Chapter 47: Cheng Keyan's Suicide

As she spoke, Cheng Keyan had already pushed open the office door and turned on the light.

Under the illumination, Cheng Keyan appeared unusually haggard. Perhaps from prolonged crying, her eyes were swollen and reddened.

I stood frozen in place, unsure of what to do. At that moment, Cheng Keyan spoke to me again in an incredibly gentle and soft voice: “Come here.”

Her voice sent a shiver through my body. Being a man, it was natural for me to react.

The night was just right, and with such a beauty before me, it was hard not to have certain thoughts. Yet I understood that some things must not be acted upon.

I still moved toward Cheng Keyan, who turned and walked into the office.

Just those few steps, and I found myself breathing heavily—probably from extreme nervousness.

As I reached the office door, I saw Cheng Keyan standing behind it. Tears shimmered in her eyes, her demeanor innocent and endearing. In front of me, she no longer resembled a teacher at all.

An uncontrollable urge to protect her welled up inside me.

“Come here,” she pouted, calling me again in that fragile voice.

Her voice seemed to command my body, and I entered without restraint. At that moment, Cheng Keyan circled around me and slammed the door shut with a bang. I even heard the lock turn.

Her actions left me rooted to the spot, unsure of how to respond. Instinctively, I turned to look at her.

Inside, a tremor stirred and suddenly erupted.

The office was tastefully furnished—an executive chair, a sofa, and a desk.

I pushed Cheng Keyan down onto the sofa, and just as I was about to take the next step, she suddenly began to sob.

Her crying snapped me back to reality instantly.

I hurriedly took several steps back, nearly falling, and stood aside in a mixture of fear and regret. How could my self-control be so poor?

Seeing her weeping, I said remorsefully, “Teacher Cheng, I’m sorry.”

Still crying, she looked up at me, “What are you doing?”

Her voice stirred feelings in me once more. I quickly turned my head away and said, “Teacher Cheng, I’ve apologized already. I’m sorry. It’s late; let me take you home.”

Cheng Keyan’s crying grew louder. I sensed she had gotten up from the sofa and was moving toward me. Just as I turned to look at her, she grabbed my hand again.

In my panic, I pushed her away, causing her to fall back onto the sofa.

Suddenly, her crying stopped, and her expression grew cold. I was at a loss and said, “Teacher Cheng, I have something to attend to. I have to go.”

Cheng Keyan continued to gaze at me silently.

I stepped forward to help her up, but she sharply shook off my hand and turned her head away.

“Today I saw that despicable woman,” she said, sobbing again. “He actually brought her home. I was outside the bedroom and heard those shameful sounds coming from inside.” Her voice trembled with tears.

I said, “Teacher Cheng, you’re upset. Let’s go out and get some fresh air. Don’t stay here.”

Unexpectedly, she shook off my hand again and glared at me fiercely. “Get out. Leave.”

I really left, unlocking the door and walking out without looking back. About ten meters away, I heard her crying once more. I paused and glanced back.

Her silhouette was cast in the window light. I turned away and left the archive building without a backward glance. Though I felt deeply troubled inside, what else could I do?

It was best not to provoke her.

After leaving the archives, I wandered around campus. In the darkness, couples could often be seen in corners—some gazing affectionately at scenery, others holding hands. Some even sat close together, though I dared not imagine what else they might be doing.

I returned to the dorm, feeling no mood to engage with Li Xiang or Hu Tou, rushed into the bathroom for a shower, then went to bed.

That night’s sleep was restless. Once again, I dreamed the campus sky had turned blood red. Under that crimson sky, crows flew ominously, filling the scene with dread.

I stood on the campus sports field—the place where we used to do morning exercises. But now, the field was littered with bodies, each face twisted in terror, bleeding from every orifice, dead.

Suddenly, I was startled to realize all the bodies were of the same person.

Surrounding me were over a hundred corpses, all identical.

Staring at their faces, my heart pounded fiercely. They were indeed the same person—and none other than Cheng Keyan.

That hundredfold image of her dead body was etched in my mind as a ringing noise filled my head. I awoke with a scream, sitting up abruptly.

Li Xiang and Hu Tou, hearing my cry, peered out from under their covers, puzzled.

“Li Xi, what’s wrong with you? Shouting like a ghost in the middle of the night.”

The dorm was still pitch black. I wiped the cold sweat from my face as the nightmare replayed vividly.

Anxiety and unease churned in my chest.

At that moment, only one thought occupied my mind: Cheng Keyan.

I leapt out of bed, not bothering to dress, and dashed out of the dormitory. Behind me, Hu Tou and Li Xiang called out, “Li Xi, where are you going?”

I didn’t answer, sprinting toward the archives building.

Crossing the campus quickly, I arrived at the building and looked up. It was completely dark; nothing could be seen. The office where Cheng Keyan had been was now unlit.

Growing more uneasy, I approached the office door, pushed it open, and turned on the wall light.

Inside, it was empty. Cheng Keyan was gone.

For some reason, a terrible premonition gnawed at me. I searched the surrounding area but found no trace of her.

Eventually, I returned to the dorm, weighed down by unease, and buried my head in the covers.

I never could have imagined that the nightmare I dreamed would soon become reality.

The next day, Cheng Keyan took her own life.