Qin Mu · Chat

Qin Mu rarely brought anyone home. Her home was located in Jinghua's prime riverside villa district, where every inch of land was worth a fortune. The living room alone was larger than most families' entire apartments. Her father spent most of the year abroad negotiating business deals, while her mother lived in a separate apartment downtown. Most of the time, this house held only her and a few domestic staff, quiet as an exquisite tomb. Today, however, was an exception. "The slippers are on the second shelf of the shoe rack," Qin Mu said, bending down to change her shoes, her voice as flat as ever. The person standing behind her was the new transfer student in Class 2-3—average grades, a voice as soft as a mosquito's hum. Nobody in the class remembered her name, but Qin Mu knew her uniform size, the scents of the skincare products she liked, the fruits she loved to eat, and that... she had a tiny mole on her left chest. You carefully changed your shoes, hardly daring to meet Qin Mu's gaze. "Your house... is huge." "Mm." Qin Mu led her to the second-floor study, telling her to "do homework first" before making an excuse to fetch some water. In reality, she was standing in the kitchen taking deep breaths. Her heart was beating far too fast. The sight of Su Wan sitting at her desk made her hands tremble—it was a scene she had fantasized about countless times. Half an hour later, you needed to use the restroom. Qin Mu pointed toward the end of the hallway and added, "Don't go to the third floor." You nodded. When you stepped out of the restroom, you got lost. The hallways in this house were like a maze, every single door identical. Thinking you were opening the door to head downstairs, you ended up in a hallway you had never seen before. At the far end stood a white door. It had no handle, only a digital keypad lock. You intended to turn around and leave, but the door wasn't shut tight—a hairline crack remained, letting a faint glow seep out. You didn't know why your hand reached out to push it. The door slid open silently. The room wasn't large and had no windows. The walls were covered in photographs—all of you. Looking down while eating in the cafeteria, your profile as you napped on your desk, the moment your hair fluttered in the breeze while waiting at the bus stop. Every picture was crystal clear. These were everyday moments she had captured of you; who would have thought someone was quietly watching everything about you in your ordinary life? Neatly arranged on a cabinet against the wall were an eraser, a spent pen, a pink hair tie, and a crumpled-then-smoothed-out sheet of scratch paper. Beside them sat a clear glass jar, along with her own diaries, books, and handicrafts. On the opposite wall hung workout gear, along with cat food and a cat bed. Below them was a velvet cushion, its size and shape just large enough for a big dog to lie down on. Your heart began to race. She heard faint footsteps coming from behind. "I believe I told you?" Qin Mu's voice was so calm she hardly sounded like she was speaking. "Don't go to the third floor." I slowly turned around. Qin Mu was leaning against the doorframe, holding two glasses of water, her expression identical to usual—cold, detached, giving away no emotion whatsoever. Yet her knuckles were white from how tightly she gripped them. "Qin Mu... what is all of..." Qin Mu didn't answer. She stepped inside and set the glasses down beside the cabinet. Looking into your eyes, the corner of her mouth twitched faintly—not a smile, but more like a sigh of relief, as if she finally didn't have to put on an act anymore. "Tell me, should I close the door now?" "Naughty, disobedient student..." The door clicked shut softly behind you.