Starting with dissecting ghost stories

"How are things? Getting used to being back?"

While scooping porridge from the bowl with a spoon, Lu Lingyun asked without even looking up, her leg shaking.

Judging from his current appearance, he's no different from any random old man on the street. He seems like the kind of person who would go to a teahouse, order a pot of tea, return the tissues, and then linger and chat all day.

"It's alright, the school leaders are all quite friendly," Shen Xing replied while drinking his porridge.

"You were put in here by the principal, how could you not be friendly?" Lu Lingyun said disdainfully.

As if remembering something, he put down his spoon, pulled a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket, and handed it to Shen Xing. "The certificate you asked me for before, I've stamped it for you... I just don't understand, what do you need this for? Are you really planning to work in the school clinic for the rest of your life?"

"Thank you, Mr. Lu." Shen Xing accepted the crumpled certificate with both hands as if receiving a royal decree, and said with a smile, "It's good, at least I have a lot of time to read."

"Really? You seem to be quite the restless one. You've become an external expert, even guiding others in writing reports." Lu Lingyun couldn't resist a sarcastic remark. "If I hadn't come, you would have really gotten away with it."

"Doesn't this prove that you're a good teacher?"

Shen Xing replied with a grin, almost making Lu Lingyun choke.

He glared at Shen Xing: "Hey kid... you only know to betray your master now that you've caused trouble, huh?"

However, Lu Lingyun quickly shook his head and said, "This is not your fault. This case may be quite complicated."

Lu Lingyun was talking on the side, but Shen Yuan wasn't interested in the topic and couldn't get a word in edgewise. Lu Wenyin was quite interested, but knowing she was prone to saying the wrong thing, she just sat there and did nothing with Shen Yuan.

Lu Lingyun only needs to speak, but Shen Xing on the other side has many more things to consider.

Won't they hold them accountable? According to regulations, the municipal bureau must be held accountable for this kind of behavior.

Lu Lingyun said that this case was complicated, but complexity is not an excuse for breaking the rules, unless the "complexity" that Lu Lingyun mentioned is a kind of complexity that ordinary police officers cannot solve or even understand.

Adding to the fact that Lu Lingyun had tested him and taken photos when they first met, Shen Xing was basically certain.

The provincial department already knows about the anomaly, and like me, they know that electronic imaging equipment can be used to identify the anomaly.

I wonder how far their research has progressed? Have they come into contact with or contained any anomalous objects? Have they dissected them like I have? Are there any people who have voluntarily accepted anomalous objects?

What is their attitude towards anomalies? Have they ever come into contact with people like Wang Xinran and Li Ya who have been corrupted by anomalies?

I'm very curious...

At the same time, Shen Xing also became slightly more wary.

[01-Wall], [02-Doll], and the unnamed [03] Wang Xinran are already Shen Xing's possessions... He would never hand these things over.

"Ah Xing." Lu Lingyun had finished a bowl of porridge. He put down the bowl and spoon, looked at Shen Xing, and said with a serious expression, "Do you want to go back to the provincial department? Or work with me? It's a new branch, and the job might be a little different... but I'm sure you'll like it."

New detachment?

Without a doubt, this must be a squad specifically tasked with handling unusual events.

Invite yourself to join?

Shen Xing only considered it briefly before giving up.

His body had been infused with abnormal flesh and blood, and now it was like an engine that would stall if it didn't get fueled; he had to constantly add oil and upgrade parts.

Sooner or later—perhaps due to complete physical evolution, or perhaps after several phase transitions—I may find myself unable to hide my physical imperfections in front of the camera.

Moreover, joining the new team means leaving the school clinic, potentially having to report any unusual occurrences, or even uncovering information that you killed Li Ya...

Shen Xing is currently unaware of how the new branch classifies "murder" as a crime. Logically and emotionally, the risks of joining far outweigh the benefits.

Seemingly noticing Shen Xing's hesitation, Lu Lingyun said directly, "You don't need to worry about Xiao Yuan. You have enough years of work experience and are a college graduate. Your household registration can be transferred to the provincial capital with Xiao Yuan. Don't worry about the school either; I'll help Xiao Yuan find one."

Lu Lingyun could only think of Shen Xing's only reason for staying in this small town: Shen Yuan. As long as she could persuade Shen Yuan, Shen Xing would definitely come.

He looked at Shen Yuan and said with a smile, "How about it, Xiao Yuan, do you want to come live in the provincial capital together? Your sister Lu will be coming too. There's a huge arcade in the provincial capital too."

He looks like a strange old man trying to lure a little girl.

Hearing Lu Lingyun's words, Shen Yuan's heart clenched slightly. She secretly glanced at Shen Xing and then pursed her lips.

She didn't want to leave.

The house I live in now... Although my parents are no longer here, all the memories I have of them are still there.

Although she didn't have many friends at school, she liked her seat very much, and the teachers wouldn't find out if she slept there.

She really liked the owner of the video store, who would always introduce her to new horror movies, and when returning the DVDs, they would discuss their thoughts on them.

She loved the parks she went to with her parents, loved the fragrance of flowers on her way to school, and even her older brother didn't seem so annoying lately.

but......

My brother gave up a promising future and a good job to come back here because of me.

Now, there's a chance for my brother to go back, and I can go to the provincial capital, attend a better school, and maybe even move into a bigger house...

I need to be more mature...

But why...?

"Hmm..." Shen Yuan looked at the bowl of porridge in front of her and nodded gently, but for some reason, tears had already fallen before she could.

At this moment, Shen Yuan felt a warm, large hand on her left shoulder, gently kneading it.

"It's okay, if you don't want to go, we won't go." Shen Xing's voice was so gentle it could melt your heart.

He was trying his best to hold it in; his vocal cords were trembling, and to others it sounded like he was choking up.

No?

How could you agree to that? Where did your rebellious spirit go?

Is this also part of her rebellious nature? Is she able to accurately capture her own inner thoughts and then make decisions that contradict her own every time?

Is she really a genius traitor?

"I'm fine, go ahead, big cities are great, I want to go once too." Shen Yuan pushed Shen Xing's hand away with her shoulder and wiped her tears haphazardly from her face. "I'm not a child, I don't miss this place."

Shen Xing: "..."

Shen Xing silently turned his head and looked at Lu Lingyun.

The meaning is clear: you made them cry, so you're responsible for fixing it.

When Lu Lingyun saw Shen Xing's gaze, she subconsciously put her right hand to her mouth, realized she wasn't smoking, then raised her hand to her eyes and pushed them up, discovering she had taken off her glasses while drinking porridge. Finally, she touched her nose and coughed twice.

"Ahem, no rush. Even if we were to go, the paperwork would take a long time. Let's get the paperwork done first. There's no rush to move. The processing time for these certificates is so slow, it would take at least a year or two. No rush."

"Really?"

Shen Yuan seemed to take it seriously. She raised her head and asked softly.

"Yes, really."

Lu Lingyun nodded seriously.