Chen Ge stood in the stark interrogation room, his gaze fixed on Fan Yu's aunt, whose weary face revealed a flicker of genuine concern for the boy she had raised, despite the horrific acts she had committed. In that moment, her plea for Fan Yu's well-being seemed to transcend her past, her cuffed hands and haggard appearance a stark contrast to the maternal instinct driving her words. The fluorescent lights cast harsh shadows, amplifying the weight of her request, and Chen Ge's heart softened slightly, recognizing that, at least now, she was putting Fan Yu first. The memory of the boy's haunting drawings and his withdrawn demeanor lingered in Chen Ge's mind, a reminder of the innocence caught in the crossfire of her crimes. The quiet of the room felt heavy, the aunt's plea a fragile thread connecting her to the boy she would soon leave behind.
Without hesitation, Chen Ge nodded, his voice steady and sincere. "I will try my best to watch out for the boy," he promised, his resolve firm as he thought of Fan Yu's vulnerability. In the entire ordeal at Mu Yang High School—the well, the sealed classroom, the ghostly students—Fan Yu stood out as the most innocent, a child burdened by the sins of his family and the supernatural forces that surrounded him. The interrogation room's cold atmosphere seemed to soften slightly, Chen Ge's commitment a small beacon of hope for the boy's future. The aunt's eyes flickered with a mix of relief and resignation, her cuffed hands twitching as if longing to reach out. Chen Ge's promise was a lifeline, not just for Fan Yu but for her own conscience, a final act of care in the face of her impending punishment.
The officer behind the desk stepped forward, his voice calm but encouraging. "Actually, you don't need to worry so much," he said, addressing Fan Yu's aunt. "We have already contacted child services. If you truly repent, you might still have the chance to see your child in the future." His words were meant to coax her cooperation, but they carried a note of genuine reassurance, a reminder that her confession could pave the way for redemption. The interrogation room's sterile light glinted off the officer's badge, the weight of his words settling over the aunt. Chen Ge watched as her expression shifted, her blank stare giving way to a flicker of hope, her lips parting as she gazed at a spot just above the officer's shoulder. A faint, almost serene smile crossed her face, as if she saw something—or someone—beyond the room's confines, a vision that softened her resolve.
"Okay, I will tell you everything I know," Fan Yu's aunt said, her voice soft but resolute, her smile lingering as she prepared to unburden herself fully. The shift in her demeanor marked the beginning of the formal interrogation process, her willingness to cooperate a sign that Chen Ge's presence had unlocked something within her. The room buzzed with quiet activity as the officer prepared to take her statement, the clink of her cuffs a stark reminder of her crimes. Chen Ge realized his role here was complete; the aunt's confession would now be in the hands of the police. With a nod to the officer, he excused himself, the weight of the night's events—the well, the uniforms, the Pen Spirit—still heavy on his mind as he stepped out of the interrogation room, the fluorescent lights fading behind him as he exited the station.
Outside, the morning sun was rising, its pale rays struggling to pierce the city's haze as Chen Ge hailed a cab to Fan Yu's home. The case at Mu Yang High School might seem resolved on the surface—the killer detained, the bodies recovered—but a lingering question gnawed at him, one only Fan Yu could answer. The boy's drawings, his connection to the spirits, and the twenty-four uniforms in the sealed classroom hinted at a deeper mystery tied to the supernatural forces Chen Ge had encountered. The cab wound through the city's narrow streets, the morning light casting long shadows as Chen Ge's mind raced, piecing together the clues—the red figures, the ghostly students, the name tags. The unresolved question loomed large, a puzzle that only Fan Yu's insight could unlock, tying the boy's visions to the haunting legacy of Mu Yang High School.
