Chapter 1: 01

Chapter 1Two magpies perched on a branch outside the window, chattering noisily.

Warm sunlight poured into the room, illuminating the white walls of the office. Several A4 papers were posted on the wall, covered in dense small print. Upon closer inspection, the title read "New Employee Registration Process", with "Huaijiang Observation Bureau Human Resources Department" signed in the bottom right corner.

The office was simple, almost spartan - a basic desk, an ancient water cooler in the corner, and the occasional sound of keyboard clicks.

Chu Zhishui sat up straight while discreetly observing her surroundings. Her previous company loved plastering the walls with flashy posters and slogans, but the HR office walls here were just a faded white - the mark of sunlight and time's shared erosion.

The contrast finally made it feel real - she was truly back.

"Alright, I've received your documents and entered your personal information. I think that should be everything."

Chu Zhishui let out a long breath and politely said, "Thank you."

The middle-aged woman at the computer looked up. Her voice was loud and crisp, with the sprightly energy of a magpie heralding spring. She smiled and said, "I'm Hong Ximing. I'm mainly responsible for administrative and personnel matters here at the bureau. If you have any questions in the future, feel free to come to me."

Being in charge of both administration and human resources, she was clearly not an insignificant figure.

Chu Zhishui immediately grasped the woman's status and gratefully replied, "Understood, thank you, Director Hong."

"Oh, no need for that. Just call me Sister Hong," Hong Ximing glanced at the documents. "Little Chu, you used to work in Yinhai City?"

"Yes, I went to university there and stayed to work after graduation."

"Why did you suddenly decide to come back? Yinhai is a first-tier city after all, certainly better than our little Huaijiang."

"My parents are both in Huaijiang."

"That's true. Being close to family is the happiest thing."

Hong Ximing was warm and talkative. After completing various procedures, she continued chatting with Chu Zhishui for a long time, finally progressing from education, family background, household members, and work experience to whether she was single.

Fortunately, Chu Zhishui was prepared. She answered smoothly while timely interjecting to interrupt the increasingly dangerous conversation topics.

"Sister Hong, should I go meet everyone in the department today?"

Hong Ximing suddenly remembered, "Oh my, you're a special talent recruit. Director Hu seems to have other arrangements for you, but he's out of town on a business trip recently. Why don't you familiarize yourself with other departments first, or if you can't wait, I can call Director Hu now..."

"It's fine, there's no rush. Let's wait for Director Hu to return," Chu Zhishui quickly said. "Your arrangement is fine too, Sister Hong."

"Alright, then take a rest today. Entering all that information is tiring too. Tomorrow you can go to the Logistics Department. We'll see what Director Hu has in mind when he returns."

At the office door, Chu Zhishui politely declined Hong Ximing's offer to see her downstairs, citing not wanting to delay her work. Hong Ximing was both a superior and an elder, so Chu Zhishui, as a subordinate and junior, naturally couldn't be inconsiderate.

Hearing the repeated refusals, Hong Ximing lowered her voice unusually and hesitantly asked, "Little Chu, are you a brave girl?"

Chu Zhishui had clear eyes, fair skin, and delicate features. Her facial lines were soft, giving her a gentle appearance. While not a stunning beauty, she exuded an air of scholarly refinement. Her manner of speech was measured, much like a top student trusted by teachers.

Hong Ximing worried the young girl might get scared.

Chu Zhishui asked in confusion, "How brave is brave?"

"Well... you're not afraid of monsters, are you?"

"Sister Hong, there's no such thing as monsters in this world, right?"

"Haha, that's true."

Hong Ximing's smile remained bright, but somehow seemed hollow, lacking her earlier vivacity. After a moment, she gently advised, "Alright, go home and rest. Come to work properly tomorrow. There's nothing to be afraid of."

Chu Zhishui was baffled by Hong Ximing's reassurance but quickly pushed the brief doubt from her mind.

The two said goodbye at the HR department door.

Hong Ximing watched Chu Zhishui's figure disappear down the stairwell and sighed, "Ah, how long will this one last?"

With personnel information entered, the next step was "opening eyes".

After leaving the HR department, Chu Zhishui retraced her steps from memory. The Huaijiang Observation Bureau's office building was old and had no elevator. The corridor was deserted yet still felt cramped, like a narrow space-time passage, with light visible only at the far end.

The HR department was on the fourth floor. Chu Zhishui turned into the stairwell and slowly descended, pondering her future work. Since Director Hu supposedly had other plans, it might not be easy to slack off.

She chose the Observation Bureau for stability and peace, to completely break away from her past work hell. To escape the urban hustle and bustle, regain long-lost tranquility, and embrace a new ordinary life.

However, while the tranquility of life remained to be seen, the bureau was certainly eerily quiet now.

Apart from her footsteps, the surroundings were unnaturally silent, even the magpies had vanished.

Chu Zhishui gradually slowed to a stop. She had lost track of which floor she was on, mechanically descending the stairs. It wasn't until the stairwell scenery remained unchanged for a long time that she slowly realized four floors shouldn't take this long - it seemed like going up hadn't taken nearly as much time.

