Forbidden Land – CH 092

The next evening, Chen Rong called Zhang Chao after work, and the two went to the grassy lakeside behind Baisha and sat down.

Chen Rong’s face seemed somewhat agitated.

Zhang Chao asked, “What’s wrong?”

Chen Rong said, “I looked up information about the girl who drowned in the lake in 2004, and I also asked a few old classmates who now work at the school. I got more detailed information.”

Zhang Chao urged, “Tell me quickly.”

Chen Rong said, “That girl shared my surname, Chen Xu. She was a student in the Class of 2004 of Water Resources and Ocean Engineering at the School of Civil Engineering. Her father’s surname was Chen, and her mother’s surname was Xu, hence her name. She was a beauty at the School of Civil Engineering at the time, and she sang exceptionally well. It was shortly after the start of the university semester, around September, and she signed up for a singing competition organized by the school’s arts club. The night before the competition, five or six students passing by the West Campus Teaching Building saw her swimming into the lake. When the students saw her, the water was already up to her neck, and soon after, they found her struggling in the water. None of the students could swim, so a few stayed to watch her while the others ran to find security. By the time the security guards arrived, she was already submerged and unseen. When they finally pulled her out, she was already dead. Since she couldn’t have had suicidal tendencies, and so many students witnessed it, it was ultimately determined that she went to play in the lake and accidentally drowned. Later, signs were put up along the lake prohibiting swimming, and that’s how it came about.”

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Zhang Chao pondered for a moment and said, “If she was playing in the water, she shouldn’t have gone this deep, right?”

Chen Rong nodded. “Logically, that’s how it is. Besides, a girl dressed properly shouldn’t go into the water, let alone go that deep to swim.”

Zhang Chao said, “But while this is strange, it happened four years ago and has no connection to the present. Maybe the girl slipped and fell, and it was too slippery, so she couldn’t keep her footing and sank deeper. It’s a low-probability scenario, but not impossible; after all, some people have drowned like that.”

Chen Rong smiled and said, “Leaving aside the girl’s drowning, there’s something else that’ll surprise you.”

Zhang Chao asked, “What is it?”

Chen Rong said, “This girl’s name is Chen Xu. Her mother is a high school teacher, and her father is a professor in the Humanities Department named Chen Demao. I saw a picture of this Professor Chen Demao; he’s the one we met at the School of Medicine who twice told us to leave.”

“Ah!” Zhang Chao exclaimed in shock, “So, that old man was the father of the girl who drowned! He came to the School of Medicine twice and chased us away twice; he must know a lot of secrets!”

Chen Rong nodded, saying, “I think so too.”

Zhang Chao pondered for a moment, then said, “It seems we need to find out more about the School of Medicine by talking to him first.”

Chen Rong said, “I heard from an old classmate that this Professor Chen has become a bit strange since his daughter died.”

Zhang Chao laughed. “I’ve already witnessed his strangeness. What’s a little more strangeness? Am I afraid he’ll eat me alive? Anyway, I’m not in the Humanities Department, and I’m not under his jurisdiction, so I’m not afraid of him. By the way, judging from his age, is he retired?”

Chen Rong said, “He is retired, but they say he’s very knowledgeable in classical Chinese, so the college still employs him as a part-time lecturer, teaching courses like classical Chinese.”

Zhang Chao said, “Then we can find out which classroom he’s teaching in. We’ll just stop him after class and ask him, then we’ll know.”

Chen Rong smiled smugly. “He has a class tonight, the last one before the exams. It’s in the East Campus; I’ve already found the classroom on the course selection website.”

Zhang Chao was overjoyed. “Chen Rong, you’re truly my female strategist! Quick, let’s go find him!”

“Okay,” Chen Rong nodded, “but don’t rush; he won’t be out of class for at least an hour.”

Zhang Chao said, “The last class before the exams, he might end early. We need to hurry.”

Chen Rong said, “That’s true, I didn’t think of that. Let’s go then.”

The two quickly went to wait outside the East Campus Teaching Building. After waiting for more than half an hour, the evening bell rang, and a few minutes later, many students began to pack up and leave. A few minutes later, an old man emerged from the East Campus; upon confirmation, it was indeed Professor Chen Demao.

The two hurriedly went to greet him. Zhang Chao called out, “Professor Chen, we have some questions we’d like to ask.”

“Oh?” Chen Demao turned around, but upon seeing Zhang Chao and Chen Rong, he was somewhat surprised. His face immediately hardened, and he said, “What do you want with me?”

Zhang Chao cut to the chase. “Professor Chen, I know there must be some stories about what happened at the School of Medicine. Could you tell us about it?”

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“Hmph!” Chen Demao snorted angrily, saying, “I don’t know. I’m going home!” With that, he quickly walked towards a black sedan.

The two hurriedly chased after him. Zhang Chao called out, “Professor Chen, I know you must know something; you wouldn’t have pretended to be a School of Medicine professor and chased us away. We really want to know about the School of Medicine.”

Chen Demao ignored them, walked to the car, opened the door, and got in.

Chen Rong said, “Professor Chen, your daughter’s situation is also related to the School of Medicine, isn’t it?”

Chen Demao was taken aback, then said coldly, “My daughter’s situation has nothing to do with that place. I’ve already told you not to go there at night; just listen to me.”

Chen Rong pressed, “Why can’t we go there? Explain it to us clearly; otherwise, we young people are very curious.”

Chen Demao didn’t answer her, inserted the key into the car, and prepared to close the door.

Zhang Chao grabbed the car door, urgently saying, “Professor Chen, you don’t want to see anyone else suffer like your daughter, do you?”

Upon hearing this, Chen Demao’s face turned ashen, and he said, “My daughter’s situation won’t happen again. Let go, or I’ll call security!”

Zhang Chao pleaded, “I almost drowned in the lake too; I beg you to tell us.”

Chen Demao hesitated for a moment, then slammed the car door shut without a word, started the car, and drove away.