Chapter 1, No. 4 Guangming Road

Thus, Guo Changcheng came up with what he thought was a perfect solution—he decided to stay awake all night and personally go there at 2:30 AM. If no one was there, he would find a nearby McDonald's to catch a nap and return at 2:30 PM, as he figured that at least one of these two times would be correct

Fortunately, upon seeing the notice in his hand, the other party immediately understood and enthusiastically said: "Oh... oh! You must be the new comrade who joined this year, right? How should I address you? Oh—I've seen it, it's Xiao Guo! We haven't seen any newcomers around here for several years, how is it? This place is hard to find, isn't it?"

Guo Changcheng temporarily set aside his doubts and, feeling ashamed, confessed to his unimpressive academic qualifications. In the end, he added in a voice as faint as a mosquito's, "I do not study very well..."

Special Investigation Department

Guo Changcheng raised his eyes and saw the words "Human Resources and Logistics" written in large characters on the office door, white background with red letters, the red not quite right, he couldn't quite say what was wrong at that moment, yet after staring at those four characters for a long time, he suddenly realized—that was the kind of dried bloodstain...! ... with a rusted red!

The office building is bustling with people coming and going, appearing exceptionally busy

Wait a moment

He held his breath, slowly raised his head, his gaze gliding over the immaculate white dress, finally resting on the girl's bare neck

Zhao extended his hand to him warmly: "Hello, hello, a warm welcome"

However, fearing that he might appear too foolish, he hesitated to ask and simply nodded in a vague manner, saying: "Hmm."

He fell straight to the ground—indeed, in order not to appear too foolish, he even omitted the process of rolling his eyes.

Old Wu knocked on the door and said, "Is Xiao Wang there? I brought a new colleague on board. Could you please help us with the paperwork?"

The middle-aged man reading the newspaper in the reception room asked in confusion: "Ah?"

Meeting the leader? It would be better for him to go meet the devil.

Old Wu continued, "As for me, I usually work the night shift. The person working in the reception during the day is another comrade. I estimate that you will have fewer opportunities to see me in the future. Alas, I actually quite enjoy being with young people like you—did you just graduate? Which school did you attend, and what did you study?"

Old Wu, oblivious and unaware, muttered, "I truly apologize, Xiao Guo, for the trouble of coming over in the middle of the night. However, there is no other way. Our Xiao Wang, like me, can only work the night shift, so the onboarding procedures here can only be completed at this time..."

Also, because he had always been too afraid to look people in the eye, he did not notice at all that the face of the guide, Mr. Wu, was as pale as wall plaster under the light, with blood-red lips and a mouth that was stretched from ear to ear, revealing in his opening and closing that there was no tongue in his mouth

I am here for an interview, this is my notification letter—Guo Changcheng stood in place, reciting this line like memorizing a text, repeating it dozens of times in his mouth. Finally, steeling himself, he walked over and tapped on the window of the reception room with trembling hands. Before the other party had fully raised their head, he spoke in a whisper, as if delivering a last word, saying, "I... I am here to notify you, this is my application letter..."

Regardless of how anxious Zhao was before, at this moment, when he stood still to speak with someone, it resembled a flag-raising speech on a Monday morning, with a calm and unhurried pace, and a tone that was neither too enthusiastic nor slightly cold.

After a moment of silence, a very soft female voice came from inside: "Hmm, I'm here."

The cold, damp air surged out from the open office door, and Guo Changcheng's heart hung heavily in his chest, no longer beating. He realized that if he continued to play dumb at this moment, he might truly be considered foolish.

Guo Changcheng was even more perplexed. What does it mean by "there are only a few days of being busy day and night"? Do the numerous lawbreakers also hold mid-year summary meetings and experience exchange sessions?

Guo Changcheng did not have time to think about why the staff in the reception room had not yet finished their shift at this hour, and he took a deep breath, his palms sweating from nervousness

Come to report on the first day? Let me tell you, you are truly fortunate, as it happens that our leader will also be here tonight. Come, I will first introduce you to some people.

Please report to my office at 2:30 AM on August 31 (the 15th day of the 7th lunar month), bringing your resident identity card and this notification letter, at the Human Resources and Logistics Department on the first floor of No. 4 Guangming Road. On behalf of all the staff in my office, I would like to extend a warm welcome to you as our good comrade and companion.

Guo Changcheng originally thought that his future life would consist of wearing a uniform, brewing a pot of tea at work, managing files, playing solitaire during breaks, and working from 9 to 5... until he received this strange "admission notice".

In that instant, he clearly saw a person in uniform glide past him without touching the ground.

It is both humid and sticky

Both the big and small night owls have returned to their nests. Even the streets of Longcheng have begun to empty at this time, with only the occasional sound of insects chirping from the grass, appearing sporadically and startlingly.

"This is quite the coincidence, as we were just talking about you. Come here, young man, let me introduce you to our leader." Guo Changcheng was pushed forward a step by a middle-aged man from the reception area, and in a daze, he heard the loud voice behind him say, "Director Zhao, we have a new colleague this time."

