Apartment Building No. 5 (4)
Jiang Xi naturally hurried to go out.
Mother’s cooking was getting sloppier and sloppier, and Jiang Xi hadn’t stopped trying to get out of this white fog.
But once entering the white fog, it was like stepping into an invisible maze.
No matter which direction she went, she would always end up back at Apartment Building No. 5.
According to the memo, since May 4th, no one in her family had left the house!
If she didn’t go out soon, she would definitely starve to death…
Thinking this, Jiang Xi pressed her hand against her empty stomach, looking at Di Qing and Luo Chen Yi with a hint of admiration in her eyes.
She was aware that over the past three days, Luo Chen Yi and Di Qing were the only ones who had come in from the outside world, and Dong, who claimed to be official, practically had the phrase “I am your hope to go out” written all over her face.
Of course, Jiang Xi placed the burden of going out on them.
For this, she had even violated family rules and argued with property management.
Since Luo Chen Yi and Di Qing were willing to take her out, Jiang Xi decided to be a little kinder to them.
To ease their suspicion.
Whether it was related to her memory loss or not, the abnormal changes in her mother’s condition did not instill fear in Jiang Xi.
Di Qing and Luo Chen Yi, who lived in constant vigilance against the “Corrupted,” held a wary attitude toward her.
They believed that Mother was an accomplice of the “monsters,” and by extension, they also became suspicious of Jiang Xi, who shared a room with her.
And Jiang Xi’s indifferent reaction after learning about the situation only deepened their wariness.
Facing the two’s cautious gazes, Jiang Xi’s tone carried a hint of confusion: “Actually, I don’t remember anything.”
She was very earnest: “Is this normal?”
Memory loss?
Memory loss… obviously couldn’t be considered normal!
Di Qing was dumbfounded, unable to tell if Jiang Xi was lying.
Can a person with memory loss remain so calm?
Wait… could it be that because of her memory loss, not understanding anything, Jiang Xi was able to stay so composed?
Meanwhile, Luo Chen Yi’s attitude was noncommittal.
“Ms. Jiang, after we get out, we can do a thorough examination of your condition,” he said at an appropriate moment, soothing her: “We will definitely bring you out safely.”
Jiang Xi also expressed her trust: “Okay, I trust you.”
“By the way, Ms. Jiang, have you seen any other rules similar to the family regulations?” Luo Chen Yi asked.
“The family rules that appeared in your home, as well as similar written notes or readable documents, could all have some binding effect on the Hive.”
“Rules are a symbol of order within the Hive, and at the same time, clues for humans to leave the Hive.”
Jiang Xi digested the information Luo Chen Yi brought and thought for a moment: “The elevator… there was a set of rules. If you took the elevator up, you should have seen them.”
“Also…” Jiang Xi said, “Property management’s notice to the owner.”
Di Qing’s eyes brightened: “Posted in the corridor.”
“Apartment corridor,” Jiang Xi confirmed.
“But I can’t take you to see them right now.”
Just as Jiang Xi finished speaking, the computer on the desk emitted a “ding.”
The computer started up, and the sound of the fan spinning filled the room.
The sudden noise interrupted the three’s conversation.
When they turned their attention to the source of the sound—
The desktop computer on the desk, which Di Qing and Luo Chen Yi had seen the moment they entered, was tightly wrapped in a cloth, as if it had been left untouched for a long time, to avoid dust settling.
But at that moment, a strange startup melody sounded, and the covered computer suddenly trembled violently.
Di Qing watched helplessly at the scene, as if a snake trapped inside a sack was frantically twisting around…
The cloth covering the computer bulged at one corner, as something inside struggled wildly!
“… What is this?” Di Qing’s voice caught in her throat.
“Family Rule No. 2,” Jiang Xi didn’t directly answer Di Qing, but instead shifted the topic: “7:30-11:30, 14:00-16:30 are free activity times; you need to return to the bedroom and lock the door tightly.”
“So you can’t go out now.”
