novelraw Chapter 138 The Mysterious Person
Chapter 138 The Mysterious Person
Not long after Cheng Mengxue left, Fang Ze also passed by the booth and stopped.
Just as mentioned before…
This location was incredibly advantageous—it was the main path connecting the teaching buildings and the cafeteria.
Anyone passing through couldn’t avoid it.
“Hm? Jiang Ran?”
The same script played out again. Fang Ze walked straight over.
He was sharp—after glancing at the promotional boards and then at Jiang Ran, who always woke up early like clockwork, he immediately understood.
“I see. At the beginning of the semester, you said you liked participating in club activities. I didn’t expect… it would be the Film Camera Club.”
His gaze swept over the old cameras on the table, curiosity flickering in his eyes.
“These things are older than us, yet they still function normally. Honestly, that’s pretty amazing.”“I’ve never used a film camera before, never taken photos with such an old imaging method. I’m actually quite interested.”
“Then—!”
Chi Xiaoguo jumped up instantly.
“Hm.”
Fang Ze pulled out an application form, picked up a pen, and began filling it out.
“I’m Jiang Ran’s roommate. Since he’s in this club, I might as well join in the fun.”
After finishing, he handed the form to Chi Xiaoguo.
With a grand gesture, she declared:
“Congratulations—you are member number four!”
“Thanks.”
Fang Ze straightened up, preparing to leave. Before going, he waved at Jiang Ran.
“First class this afternoon is Professor Yan’s group meeting. Don’t forget.”
“Got it.”
Jiang Ran waved back.
After Fang Ze walked away, Chi Xiaoguo could no longer contain her excitement. She bounced in place like a motor running at full speed.
“Senior! We’re on a roll! We’re on a roll!”
Clenching her fists, eyes shining:
“You were right—the peak traffic really boosts our chances! In just this short time, we’ve already gained two new members!”
Jiang Ran chuckled and nodded.
“That’s right. Actually, we don’t need to set our expectations too high. Other clubs might need dozens or even hundreds of members.”
“But we’re different. We only need five. As long as we reach five, we can maintain club status, apply for funding, and start activities.”
He had to admit—
All the little tricks he had learned in life to comfort people, he was using them all on Chi Xiaoguo today.
Fortunately—
The little club president was fired up again.
“That’s right! Now we just need the final lucky one!”
Sure enough—
When life feels frustrating, lowering expectations is the best remedy.
Chi Xiaoguo narrowed her eyes, scanning every passerby, searching for the final “chosen one.”
But until afternoon classes began, not a single person glanced at the Film Camera Club.
“I have to go to class.”
Jiang Ran checked his phone and stood up.
“Our graduate seminar professor is kind of insane. He always arrives right on time, but if anyone is even slightly late, they’re penalized for half the class.”
“Don’t worry—I’ll come back after class. Maybe by then you’ll have already exceeded your target.”
“No problem!”
Chi Xiaoguo was full of fighting spirit.
After Jiang Ran left, she lowered her head and began muttering like she was casting a spell.
“The last one… the last one… the last one…”
She whispered, summoning the final savior.
They only needed one more member!
Come on, appear!
Doesn’t matter if it’s human or ghost—just give her one more member!!
Suddenly—
A figure blocked the sunlight and stood in front of the booth.
“Film Camera Club, huh. Interesting.”
“THE SAVIOR!!!”
Chi Xiaoguo shouted excitedly, snapping her eyes open to inspect the newcomer.
It was a handsome young man.
His height and build were similar to Jiang Ran’s, but his hair was shorter, giving him a sharper, more refined look.
At that moment, he stood across the booth, gazing past the transformer distribution box toward the Film Camera Club window, a strange light flickering in his eyes.
“Y-you! Are you interested in film photography?”
Chi Xiaoguo held out a flyer with both hands.
The young man accepted it with a smile, glanced at the contents, and shook his head.
“To be honest, I’m not particularly interested. But I am very interested in the existence of film itself.”
“It feels like this would be a very good club—a place where one could spend a meaningful stretch of time with friends.”
“Huh?”
Chi Xiaoguo tilted her head, making a confused sound like a duck.
Was this guy… okay?
What was he doing?
Reciting lines?
…
Looks really can be deceiving.
At first glance, she had thought he was very intelligent.
But his behavior…
It was strange. Hard to describe.
It was as if—
[He wasn’t speaking to her at all, but to the film itself, to the time that had passed through this place.]
“Then… would you like to come to the Film Camera Club and make friends?”
Chi Xiaoguo tried a different approach.
“Our club has lots of people! Everyone here is talented and speaks nicely—you’ll definitely like it! Joining our club is like coming home!”
The young man smiled faintly.
His gaze never left the window, the yellowed light inside.
The club itself felt like an old photograph.
“I once had two friends in a film club.”
