章 6: Chapter 6: News That Messes with Your Mind
Fang Xiaocao parked the BMW Mini in the parking lot, looked around to make sure that the car, strategically placed, wouldn't present obstacles should she need to escape, then she entered the hotel.
The parking lot and the car served as Fang Xiaocao's contingency plan.
She was gambling on the fact that the car was newly purchased and the killer wouldn't know about it yet, so wouldn't ambush her there.
And...
She was also counting on a warning from her future self, assuming she would be safe.
"Welcome, Madam, how can I help you?"
As Fang Xiaocao walked into the hotel, the receptionist greeted her warmly.
"Hello, can you check me into a room?"
Fang Xiaocao politely replied with a smile.
"Certainly, please scan this QR code and select the room type yourself."
The receptionist said with a smile while directing Fang Xiaocao to the QR code.
Fang Xiaocao nodded and responded, "Okay!"
She took out her phone and scanned the QR code.
Observing the various room types displayed on her phone, Fang Xiaocao quickly skipped over the budget rooms to check out the more expensive options.
"Can delivery personnel come up to the rooms here?" she asked casually while she browsed the room types.
"Yes, they can. It's more convenient for guests that way," the receptionist replied with a smile.
Fang Xiaocao nodded, but her heart sank.
What was intended as a hospitable service by the hotel had become a source of danger for her.
After pondering for a moment, Fang Xiaocao stopped looking at the expensive rooms and chose an economical double room instead.
Since it was all the same, there was no need to spend more.
Once she had booked the room and entered her ID information, Fang Xiaocao, carrying her laptop and holding the room card, went upstairs to check in.
Since all her luggage was still at the last hotel, Fang Xiaocao wasn't worried about it getting lost; the hotel would be responsible for it until she checked out and settled any unpaid bills.
She swiped her card, opened the door, and inserted the card to power the room.
The room was small but clean.
Fang Xiaocao took a shower and lay down on the bed.
After facing quite a bit today, Fang Xiaocao felt exhausted and emotionally stirred, yet found it hard to sleep.
"Ding-dong!"
Just then, a notification sound from her phone startled Fang Xiaocao.
She picked up her phone and saw it was a WeChat message.
Fang Xiaocao's heart raced with excitement as she eagerly opened WeChat.
Now, whenever she received a WeChat message, Fang Xiaocao's initial thought was that her future self had sent another important warning.
Upon opening WeChat, Fang Xiaocao was disappointed.
The message was from Han Xue!
Fang Xiaocao nonchalantly opened the chat interface.
[Han Xue: Xiaocao, are you free tomorrow night?]
Seeing the message from Han Xue, Fang Xiaocao paused, recalling the message from her future self.
"They're really asking me out, huh?" Fang Xiaocao muttered to herself.
Suddenly, she became curious about where Han Xue wanted to meet and what danger she might encounter.
So, Fang Xiaocao replied, "I'm free, what's up?"
[Han Xue: Let's get together tomorrow night, how about at your rental place?]
Looking at Han Xue's message, Fang Xiaocao laughed.
"I see, it must be that the killer is involved," she murmured.
"Sure, you guys can just go ahead."
"I'll leave the door unlocked for you."
"I'm working part-time tomorrow night, and might come back late, so no need to wait for me," Fang Xiaocao thought over and replied.
After sending the message, Fang Xiaocao tossed her phone onto the bed and ignored further messages from Han Xue.
This was typical of Han Xue, ostensibly inviting Fang Xiaocao to gather, but in reality wanting to use Fang Xiaocao's rental for her own conveniences.
Whether Fang Xiaocao could attend was not a concern for Han Xue at all.
Every time after Han Xue and her rowdy friends gathered at her place, Fang Xiaocao had to clean up all by herself.
"I hope this time, you all will have a blast."
Fang Xiaocao chuckled to herself.
She figured that Han Xue and her group wouldn't be in any real danger, at most a little scared.
Unless the murderer no longer wanted to live, he wouldn't dare attack a group alone.
After thinking for a while, Fang Xiaocao picked up her phone and called the landlady.
"Hello, landlady sis, it's Xiaocao."
As the call connected, Fang Xiaocao sweetly said.
"Xiaocao, calling so late, is there something you need?"
The landlady asked in confusion.
"It's like this, I don't want to renew my lease, could you please refund my deposit? I won't be coming back even though there's half a month left on my lease."
Fang Xiaocao explained her decision to terminate the lease.
"Okay, I'll refund it to you once I check the room."
The landlady fell silent for a moment, then agreed to refund the deposit.
"Hmm, thank you, sis"
Fang Xiaocao said with a smile and hung up the phone.
"If the landlady goes to check the room early, it's not my fault, oh."
Fang Xiaocao playfully stuck her tongue out and muttered.
Having seen through Han Xue's manipulative nature, Fang Xiaocao decided to get a small revenge on her.
Anyway, she couldn't allow Han Xue to have too much fun tomorrow night.
Whether scared by the murderer or chased out by the landlady, she just couldn't let her have a comfortable night.
[Ding Dong!]
Fang Xiaocao had just hung up, and the phone notification sounded again.
Another WeChat message!
Fang Xiaocao blinked and opened WeChat.
[Hot Noodles: Since you've already ended your lease, why not buy a house? A few million should be enough.]
This time, it was from her future self.
"Any suggestions on buying a house?"
Fang Xiaocao, excited by the prospect, replied by asking.
"It's really like when you want to sleep, someone sends you a pillow."
Fang Xiaocao murmured.
She had plans to buy a house when she decided to terminate the lease, but before she could even look at properties, her future self, as if telepathically aware, sent her a message.
Experience told Fang Xiaocao that her future self definitely had some surprising suggestions.
[Hot Noodles: Are you afraid of ghosts?]
Reading the WeChat message, Fang Xiaocao involuntarily shivered.
"Afraid of ghosts?"
"Are you yourself not afraid, no superstitions at all?"
Fang Xiaocao replied irritably.
Fang Xiaocao was timid yet loved to read ghost stories, belonging to those who were both fearful and curious.
[Hot Noodles: After all that I've been through, I'm naturally not afraid anymore.]
[Hot Noodles: Across from South Gate Street of University Town, in Junyue Villa District, there's a haunted house for sale. You can get it for five million. If you can overcome your fear, I'll reward you with an unexpected surprise.]
Seeing the word "surprise," Fang Xiaocao hesitated.
The surprises from her future self were certainly extraordinary.
But a haunted house!
It sounded terrifying!
Fang Xiaocao was too scared to live there!
And surely, this haunted house wasn't just infamous for no reason.
Having once cleaned houses in Junyue Villa District as a part-time job, she had heard from clients that the prices of the villas there usually started in the tens of millions. Now her future self was claiming she could buy it for just five million, which really told her how haunted it must be.
If it weren't haunted, who would suffer such a great loss in selling it?
Fang Xiaocao hesitated for a long time, but ultimately, the temptation of an "unexpected surprise" from her future self was too much; she decided to check out the haunted house the next day.
"Okay, I'll go have a look tomorrow."
Fang Xiaocao composed a message and clicked send.
[Contact does not exist!]
"Damn~"
Seeing the "Contact does not exist!" alert, Fang Xiaocao couldn't help but curse.
This future self of hers was really playing with her emotions.
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