Chapter 9

Yuan Yuan poked Song Qian’s cheek with her finger and asked doubtfully, “Did you get into a fight with someone? Where did these bruises on your face come from?”

Song Qian leaned back to dodge her hand. The injuries on her body had faded quite a bit, but faint traces were still visible.

“No, I went sleepwalking last night and fell.”

Yuan Yuan gave her a suspicious look. “How come I never knew you sleepwalked?”

“Just started. Just started.”

Yuan Yuan: “…”

“Weirdo,” she muttered under her breath. Then she brightened up, grabbed Song Qian’s arm, and whispered excitedly, “You don’t have classes this Friday, right? Come hiking with me!”

“Hiking?” Song Qian shook her head vigorously. “No way. That sounds exhausting.”

Yuan Yuan clutched her hand and tilted her head with a pitiful pout. “Come on, come on. Everyone else has a buddy. It’ll be so awkward if I’m the only one alone.”

“Everyone else?”

“It’s a club team-building trip. The weather’s perfect, so we picked hiking.”

“Fine. But you owe me a meal.”

~~~

Friday, at the foot of Green Mountain, thirty kilometers outside South River City.

“Should we get a hiking stick? Maybe a raincoat too?” A young woman peered at the roadside stalls, turning occasionally to the young man beside her.

He glanced up with a frown, impatience creeping into his voice. “It’s blazing hot. Why bother with a raincoat? It’ll just weigh you down.”

Unaware of his expression, she mulled it over and nodded. “Yeah, you’re right.” She turned to check out another stall.

Few hikers were around, and some vendors were already packing up to head home.

“You’re all college students, right? Green Mountain doesn’t look too tall, but the paths inside are a maze. Stick together, or you’ll get lost—and good luck finding you then.”

Song Qian paid for her hiking stick and smiled at the vendor. “Thanks for the heads-up, uncle. Got it.”

“Qianqian! Over here—group’s gathering!” Yuan Yuan waved from nearby, calling out to her.

Their group numbered eight, including the young woman and man from earlier. To Song Qian’s surprise, Jiang Yi was there too, hat and mask pulled low as he lurked at the back, trying to blend into the shadows.

“Let’s all introduce ourselves.”

“Hi everyone! I’m Lu Tiantian, and this is my boyfriend, Ma Zhiwen.” The young woman beamed, her arm looped through his, her smile bright and sunny.

Ma Zhiwen, a cigarette dangling from his fingers, grunted curtly, his eyes flicking sideways.

Song Qian followed his gaze to a woman with shoulder-length hair, who was up next. “I’m Liu Yue, a sophomore.”

“Oh~ A underclassman!” One of the guys in the group grinned. He wore black-framed glasses and had a fair, neat face, though his vibe was a little too laid-back.

“I’m Xu Yan—Xu as in promise, Yan as in oath.”

Song Qian could have sworn that when Xu Yan smiled at Liu Yue, Ma Zhiwen shot him a glare.

Him and her…?

“Jiang Yi.”

“Hi all! I’m Yuan Yuan, and this is my best friend, Song Qian.” Yuan Yuan tugged Song Qian forward for the introductions.

“I knew that beauty looked familiar! Song Qian, the campus beauty! I’ve seen all those confessions to you on the school forum.” Xu Yan clapped on his own and flashed her a thumbs-up. “Totally lives up to the hype. Gorgeous!”

Song Qian: “…”

“Well said. She really is gorgeous.”

A light chuckle sounded by her ear, laced with a chill.

How had she forgotten? This ghost had tagged along.

“Sorry I’m late.”

Everyone turned. A woman with a high ponytail jogged up, panting, sweat beading on her forehead.

“I didn’t hold you up, did I? Last-minute emergency.”

Song Qian handed her a pack of tissues. “No, we just arrived.”

The woman glanced at her, took the tissues, and smiled. “Phew, good. Thanks.”

“I’m Lin Sheng.”

“Another stunner! Best day ever.” Xu Yan scurried over to Lin Sheng and started introducing the group.

With everyone assembled, they began the climb. Xu Yan took the lead, snapping photos and gushing over the views. Lu Tiantian and Ma Zhiwen followed close behind, her laughter ringing out as she chattered happily to her boyfriend.

Song Qian wasn’t much for exercise, so her stamina flagged quickly. Yuan Yuan slowed to match her pace. Trailing at the end were Jiang Yi and Lin Sheng.

“Ah!”

A girl’s sharp cry cut through from up ahead.

Song Qian and Yuan Yuan exchanged a glance and hurried forward.

Liu Yue sat on the ground a short distance away, clutching her ankle. Her eyes were rimmed red, tears brimming but held back.

“Looks like a sprain. Must hurt bad,” Song Qian murmured to Yuan Yuan.

Before Yuan Yuan could respond, the ghost beside her spoke coldly.

“Faking it.”

Song Qian’s eyes widened a fraction. “?”

She could tell?

“Twisted ankle? How bad?” Lu Tiantian crouched to check it.

