"Hello?"
"Beep beep beep…"
The female officer looked at Zhang Ping in surprise. "She hung up."
"That's strange, what did that cackling sound mean?" Officer Xiao Qin asked.
Zhao Yan remained silent, not expecting Yu Lan to go find Ma Cangquan's wife immediately after dealing with him.
"Call her again," Zhang Ping said.
The female officer dialed again, but this time the call could no longer be connected.
"Captain Zhang, we found a hidden compartment under Ma Cangquan's bed, and we found many videotapes from it."
"Play it," Zhang Ping said.
When the videotapes were played, no one expected them to be Ma Cangquan's self-made adult films.
There were quite a few videotapes recording how he coerced and lured other students, then secretly filmed such scenes.
These videotapes were used to threaten and control students, making them obedient.
He specifically targeted quiet girls or students from poor families.
"He's a damn beast!" Officer Xiao Qin was so angry he was about to explode.
He extended his hand towards Zhao Yan. "Miss Zhao, these are inappropriate scenes for children, don't be corrupted."
Zhao Yan tilted her head, dodging his hand. "I'm twenty-five."
"Get ready, we're going to find Ma Cangquan's wife right away."
Zhang Ping stood up and said to Zhao Yan, "Miss Zhao, you can go back now. Thank you for your cooperation."
"You're welcome, I'm happy to cooperate with you," Zhao Yan replied.
Zhao Yan left the police station. Her electric bike had been ridden back by Officer Xiao Qin and was parked at the entrance of the police station.
Watching several police cars drive away, Zhao Yan rode her electric bike, turned a corner, and stopped.
She picked up her phone and started playing the recording.
When Officer Xiao Qin played that videotape, she had secretly taken out her phone and recorded the video.
She processed the video, blurring the victims.
After doing so, she opened Lin Jiaxin's WeChat and pressed the voice message button.
"Hello, Boss Lin. I have a video that I need your help to publicize. I think this video will bring you some attention."
"I also hope that the truth of the injustice can be revealed one day."
She released her finger, and the voice message played.
She played it back once, holding it to her ear to confirm nothing was missing.
She sent this video to Lin Xihang.
A moment later, Lin Xihang sent a message.
"This person is truly a disgrace to the education sector, he must be exposed!"
Zhao Yan sent a thumbs-up emoji.
Riding her electric bike, Zhao Yan returned to the shop.
Wu Jiaxin was waiting for her at the shop entrance.
Seeing her arrive, she breathed a sigh of relief.
"Sister Zhao, you're finally back." Wu Jiaxin quickly walked to Zhao Yan's electric bike.
"I've been worried about you."
"Meow!" Xiao Heizi jumped onto Zhao Yan's shoulder and rubbed its head against her face.
Ma Qingqing added, "Me and Xiao Heizi were worried about you too."
"It's okay, I'll push the electric bike inside first," Zhao Yan said softly.
After pushing the electric bike into the shop, Zhao Yan pulled out a stool and began to wait.
Wu Jiaxin asked, "Sister Zhao, what are you waiting for?"
Zhao Yan: "For Yu Lan."
Wu Jiaxin picked up a stool and sat next to Zhao Yan. "I'll wait with you."
The longer she waited, the more uneasy Zhao Yan felt.
She began to worry if Yu Lan would lose control of the malevolent energy within her and harm innocent passersby.
She was afraid Yu Lan would transform from a victim into a perpetrator.
"Ding ding…"
The hanging wind chime swayed, making a crisp sound.
Zhao Yan looked over and stood up.
Yu Lan had returned.
Zhao Yan observed Yu Lan and noticed that there was no more malevolent energy on her.
Yu Lan looked at her, a smile appearing on her face, like a well-behaved girl next door.
"Are you… leaving?"
Yu Lan had fulfilled her obsession. She was no longer a ghost filled with malevolent energy, and her Yin energy was no longer bone-chillingly cold.
Zhao Yan was happy for Yu Lan. She wouldn't have to commit suicide again and again, nor endure that kind of pain.
"Thank you…"
Yu Lan looked at Zhao Yan and said gently.
Her throat no longer made the hoarse "ge…ge" sound.
She watched her body become fainter and fainter.
Until she disappeared from Zhao Yan's sight.
Zhao Yan raised her hand and waved a few times, saying softly, "Farewell, Yu Lan. May your next life be a happy one."
Wu Jiaxin stepped forward and walked to Zhao Yan's side. "Sister Zhao, was that Sister Yu Lan just now?"
"Yes, that's right, she was here just now!" Zhao Yan said.
Wu Jiaxin put her hand to her mouth, forming a megaphone shape, and shouted, "Sister Yu, have a good journey. You are purer than anyone, I want to be friends with you."
As she shouted, Zhao Yan saw Wu Jiaxin start to cry.
"What's wrong?" Zhao Yan asked.
Wu Jiaxin wiped away her tears. "I just thought about Sister Yu being trapped in the old dormitory, committing suicide every night, reliving that tragic memory."
"Even though she was surrounded by malevolent energy, she didn't harm any innocent people."
"If it were me, I probably would have gone on a killing spree."
Zhao Yan nodded. "Indeed!"
She patted Wu Jiaxin's shoulder. "Do you want to help Yu Lan one last time?"
Wu Jiaxin nodded heavily.
"Let's go!" Zhao Yan pushed the electric bike back.
She took Wu Jiaxin back to the place where Ma Cangquan had died and picked up the soul bottle.
She then took out a talisman, opened the mouth of the bottle.
She chanted towards Ma Cangquan's soul, giving him no chance to beg for mercy, making him relive the despair of jumping off the building over and over again.
Reliving the pain of suicide that Yu Lan had endured.
She also used a few talismans to block the surrounding Yin energy, preventing the ghost messengers from discovering Ma Cangquan.
After doing all this, she took Wu Jiaxin back.
Later, this place was visited by many paranormal enthusiasts, who called it the "Ghostly Leap."
Every day at 2:45 AM, a very blurry figure could be seen jumping from the thirteenth floor.
If one listened closely, they could still hear cries of "I'm sorry."
2:45 AM was also the time of Yu Lan's suicide.
Back at the shop, before going to sleep, Zhao Yan drew two talismans, and both were successful.
She thought to herself, perhaps Yu Lan was watching over her.
The next morning, she saw Wu Jiaxin squatting in a corner.
Wu Jiaxin looked back at Zhao Yan and smiled, carefully holding something. "Sister Zhao, look, this butterfly is so beautiful."
Zhao Yan looked. In Wu Jiaxin's palm was a very beautiful butterfly.
"Where did you find it?" Zhao Yan asked.
Wu Jiaxin pouted her lips.
Zhao Yan looked at where Wu Jiaxin was pouting, which was where Yu Lan had stood the previous night.
"Maybe Yu Lan came here!"