Supernatural and Paranormal Research Society

Chen Haoran was completely unaware of the gazes from upstairs.

He just felt tired.

It felt like my bones were filled with lead, and every step I took required all my strength.

The crowd surged past him, their laughter and chatter blurry and distant through the frosted glass.

"I'm starving..."

He mumbled something, and his stomach responded with a long, drawn-out rumble.

But he didn't want to go back.

What I just saw was absolutely disgusting.

I just stepped off the cement steps.

"whee……"

A very soft laugh suddenly exploded close to his ear.

Chen Haoran froze and turned around abruptly.

There was no one behind.

Only the heavy curtains of the cafeteria and the muffled sounds of students chatting could be heard.

The setting sun had been swallowed up by thick clouds, and the sky darkened at a visible speed.

"My husband..."

The tone of his voice changed.

It was no longer a clear, crisp female voice, but rather like a soaked red silk being dragged across a bluestone slab—sticky, cold, and carrying the scent of aged incense and damp earth, penetrating directly into the depths of the skull.

"Why aren't you back yet... the veil is almost dry."

Chen Haoran's pupils suddenly dilated.

Reason is screaming: Don't listen! Keep moving forward!

But his feet seemed rooted to the spot.

The aroma of the food was instantly overwhelmed by the putrid, yin energy in the nasal cavity.

He opened his mouth, his voice as dry and lifeless as withered leaves in the autumn wind:

"...I'll go back right away."

As the view fades into the distance, thick fog has somehow engulfed the steps, completely blurring the boundary between reality and illusion.

Deep within the mist, a dark red hue slowly emerged.

The bride, holding up her skirt, stood barefoot in the void.

Beneath the red veil, a pale, bloodless hand was gently beckoning to him.

"Come on..."

Chen Haoran lifted his leg and stepped into the fog.

The streetlights went out with a "snap".

His shadow was stretched long and distorted, eventually overlapping perfectly with that dark red.

"Beep beep—!"

The piercing horn sound was like a sharp knife, scraping against my eardrums.

Chen Haoran shuddered suddenly, his unfocused pupils snapping into focus.

The blinding high beams shone almost right up to his nose.

A black sedan came to a stop just in time, its tires rubbing against the asphalt and sending up acrid white smoke.

It was less than half a meter from the tip of his shoe.

"Damn it! Are you trying to get yourself killed?! Standing in the middle of the road as a roadblock in the middle of the night?!"

The driver rolled down the window, stuck his head out, and started cursing.

Chen Haoran opened his mouth, but his throat felt like it was stuffed with cotton soaked in ice water, and he couldn't squeeze out a single syllable.

His face turned deathly pale, and he staggered back to the sidewalk, his back hitting the cold lamppost before he realized he was covered in a cold sweat.

How did he get into the middle of the road?

My memory is like a knife cut through it; from leaving the cafeteria to this moment, there is an absolute blank in between.

Only my legs still feel sore and tired from mechanically taking each step.

If the driver had braked half a second later...

Chen Haoran closed his eyes, his stomach convulsing uncontrollably from fear.

For the first time, the scent of death brushed against his face in such a tangible way.

He's really crazy.

Ignoring his screaming stomach, he practically fled back to the boys' dormitory.

"Click".

Only when the door was locked from the inside did he allow himself to lean against the door and gasp for breath.

The dormitory was empty, with only the regular hum of the air conditioner's outdoor unit.

The phone screen lit up, and notification sounds started playing incessantly.

As is customary, it's time for his live stream.

His fingers hovered above the screen, but his fingertips were cold and stiff.

In the end, he typed only one line and pressed send:

[Brothers, I'm not feeling well today, so I'm taking the day off. I'll be back as usual tomorrow.]

The post had barely been published when the comment section was flooded with messages.

[Is the Berserker weakened?]

[Hilarious! Did they go too far with the murder mystery game the other night?]

[The effect is amazing, Hao Ge! I told you there were no ghosts, your acting is more realistic than a real ghost.]

Chen Haoran didn't have the energy to watch.

He shoved his phone under his pillow and pulled the blanket over his head.

tired.

It felt like my bones were filled with lead, and even my breath carried a lingering dampness.

The moment consciousness sank into darkness, the chill arrived as expected.

……

There is no light in my dream.

There was only a thick, unyielding white mist.

"My husband..."

The sound drifted along the misty walls, sometimes near, sometimes far, like a soaked red silk brushing against blue bricks.

"Where have you been... your veil has dried."

Chen Haoran's whole body tensed up, and his throat tightened.

He wanted to run, but his legs felt like they were stuck in mud.

A vague outline flickered in the mist, a dark red corner, a pale fingertip...

"Get away!"

He suddenly swung his arm.

The rambling stopped abruptly.

Dead silence.

Immediately afterwards, a cold wind arose.

It feels like fine ice needles when scraped on the face, drilling into the pores.

The sound of crying seeped in.

The suppressed, melancholic sobs seeped into my brain, causing a throbbing pain in my temples.

Chen Haoran covered his ears tightly, his fingernails digging into his scalp.

"Get out of here—!"

He suddenly opened his eyes.

"Holy crap! Hao, are you sleepwalking?"

On the opposite bed, Li Lingyun was playing a game with headphones on when Chen Haoran suddenly sat up, startling her. She ripped off her headphones.

Chen Haoran was panting heavily, his chest heaving violently.

The back of my pajamas was soaked through, clinging tightly to my skin, feeling cold and sticky.

"I had a nightmare."

He spoke in a hoarse voice, raising his hand to wipe his face, which was covered in cold sweat.

Li Lingyun peeked over and asked, "You look terrible? Were you really scared by that awful live stream last night?"

"fart."

Chen Haoran instinctively retorted, but his tone was weak and unsteady: "I'm not afraid of anything. I just didn't sleep well."

He threw off the covers and got out of bed, his joints protesting all over. He picked up his pajamas and headed to the private bathroom to take a shower.

When the showerhead is turned on, warm water cascades down.

Chen Haoran closed his eyes, letting the steam rise.

The tense nerves slowly relaxed in the hot water.

That's too sensitive.

He repeatedly told himself that his current situation was due to consecutive all-nighters and mental stress.

It is normal for the human body to experience hallucinations when it is extremely tired, and this can be explained scientifically.

He lathered the shampoo and rinsed it off.

Just as my eyelids closed and my vision was blurred by the flowing water.

Chen Haoran had a feeling that something was watching him from the corner.

He barely opened his eyes, but there was nothing there.

Chen Haoran forced himself to look away and continued washing his hair, but the ever-present chill that accompanied him as the water flowed over his neck could not be warmed up no matter what he did.

……

After he came out of the shower, Li Lingyun was typing on her keyboard and called out to him, "Log in! Log in! No live stream today, let's relax together!"

Chen Haoran glanced at the time; it was 10:30 PM.

"Come."

He sat down and picked up the mouse.

My fingertips were still cold, but the light from the screen and the familiar login interface dispelled some of the gloom.

Game loading.

The familiar canyon map, the familiar skill sound effects.

One game, two games.

Chen Haoran gradually regained his touch.

In a crucial jungle team fight, he used his hero's skillful maneuvering to instantly kill the enemy's core with his ultimate skill.

"Nice!"

Li Lingyun slammed his fist on the table excitedly: "Brother Hao is awesome! That's incredible!"

Chen Haoran's lips just managed a slight smile.

"call--"

A cold wind suddenly blew past the back of his neck.

He shivered, his earlier excitement instantly extinguished.

Chen Haoran reached up and touched the back of his neck, where a fine layer of goosebumps rose on his skin.

"That's strange, why is it suddenly so cold?"