Starting with dissecting ghost stories

Chapter 89 A Dinner Invitation

Anning Street, at the street entrance, there is a video store with the words "UFO Cinema" hanging on the wall.

Parting the transparent plastic curtain reveals a fairly large space inside, but the presence of several rows of wire mesh shelves makes the roughly 30-square-meter space appear slightly cramped.

The store has a faint floral scent, and its cleanliness and lack of odor already put it ahead of almost all other photography stores.

Meanwhile, next to the counter, a young girl wearing wired headphones was listening to a song and nodding slightly to the rhythm.

The proprietress, who looked to be in her forties or fifties and had permed and dyed red hair, was sitting behind the counter, looking at the young girl with an expectant expression, as if waiting for her to finish listening and give her evaluation.

After a long while, the girl took off her headphones and looked at the proprietress. The proprietress quickly asked, "How was it? Did you like it, Xiao Yuan?"

"It's beautiful, the first time I've heard something like this." Shen Yuan placed her expensive headphones on the counter, recalled the melody for a moment, and then began to hum: "The spring breeze blows...who does it remind me of...it doesn't matter..."

'

Shen Yuan's abstract pronunciation and rhythm made the proprietress burst into laughter, saying between laughs, "You think you can sing along after just one listen? You're dreaming!"

Shen Yuan wasn't angry at all; she seemed quite used to this way of interacting. She asked curiously, "What's the name of this song? I've never heard it before?"

"New song, 'Spring Breeze Blows,' by a newcomer from Hong Kong, I think his name is Khalil Fong," the proprietress said with a smile. "New album, want to buy a copy?"

"How much?"

"80.

"

Upon hearing the price, Shen Yuan immediately pulled out her MP3 player from her pocket and expertly handed it to the proprietress, saying, "Download it for me."

"It's really hard to make any money off you." The proprietress made a disgusted face, but still reached out and took Shen Yuan's MP3 player. She sighed helplessly, "Sigh, you're too obedient, little Yuan. I wish my daughter was as well-behaved as you."

"Uh..." Shen Yuan didn't know how to answer the question.

She knew the proprietress's daughter; they were even in the same class, but they weren't very close.

Moreover, the proprietress's daughter has a very strange temper... According to the proprietress, she has been acting strangely for the past five years.

The proprietress's daughter's seat was on the right side of the podium. This was a very important position, usually passed down to sons only.

For a girl to sit on this throne, she would need to put in several times more effort than a boy; she would definitely be a top-tier prodigy.

He never listens in class, just falls asleep with his headphones on, and his answers in conversations are irrelevant. When he doesn't want to go to class, he just hides somewhere on campus... We've called his parents countless times, but it's no use.

If it weren't for compulsory education and her ability to pass every exam, she probably would have been expelled from school long ago.

While searching for pirated audio files for Shen Yuan on her computer, the landlady asked, "Xiao Yuan, it's already five o'clock. Why don't you just come to my house for dinner? You can talk to your aunt and tell your brother."

"No need, Auntie," Shen Yuan shook her head. "My brother should have already started cooking rice."

Recently, she feels that she gets along quite well with her brother. She used to hate going home, but now she doesn't feel annoyed anymore. On the contrary, she sometimes craves the food her brother cooks.

After retrieving her MP3 player with the downloaded new song, Shen Yuan left the music store and walked home while listening to the music.

The new singer's voice is clean and refreshing; listening to it while walking down the street can make you feel better.

However, while walking on the street, a familiar figure caught Shen Yuan's attention, and coincidentally, the other person made eye contact with her.

"Little Kite?"

"Sister Ran?"

Wang Xinran strode forward, and Shen Yuan also showed a genuine smile on her face. She jogged up to the other person and took off her headphones.

"What are you doing here?" Wang Xinran shook Shen Yuan's hand, seemingly surprised to see Shen Yuan here.

"I just came out of that store. I was planning to rent some new CDs today," Shen Yuan asked with a grin. "Where's Sister Xiaoran? What are you doing here?"

"My home is right on this street, so it's perfect for getting home." Wang Xinran released Shen Yuan's hand and said with a smile, "What a small world!"

"Oh... so your sister lives here. I was just about to go home for dinner..." Shen Yuan said, then seemed to suddenly remember something, and looked up abruptly at Wang Xinran, asking, "Sister Xinran, would you like to come to my house for dinner?"

"Huh?" Wang Xinran opened her mouth, seemingly a little startled.

She had only been secretly envious of Shen Yuan for being able to eat with Shen Xing every day when he directly asked her if she wanted to go back together.

Happiness came too suddenly... She felt that she had been very lucky lately.

"This isn't quite right... I've only met Shen Xing twice... Isn't it too fast..." Wang Xinran's tone was slightly hesitant. Although she really wanted to go back with Shen Yuan, she felt she had to be reserved.

"Not so fast... but wait, let me call my brother first." Only then did Shen Yuan realize that she needed to ask Shen Xing's opinion, so she took out her phone and dialed Shen Xing's number.

The phone rang for a long time before Shen Xing answered it, and his calm voice came through the receiver.

"What's wrong?" Shen Xing asked on the other end of the phone.

"I ran into Sister Xiaoran on my way home," Shen Yuan said excitedly, "Can I bring her home for dinner?"

The school clinic was dimly lit with its doors and windows tightly closed.

Shen Xing leaned back in the wooden chair, holding the phone in his right hand, staring at the numerous photos on the wall in front of him, all exuding a scarlet bloody aura, and fell into a brief moment of thought.

Did Wang Xinran run into Shen Yuan?

That's quite a coincidence.

Shen Yuan would never suddenly invite someone, not even a woman, to her home for dinner.

Moreover, judging from her tone, her younger sister seemed to have been influenced by Wang Xinran again.

Should I invite you?

Shen Xing definitely couldn't leave these graphic photos in the school clinic.

Underneath the bed at home, there is a doll called [02] that is full of "electricity".

Plus myself...

If the black beehive on Wang Xinran's forehead had thoughts and feelings, how would it react if it sensed this scene?

Will they be afraid? Or will they go berserk?

Is tonight a good day to take it out?

No... removing the abnormality might turn her into a vegetable. A perfectly healthy person comes to his house and then becomes a vegetable? No matter how much Shen Xing thinks about it, he can't clear himself of suspicion.

But should we let Wang Xinran go?

You should know that Wang Xinran would go to the store to help out on the day of receiving goods. Although he didn't know the exact time of the receiving day, he knew at least it would be in the early morning.

If we keep her there for one night, at least we can keep her from going to the store.

He could also ask Wang Xinran directly, under the guise of getting to know her, to find out her specific whereabouts.

Moreover, while they are eating, they can also have [02 the puppet] show up in the old town.

"OK."

Shen Xing withdrew his gaze from the gradually dimming "blood wall" in front of him and said, "Let's go out to eat together then. I know a really good restaurant. I'll send you the address later."

Find a crowded place.

Make everyone a witness to their own alibi.