I'm Actually Panicking Because My Heart Doesn't Beat (GL) - Chapter 77

Not long ago, Guan Xiaoxuan was still worried about not having a weapon. She had talked with Bai Zhiqi about possibly exchanging points at the Paranormal Bureau’s rewards center to get a weapon, but no one had been clear about what kind of weapon it would be or how powerful.

At that time, no one really knew what special items Guan Xiaoxuan could get from the Paranormal Bureau, so Bai Zhiqi didn’t make any definite promises.

This time, when Guan Xiaoxuan pulled out the Seven-Star Begonia, Bai Zhiqi’s eyes lit up.

“This weapon is really beautiful,” Bai Zhiqi said as she took the Seven-Star Begonia and examined it closely. “What’s it called?”

“Seven-Star Begonia,” Guan Xiaoxuan answered. “It’s from a new batch of exchange items, and this weapon was included.”

Guan Xiaoxuan looked at the gun in Bai Zhiqi’s hands and said, “I feel like I have a special connection with this weapon. I was the first person to handle it when it arrived, and also the first one to exchange for it.”

Bai Zhiqi looked at the weapon with satisfaction. “Definitely a good weapon.”

Then Bai Zhiqi walked quickly to the side and opened a cabinet door. Guan Xiaoxuan saw that inside was a half-length mirror.

“I can help you make a copy of the Seven-Star Begonia, but it’ll take a full day and night,” Bai Zhiqi said as she placed Guan Xiaoxuan’s weapon inside the cabinet and closed the door. “Come find me here at this time tomorrow, and I’ll give you an identical weapon.”

Back when Guan Xiaoxuan didn’t have a weapon, Bai Zhiqi had promised to give her one because her ability was connected to mirrors. She could use mirrors to create exact copies of things.

These copies only have 70% of the original item’s power, but even at 70%, that’s still very good for Guan Xiaoxuan.

Besides, the copies are free.

Bai Zhiqi agreed to help Guan Xiaoxuan with this, and Guan Xiaoxuan needed to spend points to exchange for a weapon she was happy with. For now, the Seven-Star Begonia was her choice.

After leaving the girls’ dormitory, Guan Xiaoxuan first went to the department head to cancel her leave, then spent the day teaching classes.

During this time, Guan Xiaoxuan chatted briefly with Zhang Wen, and only then did she realize that she hadn’t experienced a peaceful life like this for a long time. Lately, she had been running back and forth between the real world and the inner world, which left her physically and mentally exhausted.

By evening, Xing Tianqing still seemed busy. He only had a quick meeting with Guan Xiaoxuan before leaving, without asking how she was doing or mentioning the Seven-Star Begonia sword that was still in her hands.

But it was probably for the best that he didn’t bring it up—Guan Xiaoxuan really wasn’t ready to hand it over yet.

Around 11 p.m., the night was completely silent, with no one in the residential area. Guan Xiaoxuan wrapped herself in a dark coat, went downstairs, and walked toward the north gate.

The community where Guan Xiaoxuan rented was quite lively—convenient for going to the mall or the subway—but the north gate area had always been an empty lot. She’d heard the developer stopped building there for various reasons, just holding onto the land, waiting for its value to rise.

There used to be a bus stop at the north gate, but after the bus routes changed, the stop was abandoned.

Guan Xiaoxuan left the neighborhood and arrived at the deserted bus stop around 11:50 p.m. The bus 444 was supposed to arrive in ten minutes, according to the driver she had arranged with. She wasn’t in a hurry—these days, she was more confident and knew how to protect herself.

Besides, she was sure Song Yi was obedient—though the way he looked at her with so much admiration made her a bit embarrassed.

After waiting ten minutes, she suddenly felt a cold breeze. Turning around, she saw the shadow of a bus appear on the empty road, wobbling as it approached. The display showed [Route 444].

Hiss—

The bus 444 stopped right in front of her. Guan Xiaoxuan glanced inside and saw that besides the driver, there was nothing strange. The hole left behind from the last time the man in black kicked Qiu Nan out was gone, and the bus looked brand new.

Without hesitation, she stepped onto the bus.

She didn’t go to the back—just sat in the seat behind the driver since it was just the two of them. She asked, “Driver, did you send someone to find me?”

The driver, still looking deathly pale, had a calmer expression now, seeming much more at ease than before.

