Prohibit Certain Players from Contacting the Dungeon NPC!

Chapter 27: West Private High School

Song Qi's sudden outburst startled both the man and the ghost. Yu Bai was on the verge of tears, nervously looking around. "Professor, who are you talking to?"

Song Qi remained expressionless. "I'm talking to myself."

"Ah?" Yu Bai's voice trembled. "Professor, what's wrong with you? Don't scare me."

He feared a worsening of the professor's condition more than a ghost.

Mu Miao withdrew his curious gaze, keeping a distance from the autopsy table, muttering, "So scary. I thought he was talking to me. So his condition is schizophrenia?"

"No, I have hysteria," Song Qi meticulously corrected him. "Since it's my own delusion, don't disturb me. Just stay put."

Mu Miao: "..."

Yu Bai: "QAQ!"

Mu Miao deliberately floated to the other side, but Song Qi's gaze followed him. Mu Miao, defiant, floated back in front of him, the man and ghost staring at each other.

Neither seemed willing to yield, neither looking away first.

Only then did Song Qi notice that his imagined ghost had exceptionally clear eyes, a mixture of black and green, mysterious and beautiful.

001 was puzzled. 【Does this guy have a mental illness or can he really see you?】

【He must be sick,】 Mu Miao thought. 【He's a forensic scientist! If he really had a sixth sense, he could directly ask the ghost about the killer, and he wouldn't be doing this technical work.】

001 agreed, impressed that Mu Miao had thought of this.

Song Qi lowered his eyelids. "Don't disturb me. Go away."

Mu Miao obediently replied, "Okay."

Then he floated to the window, gazing at the vibrant night view.

001 was perplexed. 【Why did you answer him?】

Mu Miao's tone was matter-of-fact. 【Because I'm bored. He has hysteria, so talking to the person he imagined is essentially talking to himself.】

【I might as well respond, as if we both have someone to talk to. It's nice.】

001 was speechless. 【…You're really bored sick.】

Without Mu Miao's gaze, Song Qi could focus on his work. His movements were steady, precise, like a programmed machine.

However, before the sharp blade pierced the skin, Song Qi glanced at Mu Miao.

Mu Miao remained calm, not even looking, completely focused on the city lights, his mouth slightly agape in wonder. "So beautiful."

Song Qi's eyelids twitched. He was truly obsessed; he was treating a figment of his imagination like a real person.

He sampled the surrounding tissue and skin, preparing to check if "Mu Miao" had other wounds, when he noticed Yu Bai staring expectantly at the body.

Yu Bai was observing Song Qi's technique, admiring the rare youthful body, when he sensed a dangerous gaze.

He looked up and met Song Qi's gaze for a full half-minute.

After Song Qi admitted to having a mental illness, Yu Bai's fear intensified. "Uh… Professor, wh…what's wrong?"

Why was he looking at him with the hostile gaze of a wife whose husband is being coveted? Yu Bai was close to tears, regretting switching shifts with his senior to come here.

The commotion caught Mu Miao's attention. He floated back to the autopsy table, looking at his loose pants. His eyes, like night fluorescence, looked at Song Qi. "Are you going to take off my pants?"

Song Qi: "..."

Was he secretly open-minded or unrestrained? Why else would he create such a ghost?

Mu Miao didn't treat the body as his own and didn't feel awkward. It was Song Qi's job, and since he was a ghost, he didn't need to maintain his human rights.

Worried that Song Qi might be hesitant, he reassured him, "Don't worry; I don't mind if you strip me naked. I understand."

Examining the body was the job of a forensic scientist. Mu Miao expressed his understanding, smiled at the stiff-faced Song Qi, and floated back to the window to continue watching the night view.

The innocent ghost didn't understand the other meaning behind those words, something only adults would understand.

Song Qi took a deep breath. He couldn't believe he had flirted with, or rather, his hallucination.

Seeing Song Qi's changing expressions, finally settling on a subtle one, Yu Bai couldn't believe his stoic professor could express such a wide range of emotions.  The next second, Professor Song spoke.

"You, get out."

The only difference between this and when he dismissed Fang Lingwei and the others was the missing word "get lost," but his tone implied it.