After a pause, he continued:
“[They were the best friends in the world. But… because of certain things, we were separated.]”
Chi Xiaoguo scratched her head, trying to make sense of it.
So—
His high school had a film club? He had two friends there? Then they parted ways because of graduation or something…?
Ah, whatever!
That wasn’t important!
The important thing was—he already had some connection to film clubs!
A prime candidate!
Must secure him!
“No problem!”
Chi Xiaoguo patted her chest.
“Out with the old, in with the new! You can say goodbye to old friends here and make new ones!”
“So? Want to join our Film Camera Club? I’m very good at judging people—when I saw you, I knew immediately—you’re destined for film photography! If you don’t join, it’d be such a waste!”
The young man sighed softly, his gaze still fixed on the window.
“To be honest, I do want to join… to see what kind of time was spent here.”
“Then what’s the problem?” Chi Xiaoguo leaned forward eagerly.
“The problem is…”
He smiled helplessly and spread his hands.
“I’m not a student here. I just came to Donghai University today to visit a friend.”
“…Huh?”
Chi Xiaoguo deflated instantly.
Brother!
Are you messing with me?!
And also—
What was wrong with this club’s feng shui? Why did it keep attracting students from other schools?
Jiang Ran was like this.
And now this guy too.
“Is Jiang Ran not here?”
The young man lowered his gaze.
“He went to class.”
Chi Xiaoguo answered reflexively.
“…Wait? You know Senior Jiang Ran?”
Her eyes widened as she pieced things together.
Could it be—
This guy was a classmate from Jiang Ran’s previous junior college?
“I have a photo I’d like Jiang Ran to see. Could you pass it to him for me?”
The young man took out a brown envelope from his pocket. It was sealed, with creases that suggested it contained a five-inch photograph.
“Oh, no problem.”
Chi Xiaoguo accepted it without hesitation.
“Do you want to message him on WeChat too? Does he know it’s from you?”
“He knows.”
The young man smiled.
He lifted his head and took one last look at the transformer distribution box, full of untold stories.
Then he turned and walked away.
“He definitely… won’t forget me.”
—
Meanwhile, in the lab, Jiang Ran was once again engaged in a meaningless discussion.
Professor Yan asked them a few questions, then used those questions to talk about research methods, logic, and future prospects.
He also shared some good news:
“Professor Zhang Yang can now walk with crutches. At this rate, in at most half a month, he should be able to return to Donghai University and resume teaching.”
“In other words, our temporary teacher-student relationship will end before the National Day holiday. After the holiday, you’ll meet Professor Zhang Yang here and officially begin your academic journey.”
“I’m sorry that during this time, I haven’t truly taught you much. I was assigned this role at the last minute. Teaching has never been my strength.”
“I hope…”
He suddenly paused, glanced at his watch, and stood up.
“Class dismissed.”
With a practiced motion, he picked up his cup and notes and vanished from the classroom.
At the exact moment he stepped out—
The bell rang.
The three students were already used to his abrupt style.
After leaving the lab building—
Jiang Ran jogged all the way toward the student activity building.
He was still a bit worried.
Had the final member appeared?
No wonder so many universities had shut down their film clubs.
Not only film cameras—even people who still used digital cameras were rare.
Aside from professional photographers, everyone now relied on smartphones: sufficient resolution, convenient sharing, instant editing—practicality above all.
When he arrived—
Other booths were still crowded.
The anime club had even rotated in new cosplayers, drawing even more attention.
Only the Film Camera Club…
Still empty.
Not a single person.
Jiang Ran walked over and saw that the carefully arranged gifts on the table were untouched.
“Not a single person all afternoon?”
Chi Xiaoguo shook her head, completely drained.
“Not one person wanted to join… not even anyone curious enough to take a look… Oh, except one guy—your friend came looking for you and left a photo.”
Jiang Ran tilted his head.
“My friend?”
He couldn’t think of anyone.
Wang Hao?
No—Wang Hao would’ve contacted him beforehand.
Who would come looking for him through the club booth?
“What photo?”
Chi Xiaoguo took out the brown envelope and handed it to him.
“He left this for you. I don’t know what’s inside—you can open it.”
Jiang Ran took it and examined it.
No writing.
From the feel, it was clearly a photograph.
Rip—
He tore open the top and pulled out the photo.
“This is…”
He narrowed his eyes.
It wasn’t a portrait.
Nor a landscape.
It was an ordinary house.
An old standalone house, overgrown with weeds, clearly abandoned.
The architectural style didn’t look domestic. And in the photo, a mailbox and nameplate were visible.
The nameplate displayed a street name and number—in English.
So—
This photo had been taken abroad.
But—
Who would send him something like this?
What did this abandoned house represent?
“…Weird.”
Jiang Ran flipped the photo over.
As expected—
There was a line written in black ink:
[The University of Pennsylvania… doesn’t have Cheng Mengxue at all.]