The Eighth Floor’s Secret

Fu Ziqing noticed the change in Ming Zhong’s expression.

She had likely seen that adorable little girl at noon and remembered her own daughter from a previous life, which caused her to unintentionally let slip a secret.

With a hint of playful mischief, Fu Ziqing feigned sadness and remarked, “Oh, right, I have a child, but I don’t know where she is…”

Then, she pleaded, “Can you help me find her?”

Hearing Senior Sister say this herself, Ming Zhong’s mind buzzed.

His expression shifted through a myriad of emotions before he finally nodded firmly.

“All right.”

Just as Ming Zhong had painstakingly made up his mind, agreeing to her request with an exceptionally heavy heart, Fu Ziqing chuckled softly.

“Silly boy.”

Seeing Senior Sister’s smile, Ming Zhong suddenly realized he had misunderstood.

Senior Sister was clearly teasing him again.

What ‘child’… she was simply taking advantage of him.

As these thoughts crossed his mind, Ming Zhong felt a touch of helplessness, yet his mood lightened once more.

Afterward, he took a shower with a clear mind, meticulously washing the soiled bedsheets, duvet cover, clothes, and pants.

Ming Zhong was busy for about half an hour. During this time, the other three roommates in the dorm also woke up one after another.

It was time to head to the classroom to prepare for the afternoon exam.

Before leaving, Ming Zhong secretly asked Fu Ziqing, “What are your plans, Senior Sister?”

“Don’t worry about me.”

Fu Ziqing replied casually.

Since Senior Sister had put it that way, Ming Zhong left with his dorm mates.

In the now empty dorm room, a Miss Ghost smiled.

In a high-rise office building in the heart of Jiangzhou City.

Chen Jinquan was sprawled across his office desk, sound asleep.

Suddenly, a woman approached Chen Jinquan and gently patted his shoulder.

“Supervisor Chen? Wake up!”

Chen Jinquan slowly roused, his eyes first sweeping around in confusion. Then, he abruptly stood, pushing his office chair back a meter or two with the force of his movement.

Such a violent reaction startled the woman who had woken him. She scolded, “Supervisor Chen! What in the world… you startled me…”

She patted her chest, a hint of disdain crossing her elegantly made-up face. She even retreated two steps, putting more distance between herself and Chen Jinquan.

She couldn’t fathom how this middle-aged bachelor had struck gold, not only getting promoted to supervisor recently but also, rumor had it, acquiring a young and beautiful girlfriend.

Chen Jinquan surveyed everything in the office, his gaze not lingering on the woman’s attractive face, as if she were invisible.

This only incensed the woman further, a clear challenge to her charm.

“Supervisor Chen!”

She raised her voice, asserting her presence.

Only then did Chen Jinquan regain some of his senses, replying distractedly, “Oh, it’s Secretary Su…”

Chen Jinquan’s perfunctory attitude further fueled Secretary Su’s anger. She said sarcastically, “Supervisor Chen must have worked tirelessly overtime last night, still catching up on sleep during work hours.”

Without waiting for Chen Jinquan to respond, she continued, “Manager Zhang wants to see you in his office.”

After speaking, Secretary Su recalled how this man had frequently taken unexcused absences since his promotion. Manager Zhang had specifically sent her to call him in today, likely to discuss his precarious position. Thinking his job was probably on the line, her mood brightened, and she swayed her hips as she left.

Chen Jinquan paid no mind to Secretary Su’s unpleasant attitude. He vigorously rubbed his cheeks, then re-confirmed his surroundings.

Indeed, this was the supervisor’s office he had moved into just last month.

Chen Jinquan slammed his fist on the desk, then let out a despondent sigh.

Like a zombie, he walked to Manager Zhang’s office, listening numbly to the manager’s interrogations and reprimands.

Ultimately, Manager Zhang still gave Chen Jinquan a chance, setting his work targets for the following month. If he met them, he could keep his supervisory role.

Chen Jinquan sincerely agreed and expressed his gratitude.

Back in his own office, Chen Jinquan sat blankly in his chair.

Moments later, seeing the bento box on his desk, he clutched his head in his hands, his body hunching over.

It seemed only in this posture could he find some semblance of peace.

After a long while, Chen Jinquan suddenly lifted his head.

His bloodshot eyes trembled, and when they finally stilled, he appeared to have made a profound decision.

Immediately after, he went to Manager Zhang’s office and requested leave in person.

Naturally, he endured another barrage of scolding, but Manager Zhang, despite his grim expression, approved his leave. However, Manager Zhang informed him that his targets for the next month would be increased by several points.

Chen Jinquan had no mind to care about such details. After sincerely thanking him again, he left the company, carrying the bento box that symbolized his fear.

An hour later, Chen Jinquan returned to Jinxin Garden Estate.

He arrived at his building and gazed up at the twelfth floor.

His home was on that floor, yet it had been the source of his terror for over a month.

Chen Jinquan stood below, taking several deep breaths.

He lifted the bento box in his hand, stared at it for a few seconds, then stepped into the building.

Chen Jinquan knew that no one could help him now; he had to rely on himself!

