Chapter 132: By Day, By Night

Chapter 132: By Day, By Night

After hanging up, Lin Qiushi got out of bed. He went to the living room to check on the door and television, making sure both those things were still the same as they had been during daytime yesterday.

After that, Lin Qiushi left the apartment in a hurry. Halfway out he even got a call from Wu Qi, asking why he wasnt at work.

Theres something I have to do. Lin Qiushi was already in a car and had honestly completely forgotten about going to work. He tried to wheedle: Ask for time off for me.

Wu Qi, okay, how long should I ask for?

Lin Qiushi, half a year?

Wu Qi, shocked, half a year?? Are you planning on resigning?

Lin Qiushi glanced at his watch, not thinking of work at all.

Or yeah, you can just resign for me.

Wu Qi seemed like he had something to say, but whatever words were on the tip of his tongue never made it outhe only sighed: Fine, Ill get time off for you. If theres something going on youve got to tell me, alright? Dont carry it all on your own.

Lin Qiushi made a noise of agreement, expression still pensive.

The car continued on, and over an hour later, it arrived at where Lin Qiushi wanted to go. Lin Qiushi got off, went upstairs, and knocked on the doorevery motion done in a single smooth breath. The truth was, however, that these few simple motions were only possible after extensive emotional preparation done during the car ride.

The door he knocked on opened after a bit, revealing a beautiful middle-age womanit was Ruan Nanzhus mother.

Because before theyd entered the door, Ruan Nanzhu had taken Lin Qiushi home. Now Lin Qiushi had a clear memory of where Ruan Nanzhus old house was. Coming here this time was simply to confirm one thing

Hi Auntie, Lin Qiushi greeted politely.Updated from novelb(i)n.c(o)m

Hello. The woman watched Lin Qiushi with curiosity and asked, is there something I can help you with?

I wanted to ask, do you know who Ruan Nanzhu is? Lin Qiushi asked carefully.

Ruan Nanzhu? The womans tone of doubt sent Lin Qiushis heart sinking, and the question on her face only grew stronger. Sorry, I dont know who that is.

Then do you know Ruan Baiye? Lin Qiushi brought up another namethis was the name of Ruan Nanzhus older bother.

Baiye? Hes my son Mama Ruan said. Hes not home right now, but hell be back later tonight. Are you looking for him?

Lin Qiushi, ma'am youonly have one son?

Mama Ruan nodded as the way she looked at Lin Qiushi got stranger and stranger. Which was fair. Suddenly coming to her house and asking questions like these, Lin Qiushi didnt seem like a normal person at all.

Lin Qiushi had no idea what else to say either. After bidding Mama Ruan goodbye, he rushed back downstairs and hurried off to another location.

Ruan Nanzhus existence had been completely wiped. There was nobody in this world named Ruan Nanzhu, not even to his parents, and even Obsidian, the organization that he led, had stopped existing

This time, Lin Qiushis destination was Li Dongyuans White Deer.

When he arrived at White Deer headquarters, Lin Qiushi discovered that the building that once belonged to White Deer was now commercial offices, labeled with the name of XX Bank. Lin Qiushi was standing in the doorway contemplating how to sneak upstairs when he saw a familiar face leave the building. That person was wearing a suit and speaking to someone beside him; judging by appearance alone, he was that baby-faced Li Dongyuan that Lin Qiushi knew.

Seeing this Lin Qiushi hurried forward and called, Li Dongyuan!

Li Dongyuans feet stalled, and he glanced in Lin Qiushis direction. With eyes both cautious and distant, he asked, who might you be? If youd like to discuss something please book an appointment with my secretary first.

I Lin Qiushi said. Do you know me?

Lin Qiushi lifted an eyebrow and didnt speak. His expression though, gave Lin Qiushi an answerhe did not know Lin Qiushi, and even thought Lin Qiushis question odd.

You dont recognize me? Lin Qiushi also couldnt quite convey how he was feeling just then.

Should I recognize you? Li Dongyuan smiled a smile that wasnt quite a smile as he scanned Lin Qiushi up and down.

Lin Qiushi suddenly recalled something else. He said, then do you know Zhuang Rujiao?

Li Dongyuan didnt answer, and still seemed unfamiliar with the name.

What about Jin Yurui? Lin Qiushi tried again.

You know her? Li Dongyuans smile, however, faded. Youre one of hers, then?

Lin Qiushi could finally be sure why some people didnt exist in this worldbecause they were still alive. If they still survived in the world outside the door, then they did not exist inside this door. Both Li Dongyuan and Jin Yurui were dead, so they had new identities inside this door.

And, those who had died inside the doors aside, the people who were competely unrelated to the doors did not seem affected by this rule at all. They existed both inside this door and outside it, and had nothing to do with living or dying.

Is there anything else? Eyeing Lin Qiushi, who was deep in thought, Li Dongyuan lifted his chin with a cold expression. If theres nothing else why dont you take your leave? This is a place of work.

Lin Qiushi took one last look at him before turning to go.

Who is that? the person standing beside Li Dongyuan asked as they watched Lin Qiushi leave.

I dont know, Li Dongyuan said. Looks kind of familiar though. Never mind, bring me that data and let me confirm

Lin Qiushi left White Deer headquarters and glanced at his watch. It was already twelve noon. An idea surfaced in his mind, and Lin Qiushi got out his phone to book a roundtrip flight for C City the next morning.

Lin Qiushis instincts were to back away, but the strange thing was, the hands stopped when they got to him. As if a miracle, he sensed no animosity from this pair of hands.

