"What…?" Xue Lin thought she misheard because Puja's voice was faint.
Puja repeated in a faint voice, "Lin Tingfeng is dead."
But this time, Xue Lin heard properly. She opened her mouth and her lips trembled while saying, "…I thought his injury wasn't that serious." She had a mixed feeling about this. Her logic said that the society was better off without a guy like him but her emotional side was telling her that it wasn't something to be happy about.
Puja chuckled lifelessly and shook her head. "It's nothing to do with injury… He… was stabbed in the hospital. He was murdered."
"…What?!" That's not what Xue Lin expected. She was shocked. This news hit her harder than the news of him being dead.
"Someone had a grudge against him." Puja looked at her with teary eyes. Xue Lin could tell why her eyes were red and puffy now.
Puja continued, "Xiao Lin, do you know, no one ever slapped him and gave him a slight scratch. They didn't dare, they wouldn't dare. Not even the girls who were ruined because of him could lay a finger on him. He had money, and he bought off everything and everyone with money."
"But this time, he met you. You two had a fight. Right after that, he had a car accident. And then, he was stabbed to death." Puja looked so helpless that even Xue Lin started to feel bad. "Xiao Lin, everyone is blaming you now. They are saying that you cursed him."
Xue Lin truthfully said, "We had no personal animosity. Why would I do something like that to ruin us both? I'm not emotionally imbalanced." Even if Lin Tingfeng made her angry to death, she wouldn't curse him. Because she never curses people.
Puja slowly nodded, "Right… I believe that too. You cannot do it."
Xue Lin found her behavior suspicious. She was almost acting as her heart died. "Did you two have any close relationship? I didn't think you two were friends." She observed them at the reunion party. They didn't even look at each other.
Puja drank the whole glass of wine and asked for another glass. The bartender served her another glass. She took her time and Xue Lin gave her the time she needed. "Back in the school, he was my boyfriend… He was my first man… I gave him my virginity…"
"…" Xue Lin couldn't even remember exactly how many girls Lin Tingfeng went out with back in high school. "…Do you still…"
Puja tilted her head and replied, "I know I'm married and I didn't cheat on my husband either. It's just, first love is hard to forget."
Xue Lin is straightforward. She has a great fault in her character and that is – she is rude to those who have nothing to do with her. She doesn't care about them and doesn't feel like memorizing their names. She doesn't like Lin Tingfeng and has no emotional feelings for Puja. She knows that they will never help her when she is in a life threatening danger. She doesn't care if they are happy and sad. They never played any significant role in her life.
However, this time, she made an exception. She felt somewhat sad for Puja. She apologized from the bottom of her heart. "I'm sorry… but it's not me. I would never curse anyone over just a little fight."
Puja's grip on the glass tightened and said, "Though everyone thinks you are the culprit, I believe you. But, the killer left a message. He wrote the message with Lin Tingfeng's blood. He wrote – if anyone dares to go against Fa Xue Lin, they have to die."
Xue Lin's heart dropped. "…What on earth are you talking about…? Who would do something like that? Unless…" she thought of someone and her face paled. "Impossible…" She forgot to take a breath. 'He will kill anyone who goes against me! He only wants to trap me. There is no way he will be upset if someone hurts me… no way that will happen. I know him too well…'
Puja noticed Xue Lin's sudden change of tone and looked at her. Her vision was hazy but she could still see the nervousness on Xue Lin's face. She blinked twice to clear her vision and asked, "Xiao Lin…. Is there anyone you know who would do that?"
Xue Lin's hands were on the table. She clenched her fists and said, "Even if there is, there is no reason for that person to kill Tingfeng." Her body was shaking but she controlled herself. She was preparing to call him but she didn't think he would come to her. She is afraid she is not prepared to face him. 'But what if he starts to kill everyone in my class?' She didn't know what to do.
Puja sat straight and grasped Xue Lin's arms. She asked excitedly, "Have you already found out who it is?"
Xue Lin felt sick in her stomach. "…I think I know but I'm not sure." She was too nervous and emotional to think straight. She wanted to clear her head before taking a rash decision.
Puja looked at her for a while. She wanted to say something but hesitated. She carefully looked around. More people were coming into the bar and the bar was bustling. Thinking that the killer might hide among them gave her chills. She looked more nervous than Xue Lin. She licked her lips and drank another glass of wine. After that, she nudged Xue Lin, "It's not good to talk here. Let's go somewhere more private."
Xue Lin also thought that they shouldn't stay here any longer. "Good idea."
The girls stood up and went inside the private room guarded by two sturdy guards. In the room, there was another door. Puja opened the door and there was a dark corridor ahead of them.
Xue Lin asked, "Where are we going?"
Puja answered, "My chamber. I live here sometimes."
Xue Lin nodded and suddenly thought of something. "Hey, I'm just curious. But you said something like- he wrote the message with Lin Tingfeng's blood. How did you know that it was a 'He'?" After saying that, her legs paused. She was unable to move anymore. Chills ran down her spine.