I'm Actually Panicking Because My Heart Doesn't Beat (GL) - Chapter 25

When Guan Xiaoxuan woke up, she was still lying in bed in her room.

Guazi, the fat cat, was looking down at her with a worried expression. The moment she opened her eyes, it raised a paw and gave her a solid smack on the face.

Guan Xiaoxuan: “……”

Ungrateful brat.

She lifted the chubby little cat off her, then glanced at the time on her nightstand—it was already past 6 a.m.

Her hand felt cold and clammy, and when she looked down, what she saw startled her.

In her hand was that human-skin mask—and all the things Bai Zhiqi had told her in the dream came rushing back.

It had sounded unbelievable, but seeing the item in her hand made it feel all too real.

So ghosts could really do this kind of thing?

Transfer objects through dreams?

Guan Xiaoxuan rubbed her face and stopped overthinking. As long as Bai Zhiqi didn’t pose a threat to her, she figured she could still trust her… or rather, trust this ghost.

After a quick wash in the bathroom, Guan Xiaoxuan stared at the mask in her hand.

Just like in the dream, it was cold, sticky, and thin—almost like touching pigskin.

She looked into the mirror, took a deep breath, and followed the method Bai Zhiqi had taught her—pressing the mask to her face like a facial sheet mask.

Honestly, it felt very strange.

As soon as the mask touched her skin, it began to adjust and attach itself automatically, seeking out the right position without her needing to move it.

Guan Xiaoxuan closed her eyes and started imagining the face she wanted. In the mirror—though she couldn’t see it herself—her facial bones and muscles began shifting under the mask like thousands of tiny worms crawling beneath her skin.

It took her a while to get used to wearing it for the first time, but eventually, she managed to craft a face she was satisfied with.

The face in the mirror didn’t look like her at all anymore. The new face had slim, average features—narrow eyes, messy brows, a flat nose, and thin, unremarkable lips.

Altogether, it was the kind of face you’d forget the second you looked away. Completely average, no distinguishing features whatsoever.

She studied the reflection carefully and touched her face. The mask fit so well and felt so breathable, it was as if it had always been her real face.

According to Bai Zhiqi, this mask had a memory function. Once a face was set, it could be switched on in just three seconds. Super convenient.

Next, Guan Xiaoxuan adjusted her height and body shape slightly, making herself look even more average—not tall, not short, not skinny, not fat. Just totally forgettable.

After crafting this “nobody” disguise, her curiosity got the better of her.

Could she transform into Xing Tianqing?

Honestly, she really did think Xing Tianqing was stunning—a bold, gorgeous woman. Whenever she wore her black trench coat, she looked like she walked with the wind. Cool and beautiful.

In just three seconds, the mask transformed, and Guan Xiaoxuan stared in shock at the mirror. Now Xing Tianqing’s face was looking back at her… but wearing her pajamas.

It was just as shocking as when she had first woken up with the mask in her hand.

Incredible.

She leaned in close to the mirror, and “Xing Tianqing” leaned in too.

For a second, it felt like the real Xing Tianqing was standing right in front of her. Guan Xiaoxuan felt a little awkward, but forced herself to keep looking and even smiled at the reflection.

The reflection smiled back.

Thump—

Her heart suddenly started pounding. She quickly pulled away from the mirror and ripped the mask off her face.

Xing Tianqing’s image disappeared, leaving behind a red-faced Guan Xiaoxuan, blushing like a boiled shrimp.

She slapped her cheeks and splashed some water on her face, shaking off the strange thoughts in her head. Then she looked back at the mask.

This thing… might turn out to be more useful than she’d expected.

She figured she should find a box to store it—who knows when she might need it again?

The next few days passed by quietly. It was as if what happened with Cheng Yi hadn’t affected Guan Xiaoxuan at all. She even started to get used to campus life again.

“Xiaoxuan!”

Zhang Wen came running over from the back of the classroom, holding her textbooks. She plopped down next to Guan Xiaoxuan and, noticing her glued to her phone, asked, “What are you always looking at? You’ve been on your phone nonstop lately.”

“I’m looking for part-time jobs.” Guan Xiaoxuan put away her phone and glanced at Zhang Wen, asking curiously, “What’s up with you today?”

After her creepy experience in the girls’ dorm, Zhang Wen fell sick and had a fever for two or three days. She’d only just returned to class recently, but she looked a lot better.

Guan Xiaoxuan had told her not to talk about what happened, and luckily Zhang Wen was very obedient. Plus, she had signed a confidentiality agreement—she probably hadn’t even told her own parents.

“I’m feeling much better today, so I thought I’d ask you out for a little shopping trip,” Zhang Wen said with a bright smile, scooting closer. “I never got the chance to properly thank you for saving my life. Since we don’t have many classes today, let’s go out tonight—I’ll treat you to dinner.”