The sun climbed higher, but its warmth failed to penetrate the maze-like alleyways leading to Fan Yu's home, their narrow paths shrouded in shadow. Chen Ge exited the taxi, his footsteps echoing as he navigated the familiar route from memory, the weight of the night's events pressing down. The alley's damp air carried a chill, a reminder of the cold he had felt at Mu Yang High School, as if the spirits' presence lingered even here. He reached the rented apartment on the second floor, its weathered door a stark contrast to the grandeur of his Haunted House. Knocking several times, he heard the faint click of the lock, and the door creaked open a sliver. To his surprise, no one stood behind it, the empty entrance bathed in weak sunlight. Chen Ge hesitated, the chill deepening as he stepped inside, the absence of warmth unsettling, as if the apartment itself was holding its breath.
"Fan Yu?" Chen Ge called softly, stepping into the dim living room, the chill intensifying as he scanned the empty space. The kitchen was deserted, the silence broken only by the faint drip of a faucet. His heart pounded as he moved toward the bedroom, the door yielding easily under his touch, just as the front door had. Heavy curtains blocked out the morning light, plunging the room into darkness, the air thick with an oppressive stillness. The floor was littered with crumpled drawings, their familiar black houses and red figures stark in the dimness. Chen Ge picked one up, its chaotic lines a haunting echo of Fan Yu's visions, the red people climbing from the well a reminder of the tragedy he had uncovered. The room's shadows seemed to pulse, the weight of the boy's supernatural gift pressing down as Chen Ge's eyes adjusted to the gloom.
He spotted Fan Yu seated at a table, his small form facing away, lost in thought. "Why did you toss these drawings away? Are you not satisfied with them?" Chen Ge asked, holding the drawing as he carefully stepped around the scattered papers. A single drawing remained on the table, its black crayon outline depicting a solitary house with a lone black figure standing in its center. The stark contrast to the crowded red figures of the other drawings sent a shiver through him, the isolation of the figure mirroring Fan Yu's own loneliness. The room's darkness felt suffocating, the heavy curtains blocking any trace of warmth, as if the apartment was a reflection of the boy's inner world. Chen Ge's heart ached for Fan Yu, the weight of his aunt's actions and the spirits' presence a burden no child should bear.
"What happened to the red people?" Chen Ge asked, not expecting a response, his voice soft in the dim room. To his surprise, Fan Yu turned, his dark eyes meeting Chen Ge's as he whispered, "They have found a new home." The words sent a jolt through Chen Ge, his mind flashing to the twenty-four uniforms in the sealed classroom of his Haunted House. The connection clicked, the spirits of Mu Yang High School now residing in his subterranean scenario, their presence tied to Fan Yu's drawings. "Are you friends with them?" he asked, his voice cautious, probing the boy's bond with the spectral entities. Fan Yu shook his head, his gaze returning to the drawing, his silence heavy with unspoken thoughts. The room's oppressive atmosphere seemed to tighten, the drawings on the floor a testament to the boy's haunted vision.
Fan Yu reached into a drawer, pulling out a small paper box and handing it to Chen Ge. "For me?" Chen Ge asked, his pulse quickening as he opened it. Inside were twenty-four school name tags, each bearing a different name, nestled around a group photo where twenty-four students stood with their backs to the camera, identical to the one he had seen at the school. The discovery sent a chill through him, the name tags a key to the sealed classroom's mystery, their presence in Fan Yu's hands a confirmation of his connection to the spirits. The room's darkness seemed to deepen, the weight of the tags and photo pressing down as Chen Ge realized their significance. Fan Yu's silence persisted, his small form hunched over the table, leaving Chen Ge to grapple with the implications of this gift, the mystery of the classroom now in his hands.
Neither spoke, the silence stretching as Chen Ge looked at Fan Yu, his heart heavy with the question he couldn't bring himself to ask—how deeply was the boy entangled with the spirits, and what did he know of their intentions? The weight of the name tags in his hand felt like a responsibility, a link to the twenty-four spirits now residing in his Haunted House. Suddenly, footsteps echoed from the corridor, breaking the oppressive quiet. A man and woman appeared at the door, their silhouettes framed by the faint morning light. Chen Ge's heart skipped a beat, the unexpected arrival jolting him from his thoughts. The apartment's chill seemed to intensify, the presence of the newcomers a new variable in the unfolding mystery, their purpose unclear as they stood at the threshold, watching him and Fan Yu in the shadowed room.
