Afterlife Department

Chapter 384 - Paper

Huo Ling scared himself with the thought that suddenly appeared in his mind. He wasn't scared about the fact that it was the pool area that is behind the building, but he was scared of the thought that Luren must be feeling something as he looked at the pool area behind the Library and Clubs building as he looked at Luren who was wearing a nostalgic and some emotions he doesn't dare name, since this is Luren.

Luren has no emotions. This is everyone in the Fughlia High thought. But, as Huo Ling watched Luren, this doesn't seem to be the case. Even if Luren has emotions, it can only be anger. Yet, Huo Ling doesn't see anger in Luren's face right now. However, Luren definitely is wearing other emotions.

Yi Bing noticed Huo Ling fell silent. He turned and saw him watching Luren. He was about to feel jealous when he finally noticed what Huo Ling saw – Luren's emotional expression as he gazed outside. It seems like he wanted to see someone, but feared he wouldn't see them. He wanted to go outside, go to that place to see someone – and even see and talk to that someone, if he could.. But, he feared that someone wouldn't talk to him. Wouldn't… like him.

Yi Bing could read Luren's emotions unlike Huo Ling, because Yi Bing is also in the same situation as Luren. He likes someone, but feared being rejected. Thus, he doesn't dare to confess. He can only indirectly express it to that person.

Huo Ling has already snapped out of his daze while Yi Bing was lamenting his and Luren's situation. "Is he…" he whispered.

Yi Bing turned to look at Huo Ling.

"What? Am I wrong?" Huo Ling asked. Was he wrong to read Luren's expression? That Luren is longing for something… or someone?

"No." Yi Bing finally answered. He is surprised that Huo Ling could read Luren's expression.

"Then…" Huo Ling said.

Luren has someone he likes. And Luren watching the pool area… it could be that person likes to swim.

"It's definitely not Prille." Huo Ling decisively said.

"Of course not." Yi Bing agreed. "Luren isn't a tsundere. And he'd definitely be the stupidest person if he likes that envious person." he said, referring to Prille.

"Pft." Huo Ling laughed.

Luren didn't notice that Huo Ling and Yi Bing were watching him because the ghost isn't around to tell him. "… I'll definitely break the spell so you could be free." He whispered as he watched the water in the pool make waves. "Free…" he muttered, seeming to be in a daze as he looked at the water.

"School senior."

Luren blinked and snapped out of his daze. He lowered his gaze to hide the darkness in his eyes before he turned to face Huo Ling. "Yes?" he spoke.

"It's already lunch." Huo Ling said and pointed the wall clock. "Do you have any appointment? Shall we eat together?" he asked him.

Luren stared at Huo Ling's face before he turned to Yi Bing.

Yi Bing nodded at him. Look at how adorable my fiancé is! He thought and smiled at Luren, ignoring the fact that it was just an arrangement between him and Huo Ling.

Luren lowered his head to hide the envy in his eyes. "En." He nodded.

Huo Ling and Yi Bing looked at each other and smiled. To Luren, he thinks they are displaying their love in front of him. But, Huo Ling and Yi Bing are just mere happy.

Success! They thought. Then, the three of them went out of the library.

…

"Student Luren. May I trouble you to bring little Howee to the table? I need to go to the comfort room." Yi Bing spoke when they arrived in the cafeteria.

"En." Luren agreed. His moody expression earlier slightly eased.

"Thank you." Yi Bing spoke. He patted Huo Ling's head before he walked towards the comfort room. But, as soon as he entered a cubicle, he disappeared, then appeared inside the library in a stealth. "It seems that the ghost is really hiding because of the strong yang energy at this time." He muttered before he went to the shelf where the piece of paper Huo Ling found earlier was located.

But, just as he was a centimeter away from the edge of the paper, a strong gust of wind blew. He immediately dodged so that the wind won't touch him, exposing his existence that shouldn't be there in the library.

"Who dares?!" it was the ghost's voice, speaking in an angry tone. Then, he froze when he found the passageway is empty. "There's no one…?" he muttered, his voice sounds doubtful.