The hallway was still getting shorter and shorter, as if it were becoming a cage keen on trapping Lin Qiushi inside. With a clench of his teeth, Lin Qiushi reached up and grabbed the fleshy mess of those hands, and then felt a sudden force as he was brought out of that shrinking hallway.

Aiya, looks like you cant manage without me after all.

The voice belonged to Xu Jin, but from appearance alone, he couldnt tell it was her at all. The skin on her body was completely gone, leaving only scarlet flesh and blood. She was grinning brightly at Lin Qiushi, and the contrast between her smile and appearance was strange, but Lin Qiushi didnt find it scary at all.

Thank you, Lin Qiushi said to her.

Xu Jin didnt speak. Her gaze instead leaped over Lin Qiushi to look behind him.

Sensing something, Lin Qiushi too twisted around, and spotted on the other end of the darkness a pair of glowing red eyes.

Meimei, my sister.

The owner of those eyes was also a skinless monster. She didnt have any legs and could only walk on her hands, but that didnt mean she was slow. She glared at Lin Qiushi with vitriol and bared her teeth; like a hyena hunting its prey, the sheer amount of hatred in her eyes was strong enough to materialize.

Why did you betray me? she said. Do you like him that much? Since you like him so much, why dont I keep him here for you?

Xu Jin tilted her head, and also smiled.

But Jiejie, even if you did that, I still wont like you.

After that, she told Lin Qiushi to run, and threw herself at her sister. The two monsters clashed and tangled together.

Lin Qiushi got up and sprinted in the direction of the light. By the time he reached its source, he found that hed already escaped from the apartment building, and was standing in the yard of the residential block.

It was still raining outside. Lin Qiushi pulled an umbrella out of his backpack and slowly pushed it open, stepping out into the curtaining rain.

The rain came down in sluicing torrents, and the streets were completely empty, with only water splashing along the ground. The rain ought to have been noisy; but at a time like this the loudness of the rain only made the world sound more silent in comparison.

Help mehelp me

There was a sudden cry for help. A silhouette came stumbling out of the rain, and Lin Qiushi could just make it out: she was a pitiful-looking young woman, staggering through the rain in a long dress. It looked like she was being pursued by something, and when she spotted Lin Qiushi standing not too far away, it was like shed found an oasis in the middle of a desertshe came running immediately.

Help, help!! Please, Im begging you please help me, something wants to kill me She fell to the ground, looking up pathetically at Lin Qiushi. Youre also someone going through the doors, right? So am I, this door is so scary

Had this been reality, Lin Qiushi wouldve definitely helped the young woman up by now. But at this stage he wasnt moving, and a light furrow had appeared between his brows. The truth was, he found the person before him a bit familiarmore specifically, everything that appeared at night now was familiar, and he was certain hed seen this person somewhere before.

Mister, mister. The woman collapsed in the rain saw Lin Qiushi unmoved, and slowly crawled forward. She wiped at the rainwater on her face and said, shakily, I know a safe place, and I can bring you there. Do you want to come with me?

Lin Qiushi said, do I know you?

The woman said, we met once in the door, and you even helped me out. Her lashes lightly trembled, looking vulnerable as anything. But I didnt deserve that mercy, I still didnt make it.

We met inside a door? Lin Qiushi now found the shape of her eyes familiar. Which door?

The woman approached Lin Qiushi, saying, you know, that one.

As Lin Qiushi watched her, he suddenly spoke: Theres something behind you.

The woman halted.

A giant picture frame, Lin Qiushi said. Shes here.

The woman wheeled around in fright, but when she didnt see anything behind her, she suddenly realized that Lin Qiushi had recognized her. What had been a pitiful expression immediately went cold.

Its been a while, Lin Qiushi said, Yang Meishu.

The woman chuckled coolly.

You still recognized me?

Lin Qiushi shrugged. I didnt want to, but I can count the people who wanted me dead on one hand. Since youre not a ghost, you must be somebody who hates me

He paused, and quickly announced, she really is here.

But Yang Meishu didnt believe him. She said, do you really think Im that dumb? Youve fooled me once already, you think you can do it again? I

As she spoke, getting more and more agitated, she felt a sudden breeze behind her. Yang Meishu glanced back, and found the woman in black standing right behind her. The womans white face was impassive, and in her hands was a black picture frame that she swung right at Yang Meishu.

Yang Meishu knew this was likely it for her, and a terrible scream came out of her mouth. Right after she screamed, she became a portrait in the hands of the woman; soaked from head to toe, her expression bore both fright and a lively, vivid resentment.

Lin Qiushi took the opportunity to run further away. The woman didnt seem intent on chasing after him either, only watched him go with an icy gaze.

The rain came down in torrents, and Lin Qiushi was completely soaked. In such a strong rain, the umbrella was practically useless. As he ran, he fished out his cell phone and sent Ruan Nanzhu a text.

How are things on your end? After some thought, Lin Qiushi added: Im fine over here, dont worry about me.

After the text was sent, he didnt get a reply for the longest time. It wasnt until Lin Qiushi found a place to hide from the rain that the message notification dinged, displaying four simple words: Im good, dont worry.

Seeing the message, Lin Qiushi huffed a bitter laugh. Because how could he not know? Had Ruan Nanzhu truly been alright, the text would not have been so short. Ruan Nanzhu had trained his way through so many doors, so god only knew how many malicious NPCs and dead people from the inside he would meet at night. From what Lin Qiushi understood of him, if he had everything under control, he wouldve definitely sent a message first asking about Lin Qiushis situation. Now, even his text message was so short. The situation on his end could not be good.

He wanted so badly just to be by his sideLin Qiushi clenched his phone and thought bitterly. Whatever he had to experience would be fine, as long as he could be by Ruan Nanzhus side.