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墨書 Inktalez
Ziya and Qin Nannan walked anxiously through the bustling hall, where people hurried back and forth, their expressions stiff and wooden as if they had undergone special training. Though not particularly old, they appeared drained of the youthful energy one would expect at their age.
Qin Nannan's mischievous eyes frequently darted toward the Yujies, taking in their curves with a free gaze, a wicked smile playing on her lips as she glanced at Ziya. The latter scoffed dismissively and headed toward the glass door.
"Hey! Are you angry or just jealous..." Ziya quickly gestured to interrupt her friend's teasing. She spotted a familiar figure rushing toward the elevator of Building Two.
Without considering much, Ziya noticed that no one in the hall was paying them any attention and quickly pursued the familiar silhouette. Naturally, Qin Nannan followed closely behind, watching as the person waited for the elevator at Building Two, peering around as they hid behind a corner.
When they peeked again, the person had vanished. The two hurriedly followed, seeing the elevator's indicator light reach the 13th floor. They dashed up the stairs to the 13th floor.
"Who did you see just now?"
"I don't know; they just felt familiar." Their footsteps echoed chaotically in the stairwell.
"Male or female?"
"Male." Ziya leaned against her knees, gasping for breath as she looked up at the sign above—only the 8th floor!
"Let's take the elevator! This is... too exhausting." Qin Nannan was primarily concerned for her friend, noticing how pale she looked from running. She already knew about Ziya's anemia; it was safer to take the elevator.
"Okay, let's go!" Ziya hesitated for a few seconds before reluctantly agreeing. She disliked the bright red walls of the elevator; the feeling of being enveloped in blood always lingered in her mind.
The two arrived at the 8th-floor elevator entrance of Building Two, only to find that it was still on the 6th floor. Qin Nannan pressed the button for the 8th floor. The elevator slowly ascended, and with a soft ding, its doors slid open. As they stepped inside, they froze for a moment; Lao Ran stood awkwardly in one corner of the elevator, his arm clutching a briefcase and his head bowed strangely.
Qin Nannan suddenly remembered that he was already dead in the newspaper. His shoulders tensed up, feeling a bit uncomfortable, and it was too late to back out now. The elevator gave a slight jolt as it ascended to the tenth floor, and Ziya felt a chill run down her spine. If the newspaper was true, they were currently riding an elevator with a ghost.
Lao Ran kept his head lowered, and just looking at him was enough to make one feel uneasy. Ziya and Qin Nannan dared only to stand in the corner of the elevator, while the Demon Leader-like Lao Ran occupied most of the space. The atmosphere was tense; they could hear Qin Nannan swallowing nervously.
What puzzled Ziya was that she felt no chill from him at all. She had dealt with ghosts countless times before, and those spirits always carried an icy aura that sent shivers down her spine upon contact with humans. Gathering her courage, she called out softly, "Uncle Ran."
Lao Ran seemed not to hear her, still fixated on something interesting on the tip of his shoes. Cold sweat trickled down Qin Nannan's palms as he thought to himself: Is Ziya going crazy? This is nerve-wracking! The elevator reached the thirteenth floor and opened.
Ziya quietly watched as Lao Ran stepped out of the elevator, his head still bowed, never once lifting it. They followed him into an office marked with printed letters. Just as they were about to follow, they heard voices coming from the other end of the corridor. The two hurried into the hallway but were unsure which room to enter among so many.
"Whatever!" Ziya thought resolutely and randomly pulled open a door, stepping inside. To their shock, the person inside was none other than the Cleaner they had seen yesterday. Their sudden entrance startled the Cleaner as well, and that moment of surprise made it clear to them that this person was definitely not a ghost.
"Shh!" Ziya quickly hushed the Cleaner. All three exchanged awkward nods as they listened to footsteps passing by outside. Qin Nannan cautiously cracked the door open just a bit and heard a deep male voice.
"This building is constructed at the intersection of Wusha Road; naturally, accidents will happen. Just follow my instructions, and everything will be fine! Also, you need to board up all windows on the fourteenth floor with wooden planks so they can stay quiet up there. And remember, the lights on the fourteenth floor must not be turned off at night. Decorate the entrance with luxurious steel glass to fill in the vacancy left by Stone Lion; this will help gather yang energy. The glass will absorb sunlight when it rises, ensuring your building remains safe."
From what Qin Nannan could see of the speaker's back, aside from the Boss's accompanying Taoist priest, there was no one else around. The Boss and the priest continued their discussion as they walked away.
Gently closing the door behind them, they heard the Cleaner mutter under his breath, "Tch! A money scam, huh!" The Cleaner's unexpected remark surprised Qin Nannan greatly; knowing that this person wasn't a ghost gave him a surge of confidence.
Meanwhile, Ziya was already composed and smiled at Cleaner Aunt, saying, "Auntie, you're quite straightforward! Hehe!"
"Damn it! I’m done here today; I’ll leave tomorrow. They keep saying don’t do this or that—ugh! If I can just endure one more day here, I swear I won’t come back to this hellhole again."
Ziya was taken aback by the words and gestured for Qin Nannan to close the door. Turning back, she flashed a sweet smile at the Cleaner Aunt, who beamed back at the beautiful girl, her eyes crinkling with delight.
"Young ladies, you shouldn't linger here. This isn't a place for you youngsters; it's not clean."
Noticing the tremor of surprise on Qin Nannan's face, Ziya quickly leaned in and whispered, "Auntie, can you tell us what’s going on?"
The Cleaner Aunt sighed. "Ah! It's a long story. It's better if you don't know too much. The things that happen here can't be explained in just a few words. I've been working here since this building was constructed, and I've seen quite a few strange things. It's best to mind your own business and not attract trouble."
"But why did the security guard at the entrance say you were dead? And what about your death photos from last year and the newspaper articles..." Qin Nannan pressed earnestly, her gaze fixed on the seemingly simple-minded aunt.
"Life is like a big dye vat," the Cleaner Aunt scoffed. "One day they say we're dead, the next day they say we're alive. Believe it or not, it’s up to you."
Ziya was surprised that someone who appeared so honest and simple could speak such profound words after staying here for so long. She wanted to ask more questions, but the Cleaner Aunt had sealed her lips, refusing to say anything further.
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