Guan Xiaoxuan smiled. “You don’t need to be so formal. I would’ve helped any classmate in that situation.”

By now, Guan Xiaoxuan had slowly come to terms with the fact that she wouldn’t be leaving this world anytime soon. She needed to live well here—and that meant making a few real friends. Zhang Wen was definitely one of them.

“Even so, I insist on treating you,” Zhang Wen said firmly. “Otherwise, I’d feel guilty.”

“Alright,” Guan Xiaoxuan agreed. “I was thinking of finding a part-time job anyway. Let’s check out the mall later.”

Zhang Wen nodded excitedly, then asked curiously, “Xiaoxuan, why are you looking for a part-time job all of a sudden? Is your family struggling financially?”

Zhang Wen herself wasn’t rich—just from a typical middle-class family. Her parents gave her a slightly more generous allowance than most, so she lived pretty comfortably. Naturally, she didn’t quite understand why Guan Xiaoxuan needed to work.

In her mind, only students with financial difficulties needed part-time jobs.

“I just find it boring to stay home after school,” Guan Xiaoxuan replied. “You know I don’t have any family, just a cat. I either watch TV or read novels every night—it gets dull. A part-time job would at least help me buy a few extra treats for my furry little boss.”

“Well, in that case, I’ll help you look around for jobs when we go out tonight,” Zhang Wen said cheerfully. “You’re smart—you’ll definitely find something good.”

Guan Xiaoxuan smiled warmly. Ever since she saved Zhang Wen, the girl had treated her like a hero. Every day, she sent messages saying good morning and good night, constantly complimenting her, coming up with new ways to praise her without ever repeating herself.

It actually felt kind of nice to be appreciated. She just wondered how long Zhang Wen would keep it up.

That evening, after school, the two of them went to a nearby shopping district to look for part-time jobs.

But after walking around the whole place, they didn’t find anything suitable.

Most of the positions were full-time, or the hours didn’t fit their schedules. In the end, they just grabbed a casual dinner and called it a day.

On the bus ride home, Guan Xiaoxuan started wondering if she should open an online store or maybe set up a little street stall.

After all, in her previous life, she had been an adult. She knew plenty of ways to make money—it just depended on whether she wanted to do them or not.

Lost in thought, she reached home around 8 p.m.

As expected, there was another wet puddle outside her door. Droplets of water clung to the security door, just like before, making her sigh in frustration.

Click—

Just then, the door across the hall opened. Xing Tianqing stepped out, pulling on a black trench coat as she got ready to leave. When she spotted Guan Xiaoxuan, she paused for a moment and said, “You’re getting home late. Were you out with classmates?”

Guan Xiaoxuan blinked. She felt like Xing Tianqing was talking to her like a parent. “Yeah, just had dinner with a classmate. Are you heading out now, Captain Xing?”

“Mm-hmm,” Xing Tianqing pressed the elevator button. “There’s an urgent case we need to handle.”

“I see.” Guan Xiaoxuan touched the water on her door and turned to ask, “Captain Xing, what’s going on with my door? It’s always wet every few days. Did I attract something… weird?”

Xing Tianqing glanced at her, looked her up and down, then said, “Yeah, you did attract something unclean. I’ll explain more when I have time. But don’t worry—it can’t enter your apartment, and it won’t harm you.”

“But if my door keeps soaking in water, it’s going to break,” Guan Xiaoxuan said with a frown. “And then I’ll have to pay for a new one. Can’t you help me out? Aren’t you the professional here?”

Xing Tianqing chuckled. “We’ve got to prioritize urgent cases. Don’t worry—once I’m done with this, I’ll take care of your problem.”

Guan Xiaoxuan stared at her, unconvinced.

The elevator doors opened. Xing Tianqing sighed and said, “I promise, I’ll fix it this week, okay?”

“Okay,” Guan Xiaoxuan said. “But you’d better not brush me off again, Captain.”

Xing Tianqing gave her a small smile, nodded, and stepped into the elevator.

Watching her go, Guan Xiaoxuan let out a long sigh. She looked at her water-drenched door in distress before pulling out her keys and going inside.

Still, she decided to trust Xing Tianqing one more time. After all, she worked for an official organization and clearly had skills—it was better than trying to face things alone as an ordinary person.

Knowing that her issue might be resolved within the week gave her some peace of mind. She glanced at her chubby cat munching contentedly on its kibble and generously opened a can of gourmet cat food.

Consider it an early celebration.

The next morning, Guan Xiaoxuan had a full day of classes. As she ate breakfast and scrolled through her phone, a local trending topic caught her eye:

[Third Student Disappearance Reported in Xinglin City]