Chapter 75 Hey, where are my keys?

Cheng Xuezhou bent down and picked up the thing from the ground.

It was a small brass key, hanging alone on an iron ring. Although it was wiped clean, it was still obvious that the key was very old.

Cheng Xuezhou gently fiddled with it with his fingers.

If he remembered correctly... the place where he picked up the key should be exactly where Xia Linxing was standing just now.

He casually played with the small bunch of keys in his palm for a while, looked at the wide-open door of the utility room, and then secretly... put the keys into his pocket.

He has to keep this key...

It seems that Xia Linxing has not been participating in training properly during this period because he was lazy in this utility room. As long as he brings the staff here to report Xia Linxing, Xia Linxing will most likely be criticized by the program team.

But just like Ling Xiao said before, if Cheng Xuezhou reported Xia Linxing using his real name, it would be equivalent to putting himself in opposition to all the trainees.

After all, today Cheng Xuezhou was able to report Xia Linxing just because Xia Linxing snatched his song choice. Then later he would hold a grudge against other people because he didn't get the C position, didn't get his favorite part... and so on.

No one wants to have an invisible bomb hidden next to him or her.

Therefore, it is absolutely not allowed for him to bring the staff here without any care.

Fortunately... Cheng Xuezhou smiled slightly: Xia Linxing gave him a very good "suggestion" just now.

Although he didn't know who the note Xia Linxing was holding in his hand just now was for - after all, he didn't catch up in time just now, and he probably couldn't see it now - but he could "learn" from Xia Linxing and give notes to the program team and the staff!

In this way, his purpose of causing trouble for Xia Linxing was achieved, the other trainees would not know who did it, and he would not be exposed.

He also had to thank Xia Linxing for the method he provided... It allowed him to know how to perfectly avoid risks and successfully "report" Xia Linxing.

Cheng Xuezhou left with his spoils (key) satisfied.

On the other side, Xia Linxing had just sneaked a small note into Xie Tinglan's lounge and was about to go find Shen Sibai.

While he was formulating his words in his mind and organizing the lines for coaxing Shen Sibai to go to the utility room with him later, he was also constantly rehearsing in his mind how to push Shen Sibai into the utility room and lock him up in one go after arriving there.

Although he had been planning this plan for a long time, his success or failure depended on this one move! After all, if he failed this time, it would not be so easy to trick Shen Sibai out next time. Therefore, he had to succeed this time!

Xia Linxing was so nervous that his palms began to sweat.

He rubbed his palm on his trouser pocket, but felt that it was not clean enough, so he reached into his pocket to take out a tissue to wipe it.

After all, the rehearsals for the second public performance these days are physically demanding. Although their group is singing lyrical songs, Xia Linxing still sweats a lot after practicing every day, so he has developed the habit of putting tissues in his pocket.

He just put his hand into his trouser pocket, but the empty pocket made his hand stop suddenly.

In his pocket...ah, Xia Linxing suddenly remembered: today's training was over, and in order to prevent the small note (to be given to Chen Sibai) in his trouser pocket from getting wrinkled, he took out the tissue.

Hi, that's okay...

Scare yourself~

Xia Linxing breathed a sigh of relief and took two steps forward.

After just two steps, it was Xia Linxing's turn to stop—

etc!

He stopped suddenly, opened his trouser pocket and looked inside.

Where's the key (to the utility room) in his pocket? !

It’s over, it’s over, it didn’t fall somewhere, did it?!

Xia Linxing turned around and went back to look for it, not even bothering to look for Chen Sibai. After all, if his key was lost on the road, it would be fine, but if it was lost in the utility room...

Think about it, he just pushed Shen Sibai into the utility room and locked him up, saying that no one would come to save him even if he screamed at the top of his lungs, and then Shen Sibai picked up the key to open the door on the floor of the utility room... Hmm... The picture was a little too beautiful. Xia Linxing shuddered and didn't dare to think about it anymore.

He quickly lowered his head and searched the ground, his eyes scanning the ground, looking for that possible metal reflection.

No……

No……

There is no...