Yu Bai reluctantly put down his tools, casting lingering glances at the body on the autopsy table.

Song Qi didn't even give him a chance, grabbing a white sheet from the back of the chair and covering "Mu Miao's" upper body, tucking even his dangling hands inside.

Yu Bai dejectedly walked out, only to see Fang Lingwei rushing in.

Fang Lingwei frowned, his low pressure heavy with suppressed anger. "Tell your professor to stop. Pei Nuo's family is here to claim the body, and they don't agree to an autopsy."

Mu Miao was surprised by this news. He watched as Fang Lingwei gently lifted him, placing him in a body bag and onto a gurney.

Song Qi frowned. "What's going on?"

"Pei's family came and said Pei Nuo's death was unrelated to this case." Fang Lingwei paused, glancing at "Mu Miao's" clean face. "They said Pei Nuo was promiscuous and was retaliated against by his lovers; his death was shameful and shouldn't be publicized."

Song Qi caught a key detail, his expression strange. "Those… are you sure it wasn't that lover?"

Fang Lingwei's brow furrowed. "That's what his family said."

Mu Miao's eyes widened in shock, anxiously protesting, "Nonsense! I don't have many lovers; I don't have any! How can these people make up such things?"

He felt wronged, having been unjustly accused. Nobody would be happy about that.

He also knew Pei Nuo's past. This boy was a pitiful soul, abandoned at the orphanage as a baby. He was shy and timid, always yielding in the competitive environment of the orphanage.

Long periods of hunger and lack of clothing weakened his body. Perhaps it was a case of extremes leading to an opposite outcome. At the age of two, Pei Nuo was adopted by the childless Pei family, enjoying half a year of happiness before the Pei family had a child of their own.

Pei Nuo's position plummeted. He had the title of young master but was treated as a servant.

Mu Miao didn't like his family, especially Pei Qingye, Pei Nuo's nominally younger brother, who often bullied him.

Pei Nuo's memories revealed that he was spoiled and arrogant, not respecting his half-brother.  While in high school, Pei Qingye constantly ordered Pei Nuo around—fetching water, buying food, running errands—and never acknowledged Pei Nuo as his brother. Pei Qingye's friends still thought Pei Nuo was just another lackey.

The more Mu Miao thought about it, the angrier he got. How could someone have such a terrible personality?!

But soon, that terrible person appeared before him.

Pei Qingye was still wearing his West Private High School uniform. Eighteen years old, nearly six feet tall, he sat on a bench in the hall, radiating anger.

He kept looking towards the exit, finally standing up, taking off his blazer and casually draping it over his shoulder, transforming from a well-behaved student into a street thug.

"Tsk, why aren't they coming out yet? Are they all dead inside?" Pei Qingye took out a pack of cigarettes, about to light one, when his arm was slapped by the noblewoman beside him.

Mrs. Pei wore a luxurious dress and jewelry, her chin held high, her gaze arrogant, softening only when facing her precious son.

"Smoking is bad for your health. Xiao Li, take the cigarettes from the young master," Mrs. Pei instructed her assistant.

Under his mother's urging, Pei Qingye gave the cigarettes to Xiao Li. After waiting a while longer, he impatiently went to look in the direction Fang Lingwei had gone.

He wanted to see what shady business they were doing inside!

Just then, a white figure ran from around the corner, and Pei Qingye, unable to dodge, collided with him.

The person seemed to be in a hurry, equally surprised by the collision.  A small, beautiful face full of astonishment, with pretty peach blossom eyes wide open, and lashes fluttering nervously.

Mu Miao, wanting to know who had come from the Pei family, rushed out of the autopsy room, only to collide with Pei Qingye.

He instinctively stepped back to create distance but tripped, falling to the ground, softly exclaiming, "Ah!"

Pei Qingye reflexively reached out to catch him, but his hand grasped only air.

The young man had disappeared. Pei Qingye's heart jolted, and looking around, he found himself alone in the dimly lit corridor.

The encounter seemed like a fleeting dream.

Pei Qingye stood there for a long time, his gaze empty as he pondered the scene. He had clearly seen the person's face—it was Pei Nuo, his useless older brother, his dead brother.

