Chapter 39: A Shadow in the Dead of Night

The weather outside the window gradually darkened. Ominous clouds gathered overhead, and with the gentle sound of raindrops, a torrential downpour began to sweep across the horizon.

Cheng Feng lightly tapped her on the head, sighing helplessly, “It was just a dream. Look at how frightened you are.”

“Cheng Feng, it’s not only nightmares…” Lin Xiaoqin clasped her hands tightly, her face pale as she pressed her lips together. “Starting a few days ago, I’ve encountered many strange and supernatural things.”

Cheng Feng’s heart tightened. “Tell me about it.”

“I often wake up in the middle of the night and find my pajamas have changed into a different set from the wardrobe, even though my room and windows are locked tight—no one could have come in. And once, when I woke up, there was a dismembered black cat corpse lying on my bed. I was terrified, but… but I actually thought it smelled good. There must be something wrong with me…

These past two days, I’ve been running a fever, and the medicine hasn’t helped much… I don’t know what kind of strange illness I have.”

Hearing her account, Cheng Feng realized the situation was far more serious than he’d imagined. “What did the doctor say?”

“The doctor said it’s just a fever, and that a couple of days of medicine would do the trick.” Lin Xiaoqin looked troubled. “But… but it hasn’t helped at all.”

Cheng Feng suspected she had been cursed by some sort of supernatural entity, causing her to sleepwalk and act strangely at night. In a world overrun by monsters, there were similar cases—one only needed to search online to find countless precedents.

After thinking it over, Cheng Feng made up his mind. Tonight, he would find an opportunity to inform Liu Shiyu about Lin Xiaoqin’s situation. When it came to supernatural curses, the Disaster Association would surely have a way to deal with it.

Just as he was planning this, Lin Xiaoqin looked at him hopefully. “Cheng Feng, I’m afraid I’ll have another nightmare tonight. Could you… could you stay with me?”

Cheng Feng frowned. “Aren’t your family coming home?”

“They’ve been working overtime lately, usually not back until midnight.”

He hesitated. After all, for a young man to stay overnight at a female classmate’s house was hardly appropriate, and there would be no way to explain it to her family. It would be best to refuse.

But Lin Xiaoqin was still feverish and her condition unstable—there really should be someone to look after her.

Seeing her frightened, pitiable expression, Cheng Feng relented. “Alright then.”

Outside, the weather grew darker, and the rain intensified to a deafening deluge.

“Dinner’s ready!” The smell from the kitchen wafted over as Xia Qingyao carried dishes to the table. Soon the three of them were seated, eating together.

To Cheng Feng’s surprise, the class leader’s culinary skills were excellent. Upon asking, he learned that her parents often worked late, leaving her to cook for herself most days.

What a diligent and capable woman.

When he mentioned that he’d be staying overnight, Xia Qingyao’s expression changed abruptly. She paused mid-bite, wondering if she’d heard wrong.

Seeing Lin Xiaoqin’s lack of reaction, she realized it was true, and looked at Cheng Feng in astonishment. “You’re going to stay with Xiaoqin overnight?”

Cheng Feng understood her misunderstanding. “It’s not what you think…”

“How could you!” Before he could finish, Xia Qingyao’s delicate brows knit in anger. “You’re a boy—how can you stay overnight at a girl’s house? With her family gone, Xiaoqin would be in danger.”

Cheng Feng was exasperated. “Class leader, don’t you trust me?”

“At our age, I know well enough what boys are thinking.” Xia Qingyao tapped the table firmly, looking very serious. “And Xiaoqin is weak right now—if you tried anything in the middle of the night, how could she possibly resist?”

“Class leader, have you experienced some trauma? Why do you see me as so depraved?” Cheng Feng retorted indignantly. “Besides, with your fiery personality, if I wanted to do something, I’d choose you—the sense of conquest would be greater!”

“What… what did you say?” Xia Qingyao’s face flushed crimson, stunned, angry, and embarrassed at his words.

As the two of them were about to argue, Lin Xiaoqin quietly raised her hand and explained in a weak voice, “Class leader, actually, it was my idea, because…”

After hearing her explanation, Xia Qingyao realized she had misunderstood Cheng Feng again. Given Lin Xiaoqin’s current state, she did indeed need someone to stay with her.

With the storm raging outside and no one else at home, there was a real risk her condition could worsen in the night. It was safest to have someone there.

Xia Qingyao thought for a moment and finally decided, “In that case, I’ll stay tonight to look after her; Cheng Feng can go home.”

“Class leader, this rain is likely to last until night. How am I supposed to get home?” Cheng Feng spoke earnestly to reassure her, “I promise I won’t do anything inappropriate. You and Xiaoqin can share a room, I’ll sleep on the sofa outside. Surely that’s enough to put your mind at ease?”

Xia Qingyao glanced at the raging storm outside. It truly wasn’t reasonable to make Cheng Feng leave in such weather, so she reluctantly agreed.

…

Thunder rumbled overhead, casting flashes of silver light across the night sky. The wind howled, and rain poured relentlessly.

Lin Xiaoqin and Xia Qingyao slept in one room, and soon after, the lights went out, plunging the house into darkness and silence.

In the living room, Cheng Feng lay on the sofa, unable to fully let his guard down. The chilling words of Hei Yin from yesterday remained fresh in his mind.

Yet throughout the day, Lin Xiaoqin had shown no unusual behavior, making him question the truth of Hei Yin’s warning.

He had tried to contact Hei Yin through social media earlier, but had received no reply.

Whether Lin Xiaoqin was truly afflicted, or if she would sleepwalk and commit some crime tonight, would be revealed soon enough.

Cheng Feng didn’t sleep deeply; any sign of trouble would wake him instantly.

Time slipped by, minute after minute… Who knew how much had passed.

The door to Lin Xiaoqin’s room silently swung open.

A shadow slipped out, moving like a drifting ghost, silent and without footsteps, drawing nearer to Cheng Feng on the sofa.

The curtains in the living room were tightly drawn, and the sound of the storm outside could be heard, but no light penetrated the darkness.

In the pitch-black gloom, Cheng Feng appeared to be sleeping soundly, unmoving.

“I warned you not to come…”

The shadow raised its arm high, clutching a sharp fruit knife. The faint glimmer that leaked through the curtains reflected a cold, steely gleam.

Aimed at Cheng Feng, the blade descended with force!

ps: Thanks to Moshang Qinghua w for the 500 reward.