble. Could it be Zhao Jun again? He seemed to dislike Meng Na. Or perhaps it was Maeda Reiko? They always told me to stay away from Meng Na. Why did everyone dislike this poor girl and want me to stay away from her? Were they putting pressure on Meng Na?

"Meng Na, is someone threatening you?"

Mengna abruptly pulled my hand away from her shoulder, her expression turning pained, tears streaming down her beautiful face. "No, no one threatened me. I really can't help you. Don't force me." With that, she ripped off my coat and threw it at me before running away quickly.

I was stunned by this sudden scene. I didn't know why she suddenly became so agitated and distressed. I was at a loss and could only stare blankly as her figure disappeared into the distance.

However, Mengna hadn't run far before she fell to the ground, and I ran towards her as fast as I could.

"Meng Na." I gently helped her up, but her body seemed very heavy. She lay on the ground, breathing rapidly.

"Meng Na, what's wrong? Are you alright?" I asked anxiously.

"No...it's nothing. I just need to rest...rest for a bit," Mengna said with difficulty.

Let me help you up first.

"No... I can't get up. Help me turn over, so I can lie flat... flat on my back. My chest... feels so tight."

I turned her over, gently lifted her shoulders, and let her nestle in my arms. "How are you feeling now?"

Mengna's face was pale, and she nodded slightly. It was clear she was exhausted; she was struggling to breathe.

I took her pulse, and it was alarmingly fast. Even if she had run a few steps, it shouldn't be like this. It was over 150 beats per minute!

"Mengna, you need to go to the hospital. I'll take you there right now!"

"No...no need, I'll just rest for a while..."

"Don't say anything, you have to go to the hospital." Without another word, I picked her up and ran towards the school gate.

PART 3.

It was the same top-tier hospital where I last saw the psychologist. Meng Na lay in the special care ward, an oxygen mask on her face. She was sleeping soundly and peacefully. I sat by her bedside, quietly watching her, my heart filled with unease.

The doctor just told me that Mengna's condition is not optimistic. Her internal organs are showing strange signs of failure, and the cause has not yet been found. She must be observed in the hospital for further treatment.

I find it very strange. Since I met Mengna, she's always been healthy; I've never even seen her catch a cold. Now, all I can do is silently pray for her. The hospital bills are also a worry for me; I've put all my living expenses into it, and it's only enough for her to last two or three days. Who can I borrow from? Maeda Reiko? Although she's never liked Mengna, I have no choice but to try.

When I arrived at Reiko Maeda's apartment, it was already past midnight. The front door was locked, and I paced around anxiously outside. It seemed I couldn't get in through the front door, so I decided to go around to the back.

Reiko Maeda's light was still on; she probably hadn't gone to sleep yet, but I couldn't call her from downstairs. I'd already attracted enough attention lately. I looked closely and noticed a drainpipe running from the roof to the ground, past the balcony, so I climbed up along it.

I climbed over onto Reiko Maeda's balcony and, through a gap in the curtains, saw her sitting at her desk writing. I gently knocked on the window.

"It's you? What brings you here so late?" Maeda Reiko asked in surprise.

"Meng Na is sick, I need to borrow some money for her hospitalization."

When did you get sick?

"Just tonight, she suddenly collapsed to the ground, her pulse was over 150 beats per minute."

"Have the diagnosis results come out yet?" Maeda Reiko wasn't as indifferent as I had imagined; on the contrary, she seemed even more nervous than I was.

"No, they only said her organs showed signs of failure."

"Take me to see." Maeda Reiko put on her coat and climbed down the drainpipe with me.

PART 4.

Reiko Maeda stood by Mona's bedside all night. I, on the other hand, took a nap on the empty bed next to her.

When I woke up, Mengna was still asleep. Maeda Reiko called me out of the room and said:

The Fourth Campus: Nangong Xiaoxue's Diary (3)

"Didn't I tell you long ago not to get close to her? Why didn't you listen to me?"

"I've never understood why you all hate her so much! To me, she's just an ordinary girl. Even though her sister mysteriously disappeared or died, what does that have to do with her? Why are you ostracizing her? But I'm very grateful that you paid such a large sum for her medical treatment."

Reiko Maeda sighed and turned around.

"Do you remember when we left the reading room after we met?"

"It seems... to be around eleven o'clock."

