Chapter 17: The Scarlet Shadow

“Are you going to attend our school too?” I asked, puzzled.

“What are you thinking?” Liu Qingya said bluntly. “My father passed away, and the villa is so big that living alone feels too lonely. Conveniently, my dad once bought a house nearby as an investment.”

“So I decided to move in first. I figured since it’s close to you, we could keep in touch more often and hang out whenever we have time.”

Liu Qingya didn’t hesitate; she pushed her suitcase right in front of me and then strode ahead. “Come on, take me to see your dorm.”

“This might be the only day I can openly tour the boys’ dorm; when else would I get the chance?”

Growing up, I’d always been quite curious about the girls’ dorm. I hadn’t expected girls to be just as interested in the boys’ dorm.

Tsk tsk!

“Let’s go. It’s still a bit of a walk to the dormitory,” I said, dragging my suitcase beside Liu Qingya as we headed towards the dorm.

More and more freshmen crowded the path, with upperclassmen bustling about to welcome them—an unprecedented lively scene.

“Need some help, freshman?” Suddenly, a man with a flashy side-parted hairstyle appeared from the side and addressed Liu Qingya. “Let me introduce myself. I’m Feng Shan, a senior here, former head of the student union’s social affairs department, well-connected in the student council.”

After saying this, Feng Shan glanced at me. “Junior, go welcome the other freshmen. I’ll take care of this freshman here!”

???

Me? Seriously?

That blatant? Trying to flirt with Liu Qingya?

The real question is: do you even deserve it?

Big Uncle Dazhuang was worth over a hundred million before he passed. That fortune now belongs to Liu Qingya; she’s a little wealthy lady worth millions.

And you’re just a poor student constantly asking your family for living expenses, thinking you can flirt with a little rich lady?

Do you think you’re some kept man?

Take a look at yourself—is she even within your league?

As for the student union, what use is that?

Walking beside me, Liu Qingya couldn’t be bothered with the guy and kept moving forward.

Judging by her expression, he was like invisible air to her.

“Freshman, don’t you want me to escort you? Even if not, leave me your contact info. If you want to join the student union later, come find me!” Feng Shan pressed on.

He probably mistook Liu Qingya for a freshman and wanted to impress her.

“Get lost!” Liu Qingya said softly.

Suddenly, the senior’s face fell, and he looked quite embarrassed.

What a boast!

Liu Qingya was truly fierce, her demeanor instantly revealing that aloof, executive aura.

“Let’s go to your dorm,” she said, continuing ahead. I followed, dragging my suitcase behind.

…

My dorm is on the third floor, a decent spot—not as damp as the first floor, nor as inconvenient as the sixth or seventh floor where going down is always a hassle.

“This is it!” I pointed at the door labeled 313.

“Creak!” Liu Qingya pushed the door open and walked right in.

Another person was already inside—aside from the chubby guy who came earlier, there was a slender, bespectacled young man.

Seeing Liu Qingya enter, both of them practically glowed with admiration.

Liu Qingya was undoubtedly attractive—skin as white as snow, finely featured. Today, she wore a skirt and her hair loose, her aura unmatched by most.

“Don’t you know how to make your bed?” Liu Qingya asked, looking at my empty bed.

“I just got here, and you showed up immediately,” I defended.

It wasn’t laziness; I really hadn’t had the time.

“Forget it, I’ll help you!” Liu Qingya went straight to my bed and began spreading sheets and putting on the duvet cover.

By the time we finished, it was nearly noon.

Then Liu Qingya dragged me to the cafeteria for lunch. After the school business was settled, she insisted on taking me to her house outside campus.

It was quite spacious—three bedrooms and a living room, fully furnished.

I figured Liu Qingya had brought me along as a laborer since moving here meant unpacking and organizing everything.

With her wealth, couldn’t she just hire a cleaner?

But no—she insisted on having me help tidy up.

When all was done, it was already past nine in the evening.

Liu Qingya reserved a room in this house just for me, so if I ever couldn’t make it back to school, I’d have a place to rest.

Who is she looking down on?

I’m a decent person; if it weren’t for the class meeting early the next morning, I would definitely have slept here tonight.

The dormitory doesn’t compare to this place.

Ahem…

“Let’s go out for a meal. Thanks for helping me today,” Liu Qingya said as she grabbed a jacket from the wardrobe and put it on.

“No, it’s late. Maybe another time,” I politely declined.

It was already past nine. If I returned to school now, I’d probably get there after ten.

It’d be awkward if I couldn’t get into the dorm.

After all, it was my first day at university, yet I’d be missing curfew on the very first night.

“That’s fine. We’ll talk about it when there’s time tomorrow,” Liu Qingya said, seeing me off downstairs before heading back.

Though her place was near campus, it was still a bit of a distance. By the time I hurried back, the campus was nearly deserted.

People often say that after winter and summer breaks, the campus feels eerie at night—frightening.

This sentiment isn’t unfounded. Most schools are large, with only some street lamps lit, leaving vast areas in pitch darkness and emptiness, naturally stirring unease.

Digging deeper, many campuses were built on former burial grounds.

This isn’t just hearsay. Since the rapid industrialization and economic boom of the Greater Xia nation, land prices have soared, and prime locations are snapped up by developers.

But graveyards? Few claim those, and the land is cheap.

Many unmarked mass graves and abandoned tombs were bulldozed flat.

During the school term, the presence of many students suppresses any sinister energy.

That’s why when students are around, nothing feels amiss; but during breaks, a faint eerie atmosphere creeps in.

Of course, not all schools are built on graveyards.

Most often, it’s just that with no students around, people subjectively perceive the campus as spooky.

“Whew…”

Suddenly, a gust of wind swept through the campus.

In the distance, a faint red figure flickered.

Something sinister?

I quickened my pace toward it, but when I arrived, there was nothing.

Had I imagined it?

Whatever. No matter.

I checked my phone—the time was already late, around 10:40 p.m. In less than fifteen minutes, the dormitory’s main gate would close, and the lights inside would go out.

I had to hurry back to the dorm and wash up.

What’s the point of washing if the lights are off?

With that thought, I quickened my steps toward the dormitory building.