He drove steadily and said, “Yes, it was me. I wanted to see you and thank you. If not for you, the passengers and I would still be wandering between worlds, reliving the moment before death again and again.”

He continued, “Because of your help, the passengers have all reincarnated. They’ll likely be born into good families next time.”

Guan Xiaoxuan held onto the pole, curious. “What about you? Why are you still here? Do you need me to help with something?”

The driver shook his head. “I don’t need help. I’ve been a bus driver all my life and can’t do anything else. Now that the passengers are gone, I have nothing left to do. I just wanted to do something for you.”

Then he glanced at Guan Xiaoxuan’s shadow, shivering slightly. “May I… be your personal driver?”

Guan Xiaoxuan was taken aback.

She’d been an ordinary city girl all her life. She didn’t even take taxis often, let alone have a personal driver. Suddenly hearing this from him made her feel awkward.

“I don’t think I need a car… I usually take shared bikes or public transport,” she started to refuse. The bus 444 was a well-known urban legend in Xinglin City—having it as a personal ride seemed a bit over the top.

But the driver looked so lonely and said, “I’m useless now. I wander between the real world and the inner world like a lost ghost. If you accept me, the bus 444 and I will follow your orders anytime.”

Guan Xiaoxuan wanted to say something, but he quickly added, “You can treat me as a tool to get around. It’s dangerous for girls to go out alone at night, and I can keep you safe.”

Seeing her hesitate, he softened his tone: “Please accept me. I’m sure one day you’ll find me useful.”

With his humble expression, Guan Xiaoxuan found it hard to say no. Besides, he was right—though she used shared bikes during the day, it wasn’t convenient late at night. And this bus could freely travel the inner world, which was a rare ability. She felt tempted.

“All right then,” she agreed, “You can just do your own thing normally, and I’ll call you when I need you.”

The driver was delighted and explained the bus’s operating hours.

Because it was a strange bus, it couldn’t appear in the city during the day. So Guan Xiaoxuan could only use it between midnight and 4 a.m. During this time, the bus 444 could freely drive in the real world.

There were time limits in the real world, but not in the inner world.

In the inner world, no matter where Guan Xiaoxuan called it from, the bus 444 would come immediately and roam freely.

She figured midnight to 4 a.m. was a bit inconvenient, but still usable—and since the bus had great advantages in the inner world, she didn’t object.

“How do I call you if I want a ride?” she asked.

The driver’s tone was cheerful: “Just open any ride-hailing app and type ‘bus 444’ as the destination. I’ll show up soon.”

“That works even in the inner world?” she asked, amazed.

“Yes. Even without signal, because the way you call me isn’t through the real world but through our contract.”

“Contract…”

Listening to him, Guan Xiaoxuan nodded. She knew contracts were common with strange beings, and she often made verbal agreements with them.

Although she wasn’t sure how useful it really was yet, it seemed convenient.

Looking out at the peaceful night and the few cars on the road, her gaze finally fell on her own shadow.

Since Song Yi became her ‘weapon,’ she hadn’t actually used him and didn’t know how he would protect her.

Maybe she should test it out today. She also had something she wanted to see.

“Driver, what should I call you?”

“My last name is Wang. Just call me Driver Wang.”

“Okay, Driver Wang.”

Guan Xiaoxuan asked, “Do you know how to get to the abandoned Sixth Hospital? It used to be a psychiatric hospital but closed after a lot of incidents.”

Driver Wang nodded. “I know it. Are you going there?”

“Yes,” Guan Xiaoxuan replied seriously. “I want to see something there.”

Driver Wang steered the bus and said, “Got it. I’ll take you there now.”

The bus 444 made a U-turn and headed toward the Sixth Hospital.

Guan Xiaoxuan thought having a private ride wasn’t so bad—at least she wouldn’t have to stand in the cold late at night anymore. The bus looked spacious too—maybe it could even carry a few more people in the future.

Soon, Driver Wang dropped Guan Xiaoxuan off at the bus stop outside the Sixth Hospital.

He said, “I can’t stay here long. It wouldn’t be good if someone saw me. If you finish and need a ride, just call me.”

Guan Xiaoxuan thanked him and got off.

Watching the bus 444 disappear from sight, she stepped into the pitch-black hospital.

The abandoned hospital was as eerie as ever. After a few steps, she felt something watching her and could faintly hear strange cries of women.

But Guan Xiaoxuan wasn’t afraid. She called out, “Song Yi, come out. It’s time to work.”