UCS Chapter 31

Che Xi’s back was soaked with cold sweat.

 

The ceiling light flickered and then gave out with an overburdened “pop,” plunging the entire building into darkness.

 

Che Xi looked outside. The flowing lights from the highway and the brightness from distant skyscrapers had all disappeared. Outside the window was only a murky blackness.

 

It was as if the entire building had been placed inside a pitch-black box.

 

With trembling fingers, Che Xi grabbed the door handle.

 

Run! Get out!

 

He turned on his phone’s flashlight. In the darkness, the weak light didn’t bring him comfort; instead, it made him even more anxious.

 

As he passed the elevator, it automatically opened despite the power outage. Inside, the lights were warm, like an enticing trap.

 

He suddenly shuddered and turned toward the stairwell.

 

The weak light from his phone illuminated a small section of stairs ahead. He rushed down with his head lowered, but suddenly his phone began to vibrate violently, with an unknown number flashing on the screen.

 

Che Xi looked terrified. He clearly hadn’t answered the call, but it connected automatically. The voice coming through the speaker was muffled, as if it was in an extremely small space, the sound distorted by compression.

 

“Half… factory…”

 

As his fear expanded frantically, Che Xi forcefully smashed the phone to the ground. The phone immediately went dark, and the call disconnected.

 

He sighed in slight relief, but then heard the phone ring again. The phone on the ground turned back on by itself, its cracked screen displaying the call interface.

 

Che Xi completely broke down and frantically stomped the phone into pieces.

 

Breathing heavily, he raced down the stairs with his head down.

 

One floor, two floors, three floors…

 

Gradually, he slowed his pace.

 

His office wasn’t on a high floor. Why hadn’t he reached the exit after running for so long?

 

He moved closer to the wall, trying to see the floor number, but without the light from his phone, he couldn’t make it out in the darkness.

 

He tried adjusting his angle desperately.

 

Until he stepped on something.

 

What was this?

 

He slowly crouched down, leaning against the wall, and saw the shattered remains of his phone.

 

…

 

The oral account ended there because the witness had fainted. When he woke up, he found himself lying in front of the company’s entrance.

 

Gao Shi closed the file.

 

Chang Yang took advantage of a red light to gulp down half a bottle of mineral water, finally swallowing that bread ball from earlier. Looking at Gao Shi through the rearview mirror, he said, “Captain, I searched for information on the Zhou family enterprise and found that rumors of hauntings have been circulating for some time, but no one took them seriously.”

 

Huang Shan added, “The Zhou enterprise promotes a cutthroat culture where employees are forced to ‘voluntarily use their off-hours to improve themselves,’ which has provoked a lot of discontent among frontline staff. Previously, they even caught an employee playing pranks to scare a team leader.”

 

Chang Yang was startled, asking as he started the car, “Really? Prank the team leader? Did they not want to keep their job?”

 

Huang Shan smiled helplessly, “That’s right. The employee had already submitted a resignation letter, but the team leader didn’t know it yet and continued assigning him work, forcing him to stay late.”

 

“The pranked supervisor had a poor reputation—frequently stealing credit from his subordinates and pushing his own work onto employees. The resigning employee, being highly capable, was the one most oppressed.”

 

“The resigning employee left many little traps in the team leader’s office. For a long time afterward, both the team leader and employees who entered his office were frightened.”

 

“So, when the initial rumors about the Zhou company being haunted started, people thought it was leftover pranks that hadn’t been completely cleared away.”

 

“Later, people realized something was wrong because after the team leader was promoted and changed offices, those strange occurrences not only didn’t disappear, but seemed to ‘spread’ from his office, as if following him with intention.”

 

Gao Shi bit his lollipop, his right hand pointing to the phrase in the file that Che Xi had heard on the phone.

 

【Half… factory…】

 

Did it have a special meaning? Or was it just misheard by Che Xi in his panic?

 

And what the colleague had said, 【So we don’t have to answer… the calls】—what was the name that had been glossed over?

