Apartment Building Five (3)
This was absolutely Di Qing’s first time dining with a Fallen, and it was definitely one of the most unforgettable experiences of her life.
A long rectangular dining table, two seats to a row.
Luo Dui sat next to her, and directly across from her was the Fallen.
In front of her was a tray, filled with a viscous, pitch-black, foul-smelling mass, giving off an indescribable odor.
She didn’t even need to look up—the Fallen’s gaze, thick with malice, seemed almost tangible, nearly burning through her.
Di Qing forced down the urge to gag, her mind spinning frantically.
What the hell is this stuff?
They really set us up, didn’t they… Do I really have to eat this? No, she’d rather die than eat it!
After swallowing her nausea, she quickly glanced up at the Fallen sitting across from her.
The tray in front of the Fallen held the same sticky mass.
She held a spoon, shoveling the stuff into her mouth one spoonful after another.
The gelatinous black goo overflowed from the corners of her mouth, dripping onto the table.
Di Qing couldn’t help but steal a glance, only to lock eyes with the Fallen, whose dull expression hid a trace of cunning in her eyes.
Cold sweat broke out on Di Qing’s forehead, and she immediately lowered her head.
“You don’t have to force yourself not to throw up.” Jiang Xi didn’t even bother picking up her head, shoveling the bland food into her mouth.
“My mom’s cooking is always like this. She often burns the porridge.”
Di Qing wanted to reply, but stopped herself.
Who could even burn porridge into snot like this?
But she quickly recalled the first rule in the Owner Code.
[1: For the sake of your health, a balanced three meals a day are essential. But do not eat any food that is viscous or slimy—that is food that has been contaminated.]
Di Qing was very clear that the food in front of her was far from simply overcooked porridge. Most likely, it was some method the Worm Nest used to pollute humans.
She was a member of the Special Management Bureau. Even if she wasn’t capable, she was still not an ignorant ordinary person.
For ordinary people, they concealed the rules, treating the rules as reasonable, so they could maintain the best possible mental state and increase their chances of leaving the Worm Nest.
Luo Dui’s voice sounded: “Ms. Jiang, may I ask, when did the family rules in your house first appear?”
Jiang Xi: “…I don’t know.”
Di Qing pressed, “Have you always strictly followed the family rules? Didn’t you ever think your life was a bit strange?” As she spoke, she glanced at the Fallen again.
Jiang Xi silently chewed her food, falling into silence.
Jiang Xi wasn’t just being mysterious.
In fact, her memory had gaps.
Or rather, Jiang Xi only had memories of the past three days.
Since opening her eyes three days ago, Jiang Xi’s mind had been a blur, with no memories of her own identity.
All she knew was that her name was Jiang Xi.
Everything about this family, she had learned from the Memo app on her phone.
[April 17, 2037.
Dad came home carrying a Bird Cage, covered with a cloth, saying there was a precious Bird inside, acting all mysterious and wouldn’t let me see… He said the Bird was afraid of light and kept it covered.]
[April 21, 2037.
He hides in his room every day watching that dumb Bird. I’ve never even heard it chirp… Xin Xin says it might be a fake Bird, like those wooden carvings people make. Pfft, that would be too funny.]
[May 1, 2037.
Now even Mom is watching that Bird every day. So secretive, won’t let me see it. Why? It’s just a Bird.]
[May 3, 2037.
What the heck is with these family rules? What era is this, still writing family rules?! It must be Dad—only an old fossil like him would love this kind of stuff. Makes it up as he goes… Whoever wants to follow them can follow them, but I’m not doing it.]
[May 4, 2037.
Mom and Dad have been acting weird. They stopped going to work since yesterday and won’t let me go out. All they do is stay home watching that dumb Bird. I just graduated, and jobs aren’t going to fall from the sky! I need to go out and apply! I’m about to lose it. What the hell!]
[May 7, 2037.
Dad says the Bird flew away. What’s there to be happy about? Was that really a Bird? I thought it was a clay statue, especially since there was always some sticky mud-like stuff on the floor.]
[May 8, 2037.
I heard the Bird chirp. Did it really fly away?]
[May 9, 2037.
There are way more people in the apartment building now, all noisy and loud. Through the peephole, I saw more and more people in Property Service Center uniforms coming and going, knocking on doors for no reason, but Mom won’t let me open the door.
The young couple next door keeps fighting. They have a Dog too, so noisy—it’s really too much!]
[May 11, 2037.
The couple’s fights are getting worse, banging and clanging. Is this really okay? Should I call the police? But for some reason, I can’t get through, and Mom and Dad still won’t let me out… Sigh, at least the Bird keeps me company.]
[May 15, 2037.
Finally managed to sneak out when they weren’t looking, but why is the whole hallway covered in red paint? Owner Code? Why is the Property Service Center set up in our building? That’s just not reasonable…]
[May 17, 2037.
It’s eerily quiet next door. Have the couple finally stopped fighting? I hope they can get along, or just break up, stop torturing themselves.]
[May 18, 2037.
Aaaah, I can’t take it anymore! This is too weird! Not letting me go out is one thing, but they keep making me eat this mud-like stuff. What is that?! If we’re out of groceries, just go buy some! Why do I have to eat dirt??
I’m going out, enough is enough! Even the Bird says they’re going too far, especially Dad, always bossing me around for no reason.]
[May 20, 2037.
