Chapter 385: Chapter 385: The Strange Room
The front building’s renovation was entirely in the style of the Republican era: the walls were adorned with wooden wainscoting, and the staircase bannister was intricately carved with patterns, winding upwards in a twisty path.
The entire building was decorated in old-fashioned furnishings, giving off an air of solemnity while enhancing the coldness and darkness in the midst of winter.
Sheng Tang followed the staircase up and saw her younger brother standing on the south side of the second floor. He first reached out to knock on the door softly and spoke in a low voice, "Sis?"
There was no response.
Then, he gently pressed his ear against the door.
After listening for a while, he raised his hand, hesitating whether to turn the doorknob directly or knock again.
Sheng Tang’s voice came from behind him, "Zong?"
Sheng Zong was thoroughly startled.
He thought Sheng Tang was in the room; hearing her voice suddenly behind him nearly scared him out of his wits.
"Sis, you scared me to death!" he said, patting his chest.
Sheng Tang walked over, frowning slightly, "What are you doing? It’s almost time for dinner."
Sheng Zong looked confused, "Weren’t you inside? Sheng Qiao said you were here and told me to find you."
Sheng Tang shook her head.
Sheng Zong seemed even more puzzled, "Why would she lie to me?"
Sheng Tang’s brows furrowed. She looked at the door in front of her and asked Sheng Zong, "What is this place?"
Sheng Zong wasn’t very sure either.
The guest room he stayed in last time wasn’t this one.
"A guest room, I guess?" he speculated, "I think all the rooms upstairs here are guest rooms."
Sheng Tang sensed something was off.
She thought for a moment and reached out to turn the doorknob.
The door was locked from the inside and didn’t budge. A slight heaviness settled in her heart as an ominous feeling crept up.
Sheng Zong leaned over, "Can’t open it?"
He tried as well.
The lock didn’t move at all; it was indeed locked from the inside.
"Zong, Tangtang?" Professor Sheng’s voice echoed from downstairs.
It was probably time for dinner.
Sheng Zong assumed it was just a prank by Sheng Qiao and grabbed his sister’s hand, "Let’s go, time to eat."
But Sheng Tang didn’t move.
She glanced around and walked over to open the door to the room opposite.
The door opened to reveal a very ordinary guest room.
She opened another door.
Professor Sheng’s voice downstairs stopped, and Sheng Zong’s phone rang.
Sheng Zong’s phone was on vibrate, so it wasn’t heard outside. Holding his phone, he looked at Sheng Tang, unsure whether to answer, "Sis?"
Sheng Tang ignored him and opened all the doors on the second floor.
The doors in the north wing were all accessible, and all were guest rooms; but in the south wing, only one utility room could be opened, all the others were locked.
Her phone in her pocket rang as well.
She didn’t answer, instead standing there in silence.
After the call hung up, Sheng Zong’s phone started ringing again.
Knowing their parents were probably frantic, Sheng Zong ignored Sheng Tang and answered, "Dad."
"Zong, where are you two?" Professor Sheng’s voice was loud, indicating his panic.
Sheng Zong quickly lied, "We wanted to get some bubble tea, we’re outside, heading back now."
"Hurry up, dinner’s ready!" Professor Sheng scolded, "Be quick, how long till you get here?"
"Five minutes tops, we’re already at the front gate," Sheng Zong lied casually.
Meanwhile, Sheng Tang stood in the corridor, lost in thought.
She took out her phone, switched it to airplane mode to avoid any sudden calls, then opened the camera app and switched to video mode.
She placed her phone behind a painting on the wall, leaving only the camera exposed.
The camera was aimed directly at the door of room number four in the south wing.
The painting’s frame was silver, matching Sheng Tang’s phone, making it less noticeable.
"Sis, what are you doing?" Sheng Zong was utterly perplexed.