Chapter 48: The Fox Spirit

That night was the most restless night I had experienced since arriving at school. Though I lay in bed with the covers pulled over my head, sleep eluded me completely.

The moment I closed my eyes, my mind was consumed entirely by Cheng Keyan.

In my thoughts, Cheng Keyan appeared so delicate, evoking an irresistible urge to protect her.

Yet, alongside this protective instinct, my mind was filled with images of her thighs and the sight of her tear-streaked face, silently watching me without moving.

I seemed to hear her whisper softly in my ear, "Li Xi, isn’t Teacher Cheng attractive? Why do you look down on me too?"

Because of this, I was utterly sleepless that night. The next day, I trudged to class in a daze. Unexpectedly, on the way, I saw an ambulance speeding from the direction of the archives building. I glanced at it briefly but paid it no mind, continuing toward the classroom.

Exhausted from the sleepless night, I rested my head on the desk and soon drifted into sleep.

During the break, Li Xiang came over twice to wake me. Each time, he looked at me with a mischievous grin and teased, “Hey Li Xi, did you go rustle some cattle last night?”

I ignored him, turning my head away to resume my nap.

The last class was with our homeroom teacher—a stout woman in her forties, fierce and intimidating. I dared not close my eyes again and resolved to endure the session.

But unexpectedly, a single sentence from the homeroom teacher jolted me wide awake.

That day, the usually smiling teacher entered the classroom with a grim expression, as if everyone owed her money.

She stood at the podium, lifted her head, and said, “What happened last night at the archives involving Teacher Cheng was indeed heartbreaking, but students must not speculate wildly. The school will handle the matter appropriately.”

The words “archives” and “Teacher Cheng” struck a nerve deep within me. The instant I heard them, I snapped my head up in confusion, staring at the homeroom teacher.

Usually, when she spoke, the class remained silent. Today was no different—an eerie stillness filled the room.

At that moment, I spoke up, “Teacher, I didn’t quite understand. What happened to Teacher Cheng?”

All eyes turned to me, filled with curiosity. A classmate whispered, “You didn’t know? Teacher Cheng committed suicide.”

I immediately looked back at her, but my mind was foggy, not quite comprehending.

Then, I caught sight of Li Xiang, whose face also bore a strange expression. I glanced at him again, and he nodded subtly.

In that instant, all my strength seemed to drain away. Trembling, I struggled to rise from my seat. Amidst the class’s surprised gasps and the teacher’s sharp commands, I staggered out of the classroom.

The news was too shocking to bear.

Shaking, I ran straight to the archives. A crowd had gathered there—several campus workers were cleaning Teacher Cheng’s office, and Liu Sui was among them.

Confused and hollow inside, I staggered toward the office. The floor was stained deep red, and the air was thick with the metallic scent of blood.

How could things have come to this?

Why, when I returned to the archives late last night, had I gone to the office where Cheng Keyan and I had been, but not to hers?

Why, as I turned to leave, did I hear her crying in such agonizing pain—and why hadn’t I stayed?

My legs gave way, and I collapsed onto the floor.

Liu Sui and the other workers glanced at me briefly before resuming their cleaning.

I don’t know how long I sat there alone. Eventually, I gathered myself, walked around the office, then quietly closed the door and made my way back to the dormitory.

I spent the rest of the day in a daze, skipping afternoon classes, lost in thought. I was unaware when Li Xiang and Hutou came and went from the dorm.

Night came swiftly. I lay on my bed until Hutou shook me awake. The big guy stood by my bedside, staring at me with a puzzled look.

Hutou was a heavyweight—at least two or three hundred pounds—towering like a mountain. Yet, he had a baby face, pale and smooth-skinned, envied by many girls in our class.

His innocent face was filled with concern as he asked, “Li Xi, what’s wrong with you today?”

I noticed his computer was still on, the game running, yet he had put it aside to check on me. It moved me slightly.

I replied, “It’s nothing, really.”

But Hutou’s expression darkened instantly, his baby face twisting into anger. “Do you think I’m an idiot? You think Hutou only knows how to play games? My eyes are sharp.”

He was about to continue when I stopped him. “I really am fine. Just let me be for a while.”

Hutou fell silent. From the upper bunk, Li Xiang poked his head out: “Don’t tell me it’s because of what happened to Teacher Cheng at the archives?”

At those words, Hutou scratched his head and said, “So that’s it. Li Xi, Teacher Cheng isn’t dead.”

“Not dead?” I sat up abruptly. “Are you serious?”

My reaction startled Hutou. He shrank back and said, “Yeah, not dead. They rushed her to the hospital this morning for emergency treatment.”

Hutou was about to say more, but the moment he mentioned the hospital, I leapt from bed and dashed out of the dorm.

When I reached the hospital, I found Cheng Keyan unconscious. A wave of relief washed over me, and I collapsed weakly beside her bed.

There was also a man in his thirties in her room.

I watched him, my mind racing. He looked at me with a cold, almost hostile expression. Given his age, could he be the husband Cheng Keyan often mentioned?

The thought made my fists clench audibly. This man was the cause of Cheng Keyan’s tragic state.

Instinctively, I took a couple of steps toward him, but stopped abruptly. A strong odor of body odor hit me, almost making me recoil.

What puzzled me was that the smell was mixed with a dense, seductive fragrance.

My mind involuntarily recalled passages from the occult texts I had read—there was mention of a scent similar to this.

It was the scent of a fox spirit.

Cheng Keyan once told me her husband had once treated her well, but had changed recently.

I think I’m beginning to understand now.