There is no...

The more Xia Linxing searched, the tighter she bit her lips.

It’s over, it’s over. His luck can’t be that bad. Did he really fall into the storage room?

After searching all the way, Xia Linxing returned to the door of the utility room.

The utility room was still open as it was before he left. Xia Linxing rushed in and began searching on the ground: "Key, key..."

Xia Linxing is a little anxious now.

After all, his note had already been sent out, and he didn't know when Xie Tinglan would return to the lounge.

What if Xie Tinglan saw the note and came over, but he still hadn't found the key, or if he had just found the key but hadn't brought Shen Sibai over yet...

Or to be more exaggerated, when he found the key and brought Shen Sibai back, he happened to run into Xie Tinglan who had just seen the note and came to the utility room...

Oh no...

Xia Linxing imagined that scene in his mind and sincerely felt that only the explosion of the earth on the spot could alleviate his embarrassment at that time.

Therefore, in order for Mother Earth to continue to exist, he must find the key as soon as possible.

He bent down and looked carefully, not noticing that he was walking backwards towards the door.

It was not until Xia Linxing suddenly felt a pain in his back, and the force made him stagger forward and almost fall, that he realized he seemed to have bumped into something.

What did he hit... Xia Linxing steadied himself and was about to turn his head to look when he suddenly heard a "squeak" behind him, accompanied by a gust of wind.

Wait...where does the wind come from?

Xia Linxing turned his head suddenly, but only saw the last ray of light being extinguished in the gap of the closing door.

Xia Linxing: “!!!”

Wait!!! Door!!! The door is closing!

Xia Linxing rushed towards the door, trying to stop it before it closed completely.

But before his hand touched the edge of the door, he heard a "click" - the lock tongue bounced into the slot, and the door panel closed tightly.

The last ray of external light (in the corridor) was completely extinguished, and darkness poured in like thick ink, instantly drowning Xia Linxing.

It’s over, it’s over…

Xia Linxing rushed to the door with a sad face and tried desperately to press the door handle, but in order to lock Shen Sibai in one go, he had deliberately turned the lock tongue to the outside first. In addition, the force he hit the door was not small, which was enough to knock the exposed lock tongue into the keyhole. In other words, Xia Linxing had carefully planned and prepared for a long time, and finally -

Locked himself in the utility room.

“Pah pah…”

Xia Linxing knocked on the door twice in confusion and helplessness, but it was obvious that no one had passed by this remote and deserted corner at all.

This was also the reason why Xia Linxing chose this place in the beginning: he had to ensure that after he locked up Shen Sibai, Shen Sibai would not be rescued by other kind-hearted people passing by, and ensure that only Xie Tinglan (with his hint) could find Shen Sibai's location - but now, it was obvious that this choice had harmed him.

The harsh words Xia Linxing had originally intended to say to Shen Sibai - no one will come to save you even if you scream at the top of your lungs - now came true to him.

"It's over, 999..."

After Xia Linxing knocked on the door twice, his body seemed to have lost all strength and power, and slowly slid down the door.

He sat on the ground, looking up at the tall door in front of him in the darkness, and System 999 whined, "999, I can't get out... I messed up again..."

Forget about shutting up Chen Sibai, he hadn't even taken the step of asking Chen Sibai out yet...

Xia Linxing now doesn’t know whether he should pray that Xie Tinglan can see the note or not.

If Xie Tinglan saw the note, he would most likely be saved. However, this also meant that Xia Linxing would not be able to use the same method to call Xie Tinglan out next time.

After all, Xie Tinglan is not a fool. He came to check the situation the first time out of curiosity and a sense of responsibility, but if a note with the same handwriting appeared the second time, it would undoubtedly be regarded as a prank.

But if Xie Tinglan hadn't seen the note, Xia Linxing's plan would have been saved, but he would have to be locked up here for the night. When he would be rescued would depend on when the other trainees discovered he was missing.

However, this also means that he, Xia Linxing, will be known to all the trainees and staff: he accidentally locked himself in a remote utility room.

