Chapter 02: Traps

"What is it?" Mo Mingzhi hesitated for a moment, then immediately understood what Tang Xiaosi was referring to. She quickly took out a string of copper coins strung together with red thread from her bag and placed it on the table, saying, "The item that Fourth Sister gave me has been kept in my bag all along"

Standing in front of the company's building, Mo Mingzhi's heart was pounding incessantly, filled with anxiety, an overwhelming sense of nervousness. The wooden Guanyin statue given to her by her grandmother was almost crushed in her palm. Finally, Mo Mingzhi gritted her teeth and walked toward the main entrance. Whether she advanced or retreated, it was a decisive moment; she was determined to go for it. This, perhaps, is the helplessness of the poor.

The sound of knocking echoed as Mo Mingzhi's hand gently tapped on the glass door secured with a chain lock. Hearing the noise, the night watchman, an elderly security guard, stepped out of the guardhouse. Upon seeing the girl standing at the entrance, her face obscured by a mask, the old man's brow furrowed slightly. He had been working here for several years and was aware of some legends surrounding the building. However, as long as one did not provoke those matters, nothing would happen. Nevertheless, the old man took out his keys and unlocked the chain on the door, allowing Mo Mingzhi to enter. He had been working here for several years and was aware of some legends surrounding the building. However, as long as one did not provoke those matters, nothing would happen. Nevertheless, the old man took out his keys and unlocked the chain on the door, allowing Mo Mingzhi to enter.

"Are you back at the company again?" The mother-in-law looked at her with confusion. "Then let's talk about it tomorrow. Isn't that company not very clean?"

"Hey, young lady, don't take the elevator!" Turning a corner, the old security guard saw Mo Mingzhi standing at the elevator door, appearing to wait for the elevator, while the indicator light above the elevator was completely dark. He was anxious and ran while shouting loudly, but strangely, his voice was not small, and the building was very quiet at that moment, yet the girl seemed to be completely oblivious, still staring blankly at the elevator. The old security guard was in a state of panic, hurriedly quickening his pace, and a large hand grabbed Mo Mingzhi's shoulder! ... He was anxious and ran while shouting loudly, but strangely, his voice was not small, and the building was very quiet at that moment, yet the girl seemed to be completely oblivious, still staring blankly at the elevator. The old security guard was in a state of panic, hurriedly quickening his pace, and a large hand grabbed Mo Mingzhi's shoulder! ... Mo Mingzhi, having already seen the old security guard's reflection in the elevator door, let out a piercing scream, of course, this scream was not because of the old security guard, but because of the long-haired woman behind him...

"It's nothing, Grandma, I just left my documents at the office again." Mo Mingzhi forced a smile for her grandmother. She did not want her grandmother to worry too much about her matters

How could this happen! How could this happen! Mo Mingzhi was somewhat frantic, as she had not been able to complete her work today due to having to make up that document in the morning, and there were still some tasks left unfinished... Having learned from last night's lesson, she dared not stay late at the office, so she brought those items back home to work on, but... The bag she had checked numerous times before leaving the office was now still completely empty. Having learned from last night's lesson, she dared not stay late at the office, so she brought those items back home to work on, but... The bag she had checked numerous times before leaving the office was now still completely empty... No, nothing at all! How is this possible! Sweat began to bead on Mo Mingzhi's forehead; her fourth sister had said it would not be tolerated again, and if she did not finish her work today... Mo Mingzhi's brows furrowed into a frown, as she could not understand why the items she had checked so many times had just vanished.

The old security guard felt a chill running down his spine. Could it be that this girl would also mysteriously disappear? ... With this thought in mind, the old man hurriedly took off in pursuit ...

"You said you encountered a ghost?" Tang Xiaosi's brows furrowed slightly, yet her face did not display the mockery that Mo Mingzhi and Tushuyi had anticipated. Instead, there was an overwhelming seriousness, a profound gravity. "Did you bring the item I gave you yesterday?"

What happened last night? Don't tell me you couldn't finish this document in one night!" Tang Xiaosi slammed the table in anger. When Mo Mingzhi came for the interview, she was almost driven away. She had no degree, no work experience, and not even a recognizable face. She had to wear an iron mask to hide her shame, a standard three-no employee. If it weren't for the fact that her silhouette resembled someone else's, Tang Xiaosi wouldn't have given her a chance. Speaking of which, this girl usually works very diligently, and her documents are always well done. Why did she slack off on such an important task?

"It's nothing, Grandma. I might have just been seeing things yesterday. I still need to go to the office... It must have been left at the office... It definitely is..." Mo Mingzhi was very clear that she hadn't left anything behind, but there was no other choice; she could only go to the company's computer to find the information and start over. To be honest, Mo Mingzhi was very scared right now; she was hesitant to face the company's building. But what other options did she have? She couldn't afford to be dismissed. Not every leader is willing to take a chance on a newcomer like her, who has no education, no experience, and can't even serve as a decorative piece. The next job was like a cloud on the horizon for her, completely out of reach. So, even though she was afraid inside, she had no choice but to return to the company. She wanted her grandmother to have a better life, so she couldn't lose this job..."