She just couldn't reach the first floor.

While the HR office was bright and sunny with ample light, the stairwell was the complete opposite. It only had small windows, further obscured by dense vines outside. The brightness filtering through the leaf gaps was limited. The warm sunlight, cut by the leaves, became mottled, casting ghostly shadows on the stairwell walls. The abstract black and white patterns resembled countless malicious eyes staring intently.

The pale walls were old and cracked, forming a fine, dense pattern like an unbreakable spider web, silently enveloping her.

Standing in the unfamiliar stairwell, Chu Zhishui wanted to check her location but felt a clammy chill creeping up from her ankles. It was like a cold, venomous snake crawling and winding, slowly yet forcefully locking onto its prey, making one shudder and tremble with fear.

When going up earlier, she had only noticed the old environment, not this eerie atmosphere.

She shivered inexplicably, having a bad premonition. Recalling Hong Ximing's reassurance, her mind was flooded with endless confusion and dread. She wished she had asked her friend about ghosts in the bureau instead of just inquiring about the benefits.

She had been somewhat afraid of ghosts since childhood but had long forgotten this weakness after years in adult society.

But wasn't this the Observation Bureau?

Shouldn't the official atmosphere dispel any supernatural notions?

Chu Zhishui steeled herself and climbed back up the stairs, not daring to continue down. She wanted to find Sister Hong. However, the fourth-floor stairwell door had already vanished. There was nothing but endless steps, no exit in sight.

A ghost wall.

The entire building's staircase was connected as one. Whether going up or down, there was no end to escape to.

Chu Zhishui took out her phone, only to find there was no signal at all. She stared blankly at the screen, then noticed changes in her surroundings.

In the silence, a hissing sound suddenly came from behind the cracked white walls. It was unclear if it was wind or the roar of some strange beast, startling the eerie shadows on the high walls. The irregular shadows on the walls deepened in color, like dark ink spreading on fine rice paper, rapidly expanding and writhing like ferocious ghostly claws.

They seemed to sense her gaze and finally revealed their true form from hiding.

The tree shadows in the stairwell danced like black ghost fires, shifting and moving on the plain white walls like the shadow of a giant octopus, reminiscent of a terrifying scene from a horror movie.

The wall gathered into a dark iron curtain, pressing down like storm clouds, fiercely lunging towards her!

Chu Zhishui's heart pounded, her scalp tingling. She frantically rushed downstairs, no longer daring to investigate which floor she was on, only wanting to quickly escape the strange black shadows pursuing her!

In the silent stairwell, only hurried footsteps remained, like the constant ticking of a death countdown.

She didn't have the courage to look back, cold sweat breaking out as the hair on the back of her neck stood on end. She feared that, like in ghost stories, if she turned around while fleeing, she would be caught. Finally spotting a door, she fled through it without thinking, not even noticing which floor it was on.

She was most afraid of encountering no one in the corridor and being devoured on the spot by the black shadows. Luckily, there was a figure not far ahead.

"Excuse me, wait!"

Suddenly seeing another person, Chu Zhishui felt instant relief, as if seeing a glimmer of hope.

The tall, slender figure ahead stopped upon hearing her voice.

A male figure stood there, his form concealed in shadows, his features indistinct, though his broad shoulders, long legs, and straight posture were visible. With one hand in his pocket, he turned to look at her, standing silently as if waiting for her to continue.

Perhaps it was just her imagination, but when he turned, the wind ceased, and the cold chill dissipated.

Chu Zhishui hurried over, finally able to see his features clearly. She had been worried about encountering a horror movie scenario, afraid that when the man turned around, he would be a ghost with a bloody, wounded face. Fortunately, his features were handsome, and except for his somewhat aloof expression, everything about him seemed normal.

The man in black appeared slightly confused when she called out to him. He quietly studied the person who had hailed him, noticing her delicate features despite her pale complexion. Her temple hair was disheveled, suggesting she had been through something, and her eyes sparkled with unsteady light, reflecting her unease.

Chu Zhishui, breathless from running, hastily tried to regulate her breathing while stealing glances behind her. Confirming there were no more dark shadows on the wall, she finally relaxed her tense nerves, feeling grateful for her escape.

Meeting the man's puzzled, inquiring gaze, she suddenly realized how impulsive her actions had been. She forced a smile and asked, "Hello, could you tell me which floor this is?"

Instead of answering, the man looked even more confused and simply gestured with his chin.

Following his cool gaze, Chu Zhishui suddenly noticed the "3F" sign on the wall, right beside them. Such large lettering, yet she had missed it.

Still shaken from her frightening experience, her smile stiffened, and her voice was hoarse: "Oh, thank you."

"...You're welcome."

The silent man finally spoke, then lifted his long legs to leave without further pause.

Seeing him turn toward the stairwell ahead, Chu Zhishui realized there was more than one staircase in the building. She hurriedly followed him: "Excuse me, does this way lead to the first floor?"

She hoped she wouldn't encounter any more eerie shadows or endless stairs.

The man paused, raising an eyebrow slightly, and replied concisely: "Yes."