——No matter how you look at it, it seems suspicious.

Putting aside why he locked himself in the utility room, the fact that he stayed up late at night and came alone to this dusty utility room where even the staff didn't go is worth discussing.

So no matter whether he was rescued by Xie Tinglan or by the staff, Xia Linxing was quite desperate——

These are simply two dead ends!

…

"Xia Linxing hasn't come back yet?"

In the dormitory, Shen Sibai looked at Xia Linxing's empty bed and asked Lu Zimo who was changing clothes and preparing to take a shower.

"Have you seen him before?"

"Xia Linxing?" Lu Zimo paused while rummaging through the clothes in the closet, turned his head to glance at Xia Linxing's bed, and shook his head, "I didn't see her."

Ever since Xia Linxing pushed Shen Sibai away to avoid getting hurt in the haunted house last time, Lu Zimo's attitude towards Xia Linxing has improved a lot.

"I haven't seen him come back since I came back (to the dormitory)."

"Is that so..." Chen Sibai glanced at Xia Linxing's bed, which was obviously untouched, and stood up from his chair. "Then I'll go ask next door..."

He remembered that when he came back and passed by the dormitory next door, he saw Ling Xiao was already in his dormitory.

Shen Sibai walked to the door of the next dormitory and knocked on the door, "Ling Xiao, are you guys done with rehearsal?"

"It's over..." Ling Xiao turned his head and saw Shen Sibai standing at the door. He was a little surprised why Shen Sibai suddenly started to care about them.

"When did it end?" Shen Sibai frowned slightly.

"About half an hour ago..." Ling Xiao asked curiously, "What happened?"

"Nothing..." Shen Sibai shook his head, "I just saw that Xia Linxing hadn't come back yet, so I came to ask..."

"Oh..." Hearing that Chen Sibai was concerned about Xia Linxing, Ling Xiao lost interest instantly. "Maybe he's been playing somewhere. He's been absent-minded these past few days and I don't know what he's doing..."

"Really..." Seeing that Ling Xiao didn't want to continue chatting, Shen Sibai didn't continue asking.

He thought about Xia Linxing's behavior over the past two days and was somewhat surprised to find that it seemed to be just as Ling Xiao said - Xia Linxing was a little sneaky and no one knew what he was doing.

But since Xia Linxing was doing things secretly, it meant that he didn't want others to find out what he did... Shen Sibai thought for a few seconds, gave up the idea of ​​asking for help to find Xia Linxing, and walked out of the dormitory alone.

He pretended to be taking a walk, looking for Xia Linxing as he walked.

Fortunately, at this point, the trainees who had been rehearsing for a day had already returned to the dormitory to rest, and there were not many people on the road.

Shen Sibai walked forward and then met Xie Tinglan, who was also off work and about to return to the lounge.

"What are you doing?" Xie Tinglan glanced at Shen Sibai, wondering why Shen Sibai didn't go back to the dormitory but walked out instead, so he asked casually.

"Nothing..." Chen Sibai didn't know what he was thinking. He didn't tell Xie Tinglan that Xia Linxing hadn't returned to the dormitory and that he was looking for Xia Linxing. Instead, he said, "I was just taking a walk..."

“Really…” Xie Tinglan narrowed his eyes and saw at a glance that Shen Sibai was lying. Judging from Shen Sibai’s actions just now, he was obviously looking for something.

However, he had no interest in what Shen Sibai was going to do. So he just responded casually, saying "Go back and rest early" and fulfilling his mentor's responsibilities, and then went back on his own.

He returned to his lounge. Just as he was about to push the door open, he suddenly noticed a small white piece of paper in the crack below the door.

"Hmm?" Xie Tinglan bent down, pressed the corner of the white paper with his fingertips, and dragged the thing out.

Is this... a note?

Xie Tinglan raised his eyebrows in surprise.

To be honest, he hasn't seen these little notes since he graduated from high school.

And judging from the furry edges of the paper, the note stuffed in the crack of his lounge door was torn from an A4 paper.

Xie Tinglan sighed and unfolded the note curiously—