Ghost Behind You

1.26. The Hotel Owner

Ever since learning more about the witch's background, Rose found herself torn between fear and fascination. She had to admit—something about this young girl, Lana, drew her in. The idea that such a sweet girl had died so tragically weighed heavily on her. Lana's death stirred a deep sorrow, and Rose couldn't help but think of the countless other girls from remote mountain areas—living in obscurity, dying unnoticed. But Lana was different. She had fought her whole life, and even in death, her spirit refused to rest quietly.

Standing by the window, Rose gazed down at the crowd gathering below. Two double-decker buses were parked by the roadside, luggage compartments open as people bustled about. Gary's colleagues were wrapping up their three-day trip, preparing to leave. The sight made Rose think of Mary, and she wondered if Mary would be leaving with them. She pulled out her phone and sent a quick text.

Everyone was leaving. The phrase "an empty house after the people are gone" came to mind. Maybe it was envy, or maybe just restlessness, but their departure left Rose feeling uneasy. She longed for her old life back in Beijing—the small dorm room, the Hello Kitty poster on the wall. Though only three days had passed, she felt disconnected from the world, as if her former life had been nothing more than a dream.

"Let this all be over soon," she prayed silently.

The hotel owner had returned and was busy settling the accounts with Gary's boss. Rose sat in a corner of the lobby, watching him juggle a large stack of receipts. He was a middle-aged man of average build, with surprisingly well-maintained skin and jet-black hair. While not particularly striking, he looked much younger than the local fishermen, whose sun-worn faces had shocked Rose. The damage the intense sun could do was something she hadn't quite imagined.

Zach wasn't sitting with her—he was outside, chain-smoking. As she watched him, she remembered his theory: "I think Lana's death has a lot to do with the hotel owner. In fact, I suspect he's the killer. First, he hid the guest registry, probably to erase evidence that Lana stayed here. Second, he's silenced the staff, warning them not to talk about Room 104. Why would he cover it up so meticulously? If he's the killer, that explains a lot."

Rose agreed with Zach's reasoning but still wasn't ready to draw any firm conclusions. There were unanswered questions. Why hadn't the owner destroyed the registry outright instead of just hiding it? And there was no direct evidence that Lana had died here—she could have died elsewhere. Besides, the figure Rose had seen in her dream was large and burly, while the hotel owner appeared refined and scholarly.

Their upcoming conversation with the hotel owner was critical. That's why they had come early and were waiting.

"My deepest apologies for keeping you waiting!" The owner, Tian Weidong, approached Rose and Zach with an apologetic smile, rubbing his hands together after what seemed like closing a big deal.

"No problem at all. Business is important," Rose replied with a polite smile. "May I ask your name?"

"Tian Weidong," the man said, returning the smile as he studied Rose and Zach. He'd already heard that the two were police officers investigating the sudden death of a guest in Room 104. "Shall we talk somewhere more private? The lobby's a bit open."

Rose nodded and followed him upstairs. Zach trailed behind, still silent.

Room 208 was the owner's private space. Rose noticed it was more modestly furnished than the other rooms, though the large pile of books on the desk caught her attention. Titles like Hotel Management and Motivating Your Employees suggested that Tian was highly dedicated to his work.

"Please, have a seat," Tian said warmly as he began preparing tea for his guests.

"No need to go to any trouble," Rose waved him off. "We just have a few questions. We don't want to take up too much of your time."