After they returned to girls' dormitory 441, superficially, everything looked the same as before, except for the absence of Qin Yanping.
In reality, everyone's mood had changed significantly, becoming older and more desolate.
This was particularly evident in Tao Bing'er.
Although she often teased Qin Yanping, she had the closest relationship with her, not only because they shared bunk beds but also because they shared similar personalities and hobbies.
Qin Yanping enjoyed listening to music, eating snacks, and watching romance dramas, and so did she.
From another perspective, their mental ages were very similar, which was why they were able to quickly gel and become harmonious with each other.
Fang Yuan was too quiet, Xu Zhaodi too honest and straightforward, and Su Ya too aloof. Only Qin Yanping, like Tao Bing'er, was lively, playful, petite, and adorable. The biggest difference between them was that one was bolder and more outgoing, while the other was more timid and introverted.
After returning to Girls' Dorm 441, Tao Bing'er felt a sense of loss and helplessness. With Qin Yanping gone, she felt an insurmountable barrier between her and the other three girls. She could never find the unrestrained, heartfelt feeling she had with her. As the ancients said, "Birds of a feather flock together." Sometimes, the bond between people comes down to personalities.
So, in a sense, Tao Bing'er was the most pained among the girls by Qin Yanping's death. She missed Qin Yanping and the days of their friendship, which was why she insisted on returning to Girls' Dorm 441.
However, time passed, things changed, and Girls' Dorm 441 was no longer the warm little nest it once was. It now seemed much colder to them, a chill they could sense even in broad daylight.
This feeling was strange, something they could feel but couldn't articulate.
Even if you used a thermometer, you couldn't detect that chill, but they could definitely feel it.
No one could explain this strange feeling.
Perhaps it was because the four of them were isolated from the other girls in the girls' dormitory.
They were like four lone deer: even hidden among a herd, they stood out, isolated and conspicuous, ready to become a hunter's target at any moment.
No one knew what fate awaited them.
At noon on the second day after moving back into girls' dormitory 441, Tao Bing'er returned to her dorm after lunch as usual. She walked to her bed, lifted the covers, and was shocked to see half a bag of Wangzai steamed buns beneath the covers.
Tao Bing'er was stunned.
She was the only one in the dorm at that moment. Fang Yuan and the others were still eating in the cafeteria. She had returned early because she was in a bad mood and couldn't eat. In reality, even when she was in a good mood, she couldn't eat much. Like Qin Yanping, she was a bit picky about food and couldn't get used to the food in the medical school cafeteria. She would often skim through a few bites before running back to her dorm to lie on her bed, listen to music, and eat snacks.
Tao Bing'er remembered clearly that Qin Yanping's favorite snack was these Wangzai steamed buns. She could devour a whole bag in one sitting, often lying on Tao Bing'er's bed to eat them. These buns, made primarily of flour with a few seasonings, had a pleasant texture and appealed to children, making them a popular choice. They were also incredibly expensive, weighing only 250 grams but costing six or seven yuan.
In girls' dormitory 441, Qin Yanping was the only one who enjoyed these snacks. Tao Bing'er rarely ate them, not because they weren't tasty, but because she was afraid of gaining weight if she ate too much. Qin Yanping was the type who could eat whatever she wanted without gaining weight, so she had no scruples about snacking. But she couldn't. Even a little slacking off would lead to weight gain.
How could there be half a bag of Wangzai steamed buns on my bed?
Tao Bing'er took one out and put it in her mouth, chewing it carefully. The bun was still crisp and soft, evidently not long after it was opened.
But Qin Yanping—Qin Yanping had died a few days ago!
Who would be so frivolous as to place a dead person's favorite snacks on their bed?
Fang Yuan? Xu Zhaodi? Su Ya?
Logically, they wouldn't do that. After moving back, the girls had been so cautious in their conversations, trying to avoid mentioning Qin Yanping, as if she had never even existed in this dorm. How could they possibly make such a joke?
Suddenly, Tao Bing'er felt as if she had lost her footing, as if she were falling into a bottomless abyss.