Yi Bing wiped the non-existent sweat off of his forehead, internally sighing in relief that the wind didn't touch him. Suddenly, both he and the ghost heard something fluttered. They turned and saw the piece of paper fell!

The ghost saw it and he froze. Yi Bing took this chance to press his communicator, taking a snap shot of the paper! Then, before the ghost could reach where he stood, he immediately teleported back to the cubicle, just in time to hear Huo Ling's voice called from outside.

"Evan…?" Huo Ling spoke, forcing his hand resting on the armrest of his wheelchair not to stiffen so that Luren won't notice anything.

"Yes?" Yi Bing's voice answered, and the door of a cubicle opened, revealing his figure.

Huo Ling secretly sighed in relief before he smiled. "What took you so long?" he asked and secretly sent a message to Yi Bing through their communicator.

0000: Luren suddenly decided that we should wait for you and go to the table together! What happened in the library?!

0001: no wonder you immediately appeared. The ghost noticed when I was about to touch the paper and it appeared. Luren must have some sort of a communication to the ghost from a distance so he immediately acted, wanting to catch me red-handed.

Huo Ling's heart became cold just thinking of it. Fortunately, he didn't suggest to Yi Bing that he should go to the library instead of Yi Bing.

"Sorry. My pants got dirtied." Yi Bing spoke and unhurriedly walked towards the sink and moistened the tissue paper. Then, he patted the side of his pants using it.

"Mn." Luren hummed as he stared at Yi Bing before he withdrew his gaze. He turned to Huo Ling who stiffened under his gaze. "We'll wait for you by the window." He said.

"Okay." Yi Bing answered.

Luren pushed Huo Ling's wheelchair and they left. Yi Bing then tapped his communicator and a holographic screen appeared, showing the piece of letter he took a snap shot earlier.

"This is…" he took a sharp breath. But, he stopped pondering about this right now since Huo Ling is outside and in the hands of Luren.

Luren is already suspicious, and he can't make him become more suspicious of them.

He went outside and saw Huo Ling's stiff back while sitting on his wheelchair and answering Luren's questions, keeping the 'sweet' smile on his face in which, to Yi Bing's eyes, looked like a crying smile. But, in the eyes of the crowd that were secretly watching them, they looked like a perfect pair.

And Yi Bing immediately entered the scene to break this 'perfect' pair that is never to be destined together, since one of the pairs is his. "Sorry for waiting." He spoke, breaking the 'beautiful' atmosphere surrounding Huo Ling and Luren.

Huo Ling and Luren turned. The former sighed in relief while the latter remained looking indifferent.

"En." Luren nodded. "Let's go choose a table and order food to eat." He said.

Night.

After sending a message to Iris confirming their appointment tomorrow, Yi Bing turned and met Huo Ling's curious gaze.

"So?" Huo Ling spoke.

Yi Bing smiled, knowing what Huo Ling wanted to ask. "Here." He said and showed the picture of the paper in the library to Huo Ling.

Huo Ling immediately looked, only to freeze when he saw what it is. "… a club membership registration form?" he asked.

"Yes." Yi Bing nodded. Knowing Huo Ling's qualms, he continued. "The ghost is really that missing student Renton. He's already dead, but no one except Luren, and those who were involved in killing Renton, knows it." he said.

"This club membership registration form…" Huo Ling muttered and looked at the details written on the paper.

Name: Renton Hydd

Age: 17

Birthday: August 17, ***

Hobbies: reading, swimming

Huo Ling's gaze was stuck on the second hobby of Renton. "He also tried to enter the swimming team…" he muttered in a daze.

Yi Bing nodded. "Luren, as well as Hierre, Mandy and Prille, definitely knows Renton." He said.

"The question is whether they are involved in Renton's death." Huo Ling said. "Which is highly likely the case." He frowned in anger.

"They went to the library after Renton was mentioned… could it be for this paper?" Yi Bing asked and looked at the picture of the club membership registration form dancing in front of them as a hologram.