The woman’s calm voice immediately triggered Luo Chen Yi’s memory.
[2. 7:30-11:30, 14:00-16:30 is work/study time (the original text was crossed out with black ink and changed to free activity time). You need to return to your bedroom and lock the door.]
Recalling the black ink crossing out in Family Rule No. 2, Luo Chen Yi’s eyes twitched slightly: “It’s free activity time, not study time.”
“It was originally study time,” Jiang Xi warned him faintly, “But why study? I don’t want to study, so I changed it to free activity time.”
“…“ Di Qing actually felt this was reasonable.
Luo Chen Yi paused and then asked, “After modifying the rules, did you feel any discomfort?”
Jiang Xi: “I feel a bit tired, like I haven’t had a full night’s sleep for days…”
The computer beside Jiang Xi was still making noises, as if the unknown presence inside was about to break free at any moment.
Luo Chen Yi shifted his gaze back to the computer: “Ms. Jiang, what is the presence wrapped under that cloth?”
Jiang Xi found it hard to explain: “… An online class Teacher.”
“…?” Di Qing was confused: “Examiner?”
Luo Chen Yi raised an eyebrow, about to ask more, when a sharp “knock” came from the door.
… Silence fell for a moment, and the three focused their attention on the bedroom door.
“Sha sha…”
“Sha sha…”
It sounded like wings fluttering outside the door. Huge wings pressed against the doorframe, pounding heavily against the door one beat after another.
“Actually, whether to study or not isn’t the main point…” Jiang Xi lowered her voice: “Our family rule means that during the specified times, we must return to the bedroom and lock the door tightly.”
Her voice had a faint rasp, very light, like a thread of smoke.
As Jiang Xi’s voice fell, Di Qing was stunned, a sudden sharp tension tightening in her mind.
And that tension vibrated violently the moment the door was forcefully knocked.
“Gulp! Sip! Gulp!”
The strange sound came through the door crack.
It didn’t sound like a voice from the throat, but like a strange timbre generated by vibrations in a stomach.
“Child of sin. Give it, Mother. Open the door.”
“Open up quickly.”
“Quick, quick, quick!”
With a “click,” the door handle turned.
Di Qing gasped, her scalp tingling instantly.
Her eyes fixed tightly on the turning door handle.
The sound of wings beating outside seemed to penetrate the door crack and transformed into an invisible insect flying inside.
Among the three in the bedroom, Di Qing was the only ordinary person without any ability.
Her mental value was the lowest—D rank.
Spiritual power ranged from low to high, F to SS.
As a normal person entering the Hive for the first time, D rank was not low.
This was also why Di Qing was able to enter the National Special Management Bureau’s Intelligence Department.
But clearly, a D rank spiritual value was no match against the contamination of a B-rank instance.
The repetitive words sounded like melting ice, twisting into indistinct murmurs, and Di Qing suddenly felt dizzy, her vision turning blurry—
She seemed to see a huge insect, flapping its wings and wriggling its antennae, embracing her head in a protective manner.
Opening.
Opening.
Opening the door.
“Calm down,” a calm male voice whispered in her ear, dissipating the chaotic murmurs.
Like a sharp sword cutting through the fog, Di Qing was startled awake and looked down—her toes were only a step away from the door.
“Heaven…” A drop of cold sweat slid down her nose as Di Qing quickly stepped back a few steps and turned to face Luo Chen Yi. “Thank you… Team Leader Luo.”
“Is it all your ability?”
The speaker’s voice carried a hint of doubt.
At this moment, Di Qing’s extremely sensitive subconscious threw a glance toward the speaker.
Surprisingly, the contamination powerful enough to affect D-rank spiritual values didn’t affect Jiang Xi at all.
She was still sitting in front of the computer, her right hand pressing against the bulging, trembling cloth.
Noticing Di Qing’s gaze, Jiang Xi smiled faintly and explained: “The Teacher in the computer is quite lively.”
