I'm Actually Panicking Because My Heart Doesn't Beat (GL) - Chapter 54

The route of Bus 444 itself isn’t fixed. It might not show up on this street now, but who knows—it could appear later. It’s hard to say for sure.

But Qiu Nan’s words made Guan Xiaoxuan curious.

While eating noodles, she wondered aloud, “Why do you say that? Do you know something?”

Qiu Nan bit into a clove of garlic and said, “This stuff is all metaphysics—you might not really believe it. But I think when things reach an extreme, they swing the other way. Today on this street, Bus 444 either won’t show up at all, or if it does, we’ll run into it.”

“But isn’t the whole reason we’re here this time because of that bus?” Guan Xiaoxuan thought for a moment, then asked Qiu Nan, “Qiu Nan, if Bus 444 really stopped right in front of us, would we get on or not?”

“Of course we’d get on,” Qiu Nan said. “Isn’t that our mission? No matter how dangerous or strange it is, we have to step up.”

Guan Xiaoxuan said “Oh,” and lowered her head to eat.

Seeing her worried, Qiu Nan said, “Don’t stress too much. I’ve got some life-saving items on me. Even if we can’t get rid of the weird stuff, I can still get you out safely.”

Guan Xiaoxuan looked up at her, thought for a moment, then asked, “Did the team know you had that ability when they paired me with you?”

Qiu Nan smiled. “Our team really treats you special.”

Special?

Guan Xiaoxuan wasn’t sure how to put it. Xing Tianqing was indeed good to her. When they first met, she was scared, but after spending more time with him, she realized Xing Tianqing really cared.

For example, the first time she had shooting class and was sore all over, Xing Tianqing dropped everything to take her to the hospital.

Most people wouldn’t be that kind.

Guan Xiaoxuan poked her noodles with chopsticks, picked one up, and said, “Maybe he thinks I’m the newbie. You all just take good care of me.”

Qiu Nan shook her head and smiled. “You really don’t get the team’s way of thinking.”

Guan Xiaoxuan didn’t dare say more, afraid Qiu Nan might say something important, so she quickly finished her noodles and went with Qiu Nan back to the bus stop.

After the warm noodles, standing in the cold wind didn’t feel so bad. The clock was almost midnight.

Qiu Nan asked Guan Xiaoxuan, “Have you got your earpiece on? Listen to the team leader’s orders later.”

Guan Xiaoxuan nodded and took the earpiece from her pocket, putting it on.

As soon as she did, she heard Xing Tianqing’s voice adjusting personnel positions. Hearing that familiar tone, Guan Xiaoxuan couldn’t help but think back to what Qiu Nan said—that Xing Tianqing treats her specially.

Special?

She got a little lost in thought, listening to the familiar voice like he was right there whispering in her ear.

It was a strange feeling. Guan Xiaoxuan could almost see Xing Tianqing’s expression in her mind.

The way he smiled, standing in front of her in his black coat.

Everything was clear as day.

“One minute left,” Xing Tianqing said. “Get ready.”

Guan Xiaoxuan quickly pushed away her wandering thoughts, rubbed her cheek, and focused.

In the briefing room, Xing Tianqing had already told everyone that if they encounter uncontrollable weirdness, they must get out immediately—no casualties allowed.

Bus 444 could wait, but life only happens once.

As time passed, Guan Xiaoxuan’s heart started racing. She looked at the time on her phone and listened to Xing Tianqing counting down.

When it hit midnight, she suddenly felt the air get colder.

It was a subtle feeling. She turned to Qiu Nan and quietly asked, “Qiu Nan, did you feel it got cold all of a sudden?”

Qiu Nan turned to look at her. Before she could say anything, Guan Xiaoxuan saw Qiu Nan’s brow furrow and her face darken.

Her heart skipped a beat. She thought, “No way I’m that unlucky…” and followed Qiu Nan’s gaze to look behind her.

On the once-empty street, a bus had appeared. It was hard to see clearly, but the glowing sign said: [Route 444].

“Reporting to the team: Bus 444 has appeared near Squad 3,” Qiu Nan whispered into her earpiece. “Please advise.”

Guan Xiaoxuan’s heart suddenly pounded faster. She didn’t hear Xing Tianqing’s voice, so she and Qiu Nan exchanged a look. Qiu Nan repeated quietly, “Team, please advise!”

“Received.”

Xing Tianqing’s voice came through the earpiece, sounding like he was hesitating. After a two-second pause, he gave the order: “Qiu Nan, Guan Xiaoxuan, prepare to board. Stay in contact and be careful.”

His last words, “Be careful,” were spoken softly, almost like a private warning.

Guan Xiaoxuan and Qiu Nan both whispered back, “Got it.”

The bus rolled slowly toward the stop, shaking a bit as it came.

