Chapter 7, The Wordless Elevator

The sensation coming from beneath his feet informs Zhao Lingjun that he is standing on a solid floor.

"Then..." Zhao Lingjun paused before resolutely saying, "But just now, I saw that the illuminated button had no numbers on it at all"

What are they doing... ? Zhao Lingjun quietly asked Zhang Changsheng. This seems rather inappropriate, doesn't it

Then Zhao Lingjun heard a click, and the surroundings instantly lit up. Zhao Lingjun turned his head and found that Xiao Ping had just removed his hand from the button on the wall

Oh, that is because our boss believes that the number 14 is unlucky, and specifically had it removed at the beginning. "So next time, you just need to press the key without a number." said Xiao Ping

Whenever Zhao Lingjun thought of the last guy's bloodied and mangled appearance, he felt a chill run through his entire body, unable to resist continuously staring at the fluctuating numbers on the elevator display

"Because the rent price on the 14th floor is the cheapest among all the floors," Zhang Changsheng said to Zhao Lingjun

The button that glowed with an eerie red light was as smooth as the white surface of a mahjong tile. Could it be that everything I encountered after coming out of that place was... Zhao Lingjun dared not think further and also did not dare to look back at the group of colleagues with their strange smiles.

"Our company is on the 14th floor," said Xiao Ping

What is going on? Have they really let me go? Zhao Lingjun turned around in surprise, only to see a group of people and illustrations behind her, all staring at her as if she were a fool

"Well, if that's the case, just install a voice-controlled light," Zhang Changsheng chimed in, then looked at Zhao Lingjun with a half-smile, "Although the corridor is a bit dark on cloudy days, you don't need to react so strongly."

"Let's go, what are you standing there for?"

You will know soon enough. At this moment, everyone in the elevator gave Zhao Lingjun a strange smile.

Zhao Lingjun originally wanted to say, "I thought you were all vengeful spirits." However, upon realizing that saying this would only make everyone think they were crazy, Zhao Lingjun could only shamefully say, "I have been afraid of the dark since I was a child."

At that moment, the elevator let out a creaking sound and came to a stop. The elevator doors opened, revealing a pitch-black expanse ahead

However, before the call of Zhao Lingjun was finished, he realized that he had not, as he had imagined, stepped into empty space.

"It's nothing, you'll get used to it in the future," Zhang Changsheng said. "These two cars belong to Gao Ya Zhen and Zhang Panzai. Those people have suffered quite a bit at their hands in the company."

Lin Yiren's laughter sent a chill down Zhao Lingjun's spine. Unable to contain herself, Zhao Lingjun asked Lin Yiren, "Senior, what are you laughing about? Isn't it quite easy to change jobs now?"

I, Zhao Lingjun, have never committed any heinous acts in my life, and I am still a CN. Am I really destined to meet my end here? Zhao Lingjun looked at the pitch-black corridor outside the elevator, feeling exceptionally sorrowful. Zhao Lingjun thought that if he stepped out this time, he would surely end up like those characters in horror movies, battered and bloodied. He really wanted to turn back, shout out loud, and say, "I don't want to, I don't want to go out." Zhao Lingjun thought that if he stepped out this time, he would surely end up like those characters in horror movies, battered and bloodied. He really wanted to turn back, shout out loud, and say, "I don't want to, I don't want to go out."

Zhao Lingjun turned around and saw that the one who laughed three times in grief and anger was indeed Lin Yiren, who had been deceived by Hao Meili with a pre-tax salary of 1,800 yuan, as Zhang Changsheng had mentioned

He might be afraid of the dark. Zhao Lingjun heard someone say. "Bucky Zhen and Fatty Zhang always do this. After walking over, they even turn off the lights at the end of the corridor. Do they really need to save on this little bit of electricity? It's truly ridiculous.

Zhang Changsheng nodded at a young man wearing a short-sleeved shirt and said: "Look at that one spitting at the car. He is in charge of client relations, named Lin Yiren. He was lured here by Baoya Zhen with a salary of 1,800 yuan. Moreover, that 1,800 yuan is before tax, and he hasn't paid any social insurance."

Is it that simple? Hahaha. At this moment, not only Lin Yiren, but even Xiao Ping, who was beside Lin Yiren and dressed in a mismatched sports outfit, couldn't help but laugh three times.