The woman's voice echoed through the dim apartment, her tone a mix of concern and authority as she called out, "This should be the place." Her words were followed by a note of alarm as she noticed the unsecured entrance. "Why isn't the door locked? Fan Yu? Are you inside?" The sound of her voice jolted Chen Ge from his thoughts, his heart racing as he stepped out of the bedroom to confront the newcomers. The morning light filtering through the alleyway barely reached the apartment's threshold, casting the man and woman in shadow as they stood at the door. Their sudden arrival heightened the tension in the already oppressive space, the chill of the apartment amplifying Chen Ge's unease. The paper box with the twenty-four name tags felt heavy in his hands, a tangible link to the sealed classroom's mystery, as he prepared to face these strangers who had entered Fan Yu's world.
Chen Ge's eyes narrowed as he approached, his voice steady but cautious. "And you are?" he asked, studying the pair. The woman stepped forward, producing identification that marked them as workers from Jiujiang Children's Home. "We are here to take Fan Yu for a physical check-up and then follow up on the documentation for his future," she explained, her tone professional but tinged with suspicion as she eyed Chen Ge. The man beside her mirrored her wariness, their gazes questioning why an unknown man was in Fan Yu's home. The apartment's dimness seemed to deepen, the weight of their scrutiny pressing on Chen Ge as he stood in the doorway, the box of name tags a silent reminder of the supernatural forces tied to the boy. The morning light outside offered little warmth, the alley's shadows clinging to the scene as Chen Ge processed their purpose.
"Fan Yu is inside the bedroom. The boy is very independent, so please do take care of him," Chen Ge said, his voice firm but laced with concern for the boy's well-being. The woman nodded curtly, her expression softening slightly at his words, though her suspicion lingered. "We will; that is our job," she replied, moving past him to enter the bedroom. The man remained at the door, his eyes fixed on Chen Ge, his stance protective as if guarding against an unknown threat. The apartment's oppressive atmosphere seemed to pulse, the drawings scattered on the floor a haunting reminder of Fan Yu's connection to the spirits. Chen Ge's heart ached for the boy, the weight of his aunt's crimes and the sealed classroom's mystery converging as he stood under the man's watchful gaze, the morning light casting long shadows across the threshold.
As the woman entered the bedroom, Fan Yu's reaction was immediate and intense, his small form seizing the drawing on the table as he bolted toward the door, his movements frantic as if fleeing a danger only he could see. "Grab him!" the woman shouted, her voice sharp with urgency. The man at the door reacted swiftly, his experience with troubled children evident as he caught Fan Yu's arm with practiced ease. He pinned the boy's arms gently but firmly, preventing any chance of injury to himself or Fan Yu. The boy's struggles were desperate, his small body thrashing as he clutched the drawing, its black house and solitary figure a stark contrast to the crowded red figures of his earlier works. The apartment's chill deepened, the scene unfolding like a snapshot of Fan Yu's turmoil, his fear palpable as Chen Ge watched, his heart twisting at the boy's distress.
Chen Ge's concern surged, the sight of Fan Yu's agitation unsettling him deeply. After a tense negotiation with the man, he convinced him to release the boy, his voice calm but insistent as he emphasized Fan Yu's fragile state. When freed, Fan Yu didn't attempt another escape, instead standing still, his small hands gripping the drawing tightly, his eyes downcast as if accepting the futility of running. The apartment's dim light cast his face in shadow, the solitary black figure on his drawing mirroring his isolation. Chen Ge's heart ached, the boy's silence a heavy weight, his connection to the spirits and the trauma of his aunt's actions etched into his demeanor. The morning light filtering through the door offered no warmth, the alley's oppressive atmosphere clinging to the scene as Fan Yu stood motionless, the drawing his only anchor.
