"So you admit it?" Ning Wei sneered.
Bai Yang stared at her, then fell silent. She was afraid others were hiding behind the door, eavesdropping.
"You're quite alert," Ning Wei guessed Bai Yang's thoughts.
"Don't worry, they've all gone back to sleep. You're disappearing completely tomorrow anyway, so why not tell me how you died and how you ended up on that bus?"
Bai Yang stiffened her neck, refusing to speak, her face a mask of defiance.
Ning Wei didn't mind. She lay down on the bed. "If you don't want to talk, fine. Enjoy your last night. Goodnight."
Silence filled the room, broken only by Ning Wei's steady breathing.
Bai Yang wished she could strangle Ning Wei right there and then. But she had missed her chance to strike tonight, and now she was powerless.
Regardless, Bai Yang would never reveal her secrets to Ning Wei.
She wanted Ning Wei to die with this unanswered question in the eerie station. She firmly believed no one could ever leave the bus alive!
As dawn broke, the wall clock chimed punctually.
Ning Wei glanced at Bai Yang, who sat lost in thought on the sofa, then headed downstairs with her teammates without a backward glance.
Wu Qing was not late today. She stood at the head of the dining table, her head covered by a large black hat.
"Wu Qing is here unusually early today," Song Zhi murmured to Mei Nan.
Mei Nan agreed, nodding softly in response.
The group quickly descended the stairs, and Bai Yang followed silently.
Once everyone was seated, Wu Qing gently lifted her hat, revealing a face that took everyone's breath away.
"This... is this still the... housekeeper?" a man's pupils dilated in disbelief. He pinched the person next to him hard.
The pain in his arm convinced him of the reality. So astonished was he that his gaze remained fixed on Wu Qing, momentarily forgetting that this was the person they had once feared.
It wasn't just this man; even Ning Wei looked astonished. Clearly, she hadn't anticipated such a dramatic transformation in Wu Qing overnight.
Gone was the witch-like appearance of before, replaced by a stunning beauty with fair skin and rosy lips.
Her previously sparse hair was now replaced by cascading black curls, like seaweed. Her fingers, not hidden by the wide sleeves of her robe, were slender and delicate, her nails a soft pink that invited a touch.
Wu Qing held a vibrant, dewy flower in her hand. Ning Wei recognized it instantly; it was the withered flower that had sat on Wu Qing's desk.
So it was true, just as she had suspected, the flower represented Wu Qing.
Wu Qing reveled in their stunned gazes, tilting her head slightly, exuding an alluring, veiled beauty.
"As expected, seeing someone beautiful makes you lose your appetite," Ning Wei suddenly said, shattering the harmonious atmosphere of admiration.
Wu Qing lightly tapped her own head, her movements exaggeratedly demure, accompanied by a sudden, high-pitched voice. "Oh dear, how silly of me! I forgot to have the maids serve the guests."
Ning Wei watched her performance calmly. She could understand; having finally regained her former beauty, a little affectation was acceptable.
As for the four men, they seemed particularly taken with Wu Qing's act.
One of them quickly chimed in, "It's alright, it's alright, we're not that hungry."
Mei Nan and Song Zhi, while not as overtly impressed as the other four men, didn't exhibit the same resistance as the girls like Tang Tang.
Wu Qing ceased speaking, smiled, and clapped her hands. Several maids emerged, carrying the most exquisite meal they had ever seen.
One particularly beautiful maid walked forward, effortlessly lifting a heavy stool and placing it steadily behind Wu Qing.
Wu Qing then drew aside her black robe, resembling a blooming rose, and gracefully sat upon the stool.
She said somewhat shyly, "This is everyone's last meal here. As your housekeeper, would I have the honor of joining you for this final repast?"
Although she was asking, she had already sat down, and the maid had brought the breakfast. No one could possibly say no.
Seeing no one respond, Wu Qing continued, "Since everyone has no objections, shall we begin our meal now? May we?"
Ning Wei raised her hand, signaling, "I have something to say."
Everyone turned to look at her, Bai Yang being the most anxious.
This was her last chance to catch the ghost. If Ning Wei spoke her name, she would vanish forever.
Thinking of this, Bai Yang was consumed by regret. If only she had dealt with Ning Wei last night, even at the risk of exposing herself to the werewolves!
But there was no turning back time. Bai Yang slumped, looking like a defeated rooster, her spirit depleted.
The others watched Ning Wei with curiosity and anticipation, guessing she was about to name the ghost.
However, what Ning Wei said next shocked everyone. She was indeed pointing to a ghost, but not Bai Yang; she identified another female ghost.
"Have you forgotten something important?" Tang Tang frantically gestured at her.
Ning Wei shook her head gently, met Wu Qing's gaze, and said firmly, "I accuse her of being the ghost!"
Wu Qing smiled softly. "Does anyone object?"
No one spoke. Wu Qing raised her pale wrist, and all eyes were drawn to her delicate hand. Then, with a single snap of her fingers, the female ghost Ning Wei had identified vanished instantly, leaving no trace behind.
"Can we begin our meal now?" Wu Qing asked Ning Wei, having resolved the ghost issue.
Ning Wei nodded and was the first to pick up a piece of toast, eating it with relish.
Wu Qing followed, and then the others gradually began to dine.
Wu Qing had called it their last meal, but after they had finished eating, they still found no bus tickets on their person.
"Excuse me, when can we leave?" one of the men couldn't help but ask Wu Qing.
Wu Qing explained, "Just one more little game. If you win, the bus will come to pick you up immediately. If you lose, you will stay here with me forever."
She then looked at the remaining guests. "This batch of guests is truly wonderful. I hope you will stay, so I will have even more beautiful maids and servants to boss around."
Everyone suddenly understood. The maids who had been serving them drinks and meals were once guests themselves. They had simply lost their game and were thus trapped here forever.
Ning Wei, however, cast a surprised glance at Wu Qing. Based on what she said, it was clear Wu Qing could not leave this place.
Then, had Wu Qing been secretly helping her all along, only to regain her former beauty?
Ning Wei found this notion hard to comprehend. A pretty face had managed to control Wu Qing.