Zhao Chu smiled very restrainedly, yet thoughtfully did not put him in a difficult position. Naturally, he raised his outstretched hand and casually patted Guo Changcheng on the shoulder, effortlessly engaging in small talk: "Don't be nervous, everyone working here is very united and friendly. Originally, since you arrived yesterday, I should have introduced you to everyone, but as you can see, today is a rather special day, and we are truly busy. We might not be able to attend to you right away, so please don't take it to heart. After a while, I will host a welcome party for you. Oh, look at this late hour... How about this: let Old Wu take you inside to find Wang Zheng—she is in charge of logistics—so she can help you with the onboarding procedures. Then you can go home to rest today and come back to report tomorrow morning, alright?"

Year X, Month X, Day X

Ministry of Public Security of the People's Republic of China

Guo Changcheng is unambitious, and he fears individuals with relatively strong positions or personalities the most. Since childhood, he would get weak in the knees at the sight of a teacher, and he would have to take a detour if he saw the principal from a distance of eight zhang. Clearly, he is an upstanding citizen, yet every time he sees the armed police officers stationed on the streets during National Day, he behaves like a mouse encountering a cat, causing them to scrutinize him with suspicious eyes.

Just now, I was thinking to myself that meeting the leader is no better than meeting a ghost, and now I have indeed faced the consequences. Clearly, this evening, Guo Changcheng has had quite a fruitful experience—he not only met the leader but also encountered a ghost

Guo Changcheng had not yet recovered from the terrifying atmosphere of encountering a high-ranking leader, and still felt somewhat distracted after regaining his composure

This person has a cigarette dangling from his mouth, his hands are tucked into his pockets, he has a tall and slender build, straight shoulders, thick eyebrows, deep-set eyes, and a high nose bridge. He is quite handsome, yet his expression is very gloomy

He furrowed his brows, a gust of wind swirling at his feet, using body language to fully convey the message of "Don't block the way, stop causing trouble, all of you get lost." Guo Changcheng happened to meet his gaze at that moment, and was startled by those beautiful yet indifferent black eyes, having a strange intuition—this handsome man had a bad temper

Guo Changcheng let out a sigh of relief; he particularly enjoyed being around such enthusiastic individuals. As long as the other party started talking animatedly, he only needed to nod or shake his head, without the need to organize his own words.

Upon hearing these words, Guo Changcheng felt a chill run down his spine—he did not sense any fortune; instead, he felt a cloud of misfortune rising ominously above his head

It is complete, yet one can still mispronounce words. Guo Changcheng is at a loss for tears, his face has turned into a large purple sweet potato.

The fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month, before dawn.

The light in the reception room was still on. Through the window, Guo Changcheng saw a figure in uniform, wearing a large cap, holding a newspaper and occasionally flipping through it.

Guo Changcheng, partially paralyzed, wiped the sweat from his palm onto his trousers a few times, and then embarrassingly reached out the wrong hand, almost grabbing the back of his future superior's hand. He quickly retracted it as if it were a switch, his movements could be described as "lightning speed" and "fidgeting nervously." The armpits and back of his short-sleeved shirt were instantly soaked with sweat, and a brand new world map was slowly taking shape on his body.

He... he still does not have feet

Beneath the doorplate number, there is a line of small characters engraved on the stone that reads "Special Investigation Office," with a public security emblem below it

Thus, Guo Changcheng, living up to expectations, did not find a job after graduation and spent more than half a year idly at home

His smile revealed two shallow dimples on his cheeks, and the corner of his mouth, which held a cigarette, appeared slightly crooked. His eyes curved, giving him a somewhat mischievous look—mischievous yet perfectly balanced, approachable.

Guo Changcheng suddenly turned around, directly facing Old Wu's paper-thin face and his gaping mouth that stretched to his earlobes

At two thirty in the morning, the dew began to fall, and the air started to become humid

What does it mean to only be able to work the night shift

What is this? A private school?

Thus, he continued to evade until midnight on August 30, and this call was never made.

His maternal uncle indeed found him a uniquely interesting job

After pausing for two seconds, Guo Changcheng did not make a sound and simply fainted.

One second later, Guo Changcheng emitted a choking sound from his throat as if it were being strangled, his mouth half-open, unable to even scream. His eyes bulged as if they were about to pop out, and he took a step back in a mix of fear and shock, his limbs cold and numb, as if they no longer belonged to him

Guo Changcheng suddenly felt a new layer of cold sweat break out on his back. He mustered his courage and, trembling, cast a glance at the hurriedly passing staff, at which point he felt completely chilled to the bone.

At this hour, the subway in the city has already stopped running, so Guo Changcheng had no choice but to drive over himself. After quite a bit of effort, he finally found the right place with the help of the navigation system

A cold hand rested on his shoulder, and Old Wu's voice came to his ear: "Hey, Xiao Guo, what happened to you?"

