A Guest in a Ghost House Chapter 78 The Previous Lover 2

Wu Jian's best friend was named Wu Ting, and she had been 21 years old at the time of her death. She had never had a boyfriend. On the day of her death, she had been on vacation with her family.

There was a lot of detailed information in the file, most of which related to her friendship with Wu Jian. I learned that Wu Ting and Wu Jian had been high school classmates. She would have likely known Ni Min then. Did she hate the two of them for getting together?

I came up with many different theories about the three of them, but there wasn't any concrete evidence in the files to support my wild thoughts. I decided that I'd have to meet Ni Min.

Although I didn't know Ni Min, we had the same purpose. Since she was so connected to Wu Jian, I figured she would throw all of her energy into helping me find him. However, I decided I might need backup, and I gave Li Lei another call.

Three days later, we met with Ni Min. Because she lived at home with her parents, she had agreed to meet us at a tea house nearby.

When we were seated, I started to examine Ni Min. She looked about the same age as Wu Jian. Although she wore makeup to conceal them, I could tell that she had very dark circles under her eyes. She looked as though she never slept, and her whole demeanor seemed somber. She clearly wasn't handling Wu Jian's disappearance well.

Ni Min smiled and nodded to me, then looking at Li Lei doubtfully. He had not explained why he called the meeting, and in response to Ni Min's gaze, he turned to look at me. After all, I hadn't told him either.

"Ni Min, hello. My name is Wu Rui," I introduced myself.

"Hello, I've heard Wu Jian talk about you. You two are very good friends, right? Have you found Wu Jian?" Ni Min's eyes lit up when she heard my name, and she began talking very excitedly. I didn't know what Wu Jian had said about me, but clearly, it had given this woman confidence in me. I wasn't sure how to broach the topic of Wu Ting, but first I replied to her questions delicately.

"Yes, we are good friends. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find him, which is why I requested this meeting. There is something sensitive I'd like to discuss with you. That is, if you're willing to help me." I watched some of the light leave Wu Ting's eyes, but she still looked more hopeful than she had a few minutes ago.

Ni Min quietly asked Li Lei if he could leave the two of us alone. She wanted to discuss this matter with me privately. Li Lei looked surprised at the request, but as he had many things to do back at the office, he left without complaint.

As soon as Li Lei had left, Ni Min said anxiously, " Wu Jian says that you are incredible. Please, you must help me find him."

I decided to be blunt with what I needed from her. "I wanted to ask you about Wu Ting."

It was clear that Ni Min knew Wu Ting. As soon as I mentioned her name, Ni Min's face changed greatly. She looked at the table for a moment and then began speaking.

The three of them had been in class together at the beginning of high school. Wu Ting and Wu Jian had sat at the same table, while Ni Min sat behind Wu Jian. Over time, the three of them became familiar with each other.

Wu Jian and Wu Ting's relationship had been very good, although never appeared to be a lovers' relationship. They were often together, and even their teachers referred to their affection for each other as "puppy love."

It was at this time that Ni Min started to feel something for Wu Jian. However, she was quite shy and had never made any sort of move. Occasionally, Wu Ting would invite her to dinner, and the three of them would go out together.

Before high school was over, Wu Jian left to become a soldier. Ni Min suspected it was because his grades were poor. After a few years, he came back to participate in the college entrance examination. It was a coincidence that he and Wu Ting became classmates at the police academy. However, shortly after, Wu Ting passed away.

Ni Min brought up a strange piece of information that I hadn't heard before. Before Wu Ting had left, she had posted on QQ that she was going to the seaside to travel with her best friend. However, the post was quickly deleted.

I didn't know whether the best friend she referred to was Wu Jian or not. I'd only heard that she had been traveling with her family at that time.

If this were a movie, it would have just turned into a murder mystery—and a very simple one at that. Wu Jian would be the suspected killer who used a shipwreck as a cover-up. However, this was not a movie.

Ni Min thought for a moment and continued to speak. "Wu Ting's body wasn't recovered. Many students went to the memorial service, including me, but Wu Jian didn't go. I heard that he stayed home, but he left home after two days. I felt like as Wu Ting's good friend, he should have attended the service, but perhaps he stayed home due to sadness."

"Where did he go?" I asked.

Ni Min said curiously, "Well, he had told his family that he was returning to the academy. However, several students and he were planning to return together, but before they left, the others invited him to go on a trip with them. He declined, didn't show up on the day they were supposed to head back, and didn't return to the academy for several days afterward. Or at the very least, they didn't see him at the academy during that time."

However, the school wasn't small. It was possible that he had returned and stayed away from his classmates because of his bad mood. Not wanting to have fun with your peers after your best friend passed away seemed reasonable to me.

I changed the subject. "Ni Min, what do you think of Wu Ting?"

"Well, she was quite nice. She dressed like a tomboy and was always very protective over the other girls. She would even fight for us against boys who teased us," Ni Min said, then paused for a long time. She seemed to be readying herself to ask a question, and then eventually blurted out, "Have you seen Wu Ting's ghost?"

It seems Wu Jian told Ni Min a lot about me, I thought. I decided to use Ni Min's question to test her. "If, and I mean if, Wu Ting's ghost appeared, do you think she would harm Wu Jian?"

Ni Min was obviously stunned. "No, Wu Ting would never."

It seemed that Ni Min really trusted Wu Ting. Then why did she react so strongly when I first mentioned Wu Ting?

I was processing everything I had just heard, so deep in thought that I didn't realize I had been staring at Ni Min rather impolitely.

Sighing, Ni Min leaned forward and spoke again.

"Maybe I killed Wu Ting."

Chapter end