Di Qing: “… Ms. Jiang, don’t you feel uncomfortable?”
Jiang Xi’s attitude was very serious: “What do you mean by uncomfortable? Could you be more specific?”
Di Qing knitted her brows slightly and looked at Luo Chen Yi.
But Luo Chen Yi stepped closer to Jiang Xi, placing his slender fingers on the cloth: “Let me see.”
Jiang Xi lowered her head to watch his fingers, not moving her right hand: “Not very convenient.”
“The Examiner is… not very good looking,” she said tactfully.
“No problem.” Luo Chen Yi’s voice was gentle and patient, with a soothing tone guiding her: “I can control her, you can trust me.”
Luo Chen Yi applied a little force, and the resistance eased.
He easily pulled back the cloth covering the desktop computer, revealing the screen underneath.
Jiang Xi watched Luo Chen Yi’s movements, curious.
Just one sentence from Luo Chen Yi was enough to snap Di Qing back to clarity. Jiang Xi looked at him, wondering what else he could do.
On the screen, a video was playing automatically.
The video showed a clean classroom.
At the podium was a middle-aged woman, glaring fiercely at the screen.
Her angry gaze seemed to penetrate the screen and fall on the faces of everyone watching.
Jiang Xi commented naturally: “It’s obviously free activity time, but she keeps pushing me to attend class. Very annoying, right?”
The original class time had been changed by Jiang Xi into free activity time, and the modification was successful.
No matter how angry the Teacher was, it was useless—she could only furiously glare at Jiang Xi.
The angry glare seemed almost tangible, making Di Qing’s back cold and her heart filled with dread: “Ugh…”
The woman stared at the three of them; the corners of her lips suddenly cracked open, and her eyes rolled inward.
Visually, this contamination was clear. Knowing her own spiritual level was low, Di Qing hurriedly shut her eyes.
Jiang Xi furrowed her brow and pinched the tablecloth: “Better cover it back up…”
Her action was blocked by a cool hand.
Luo Chen Yi spoke softly: “Wait.”
He lowered his head, and a ring of ripples appeared in his clear eyes, like raindrops falling into water, sending waves outward.
The woman in the computer screamed piercingly.
The knocking outside stopped for a moment.
The woman’s features, like rubber, twisted grotesquely. With a “clack,” she fell backward under the podium.
“Now you can cover it,” Luo Chen Yi said, lifting his thin eyelids and meeting Jiang Xi’s eyes.
His black eyes seemed to be shrouded in a dark mist.
From them, Luo Chen Yi easily read a strong interest—she was curious.
He was momentarily stunned and said, “This is my Corruption ability.”
He paused slightly, then continued, “But anyone who enters the Hive has a chance to gain abilities.”
“The ability to modify and generate rules usually belongs to the order type.
Your ability tends toward order.”
“Do I have an ability too?” Jiang Xi thought she had always been reasonable.
“Thank you, Team Leader Luo.” Jiang Xi thanked Luo Chen Yi.
Though he wasn’t talkative, he still explained things to her—he really was a good person.
Jiang Xi asked while seizing the opportunity: “You just mentioned the Hive… what is it?”
Catching sight of the sweat dripping from Di Qing’s forehead, Jiang Xi comforted her: “It’s okay. I locked the door from the inside when you came in. You wouldn’t have been able to open it anyway.”
The knocking outside seemed to pause for a moment.
Di Qing blinked and smiled, brushing the stray hair off her forehead behind her ear.
She took over the explanation: “The monster-occupied area we call the Hive. The core monster of the Hive, we call the Mother Hive. The Mother Hive guards the egg, and the egg is the core energy of the Hive. To destroy the Hive, you have to find the egg first.” Di Qing spoke slowly.
Jiang Xi: “So, the monsters are some kind of insects?”
Di Qing shook her head and gave a strange smile, laced with an unclear mockery: “They are not any species that exist on Earth.”
“Calling the monsters insects is just because… they hate being called insects.”