The Elevator Incident and the Domestic Dispute

Stepping into the elevator, Zhao Yunzhong mused that his address of “Madam Chen” must have earned him some favor with Miss Doll.

Yet, Zhao Yunzhong dared not show a hint of complacency or relaxation. Interactions with anomalous entities demanded extreme caution, and he had to mentally rehearse his every word for the conversation ahead.

Turning his head, Zhao Yunzhong observed Miss Doll entering the elevator as well, her finger poised on the door-close button.

Suddenly, Zhao Yunzhong let out a sound of confusion.

“Hmm?”

He noticed that Miss Doll had pressed the button for the eighth floor, not the twelfth.

Miss Doll offered no explanation. The elevator doors closed, and it ascended slowly, leaving her standing silently, an immaculate sculpture.

Was she… preparing to confront the anomalous entity on the eighth floor head-on?

Then what was the meaning of her inviting him along?

Was he meant to be cannon fodder?

Danger instinctively sprang to Zhao Yunzhong’s mind, yet he maintained his composure.

He decided to observe her intentions first. Even if the situation turned truly perilous, he possessed methods to ensure his survival and escape.

No one spoke in the elevator as it ascended peacefully.

Soon, with a soft “ding-dong,” the elevator reached a floor.

However, Zhao Yunzhong realized the elevator hadn’t stopped on the eighth floor at all, but the ninth.

The scene of a normal hallway that greeted him when the doors opened further confirmed this.

Miss Doll pressed the close-door button, allowing the elevator doors to shut, then proceeded to press the eighth-floor button again.

The elevator began its descent once more.

“Ding-dong~”

The elevator stopped again, this time on the seventh floor.

Miss Doll repeated her actions, but the elevator bypassed the eighth floor yet again, stopping on the ninth.

What was this? Had someone from the elevator company modified its programming?

The thought flashed through Zhao Yunzhong’s mind, only to be immediately replaced by the stark realization that something must have transpired in the elevator before his arrival.

Chen Jinquan…

Zhao Yunzhong recalled the name, then cautiously inquired:

“Did Mr. Chen… do something?”

Miss Doll did not answer Zhao Yunzhong, merely repeating her previous actions once more.

However, Zhao Yunzhong suddenly felt the temperature in the elevator drop noticeably.

It was quite clear that Miss Doll was fuming in silence. Zhao Yunzhong’s question had, like a lit fuse, instantly ignited her temper.

Though Miss Doll made no superfluous movements, Zhao Yunzhong felt the ghostly energy within him being stirred by an unknown force, surging wildly throughout his body.

This sent Zhao Yunzhong painfully crouching to the floor.

To suffer so innocently.

Zhao Yunzhong struggled to calm the chaotic ghostly energy within him, then shakily rose to his feet.

Leaning against the elevator wall, he longed to curse but dared not speak, so he could only grumble inwardly about Chen Jinquan:

You’re a middle-aged man now. With such a beautiful and capable doll wife practically delivered to your doorstep, what more could you possibly desire? Why stir up trouble and anger her? Wouldn’t it be better just to obey her?

Zhao Yunzhong had already roughly guessed what had transpired. Most likely, when that unlucky fellow Chen Jinquan returned, he somehow startled the anomalous entity on the eighth floor. Miss Doll must have warned Chen Jinquan at the time, but that unfortunate idiot surely hadn’t listened.

Miss Doll was undoubtedly displeased, and his bringing up the matter again was akin to walking straight into the line of fire.

As he mulled over these random thoughts, Zhao Yunzhong’s expression gradually became rather nuanced.

So, this was just a lovers’ spat, wasn’t it?

Miss Doll had invited him here, but could it be to help resolve a domestic dispute?

Was he, a legitimate Anomaly Investigator from the Department of Anomalies, now expected to take on the work of neighborhood busybodies?

While Zhao Yunzhong was lost in his strange musings, the elevator continued to perfectly bypass the eighth floor, stopping instead on the seventh.

At that moment, Miss Doll held down the door-open button and tilted her head to look at Zhao Yunzhong.

Zhao Yunzhong offered an awkward smile. Unsure of what to say, he simply remained silent.

Miss Doll suddenly pleaded:

“Would you please help me open the elevator’s ceiling, sir?”

Zhao Yunzhong froze. Could he really say no?

He had only just played electrician this morning, and now he was expected to be an elevator repairman?

Furthermore, and most crucially, he wasn’t a professional elevator repair technician and carried no tools. Reckless intervention would undoubtedly lead to an accident.

Although Zhao Yunzhong remained silent, Miss Doll had already discerned his reservations from his hesitant expression.

Thus, Miss Doll presented a simpler request:

“Please, sir, could you hold the elevator doors open with your foot?”

“That’s no problem!”

Zhao Yunzhong immediately agreed, moving towards the elevator doors and positioning himself sideways between them.

Once he was set, Zhao Yunzhong turned his head to Miss Doll, wondering what other requests she might have.

As long as it posed no harm, he would endeavor to fulfill it.

Anomalous entities as gentle, powerful, and communicative as Miss Doll were truly rare. If he could gain her favor and establish a cooperative relationship…

As Zhao Yunzhong was lost in these thoughts, he saw Miss Doll raise a hand towards the elevator ceiling.

Thump!

With a deafening crash, a hole ripped open in the elevator’s ceiling.

A continuous alarm blared within the elevator.

“Uh…” Zhao Yunzhong’s expression was one of utter astonishment.

Apparently, Miss Doll wasn’t quite as gentle as he’d thought.

While Zhao Yunzhong stood dumbfounded, Miss Doll swiftly flew out of the elevator through the newly formed hole.

