Chapter 18 – Middle School

“You already know the purpose of our visit, and I genuinely agree and support it.” Xu Anran took a sip of coffee and smiled as he looked at Meng Yi.

Meng Yi was overjoyed and exchanged a glance with Xie Ning, practically wagging an imaginary tail behind him.

Meng Yi said, “Thank you so much for your cooperation, President Xu!”

Xu Anran curled his lips, but the smile faded before it fully formed: “First, Weiyao Technology has always been committed to contributing to society, and we are honored to assist in solving such a major case. Second, the victim, Wei Qinzhou, was a key employee of our company. Weiyao and Blizzard wouldn’t be where they are today without the hard work of technicians like Wei Qinzhou. It’s only right that we support him when he needs help.”

His words moved Meng Yi to tears, filling him with admiration for this outstanding entrepreneur.

“That’s wonderful! President Xu, you really are… a great person!” Meng Yi gave a thumbs-up, his face full of praise.

Xie Ning smiled along but felt something was off. Xu Anran’s words were flawless, perfectly fitting the image of an outstanding philanthropist. Yet, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Xu Anran seemed a bit… fake.

Maybe she’d read too many case files filled with the ugliness of human nature, making her overly suspicious. Xie Ning sighed inwardly—perhaps she should watch some idol dramas after work to balance things out.

Xie Ning suddenly asked, “President Xu, since you were the victim’s boss, could you tell us what kind of person Wei Qinzhou was in your eyes?”

Xu Anran blinked lightly: “Wei Qinzhou? He was the most chivalrous researcher in our company.”

“Chivalrous?” Meng Yi couldn’t understand why such an outdated and exaggerated term would be used to describe someone.

Xu Anran explained, “Hah, it’s not just me saying that—it’s the consensus of the entire company.”

So, Wei Qinzhou had good interpersonal relationships. In such a large company, receiving unanimous praise was no small feat.

Meng Yi scratched his head. Meanwhile, he couldn’t even remember the names of colleagues he’d attended several meetings with in the county and district.

“I heard he loved reading Jin Yong’s martial arts novels as a child, his head full of justice and chivalry. Many in the company said he was like a chuunibyou teenager.” Xu Anran placed his hands on his knees. “He even intervened to help others twice—once saving a drowning child and another time fighting off a knife-wielding thug on a bus. He went to receive his awards and commendation banners with bandages on.”

Such a good person, whose only flaw was having a life cut too short.

The more vibrant, passionate, and courageous he was in life, the more heartbreaking and regretful his end felt.

Meng Yi’s hatred for that madman Yan Ru grew even stronger.

“You said a super luxurious, palace-like four-story villa—and this is it?”

Our group stood in front of the iron gate, staring at the building beyond, lost in speechless contemplation. Qi Youxuan asked Gu Lanshan incredulously, “Seriously?”

What stood there was clearly a shabby rural middle school building!

Gu Lanshan: “Just tell me, is it four stories or not?”

Indeed, rural areas had fewer students, so a four-story building was more than enough.

“A palace?”

Gu Lanshan remained unruffled: “A palace of knowledge.”

“A villa?”

“Over there.” Gu Lanshan pointed to a smaller building next to the school.

Qi Youxuan was on the verge of rolling her eyes: “And the hospitable old lady?”

Gu Lanshan said, “Don’t rush, she’s in the guardhouse. Still spry—stronger than two security guards combined!”

Qi Youxuan had completely run out of patience.

Gu Lanshan, on the other hand, enthusiastically invited us in: “Don’t just stand there, let’s go!” He stepped forward and loudly banged on the gate, shouting, “Granny, I’m back! Open the door for us!”

A woman in her fifties, wearing a loose floral cotton short-sleeved shirt, walked out of the guardhouse with a displeased expression. Pointing at Gu Lanshan through the gate, she scolded in a dialect I was all too familiar with: “Who the hell are you calling granny?! Do I look that old to you, you little bastard?!”

Gu Lanshan quickly clasped his hands in apology: “Sorry, sorry! Auntie—no, sister! I was just trying to show respect! Don’t take it to heart! Sister!”

It had to be said—Gu Lanshan knew how to bend and flex, and he was good at charming women. The repeated “sister” finally softened her expression, and she opened the gate: “Call me Sister Chen. That’s what the students call me.”

“Sister Chen, thank you, Sister Chen!” Gu Lanshan grinned.

“Get in already, you four idiots!”

Yan Ru and Qi Youxuan followed them inside, with me trailing behind, doing my best to ignore the discomfort gnawing at me.

