Chapter 08: Survivors

"Who is it? Please wait a moment." A woman's voice came from inside, sounding somewhat aged. After a short while, the door opened, and then a small window on the security door was opened. A woman with a slightly weary expression appeared there, seemingly in her sixties or seventies. The elderly woman carefully scrutinized Tang Xiaosi and Mo Mingzhi at the door and hesitantly asked, "Who are you looking for?"

No. 86, Chaoyang Road, 3-101, this should be the right place. After glancing at the security door in front of him, Tang Xiaosi finally confirmed the address and reached out to press the doorbell

I want to say, I have nothing to help you with. The old man said coldly, and was about to close the small window

The old man pondered for a moment. At that time, he only noticed that the girl was very beautiful, but he did not pay attention to what she was wearing. For a moment, he could not recall. "She is indeed very beautiful, the kind you described as cute, and she is about the same age... I really don't remember the clothes... So? Are you interested in this girl?"

"Students?" Tang Xiaosi murmured to herself, "Nineteen ninety-one... the first two years... City B... students..." Tang Xiaosi felt a chill run down her back. Although that period of history had been deliberately erased, many people still knew the truth of the matter through word of mouth. Moreover, having spent so much time with Qi Siyu, they had to be aware of such large-scale incidents involving deaths. "Grandma Liu, are you saying... it's related to those students?" Although that period of history had been deliberately erased, many people still knew the truth of the matter through word of mouth. Moreover, having spent so much time with Qi Siyu, they had to be aware of such large-scale incidents involving deaths. "Grandma Liu, are you saying... it's related to those students?"

"We... we have encountered some matters that require your assistance," Mo Mingzhi said softly. The old man's gaze swept over Mo Mingzhi's face, and Tang Xiaosi noticed her lips twitch slightly. Indeed, Mo Mingzhi was wearing a mask, and the sudden sight was quite frightening. If she could also match it with a cold, monotonous voice, it would be even more perfect

The more specific matters in the hospital have already been explained to them by Lao Gao. The elderly person's account was also quite similar, but it carried an additional sense of dread compared to Lao Gao's. Once the story was finished, the elder indicated it was time to see the guests off. The two girls were not hesitant and stood up to bid farewell to the elder. Just as they were about to leave, the elder suddenly asked, "By the way, you mentioned you are friends of Xiao Gao. Why didn't I see you at his funeral?"

"What do you want with Liu Yudi?" The old man stared intently at Tang Xiaosi, as if he wanted to see through her, making Tang Xiaosi feel somewhat uncomfortable

Grandma Liu ... ... "Mo Mingzhi suddenly interrupted the old woman's words, which made the elder somewhat displeased. However, Mo Mingzhi couldn't care too much, as she had only seen that one beautiful girl. "Is the girl you mentioned very cute? She wore a white shirt with lace trim on top and a white skirt with yellow flowers on the bottom, looking very elegant and simple, that kind of style?"

"Doctor Shen..." Upon hearing Shen Gang's name, the elderly woman's movements came to a halt. She glanced at Tang Xiaosi, then at Mo Mingzhi, and asked, "Doctor Shen's grandson sent you to find me?" There was a hint of peculiarity in her expression

"Yes, Grandma Liu." Tang Xiaosi directly addressed her as Grandma Liu. "Old Gao is my friend, a close one. We have encountered some issues and hope to receive some assistance from you."

We ... ... have seen a ghost ... ...

"Resident Evil? This metaphor is quite vivid." The old man chuckled self-deprecatingly, "That's how it is, those villagers who were infected had very low physiological indices. At first, they were relatively quiet, but later, a few patients began to convulse and exhibit symptoms, vomiting blood or foam..." A trace of fear appeared on the old man's face, clearly, more than forty years had not erased the shadow in her heart. "That's how it is, those villagers who were infected had very low physiological indices. At first, they were relatively quiet, but later, a few patients began to convulse and exhibit symptoms, vomiting blood or foam..." A trace of fear appeared on the old man's face, clearly, more than forty years had not erased the shadow in her heart. "At that time, several patients had been examined and had completely ceased any physiological functions; to put it bluntly, they were already dead." The old man sighed deeply, "There was a girl about seventeen or eighteen years old, very beautiful, the kind that I found appealing, and I was the one who personally covered her with the sheet, but... not long after... she... suddenly sat up, completely covered by the white sheet." There was a girl about seventeen or eighteen years old, very beautiful, the kind that I found appealing, and I was the one who personally covered her with the sheet, but... not long after... she... suddenly sat up, completely covered by the white sheet.

"Hmm." Mo Mingzhi nodded, "Grandma Liu, both of us work in the Yanhuang Building. The Yanhuang Building was constructed on the site of the former Ren'ai Hospital. The night before last, I went back to the office to get something, but I walked into a hospital corridor and then saw many strange figures, neither human nor ghost, emerging from the various patient rooms. The one who led me there was a beautiful girl, and she kept telling me that I was ill..." She kept telling me that I was ill..."