Miss Doll’s objective was clear; she flew directly towards the exterior elevator doors on the eighth floor.

Upon reaching her destination, Miss Doll hovered in mid-air, then extended both hands and violently pried open the outer doors.

Chen Jinquan stood behind the doors, his expression blank. Behind him was the wooden wall that sealed off the eighth floor.

Miss Doll did not linger; she scooped up Chen Jinquan and flew away from the spot.

The hole in the elevator ceiling was only large enough for one person. Thus, Miss Doll hovered above the elevator, grasped Chen Jinquan’s hands, and lowered him through the opening.

Seeing Chen Jinquan’s legs extend from the hole in the elevator ceiling, Zhao Yunzhong immediately rushed to catch him.

Activating a portion of the ghostly energy within him, Zhao Yunzhong effortlessly caught Chen Jinquan, then guided him to one side.

Miss Doll’s feet then descended through the opening as well.

Knowing that Miss Doll was wearing a skirt, Zhao Yunzhong intended to turn his head towards the outside of the elevator, to avoid any impropriety.

However, Miss Doll descended too quickly. He didn’t have time to turn his head, and then…

He witnessed the legendary anti-gravity skirt.

Heh…

Miss Doll stood poised before Zhao Yunzhong, her demeanor serene and elegant, as if the incessant blare of the elevator’s alarm had nothing to do with her.

Miss Doll glanced at Chen Jinquan, then clasped her hands over her abdomen and bowed slightly as she spoke to Zhao Yunzhong:

“I’ve troubled you, sir.”

“It was no trouble at all.”

Zhao Yunzhong replied casually.

Miss Doll then pleaded again:

“Please, sir, could you carry him on your back?”

“…”

Zhao Yunzhong’s gaze flickered to the hole in the elevator ceiling, then back to the serene and elegant Miss Doll. Finally, he nodded.

“Alright.”

He knew Miss Doll had once again assumed the role of the gentle, benevolent “frail woman.”

“Thank you.”

Miss Doll bowed in gratitude.

The elevator continued to blare its alarm, now completely unusable. Therefore, Miss Doll led the way out of the elevator doors.

Zhao Yunzhong hoisted Chen Jinquan onto his back and followed, ascending the stairs behind Miss Doll.

Not long after, as Zhao Yunzhong and Miss Doll arrived at Chen Jinquan’s home, the estate management received a report from a resident on the seventh floor.

When three estate management uncles reached the seventh floor and saw the state of the elevator, they all cursed in unison:

“Damn it! Which bastard did this?!”

After a moment of stunned silence, one of the uncles vehemently declared:

“Go check the surveillance footage immediately! That bastard couldn’t have gone far!”

The group hurried to the surveillance room to review the footage. Unfortunately, the elevator’s camera had malfunctioned that morning, and there hadn’t been time to dispatch someone for repairs.

Nevertheless, they weren’t entirely without leads. By reviewing the footage from the estate’s main gate and the ground floor of the building with the damaged elevator, they identified a stranger who had visited both that morning and before the incident. The surveillance also confirmed that the individual had not yet left the building.

“Well, well! This bastard is quite arrogant!”

The estate management team leader slammed his hand on the table in fury, then waved his arm and roared:

“Brothers! Everyone move out!”

“Hoo-rah!” “Let’s get him!” “Move out! Move out!”

Each member of the management team instantly became energized, though one person did offer a reminder:

“Team Leader, shouldn’t we call the police?”

“Call the police?”

The team leader sneered:

“Why call the police? Shouldn’t we give him a good beating first?”

“Oh, oh, oh! Brilliant, Team Leader!”

Everyone instantly understood. “A good beating” wasn’t meant literally, and as for the precise meaning, everyone was perfectly clear.

“Hahahaha! Let’s go! Move out now!”

Everyone burst into cheerful laughter.

Following Miss Doll’s instructions, Zhao Yunzhong placed Chen Jinquan onto the sofa.

Miss Doll offered a cup of warm water, which Zhao Yunzhong accepted with a smile.

“Thank you, Madam Chen!”

“You’re too kind, sir.”

Miss Doll said, then quickly walked over and sat beside Chen Jinquan.

It was clearly discernible that Miss Doll’s movements were slightly stiff.

It seemed the address “Madam Chen” made Miss Doll somewhat uncomfortable.

But she hadn’t rejected the title, had she?

This gave Zhao Yunzhong a slight boost of confidence for their upcoming conversation.

“First and foremost, I am deeply grateful for Madam Chen’s gracious invitation!”

Zhao Yunzhong said, bowing slightly like a gentleman.

He reasoned that since Miss Doll consistently exhibited elegant and impeccable manners, his own adherence to proper etiquette might help bridge the distance between them.

Miss Doll did not speak, but she offered a flawless smile.

Zhao Yunzhong felt a flicker of quiet satisfaction, sensing that his approach was having some effect.

He surveyed the interior of the room, then complimented:

“Your home is exceptionally tidy; it feels incredibly comfortable!”

Without needing to be told, Zhao Yunzhong knew this was all Miss Doll’s doing. He couldn’t believe that Chen Jinquan, a busy, middle-aged office worker, could maintain such a perfectly organized home.

Therefore, his compliment was, naturally, directed entirely at Miss Doll.

“Thank you.”

Miss Doll smiled her thanks.

“Please, sir, have a seat.”

Miss Doll gestured for Zhao Yunzhong to sit.

Zhao Yunzhong sat opposite Miss Doll, his expression relaxed, yet his mind remained acutely vigilant.

He knew that the main topic of the afternoon was about to commence.