“Qin Yuezhang, what’s wrong?” Yan Ru turned back.

I said, “This is someone else’s school. Isn’t it inappropriate for outsiders like us to just walk in?”

Gu Lanshan, however, countered, “None of us have communication devices right now. Let’s settle in first, then figure out how to contact help.”

Yan Ru seemed about to say something, but when he saw Gu Lanshan’s arm draped over my shoulder, he pursed his lips and abruptly walked ahead without another word.

This was a rural middle school, after all, so the natural surroundings were decent—nestled among mountains on three sides, lush and green, with only one cement road leading out. When school let out, many students would venture into the mountains in groups to raid bird nests or pick fruit. Growing up in the mountains, they were naturals at these things.

The school grounds weren’t large—just one main building with an old, smaller structure beside it.

In front of the school was a bare cement clearing, not even paved with plastic, serving as a basketball court, soccer field, and running track.

Two towering, lush banyan trees stood in front of the school steps, casting a wide shade. In the summer, students loved crowding under them, forming tight circles around the trunks.

We crossed the field and headed to the smaller building next to the school—the dormitory.

Why did this place feel so familiar to me?

Because I used to be a student here.

I’d long sworn to myself to forget this place, to erase everything that happened here from my memory. I’d cursed every single person here and once groveled in the dirt.

Gu Lanshan’s voice suddenly interrupted my thoughts: “Every scene Blizzard constructs is based on the deepest fears and traumas in a patient’s heart. I remember Yan Ru’s records mentioned his high school was called something like ‘Xuehua Middle School’—this must be it.”

The deepest fears and traumas?

So they’d never truly passed or been forgotten.

But it didn’t matter.

Because I’d already become the kind of person they talked about.

I curled my lips and pointed at the words painted in red on the school building’s roof.

Gu Lanshan followed my gaze: “Rain… Flower… Middle… Son?”

I: “…”

This idiot.

“‘Xuehua Middle School.’ Those words have been there for years. Sun and wind have faded them to what you see now.”

“I knew that! I was just joking!” Gu Lanshan rubbed his nose. “I’m really curious—what happened to the Rose Killer in high school that traumatized him so much? Once we get out, we’ll not only find Wei Qinzhou but maybe even figure out what made him snap.”

I sneered, resisting the urge to punch him in the face: “Are you always this gossipy on missions?”

“Gossipy? That’s rude!” Gu Lanshan frowned. “It’s basic human curiosity! You have no idea what I’ve seen in rich people’s dreams! But I can’t tell you—confidentiality agreements and all.”

I wasn’t interested anyway.

Yan Ru, who had been walking ahead, suddenly glanced back at us before turning away again, as if just checking we hadn’t fallen behind.

Gu Lanshan nudged me: “You’re something else, Qin, the great psychologist. He trusts you a lot now. Consultant Qin, seize the opportunity.”

I smiled and agreed, quickening my pace to catch up with Yan Ru.

Sister Chen led us into the dormitory: “There are a few empty rooms. Pick one. Don’t mess with the students’ stuff, and get the hell out once you contact someone!”

Gu Lanshan, of course, showered her with sweet talk—”ageless beauty,” “kind-hearted”—until Sister Chen’s wrinkles could’ve crushed a fly.

The dormitory had an old-fashioned layout: a long, deep hallway ran through the building, lined with rooms like a honeycomb. Later, when I set up a street stall, my neighbor was an old scammer who told fortunes. He’d rambled about feng shui, saying this corridor layout was inauspicious—like a sharp knife cutting through the building.

The walls were covered in graffiti left by students—swear words, curses, and even some ambiguous love confessions. It was dirty and chaotic, but no one bothered to clean it.

The hallway was poorly lit, with only faint light spilling in from the stairwells at either end. The damp air crawled up from our ankles. To save electricity, the corridor lights were always off during the day.

“Let’s go in,” I said. “These two rooms are next to each other. Qi Youxuan, take one. The three of us will share the other.”

Qi Youxuan nodded softly: “Okay.”

We pushed open the unlocked door and entered the dorm room. It wasn’t large, but it had eight bunk beds crammed into the space, leaving no room for even a single desk.

“Seriously? Dorms like this still exist?” Gu Lanshan looked around in disbelief, his lips twitching with visible disdain.

I casually sat on a bed by the window: “There’s a lot you don’t know. Rest up.”

Yan Ru chose the bunk next to mine. Gu Lanshan had wanted to cozy up to him, but Yan Ru kept his head down, clearly uninterested.

Gu Lanshan didn’t push it.