True education isn't about playing to one's strengths while avoiding one's weaknesses — it's about facing problems and flaws head-on, then prescribing the right remedy.
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Communicating with different employees using different methods, maximizing their enthusiasm for the work — that was an essential skill any successful boss had to possess.
After Han Song and the members of the Taekwondo Club joined, the line behind Chen Ge grew considerably longer.
"Principal, I never actually intended to kill Han Song. I just wanted to make him feel the pain of the weak, to remind him of who he used to be." Chen Ge didn't want there to be any misunderstanding between himself and the old principal. "Our fundamental goal is to earn the recognition of the Ghost School's will. Killing students inside the Ghost School would clearly go against the Ghost School's will."
Chen Ge had understood this principle long ago. "In this school, aside from the Ghost School's will, the most powerful existence should be a vengeful ghost called the Painter. He had grand ambitions — using the resources at his disposal, he wanted to transform the Ghost School into a paradise free of conflict. Unfortunately, he was obstructed by another top-tier Red-clothed ghost. I don't know how it ended, but all the vengeful ghosts who offended the Painter and got in his way ultimately had their memories erased."
"The Painter didn't kill them?" The old principal immediately zeroed in on the key point.
"That's right. Even though those vengeful ghosts kept causing trouble, the Painter never killed them." Chen Ge spoke quietly. "Devouring a Red-clothed ghost can dramatically increase one's own strength and that of one's companions. The Painter couldn't have been unaware of this — so it wasn't that he didn't want to kill them, but that he couldn't. Don't forget, before a new Door-Pusher appeared, the true master of this school was the Ghost School's will hanging above it all. The Painter is powerful, but even he has to operate within the bounds permitted by the school's will."
"Why didn't you tell me all this sooner?"
"If I'd told you the truth, would you have worn that expression just now? When you rushed to save Han Song, you genuinely wanted to save him — recklessly, wholeheartedly. Those things can't be faked. I could tell, and Han Song probably could too." A smile hung at the corner of Chen Ge's lips. "Principal, you're the kindest person I've ever met. I didn't deceive you on purpose — I just wanted to accomplish more. There are many things in this world that can't be achieved through goodwill alone."
The smile on his face slowly faded. "Behind the door, it's filled with despair and negative emotions, but the source of those emotions is on the other side. I don't know how the world behind the door came into being, but I know that if everyone were like you, the world behind the door might just be a pure dream."
He turned his head toward the window, gazing at the thick blood-red fog. "Maybe even stars could be seen here."
It was the first time the old principal had seen Chen Ge wear such an expression. "It seems like something is weighing on your mind?"
"I never talk about these things with anyone. You're the first person to hear them. Maybe it's because you knew my parents, and because I'm certain you wouldn't hurt me." Chen Ge walked at the front of the group alongside the old principal. "In this enormous Ghost School, surrounded by Red-clothed ghosts and vengeful ghosts, I might be the only living person. Sometimes I'm afraid too, but I know I can't afford to be. I'm just an ordinary living person, but I'm also the owner of the haunted house — the backbone for all those kids. If I lose my composure, everyone's souls will scatter to nothing. So I can't be afraid, and I can't even let myself entertain the thought."
Only when Chen Ge said these things did the old principal truly begin to see him again. If he himself were still alive, his grandson would be about the same age, wouldn't he?
Because Chen Ge had always seemed so imposing, even he had overlooked the most fundamental truth — Chen Ge was the only living person in this land of death.
In this blood-red abyss, he was like a flickering candle flame. A slightly stronger gust of wind could blow him out.
It must be hard for him too.
These thoughts rose unbidden in the old principal's heart. "If you ever want to talk to someone in the future, you can come find me anytime. I've lived most of my life, and while I never accomplished anything truly great, being a decent listener is something I can manage without any problem."
"Thank you." Chen Ge casually asked, "Actually, I really want to know about my parents. They never told me anything. Principal, can you tell me what they were like in your eyes?"
"I only know that they were warmhearted and selfless. They helped me a great deal and never asked for anything in return. Besides, from what I knew, they helped many people in the western suburbs as well. They always donated more than half of their haunted house's income. They did far more than I ever did." The old principal's opinion of Chen Ge's parents was extremely high.
"Did they ever mention me? I want to know what I looked like through their eyes." Chen Ge's speech slowed. He wanted to understand what exactly had happened between him and his shadow.
The old principal didn't answer immediately. After a long time, he finally spoke. "I once visited your home. It was late at night, and your parents were about to leave. I don't know where they were going. I only saw them standing outside your room for a very, very long time."
"You came to my house?" To keep the haunted house running normally, Chen Ge had sold the old family home. He hadn't wanted to go back to that place — he didn't want the memories to come flooding back.
"Chen Ge, no matter what, I hope you understand that your parents truly loved you. They may have done many things that you can't comprehend yet, but I hope you won't be angry with them." The old principal seemed to know certain details, but there was no way he could share them with Chen Ge.
"It's been so long since I've seen them." Chen Ge's voice made the old principal's heart ache.
"Can you tell me where they went in the end?" Chen Ge stopped walking and suddenly spoke. The old principal's mouth opened slightly, as if he instinctively wanted to say something, but at the last moment, he quickly shut it again.
"You can't tell me?" Chen Ge stopped, his eyes fixed straight on the old principal — like a homeless child standing in a downpour.
The old principal hesitated for a long time before finally shaking his head. "They will come back to find you."
"It's fine. I think they'll come back too." Chen Ge took a breath and was back to his usual self. "Let's keep moving. Once we've gained the recognition of enough vengeful ghosts, the Ghost School's will should acknowledge us too. When that happens, we'll lay all our cards on the table for everyone. I don't want to drag this out any longer."
Sunshine, strength, kindness, a streak of ruthlessness buried deep in his bones, calm to a frightening degree — and yet sometimes just like a child.
The old principal watched Chen Ge, and his perception of the young man had shifted without his even realizing it. If before it had been nothing more than a cooperative relationship, then now he saw Chen Ge as a junior — someone to look after.
This transformation, he hadn't noticed it himself. Perhaps it was guilt. Perhaps it was something else.
"Principal, what I've told you today — I hope you won't share it with anyone."