But before her hand made contact, Liu Yue jerked away with a sob. “Ah… it hurts!”

Song Qian saw the whole thing. “…” Yeah, she bought it.

The usually quiet Ma Zhiwen suddenly lunged forward, yanking Lu Tiantian to her feet. He dropped to a crouch in front of Liu Yue. “She’s hurt—don’t touch it. The path’s long. Can’t have a girl hobbling up injured. Hop on; I’ll carry you.”

“But…” Liu Yue glanced at Lu Tiantian.

Lu Tiantian caught the hesitation and shook her head with a smile. “It’s fine. I’m not that petty.”

Song Qian blinked, a nagging sense that something was off.

Someone poked her lower back. She turned to find Yuan Yuan leaning in, grinding her teeth. “Just like you and Ji Shixing back then.”

Song Qian sensed a teasing gaze from nearby. No prizes for guessing: Ji Wuxin.

Now Ma Zhiwen and Liu Yue led the pack, chatting and laughing. The rest trailed behind.

“Tiantian, you’re not jealous?” Xu Yan’s face twisted.

Lu Tiantian blinked innocently, still smiling. “Jealous? Of what? Zhiwen and Yueyue are my friends too. No big deal.”

“I’d be mad if Zhiwen didn’t help. Can’t just leave Yueyue suffering like that.”

Xu Yan paused, eyeing the others’ equally strained expressions, and bit back his words.

Whatever. Not his business.

“Why not take her to a clinic down the mountain?” Lin Sheng asked, puzzled.

Right! They hadn’t gone far. Why not?

Silence fell. Lu Tiantian went on snapping landscapes and selfies, acting detached. But her grip on the camera whitened her knuckles.

Deep in Green Mountain, ancient trees towered skyward amid dense thickets. Night swallowed all light. Song Qian and Yuan Yuan supported each other, flashlights cutting the dark as they pressed on.

“Hey, where’s Tiantian?” Xu Yan piped up.

In their focus on the climb, they’d missed that Lu Tiantian—who’d been buzzing with excitement beside them—had vanished. Even the lights from Ma Zhiwen and Liu Yue up ahead were gone.

“Keep going up. Only one path; they’re probably ahead.” Lin Sheng swept her flashlight over a rough trail edged with weeds and brush. No one would bushwhack here.

“This path feels different from before,” Yuan Yuan said with a frown. They’d started on a smooth main trail; now it was littered with sharp stones that bit into their soles—not a popular route.

Xu Yan adjusted his glasses with a chuckle. “Don’t spook us, Sister Yuan. We’ve stuck to the path—no forks.”

Yuan Yuan thought back. Yeah, straight shot all the way. Couldn’t be wrong.

“Let’s push on. Summit for sunrise.”

On the hushed mountain path, Song Qian heard only footsteps and whispering wind.

“Watch your step.” A clear voice rang from behind. Song Qian glanced back; somehow she and Jiang Yi had fallen to the rear, while Yuan Yuan and Lin Sheng strolled arm-in-arm ahead, laughing.

Song Qian gritted her teeth, mentally docking Yuan Yuan a point.

“Someone’s luring us off course.” Jiang Yi’s voice was a low murmur, lost on the breeze.

Ji Wuxin, ever at Song Qian’s side, snorted at his words and seized her hand. “What do you have to fear with me here?”

Jiang Yi shot her a look but said nothing.

Song Qian scowled at her. “Let go. It’s cold.”

Ji Wuxin only gripped tighter. “Cold? It’s sweltering.” She knew Song Qian was still pissed.

Jiang Yi couldn’t help pursing his lips. He pulled out his phone and began typing furiously.

“Lin Qing!!!! You bastard!!!!”

“You told me to protect Song Qian, but does she even need my protection??”

“That old ancestor is all sweet and cozy with her!! What am I supposed to do, just stand there??”

The phone screen showed 2:23 a.m. Lin Qing was probably fast asleep by now. Jiang Yi glared at his phone, fuming impotently.

“Aaaargh!!!!!”

Song Qian quickened her pace a little, drawing closer to Yuan Yuan and Lin Sheng up ahead. She could now clearly hear the two of them singing, with Yuan Yuan laughing merrily.

They got along splendidly.

Song Qian’s flashlight beam fell right on their feet. Lin Sheng turned her head and saw the smile on Song Qian’s face.

“Qianqian, come on—sing with us.”

Song Qian frowned slightly. She didn’t feel like she and Lin Sheng were on those kinds of terms yet.

But with such a warm invitation, Song Qian said nothing and hurried forward to squeeze in between them.

Xu Yan dawdled over to Jiang Yi’s side and nudged him with his shoulder. “Hey, bro, how come you’re not saying a word?”

Jiang Yi was in the midst of bombarding Lin Qing when the bump only made his mood worse. The eye not covered by his hand fixed straight on Xu Yan.

Xu Yan swallowed hard, his gaze drifting downward to catch sight of Jiang Yi’s message barrage.

Xu Yan’s expression turned to one of disdain. Shaking his head, he said, “Way too aggressive. Looks like gentle guys like me are pretty rare these days.”

Jiang Yi: “…” Now that was some serious self-praise.