By the time Qi Qiao finished work that day, it was nearly one in the morning. Work at Blooming Media Company was technically from 8 AM to 7 PM, but employees would stay behind for voluntary overtime.
In such an atmosphere, no one dared to be the first to leave.
However, because Qi Qiao had offended the Team Leader and her colleagues, she was assigned to clean the toilets after finishing her own work.
Qi Qiao felt very anxious. She wasn't from this world; as a scavenger here for a mission, she naturally knew that toilets at night were the most terrifying places.
But there was no other choice. Offending her direct superior could also lead to trouble.
Fortunately, Qi Qiao finished cleaning the toilets on all three floors without any paranormal incidents occurring.
She put away the mops and cleaning tools, and when she came out, she found that everyone had already left.
Even with voluntary overtime, they couldn't work through the entire night.
Only the emergency lights were on in the lobby; the main lights had been turned off long ago. She was like a forgotten person, with no one left to hold the door for her.
This was bad.
It was only the first day, and Qi Qiao didn't know where they were supposed to stay. Originally, the Team Leader had said he would take them there together after work, but now no one remembered her, and they had all gone.
Now Qi Qiao had two choices.
Either she could go find a place to stay on her own—she remembered the Team Leader saying the dormitory was not far behind the company and that employees could stay there, with the fee deducted from their wages later.
Or she could just stay in the company and make do for the night.
She didn't hesitate for long, turning toward the elevator.
There were specific rules about when and where one should be, especially during a mission.
She was currently on the 14th floor. No one was using the elevator, so it arrived quickly and opened its doors for her.
Qi Qiao took a deep breath and stepped inside.
The floor numbers on the screen began to count down. Qi Qiao's heart was racing, like a tiny drummer beating a drum inside her chest.
Ding.
The elevator stopped. Qi Qiao saw the screen display the 10th floor, and she swallowed hard.
Calm down, stay calm.
If she wasn't at the designated lodging, it would be a violation, and she would die regardless.
But as long as there was a shred of hope, she couldn't give up easily.
The doors opened, and a woman in uniform walked in with a face full of exhaustion. Qi Qiao looked at her chest badge.
Jiang Su, V10, Brand Planning Department.
Qi Qiao quietly breathed a sigh of relief; she was human.
Jiang Su nodded to her. They were the same rank, and at this hour, everyone was too tired for small talk.
The two of them rode the elevator down in silence. Just as Qi Qiao's heart was mostly at ease, Jiang Su, who was standing beside her, suddenly spoke.
"Are you new?"
Qi Qiao gave an affirmative sound. Thinking of her poor performance on stage earlier and worrying the other woman might make things difficult for her, she explained in advance.
"I... I was just so happy to join the company that I zoned out for a moment. It definitely won't happen again. My work ability is actually very strong."
Jiang Su didn't seem to care about what Qi Qiao said. She stood slightly ahead and to the right of Qi Qiao, her reflection in the elevator mirror looking extremely weary.
"What's the use of having strong abilities? We work like this every day... what's the point of it all?"
Qi Qiao was starting to get a lead on this mission. She knew she couldn't speak ill of the company. Even though the building was almost empty now, she still didn't dare take the risk.
Recalling the mission's title, Qi Qiao just listened quietly.
"Listen to me. Get out of here."
Qi Qiao froze and instinctively looked toward Jiang Su.
It was then she noticed that Jiang Su's reflection in the mirror, which had been blurry but recognizable, had somehow become a mangled mess of flesh and blood.
Qi Qiao's heart skipped a beat as she stood rooted to the spot.
In the narrow elevator, they were only an arm's length apart. She watched as Jiang Su slowly turned her head, revealing a face that was completely unrecognizable.
Jiang Su's body was clean and her uniform was neat, but her once-delicate face now looked as if it had been struck by a massive force. Her features were displaced, and she was covered in blood.
Where her mouth used to be, the lips moved slightly, and half of a mangled lip fell to the floor.
"Get out of here."
...
Nan Yue ate her dinner slowly. She kept her voice low when speaking with Gu Xiang Kai and Zhu Xi Ning, avoiding the others.
"This company isn't right."
Gu Xiang Kai didn't think much of it. "Isn't that normal? If a company like this really existed, people would be squeezed like livestock."
Zhu Xi Ning glanced at Gu Xiang Kai and said quietly, "I think Nan Yue means that so far, one person has violated a rule and another is disliked by the leadership, yet nothing has happened to them. That's what's not right."
Gu Xiang Kai gave an "oh" in response. "Maybe things only happen at night."
As soon as he said it, he realized that in most missions, a violation resulted in immediate death and could even implicate those nearby, which was why people hated doing missions with rookies.
There were rarely missions that waited for a nighttime reckoning.
"Besides, this mission hasn't given us any hints. How do we leave?"
Nan Yue rubbed her temples. "I suspect we might be stuck in this mission for quite a while."
Gu Xiang Kai was easygoing; as long as he ate and slept well, he could handle any pressure. But the others might not be the same.
From the speeches on stage today, it was clear that the psychological value of many scavengers had already been shaken by years of purification.
Beep beep, beep beep.
While Gu Xiang Kai was still buried in his food, Nan Yue answered the phone before the third ring.
"Sister Lian, I'm here. Yes, I understand. I'll come over right away."
Gu Xiang Kai finished his food and set down his polished bowl. When he looked up, Nan Yue, who had been sitting opposite him, was gone.
"Where'd she go?"
Zhu Xi Ning looked at him with the expression one might use for the mentally challenged. "I don't think you should be called Wild Dog. You should be called Stupid Dog."
"Are you trying to pick a fight, Mad Woman?"
"How are you talking to me? I'm two ranks higher than you. Go on, clear my tray for me."
"..."
Nan Yue spent the entire afternoon in the conference room with Sister Lian.
Sister Lian was the one in the meeting; Nan Yue was there to assist.
She handled the PPTs, refilled water, and observed the atmosphere.
Nan Yue was a clever person. When she put her mind to it, she could complete her work beautifully.
So, when the meeting adjourned at midnight, Sister Lian was very satisfied with her.
"Xiao Nan, you performed well. I didn't misjudge you."
Nan Yue stood before her with her head bowed respectfully.
"Thank you, Sister Lian."
"In this company, we're all brothers and sisters, but after all, there are still ranks in our work. As long as you follow me, you'll definitely learn something."
Nan Yue paused slightly, lowering her head even further. "I understand."
She knew Sister Lian was reminding her that taking a side was very important.
It seemed like anyone with a higher rank than Nan Yue could order her around, but Sister Lian's point was that she only needed to listen to her and Linda.
If she couldn't do that, Sister Lian wouldn't use her.
"It's your first day on the job. Go back early. The girl at the door will take you to the dormitory."
Nan Yue offered another round of compliments. By the time she stepped out, Zhu Xi Ning and Gu Xiang Kai had already checked in on the group chat, having successfully moved into the dormitory.
Vivi was still at the company. Seeing Nan Yue come out, she quickly stood up.
"Hard work. I'll take you to handle the housing arrangements."
Nan Yue saw that Vivi was so tired her makeup was starting to smudge. "Why didn't you go back to rest? I know the location of the dormitory."
Vivi tried to perk herself up. "If the leaders don't leave, we can't leave either."
Nan Yue smiled and asked as if casually, "Is there never an emergency or an exception?"
At those words, Vivi's expression changed.
Rate on N.U.
