By the time Song Miaozhu returned from the underworld, it was already the early hours of the morning.
After consolidating what she had learned that night from the ghost instructors, she continued crafting Yin Paper Clothes. Right now, the ghost shop's main source of income came from those, so she had to stock a few pieces every day.
Once the sun was up, she headed out.
Classes would resume tomorrow, and she had made plans with Chen Yuanyuan to return to the dorm today and pack up their things.
When she'd gone home before, she had only taken a few essentials. Plenty of her belongings were still at the dorm. None of it was terribly important, but once they graduated, they'd have to clear the place out anyway.
She brought a woven bag with her, planning to toss anything unnecessary and send a few things worth keeping or saving for memories back to her hometown, Yuanshan Ancient Town.
Chen Yuanyuan came dragging a large suitcase. All that was left in her part of the room was her bedding and a few changes of clothes. On the way, Song Miaozhu recounted the buried corpse case at Lingcheng University's female dorm, warning Chen Yuanyuan:
"Once you open your Heavenly eye and start seeing things others can't, don't panic. Ghosts were once people too. Unless they're vengeful spirits, most can be reasoned with."
Chen Yuanyuan shivered, eyeing the dormitory in the distance. "We lived on the first floor too!"
"Relax. If there were ghosts in our dorm, people would've gotten sick by now." Song Miaozhu patted her shoulder. "Not every building hides a tragedy. Besides, it's broad daylight."
Inside the dorm, Chen Yuanyuan kept shooting her glances. "Any? Any?"
"None," Song Miaozhu confirmed.
Chen Yuanyuan exhaled, straightening her previously hunched posture, and unlocked their room. "Haven't been back in ages. Bet it's dusty—huh? Why's it so clean?"
"You're back?" A head popped up from the rightmost bunk.
"Zhao Xiaorou? You're staying here now?" Chen Yuanyuan blinked.
Zhao Xiaorou had dated their classmate Zheng Ze since freshman year. By sophomore year, she'd moved off-campus with him, rarely returning to the dorm.
Her reappearance could only mean one thing…
Song Miaozhu and Chen Yuanyuan shared a foreboding look.
Sure enough, Zhao Xiaorou spat out: "I broke up with that bastard Zheng."
"Good riddance!" Chen Yuanyuan clapped stiffly.
"Yeah! Take your time processing. We'll pack quietly—won't disturb you." Song Miaozhu shot Chen Yuanyuan a hurry-up glance.
They immediately busied themselves with packing, feigning intense focus.
It wasn't that they were heartless. Over the past four years, this scenario had played out at least forty times.
At first, they had offered genuine comfort and advice. But over time, they'd grown numb.
When things were good between Zhao and Zheng, they acted like no one else existed. When things went south, they took it out on everyone nearby. Eventually, Miaozhu and Yuanyuan had learned to steer clear. Today, they'd just gotten unlucky.
Zhao Xiaorou didn't seem to mind. But after spending all her college years wrapped up in that relationship, she had never formed close friendships with anyone else. She had no one else to vent to. Sitting on her bed, she began to talk to herself.
"This time it's really over. Before, I could let it go... but now we're about to graduate, and he still doesn't want to get married..."
While she vented, the other two quickly packed.
They organized their desks and wardrobes first, leaving the beds for last.
When Miaozhu climbed up to gather her bedding, she rolled the covers into a bundle. As she turned to toss them down, her eyes drifted across to Zhao Xiaorou's bed. Her legs suddenly gave out, and she dropped to her knees with a thud on the wooden platform.
"Miaozhu? You okay?" Chen Yuanyuan rushed over.
"Fine," Song Miaozhu muttered. "The quilt's heavy. Help me toss it?"
"Sure!"
They carried the bundled quilt outside to the dumpster.
"Yuanyuan, let's finish quick and leave," Song Miaozhu whispered.
"Yeah," Chen Yuanyuan agreed fervently. "A heartbroken Zhao Xiaorou is terrifying."
Song Miaozhu didn't elaborate.
Back inside, they boxed their remaining items in record time. As they prepared their escape, Zhao Xiaorou's tirade against Zheng Ze continued unabated.
"Xiaorou, we're heading out!" Chen Yuanyuan announced.
Song Miaozhu hesitated. This might be their last interaction as roommates. Against her better judgment, she added:
"Xiaorou... if a relationship hurts this much, ending it is for the best. Ask yourself if it's worth it. Zheng Ze's never been responsible."
"He... has his good moments too," Zhao Xiaorou reflexively defended.
"..." Song Miaozhu gave up.
"Let's go!" Chen Yuanyuan yanked her out, shutting the door firmly behind them.
"Why'd you even bother saying that?" she grumbled. "You know she's always like this. No matter how bad their fights get, the moment we criticize Zheng Ze, she pushes back."
"She's just... pitiful," Miaozhu sighed, remembering what she had seen.
"Pitiful? She's doing it to herself. Nothing changes until she wants it to." Chen Yuanyuan huffed. "Remember how cool she was when we first met? Then she turned into this—all over a guy. Love's scary. Being single's way better."
Song Miaozhu stayed silent until they exited the dorm. Then, leaning close, she whispered:
"There were three infant spirits on her bed. She's had at least three abortions..."
Chen Yuanyuan's grip slackened. Her suitcase tumbled down the slope. "Zheng Ze's a monster! But Xiaorou... god."
After retrieving the suitcase, they walked back in heavy silence. Only back at the apartment did Chen Yuanyuan finally ask:
"What do infant spirits look like? Will they... hurt her?"
Despite their strained relationship, they didn't wish Zhao Xiaorou harm.
"I don't know," Song Miaozhu admitted. "Right now, the spirits' yin energy isn't harming her. Some infant spirits even protect their mothers. But they're like confused children—hard to communicate with. Even if I see them, I can't force them to leave unless I destroy them outright. And if I annihilate souls that never got a chance to live... the underworld will hold me accountable. This... isn't something we can fix."