He couldn't believe it, constantly looking around, trying to find evidence that the person had actually appeared.

Although they had the same features, Pei Qingye felt that the "Pei Nuo" he had just encountered was different, especially his clear eyes, no longer gloomy but bright and lively.

The moment Mu Miao fell, he transformed into a wisp of white mist, like a soft cotton candy, slowly reforming into a human shape by the wall.

He was startled, his already pale face becoming even whiter. 【001, I feel like he can see me?】

001's tone was weary. 【You've said that three times already. Think about it; is it possible? Are all the gifted people in the world gathered in front of you?】

Mu Miao wouldn't admit to being unlucky, confidently saying, 【Impossible. I have pretty good luck.】

He firmly believed it.

Fang Lingwei soon pushed the body bag out. Seeing Pei Qingye standing in the corridor, his expression darkened. "The victim's family should wait in the hall; that's the rule."

Pei Qingye ignored him, stepping to the gurney and pulling open the zipper of the body bag. He frowned at the young man's peaceful face, questioning, "Is he really dead?"

Pei Qingye's words implied that Fang Lingwei was deliberately deceiving him, and Fang Lingwei was about to lose his temper, taking deep breaths to control himself.

"Yes, Pei Nuo's death certificate has been issued, and it will likely be sent to you tomorrow. Please don't disrespect the deceased; be careful of retribution."

His last sentence was laced with personal resentment.

Mu Miao looked at Pei Qingye's unpleasant expression, surprised, saying, "Didn't you say you didn't like me? Why do you look so lost?"

Pei Qingye stared at the pale, delicate face, as if only now seeing his so-called brother's features.

He silently followed Fang Lingwei to the hall.

Mrs. Pei, anxiously waiting in the hall, was looking for him. When she saw Pei Qingye, she breathed a sigh of relief. "Xiaoye, why did you run off? It's dangerous here. Promise Mom you won't do this again, okay?"

Pei Qingye ignored her. Mrs. Pei was used to his indifference.  The tenderness in her eyes vanished when she saw the body bag on the gurney.

She recoiled, waving to Xiao Li. "Take it directly to the crematorium; it's bad luck."

Fang Lingwei was completely furious, pointing at Mrs. Pei's nose and scolding, "Are you even human? He was murdered, and you don't care, not even giving him a proper funeral? Pei Nuo must have had terrible luck to have encountered your family!"

Mrs. Pei's grip on her purse tightened, using all her self-control to prevent her face from contorting.

She curled her lips. "Officer Fang, watch your words. I'm Mrs. Pei, and Pei Nuo is my family. I say he's to be cremated now, and he will be. Even if you leave him exposed, you have no right to interfere!"

Upon seeing her, Mu Miao felt a sense of fear, knowing it was Pei Nuo's lingering emotions at play.  Mrs. Pei must not be a good person to make Pei Nuo so afraid.

Hearing her words, Mu Miao's face flushed with anger.

Mu Miao yelled at Pei Qingye, who was closest, "You're a family of bad people!"

Pei Qingye's ears twitched, and he looked around. He seemed to hear Pei Nuo's voice… Pei Nuo… was scolding him?

Impossible!

Pei Qingye's mind was a mess. He thought he could calmly take his useless brother's body to the crematorium, but everything had changed in an instant.

Fang Lingwei was about to lose control when a young officer rushed over to separate them. "Everyone, calm down. Let's talk things out. Don't get violent."

Mrs. Pei sneered coldly. "With this attitude, how can you serve the people? How ridiculous."

Fang Lingwei glared at her. "You!"

Pei Qingye was irritated by the noise, running a hand through his hair before finally erupting.

The expensive blazer was thrown to the ground. Pei Qingye roared, "What's all the commotion?!"

Silence fell, everyone's eyes on the high school student.

Under his mother's shocked gaze, Pei Qingye picked up "Mu Miao" and strode towards the car. "No crematorium. Take him home first."

Mu Miao's body was carried away, and he quickly floated to follow, angrily saying, "Who allowed you to carry me? Put me back! Put me back!"

Behind him, Song Qi stood in the shadows, his eyes darkening. Why did his little ghost run off with someone else?