Mo Mingzhi arrived at the elevator, where the indicator light showed that the elevator was currently stopped on the 19th floor. She felt a bit anxious, wondering if, like yesterday, the girl with the livor mortis on her hands would be waiting for her inside the elevator. Swallowing hard again, Mo Mingzhi pressed the elevator button

Tang Xiaosi looked at the string of Five Emperor Coins, shrugged, and noted that there had always been rumors of hauntings in this building. Therefore, on the first day of Mu Mingzhi's employment, she had given her a string of Five Emperor Coins for protection. Because she took a liking to her, she also gifted Mu Mingzhi a handbag that she had discarded, as Mu Mingzhi was carrying a small cloth bag to work. In her oversight, she forgot to inform Mu Mingzhi that the Five Emperor Coins should be kept on her person rather than in her bag. Both humans and animals possess Yang energy, and if this energy excessively leaks out, it can lead to illness or even death. Thus, whether for humans or animals, the skin serves as an effective barrier to contain Yang energy. The Five Emperor Coins, which are meant to ward off evil by relying on the accumulated Yang energy from countless hands, lose their efficacy when placed in a bag. "Forget it, forget it..." Tang Xiaosi sighed, waved her hand at Mu Mingzhi, and said, "I have already apologized to the client. Please get everything sorted out before the end of the lunch break. This is a one-time exception. Remember, do not keep that string of coins in your bag; keep them on your person. Now, go get to work."

Upon hearing the phrase "this will not be an exception," Mo Mingzhi's previously dim eyes brightened once again. She had thought that Tang Xiaosi would directly terminate her internship and expel her from the company, but unexpectedly, Tang Xiaosi still gave her a chance. "Thank you, thank you, Fourth Sister, I will not make mistakes again... I won't..." Mo Mingzhi expressed her gratitude profusely as she exited Tang Xiaosi's office and hurried to her own place to work on the documents.

"It's not like that, Fourth Sister..." Mo Mingzhi felt extremely wronged. She had been so frightened last night that she curled up in her mother-in-law's arms and didn't sleep a wink. Now, her eyes were bloodshot, and her eyelids were slightly swollen. "Last night, I left the documents at the company and went back to get them... Fourth Sister... you might not believe me... I... I encountered a ghost..." Mo Mingzhi did not expect Tang Xiaosi to believe her words. Given the importance of the documents, her job was likely lost, but she did not want to leave without clarity. "Last night, when I entered the elevator, I saw a girl inside. It was strange; she went up to the nineteenth floor with me, but outside the elevator was not our department, but... a hospital corridor. That girl held onto my hand and wouldn't let me go..." "When I entered the elevator last night, I saw a girl inside. It was strange; she went up to the nineteenth floor with me, but outside the elevator was not our department, but... a hospital corridor. That girl held onto my hand and wouldn't let me go... I saw many corpse spots on her body..."

Tang Xiaosi silently stared at the door that Mo Mingzhi had closed for a long time before finally withdrawing his gaze. He slowly opened a drawer, which contained a pair of gloves and a pair of shoes

Watching Mo Mingzhi's silhouette, the old security guard suddenly recalled an incident from three years ago. On a night similar to this one, he was guarding the gate when a girl returned to retrieve something she had forgotten in the office. As a result, she did not come down all night. The next day, the girl's family contacted the company, stating that she had gone back to get her belongings and had not returned home all night. He reported the events of the previous night to the head of the security department, who, along with all the security personnel, searched the building inside and out, yet they did not see a trace of the girl. Ultimately, the following day, the girl's family returned to the company, reiterating that she had gone back to retrieve her things and had not come home. He reported the previous night's events again to the head of the security department, who led a thorough search of the building, but still, there was no sign of the girl. In the end, the matter was left unresolved, and the girl was treated as a missing person. However, since then, rumors began to circulate within the company, such as the warning not to use the elevator at night, lest one encounter a ghost. ... The elevator ...! ... Wait a minute, that masked girl seems to be heading towards the elevator, but the company's elevators close at nine o'clock every night. What could she possibly want at the elevator!

"Girl, what is the matter?" Under the dim light, the slightly hunched old woman, Granny Mo, looked at Mo Mingzhi's expression with some concern. Last night, the girl had curled up in her arms for the entire night. At her age, she had seen many strange things, yet she did not know how to help this daughter she had picked up.

... ...

Thank you for your trouble. Mo Mingzhi said softly, gathering her courage as she walked towards the elevator. In fact, she really wanted to ask the old security guard to accompany her upstairs, but she didn't know how to bring it up, so she continued to prepare to go up alone, steeling herself.

"Sister Si, I am sorry, I... I last night..." Tang Xiaosi, with a face full of anger, found herself at a loss for words. Last night, she had rushed into the darkness outside, only to find herself back in the elevator again. After experiencing such an event, Meng Mingzhi had no courage to return for the documents; she scrambled back to Grandma Mo's small, shabby house, curling up in the corner of the bed and trembling all night, while Grandma chanted scriptures beside her. Strangely enough, the chanting, which usually annoyed her, gradually calmed Meng Mingzhi this time. However, calmness aside, the work remained unfinished. The thought of possibly losing her job because of this incident filled Meng Mingzhi with an indescribable sense of grievance.