Lin Fan's head buzzed, and she rushed back to her room to hastily get dressed, her fingers trembling. Lei Xiaojia was dead. How could Lei Xiaojia be dead? This couldn't be real.

Lin Fan finished dressing and went out. "Where is she?"

"She's at the autopsy center."

Qin Feng pulled Lin Fan over to help straighten her clothes. Lin Fan's face was ashen, looking very bad. She had finally made a friend, and if it was that girl, it would be a huge blow for Lin Fan.

"Let's go."

Lin Fan followed Qin Feng with her head down, her mind filled with the taunts from her childhood. They called her a jinx, bringing bad luck to whoever was with her. Lin Fan didn't deserve friends; first it was Xu Zhou, now Lei Xiaojia.

Rushing to the autopsy center, Lin Fan heard hysterical crying as soon as they entered. Qin Feng squeezed her hand, "I'll go find out what's going on, see if it's really her."

Lin Fan rubbed her face hard and stood still, afraid to take a step.

Qin Feng went to find Xiao Wang, who was on duty today. When he opened the door, he saw Xiao Wang and Forensic Doctor Liu smoking together. He frowned, "What's going on?"

"You're here." Xiao Wang exhaled smoke and said, "A female student died. They were having a horror-themed party secretly in the old school library tonight. Somehow it caught fire, and when the fire was put out, they found a body and called the police."

"At the school?" Qin Feng frowned. "What time did this happen?"

"The fire started at nine-thirty. We arrived at ten," Xiao Wang said. "The security guard said they pried open a closed window of the library and jumped in to play some horror game."

"The library?" Qin Feng asked.

Xiao Wang took out some photos. "This one, there aren’t many books inside; it’s said to be abandoned."

Qin Feng took a look, "It was already sealed off when I was at this school. These kids actually pried open the window to get in? So idle. Where are the others?"

"Including the deceased Lei Xiaojia, there were twelve people in total. The others are in the back office, being watched by Xiao Xie."

"None of the others were injured?"

"No, they ran out as soon as the fire started."

"Who first noticed Lei Xiaojia was missing?"

"A girl named Jiang Han. She said Lei Xiaojia was missing after they got out."

Qin Feng flipped through the scene photos and saw Lei Xiaojia’s body, not badly burned, eyes wide open and pupils slightly bulging, looking very frightening. "Didn't expect it to be her."

"You know her?"

"Lin Fan's roommate."

Xiao Wang smacked his forehead. "I forgot, Xiao Lin is also in senior year now. So the deceased is her friend? Did Xiao Lin come over?"

"Yes," Qin Feng said. "She's outside."

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"There's not much evidence at the scene, part of it was burned, and the rest was washed away by the fire hoses."

Forensic Doctor Liu stubbed out his cigarette. "If no autopsy is allowed, I’m going back. Being on duty continuously is killing me."

"No external injuries?" Qin Feng looked at Forensic Doctor Liu. "Was she burned to death?"

"No, there are no visible injuries on the surface, no dust in the nasal and oral cavities, inconsistent with death by burning," Forensic Doctor Liu said. "That's all we can tell from the surface; for the exact cause of death, we need an autopsy."

"You suspect homicide?"

"Possibly," Forensic Doctor Liu said. "Couldn't be suicide, right?"

Xiao Wang said, "According to the statements from the scene, Lei Xiaojia had no tendency to commit suicide."

"She died on the second floor?" Qin Feng continued flipping through the photos, seeing water stains on the ground. "Where was the party?"

"On the first floor," Xiao Wang said. "There are empty beer bottles and snack bags at the scene, consistent with the statements."

"So Lei Xiaojia went to the second floor alone?"

"She supposedly went up to take a call. People downstairs were playing games and drinking, didn’t notice her."

"Where did the fire start?"

"The second floor. It's said it started on the second floor first." Xiao Wang stubbed out his cigarette too. "They all have the same story: there were twelve people at the scene, Lei Xiaojia died, so the culprit is among these twelve?"

"Investigate further."

Forensic Doctor Liu said, "I'll explain to the deceased’s family again. If it's a homicide, we can't overlook any clues."

———

In the hall, Lin Fan saw Lei Xiaojia in the distance, wearing that black coat, her face pale, standing in the darkness. Lin Fan's heart jumped, and she quickly ran out, "Lei Xiaojia?"

Lei Xiaojia turned her head to look at Lin Fan. "What are you doing here?"

She wasn't dead? Did they make a mistake? Or was there another Lei Xiaojia at school? Although it was unethical to think this way, Lin Fan only had this one friend; she couldn’t bear to lose Lei Xiaojia.

Lin Fan wiped her face hard and ran over, trying to grab Lei Xiaojia, but caught nothing.

Lei Xiaojia looked puzzled, "What are you doing? Why are you crying?" Lin Fan's eyes were a bit red, making Lei Xiaojia laugh, mocking her, "Look at you, crying like a rabbit."

Lin Fan felt a chill down her spine, her mind blank.

Lei Xiaojia was really dead.

"Hey? What are you doing? Still staring?" Lei Xiaojia tried to grab Lin Fan, but also caught nothing. She froze, "Damn, what magic are you playing? So impressive."

Lin Fan bit her lip, "Lei Xiaojia."

"What?"

"How did you get here?"

"How else—" Lei Xiaojia waved her hand, "I—" Her voice stopped, a brief silence, she frowned, "How did I get here? Wasn't I at the old school library? How did I get here? Where is this place?"

Lin Fan swallowed, looking at her, "What the hell is going on?"

"You ask me, how would I know?" Lei Xiaojia was about to say more when someone inside started running out, causing a commotion. "Quick, call an ambulance! She's having an attack!"

Lei Xiaojia raised her eyebrows and dug her ear, "Where is this place anyway? Why is it so chaotic and noisy?" She always loved the hustle and bustle, so she bypassed Lin Fan and walked towards the door. "It looks like someone fainted; they're running out."

Lei Xiaojia's father rushed out, carrying her mother in his arms. Lei Xiaojia's eyes widened, and she screamed, "Dad? What's wrong with Mom? Mom? Dad!"

She ran over, but no one could see her. Lei Xiaojia passed through her aunt’s body, grasping at nothing. The noisy crowd ran outside, and she opened her mouth, but her parents had already gotten into the car and headed straight to the hospital. Lei Xiaojia's tears welled up instantly, utterly confused about what was happening. After a few seconds of daze, she chased after the car. Why were her parents ignoring her? Why couldn't she touch them?

A car passed through her body, and Lei Xiaojia stood dazed on the road, while Lin Fan clenched her fists. She really was dead. The phrase "parting by life and death" seemed simple but was unbearably heavy.

Lin Fan walked forward, but suddenly her arm was grabbed. She turned around sharply to see Qin Feng's face. He pulled her back, "That's a road ahead. What are you doing? Be careful."

Lin Fan's throat tightened, making it hard to breathe. "Lei Xiaojia is dead—" She choked, unable to control herself, and tears began to fall. "Lei Xiaojia is dead."

Qin Feng pulled Lin Fan into his arms, holding her. "Lin Fan, life is unpredictable—"

Lin Fan held onto him, tears flowing uncontrollably. She once had a friend named Xu Zhou, who had killed many people. She had always lived humbly, afraid to make friends, afraid to interact with people. Lei Xiaojia was different, lively and outgoing; she taught Lin Fan many things.

And now she was dead too. Maybe Lin Fan really was a jinx.

Lin Fan sobbed, scared, gripping Qin Feng's clothes tightly. "How could Lei Xiaojia die? How could she die? Qin Feng, what should I do?"