For a moment, the room felt too small to hold all their breathing.
Zhao Liren's eyes were wide, pupils trembling as if Wen Jun's question was a punch to the ribs.
Shen Lian scoffed sharply, jaw tight.
"What the hell do you mean- it's enough of your bullsh-"
Wen Jun didn't raise his voice, didn't shift, didn't blink.
He cut through Shen's words with the softness of thunder.
"Shen Lian," he said, calm as always, "why did you lie about that woman?"
The world froze.
Shen Lian's lashes fluttered. His breath caught halfway through his throat.
"W-What… d-do you mean?" he whispered.
Wen Jun remained carved in serenity, as if none of this belonged to him, as if no chaos could reach him.
"You told Zhao Liren and Qin Yuelin," Wen Jun said quietly, "that you've been through this before. You told them about a woman who suffered the same way Yuelin did… and died."
Zhao Liren slowly turned.
"…so now tell me," Wen Jun finished, eyes lifting to Shen, "why did you lie?"
Before Shen could react, Zhao was in his face-hands fisting his collar, shaking him once.
"You fucking bastard-IS HE TELLING THE TRUTH?" Zhao's voice shattered into pieces. "Were you lying to Yuelin? He trusted you-"
"Let him speak."
Wen Jun didn't raise his tone. He didn't need to.
His voice landed like a command painted in stone.
Zhao froze… then stepped back slowly, still burning holes into Shen.
Shen Lian looked guilty-guilty in a way none of them had ever witnessed.
He swallowed hard.
"Shen Lian," Wen Jun repeated, "speak."
Shen took a shaky breath.
"When Zhao called me," he began softly, "and asked me to help him…"
Wen Jun cut in. "Help him with what?"
Shen wet his lower lip, voice trembling just a little.
"Zhao told me… that the serial killer everyone was searching for-the one who writes 'Qin' with the blood of his victims-he tried to hurt his best friend."
Zhao flinched.
The air thickened.
Shen continued, "I wanted to refuse at first… until he told me the name."
His voice dropped.
"Qin Yuelin."
Wen Jun asked, "So did you know Yuelin before all this?"
Shen's eyes flicked toward Zhao before he answered.
"I… never met Yuelin before."
He inhaled sharply.
"But I know his father. S-So I- I-"
Wen Jun gently cut him off again.
"It's okay. Don't say it."
He spoke like someone who already knew the truth hovering behind Shen's lips.
Zhao wanted to interrupt, wanted to demand more-
But then he saw it.
Shen's eyes.
Shiny.
Wet.
On the edge of breaking.
He had never-never-seen Shen like that.
Zhao let out a broken huff, gently patting his back.
"Whatever," he muttered, voice cracking. "Don't say anything you jerk… j-just don't make that face. It's weird."
None of them realized it.
But Qin Yuelin was awake.
Silent.
Listening.
He slowly pushed himself up, staring directly at Shen Lian.
Zhao stepped forward, "Yue-"
Wen Jun grabbed his arm and pulled him back.
Yuelin's voice was small. Soft. Too controlled.
"So…" he whispered, "were you really able to do that thing in the bathroom the day you first came here… or was that a lie too?"
Shen's breath hitched.
"I-It wasn't a lie-"
Wen Jun finally rose to his feet.
His presence filled the room like a storm that didn't need thunder.
"Shen Lian," he said firmly, "you will have to tell the truth. Today or tomorrow, it makes no difference. But if you want my help… you must tell everyone what happened."
Shen nodded slowly, shame twisting his features.
Zhao exhaled shakily and turned to Yuelin.
"And you, Yuelin… tell us what happened before you ran away and started acting like an animal."
He approached gently, brushing Yuelin's hair from his forehead like something fragile.
Yuelin swallowed, voice trembling.
"That Yi Chen- I mean… that ghost."
He hesitated, then reached under his pillow and pulled something out.
A bracelet.
Black.
Beautiful.
Moon and star charms dangling softly.
"He gave me this," Yuelin whispered. "Said it's a gift… for letting him live here."
Wen Jun took the bracelet from his palm.
The moment his fingers touched it, something shifted in his expression.
He looked up at all three boys...his gaze sharpening into something almost ancient.
"I won't repeat myself," Wen Jun said softly… fatally calm.
"All three of you. Pack your things."
His eyes flashed with that familiar violet glow.
"You're coming with me."
The room fell silent.
Even the walls seemed afraid to argue.
END OF THE CHAPTER.