Senior’s Request

The girls’ discussion continued to gnaw at Lu Yibei’s mind, causing him to be absentminded during the entire lecture.

While occupied with his thoughts, he found that class was already over, and he just remembered that he had to deal with his counsellor and grumbled inside.

He loves studying; don’t get him wrong. Although he isn’t studying the major he wants, he thinks that taking university seriously is not necessary. As long as you pass your classes, you’re set for the world.

He packed up his unopened textbook and headed straight towards his counsellor’s office.

The floor leading to his office was somewhat deserted since it was still early in the morning. Some students and lecturers rushed up and down the hallway for their next class.

Walking down the corridor, he came to his counsellor’s office and knocked on the door.

No response.

Knock, knock, knock, knock, knock, knock…

“God damn it, I thought you said you were free all day today,” he grumbled. “Come on…”

Hearing the constant knocking, a security guard was alerted and found Yibei knocking on the counsellor’s door endlessly.

“Excuse me, what seems to be the problem?”

“Uh, I’m looking for Counsellor Xue. Is he-“

Before he could ask whether or not the counsellor was in today, he could see the security guard’s expression change in an instant.

“Are… are you really looking for him?”

“Yes?”

“He won’t be coming in for a while or forever. You should go to the Academic Affairs Department before they go out for their lunch break.”

“What? Did something happen to Counsellor Xue?”

“Ah…” he hesitated to speak and shook his head. “I heard that he was sent to the hospital this morning after encountering… something.”

Something? He thought before speaking. “Do you know which hospital he’s at? I want to go and see him.”

‘I need to report it to Jiangli and have her investigate it.’

‘He’s at the mental hospital,’ the guard said. “You… probably shouldn’t go. He doesn’t respond to anyone anymore, and he just attacks anybody that gets near him.”

After listening to the security guard’s words, Lu Yibei was silent for a moment, thanked him, and left thoughtfully.

Down Cherry Blossom Avenue, the withered and yellow leaves floated down from time to time, laying a thin layer of dead leaves on the ground. Autumn was beautiful at the University, but Yibei didn’t have the time to appreciate it.

Although he wasn’t familiar with who the counsellor was, he knew that he was a good person. Yibei couldn’t help but feel bad hearing that he was locked up in an insane asylum now. It’d be hard to visit him.

Others may not know what the mental hospital contains, but Yibei knows it very well: it is the place where the Night Division detains those with out-of-control psychic abilities and dangerous urban legends.

He recalled back to when Jiangli would threaten to lock him up there for one night.

Now that the counsellor was locked up in there, it must mean that he came into contact with an urban legend, which means that the Night Division must know about it, right?

Withdrawing his thoughts, he wondered how he was going to fool Jumeng later, complete Professor Ma’s thesis, and give a speech on what it’s like to be stabbed multiple times and still live during the school celebration.

However, as soon as he looked up, his eyes burnt.

‘What the… I should leave… Who cares about helping Jumeng collect cores? I need to take care of myself first.’

‘This is not a breach of contract! It is daylight, so it is not suitable to hunt!’

Even though he wanted to leave the scene as quickly as possible, he was nosy and couldn’t help but glance in the direction where his eyes burnt the most.

His eyes landed on Cherry Blossom Avenue, and his eyes swept through the crowd.

He saw a girl plucking her head out from her neck and parted her long hair, showing a sinister smile. She wore a dirty white dress, and waves of black mist spread around her and her red umbrella.

And yet, the pedestrians around her were completely unaware of her existence.

It’s the headless girl, Yibei thought. ‘Why is her umbrella red now? Wasn’t it a grey umbrella?’

He calmed his own nerves down upon seeing her; after all, she might be the friendliest urban legend he had ever met, apart from the apparitions in his house. Plus, she helped rescue Professor Ma before.

The problem is…

‘How do I greet her?’

Thinking about it, he glanced at her again, only to see a student walking straight into her and knocking her head out of her hands.

“…”

He hurried forward and dragged her to a quiet, lush side of the campus. He then returned and picked up her head, which was invisible to everyone and pretended to tie his shoelaces as he ran back to the headless girl.

After returning to the grove, Yibei handed her head over to the girl and sat down on the grass. “Why did you appear to me?”

“Aren’t you afraid of me?” She spoke as she twisted her head back into place like a screw.

Her voice still sounded ghastly and distant.

“What’s there to be afraid of?” Lu Yibei said it expressionlessly, and there was indeed no fear in his heart.

“I scared you the last time you were in the boys’ bathhouse… I thought you would run away again this time!” She cried out in a low voice.

He finally came back to his senses and smacked his own head: ‘She doesn’t recognise that I was a girl… the witch who had helped her…’

‘However, if she doesn’t know who I am, why did she appear to me?’

“Well, why did you appear to me?”

“Huh?” She seemed visibly surprised as if she were shocked that a human was fine with her presence.

“I… found something in school that scares me. I need your help,” she spoke reluctantly.

“Look, even if I can see you, I’m just an ordinary boy. How can I help you?”

“Y-you see, I know you can’t help, but I know you are Professor Ma’s student, and you have a good relationship with him.”

“Go on.”

“I know Professor Ma knows somebody powerful. But I can’t find him, so I need your help. That powerful person must have a way to help me out.”

Yibei couldn’t help but smirk inwardly: ‘She’s talking about me! Not me, but me!’

“I’m a little curious—what’s scaring you, exactly? Aren’t you a g-ghost yourself?”

“I like this place a lot,” she smiled softly. “I don’t want to destroy that.”

