Chapter 2, Film

Xiao Zhi looked at the doorplate number, 2443, which did not sound very auspicious

As the memory of the film's plot became increasingly vivid, the beads of sweat on Xiao Zhi's forehead grew larger.

If I remember correctly, the movie is titled "Zombie". Qian Xiaohai plays a character who is a washed-up individual struggling in both love and career. Unable to bear the immense psychological pressure, he specifically comes to this public building to hang himself. Before his death, he imagines a terrifying ghost story based on his life experiences as an actor.

In the 1990s, this actor Qian Xiaohai was very famous, having appeared in numerous films and television dramas, showcasing exceptional acting skills and garnering significant attention from audiences. However, for reasons unknown, he gradually faded from the public eye.

As the two of them entered the room, Xiao Zhi's hand trembled on the door, and his pupils constricted sharply

The Imaginary World of Martial Arts Star Qian Xiaohai

Now is the world of imagination

After a while, Uncle Yan stopped in his tracks, the key ring in his hand clattering noisily as he searched. He said, "This is your room. I knew you were coming, so I had someone clean it in advance! However, you will need to clean the room and the hallway yourself in the future, as hiring someone can be quite expensive."

Because he has indeed traversed

Thinking while walking

Compared to other characters, he possesses a unique advantage, which is his knowledge of the direction of the plot's development. As long as he seizes the right moment, he can achieve the effect of seeking good fortune and avoiding misfortune

In reality, Qian Xiaohai has already begun to hang himself

However, it is not a reality of Hong Kong from the past, but rather a traversal into the Hong Kong of the film world in 2013! Just now, Qian Xiaohai's disheveled appearance with sunglasses, along with Uncle Yan's mysterious and mumbling demeanor, combined with this oppressive public housing block in a square shape, suddenly reminded Xiao Zhi of a horror movie he watched a few years ago

He understood that he had become a prisoner, confined within the boundaries of this public building by the thick fog

Uncle Yan indeed cannot see the piece of paper in his hand, which can be determined from his eyes filled with love for the mentally challenged

In the film, the narrative is divided into two layers: the real world and the imagined world. The reality is quite simple; Qian Xiaohai enters a public building room and hangs himself, which then concludes the scene, lasting only a few minutes.

Uncle Yan glanced at his hand: "Quite fair and delicate, but it's getting late. Let me arrange a room for you to rest for a while."

It is not that he does not want to leave, but rather that everything within a two-hundred-meter radius of the public building is shrouded in a thick, white mist, with pedestrians moving in and out of the fog without any obstruction. However, as he approaches the dense fog, he is met with an invisible force that prevents him from advancing even a fraction.

Only Uncle Yan and a man in sunglasses, holding a heavy suitcase, were seen standing at the door next door. Uncle Yan was chattering about everything in the public building, but the man in sunglasses was somewhat silent, occasionally nodding in response, which made the atmosphere a bit awkward

After standing in place for a long time, Xiao Zhi slowly turned and walked towards the public building

Xiao Zhi sat on the sofa, rubbing his brow in contemplation, reflecting on everything that had transpired, from the initial encounter with the middle-aged man who had attempted to scam him with the hourglass to the current situation of time travel. The more he thought about it, the more uneasy he felt; it was certain that this hourglass was definitely not a good thing and posed a certain level of danger

Xiao Zhi did not recognize him at first glance, because compared to the handsome and youthful Qian Xiaohai in the film and television dramas, the Qian Xiaohai just now appeared too old. He had crow's feet at the corners of his eyes, a scruffy beard, and his overall appearance suggested he was in his forties or fifties, exuding a strong sense of despondency

He felt a stir in his heart, quickly walked over, and feigned a look of confusion as he asked, "What happened?"

Qian Xiaogao

However, Xiao Zhi did not have the time to sympathize with Qian Xiaohai's situation

About two hundred meters away from the public building, Xiao Zhi came to a stop.