Chu Zhishui let out a small sigh of relief and, ignoring his strange looks, deliberately followed close behind him down the stairs, afraid of being alone again.

This time, there were two shadows on the wall, one in front of the other, with no strange phenomena or endless loops occurring.

The man in black seemed quite uncomfortable with this arrangement. He moved to one side after a few steps, intending to let Chu Zhishui pass first, but she stopped moving and simply waited for him. If he quickened his pace, she immediately matched it, maintaining a two-step distance, neither too far nor too close behind him.

The man stopped, then took one step forward.

She stopped, then followed with one step.

He took two steps forward.

She followed with two steps.

He deliberately lifted one leg, neither moving forward nor putting it down, staring at her expressionlessly, coldly waiting to see if she would mimic this too.

This time, Chu Zhishui didn't follow suit. Seeing his one-legged stance, she instead asked with concern: "Is something wrong with your leg?"

"..."

The man put his leg down and said irritably: "Are you doing this on purpose?"

Chu Zhishui apologetically explained: "I'm sorry for the misunderstanding. This is my first time here, and I'm not familiar with the way."

His expression grew colder: "So you're using me as your guide?"

She sincerely replied: "Yes, thank you for your kindness."

"..."

Chu Zhishui felt somewhat embarrassed about following him so closely down the stairs, but she was seriously lacking in confidence right now and refused to leave on her own. Although he radiated an unapproachable aura of impatience, he was clearly more reliable than the dark shadow - at least ghosts wouldn't find her annoying.

His rejection of her was definitely better than her rejection of him.

Besides, his sudden leg-lifting gesture had been somewhat endearing, making her feel less afraid.

As they conversed, Chu Zhishui began to recover from her earlier shock. Not wanting to appear bothersome, she reluctantly shared her experience: "Actually, you might not believe this, but I just saw something strange."

The man's gaze grew more suspicious: "Something strange?"

"Yes, a black shadow suddenly lunged at me from the wall, like something out of a ghost story," Chu Zhishui said with a bitter smile. "I'm so glad I ran into you. I was worried I wouldn't find anyone."

The man fell into deep thought as he faced her now-relaxed demeanor. His ink-black eyes were like a cold pond in a dense forest, showing extreme depth. His was an outstanding face; even covered in frost, it didn't diminish its peerless charm.

He remained silent, just staring at her.

Chu Zhishui, confused by his intense gaze, unconsciously touched her face, wondering if something was stuck to it. "Is something wrong?"

After several seconds, his ice-like poker face cracked, and he asked with casual derision: "Did I ever say I was human?"

His features were refined and handsome; earlier, his facial muscles had been tense, making him appear cold and unapproachable. However, as he slightly curved his lips, his expression suddenly became vivid, his pale lips taking on a striking hue, becoming animated and otherworldly in an instant, like a reversed slow-motion scene in a movie.

His words were melodious, like the plucking of fine harp strings, though it was unclear whether he was teasing or mocking.

Chu Zhishui, however, had no mind to analyze his tone, frozen in place as if struck by lightning.

How careless of her.

The horror movie scenario had merely been delayed.

He looked completely different from the black shadow - who knew ghosts could have two forms!

Would he now stick out an impossibly long crimson tongue, or smoothly remove his head and cradle it!?

Seeing Chu Zhishui's dazed expression, the man inexplicably felt amused. He crossed his arms and stood in place, rather enjoying the spectacle, waiting leisurely for her to flee in terror and release a series of piercing screams.

But human fear has its limits, and after experiencing such dramatic ups and downs, instead of screaming in horror, she completely shut down. While the first scare might cause panic, repeated shocks lead to emotional numbness, leaving no energy even for screaming.

Chu Zhishui's hands and feet were ice-cold, her mind blank, too shocked to even think of running away. After extreme fear, she reached a state of extreme calm: "But at least you look proper..."

At least he still looked human.

Seeing her composed expression, the man was slightly taken aback: "Is that a compliment about my looks?"

"...If that's how you want to interpret it."

She didn't even know what she was saying anymore; her mind was in complete chaos.

The man in black remained silent.

"Hmph." After a long while, he finally made a sound, his expression quite complex as he considered something. "No wonder you can't be scared away. It's cliché, but I'll give you credit for having good taste."

Xin Yunmao had initially been very wary of this person, but now he understood why she had been following him - she was just an ordinary human attracted to his appearance, desperately trying to make conversation with such clumsy flirting techniques.

Chu Zhishui didn't understand what he meant by cliché: "?"

Xin Yunmao said smugly: "Well, I suppose humans rarely see beings as graceful and handsome as myself."

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Chu Zhishui, who had been terrified moments ago, was suddenly choked by these words, her fear instantly evaporating.

She carefully observed his expression, but considering his mysterious identity and her own safety, she forcefully swallowed her urge to mock him.

Huaijiang City must have had very little rain in recent years, probably due to being rendered speechless by him. Did he really think he was graceful and handsome? He was just a black shadow with a human form, wasn't he?

Times were really changing - it was bad enough when ordinary men were mediocre yet confident, but now even male ghosts were like this.