Volume One, Chapter 132: The Girl in Trouble

Michelle gently tugged on Tim’s sleeve and quietly reminded him, “Tim, Mr. Smith said not to be rude.”

Tim shook off Michelle’s hand with a sharper impatience on his face.

Mr. Smith had also emphasized seizing every opportunity to strike at Chen Xingwan. Tim believed this was the true focus of their mission, while Michelle’s timidity was nothing but a hindrance.

Maria sneered, “Consultant Chen, please don’t take offense. Our people from Mi Country are very efficient. This is the first time we’ve encountered such sluggishness—we’re just not used to it.”

Those beside Tim nodded in agreement. The two exchanged a glance, completely ignoring Michelle.

“Yes, my apologies, but we were really, truly terrified,” the principal apologized with a trembling voice.

Chen Xingwan comforted him gently, “It’s alright. We’re not in a hurry, and I’m the one coordinating with you. These foreign friends are merely accompanying us for exchange and learning.”

Tim snorted coldly, “Consultant Chen, don’t joke about this. Such inefficiency is hardly worth learning from.”

“Is that so?” Chen Xingwan pointed toward the door. “The exit is that way. Safe travels.”

Tim stood up sharply. “Consultant Chen, are you asking us to leave? I will definitely report this to Mr. Smith, who will then inform our association back home.”

Maria rose as well.

Chen Xingwan shifted her posture, sitting calmly and composed. “I will also report your discourtesy upward. It seems there will be no future cooperation between our two associations.”

“Is that a threat?” Tim and Maria glared fiercely at Chen Xingwan.

Chen Xingwan cast them a glance. “How could that be a threat? You were the ones who wanted to accompany us on the mission for learning and exchange. Now you say there’s no need to learn. I’m only reporting your own words truthfully. Is there a problem?”

Michelle pulled both of them back down, then stood up herself to apologize to Chen Xingwan. “Consultant Chen, Tim and Maria didn’t mean it that way. Please forgive them.”

Seeing Michelle’s pleading eyes and the anxious expressions of the principal and Teacher Yuan, Chen Xingwan decided to let the matter drop lightly.

“Principal, Teacher Yuan, this is merely a clash of working styles, nothing to do with you. Don’t take it to heart.”

The principal immediately said, “We understand. We were indeed a bit slow, but it’s because we were overly frightened.”

Chen Xingwan then suggested, “In that case, why don’t I ask the questions and you answer? Sometimes having someone guide the thoughts helps.”

“Good,” the principal and Teacher Yuan replied simultaneously.

Chu Fangfei stood up to refill their tea, shooting a disdainful glance at Tim and Maria.

Though Tim and Maria were displeased, they knew their earlier behavior was unreasonable, merely looking for a fight with Chen Xingwan. Who would have guessed she was so straightforward as to simply ask them to leave?

Now, they dared not stir trouble so easily.

Chen Xingwan asked, “You mentioned earlier that until recently, you thought the school’s ghost rumors were just legends. Why did you say that? Has anything happened lately?”

The principal suppressed his fear with effort. “Yes, actually, just a few days ago, a security guard said he saw a ghost. We thought he was mistaken, but it wasn’t so. Later, I saw it too—floating in the air. It was terrifying.”

“Are you sure it was the female student who died six years ago?”

“We’re sure.”

Teacher Yuan choked back tears and said, “She came to me. She appeared in my dreams. She said her death was unjust, that everyone had wronged her.”

Chen Xingwan paused, waiting for them to calm a bit before continuing, “Was that girl really sick to death back then?”

The principal and Teacher Yuan trembled at the question simultaneously.

The office fell silent. Tim and Maria, unknowingly drawn into the conversation, were eager to learn the truth.

Chu Fangfei spoke softly, “Only by telling us the truth can we help you. I promise our conversation here will not be leaked.”

Finally, the principal spoke, “The girl did indeed die of illness. But before she passed, she... had relations with someone in the sports equipment room.”

Chen Xingwan and Chu Fangfei exchanged a glance, both unprepared for such a revelation.

“Are you certain of her cause of death?” Chen Xingwan asked.

The principal said, “When we found her, she was already dead and beginning to stiffen. We immediately notified her parents.”

“Her parents refused an autopsy,” Teacher Yuan added. “They were devastated, saying their daughter was already gone and didn’t want anyone to know the cause of death.”

Chen Xingwan understood the parents’ perspective. If it was known their daughter died from something scandalous, not only would she rest uneasily, but their family’s reputation would also suffer.

“I understand that, but have you considered that perhaps the girl’s real cause of death was something else?”

The principal and Teacher Yuan exchanged a look. Teacher Yuan said, “We actually suggested reporting it to the police, but the parents insisted otherwise. There was nothing we could do, though she was eventually taken to the hospital. The doctors confirmed that’s how she died.”

Chen Xingwan then asked, “Are there other individuals related to the incident?”

“The body was discovered by a security guard and a dormitory supervisor. The guard has since retired; the dorm supervisor was so frightened she suffered nightmares for a month and eventually resigned. As for the girl’s boyfriend, he insisted he had nothing to do with it and later transferred schools.”

Chen Xingwan stroked her chin thoughtfully.

Tim grew impatient. “The truth is clear now. All we need to do is exorcise the female ghost from the sports equipment room and complete the task. I don’t know what you’re hesitating about.”

Chen Xingwan shot him a glance. “I don’t know how things are done in Mi Country, but here in Hua Country, you will follow my instructions.”

Michelle immediately spoke up, “Consultant Chen is right. We will proceed according to your methods.”

Tim and Maria exchanged disdainful glances at Michelle, their eyes full of contempt.

Maria even muttered under her breath, “Weak commoner.”

Michelle heard it but said nothing, lowering her head quietly.

Chen Xingwan heard it too but ignored it. Instead, she turned to Teacher Yuan. “You were the girl’s homeroom teacher. What kind of student was she in your eyes?”

Teacher Yuan sighed deeply. “Actually, Xuezhi was always a good child in my eyes.”

The deceased girl’s name was Dong Xuezhi.

“She wasn’t top of the class, but she never fell out of the top ten. Her personality was obedient. Honestly, before the incident, I never suspected she was secretly dating.”

Chen Xingwan asked again, “What about her boyfriend?”

Teacher Yuan’s expression darkened noticeably.