 

***

 

Yin Ling led the team to the Zhou corporation building first, while Gao Shi’s team of four headed toward the former employee who had played those “pranks.”

 

That employee was named Guang Qing, who now ran a modest shop in the commercial district.

 

As soon as they arrived, Gao Shi found the surroundings familiar. Looking carefully, he realized this was the same shop where Ying Bujie had caused a commotion before.

 

Gao Shi and Ying Bujie were too eye-catching. Guang Qing still remembered these troublemakers who had caused spectators to strip all the display items off his mannequin. Upon seeing them, he enthusiastically looked up from the “All Troops Deploy” game startup sound and said, “Oh? Hello, hello! What would you like to buy today? I’ll give you a 70% discount!”

 

To maintain a low profile, Gao Shi’s team wore civilian clothes. Without the intimidation of police uniforms, customers who still remembered Ying Bujie began to stir.

 

Seeing the situation, Gao Shi quickly asked Guang Qing to lead them to the reception room.

 

Guang Qing looked at the ethereal, otherworldly Ying Bujie, then at the handsome, bright-faced Gao Shi, his eyes gleaming with excitement. “Are you interested in being models for my shop? We can negotiate the price!”

 

Gao Shi took out his identification, all business. “We have some questions for you.”

 

…

 

“Ah… I just played a small prank before I left. There’s no need to send the police, is there?”

 

“Little gadgets? Oh, I just placed a few small audio players in the team leader’s office, similar to those dolls that soothe children, you know? Press it once and it makes a sound. I set the sound effects to female ghost entrance music. I also put a small alarm clock behind his bookshelf, set to play scary sound effects every twelve hours.”

 

“Mainly because that idiot team leader seemed to believe in all that supernatural stuff. His desk was covered with Buddha statues and Sanqing images, a whole bunch of them. He even carried Buddhist prayer beads and burned incense in his room—the smell was so strong I almost threw up—so I picked things that would scare him.”

 

“How many in total? Not many, really not many. These things cost money, you know. Just three in total. Although that idiot might have been scared at first, these things could be found easily, right?”

 

“Cut the phone line? Come on, damaging company property means paying compensation. How could I cut the phone line? What? The phone line was cut? It was fine when I left.”

 

“Why would I make prank calls? I’m living a good life now. Although purchasing inventory and market research is tiring, it’s still better than working myself to death in the company to support that idiot team leader.”

 

“Strange occurrences? None. I think the strangest thing is how that idiot team leader could reach the position of team leader. I heard he’s been promoted now? Whatever, I’ve resigned anyway, so it’s not my problem anymore.”

 

…

 

After leaving the clothing store, Gao Shi reviewed Guang Qing’s statement repeatedly but found no issues. For Guang Qing, he had simply pulled a small prank before leaving his job.

 

After his resignation, the three gadgets he mentioned were quickly found by the team leader, but the strange occurrences didn’t stop there.

 

At least from this employee’s perspective, he didn’t have any problems.

 

But one thing he mentioned caught Gao Shi’s attention.

 

【Oh, Officer… no, no, sorry, force of habit.】

 

【Police brothers, to be honest, there is one thing that was a bit strange.】

 

【Our department is a bit special. Other team leaders don’t have separate rooms, but ours did. I suspect he’s a relative of the upper management—because he had his own room where he stayed behind closed doors all day, doing who knows what. Plus, before every lunch break, he liked to walk around the department, nitpicking and harassing young female colleagues. With the perfect timing and setting, I decided to prank him—who knew he had surveillance cameras in his room!】

 

【I was discovered shortly after I entered. Not long after, that idiot team leader rushed over. I could even hear his footsteps.】

 

【But for some reason, he circled around the door a few times and then left.】

 

【I quickly slipped out during the gap. Later, when the team leader checked the surveillance footage, he found that at the exact time I sneaked in, the monitor had coincidentally gone fuzzy with static.】

 

【Isn’t that strange? It feels too coincidental, as if someone was helping me prank him.】

 

Gao Shi never believed in coincidences.