The closer it got, the more Guan Xiaoxuan felt that cold, damp chill creeping up—like being thrown into icy water.

Honestly, she never expected to encounter Bus 444 on her first mission. The odds were one in seven, and it just dropped right on her head.

But now the bus was here. Running wasn’t an option—she had to face it head-on.

She double-checked her gear—her protective charm and glass beads were safely tucked inside her coat pocket, and her pistol at the small of her back was ready.

Qiu Nan did the same, and they exchanged a nod, confirming everything was in order.

“Ssshh—”

Bus 444 pulled up steadily to the stop. Qiu Nan stood in front of Guan Xiaoxuan, signaling her to board first.

After Qiu Nan got on, she took a coin from her pocket and dropped it into the fare box. Guan Xiaoxuan followed, dropping her coin in as well.

Just as Guan Xiaoxuan started to move forward, she noticed the driver staring at her.

The driver looked very experienced, wearing a cap that showed his thinning hair beneath.

His face was a sickly dark purple, and his wide eyes gave off an oppressive feeling.

Even Guan Xiaoxuan, who had seen many strange things, was startled.

But then she noticed cold sweat on the driver’s forehead. He looked like he wanted to say something but held back, mouthing three words: “Get off quickly.”

Guan Xiaoxuan was stunned. Why would a driver of a strange bus silently warn her to get off, as if the bus wasn’t safe?

Before she could react more, the bus doors slammed shut with a bang.

With no way to get off, Guan Xiaoxuan pulled her gaze away and followed Qiu Nan inside.

The driver started the engine, and the old bus slowly pulled away.

There were still plenty of empty seats, but quite a few passengers too.

Guan Xiaoxuan looked around. Across from her, two empty seats faced each other. The middle row held four people: a young girl, a woman holding a child, a young man in a suit, and an elderly man.

Behind them sat five more: a bespectacled young man, a guy with headphones, a man dressed in black with a black mask, a middle-aged woman holding a vegetable basket, and a woman wearing a hat with a ponytail.

Guan Xiaoxuan immediately recognized the woman with the ponytail—she was dressed like Chen Man.

She walked over to Qiu Nan and gave her a subtle look.

Qiu Nan caught the signal, turned to look at the woman with the hat, grabbed the overhead strap, and slightly tilted her body toward Guan Xiaoxuan, asking quietly, “Is that her?”

Guan Xiaoxuan nodded softly.

The bus was quiet. The old vehicle rocked slowly, giving a relaxed feeling—but on this Bus 444, the atmosphere was heavy and oppressive.

It was like everyone onboard was a resentful lost soul. Though they didn’t look directly at Qiu Nan or Guan Xiaoxuan, they were already radiating a poisonous hatred, trying to consume the two new passengers.

Qiu Nan raised her collar and quietly reported to Xing Tianqing.

“Received,” Xing Tianqing replied. “Guan Xiaoxuan, try to make contact with the victim. Qiu Nan, cover her.”

“Understood.”

Guan Xiaoxuan glanced at Qiu Nan, took a deep breath, and walked over to the woman.

As she moved, several people turned to look at her. She even felt a strong gaze burning into her back.

She didn’t dare look back and forced herself to reach the woman, whispering, “May I sit here?”

The woman revealed one eye from beneath her hat—it was really Chen Man.

Chen Man nodded, motioning for Guan Xiaoxuan to sit, then quietly slipped something into her hand.

It was small, soft to the touch—like a… pair of earplugs?

Chen Man tapped her pinky finger against hers, then pointed to her ear, signaling Guan Xiaoxuan to put on the device.

Qiu Nan kept a cautious eye on the surroundings but didn’t notice the small exchange between Chen Man and Guan Xiaoxuan. Her hand rested in her pocket, holding the talisman she had prepared.

Guan Xiaoxuan lowered her head and, pretending to scratch it, slipped the earplug into her other ear.

As soon as she finished, she heard Chen Man’s voice.

Chen Man: [Guan Xiaoxuan, can you hear me?]

Guan Xiaoxuan widened her eyes slightly, turned her head to look at Chen Man, but didn’t dare say anything out loud.

Chen Man kept her head down and continued, [This is a special device that lets us communicate by thought within a certain range. You just have to think hard about speaking, and I’ll hear you.]

Guan Xiaoxuan frowned and tried it out, finally managing to send a faint voice.

[Is this how you use it?] Guan Xiaoxuan said with a furrowed brow. [Can you hear me?]

[I can hear you.] Chen Man sounded relieved. She said, [Thank goodness. When I saw you get on the bus, I was so scared. I didn’t expect you’d really come to rescue me!]

Guan Xiaoxuan thought the device was pretty useful and didn’t respond to Chen Man’s excitement. Instead, she said, [Do you have more of these? Make one for my teammate too.]