As the workers prepared to lead Fan Yu away, Chen Ge's resolve broke, the unanswered question that had haunted him since the night at Mu Yang High School too pressing to ignore. He chased after the boy, squatting before him to meet his gaze, his voice soft but urgent. "You know heaven is inside the well, and you witnessed everything, so why didn't you say anything?" The question hung in the air, heavy with the weight of Fan Yu's silence and the horrors he had seen—the well, his parents' deaths, his aunt's betrayal. Chen Ge had never viewed Fan Yu as an ordinary child; the boy's drawings of red people climbing from a black house revealed a connection to the supernatural that set him apart. The apartment's chill seemed to deepen, the name tags in the box Chen Ge held a tangible link to the spirits, their mystery intertwined with Fan Yu's unspoken truth.
Fan Yu's blank expression wavered as he considered Chen Ge's question, his dark eyes searching for an answer. Instead of speaking, he raised his head and offered a faint, innocent smile—the first Chen Ge had ever seen from him. The smile sent a shiver through Chen Ge, his back prickling with sweat as the boy's unexpected warmth contrasted with the apartment's oppressive cold. The simplicity of the gesture carried a profound weight, hinting at secrets Fan Yu chose to keep locked within. The morning light framed his small form, the alley's shadows casting a somber backdrop as he was led away by the workers. Chen Ge stood frozen, the paper box with the twenty-four name tags and the group photo heavy in his hands, the boy's smile a haunting enigma that deepened the mystery of Mu Yang High School.
Watching Fan Yu disappear down the alley, Chen Ge's mind raced, the boy's smile and the box of name tags stirring a mix of emotions—compassion, curiosity, and unease. Hugging the box tightly, he returned to New Century Park, the weight of the twenty-four names and the photo of the students facing away a tangible connection to the sealed classroom's spirits. The trip to the police station and Fan Yu's home had consumed much of the morning, and by the time he reached the park, it was past 10:30 am. The sun shone brightly after the night's rain, its rays lifting Chen Ge's mood as he approached the bustling park. The warmth of the day contrasted with the chill of Fan Yu's apartment, the name tags in the box a reminder of the supernatural legacy he now carried, their secrets waiting to be unraveled.
As Chen Ge entered New Century Park, he noticed a crowd gathered outside his Haunted House, their presence drawing his attention. Initially, he assumed they were eager customers, drawn by the viral livestream and the allure of his terrifying attraction. But as he drew closer, he realized his mistake—the group wasn't queuing for tickets but blocking the entrance, their voices raised in agitation. The bright sunlight cast their figures in sharp relief, their unruly behavior a stark contrast to the park's lively atmosphere. Chen Ge's heart sank, the promise of a busy day overshadowed by the chaos at his doorstep. He spotted Uncle Xu, the park's manager, attempting to negotiate with the crowd, his frustrated expression mirroring Chen Ge's growing unease as he approached the scene.
The crowd's attention shifted as Chen Ge neared, their voices growing louder as they surrounded him, their faces a mix of anger and curiosity. The sunlight glinted off the Haunted House's sign, its eerie facade a backdrop to the confrontation. Chen Ge's pulse quickened, the box of name tags still clutched in his hands, a reminder of the supernatural forces tied to his mission. The crowd's hostility suggested they were connected to the online feud with Qin Guang, their presence a physical manifestation of the digital storm that had boosted his livestream's popularity. Uncle Xu's exasperated look met Chen Ge's, a silent plea for assistance as the crowd closed in, their demands unclear but their intent unmistakably confrontational. The bright morning seemed to dim, the weight of the night's events and the mystery of the sealed classroom converging with this new challenge at his Haunted House's doorstep.