 

When people are frightened, their souls are disturbed, and their yang energy flickers, making it easy for ghosts and monsters to take advantage of the weakness.

 

Guang Qing said it felt like someone was helping him place the audio players and alarm clocks, and perhaps that was true.

 

Some ghost might have been trapped in the team leader’s room, trying to use this opportunity to break free.

 

This suggested that the ghost at Zhou Corporation had some connection with the team leader.

 

Given this, Gao Shi’s team of four headed to Zhou Corporation.

 

However, before departing, Gao Shi noticed that Ying Bujie had almost disappeared again.

 

Just as he was about to call Ying Bujie, he saw him walking around the corner with a small cat following.

 

With his good memory, Gao Shi immediately recognized it as the cat that had been fed by that tough-talking but soft-hearted old lady last time.

 

Seeing Ying Bujie return, Gao Shi sighed in relief. “Taoist Master, please tell me before you leave. I worry about not being able to contact you.”

 

Certain people’s disappearing skills were already maxed out. Gao Shi wasn’t confident he could rescue Ying Bujie before some lucky scam group was eaten out of house and home by him.

 

Ying Bujie nodded and naturally stood beside Gao Shi, maintaining a one-fist distance from him.

 

Gao Shi wondered if it was his imagination, but it seemed like Ying Bujie’s positioning was getting closer to him. He remembered that when they first met, Ying Bujie kept a vacuum-like space around himself, always maintaining a distance of one or two meters when interacting.

 

Perhaps Ying Bujie had become more comfortable as they grew more familiar?

 

Gao Shi stopped pondering this.

 

The small skinny cat was very well-behaved. Seeing Ying Bujie walk toward Gao Shi, it squatted down in place, swishing its little tail back and forth.

 

Before leaving, Gao Shi glanced back at the intelligent little cat, thinking that the old lady had been right—it was unclear where all the food the cat ate went, as it never seemed to grow.

 

…

 

Upon arriving at Zhou Corporation, they found that Xuan Yu’s formation was already half set up. Ghost Eye was concealing himself in midair, watching something unknown.

 

Seeing Gao Shi’s group arrive, Yin Ling looked vastly relieved and hurried over. “Brother Gao, you’re finally here!”

 

Yin Ling irritably scratched his silver hair. “Brother Gao, Zhou Corporation’s employees are real tough ones, working overtime until midnight. The building’s aura is extremely chaotic. I was following a trace of yin energy, but as soon as I entered the main door, it was scattered.”

 

Gao Shi bit his lollipop into pieces. “Don’t worry, I have some clues, but I need to find someone to ask about the situation first.”

 

The person Gao Shi wanted to question was Che Xi’s desk neighbor, the girl who had kindly warned him to leave quickly.

 

They split into two teams: Huang Shan took Chang Yang to meet with the Zhou family CEO, while Gao Shi and Ying Bujie went to find the girl.

 

After showing their credentials, Gao Shi and Ying Bujie easily entered the building and found the girl.

 

However, her condition didn’t seem good. She had heavy dark circles under her eyes and appeared startled, reacting strongly to even the slightest sounds.

 

Gao Shi gently nudged Ying Bujie and asked softly, “Taoist Master, does she have yin energy on her?”

 

Ying Bujie nodded and added, “The building has heavy yin energy. They all have yin energy on them.”

 

Ying Bujie rarely spoke. Gao Shi was used to him quietly nodding or shaking his head, so hearing his voice suddenly felt unfamiliar.

 

Especially since Ying Bujie was slightly taller than him, when he spoke near his ear, Gao Shi felt an indescribable tingling sensation.

 

Gao Shi rubbed his ear. “Can you see where the yin energy is heaviest?”

 

Ying Bujie shook his head. “Too many human energies, they scatter it.”

 

Gao Shi recalled some gossip he’d heard earlier.

 

【Zhou Corporation offered 1.5 times overtime pay, requiring employees to work overtime.】

 

Previously, Zhou Corporation had required employees to “voluntarily” use their free time for self-improvement without paying any overtime. Some employees had tried to sue Zhou Corporation but failed due to insufficient evidence, losing their jobs and being blacklisted in the industry.

