Capítulo 63: Chapter 63: Back on the Ghost Bus
The soreness in my body was overwhelming, and the faint smell of disinfectant lingered in the air. I struggled to open my eyes, only to see a woman's face gradually come into focus. Thin sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a gentle glow over her. I racked my brain until her name finally surfaced in my mind.
"Tie Ningxiang?"
"You're finally awake. Don't move; I'll call the doctor." Dressed in a police uniform, Tie Ningxiang radiated a unique charm—a perfect blend of strength and gentleness. Her presence left me momentarily captivated.
"Uncle…" My bandaged hand was suddenly grasped. Turning my head, I saw Yiyi standing on the other side of the hospital bed.
"Is this a hospital?"
"You were seriously injured, covered in blood, and unconscious," she explained softly.
"Did you call the police?"
"Yes."
Looking at Yiyi's swollen, tear-streaked eyes, I asked cautiously, "Did you tell the police about last night?"
This was my biggest concern. Some things couldn't be disclosed carelessly.
"I didn't. I don't want anyone disturbing Mom." Yiyi hooked her finger around mine, pleading, "Uncle, let's not tell the police, okay?"
What a naive child. Her decision was convenient for me. "Don't worry. This will stay our secret."
Not long after, Tie Ningxiang returned with the doctor. After a second examination, the doctor shook his head in astonishment.
"The wounds on your chest and thighs are distributed in a pattern, with a depth of one to two centimeters. Fortunately, they avoided all vital organs, so the injuries aren't too severe. I recommend staying in the hospital for a few days for observation. If there's no infection or worsening, you'll be ready for discharge."
"Thank you, doctor," Tie Ningxiang replied politely.
Once the doctor left and the door closed, the room was left with just the three of us: Yiyi, Tie Ningxiang, and me.
"Well, since the doctor says it's not serious, you can stop pretending to be dead," Tie Ningxiang said casually. Despite her tone, she started peeling an apple for me. A steaming cup of tea sat nearby, evidence of her meticulous care.
"So, Mr. Detective, what exactly were you doing at the crematorium with my niece in the middle of the night?" She sliced a piece of apple and brought it to my mouth. "Think carefully before answering—your every word could become evidence in court."
"Niece?" I spat out the apple in shock. "You mean Tie Yixiang is your sister?"
"Don't play dumb. Knowing how you never do anything without a reason, you must've looked into this beforehand." Tie Ningxiang wiped the crumbs off my chest with a tissue. "Don't think you can fool me. Just the charge of taking a minor out late at night with suspicious intent would start at three years. If there's more to last night, you might even face the death penalty under our laws."
"Auntie, you're misunderstanding Uncle. He was protecting me all night," Yiyi interjected in my defense.
"I'm just worried he might hurt you, yet here you are siding with him. Should I be jealous?" Tie Ningxiang teased, her demeanor in front of Yiyi entirely different from the one she displayed as the head of the city's criminal investigation department.
"What's there to be jealous about…" I forced a bitter smile as my brain worked overtime. Licking my lips, I deflected, "By the way, was Yuan Feng caught?"
"He was dead when we arrived. His death was identical to the male guest at the Peaceful Inn three months ago—his expression frozen in terror. We also found bite marks on his body, which didn't match any wild animals but were clearly human." Tie Ningxiang turned serious when discussing the case.
"We took dental impressions from both you and Yiyi. The marks don't match either of you, meaning someone else was present last night."
Police were never easy to fool. My hastily prepared excuse felt flimsy under scrutiny. "I came across Yiyi by chance. I'd tracked Yuan Feng's movements for a 50,000-yuan reward and followed him to the No. 3 Crematorium. Then, both of us were attacked by an unknown individual. After that, I don't remember much."
"What were you and he doing at the crematorium in the middle of the night?"
"You'll have to ask Yuan Feng that. I was only there for the bounty." I stuck to my story, claiming memory loss for the rest. Having studied interrogation techniques, I knew how to dodge effectively, making it nearly impossible for Tie Ningxiang to extract anything useful.
After half an hour, Tie Ningxiang gritted her teeth. She could tell I was hiding something but couldn't do much about it.
"Take care of yourself. I've got work to do. Yiyi, you'll be staying with me from now on. Be cautious around anyone suspicious."
"Goodbye, Uncle. Get well soon!"
"Hey, who are you calling suspicious?"
Yiyi left with her schoolbag, and Tie Ningxiang lingered at the door. Glancing at my bandaged chest, she said softly, "Your documents and wallet are in the drawer. The forensic team took your clothes for analysis, so I bought you new ones—they're by your bed."
She turned to leave but paused again at the door, her voice barely audible. "Yiyi was my sister's last wish. Gao Jian, thank you."
The door closed gently. Breathing in the antiseptic-laden air, I stared blankly at the ceiling.
"The Hell Show is getting deadlier with every broadcast. If I want to survive, I can't rely on luck anymore. I need to study Daoism."
The path of Daoism required time, tranquility, and introspection—luxuries I didn't have. However, the ancient texts and secret techniques others could only dream of were available to me through the Hell Show's point exchange, as common as cabbages in the fields.
I took out the Hell Show's phone. Its screen was pitch black. Then a thought struck me.
"Damn, the black suitcase with the camera and other live-streaming tools is still on the No. 14 bus!"
When we got off at the terminal, I'd been holding Yiyi's hand in a rush and had forgotten the suitcase.
"No way, I have to discharge myself immediately. Without the Hell Show equipment, what's left to broadcast?"
Each movement brought searing pain to my chest, but I gritted my teeth, changed clothes, and stumbled out of the hospital room.
...
Yu Cheng, the general manager of Jiangcheng Bus Company, was the epitome of success—handsome, accomplished, and blessed with a loving family. To outsiders, he was the definition of a role model, and the object of admiration for many female drivers.
That afternoon, after finishing work, he was preparing to attend his daughter's parent-teacher meeting when the door to his office burst open. It was Wang Wei, the supervisor of the No. 14 route.
"What are you doing here?" Yu Cheng asked, blowing on the floating tea leaves in his expensive cup.
Wang Wei's expression was grim. "It's about the No. 14 night bus."
Yu Cheng frowned. "Another incident?"
Wang Wei stepped aside. "I think it's better if you hear it directly from him."
I emerged from behind Wang Wei, closing the door as I entered. Looking around at the manager's opulent office, I smirked. "Living the good life, huh?"
"And you are…?"
Lighting a cigarette, I sat across from Yu Cheng. "Who I am isn't important. If you don't want to lose everything you've worked for, you'd better answer my questions honestly."
Taking a drag, I coughed from the unfamiliar taste, my chest heaving as blood seeped through the bandages.
"Who the hell are you?" Yu Cheng's unease was palpable.
"I heard your company adds an extra No. 14 night bus during festivals like the Lantern Festival, Ghost Festival, and Zhongyuan Festival. The bus runs empty, picking up no passengers. Is that true?"
"That's company confidential. No comment."
"It's an old-fashioned Minsheng bus with a manual lever for the doors. Each time it starts, it slides forward about half a meter, doesn't it?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"It stops at every station for three to five minutes but doesn't let anyone on. Right?"
"How do you know this?"
"Drivers can't leave their seats or interact with passengers. So, who are they talking to? Ghosts?" I blew out a cloud of smoke, waiting for his response.
"This is ridiculous. Wang Wei, get him out of here."
Yu Cheng's unease was evident. I locked eyes with him. "Last night at 1:00 a.m., I boarded the No. 14 bus from the Miyun Mansion stop."
"That's impossible. No bus ran last night!"
"I left something on that bus. If you don't believe me, let's go see for ourselves."
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