The moment I realized the killer was just outside the door—possibly armed with a weapon—a cold sweat soaked my back in an instant.
I swallowed hard, my mind racing. Deng Chao, disguised as a ghost, was lurking just beyond the entrance. If I peeked out carelessly, he'd probably strike without hesitation.
But staying put wasn't safe either. There were only a few steps between us—he could rush in and stab me before Huang Xiaotao could intervene. We'd both go down together.
The window was wide open. I could jump—but that'd be cowardly. I came here tonight to catch him, not to run.
I slipped my hand into my pocket and quietly dialed Huang Xiaotao.
As the call connected, I acted terrified and muttered loudly, "Senior Xia Mo... please don't scare me... I'm leaving now, I'm leaving…"
Then I took a few loud steps, making sure he could hear me, and quietly ducked behind the grand piano. If Deng Chao charged in, at least I'd have cover to fight back.
Right on cue, he appeared in the doorway. His eyes locked onto me as I crouched behind the piano. He smirked coldly.
"Still playing dumb, kid?"
His voice was chilling. I could clearly see the dagger in his hand—and his hands were pale and slender, almost feminine.
"Who are you? Why are you dressed like that?" I feigned ignorance, hoping to buy some time.
"Cut the act. What did that letter say?" He stepped closer.
"It said…" I took a few steps back behind the piano. "It said you're the killer."
"Damn that Zhang Kai. I actually felt guilty about killing him all this time."
He stepped closer again. My palms were sweating; my heart was about to leap out of my throat.
I gritted my teeth. "You brought this on yourself. If you hadn't killed him, that letter never would've ended up in my hands."
"Enough nonsense! Give me the letter!" he roared.
"It's not on me. I already turned it in to the police."
"You bastard, you're playing me!"
He lunged toward me.
At that exact moment, the back door burst open. Huang Xiaotao stormed in, gun raised, her voice stern and steady:"Don't move! Drop your weapon!"
Caught off guard, Deng Chao panicked and charged at me—he was trying to take me hostage!
I bolted toward the back of the classroom. He chased me from the other side. A loud gunshot exploded in the room.
The shot hit nothing. It was likely a blank round—police sometimes load one in the chamber as a warning. But the effect was real: Deng Chao flinched and fled through the main door. His wig fell off as he ran.
Huang Xiaotao gave chase immediately. I followed close behind. The corridor was a dead end, but rows of classrooms lined both sides—plenty of places to hide.
When I got there, Deng Chao was gone.
"He's close," Huang said. She kicked open one of the classroom doors and aimed her gun inside.
"Not here," I reported after checking.
We searched two more rooms. Then we heard the sound of a window opening.
"He's trying to escape!" I shouted.
We rushed into another classroom. Deng Chao was already standing on the windowsill, about to jump.
Huang Xiaotao raised her gun, ready to fire.
But suddenly, Deng Chao let out a terrified scream and fell backward off the ledge.
"Don't kill me! Don't kill me!" he cried.
I looked up—and for a brief moment, I saw a pale woman's face in the glass. Then it vanished.
Xia Mo... she helped us!
Huang Xiaotao quickly rushed over, kicked the dagger away, and slapped cuffs on Deng Chao's wrists. "You were right," she said. "This guy really did have his hands surgically altered."
I exhaled deeply, my body finally relaxing.
At that moment, Wang Dali came rushing in. "Whoa! You guys caught him already? Let me see what this psycho looks like."
As he approached, Huang Xiaotao suddenly stomped on his foot.
"Ow!" he howled, hopping on one leg.
She glared at him. "You stopped to tie your shoes at a critical moment. You're the very definition of a useless teammate!"
"It came undone by itself! Not my fault! Yangzi, back me up here…" he pleaded.
I just shot him a disdainful look.
Huang Xiaotao called HQ, then got ready to escort Deng Chao away.
Wang Dali couldn't help himself: "So you're Deng Chao, huh? Killed two people, tried to scare us with a ghost act... Not bad. But no matter how clever you are, you still lost to our boy Yangzi, right?"
No one answered him.
Deng Chao suddenly looked up at me with cold eyes. "What exactly did Zhang Kai's letter say?"
I sneered. "There was no letter. You still don't get it, do you? I set this whole trap to catch you."
"That's impossible! The handwriting was his. And how else could you have figured out my brilliant killing method if not for that letter?!"
So that was it. He really thought his method was flawless. His arrogance was his downfall.
"I forged it using Zhang Kai's class notes. You said no one could see through your plan? Too bad. This time, you met someone who could."
Deng Chao suddenly burst into laughter. It echoed through the hallway, sending a chill down my spine.
"Song Yang… I'll remember you. I lost this time—completely and utterly. You win."
"Shut up and move," Huang Xiaotao snapped, shoving him forward.
I stopped her. "Wait... You said you lost?"
"What, you expect me to say I won?" Deng Chao scoffed.
"No one wins. No one loses. Because this isn't a game. You murdered two students who worked their whole lives to get here. You destroyed two families. And you still talk about winning or losing?"
Deng Chao sneered. "To me, it is a game—a battle of wits and courage!"
"You're twisted beyond saving," Huang Xiaotao spat.
We escorted him out. Soon after, police cars arrived. He was taken into custody.
"The case is closed," Huang said with a relieved smile. "Let's go celebrate. My treat."
"Nice! Let's hit a grill joint outside campus. Beer, barbecue—tonight we feast!" Wang Dali whooped.
Huang shot him a sharp look. He shut up instantly. Clearly, she hadn't forgotten his earlier blunder.
I finally felt the heavy weight in my chest lift.
From behind, the old school building let out a soft, haunting piano melody.
Wang Dali shivered. "See?! I told you that cursed piano was real!"
Huang murmured, "It's funny… People say ghosts fear the wicked. But this wicked man feared a ghost."
"That's because guilt haunted him more than any spirit," I said. "Come on—we've got someone to thank."
"Who?" they asked.
"Senior Xia Mo," I replied.