Chapter 332 - 144: "Calling the Parents

Chapter 332: Chapter 144: "Calling the Parents

"Then which teacher was the previous owner of the room?"

"I don’t know either," Song recalled. "When I moved in, the entire building was basically empty except for that cleaning lady I mentioned. This room was just a storage closet back then. Remember I told you before? I came to the island in the winter and it was freezing. I picked this room and cleaned it out only because it was on the southeast corner and got the best sunlight."

Zhang Shutong asked again:

"So... is there anything like a basement here?"

"An old building like this wouldn’t have something like that. All the junk is just piled up in the hallways." Song chuckled. He had subconsciously interpreted "basement" to mean "storage room."

"Then has anyone come looking for you over the years? I mean, strangers you don’t recognize?"

"Besides my parents, who would come to a place like this looking for me?" It sounded like the man had snuck away to light a cigarette. He took a deep drag. "Shutong," he pleaded, "stop investigating that person who jumped. It was one thing for you to be so invested in Qiumian’s case, but you don’t even know this person. If you’re really that worried, just call the police. You should learn from your teacher. Look at me... now I..."

His voice grew softer:

"I don’t go looking for trouble anymore."

Another silence fell.

"Why don’t we talk about this when I get back?" After a moment, Song’s voice returned to normal. "I’ll probably be discharged the day after tomorrow. I’ll come to the island to find you. I have to see the kids in my class one last time before I go. I’ll take you all out for a meal, lest you little ingrates forget all about your teacher..."

Zhang Shutong listened to him ramble for a bit longer, reminded him to take care of himself, and then hung up.

"How did it go?" Lu Qinglian asked, coming up the stairs.

"It’s not related to Teacher Song." Zhang Shutong let out a heavy breath. "Though it would have been more of a hassle if it was."

’How am I supposed to feel about this? Maybe I’m just overthinking things?’

’Was this "hidden space" just a basement built along with the original building?’

From the outside, the building showed no signs of later additions.

Now, Zhang Shutong just wanted to figure one thing out: were there similar secret doors in the other rooms?

He called to Lu Qinglian as they left the dorm. Zhang Shutong went to the room next door and tried the door. It was locked, of course. He tried his key, hoping against hope, but naturally, it didn’t work.

"I can kick it down," Lu Qinglian offered.

Zhang Shutong thought for a moment, then sighed.

"Better not."

He didn’t want to make a big scene. The school would surely send someone to clear out the room after Song left. It would be a huge hassle if they found the place in a total mess.

He still wasn’t sure what was hidden behind the door and was in no hurry to tell anyone else about its existence.

Zhang Shutong turned to the window, but it was impossible to see through the glass.

The windows in all the rooms here were covered with a frosted plastic film. Even though no one lived here now, the fact that the film was there suggested the rooms were once fully occupied.

Zhang Shutong tried pushing the window, but it didn’t budge.

He didn’t give up. He moved to the next room to try again, but the farther west he went, the more junk was piled up.

There were study materials, stacks of A4 paper, discarded workbooks, dilapidated flowerpots and mops, and even a pair of cloth shoes that looked like they’d been there for ages...

Zhang Shutong made his way past it all until he reached the westernmost room. He wasn’t holding out much hope, but this time, he didn’t even need to push. The window was already open a crack.

The window frame was covered in dust. He paused for a second, then peered into the room through the crack.

There was no furniture at all.

It was a simple, square room. Zhang Shutong looked toward the opposite wall, which was just as bare.

Just then, Lu Qinglian bent down slightly and brought her face close. Zhang Shutong glanced at her and saw that she wasn’t looking inside the room, but was examining the window frame.

"Have you noticed something?" she said thoughtfully. "The shadow figure’s objective."

Zhang Shutong was still trying to spot a similar seam on the wall and replied instinctively,

"You know why it disappeared?"

"No," Lu Qinglian said, her eyes downcast. "But we can infer a few things. Step aside for a moment."

Zhang Shutong had no choice but to step back, and Lu Qinglian took his place. She pushed the window. Amidst a grating SQUEAL, her crisp voice cut through the air:

"Before I explain, let me tell you something: you’re developing tunnel vision."

"What do you mean?"

"You’re placing too much importance on everything in this building. It’s because Teacher Song’s notebook is here, and his notebook contains clues about the mud men. As a result, you subconsciously assume every anomaly is pointing toward them."

Zhang Shutong nodded instinctively.

Lu Qinglian added calmly,

"But if you set aside the Teacher Song factor, these anomalies aren’t necessarily related to the mud men at all."

Lu Qinglian knocked sharply on the window with one hand, making the glass tremble. Her slender hand came to a rest amidst the scattering dust:

"Look here. This window is open, yes, but don’t just focus on what’s inside the room. Haven’t you noticed? This room shouldn’t be this clean."

Zhang Shutong’s gaze shifted. It was true.

A room that’s been vacant for a long time would surely have a thin layer of dust, but the amount in there was nothing compared to the thick layer accumulated on the outside of the window frame.

Zhang Shutong instantly understood what Lu Qinglian meant.

This window, though open, hadn’t been open for long.

He had almost pieced together the entire sequence of events when he heard Lu Qinglian continue,

"The first time we went to Teacher Song’s room, that window was also open a crack. You thought it was just a rusty window frame, but have you ever considered..."

She said slowly,

"That shadowy figure was doing the same thing we are now."