Apartment Building Five (1)
“Bang bang bang!”
“Kids, are you all up yet—”
“Good children shouldn’t have to be reminded by their Mother—get up on time, hmph—”
The violent knocking, accompanied by the mad barking of a dog next door, dragged Jiang Xi out of her dreams.
White mist filled the world outside the window, and the pale light filtered through the curtains, slipping into the bedroom. Jiang Xi squinted, sat up, and pulled the door open just a crack.
A pair of eyes, pupils shrunk to pinpricks and almost pressed against the doorframe, suddenly locked gazes with Jiang Xi.
Jiang Xi paused, and those black pinpoints quickly vanished.
When she pulled the door open all the way, there was no one there.
No wonder she’s called “Mother.”
Her movements were always that swift.
Outside the window, a blanket of white mist seemed to coat everything with a film that would never fade. The living room was cold and quiet, and from the tightly shut kitchen came the clatter of activity.
Through the glass of the kitchen door, the slightly plump figure of a woman flickered in Jiang Xi’s vision.
Mother was making breakfast.
Every day, she tirelessly woke them up, prepared three meals a day, and for the sake of their little family, never stepped out the door.
Truly, she endured every hardship for them.
At 7:15, Jiang Xi sat down to breakfast.
Breakfast was as plain as ever—a bowl of sticky, overcooked black porridge and a plate of vegetables, which were just reheated vegetarian canned food.
Under Mother’s silent, displeased gaze, Jiang Xi stirred the porridge and picked up the vegetarian food with her chopsticks.
She sighed helplessly, “Why did you overcook the porridge again?”
Jiang Xi’s tone was flat, with a hint of raspiness: “You like eating mushy porridge, and I respect that, but I don’t like it. You should respect me too…”
The portion of vegetarian food was pitifully small and tasted bland. The porridge was just mush—impossible to drink. There were no staple carbs. For Jiang Xi, eating this meal was like not eating at all.
Mother stayed silent, her plump body seated beside Jiang Xi, holding a bowl filled to overflowing with black viscous liquid, eating with great relish.
Everyone has their own food preferences.
Faced with Mother’s eating habits, Jiang Xi chose to understand, respect, and tolerate.
After breakfast, it was 7:30. Jiang Xi returned to her room on time and closed the door.
Time ticked by until 11:30.
She turned off her phone, and the pitch-black screen reflected Jiang XI’s calm face.
According to the Rules in her household, this was the time she could go out to throw away the trash.
Jiang Xi stepped out of the bedroom, passed by the newly added door with fierce claw marks, picked up the Trash Bag, and turned back to say to Mother, who was preparing lunch in the kitchen, “I’m heading out.”
Before leaving, she glanced at a piece of paper stuck beside the bedroom door.
The first line was in bold black font—Rules.
[To maintain the physical and mental health of every family member, all family members are expected to strictly follow the Rules below:
1. Ensure good health; a balanced, nutritious three meals a day is essential. But do not eat viscous, slimy foods—those are overcooked.
2. 7:30-11:30, 14:00-16:30 are Work/Study Time (black pen marks have altered this to Free Activity Time). You need to return to your bedroom and lock the door tightly.
3. During dinner, all family members must sit together and share what they’ve seen and heard that day. Absolutely no mention of the word “Insect”—it’s disgusting, lowly, and hateful.
4. Take the initiative with chores. When sticky liquid appears on the floor, clean it up and put it in a Trash Bag, then take it downstairs to the Trash Bin at the designated time. If anyone tries to stop you, just ignore them. Remind yourself you are a part of the family, and cleaning up filth is your responsibility.
5. Light is good for the eyes. Insects avoid light—staying in the light is good for your physical and mental health.
6. You may only leave the house between 11:00-15:30 and 19:00-23:30.
7. If someone knocks on your door, verify their identity through the peephole. Only your family and building staff can enter. Be careful—humans have two arms and two legs. Humans do not have wings.
8. For family unity, do not refuse if a family member wants to watch a movie together. The scenes in movies are all fake. If you see an actor who looks like yourself, ignore it—remind yourself, they are just actors. Turn off the lights while watching to avoid affecting the viewing experience.