"The reading room closes at 10:30 every night. But that night, it was past 11:00 and still open. Have you ever wondered why?"

"I find it strange when you say that too."

"Do you remember when we saw 'Nami Ikeda'?"

"Of course I remember! You wouldn't let me turn around, but I saw a blurry figure in your eyes."

Do you remember when the lights in the reading room suddenly went out?

"Of course I remember! And then you just disappeared somewhere."

"The lights don't turn off by themselves. This isn't a horror movie, nor is it haunted by ghosts. I ran out to check the electrical box, and sure enough, the switch had been pulled."

Who did it?

"I don't know, I didn't catch that person, but I do know that after the power outage, you ran into Mengna at the 'Clock Tower' entrance!"

These words struck me like a powerful electric current.

"After we broke up," Maeda Reiko continued cruelly, "I didn't actually go far. I hid in the distance, waiting for the person pulling the guillotine to appear."

"That person probably ran away a long time ago." I really didn't want to doubt Meng Na.

"Impossible. Have you forgotten what the 'Clock Tower' is made of? It's entirely made of wood; it creaks when you step on it. But after that person pulled off the guillotine, I chased after her and didn't hear her running away!"

I shook my head. "Of course you couldn't hear it; the thunder was very loud then."

"Come to the reading room with me again tonight, and you'll understand." She yawned. "I haven't slept all night. Let's go back first and come see her again this afternoon. But be prepared, Mengna may not have much time left. Otherwise, I wouldn't have allowed you to stay with her." With that, she walked out.

I stared blankly at her retreating figure, her last words echoing in my mind. Mengna, was the girl I loved really going to die like this? No, at least not until the doctor's diagnosis came out, I shouldn't despair.

PART 5.

As dusk approached, Mengna finally woke up.

After a heavy snowfall, the sky was clear and blue. The golden rays of the setting sun slanted through the window, illuminating her pale face—a sight that saddened me. Was her life, like the setting sun, about to fade away?

"How long have I been asleep?" Meng Na removed the oxygen mask from her face and struggled to sit up.

I asked, "It's been almost a day, are you feeling any better?"

Mengna nodded. "I feel much better." She turned to the window and said, "What a beautiful sunset! I love the colors of this sunset—a tranquil and harmonious color, a color that gives one hope for the future."

"So, you need to take good care of yourself. There are many more beautiful sunsets waiting for you in the future." I pulled the blanket up for her.

Mengna turned to me and smiled, but it was a very sad smile.

"Lin Yuan, I know about my condition, you don't need to comfort me." She closed her eyes.

"Silly girl, don't talk nonsense. How do you know? The doctor's diagnosis isn't out yet. Don't overthink things, just get some rest."

Mengna slowly opened her eyes again. "Actually, I'm already very content. At least you're here with me right now. I've never had a single friend except you. I don't know why, but everyone dislikes me and deliberately avoids me. I really want to befriend them, but they won't talk to me." As she spoke, a crystal tear fell from her eye.

I took out a tissue and wiped away her tears. "Maybe it's not like that. They might really want to be friends with you, but you've unintentionally distanced yourself from them because of your past experiences."

Mengna smiled helplessly, "You know how to use the same words I use to comfort you to comfort me."

I smiled too, a slightly bitter smile, wanting to say something more, but unable to utter a word.

And so, I watched her silently, neither of us saying anything more, but I could feel that our hearts were connected.

A soft knock broke the silence, and Maeda Reiko was already standing at the door, carrying two bento boxes.

It was clear that Maeda Reiko's expression was somewhat awkward when her eyes fell on Meng Na's face. Meng Na, on the other hand, seemed a little surprised.

"You guys must not have eaten yet. I bought two bento boxes on the way, but there's nothing fancy. It's important to fill your stomachs first," Maeda Reiko said as she started preparing the food.

Mengna glanced at Maeda Reiko, then at me. I quickly said to her, "Maeda Reiko stayed here with me all night, and she even paid for your treatment."

Mengna didn't seem to understand why Maeda Reiko's attitude towards her had suddenly changed, but I understood perfectly well that Maeda Reiko felt Mengna didn't have much time left to live.

"You guys chat first, I have to go back to school," Maeda Reiko said. "Hayashihara, remember to go back early tonight, they close up shop if you stay out too long." She gave me a wink, and I knew she wanted me to remember to go to the reading room.