The Corpse Behind the Study Wall

The Corpse Behind the Study Wall

Author: Pooja Nair

Chapter 4: Challenge to the Reader

4

[Clues provided]

[Before continuing, please try to reason on your own]

[Based on the previous information, answer the following five questions in order. If you can’t answer one, all subsequent answers are invalid.]

[1. Find the hidden space in this apartment and explain your reasoning:]

[2. Deduce where the corpse is hidden—specify the floor and space. Explain: What was the ghostly wailing the parcel station owner mentioned? Why did only this building hear it, and why did it disappear after a few hours?]

[3. Explain why the insect infestation only appeared for a while in the second year after the colleague moved in and disappeared in the third year, and why only their apartment had this problem?]

[4. Explain why turning on the study breaker causes high power consumption, and why the owner designed it this way:]

[5. Analyze the identity of the deceased and give a reasonable explanation. Note: Only analyze the identity, not the motive:]

[One point for each correct answer, five points total:]

[This reasoning requires a lot of common knowledge. Readers may use Quora, Google, and other tools to search for relevant information:]

[Readers can post their answers in the comments and include their final score:]

[If you haven’t finished reasoning, do not open the comment section or bookmarks to avoid spoilers:]

[The following is the reveal section. Make sure you’ve finished your reasoning before continuing:]

[Dian Deng’s advice: Pay attention to every piece of information above. There is no useless information:]

[Hint: The title is the first clue:]

At this stage, if you were in my shoes—chai cup forgotten on the desk, ceiling fan lazily spinning overhead—would your mind already have started racing? The Ganga basin’s summer heat, the mix of old and new in city flats, and the strange persistence of stories in Indian families—somehow, all of it ties together. As you ponder, you might recall stories your nani told you on summer nights, or that persistent sense that even the plainest walls can hold secrets. Now, let’s see if you can unravel this one.

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