"Grandma," Tang Xiaosi sweetly called out, "May I ask if Liu Yudi lives here?" Although she asked this question, she could roughly guess the answer. The incident occurred forty-five years ago, when the neurology nurse Liu Yudi was twenty-four years old. Calculating from that, she would be sixty-nine this year. If she had not moved, she should be the elderly woman in front of her.

"Grandma, please don't be like this. It is Dr. Shen Gang's grandson who sent us to find you!" Seeing the old woman's reaction, Tang Xiaosi realized that she was difficult to approach. In ordinary households, how could one speak to someone through a door? This elderly woman's sense of caution was clearly much higher than that of the average person.

Indeed, how is it that you all are unaware? That child has passed away; the funeral was held just yesterday. Are you truly his friends?

"Please sit down." The old man sat in a chair and gestured towards a nearby sofa, which looked quite worn out, with its cover faded from washing, yet it remained clean. After Tang Xiaosi and Mo Mingzhi took their seats, the old man picked up a cup from the coffee table and took a sip, showing no intention of serving tea to his guests. "Go ahead, what do you want to know? Since you mentioned Doctor Shen, it must be related to the hospital. Just ask whatever you want to know. I am old and don’t have many years left to live. They don’t let me talk about these matters, but if you want to know, I will tell you, hehe... The newspapers say something about an oxygen tank explosion, three dead and three injured, it’s all nonsense!" The old man's cold face revealed a hint of anger. In response, Tang Xiaosi could only sigh helplessly in his heart. Whether it is a major accident, an unsolved mystery, or a supernatural event, in this country, it can only be treated as if it never happened, even if there were ghosts in the home of the highest leader, he would still tell you that nothing happened at home.

Tang Xiaosi's performance seemed to evoke a sense of shared suffering in the elderly man, causing the icy expression on his face to soften slightly. He picked up a thermos and poured a cup of water for each of the two girls. After thanking the elderly man, Tang Xiaosi posed her question: "I have reviewed the archival materials regarding Ren'ai Hospital, which are not very detailed. They mention that the villagers of a certain village collectively contracted a plague and were sent to your hospital for treatment. Then those infected villagers... experienced a biochemical crisis?"

In an instant, Tang Xiaosi and Mo Mingzhi were both stunned. "Grandma Liu... what... what did you say? Old Gao's... funeral?" Tang Xiaosi couldn't help but exchange a glance with Mo Mingzhi. They had just seen Old Gao that morning when he had taken out the case files.

The old man fell silent for a moment, then suddenly reached out and with a "whoosh" pulled up the small window. Just as Tang Xiaosi was feeling extremely frustrated, there was a "click" and the door lock opened. The somewhat listless old man stood at the door, indifferently gesturing for them to enter before turning back into the room. Tang Xiaosi and Mo Mingzhi exchanged a glance and followed him inside. The furnishings in the room were very simple, even somewhat antiquated, with some old photographs and books hanging on the walls, all seemingly belonging to the old man before them. Without a husband or children, had she been living alone all these years?

The old man shrugged slightly, "I haven't said anything; it's merely the rumors of the people... Young ladies, if you truly encounter anything related to that, I advise you not to get involved. Setting aside the ghosts and monsters, just that matter alone is something you cannot afford to meddle in, as it could very well entangle you. " The old man sighed deeply, "Getting involved in this matter is not beneficial for you. For over forty years, I have often woken up in fright from my dreams... Young ladies, if you truly encounter anything related to that, I advise you not to get involved. Setting aside the ghosts and monsters, just that matter alone is something you cannot afford to meddle in, as it could very well entangle you. " The old man sighed deeply, "Getting involved in this matter is not beneficial for you. For over forty years, I have often woken up in fright from my dreams... I have had a few boyfriends, but every time I sleep together with them, I cannot fall asleep. I am always afraid, afraid that he might suddenly get up in the night and pounce on me like those monsters, biting my neck..." That incident left such a deep shadow on the old man; no wonder she was so cautious, no wonder she appeared to live alone, it turned out to be because of this... I have had a few boyfriends, but every time I sleep together with them, I cannot fall asleep. I am always afraid, afraid that he might suddenly get up in the night and pounce on me like those monsters, biting my neck..." That incident left such a deep shadow on the old man; no wonder she was so cautious, no wonder she appeared to live alone, it turned out to be because of this

"That shouldn't be the girl," the old man shook his head, yet did not show any surprise at Mo Mingzhi's mention of ghosts. "In the past, I didn't believe in ghosts or gods, but after experiencing that incident, I truly believed. They all said it wasn't a plague at all, nor was it a biochemical crisis outbreak. Back then, there wasn't even a term like 'biochemical crisis.' Everyone said that near their village, many bodies of students who were transported from City B in the first two years were buried. Those students died tragically, and the news was suppressed; families were not allowed to mourn. They couldn't find peace down there either. It is said that the so-called metal canister didn't contain any biochemical virus, but rather the souls of those poor students. Their souls were trapped inside for two years, driven mad with hunger. When they finally broke free, they attached themselves to the villagers, using them as substitutes, manipulating their bodies to seek blood... Their souls were trapped inside for two years, driven mad with hunger. When they finally broke free, they attached themselves to the villagers, using them as substitutes, manipulating their bodies to seek blood..."