I'm Actually Panicking Because My Heart Doesn't Beat (GL) - Chapter 17

At 3 a.m., Guan Xiaoxuan was half-asleep when she suddenly heard a noise. When she came to, she realized it was her phone ringing beside her pillow.

The ringtone was urgent, forcing her fully awake.

She turned slightly and fumbled for the phone. Just as she was about to answer, the call ended.

Zhang Wen?

Guan Xiaoxuan opened only one eye, noticing Zhang Wen had already called three times, and she hadn’t answered. Just as she was wondering what was wrong, the fourth call came through.

“Hello?”

Guan Xiaoxuan answered and put the phone to her ear. “Zhang Wen, what’s going on? Why are you calling so late at night?”

On the other end, Zhang Wen didn’t speak, only heavy, rapid breathing came through. The intense gasping snapped Guan Xiaoxuan fully awake.

She sat up sharply and switched on the bedside lamp.

The white light flooded the room, chasing away the darkness. Guazi, her cat, lifted a paw to cover its eyes, clearly annoyed at being disturbed.

The breathing continued through the phone, and Guan Xiaoxuan’s heart pounded. She dared not move or speak; the tense silence lasted several seconds.

Just as she was about to throw the phone away, Zhang Wen finally spoke.

“Xiaoxuan… huu…” Her voice was low and shaky. It sounded like she was about to cry but still whispered, “Help me… please help me…”

“What happened?” Guan Xiaoxuan’s scalp tingled. She asked urgently, “Where are you now?”

“I’m in the dorm building…” Zhang Wen clutched the phone and curled up, trying to hide in the dark. The phone’s light flickered on her face, revealing she was hiding in a storage room filled with messy junk.

She spoke in a quiet, frightened voice. “They… they’re all gone. I’m alone in the dorm building and I’m really scared…”

“Them?” Guan Xiaoxuan frowned. “Who? Shouldn’t you be asleep in the dorm this late? Why are you calling me?”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t listen to you. Tonight, I went with them to catch that faceless girl.”

Hearing this, Guan Xiaoxuan’s mind exploded. She immediately went on high alert.

“What’s wrong with you?!” she whispered, lowering her voice to avoid putting Zhang Wen in danger. “Didn’t I tell you this afternoon not to join their so-called operation? Why didn’t you listen?!”

“No, I really didn’t!” Zhang Wen sounded desperate, hugging the phone and crying. “I listened to you. I didn’t join that activity. I was just in the dorm asleep after lights out. But somehow, I had a confusing dream where I was wandering around the girls’ dorm with them. When I opened my eyes, it wasn’t a dream. I was really with them.”

Zhang Wen shivered and said fearfully, “I was so scared. I wanted to go back to my dorm, but that woman called Cheng Yi wouldn’t let me. She said if you’re alone, very bad things will happen. At first, I didn’t believe her, but… but…”

Zhang Wen started crying, “But I really can’t find my way back! Even though I’m still in the dorm building, I can’t get back! Xiaoxuan, please save me! I don’t want to die, boohoo…”

Guan Xiaoxuan listened quietly and her face darkened.

That woman called Cheng Yi really is suspicious!

“Zhang Wen, don’t be scared,” Guan Xiaoxuan comforted her over the phone. “Where exactly are you? Can you get out of the dorm?”

“I don’t know. This is our girls’ dorm, but I don’t recognize where I am…” Zhang Wen’s voice broke as she took heavy breaths, clearly terrified.

Guan Xiaoxuan glanced at the clock. It was 3 a.m., and almost all the lights outside were off. She told Zhang Wen to calm down before saying, “Don’t move around for now. I reported to the police this afternoon. They said a special department will handle this, so don’t be afraid.”

“Xiaoxuan, Xiaoxuan…” Zhang Wen sobbed softly. “Can you come to school to save me? I’m really scared.”

“What?” Guan Xiaoxuan was stunned.

Zhang Wen said, “All the other calls on my phone can’t get through. Only yours can. And that Cheng Yi said you’re special — chosen by the Red Lady — so only you can come save me.”

Guan Xiaoxuan’s heart skipped a beat.

How does Zhang Wen know about the ‘Red Lady’? Guan Xiaoxuan hadn’t told anyone about that. How did Zhang Wen know? And how did Cheng Yi know?

Also, it’s strange Zhang Wen called Guan Xiaoxuan asking for rescue. From every angle, Guan Xiaoxuan was just an ordinary person. Who gave Zhang Wen the idea that Guan Xiaoxuan could save her?

Was it Cheng Yi? Or someone else?

Most importantly, Zhang Wen just said none of her other calls go through — only Guan Xiaoxuan’s does.

That’s not normal.

Even if something strange is happening at the girls’ dorm, why can only Guan Xiaoxuan be reached?

Is this really Zhang Wen?

Guan Xiaoxuan suddenly felt icy all over. She listened to the heavy breathing on the other end, still panicked.

“Zhang Wen, I’m just an ordinary person. Have you thought about what happens if I go there and die too?”

“…Xiaoxuan.”

Guan Xiaoxuan hesitated. Whether the person on the phone was the real Zhang Wen or not, she couldn’t agree.

In some cases, once you agree to something, it forms a contract that could lead to irreversible consequences.

Like the wishes made to the Red Lady — though just spoken promises, they are invisible contracts.

Zhang Wen was quietly sobbing now. She didn’t argue but said with red-rimmed eyes, “I… I understand. Sorry, Xiaoxuan. I shouldn’t have made you risk yourself for me…”

Guan Xiaoxuan sighed and was silent for a long moment before saying, “Look around carefully. If there’s nothing dangerous, don’t move. The official team will be here soon to rescue you. Don’t run off. Dawn is coming, and once it’s daylight, everything will be fine.”

“Okay…” Zhang Wen sniffled, crying softly. “Can you call the police again for me? I’m really scared — scared of that faceless girl and Cheng Yi and the others. Please, you have to call the police for me.”

Guan Xiaoxuan agreed. “Alright, I’ll call the police first. After that, I’ll call you back.”

“Boohoo, you have to call me back! I’m in a storage room near the stairs on the second floor. Please have the police come save me…”

Hearing Zhang Wen’s sobs, Guan Xiaoxuan steeled herself and hung up, then called the police again.