She couldn't help but step back, a bitter taste in her mouth. The taste of the Wangzai steamed bun she had just eaten seemed off.
At this time, the other girls also returned to the dormitory. Fang Yuan noticed Tao Bing'er looking unusual. "Tao Bing'er, why are you so pale? Are you feeling unwell?"
Tao Bing'er shook her head and pointed to the half-full bag of steamed buns on her bed. "Who put this here?"
"It wasn't me, was it you?" Fang Yuan turned around and asked Xu Zhaodi and Su Ya, but saw that both of them looked a little strange. Suddenly, she realized the reason.
Xu Zhaodi said, "You know, I never buy snacks like this."
Su Ya sneered, her face cold. She didn't answer Fang Yuan and walked straight inside.
Su Ya couldn't have bought such a thing, let alone put it on Tao Bing'er's bed.
"It's okay. Maybe one of our friends brought it when they visited us and forgot to take it back," Fang Yuan gently comforted Tao Bing'er.
"But, after we moved back into the dorm, no one else has come in except the four of us."
Tao Bing'er's words were true. Ever since Qin Yanping's mysterious suicide, no one had come to visit them.
"Maybe... maybe..." Fang Yuan muttered "maybe" for a long time, unable to come up with a clear answer.
"Maybe it was the administrator, Sister Zhang. She also has the key to our dorm," Xu Zhaodi said, taking over Fang Yuan's words, though even she herself didn't believe them.
Who was Sister Zhang? A withdrawn, cold old maid, over forty years old. How could she possibly buy something like this to eat? And how could she possibly leave it in their dorm?
"Forget it, forget it. It's just half a bag of steamed buns. Why think so much?" Fang Yuan squeezed Tao Bing'er's hand, which was incredibly cold.
Tao Bing'er stared intently at the bag of steamed buns, as if she had seen something terrifying. She stood there like a stone statue.
A slender, snow-white hand reached out, gently snatched up the half-packed buns, and tossed them out the window.
The round buns scattered from the torn seal in mid-air, fluttering like hail.
"Isn't that all? How childish!" Su Ya flung the buns aside, a look of disdain on her face.
"You—" Tao Bing'er had barely uttered the word when Fang Yuan tugged at her and shook her head.
Tao Bing'er understood what Fang Yuan meant. These were critical times. If any more conflicts arose among the women in dormitory 441, the medical students, already intent on isolating them, would have even more cause for discussion.
Tao Bing'er had no choice but to hold back her anger and avoid arguing with Su Ya.
But she kept this matter in her mind, like a grain of sand in her shoe, irritating her.
She couldn't stop thinking about it. Who had placed that half-packed Wangzai buns on her bed? Could it really be Qin Yanping?
She's back?
Qin Yanping's voice and smile kept flashing through her mind, disturbing her.
She truly missed this friend, whom she had only just met but knew so well.
Even now, she still couldn't believe she had committed suicide for no apparent reason!
Late that night, she tossed and turned in her bed, unable to sleep.
It was late, but she still couldn't fall asleep.
The girls in the dormitory were all asleep, and the room was filled with the rhythmic snoring of Xu Zhaodi.
She listened carefully but couldn't hear Fang Yuan or Su Ya breathing.
Their breathing, whether awake or asleep, was so subtle, so faint that it was almost inaudible.
Suddenly, she heard another sound.
Music.
A melody Tao Bing'er was very familiar with—"Next Stop Queen" by Twins.
This song was Qin Yanping's favorite, and it was also the song she'd first met Tao Bing'er to listen to.
The voice was soft but clear; she could hear it clearly; it must be coming from the dormitory hall.
Tao Bing'er quietly got out of bed, dressed, and slowly approached the others' beds.
The moonlight was hazy, and she examined them carefully.
Fang Yuan, Su Ya, and Xu Zhaodi were all there!
The girls were all there. Who had gone to the hall and turned on the computer to play this song?
Tao Bing'er shuddered. The chill in girls' dormitory 441 grew deeper and deeper. She felt as if someone was blowing air conditioning air on the back of her neck, making every hair stand on end.