In the dimly lit campus, Qin Nuo followed Tang Rou and the others inside. Xiao Liu uneasily trailed behind, with Li Qianqian looking around nervously, hoping to spot the shadow of that cat in some corner.
Tang Rou stopped under the complex building, glanced around, and said to the Old Man, "My little flower went missing here."
The Old Man habitually took out an old cigarette, lit it, and said from the corner of his mouth, "Let's split up and search. Form two teams. If you find the cat, don't scare it. Try to call it softly and let it relax, while others slowly block its path."
Qin Nuo thought to himself that despite the Old Man's age, he was quite sharp-minded and said, "I agree with this."
"I'll go with Qin Feng," Li Qianqian immediately said, as Qin Nuo was the only one she knew here.
"I'll also follow the master... I mean, this Qin kid," Xiao Liu quickly added.
Qin Nuo glanced at Atu and said, "Atu, you come with me too."
Atu looked at Qin Nuo, a bit puzzled, scratched his head, and nodded.
"Hey, just right, four people on each side, great," Agai foolishly counted on his fingers and nodded.
"Let's hurry up, we can't leave the school gate unattended for too long," the Old Man said.After splitting into two groups, they headed in opposite directions.
In the long corridor, Li Qianqian mimicked a cat's meow towards the corners. Although she wasn't one to show emotions, she had a kind heart and was genuinely worried about the cat's safety.
At the end of the corridor, it was pitch black. Although nothing could be seen, it always felt like a pair of eyes might emerge.
Li Qianqian poked her head into the classroom, calling out, hoping for a response from the kitten.
She pulled back and looked at the silent trio of Qin Nuo, "Why aren't you calling out?"
Xiao Liu scratched his head and chuckled awkwardly, "My throat hurts a bit, can't call out."
Atu remained silent, looking absent-minded, holding a sachet in his hand.
Reaching the end of the corridor, Qin Nuo glanced at the restroom nearby and said, "I need to use the restroom, I'll be quick!"
"Atu, didn't you say you needed to go too? Let's go together."
Qin Nuo pulled Atu into the restroom.
Xiao Liu, of course, didn't dare to leave Qin Nuo. Apart from him, the rest were ghosts. He glanced at Li Qianqian and said perfunctorily, "Kid, uncle needs to go too, you wait here."
Li Qianqian nodded, her expression calm.
Inside the restroom, Qin Nuo unfastened his pants, relieving his bladder.
Atu had no intention of using the restroom; he wasn't in a hurry, it was just Qin Nuo's insistence.
Xiao Liu hurried in, saw Qin Nuo, wanted to say something, but with Atu present, he remained silent, whistling as he unbuckled his belt in a stall.
Qin Nuo zipped up, washed his hands, and asked Atu, "Atu, you've been absent-minded since earlier, and you keep glancing at Qianqian. What's up? Do you have a crush on this big sister?"
Atu shook his head, glanced at the restroom door, and said, "Qin Feng, why is that big sister with you?"
"She's my neighbor, always looking out for me. We couldn't sleep, so we came to the school for a walk."
Seeing Atu's expression, Qin Nuo asked, "What's wrong?"
Atu scratched his head, uncertainly said, "I feel like I've seen her somewhere."
"She seems to have some connection with Yanan. I remember she used to cling to Yanan, arguing fiercely with him..."
"When Yanan disappeared, I saw her lingering at Yanan's door for a long time. Honestly, in Yanan's last few days, he looked very off, like he was a different person."
"He said he'd leave the role to me and just left. It was so strange... Since that day, I've been worried about Yanan. We searched for him, but couldn't find him. His house was emptied, like he vanished into thin air."
Atu looked at Qin Nuo, "I think that sister definitely knows where Yanan went."
"And I seem to remember a lot of things, but I just can't recall them. What's going on?"
As if touching on some taboo, Atu suddenly clutched his head, his expression pained, "My head hurts so much, why does it suddenly hurt like this?"
"I feel like I've forgotten a lot of things, what's happening?"
The Blood-Eyed Ghost squinted, "Could it be another one about to be talked to death by your mouth?"
"Probably the same as Grandpa Agai's situation, touching a forbidden zone, the soul is fragile, especially a cursed one?"
Qin Nuo frowned, grabbed Atu, and said, "If thinking about it gives you a headache, then don't think about it. You are you, just remember your name is Atu!"
Perhaps Qin Nuo's words had an effect, as Atu tightly held onto the embroidered sachet, and after a moment, his condition improved significantly, though his face was still pale and bloodless.
Behind them, Xiao Liu emerged, pulling up his pants, his zipper halfway up, and was dumbfounded by what he saw.
"What is going on?"
But recalling something, he quickly zipped up, moved to wash his hands, muttering, "I didn't hear anything, didn't hear anything..."
"Thank you, I feel much better," Atu said, staring at the embroidered sachet in his hand.
Following his gaze, Qin Nuo asked, "Who gave you this sachet?"
"My sister, she's a wonderful person, the only one who supported my acting, said I was good, and encouraged me greatly."
"She gave me this embroidered sachet, saying that anyone who holds it will be blessed by the Bodhisattva and have a peaceful life."
"Though a bit superstitious, I always believe my sister's words."
Atu looked at the sachet, his eyes filled with longing and a hint of sadness, as if the sister he spoke of had met with misfortune.
"Superstitious or not, I don't know, but I can see your sister's deep love for you in this sachet," Qin Nuo said.
"Qin Feng, when did you become so eloquent?" Atu looked at Qin Nuo in surprise.
"But I love hearing it. Hold my sachet for a moment, so the Bodhisattva will bless you too, as my thanks!" Atu's expression was innocent.
Qin Nuo took it, held it in his palm, expecting it to be cold, but surprisingly felt a warm current.
"That's enough, give it back to me," Atu took it back, treating it like a treasure.
Xiao Liu, hearing this, originally wanted to come over and hold it for a blessing, but seeing Atu put it back in his pocket, he awkwardly scratched his head with his outstretched hand.
After securing the sachet, Atu seriously said to Qin Nuo, "Qin Feng, that sister is definitely related to Yanan's disappearance."
"And now, she looks completely different from before, it's very strange."
"Anyway, you must be careful with her..."
After speaking, Atu lowered his head again, muttering softly, "Of course, I hope I'm just overthinking..."