His parents are alive, and he runs a company with considerable income. His own job is merely a hobby. In a life that is smooth sailing, no one would think of dying! Moreover, he, Xiao Zhi, is someone who cherishes life greatly, believing that life should be enjoyed to the fullest and is of the utmost value

Thus, the sight of Uncle Yan taking out the incense and lighting it while reciting incantations was the most shocking to Xiao Zhi! ... Because in the realm of reality, each character is merely an ordinary person, devoid of any ghosts or monsters, and there certainly wouldn't be someone like Uncle Yan, who acts as an administrator and exhibits such neurotic behavior with incense.

Xiao Zhi furrowed his brows, as this statement made one feel inexplicably uncomfortable

The information is too scarce, the clues are too vague, and it is completely useless

The woman next door looked him up and down and said, "You must be a new tenant as well. In room 2442, a washed-up star moved in and, in a moment of despair, hanged himself in the room... Fortunately, Ayou discovered it in time; otherwise, dying here... would truly be bad luck."

At this moment, a sound came from the next room, and Uncle Yan walked out of room 2442, his face bearing a look of concern as he sighed and left

Xiao Zhi's expression was somewhat gloomy

Walking in such an old corridor gives Xiao Zhi a sense of being in the early 1990s

Therefore, the information on this piece of paper is intended solely for him, Xiao Zhi.

The sky is overcast

With a creak, he unlocked the door

However, the terrifying world imagined before death occupies almost the entire duration of the film. In this imagined world, there are malevolent spirits, zombies, ghostly soldiers, little demons, and sorcerers, all of which are utterly terrifying

The middle-aged man, as the owner of the hourglass, must have suffered from it, which is why he has become such a ghastly figure! He is eager to get rid of the hourglass! But why is it him in particular? At first, the middle-aged man had no intention of giving away the hourglass; it was only after his gaze fell upon him that he suddenly wanted to part with it! Could it be that there are conditions attached to giving away the hourglass?

Otherwise, middle-aged individuals would have casually given gifts to anyone, and it would not have come to the point of using suicide as a means to force him to accept gifts

The man in sunglasses is the famous martial arts star Qian Xiaohai from the 1990s

At this moment, sounds came from outside the room

The movie "Zombie" is certainly terrifying, but it is not entirely without a chance of survival

Xiao Zhi contemplated for a moment, then quickly left the room. He hurried past room 2442, and even though the door was closed, he did not dare to take a glance. He directly took the elevator down, crossed the rust-stained public building's main door, and hurriedly walked outside

Uncle Yan brought him into the room, hurriedly introduced him, and was about to leave, saying that another tenant would be coming soon, who used to be a big star, but has now fallen out of favor and ended up here. He also instructed Xiao Zhi that if he needed any other daily necessities, there was a small supermarket on the first floor where he could buy them.

He followed the old administrator, Uncle Yan, into the elevator of the public building. As he stepped out of the elevator, he covered his nose, for a strong smell of decay rushed towards him from the corridor outside, faintly accompanied by a hint of burnt vegetation.

Returning to the public building, just as he stepped out of the elevator, Xiao Zhi discovered a crowd gathered at the door of room 2442, pointing and gesturing inside

At this moment, the paper turned to ashes, disappearing without a trace. Compared to the hourglass, this small peculiarity is much easier to accept! Xiao Zhi decided to go with the flow and settle down for the time being, planning to assess the surrounding situation before making any further decisions

Xiao Zhi hesitated for a moment, then got up and opened the door a crack to peek outside

Xiao Zhi pinched a piece of paper, and with a glance at the old administrator, Uncle Yan, he suddenly asked, "Uncle Yan, what do you think this is"

Uncle Yan has a rather good temper, as if he is not surprised by anything. After he opened the door, he took out three incense sticks from somewhere and lit them. He stepped into the room first, murmuring in a negotiating tone: "Let’s get along well, don’t cause any trouble... don’t cause any trouble, please..."

He raised the rough piece of paper in his hand

He can only follow the guidance of the paper to survive until the end

Does he possess any special qualities?

The horror plot imagined by Qian Xiaogao basically revolves around a public building; as long as he leaves this building, he will be safe

The room seems to have been uninhabited for a long time, and the smell of decay is stronger than that in the corridor

He was startled