Weren’t you killed here? He thought to himself. ‘What’s there to like about a traumatic place?’

The cool autumn wind blew against her long hair, and the fallen leaves fluttered across her face.

In those cloudy and distant eyes, he could see life and hope within them.

Senior's RequestThe girls' discussion continued to gnaw at Lu Yibei's mind, causing him to be absentminded during the entire lecture.While occupied with his thoughts, he found that class was already over, and he just remembered that he had to deal with his counsellor and grumbled inside.He loves studying; don't get him wrong. Although he isn't studying the major he wants, he thinks that taking university seriously is not necessary. As long as you pass your classes, you're set for the world.He packed up his unopened textbook and headed straight towards his counsellor's office.The floor leading to his office was somewhat deserted since it was still early in the morning. Some students and lecturers rushed up and down the hallway for their next class.Walking down the corridor, he came to his counsellor's office and knocked on the door.No response.Knock, knock, knock, knock, knock, knockGod damn it, I thought you said you were free all day today, he grumbled. Come onHearing the constant knocking, a security guard was alerted and found Yibei knocking on the counsellor's door endlessly.Excuse me, what seems to be the problem?Uh, I'm looking for Counsellor Xue. Is he-Before he could ask whether or not the counsellor was in today, he could see the security guard's expression change in an instant.Are are you really looking for him?Yes?He won't be coming in for a while or forever. You should go to the Academic Affairs Department before they go out for their lunch break.What? Did something happen to Counsellor Xue?Ah he hesitated to speak and shook his head. I heard that he was sent to the hospital this morning after encountering something.Something?He thought before speaking. Do you know which hospital he's at? I want to go and see him.I need to report it to Jiangli and have her investigate it.'He's at the mental hospital,' the guard said. You probably shouldn't go. He doesn't respond to anyone anymore, and he just attacks anybody that gets near him.After listening to the security guard's words, Lu Yibei was silent for a moment, thanked him, and left thoughtfully.Down Cherry Blossom Avenue, the withered and yellow leaves floated down from time to time, laying a thin layer of dead leaves on the ground. Autumn was beautiful at the University, but Yibei didn't have the time to appreciate it.Although he wasn't familiar with who the counsellor was, he knew that he was a good person. Yibei couldn't help but feel bad hearing that he was locked up in an insane asylum now. It'd be hard to visit him.Others may not know what the mental hospital contains, but Yibei knows it very well: it is the place where the Night Division detains those with out-of-control psychic abilities and dangerous urban legends.He recalled back to when Jiangli would threaten to lock him up there for one night.Now that the counsellor was locked up in there, it must mean that he came into contact with an urban legend, which means that the Night Division must know about it, right?Withdrawing his thoughts, he wondered how he was going to fool Jumeng later, complete Professor Ma's thesis, and give a speech on what it's like to be stabbed multiple times and still live during the school celebration.However, as soon as he looked up, his eyes burnt.What the I should leave Who cares about helping Jumeng collect cores? I need to take care of myself first.'This is not a breach of contract! It is daylight, so it is not suitable to hunt!'Even though he wanted to leave the scene as quickly as possible, he was nosy and couldn't help but glance in the direction where his eyes burnt the most.His eyes landed on Cherry Blossom Avenue, and his eyes swept through the crowd.He saw a girl plucking her head out from her neck and parted her long hair, showing a sinister smile. She wore a dirty white dress, and waves of black mist spread around her and her red umbrella.And yet, the pedestrians around her were completely unaware of her existence.It's the headless girl,Yibei thought. Why is her umbrella red now? Wasn't it a grey umbrella?'He calmed his own nerves down upon seeing her; after all, she might be the friendliest urban legend he had ever met, apart from the apparitions in his house. Plus, she helped rescue Professor Ma before.The problem isHow do I greet her?'Thinking about it, he glanced at her again, only to see a student walking straight into her and knocking her head out of her hands.He hurried forward and dragged her to a quiet, lush side of the campus. He then returned and picked up her head, which was invisible to everyone and pretended to tie his shoelaces as he ran back to the headless girl.After returning to the grove, Yibei handed her head over to the girl and sat down on the grass. Why did you appear to me?Aren't you afraid of me? She spoke as she twisted her head back into place like a screw.Her voice still sounded ghastly and distant.What's there to be afraid of? Lu Yibei said it expressionlessly, and there was indeed no fear in his heart.I scared you the last time you were in the boys' bathhouse I thought you would run away again this time! She cried out in a low voice.He finally came back to his senses and smacked his own head: She doesn't recognise that I was a girl the witch who had helped her'However, if she doesn't know who I am, why did she appear to me?'Well, why did you appear to me?Huh? She seemed visibly surprised as if she were shocked that a human was fine with her presence.I found something in school that scares me. I need your help, she spoke reluctantly.Look, even if I can see you, I'm just an ordinary boy. How can I help you?Y-you see, I know you can't help, but I know you are Professor Ma's student, and you have a good relationship with him.Go on.I know Professor Ma knows somebody powerful. But I can't find him, so I need your help. That powerful person must have a way to help me out.Yibei couldn't help but smirk inwardly: She's talking about me! Not me, but me!'I'm a little curiouswhat's scaring you, exactly? Aren't you a g-ghost yourself?I like this place a lot, she smiled softly. I don't want to destroy that.Weren't you killed here?He thought to himself. What's there to like about a traumatic place?'The cool autumn wind blew against her long hair, and the fallen leaves fluttered across her face.In those cloudy and distant eyes, he could see life and hope within them.