9. 23:30-6:30 is Rest Time. Before sleeping, be sure to turn off the lights and lock the doors. Darkness is good for sleep. No noise (talking, chatting, loud movements, etc.) is allowed during Rest Time to avoid disturbing others.
10. Always make sure the windows are closed. If you see strange shadows through the window, stay calm,….. (blacked-out text, unreadable), it’s just a bird flying by. Birds are cute—you can open the window and touch it.
The above Rules are based on mutual respect, ensuring the psychological well-being of all family members and building a safe, friendly home environment.]
***
“June 15, 2037, 11:21.
Code B-EZ20370518, Xiang Rong Community, Building No.5, Insect Nest.
Consistent with the results of the third observation: the Barrier appears as white mist, invisible to the naked eye.
The Class C Observation Device can be used for monitoring.
No signs of human activity.
Energy levels are stable. Preliminary assessment: still in Dormant State.
End of fourth observation segment. Report concluded.
Observer—
Luo Chenyi”
A “beep” sounded. Not far away, the Recording Pen in the man’s hand flashed red.
Du Qing paused what she was doing and looked toward the young man at her side.
He had striking, silvery-white hair, tied back with a mechanical-looking clasp, and wore the crisp uniform of the Field Operations Department, accentuating his broad shoulders and slim waist.
Sensing Du Qing’s gaze, Luo Chenyi clipped the Recording Pen to his jacket pocket.
His posture was straight, his aura cold and stern, and when he raised his eyes, a pair of deep, ocean-blue irises looked out.
“Ms. Xio,” the man nodded slightly.
Xio Qing nodded in return, smiling, “Captain Luo, thank you for your hard work.”
Luo Chenyi belonged to the largest Civilian Volunteer Organization.
He was a member of the organization’s Field Operations Department, and his previously disclosed ability level was A.
His presence here today was truly unexpected.
The mission Xio Qing was currently undertaking was called an “Observation Mission.”
The target of observation was the Building No.5 Insect Nest before them—code B-EZ20370518.
This place had already been occupied by “Insects” and had fallen, becoming an Insect Nest.
The “Insects” were not any kind of Earth insect, not even from Earth at all. Scientists believed they came from space. Some people even worshipped them as “Gods”… but Du Qing preferred to see them as monsters.
Monsters invading their home.
Areas occupied by “Insects” became isolated, like independent zones filled with madness and chaos. This kind of Contamination was highly invasive.
Observation Missions, being relatively low-risk, only required observation and recording from the periphery of the Insect Nest. Most were assigned to people without special abilities.
High-level ability users like Luo Chenyi were rarely dispatched for such missions.
Xio Qing and Luo Chenyi belonged to different organizations and had no prior connection.
After a brief greeting, Xio Qing picked up the glasses-like device in her hand and set it on her nose.
The Class C Observation Device was specially developed for the Barrier of the Insect Nest, able to see through the internal environment invisible to the naked eye.
Since its discovery, the Insect Nest code B-EZ20370518 had already been searched, and it was confirmed that there were no survivors inside. This time was just routine observation, in preparation for the eventual complete eradication of the Insect Nest.
Xio Qing was with the Intelligence Department, just taking over the Observation Mission from a previous colleague.
This was her first time observing the Building No.5 Insect Nest.
According to the files, the Insect Nest was in its safest Dormant State, and would not actively absorb living beings.
There were no living humans inside, so Du Qing felt relatively relaxed.
Her gaze passed through the mist with the help of the Observation Device, falling upon an apartment building.
The apartment building was seven stories tall. From the outside, it looked no different from any ordinary building, except the main entrance was tightly shut, making it impossible to see inside from outside.
Observation Missions were always dull.
As usual, Du Qing observed for a while, and feeling relaxed, was about to take off the Observation Device when something changed in her field of view.
The always-closed main entrance was slowly being pushed open from the inside.
0
“Captain Man…”
Du Qing muttered, “A hand…”
At her words, Luo Chenyi’s brows furrowed slightly.
He put on the Class C Observation Device and looked into the Insect Nest.
