Chapter 51: Pathology

“Sure enough, I still can’t forget it.”

In a hotel near the school, Mu Wannuo clutched her throbbing head, the pen she’d been scribbling with coming to a stop.

Because of Ning Chuxue’s disobedient behavior, her mind had been stimulated, uncontrollably dragging her back to those memories buried deep in her heart.

That final memory before Ning Mu’s death.

The doctor who came out of Ning Mu’s room brought no good news—only bad. Ning Mu’s fate was sealed.

Though they had only spent a short year together, Mu Wannuo had long since come to see Ning Mu as the most important person in her life.

Now, Ning Mu’s only descendant had become her sole remaining hope in this world.

Mu Wannuo refused to let the most important thing in her life leave her.

Just like with Ning Mu, she had already lost one person she treasured deeply. She was unwilling to lose Ning Chuxue as well.

Absolutely unwilling!

“Master, how much longer?”

After getting in the car, Ning Chuxue sat still and restless, desperate to reach their destination as quickly as possible.

The traffic lights on the road, the extreme weather—everything seemed to be working against her wish.

Her clothes were clean, without a trace of water, the set that Mu Wannuo had prepared in advance on the classroom desk.

And the cold medicine she’d just finished drinking happened to be just enough to ward off any chance of her catching a chill.

She had to admit, even in the middle of an argument, Mu Wannuo was still looking after Ning Chuxue in every way.

After doing everything the paper required, Ning Chuxue shifted her gaze to the letter on the table’s edge.

She hesitated for a long time, afraid to open it.

Finally, steeling herself, she tore open the envelope with trembling hands.

The contents were simple—so plain it read like a family letter, filled entirely with concern for Ning Chuxue and Mu Wannuo’s confession.

Of course, the letter wasn’t purely about feelings.

Ning Chuxue quickly latched onto the most important piece of information.

Inside was an address, along with a phone number for a driver.

The only problem was that the address was remote. Though it was supposedly near the school, its location was extremely hidden, requiring several detours along the way, and there was only one road to reach it.

And judging by the hints in the envelope, Mu Wannuo seemed to really want Ning Chuxue to go to that address.

Ning Chuxue could roughly deduce that Mu Wannuo was there, so she didn’t go searching all over campus for her in the wind and rain.

That was undeniably a good thing, and Ning Chuxue’s tightly wound heart relaxed a little.

But as for whether to actually go to that address or not, Ning Chuxue was still a bit hesitant about backing out.

She trusted Mu Wannuo, of course, and could guarantee the letter was written by her.

It was just that the location was too isolated. She couldn’t shake a bad premonition.

Though that was all it was—just a premonition.

“Teacher Mu and you both lack an opportunity to talk. You should find some time to have a proper conversation—it could clear up many misunderstandings.”

Recalling Ying’s warning, Ning Chuxue ultimately decided to go check it out.

She picked up her phone, her trembling fingers typing in the string of numbers from the envelope.

Because her emotions hadn’t settled for long, a few teardrops still splattered onto the phone screen.

The screen malfunctioned, and she accidentally input 4 instead of 6.

Ning Chuxue didn’t dare delay. She turned off the screen to prevent any accidents, then wiped away the tear with her sleeve.

She turned the phone back on, deleted the incorrectly typed number, and replaced it with the correct one.

Finally, after a moment of hesitant struggle, she dialed the phone number.

Rain hammered against the car window as Ning Chuxue’s gaze drifted outside.

There weren’t many vehicles on the road—mostly ride-share cars and semi-trucks.

The driver didn’t respond to Ning Chuxue’s question, silently gripping the steering wheel and driving toward a destination she didn’t know.

If she hadn’t known in advance that this driver was arranged by Mu Wannuo, Ning Chuxue would have thought she’d gotten into a kidnapper’s car.

Ning Chuxue stared out the window, idly watching the willow trees retreating along the roadside.

Her reflection flickered faintly across the window.

Her gray pupils carried a sense of confusion, her silver-white hair a tangled mess.

Even after wiping her hair with a towel,

She faintly felt that this journey might not be as simple as it appeared on the surface.

Something might happen.

But the thought didn’t last long before she dismissed it entirely.

“Sister Mu Wan would never do anything to hurt me.”

After several turns, the vehicle came to a stop in front of an old residential area.

“Are we here?”

Ning Chuxue snapped back to attention, asking the driver.

The driver ignored her, unbuckling his seatbelt and stepping out to open the door on her side.

Getting no answer to her question, Ning Chuxue pouted in dissatisfaction but obediently hopped out of the car.

The sun had long since vanished below the horizon. The driver didn’t leave.

In his hand, the driver held up a black umbrella, while his left hand clutched a small flashlight.

Ning Chuxue’s destination wasn’t far—just to the left of the main gate, less than half a minute’s walk away.

A short walk was a good thing too. Aside from saving energy, it also meant less time getting drenched like a drowned rat in the rain.

Though the downpour had lessened considerably now, and the wind wasn’t as strong either.

As she walked, Ning Chuxue observed the surroundings of the neighborhood.

Damp soil mixed with the smell of cigarette smoke.

Having been accustomed to clean environments for so long, Ning Chuxue found it hard to get used to this unpleasant odor.

The place was also very remote—a full thirty-minute drive from the city center.

Looking around, she couldn’t even see any other buildings. Only this one old apartment building stood here in solitude.

It wasn’t even fair to call it a suburb. Calling it the middle of nowhere wouldn’t be an overstatement.

Ning Chuxue couldn’t help but shiver, sticking close behind the driver as they moved forward.

The gate to the neighborhood had no access control, and the electronic door used for card swiping was also left wide open.

Right next to the gate was the fence door leading to the underground garage.

Just as the two of them stepped through the gate, a car drove up and stopped in front of the underground garage fence door beside the pedestrian entrance.

A middle-aged man stepped out of the small pavilion on the far left, walking toward the car with a small notebook in hand.

Like he was registering information.

It suddenly clicked for Ning Chuxue. No wonder the driver hadn’t driven the car inside.

Based on her understanding of Mu Wannuo, she definitely wouldn’t want to leave behind any personal information.

Though Ning Chuxue had no idea whether the registered information would involve privacy.

Lost in thought, the two quickly arrived at the foot of the apartment building.

The driver didn’t follow her in. Instead, he stood to the side and handed Ning Chuxue a room number plate.

“Aren’t you coming with me?”

Ning Chuxue hesitated for a moment before finally taking it.

“The young lady instructed that only miss may go. No one else is allowed to disturb.”

“Alright.”

Ning Chuxue muttered, walking inside alone as the unease in her heart grew stronger.

Ning Chuxue had a feeling that once she went in, something not so pleasant might happen.

Along the way, she didn’t see any other tenants. Even the lights in every unit were dark.

Inevitably, that premonition in her heart grew even more intense.

After searching for a while, Ning Chuxue finally found the room number matching the address.

Summoning her courage, Ning Chuxue curled her fingers and knocked on the door.

“Chuxue?”

Soon, Mu Wannuo’s voice came from inside.

Hearing that familiar voice, she let out a complete sigh of relief.