David showed Ye Qiu around the building, chatting animatedly as he explained the nature of their work. It quickly became apparent that David had no brakes when it came to talking. He filled every silence with commentary, half-jokes, odd questions, and dramatic reenactments of workplace disasters. Meanwhile, Ye Qiu only spoke when he absolutely had to—short, measured answers, mostly nods and polite noises.
Suddenly, in the middle of a corridor lined with flickering fluorescent lights, David stopped abruptly and turned to face him.
"Wait—this is your first job ever?" he asked, eyes narrowing in disbelief.
Ye Qiu simply nodded, looking away. He had no intention of mentioning his past as Everstay, and lying wasn't his strong suit. Whenever he tried, eye contact became his greatest enemy.
David stared at him for a moment, mouth twitching at the corners as if trying to decide between amusement and suspicion. Then he let out a sharp laugh.
"I see how it is," he said with a grin. "Your dad must be loaded. You probably never needed a job till now."
Ye Qiu glanced at him and responded with a flat, "Thats not the case."
But David wasn't having it. He gave him a once-over, then pointed dramatically at Ye Qiu's feet. "Designer shoes," he said, ticking off his fingers. "That smart wristwatch? Dropped last week. And that phone in your palm? The actual latest model. Bro... come on."
He squinted theatrically. "Only two types of people rock brand-new gear like that—loaded kids and influencers. Definitely not someone who's been unemployed this whole time. Just admit it—you're soft-launching your rich-boy era, no need to be modest—just flex it."
David's eyes suddenly lit up like he'd cracked some grand mystery. "Wait, wait, wait…. This isn't some undercover Rich-boy-looking-for-a-wife situation, is it? " He leaned in and whispered with exaggerated secrecy, "Your secret's safe with me, Romeo. Don't worry—I won't blow your cover."
Ye Qiu blinked slowly. He didn't even know how to respond to that. What the hell goes on in this guy's head?
"None of that," he muttered and started walking again, shaking his head.
David chuckled softly behind him. Teasing Ye Qiu was already becoming his new favorite sport.
The building around them was dimly lit, its long halls and motion-triggered lights giving off a slightly eerie atmosphere at night. David carried on with the tour, explaining the different zones—the security corridor, reception desks, storage areas, and maintenance wings.
"In our team," David said, more seriously now, "we look out for each other. We cover for each other when someone's out, lend a hand if the schedule's too tight, and most importantly—we stand united against her."
Ye Qiu turned to him. "And... By her you mean..."
"The witch" David completed
"Why do you keep calling her that?"
David paused again, his joking tone fading. For a second, he seemed to actually weigh his words. Then he patted Ye Qiu on the shoulder with a faint grin.
"That's not something I can explain," he said quietly. "But you'll find out. Everyone does—eventually. Good luck surviving her" And with that cryptic farewell, he turned and walked away, leaving Ye Qiu alone in the dim corridor, the words echoing louder than the silence that followed.
Midnight arrived with a hush.
Ye Qiu sat alone in the tiny storage room, perched stiffly on the narrow bunk bed with its cheap foam and thin, fraying sheet. He'd promised himself he wouldn't use this room—it felt more like a closet than a place meant for humans—but the other break rooms were either locked or claimed by senior night staff. So here he was, back against the wall, arms crossed, thoughts heavy.
The quiet of the building was unlike anything he'd ever experienced. Not the calm of peace, but the kind of silence that amplified every creak of a floorboard, every hum of a machine deep in the walls. In that silence, Ye Qiu's thoughts began to roam.
Everything had happened so fast.
This job. The awkward coworkers. The Anti Team. The woman who ran the building like a dictator dipped in elegance and chaos.
Maybe I made a mistake.
He ran a hand down his face. For all the time he'd spent hiding behind a keyboard, this was a whole different battlefield. He thought maybe a change of scenery would help. A new identity. A quieter life. But now, even with a new name, a new job, and a clean slate, the weight of his past and the weirdness of the present refused to let him breathe.
He realized what a miserable introvert he was, he thought bitterly. He exhaled deeply, elbows resting on his knees, eyes locked on the cracked tiles underfoot. For now, he would just do his job. Stay out of trouble. No need to draw attention.
Then—CRASH!
A sharp, jarring noise rang out from the second floor. It shattered the stillness like glass underfoot.
Ye Qiu flinched, heart pounding, head jerking toward the door. The sound had come from somewhere above—metal on tile? A shout?
Thief? the word leapt unbidden into his mind.
He tensed.
Without hesitating, he reached for the old broomstick propped against the wall—a ridiculous weapon, but the only one available. Gripping it tightly, he moved toward the door with slow, deliberate steps.
The hallway was still and dim, a breeze from somewhere flickering a loose ceiling tile.
He peeked out.
Nothing.
But that didn't mean no one was there.
Stay calm.
He stepped out, moving silently, ears straining to catch any sign of movement. He passed the stairwell, glancing upward—darkness. The second floor felt miles away.
Ye Qiu tightened his grip on the broomstick and began to climb.
Whatever was up there, he had to know.