What was the scariest thing to find when eating an apple? A few bugs?
Others might say one bug, two bugs, or even half a bug. But if Bai Zhi were asked that question...
His answer would be that the scariest thing was taking a bite and finding nothing but bugs.
—The mental image was vivid.
"My name is Lin He."
When the other party did not respond and continued staring in that direction with extreme vigilance, Lin He introduced himself.
"I remember you were the last one to board. Do you remember how many people were on this bus when you got on?"
"Eight people in total, including the Driver and myself."
Bai Zhi raised an eyebrow as he replied.
"By the way, could you move over a little? You're blocking my view. Going by what you said, are there half a person more on the bus now, or half a person less?"
"You should prepare yourself mentally. Better not draw that thing's attention... Look carefully at the Old Woman sitting behind the Driver."
Lin He glanced back at him, then sensibly moved to the window seat on the other side, giving up his spot.
The sound of the bus rolling onward conveniently masked their hushed conversation.
Bai Zhi remembered it clearly. When he had boarded the bus, there had been six Passengers besides himself. The most conspicuous of them had naturally been the Old Woman seated in the second row behind the Driver. Beside her was a bulging Sack that nearly occupied the entire seat.
The impression that feature had left was so deep that it was impossible to forget.
But when Bai Zhi looked over now, he saw an extra pair of feet beneath the seat where the Sack had been placed—feet clad in white stockings and