 

Zhou’s stinginess was infamous throughout the industry, but because of high commissions, good reputation, and strong career prospects, countless job seekers still flocked to it.

 

For Zhou Corporation to concede on overtime pay, either a project had reached a critical stage where they couldn’t afford to lose people, or they were trying to dispel rumors and stabilize morale.

 

Zhou Corporation didn’t have any major projects recently.

 

But what if, from another perspective, “scattering yin energy” was considered a major project?

 

Gao Shi gathered his thoughts and tugged Ying Bujie. “Let’s go ask the young lady what secrets Zhou Corporation is hiding.”

 

When the young woman was called out, she looked somewhat wary. She appeared quite young, probably a recent graduate.

 

After Gao Shi showed his credentials, she seemed even more nervous.

 

Gao Shi reassured her, “Don’t be nervous. We just want to ask some questions about Zhou Corporation.”

 

Hearing it wasn’t about her, the young woman finally relaxed.

 

Gao Shi casually asked a few questions, then said, “You look exhausted. Is the work pressure high?”

 

The young woman, who had been responding fluently moments ago, suddenly became hesitant. “Ah… um, a little bit.”

 

Gao Shi smiled. “You’ve just graduated and are already handling core parts of projects. You’re doing great.”

 

The young woman, who had inevitably developed some romantic notions while facing two handsome men, suddenly teared up upon hearing these words.

 

For some reason, she thought of her parents in another city.

 

Perhaps it was because Gao Shi’s tone was too gentle, his attitude too kind, or for some other reason—she hesitated, then finally made up her mind and looked up. “Officers, you should leave quickly. Zhou Corporation is not clean.”

 

“It’s haunted.”

 

Seeing that Gao Shi and Ying Bujie had no reaction, she became anxious. “Don’t dismiss it! My desk neighbor got sick and stopped coming precisely because of these hauntings!”

 

Gao Shi said, “Don’t worry, we’re here about Che Xi’s situation.”

 

“According to the report, Che Xi said you called him to leave before you left. Why was that?”

 

“Why was the phone line cut?”

 

The young woman seemed to recall something terrifying, her lips trembling slightly. “It’s because this building disappears after midnight.”

 

“Disappears?”

 

“Yes. About a month ago, I was working overtime organizing files until 12:30 AM. When I finished and looked up, the outside was completely dark.”

 

“At first, I thought it had become cloudy, so I walked to the window to check, but I couldn’t see anything outside—as if the building was submerged in ink.”

 

“This building had disappeared from B City.”

 

“At that time, the reception phone line hadn’t been cut yet. I suddenly heard the phone ring and hurried to answer it. I was so scared and really wanted someone to talk to.”

 

“But after answering, there was only a man’s heavy breathing on the other end.”

 

The young woman’s face turned pale as she shivered slightly. “His voice was urgent and muffled, like… like a sound made when something was pressing on his chest.”

 

“I was terrified and wanted to hang up, but then he spoke. He said ‘factory.'”

 

“I quickly hung up the phone, huddled at my workstation, and stared at the phone all night without daring to close my eyes.”

 

Gao Shi asked, “Did anything else happen afterward?”

 

The young woman shook her head. “No, colleagues started arriving as dawn broke.”

 

Gao Shi and Ying Bujie exchanged glances.

 

It seemed the ghost’s power was growing stronger. It could repeatedly call Che Xi, but a month ago, it could only make one call to the young woman.

 

“The management said it was a prank by Guang Qing—that former employee. At first, only colleagues who worked late into the night received calls, but later calls would occasionally come during the day too.”

 

“So they cut the phone line.”

 

The young woman started shaking again. “But I know that’s not true!”

 

“Because even though the man’s voice on the phone was heavily distorted, as I kept recalling it, I realized I knew him!”

 

“His name is Jiao Hu, and he joined the company a year before me.”

 

“But, but… but he disappeared long ago!”

 

##

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T/N : sorry for the delay!!