The more Shen Bingjie thought about it, the more frightened she became. She grew increasingly tense, and everything around her seemed dangerous.
"This place is way too big — there's no way we can see it all in one day." Ling Feijie was also badly shaken. He felt he had already reached his mental limit, and was merely holding it together in front of Shen Bingjie.
"Search slowly. Keep an eye on every door." Shen Bingjie steadied her breathing, and her expression gradually returned to normal.
"Bingjie, are you sure the thing we're looking for is really in here? And why can't we tell anyone about this?" Ling Feijie quietly grabbed Shen Bingjie's hand. "How about we come back tonight? Without anyone else in the way, it should be a lot easier."
Shen Bingjie shook off his hand, silently repeating to herself — there was no need to be afraid. It wouldn't be too late to leave once the figure in red appeared.
"Hey, your companion still hasn't caught up. Could something have happened to him?" The two medical students had also noticed how strange Shen Bingjie and her group were acting, and instinctively put some distance between them.
"Don't worry about him. He'll probably be here any second." Shen Bingjie didn't even turn her head.
Hearing her reply, the medical student's suspicion deepened. Getting separated from your companion inside a haunted house — that should be terrifying, so why was this person acting so nonchalant about it? It was as if it had all been planned out.
Slowing his pace, the medical student quietly tugged on his companion. "Let's go check out that classroom over there."
The two of them sidestepped Wu Jinpeng and the others and ducked into a nearby classroom. No sooner had they stepped inside than one of them pulled out his phone.
"You're using your phone in a haunted house? Did you forget the senior's warning?"
"I've got a really bad feeling about this." One of the medical students dialed a number. "That guy with the ponytail said he works here, but he acts so adorable and harmless — it's easy to let your guard down around him."
"He really is pretty cute. Playing around in his own haunted house and still getting scared into walking all funny — you have to admire that."
"You still don't realize how serious this is? Think about where we are! This place has terrified countless seniors and juniors at our school — it's basically purgatory! Do you really think they'd have an employee that cheerful and carefree?" The medical student looked at his companion like he couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"But didn't he say it was his first day?"
"He might be new, but haven't you noticed that ever since he said that, all of our attention has been on him?"
"What do you mean?"
"We've been so focused on watching him that we completely ignored the other three visitors! Didn't you notice they're acting even stranger? One of them disappeared as soon as the scene started. Where do you think he went?"
"Wait — are you saying they're all haunted house actors?"
"Very likely!"
The two students stared at each other, and both saw terror reflected in the other's eyes.
"We've never had any grudge against the haunted house owner. We're just two ordinary visitors. He wouldn't really go this far, would he?"
"The senior who got scared unconscious last time was thinking the same thing." One of the medical students dialed a number again. "Let me ask Heshan — he knows the most about this stuff. We'll see what he has to say."
"What are you two doing in here?"
Before the call could connect, Wu Jinpeng pushed open the classroom door. He had chosen to come find the two students on his own, because standing outside by himself had simply been too terrifying.
"Nothing!" The two medical students scrambled in a panic, nearly hurling the phone. And right at that moment, the call happened to go through.
"Are you guys on the phone?"
"No — I was asking a classmate to sign us in for roll call. We skipped class to come here." The medical student turned away and ended the call, shooting his companion a look. His lips barely moved as he whispered, "I told you so!"
"I don't have a problem with visiting haunted houses, but skipping class to do it doesn't feel right. Students should prioritize their studies." Wu Jinpeng sidled up to the two students. "What's going on with you two? You're sweating a ton."
Before the students could answer, a heart-rending scream ripped through the corridor from somewhere deep inside — Ling Feijie.