Upon hearing this conclusion, Russell paused for a moment.
Neither he nor Charlotte had considered this possibility.
This was because, in all the preconditions of their hypothetical reasoning, the ghost's character profile remained constant: he possessed a pathological obsession with Holly Davey.
Based on this point, the two instinctively suspected that he might be hiding in Holly Davey's home, thereby neglecting other possibilities.
"If that is the case..."
Russell pondered for a moment. To know the truth, it was actually quite simple. He just needed to go and conduct a field investigation.
Coincidentally, he held the key given by Holly Davey in his hand. Holly Davey, terrified by the ghost, had run to a friend's house to stay, and at Charlotte's request, she had handed the key to Russell.
As long as he was willing, he could go to her home to investigate at any time.
Thinking of this, Russell made short work of the sandwich in his hand, finishing it in a few bites, then picked up a napkin and wiped his mouth.
"Do you have an idea?" Mary asked involuntarily, watching his reaction.
"I plan to take a trip to Ms. Holly Davey's home. This afternoon," Russell said. "If there is a possibility that the ghost comes out to be active at some point, it can only be during this time slot while she is still at work."
"But... there is still class this afternoon, isn't there?" Mary asked in return. "Professor Philip is quite strict."
"Classes can be attended anytime, Mary," Russell said, feigning seriousness. "But right now, there is a lady suffering from the torment of a perverted stalker waiting for my salvation. If Professor Philip is also a gentleman, I think he will understand me."
"And what if he cannot understand?" The corners of Mary's lips curved up, asking back with a hint of amusement.
"Then it can only prove that Professor Philip's chivalry is beneath mine," Russell said regretfully, then stood up from his chair. "Let's go. We should head back to the classroom."
"Aren't you going to skip class?" Mary blinked, but still stood up to follow him.
"I'll walk with you for part of the way, more or less." Russell shrugged.
Hearing this, the young girl smiled radiantly and walked out of the cafeteria side by side with him. The afternoon sun was not so scorching, carrying a kind of lazy warmth.
The two walked quietly just like that; neither spoke, yet they did not feel any awkwardness. It was a very marvelous feeling. Although it seemed like it had only been a few days, their mode of getting along was as if they were old partners who had collaborated for many years.
He could read her hints, and she could understand his underlying meanings. Mary liked this feeling very much. Only when she was by Russell's or Charlotte's side could she feel that long-absent sense of so-called "equality."
There was none of the deception or flattery found in high-society banquets; there was only a kind of equal treatment that came from the heart.
"Do you plan to go by yourself?" Mary turned her head, looking at the profile of the man beside her. "Or will you call Charlotte along as well?"
"The premise is that Charlotte is actually willing to move," Russell said. "To go from Imperial College back to Baker Street, then persuade Charlotte to go out together, and then take a carriage to Ms. Holly Davey's home... Honestly speaking, this whole process might take an hour. By the time we arrive, that ghost might have already run away."
"So, you plan to go yourself?"
"Anyway, the upcoming work is all physical labor rather than mental labor." Russell shrugged. "If it really doesn't work out, I can still make a phone call."
"Is that so..."
The two conversed back and forth, and soon they arrived at the entrance of the teaching building. Russell stopped in his tracks.
"Alright, this is it." He pointed in the direction of the classroom. "You have to walk the rest of the way yourself."
Hearing this, Mary did not move. She simply stood in place, looking at Russell, those azure pupils appearing exceptionally clear under the sunlight.
"Russell."
"Mm?"
"If one day... I mean if... if I also encountered a problem I could not solve myself..." The young girl suddenly spoke up. "Will you come to save me?"
Hearing this, Russell was slightly stunned, seemingly not expecting the other party to ask this question. In those clear azure eyes, a light filled with nervousness and unease was reflected.
It was just like the feeling of checking one's scores for the college entrance exam, or perhaps like a patient's family member outside the emergency room waiting for the doctor's conclusion.
This was a Mary Morstan he had never seen before. And this was also a question he had never faced before.
This question was very heavy, so heavy that he couldn't even use his usual gag-and-joke routine to gloss over it. He fell silent for a moment.
The afternoon sun stretched his shadow long and slanted, and the shadow of the teaching building happened to completely shroud Mary. The boundary line between light and dark cut across between the two of them just like that.
A gust of wind blew over, carrying a trace of coolness, and also carried his voice to the young girl's ears.
He said:
"I will."
He didn't ask what the problem was, nor did he ask how to save her. Merely a simple affirmative answer outweighed a thousand words. That was enough.
Thus, the light in the young girl's eyes lit up. That was a kind of bright, radiant light, like a heavy burden being lifted after receiving a response and a promise.
She didn't say thank you anymore, nor did she say any superfluous words; she just nodded gently.
"Mm."
A soft response carried more weight than any flowery rhetoric.
"You should go," she said softly. "Class is about to start."
She personally broke this moment that was so brief one would wish to freeze it forever. Subsequently, under Russell's gaze, Mary slowly turned around, her figure so light and brisk. As if she had unloaded the weight of her entire body.
·
·
Russell walked out of the school gate and boarded the nearest tram. He leaned against the window, watching the familiar street scenery retreating rapidly outside.
Recalling the answer he had just blurted out, a trace of helplessness rose in his heart for no reason. Perhaps he shouldn't have been so impulsive. This didn't align with his principles—never make promises that cannot be guaranteed.
Just like that invitation to the Icebreaker Party. But for some reason, when meeting those azure eyes filled with pleading and uneasiness, all rejection or ambiguity was vetoed by his brain.
Sigh, I'll just spoil her. Who told her to be so good-looking?
This had nothing to do with his true intentions; everything was attributed to the other party's overly outstanding appearance. purely an irresistible force toward beautiful things engraved in his genes. Yes, that was it.
Thinking this way, Russell closed his eyes with peace of mind, allowing his thoughts to drift far away with the tram.
Unknowingly, the tram arrived at the station. Russell stepped off the platform, walked a distance, and then arrived in front of that familiar red brick apartment building.
He fished the key out of his pocket, looking very much as if he were returning to his own home. He stepped forward calmly, pushed open the door, went upstairs, and entered Holly Davey's room.
Everything in the apartment maintained the same scenery as when they left yesterday.
Russell paced a circle around the room, relying on his enhanced [Investigation] to search for any suspicious details. The first thing he went to look at was the flowers on the balcony.
Crystal-clear water droplets hung on the fresh petals, reflecting colorful light under the sun.
Someone had watered them.
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