At that moment, the main door of the small building was pushed open from the inside, and a young man strode out with great strides.

Guo Changcheng lost both of his parents at a young age. He is unremarkable in appearance, with a reclusive and timid personality, naturally suited for a life of begging. Fortunately, his relatives have treated him well, taking turns to care for him until he graduated from university

It was not until this moment that Guo Changcheng began to feel somewhat strange. Logically speaking, if there were indeed urgent matters, working overtime in the middle of the night would be quite normal, but was it really necessary for the communication room, logistics, and personnel departments to also work overtime together

Is it still based on the lunar calendar

However, when the handsome man saw someone standing at the door, he suddenly came to a screeching halt, and in the next moment, he skillfully changed his expression, leaping from a thunderstorm directly to a clear blue sky, naturally revealing a warm smile without any buffer zone

The sound seemed distant, yet it also felt as if it were floating right beside the ear. Guo Changcheng instinctively shivered, feeling a chill at the back of his neck

He saw ... ! ... He saw a circle of "red thread" around the girl's neck ... ! It was not an ornament, but tightly adhered to the skin. ... ... The delicate stitches that sewed the head and neck together !

It is uncertain whether it is due to the wind, but it always seems as if there is a shadow of something swaying in the corner. When walking on the street, one often feels as if something happened behind them, as if someone is staring at them.

Upon receiving the notification, Guo Changcheng initially thought there had been some mistake. However, he saw that the document prominently stated: "Comrade Guo Changcheng, congratulations on your employment with our department. Here, you will enjoy the benefits of a national civil servant, along with a salary and welfare that surpass those of employees in similar positions in other departments. At the same time, you will also bear the important responsibility of serving the people. We hope that in your new position, you will be dedicated to your work, strive for progress, obey organizational leadership, foster camaraderie with your colleagues, and contribute to social stability and national prosperity."

No. 4 Guangming Road is not street-facing, located in a very secluded courtyard. Guo Changcheng stood at the entrance of the courtyard, carefully observing for a long time, and finally, with the light from his mobile phone screen, found a small sign hidden beneath the dense leaves of the climbing ivy, clearly seeing the door number.

The door of the office in front creaked open, the hinges emitting a hoarse murmur. A young girl dressed in a white dress appeared at the doorway, her ethereal voice sending shivers down one's spine as she asked, "Have you brought the notification letter and your ID?"

Logically, upon seeing this bizarre reporting time, a normal person would assume it to be a printing error and would at least make a phone call to confirm. However, Guo Changcheng already had social anxiety, and his half-year of living as a recluse had exacerbated his severe phone phobia. Just the thought of needing to call someone caused him such psychological pressure that he would lose sleep for an entire night.

Noticing his look of confusion, Old Wu kindly explained from the side: "Xiao Guo, please don't misunderstand. Most of the time in the future, you will also be working day shifts. As long as there are no major cases, we rarely work overtime at night. But isn't it July now? There are only a few days each year when we are busy day and night. You won't be at a disadvantage; overtime pay is calculated at three times the regular wage, and the monthly bonus will be doubled."

Old Wu is probably a die-hard fan of Director Zhao. Even after listening to a bunch of irrelevant nonsense, he is as happy as a lark, chatting incessantly with Guo Changcheng as they walk into the office building: "Our Director Zhao, young and capable, has a good temper, and always treats people with humility..."

At this time, Guo Changcheng walked into No. 4 Guangming Road holding his notification letter

"Oh, not at all! You are a university student!" Old Wu waved his hand, "I just like cultured young people, because I am not capable myself. When I was a child, my family was poor. When I was about seven or eight years old, I studied for a few years at a private school with the village teacher. The teacher left for better opportunities after a few years. Over the years, the little I learned has almost all been returned to the teacher; I can hardly recognize all the characters and can only barely understand the newspaper."

Guo Changcheng quickly nodded his head

The greenery in the yard is well done, with parking spaces at the entrance. As one walks in, there is a row of lush and leafy locust trees, which almost forms a small forest, leaving only a narrow path. Passing through, he finally sees a small house that appears to be a reception room, along with an office building that has seen better days.

Later, his second uncle was transferred to the Ministry of Public Security. Unable to bear it any longer, he sought connections to secure a position for his inept nephew within the public security system, hoping to at least give him something to do

I apologize, but I have something urgent to attend to and must leave for a while. If you need anything later, feel free to reach out to me without hesitation. We are all family from now on. Thank you for your hard work today! Zhao expressed his apologies with a smile to Guo Changcheng, greeted Old Wu from the reception room, and then hurriedly left.

At this moment, Old Wu said cheerfully, "Oh, we have arrived!"

Guo Changcheng once again did not understand, but he was still afraid of appearing too foolish and did not have the courage to ask further questions

Unfortunately, Guo Changcheng himself is not ambitious; he merely stumbled through a mediocre university, achieving rather average grades. Although he is a young man of considerable stature, he cannot even muster a word in front of strangers.