Bai Ru followed the Dean of Students toward the archives room. Although Vice Principal Song Ying’s words just now had been unusually stern, they meant nothing to her.

However, one piece of news had certainly caught the attention of both Bai Ru and Gu Yi: Principal Hao had called the school. Even if it wasn't Principal Hao himself making the call, the fact that he or a family member had called to request leave was already highly unusual.

In the hallway leading to the archives, Bai Ru discreetly slipped a crumpled piece of paper into Gu Yi’s hand, whispering, "Principal Hao's residence."

Gu Yi nodded, then raised his voice, "Reporter Bai, I’m going to buy some spare batteries. You can collect the archives yourself, no problem, right?"

Bai Ru struggled to suppress a smile, feigning annoyance. "Why weren't they prepared on the way here? Hurry up, we can’t delay the follow-up interview, or your salary will be docked."

Gu Yi pushed up the sunglasses that rarely left his face, pursed his lips, nodded to the Dean of Students, and turned to leave.

Unexpectedly, the archives room at Fuxing High School was located in the library's basement. Although one could log into the campus intranet from any computer, and access the archive management system with the correct password, a great deal of material was still kept in physical form, tucked into file folders within countless cardboard boxes.

Staring at the rows of filing cabinets and the endless boxes before her, Bai Ru felt a monumental headache coming on. Fortunately, she still possessed Principal Hao's primary access code.

The Dean of Students pointed to a computer in the corner of the basement. "There's a terminal here where you can search files, and it can also pull up the location of the materials you need in that cabinet."

Bai Ru nodded her thanks.

To her surprise, after finishing his direction, the Dean of Students didn't leave; instead, he stood nearby, apparently ready to help Bai Ru search for the documents.

Bai Ru paused, compelled to ask, "Will this delay your work? Perhaps you should attend to your duties, I can manage the search myself."

The Dean of Students smiled. "It's nothing. Since Vice Principal Song asked me to bring you here to look through the files, I naturally should assist. Besides, with this much material, how could you possibly finish alone?"

It was obvious that the Dean of Students, beyond any genuine goodwill, also intended to score points with Vice Principal Song.

Helplessly, Bai Ru offered her thanks again. The Dean of Students pulled up the archive index on the computer. Bai Ru scanned it and decided to start by investigating some preliminary information related to the school’s initial establishment.

The Dean of Students eagerly volunteered to retrieve and place the archival boxes for her. Left speechless, Bai Ru pulled out her phone and dialed Kuang Feifan.

However, when the call connected, the person on the other end remained utterly silent.

"Feifan, Feifan... are you there?" Bai Ru asked urgently, startled.

After a long pause, a hesitant voice finally emerged from the receiver, "Ru? Is that you?"

Bai Ru’s expression instantly changed. She involuntarily took a few steps toward the archives room door and asked anxiously, "Feifan, what’s wrong? Did something happen?"

The other side fell silent again, but Bai Ru sharply heard the sound of footsteps, followed by the distinct click of a door opening and then closing. Finally, sound returned across the line. A long breath was exhaled first, immediately followed by Kuang Feifan’s voice: "Thank heavens you called. Otherwise, I almost got caught."

Bai Ru asked, surprised, "What exactly happened? Should I come over right now?"

Kuang Feifan took a breath. "No need. You don't have to come. I'll be more careful next time. I was just restoring the distorted footage from the hospital surveillance cameras, and you wouldn't believe what I saw."

"What was it?" Bai Ru asked. She knew it was crucial to let Kuang Feifan recount what had happened, especially given the supernatural nature of the experience, lest it negatively impact him psychologically, despite his generally strong constitution.

Kuang Feifan’s return journey to the city was uneventful, calm from start to finish. As soon as he entered the city limits, he proactively called Xu Hui from the Serious Crimes Unit. Xu Hui, currently simmering with frustration with nowhere to vent, naturally sounded irritated and somewhat sharp when Kuang Feifan called.

Knowing Xu Hui was worried about He Shaoqing, Kuang Feifan didn't take offense; in fact, he felt a slight sense of apology, thinking that if he hadn't left the hospital unauthorized, he might have been able to keep an eye on He Shaoqing, and perhaps his bizarre disappearance wouldn't have occurred.

Sometimes things are unspeakable, and even if spoken, they might not be believed. But there are also times when what needs to be said must be said. Like now, Kuang Feifan truly couldn't hold back. After listening to Xu Hui’s torrent of complaints, he said, "Captain Xu, I have to tell you something, but preferably just to you, privately."

"I’m on the precinct rooftop smoking. There isn't even a ghost around here. Come on up," Xu Hui said, his curiosity piqued by the secrecy.

