That night, Doctor warned him that he shouldn’t leave the room no matter what happened. He remembered Doctor’s gaze when he said that. However, not long after that, the latter slumbered like nothing was going on. He was so comfortable that he changed so many poses while he slept. It impressed Fatty greatly. Doctor probably had figured out the clue was the newspapers by then. It was why he was so fearless.
“Doctor,” Fatty leaned over and asked curiously, “I’ve read that newspaper. It only recorded the details of the bungalow murder. But…” He lifted his head, “How is that related to the school mission?”
Jiang Cheng turned his head to look out the window. The day was darkening. There were car honks in the distance. Jiang Cheng didn’t answer directly.
Fatty’s body reacted badly to this. He was the most anxious when Jiang Cheng suddenly became quiet. As time passed, he realised the separation that existed between them even though Jiang Cheng didn’t express it explicitly. Fatty knew that they were not on the same level.
If Jiang Cheng were willing, Fatty was allowed to join his life. However, if he were not, Fatty would have no place in his life. Thankfully, before the string in Fatty’s heart snapped, Jiang Cheng opened his mouth. “The content of the newspaper changed. The earlier articles disappeared. The taboo related to the school mission appeared in the blank spaces.”
Confusion flashed in Fatty’s eyes. He sensitively captured the keyword. Taboo… and not the clue.
“The ghost in the mission couldn’t kill repeatedly at the same place.” Jiang Cheng announced.
Fatty widened his eyes and thought back to the mission. The woman in the qipao died in the hostel; Long Tao died in the male toilet; Luo Yi died in the file room; Zhen Jianren died at the Prop Centre; And Xu Wen… died inside the mirror world. Indeed, after all of them were listed out, it was clear that no two people died at the same place. It was probably why the Doctor was so confident about falling asleep. After all, the woman in the qipao had died there already.
Fatty licked his dry lips. “Are there… other taboos?”
Fatty hesitated for one second when he heard that. However, he quickly let go. He nodded. “I understand, Doctor.” He knew that with Jiang Cheng’s ability, it would be very easy for him to lie to him. Since he said so, he must have his reasons. Other than his stories about the KTV, Jiang Cheng was very reliable with his words.
The conversation should have ended already. Fatty stood up and prepared to fill up Doctor’s cup of warm water. However, when his hands touched the cup, his body trembled violently. “Doctor,” Fatty looked at Jiang Cheng, his eyes glowing with anticipation, “Was the newspaper the reward from the first mission?”
Jiang Cheng looked at him. “Yes.”
“Then, what about the reward from this latest mission?”
Jiang Cheng didn’t answer. Instead, he looked at Fatty blankly. The atmosphere became serious. Fatty seemed to realise something. He didn’t dare to move. A few seconds later, he slowly searched through his body. He first unzipped his jacket and then turned out his pockets…
Finally, inside the pocket that was the most hidden, he took out a piece of yellowed paper. It looked like newspaper. The edges looked torn.
Fatty didn’t even open it and honestly passed it over and placed it on the table before Jiang Cheng.
Jiang Cheng didn’t even glance at the newspaper. His eyes were still on Fatty. His eyes were as calm as the sea. Being stared at like that, Fatty felt like his soul was about to depart from his body. His legs couldn’t stop shaking. He was about to kneel.
“Doctor,” Fatty pouted, “Please believe me. I really didn’t know this was on me. If I knew, I would have taken it out earlier. I didn’t… mean to keep it for myself…” Fatty said sincerely. He almost swore. Thankfully, Jiang Cheng moved his gaze away.
Fatty instantly started to gasp for air. The pressure from earlier almost crushed his lungs. He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. Even his back was wet. He looked at Jiang Cheng nervously, like a student who had made a mistake.
Jiang Cheng picked up the paper. He didn’t open it and kept it directly in his pocket. Fatty, who saw this from the corner of his eyes, had his heart chilled. However, he had no explanation.
Doctor had saved him innumerable times in the nightmare. Without the Doctor, he would be dead already. However, this happened… even though he didn’t mean it.
“Doc…” He began, but as he raised his head…
The chair grated against the floor. Jiang Cheng stood up. He eased the wrinkles of his shirt and then left without turning back. His footsteps echoed up the stairs. It felt like he was stepping on Fatty’s heart.
Fatty waited for a while until no sound remained. He slowly moved around. He knew that this was his own fault. He was not friends with Doctor, especially since they met in the nightmare realm. Doctor had done everything to take him in. If he put himself in Doctor’s perspective, what would he think? He would suspect that Fatty was planning to keep the treasure for himself. Trust… had a limit. Plus, this involved a life-and-death situation.
Fatty came to the second floor. He stood before the temporary bed that he had made. He sighed. He quietly packed up his stuff. Doctor didn’t chase him out, but he was too ashamed to stay.
Thankfully, he didn’t have too many things. Fatty carried his bag and looked at this place, which was starting to get familiar. He left a note on the bedroom door. It reminded Jiang Cheng of the fish and ribs in the fridge. The ribs couldn’t be kept for long.
Just as Fatty turned to leave, the bedroom door suddenly opened. The shadow was elongated on the floor.
“If you didn’t hand that over tonight, guess what would have happened?” Jiang Cheng’s voice was as cold as ice. “Dead Fatty?”