I’m so mad today! I’m furious! The Property Service Center says there’s a problem with my wings and I need to be quarantined at home. What’s wrong with my wings? My wings are beautiful!]
[May 22, 2037.
The couple next door stopped fighting, but the Dog is still barking. At least it doesn’t bark at night, maybe even Dogs need to sleep.]
[May 24, 2037.
The Property Service Center lied! I saw it! Quarantine means execution! Isolation is the same as locking you in a cage! Birds locked in cages will be killed! The neighbors next door were killed… So many people died… It’s terrifying, really terrifying…]
[May 27, 2037.
Yan Yang’s eyes are so scary, like he wants to eat me. But I guess it makes sense—there’s no fresh food left, it’s normal for them to lock up. I’m so hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry…]
[June 2, 2037.
The Bird is urging me to go out and take a look. I think I should go out too. After all, my wings are so beautiful, more beautiful than a rainbow, nothing in the world can compare… But there are bad people outside. If I go out, I’ll be killed. I don’t dare.]
[June 3, 2037.
Ru Ming is acting weird, the Property Service Center is weird, everything is weird… I’m so scared, really scared. None of my friends reply to my messages. What should I do? I don’t want to stay here—my wings need to be free…]
[June 5, 2037.
The Bird encouraged me to be brave, to face the bad people. Only by defeating the bad people can the Birds in the cage regain their freedom… I’ll think about it… Think about it.]
To be honest, reading through the Memo, Jiang Xi started to seriously doubt her own sanity.
Now, her amnesia seemed to prove that there was something wrong with her mind.
So, when faced with their questions, Jiang Xi didn’t answer immediately.
She said, “Before I answer your questions, I have a few of my own.”
Luo Dui and Di Qing were led by Jiang Xi to the bedroom.
No need to endure the Fallen’s sinister gaze, no need to be forced to eat that bizarre food—Di Qing finally relaxed… but only half-relaxed.
She still had to stay on guard against the possibly contaminated Jiang Xi.
Jiang Xi’s bedroom was very ordinary. Upon entering, they could see an art photograph hanging on the wall.
In the photo, Jiang Xi was smiling brightly, her long, smooth hair draped over her shoulders, her makeup fresh and delicate, full of youthful energy.
But the Jiang Xi before them was thin and frail, her short, parted hair framing a pale, indifferent, and exhausted face.
Luo Dui discreetly observed this woman who had been living beside a Fallen.
Jiang Xi went straight to the chair in front of the bookshelf and sat down. On the desk was a computer, tightly wrapped in cloth.
Her indifferent gaze swept over Luo Dui and Di Qing.
“It’s my turn to ask questions.”
“Who exactly are you? What do you mean by official personnel?”
Di Qing clutched her bag tightly, glancing at Luo Dui.
“We’re from a government-established organization, specifically responsible for handling special situations like the one you’re facing.”
Luo Dui’s eyes drooped slightly.
“I’m sorry to tell you this, but your home, and this entire apartment building, have already been taken over by monsters. Your mother has been contaminated and transformed, becoming an accomplice of the monsters.”
Di Qing: …
Ah, isn’t that a bit too blunt…
The “monsters” Luo Dui referred to were officially called Mother Worms.
The areas occupied by monsters were called Rainbow Nests.
People like “Mom,” after being contaminated and assimilated by the Worm Nest, mutated into Fallen.
Di Qing clenched her fists, watching Jiang Xi’s reaction. Luo Dui’s explanation was too direct—how could an ordinary person accept this?
If Jiang Xi had already been contaminated, this kind of provocation could very well trigger her transformation into a Fallen!
Luo Dui quietly observed Jiang Xi, who was lounging lazily in her chair.
The difference in their heights made his gaze droop slightly, the gray color of his pupils rippling with a hint of blue, as if there was some pleasure hidden beneath his stoic expression.
But after listening, Jiang Xi’s first question was—
“How did you find me?”
Di Qing pressed, “Ms. Jiang, have you ever seen us before?”
Jiang Xi’s reaction was really flat, as if the strange things happening to her were nothing out of the ordinary.
Too calm for her age.
Can a normal person remain this calm after learning their mother has become a monster?
“Wasn’t it you who found me first?” Jiang Xi shot back with a question.
She clearly remembered the feeling of being watched when taking out the trash.
When she looked in that direction, she saw nothing but a thick white fog.
At that moment, it was them, observing her from outside the fog.
Can people outside the white fog see inside?
Or do they have some way to see through it?
Di Qing pressed her lips together, not pursuing the issue further, but said, “We came here specifically to save you.”
“Saving humans from monsters is your job?” Jiang Xi asked.
Di Qing’s gaze grew more cautious.
“You could say that. Ms. Jiang, our mission is to ensure the safety of humans as much as possible in abnormal situations.”
“It’s obvious this place isn’t safe.”
When Di Qing finished speaking, the air seemed to still.
The silence didn’t bring peace, but a tension full of unknowns.
Time seemed to slow to a crawl, every second dragging on.
Just as Di Qing braced herself, raising her guard to the highest level against Jiang Xi, Jiang Xi suddenly spoke: “That’s wonderful.”
Like a spring breeze brushing across her face, Jiang Xi’s cold and weary expression softened ever so slightly, the corners of her lips rising, her deep black eyes gaining a touch of warmth.
Somehow, she really did look happy.
“I can finally leave this place.”
“You really are good people.”
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