The eerie smiles on everyone's faces sent a shiver down Zhao Lingjun's spine. For no apparent reason, he recalled a horror film he had seen long ago. In that film, a minor character also encountered a group of people with strange smiles in an elevator. After the elevator started moving, it ascended, but the character saw the numbers on the display continuously dropping to 0, -1, -2. Ultimately, the elevator stopped at a nonexistent -18. After the elevator came to a halt, the character, trembling with fear, stepped out. However, as soon as he exited, he fell to his death. It turned out that the elevator had stopped in mid-air.

Everyone who has taken an elevator knows that after you enter, you press the button corresponding to the floor you wish to go to, and that button will remain lit until the elevator reaches your desired floor

What is this young man doing, lost in thought at the elevator entrance? As Zhao Lingjun was compelled to take a step forward, he heard someone say this behind him

Indeed, it was like this. Zhao Lingjun's heart skipped a beat, almost stopping immediately.

* * *

Since the boss believes that the number 14 is unlucky, why did he still choose to rent the 14th floor as our office space? Zhao Lingjun asked, feeling extremely frustrated

Zhao Lingjun was once again left speechless

Since they are so unhappy with their work, why don't they change jobs? Zhao Lingjun feels that this company is becoming increasingly strange

Although Zhao Lingjun was officially starting work for the first day, he had already taken this elevator many times. Moreover, Zhao Lingjun had a vivid memory of an elevator advertisement, hetushu.com, because the slogan was "Up and down, in and out, fast feeling." Therefore, Zhao Lingjun certainly understood this much. However, at this moment, apart from a chilling sensation throughout his body, he felt no sense of speed at all. He glanced at the illuminated button and was surprised to see that there were no numbers on it.

Then Zhao Lingjun saw someone patiently wiping off the mud caked on their shoes from the wheel hubs of the two vehicles

It seems that my life is over now. They still pushed me down. Zhao Lingjun thought with great sorrow, and then let out a mournful cry. Ah~~

Thank you, Brother Xiao. Looking at Xiao Ping's protruding belly, Zhao Lingjun felt a mix of emotions, almost wanting to cry. However, Zhao Lingjun still thought of a very important question and asked Xiao Ping, "Which floor is our company on? I didn't pay attention to which number you pressed just now."

What is wrong with all of you? Am I not speaking correctly? Zhao Lingjun looked at Xiao Ping, who was already slightly balding, had a noticeable little belly, and was short and chubby, yet dressed in a full set of mismatched sportswear, wanting to laugh but unable to do so

At that moment, however, Zhao Lingjun felt a surge of great force. Uncontrollably, Zhao Lingjun took a step forward.

As Zhao Lingjun watched the flickering numbers, he recalled that it was Hao Meili who had taken him upstairs yesterday, and he had not paid any attention to which floor the company was on. If he were to come alone today, he would probably have to make a phone call to ask which floor to get off the elevator, which would be quite embarrassing

"Oh, then you should stand a bit closer inside in the future," said Xiao Ping, dressed in sportswear, as he patted Zhao Lingjun's shoulder and addressed everyone. "It's normal to be afraid of the dark; I've heard that Andy Lau is afraid of mice too. But you don't need to worry; from now on, we'll go out first to help you turn on the lights."

"Look at that person cleaning mud off Zhang Pangzi's Honda tire; his name is Xiao Ping, and he works in the sales department. He was reported by Zhang Pangzi for being two minutes late, which resulted in his entire monthly bonus being deducted." Zhang Changsheng pointed to a young man dressed in sportswear. "If I hadn't stopped him last time, he would have already punctured Zhang Pangzi's tire with a nail."

Thus, Zhao Lingjun turned his head while watching the rising numbers, to see which floor his company was on.

However, at first glance, Zhao Lingjun nearly collapsed, frightened to the point of fainting.

When Zhao Lingjun, Zhang Changsheng, and a group of people from the company arrived at the bottom of the building, stepping through the muddy rainwater, Zhao Lingjun noticed a red Polo and a black Honda parked in the company's parking lot.

Zhao Lingjun heard someone speaking to him from behind

"Pah." Zhao Lingjun saw someone spitting angrily towards the location of the two cars.

"Changing jobs? Hahaha." When entering the elevator, a guy walking behind Zhao Lingjun laughed bitterly three times upon hearing Zhao Lingjun ask Zhang Changsheng this question.