“Jizi Ge? Why would she suddenly message me?”
Yan Yu was surprised to see that the message had come from none other than Jizi Ge—the enigmatic figure who had granted her supernatural abilities.
Unaware that Jizi Ge was actually her younger sister, Yan Qi, Yan Yu couldn’t help but show a hint of astonishment on her face.
Remembering that she still hadn’t finished helping her roommate, Yan Yu thought for a moment before replying to Jizi Ge—or rather, her sister, Yan Qi:
“Little Ge, I’m busy helping my roommate pack up and send her home right now. I might not have time to chat for a while.”
Seeing her sister’s message, Yan Qi, ever understanding, quickly typed back:
“Got it. We can talk after you’re done.”
“Thanks for understanding,” Yan Yu replied before setting her phone aside and returning to helping her roommate.
After about ten more minutes of packing, Zhou Jiamin finally confirmed that all her belongings were ready. Turning to Yan Yu and Xu Ziqi, she said gratefully,
“Everything’s packed. Thanks so much for helping me.”
“No need to thank us—we’ve been roommates for two years, after all,” Yan Yu replied.
“Yeah, Jiamin, Xiaoyu and I are your best friends,” Xu Ziqi added.
Zhou Jiamin smiled. “Yeah, we really are.”
“Anyway,” Yan Yu continued, “when’s your mom getting here?”
Knowing that Zhou Jiamin was waiting for her mother’s car to take her home, Yan Yu wanted to confirm the timing.
Checking her phone for her mother’s latest message, Zhou Jiamin answered, “She should be here in about half an hour.”
Nodding in acknowledgment, Yan Yu glanced at the pile of luggage in front of Zhou Jiamin and asked, “Do you want us to help carry these downstairs?”
Realizing just how much she had to take home—and that it would be difficult for just her and her mother to manage—Zhou Jiamin gave an embarrassed smile.
“If you two could help, that’d be amazing.”
“Well, since you asked,” Yan Yu said, turning to Xu Ziqi, “let’s give her a hand and take these down to the first floor.”
“Sure thing, Xiaoyu,” Xu Ziqi replied.
With that, the two of them got to work, hauling Zhou Jiamin’s belongings downstairs.
Not one to stand idly by, Zhou Jiamin quickly joined in as well.
After five or six trips up and down, they finally moved everything to the first floor.
Wiping the sweat from her brow, Yan Yu checked the time on her phone.
Noticing that half an hour had passed—yet Zhou Jiamin’s mother was nowhere in sight—she couldn’t help but ask,
“That’s weird, Jiamin. Didn’t you say your mom would be here in half an hour? It’s been half an hour, but there’s no sign of her.”
Hearing this, Zhou Jiamin immediately pulled out her phone and checked the time. Sure enough, the thirty minutes were up—yet her mother hadn’t arrived.
Knowing her mother was always punctual and never late, Zhou Jiamin frowned.
“Hold on, I’ll call her and ask.”
With that, she dialed her mother’s number—only to hear an automated voice respond:
“The number you have dialed is currently out of service.”
Zhou Jiamin’s expression shifted to one of disbelief.
“Out of service? How? Half an hour ago, she texted me saying she’d already entered Ninghang City!”
Seeing her reaction, Yan Yu asked with concern, “What’s wrong, Jiamin? Did something happen to your mom?”
Xu Ziqi, who had been resting nearby, also picked up on the tension and turned her attention to Zhou Jiamin.
Under their gazes—and knowing that Yan Yu was no ordinary person anymore—Zhou Jiamin decided not to hide anything. She explained the situation: her mother’s phone was unreachable, and she couldn’t get through.
Hearing this, both Yan Yu and Xu Ziqi’s expressions turned grave.
After all, just a couple of Saturdays ago, they had experienced a terrifying incident where they’d accidentally stumbled into the Abyss, witnessed the deaths of several classmates, and nearly didn’t make it back themselves.
“Jiamin, maybe try calling again?” Xu Ziqi suggested optimistically. “It could just be a weak signal on her end.”
Not wanting to assume the worst, Zhou Jiamin nodded and redialed—but the same automated message played again.
“Still nothing. It says she’s out of service.”
“Then this is getting serious,” Xu Ziqi murmured before turning to Yan Yu. “Do you have any ideas?”
“Why would I have a solution?” Yan Yu asked, confused.
“Because you know a lot of supernaturals!” Xu Ziqi pressed. “Even if you can’t do anything, maybe one of them can?”
Realizing what Xu Ziqi was hinting at, Yan Yu hesitated.
“But I don’t want to trouble them. I haven’t even known them that long…”