What happened? Truthfully, I still don't fully grasp the issue. They say I ran into a malevolent spirit in a haunted house, and the Fatty suddenly transformed into the White Bone Demon? Will they send me to a psychiatric hospital? Aside from the injury on my hand and that stamp album, there’s likely no persuasive evidence left to prove I truly faced peril.

Yet, I painstakingly recounted everything that transpired, from beginning to end, exactly as it occurred, to the officer. The officer intermittently repeated my words, meticulously documenting everything.

Finally, he closed his notebook and said to me, “Based on my experience, you may have ingested a hallucinogenic substance while eating or drinking with them. However, the specifics require further verification. We will especially look into the three individuals you mentioned by contacting the school for detailed information. If you recall anything else, contact me immediately; my name is He. Get some proper rest.” With that, he stood up, preparing to leave.

Hallucinations? It was hard to believe. All that running around that afternoon, the life-or-death struggle—was it all just a phantom? I lifted my left hand; the gauze was undeniably wrapped around it. Looking at my right hand, the indentations on my wrist had faded considerably, but the injury it sustained was still visible. Just as he pulled the door open, about to step out, the stamp album flashed into my mind. Yes! The album could prove all this happened! My palm had been pinned to it by a dagger.

“The stamp album?” I strained to lift my head, gathering all my strength, and asked loudly.

Officer He stopped dead in his tracks, turned back, and replied, “The album has bloodstains on it and has been sent for analysis. If it’s a criminal case, the album is crucial evidence, and the police will keep it safe.”

I let out a long breath and slowly settled back into my original position.

Life in the hospital was tedious. For someone with limited mobility, there seemed to be no way to pass the time other than eating and sleeping. I hadn't seen my older sister for days; I wondered if the police had notified her. My sister wasn't worried about my absence for a few days—having a sister like her, who knows if it’s a blessing or a curse!

“Xiao Yu…” Just as I was thinking of her, a loud shout came from outside the door, powerful enough to shatter glass.

“I’m here, I’m here…”

My sister burst in, sporting an explosion of frizzled hair, wearing a Hawaiian-style dress, and carrying a bunch of bananas. My sister and I aren’t exactly orphans. Ever since our parents vanished five years ago, we’ve relied solely on the savings they left behind, depending on each other. Two years ago, my sister graduated from college and became a journalist. I followed her, moving East and West, shuttling between different cities. She switched employers countless times, and I switched schools just as frequently. This lifestyle cultivated my untamed, adventurous nature. I even considered it an asset in life. Because every time we entered a new environment, we met new friends and experienced new stories. It’s like that line from Forrest Gump: Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you're going to get. Waiting for the next chocolate to appear was truly fascinating. However, facing mortal danger is something no one ever hopes for. Take this current situation, for example; if I could get through this safely, I’d be eternally grateful. Reflecting honestly, going to a stranger’s house with people I’d only known for two hours shows a severe lack of vigilance. A lesson learned through hardship—I doubt I’ll ever casually trust a stranger again in this lifetime.

“Where on earth have you been these past few days? My phone service was cut off. I only recharged it after getting paid today. The moment I turned it on, a call came from the police station—it terrified me! How many days have you been here?”

My sister’s barrage of questions left me dizzy. I didn’t know where to begin answering. But frankly, she was quite slow to catch on! If I had ended up dead on the street one day, she probably wouldn’t have realized I was missing until the police knocked on her door.

While peeling a banana, my sister started gossiping about her activities over the last few days. Either her boyfriend didn't understand her, her boss was cruel, or Old Man Zhang next door was keeping a mistress behind his wife’s back… Perhaps, within the first minute and a half of entering, she had already forgotten why her little brother was lying in a hospital bed.

While she was chatting away, the phone rang. My sister picked it up, cleared her throat dramatically, and said, “Hello, who am I speaking with?” Her overly sweet tone almost made me gag.

“Oh, alright.” Hanging up, my sister dropped her exaggerated expression and turned to me with a grave look. “That was an officer named He. He wants me at his office at ten o’clock to discuss your case.”

Haha, progress on the case! They probably found that villa, and maybe the Fatty and the Rich Second Generation. The most infuriating was that big monkey; although he didn't strike, those two dragged me there.

Soon after, my sister returned from the police station. Contrary to my expectation, there was no expression of wanting immediate revenge on her face; instead, she looked crestfallen, her eyes red-rimmed.