File No. 023: New Year's Ghost Fetus (3)

March 10, 2004. Contacted the client. Call recording 200403101003.mp3.

"Hello?"

"Hello, Miss Yu. This is Greenleaf Paranormal Investigations. There are a few things we'd like to ask you about."

"Ah, please wait a moment."

"All right, go ahead."

"I'd like to ask about your private life. Have you had any previous romantic partners? Or perhaps any admirers?"

"My husband and I were each other's first loves. There was no one else. Admirers... no. No one has ever confessed to me."

"Just no one who confessed?"

"Um... if you mean secret crushes, I might be a little oblivious about that..."

"Is there anyone you could ask?"

"Uh, who?"

"For example, close friends, classmates, or colleagues who might know whether someone had a crush on you. Because of confidentiality, if we investigate your private life, people may inevitably notice that something is wrong."

"Oh... oh, I understand. I'll ask around."

"Yes, thank you for your trouble."

March 10, 2004. Investigated Junli Hotel. The hotel opened in 1998, and its owner was a wealthy Chinese American businessman. No connection to this case had been found for the time being. The land had originally been residential property and was demolished and redeveloped into a commercial district. No violent incidents had occurred in either the former residential area or the hotel. Further investigation was required.

Attachment: Shadow copy of the file.

March 10, 2004. Investigated Room 809 of Junli Hotel. Audio file 02320040310.wav.

"Guest, you wish to specifically reserve Room 809?"

"Yes. Is that room vacant now?"

"It is. Please wait a moment while I check you in."

"Does that room get many guests? I heard the view from the floor-to-ceiling windows is quite nice."

"We haven't had any guests specifically request that room. The rooms on that side overlook Riverside Avenue and the Luoqu River, with the Old Riverside Building Complex across from them. The view is indeed very nice, and the night scenery is especially beautiful."

"Were previous guests satisfied?"

"Of course they were all very satisfied. All right, your room has been arranged."

"Thank you."

Tap, tap, tap...

Ding—

Ding—

"How is it, boss?"

"I don't feel anything. Maybe because that ghost is following Yu Meng."

"This carpet is really nice. We should put carpet in our office too!"

"Are you paying for it?"

"Boss, don't... Hm? What is it?"

"It's getting cold."

"Oh."

"809. The location of this room is pretty ordinary."

"But it's very cold. The chill is coming from this side."

"Is there a ghost inside?"

Beep—click.

"Let's go in."

"A two-room suite... living room... bathroom... bedroom... I haven't found anything. Boss, how about you?"

"It's very cold. It seems that ghost stayed here for a long time."

"That should make it easy to investigate, right?"

"Yes. That's good news for us. Let's get to work."

"Okay."

Rustle...

"...Nothing has ever happened at our hotel."

"Not even something like a guest committing suicide or being murdered?"

"How could that be? If it had happened, it would have been in the papers long ago."

Rustle...

"...There have been no guest complaints. All our guests are very satisfied."

Rustle...

"...No, no. Guest, please don't worry. Our hotel is absolutely safe. Nothing will happen."

March 11, 2004. Analyzed audio file. Audio file 02320040310G.wav.

"..."

"There's no sound. Everything you recorded is completely clean."

"Looks like that ghost really is following Yu Meng."

March 11, 2004. Further investigation of Junli Hotel found no deaths or accidents.

March 15, 2004. Obtained Junli Hotel's historical guest records. More than 7,000 previous guests of Room 809 had been confirmed so far. Detailed screening was required.

March 21, 2004. Received a call from the client. Call recording 200403211535.mp3.

"Greenleaf Paranormal Investigations?"

"Yes, Miss Yu."

"About what you asked me to look into last time, I asked around. Everyone said they didn't know, so no one should have had a crush on me. I... I thought about it and asked on my husband's side too. There was no problem there either."

"Mm, all right. Thank you for your cooperation. We are currently conducting a detailed investigation into Junli Hotel. May I ask why you and your husband chose that hotel? Did you see an advertisement, were you recommended it, or did you learn about it through some other channel?"

"My company does business with Junli Hotel, so I knew about their New Year's Day couples' room promotion."

"According to what we have found so far, this is Junli Hotel's first time holding this event. Could you use your company's connections to ask for detailed information about the event?"

"Ah?"

"Based on our interactions so far, Junli Hotel's employees have been trained. It is difficult for us to obtain useful information while posing as guests or reporters. Infiltrating the hotel itself would take some time. As for your situation... forgive me for being blunt, but we have at most seven months left."

"I... I understand."

"Don't be nervous. Our investigation is continuing as well. We asked you to gather information only to save time. If we work together, we'll definitely resolve this."

"Yes, all right! I'll ask!"

March 29, 2004. Received a call from the client. Call recording 200403291407.mp3.

"Hello, Miss Yu..."

"I, I... huff... huff..."

"Miss Yu, what's wrong? Don't panic. Speak slowly."

"My stomach... my stomach... sob..."

"Miss Yu, where are you now?"

"I'm at the office. I'm in the office restroom. I..."

"Can you move?"

"Ugh..."

"Please try to remain calm. I'll head to your company right away. You can keep the call connected."

"Sniff... thank you..."

"It's all right."

"Miss Yu, can you tell me what happened now?"

"Just now... I noticed... my stomach got bigger... not normal bigger! I ate lunch, and after all this time, my stomach is still sticking out! I..."

"Could it be because you haven't been paying attention to changes in your stomach lately?"

"No! No!!"

Knock knock!

"Yu Meng? Yu Meng, what's wrong?"

"Ah! I'm fine."

"Are you sure? You've been in the restroom for a long time, and just now..."

"I'm fine! I... I'm talking to someone on the phone. I'm really fine!"

"Oh, all right. Get back to work soon, or Sister Lin will start criticizing you again."

"Mm, I know."

"Miss Yu, would it be convenient for you to take leave? We can meet downstairs from your company, take you to the office, and perform a detailed examination."

"Mm, okay! All right!"

March 29, 2004. Did not meet the client. Upon inquiry, learned that the client had argued with her supervisor, became emotionally agitated, and fell unconscious. She had been sent to the hospital. Went to the hospital and met the client's husband. It was inconvenient to contact the client.

March 29, 2004. Received a call from the client. Call recording 200403292315.mp3.

"Miss Yu?"

"Sob... sniff..."

"Miss Yu, what's wrong? Are you all right? This afternoon, we..."

"My husband knows..."

"Looking on the bright side, we can conduct our investigation openly now, which may speed things up. If you're worried that your husband has misunderstood, we can explain the matter of ghosts to him..."

"I had an examination..."

"Hm? A gynecological exam? What were the results?"

"I'm nineteen weeks pregnant. The ultrasound... showed a fetus..."