"Bring a few cans of chilled beer while you're at it, I need to freshen up," Xu Hui added as he hung up the phone.

"Wow, drinking alcohol helps you freshen up?" Kuang Feifan found that even more incredible.

On the precinct rooftop, the two plainclothes men finally met. One of them was carrying a case of beer. If it had been a gun instead, the scene would have strongly evoked Infernal Affairs. However, the larger man, apart from the pile of cigarette butts at his feet, wasn't holding any file folders.

Kuang Feifan raised a beer can first, offering a gesture of goodwill. Xu Hui reluctantly relaxed his tense expression. In truth, he wasn't truly angry with Kuang Feifan; he was just thoroughly exasperated by the entire case, having found no outlet for his frustration until now.

"Does drinking really help you freshen up?" Kuang Feifan’s opening remark was rather unconventional.

Xu Hui paused, then reached out and took the beer, popped the top, and took a long sip, letting out a deep breath. "Theoretically speaking, I’m off the clock now."

He lit another cigarette, took a drag, and looked at Kuang Feifan. "What exactly happened between you and He Shaoqing? Can you tell me now?"

Kuang Feifan managed a wry smile and walked to the rooftop railing, gazing at the sun that had just begun to rise in the distance. He took a deep breath. He truly dreaded reliving that night’s experience, and he wasn't sure if he should tell the captain of the Serious Crimes Unit the whole truth. If he hadn't been constantly experiencing paranormal events these past few days, he would have hoped that night was merely a nightmare.

He grabbed a can of beer himself, opened it, took a drink, and turned to Xu Hui. "Captain Xu, you know my profession."

Xu Hui nodded.

Kuang Feifan shrugged. "Then you must know that the most important thing in forensic work is letting the evidence speak."

Xu Hui took a drag of his cigarette, frowning. "What are you trying to say? Get to the point, please. I don't like beating around the bush."

Kuang Feifan fiddled with the beer can, remaining silent for a long time. Only when Xu Hui was about to finish his cigarette did he finally speak in as casual a tone as possible, "If I said that the reason we got hurt was because we ran into a ghost, what would you think?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Hui tossed his cigarette butt away without hesitation and turned toward the rooftop exit.

Kuang Feifan let out a self-deprecating laugh. It was a good thing he had used the word "if." At this point, Xu Hui probably thought he was just messing with him.

Unexpectedly, Xu Hui pulled open the rooftop door, stopped just as he was about to step out, and stood there in contemplation for a moment. He closed the door, returned to Kuang Feifan's side, and asked thoughtfully, "When you said that, you weren't joking, were you?"

Kuang Feifan nodded once.

Xu Hui frowned, hesitated, and then asked again, "So, you're telling me that you and He Shaoqing encountered a ghost that night? And that the assailant who injured you was also a ghost?"

Kuang Feifan replied very seriously, "Or perhaps, what injured us should be called 'Sha'—it’s said to be more powerful than a ghost."

Xu Hui pulled out another cigarette, lit it, and took a deep drag, but said nothing.

This time, Kuang Feifan felt the strangeness. He blurted out, "Wait a minute, I don't understand. Captain Xu, you actually believe that so easily?"

Xu Hui glanced at him. "I don't want to believe it. Honestly, right now, I’d rather you told me the attacker was an alien or some martial arts master. All three of those scenarios could explain your injuries. Initially, I leaned toward you running into a master martial artist, perhaps one who specialized in poisons, like someone from the Tang Sect."

Kuang Feifan could hardly believe his ears. He stared at Xu Hui in shock. "Is that true? You guys would think that?"

Xu Hui managed an unnatural smile. "At least those theories don't completely clash with my established education. But the attack you two suffered was too bizarre. I have to consider that the culprit who injured you was anything but ordinary, especially the poison in He Shaoqing's wounds, Dr. Bai's various strange actions, and last night’s disappearance of He Shaoqing. Putting it all together, after thinking it over just now, I think I could accept whatever you tell me."

Kuang Feifan asked curiously, "Hold on, is that just what you think, or what everyone thinks?"

Xu Hui shook his head with a bitter smile. "Unfortunately, it's probably just me."

Kuang Feifan couldn't help but sigh in disappointment.

Xu Hui suddenly slapped his shoulder. "Be content. You chose me today. I won't hide it from you, but the precinct has other theories, and you definitely won't like hearing them."

Kuang Feifan raised an eyebrow, looking at Xu Hui with an inquisitive gaze.

Xu Hui gave a strange laugh. "Some people think you injured He Shaoqing."

"What?"