The only way to conquer fear was to face it!

He had decided to confront the source of his dread, be it life or death! Either was better than living in constant, muddled terror.

The moment he stepped into the elevator, alone, Chen Jinquan felt an unprecedented calm.

However, while his resolve was firm and his courage ignited, true fear could not be eradicated from his heart.

As the elevator slowly ascended, Chen Jinquan’s courage steadily waned.

By the time the elevator had barely reached the fifth floor, his courage had plummeted to zero.

His bloodshot eyes began to tremble again, fine beads of sweat trickled down his forehead, and the hand holding the bento box felt extraordinarily heavy.

Several times, Chen Jinquan nearly let go, almost dropping the bento box that felt as heavy as a thousand catties.

But though his courage was spent, his resolve remained, stubbornly refusing to give up.

Before his eyes, the figure of a woman seemed to reappear…

Is she going to control me again?

Chen Jinquan thought nervously.

He simply squeezed his eyes shut, forcing himself not to think of anything.

He only needed to patiently wait for the elevator’s chime to sound.

He had to go home voluntarily, to face it actively, rather than being controlled. With this determination, he even bit his lip. The stinging pain and the metallic taste of blood in his mouth seemed to restore a sliver of his courage.

“Ding-dong~”

The elevator’s chime rang out.

Chen Jinquan opened his eyes.

Then, he frowned.

It wasn’t the twelfth floor!

The elevator doors hadn’t opened yet, but the display screen showed the eighth floor!

This was highly unusual; he hadn’t pressed the eighth-floor button at all, and he knew the eighth floor had been sealed off long ago, so no one could possibly be waiting to take the elevator.

Amidst his confusion, Chen Jinquan stared intently at the elevator doors.

However, a good while passed, and the elevator doors remained closed.

Was the elevator malfunctioning?

Or was it the doing of that entity at home?

Was she not letting him return at this time?

Chen Jinquan’s mind began to wander, and he gradually recalled some rumors about the eighth floor.

He had only moved in five years ago and hadn’t personally experienced the bizarre fire on the eighth floor back then. But because he enjoyed strange and supernatural stories, he had specifically inquired about it and knew a fair amount.

Before, he had only listened to it as an odd and peculiar tale, never taking it to heart. But now, Chen Jinquan himself was experiencing strange and eerie events, and at this moment, he felt a part of him believed the rumors about the eighth floor were true.

Thinking of this, Chen Jinquan couldn’t help but step back a few paces, his body pressing tightly against the cold metal wall of the elevator.

His already fearful heart pounded even more violently.

Chen Jinquan gasped for air, looking as if he were about to suffocate.

He widened his eyes, staring at the elevator doors that glowed with an eerie white light.

While gripped by fear, he also felt a profound sorrow, wondering why he was so unlucky—already entangled with one strange entity, and now encountering another…

Finally, a sound came from the elevator doors, indicating they were about to open.

Chen Jinquan pressed against the elevator wall, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the doors.

Under his gaze, the elevator doors slowly began to part.

Through the opening crack, Chen Jinquan was slightly stunned.

Hadn’t they said the eighth floor was completely sealed off?

As his confusion mounted, the elevator doors fully opened, allowing him an even clearer view.

Chen Jinquan saw a brightly lit hallway outside the elevator, identical to the sight one would encounter when the elevator stopped and opened on any other floor.

According to rumors, the eighth floor had been completely incinerated by that strange fire years ago, leaving nothing behind. Not only the easily flammable furniture but also the tiles, steel, and even the plaster on the walls were said to have vanished without a trace. The most bizarre aspect was that no evidence of a major fire remained on site, as if the fire had consumed itself. Old Wang from next door claimed that when he went to the eighth floor at the time, it looked exactly like a newly constructed shell…

That fire had burned the eighth floor back to its original state within the building.

But…

Chen Jinquan rubbed his eyes, reconfirming the scene before him.

There was no mistake; the eighth floor he saw was neither completely burned nor sealed off. In fact, it looked no different from any other floor.

This was deeply unsettling.

If he listened closely, Chen Jinquan thought he could even hear voices…

This was incredibly wrong!

Chen Jinquan knew that the fire had been too sudden and too bizarre. It was said that everyone on the eighth floor who was home at the time had perished without exception.

So, the voices he was hearing now… could they possibly be human?

A chill ran through Chen Jinquan, and goosebumps instantly prickled his skin.

However, after a moment of silent contemplation with his head bowed, he looked up, and an unprecedented ferocity suddenly erupted in his bloodshot eyes.

“Damn it!”

Chen Jinquan cursed viciously, “You damned ghosts all want to come for me, do you?! f*ck you all!

“Come on! Come find your grandpa!”

Chen Jinquan’s curses echoed in the elevator, but nothing strange happened for a long moment.

“You don’t dare to come for me, do you?! Then I’ll come for you!”

“f*ck!!!”

Chen Jinquan roared angrily, then stormed out of the elevator.

“Stop!”

“Don’t go.”

But suddenly, a gentle female voice echoed in his ear.