Chapter 3

As soon as that thought crossed my mind, the door behind me was pushed open.

I heard a crisp female voice.

"Thank goodness, Julian, you're finally awake."

"You chose the role yourself, you signed the contract yourself, and you're supposed to start filming in a few days, but you pull a stunt like this."

"What? You think I have too much money and want to bankrupt me?"

The woman who entered had long, flowing hair, beautiful and mature. I recognized her.

It was Stella, Julian's senior from college and his current manager.

It wasn't until she walked closer, cradling Julian's face to inspect it carefully and sighing, "Thank god, no disfigurement,"

That I realized Julian wasn't looking at me.

His gaze passed right through my transparent body, looking at Stella who had just entered, and the black bag slung over her shoulder.

I clutched my non-existent heart and let out a non-existent sigh.

"Seriously, scared a ghost to death," I thought.

For a moment there, I really thought he could see me.

Confirming that this jerk Julian was out of danger and wouldn't bother my peaceful afterlife,

I decided to leave.

But before I could even take a step, I heard Julian, who had been silent all day, suddenly ask, "My phone? Was it found?"

Because of the choking and not speaking for a long time,

His voice was rough and hoarse.

"You, jumping into the river for a stupid phone?"

"Was it really worth it?"

Stella frowned, her tone full of blame.

But despite her words, she still took a sealed bag from her purse, opened it, and handed the phone inside to Julian.

Phone? River?

Those words froze me.

Curiosity piqued, I glanced back.

But with that one glance, I saw it.

Julian's vacant expression shattered the moment he took the phone.

For the first time, emotion flooded his eyes.

And the phone in his hand...

No.

Wait!

That pink case... that round-headed Loopy charm...

Why is it my phone?

How did my phone end up with Julian?

Didn't my dad take it?

Why would Julian jump into a river to get it?

...

A million thoughts flashed through my mind in that instant.

But before I could sort them out, Stella's next words interrupted me.

"Last month, Summer's dad was finally arrested, and the culprit pleaded guilty. You've waited three years for this result, you should be at peace now, right?"

Julian didn't speak.

He just stared at my phone, eyes downcast and quiet.

But I felt a strange sense of unreality.

After three years, was my case finally closed?

I was murdered, and the reason was ridiculous.

It happened in my senior year of college, on my birthday.

My biological father, who had been hiding for years due to gambling debts, called me.

His words were earnest.

He said he wanted to see me, celebrate my birthday, and make up for all the years he'd neglected me.

I believed him and went to the rental apartment location he sent me.

But when I arrived, I realized he had no intention of celebrating my birthday.

He wanted to sell me, to the people he owed money to.

Those men said I was a college student, so they could get a higher price.

One night with me could pay off twenty thousand of my dad's debt.

Of course, I refused.

During the struggle, someone grabbed my head and slammed it hard against the wall.

That person probably wanted to teach me a lesson, to make me compliant.

But no one expected that behind the old wallpaper, there was a rusty nail.

And it, right then and there, took my life.

That day was my 23rd birthday.

To destroy the evidence, my phone was taken by the man who called himself "my father."

And my rapidly cooling body was stuffed into a suitcase and thrown into the river by him.

It wasn't found until half a month later.

But my phone was supposed to have been smashed and thrown away.

Why was it with Julian?

I didn't wonder for long.

Soon, Julian cleared up the confusion for me.

He looked up and curved his lips at Stella.

His eyes held a hint of hope.

"Stella, can you please try to recover the data and get it to turn on?"

Stella was speechless, rolling her eyes.

"Do you think I'm a fairy godmother? If the police couldn't do it, how can I?"

"This is the best it'll ever be. Don't expect any more miracles from me."

Julian didn't say anything, just stared at her directly.

His smile stiffened inch by inch, and the color drained from his face.

Finally, Stella gave in.

"Fine, fine, I swear I owe you my life!"

She was a little annoyed.

She grabbed her bag and turned to leave.

At the door, she turned back and reminded him, "Take your medicine on time, don't stop without permission, got it?"

And my heart, too, tightened again as their conversation ended.

What was Julian trying to do?

He wanted to unlock my phone?

Damn it!

A person can die, but the contents of their phone absolutely cannot be seen by anyone else!

Especially not Julian!

"Julian, you really shouldn't live!"

"Just die! You jerk!"