A hand gripping the doorknob came into view.
That hand was pale and thin, five fingers like bamboo sticks.
The door of Building No.5 was slowly pushed open, and a tall, slender figure, like a silent shadow, sluggishly dragged two black bags, moving with a tired and lazy air toward the row of Trash Bins at the entrance.
“Is that… a Trash Bag? She’s taking out the trash?” Du Qing instinctively held her breath, her pupils shrinking slightly.
A person?
A living person?
According to the files, this building, occupied by “Insects,” should have no living humans left.
Outside the white mist, the two watched this startling scene warily.
Could it be an ordinary person who accidentally entered the Insect Nest?
Du Qing’s brows knit in concern. She crouched down, rummaged through her bag for the Recording Pen, and prepared to record this scene.
Although a Dormant State Insect Nest would not actively absorb living beings, it never refused any that accidentally entered.
As an observer, her task was to record and report.
Du Qing’s gaze followed the woman’s figure.
She pressed the cap of the Recording Pen, which gave a “beep” and flashed red.
“Code B-EZ… ah…” Her calm voice abruptly stopped, revealing her shock.
At the same time, Luo Chenyi’s jaw tightened, his gaze solemn.
The woman inside the white mist Barrier of the Insect Nest suddenly stopped, lifted her chin, and turned in their direction.
As if she had noticed them, her gaze landed on them.
The Recording Pen flashed red, again and again. Du Qing’s fingers pressing the cap grew cold and stiff.
The Barrier of the Insect Nest not only blocked sight, but also sound, as if it separated a little world.
Those inside shouldn’t be able to see outside.
The woman’s gaze made Du Qing’s scalp tingle.
The woman only tilted her head slightly in their direction, then turned away. After throwing out the trash, she returned to the building, her figure vanishing from sight.
Du Qing unconsciously took a step forward.
At that moment, the white mist before them, separated by more than ten meters, suddenly surged as if it had come alive, spreading toward them in an instant…
***
Xiang Rong Community, Building No.5.
The pale sky looked as if it was covered with a hazy white cloth, like stepping from outside a screen into a staged set. The seven-story apartment building now appeared right before their eyes, close enough to touch.
Du Qing pressed her brow and said to Luo Chenyi, who had also been swept into the Insect Nest, “Sorry, maybe I dragged you in too…”
Just now, as the mist surged, when their vision returned to normal, the two of them found themselves standing before Building No.5.
Luo Chenyi’s voice was calm, “We’re still within the safety distance. That step you took wasn’t enough to trigger the Nest.”
Luo Chenyi’s cold brows furrowed slightly… The expanding Barrier, the sudden appearance of a suspected living woman—these were all pulling Luo Chenyi toward a logical conclusion.
The Insect Nest had shifted from Dormant State to Mature State.
A Mature State Insect Nest was like a butterfly breaking out of its cocoon, moving from a closed phase to an active one. It would begin to lure in life forms, absorb them, and digest them further.
Luo Chenyi paused in front of the building’s door, his slender eyes narrowing as he silently gazed at the closed entrance.
After a moment, he reached out and pulled the door open.
Du Qing’s heart pounded.
According to the Special Management Bureau’s regulations, Insect Nests are ranked from F to 5 in danger level. F is the lowest, 5 is extremely unpredictable.
The Building No.5 Insect Nest was a B-level Insect Nest—dangerous for ordinary people without abilities.
Watching Luo Chenyi’s back as he entered Building No.5, Du Qing’s lashes trembled. She exhaled, forced down her fear, and followed Luo Chenyi inside.
Once inside the Insect Nest, there was only one way to survive
Find the Rules, and follow the Rules.
Fortunately, the first-floor hallway was still normal.
Bright lights filled every corner with white light.
There were no twisted words or bizarre creatures in sight. Aside from a few dark bloodstains on the stair railings, everything was orderly.
Du Qing gripped the strap of her backpack tightly, lowered her head and exhaled softly.
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Luo Chenyi’s tall figure standing in front of the elevator doors.
She walked over.
The elevator numbers ascended steadily, finally stopping at a floor.
Floor 5.