Chapter 1: She Came—

“You have a food delivery order. The rider has arrived,” a cold mechanical female voice echoed through the store. After the announcement, the crisp sound of wind chimes rang out at the door. A figure in a light yellow vest appeared at the entrance.

The woman humming a tune in the kitchen heard the door. She tied up the delivery bag somewhat clumsily and smiled at the person standing rigidly at the door. “Yo, Yue Yiyue, out running deliveries so late tonight?”

The Boss was unusually enthusiastic tonight. Yue Yiyue felt a bit uneasy and shifted her gaze to the large no-smoking sign nearby. She forced out an awkward smile, trying to greet her like the other riders she had seen. “Sis, good evening.”

After a pause, she added, “The errand fee is 100.”

The slender woman in the kitchen, wearing a pastoral floral apron, instinctively glanced at the God Shrine nearby. Then she turned back with a meaningful look at Yue Yiyue.

That glance made Yue Yiyue feel an inexplicable chill, but it lasted only a moment.

The Boss tapped the counter, humming an unknown tune. Her sweater rubbed against the apron with each movement, producing a rustling sound that filled the small store.

Yue Yiyue recalled a scene from the horror novel she’d read recently: a late-night delivery intercepted by security, with the rider ultimately becoming one of the wandering souls in the gated community…

The Boss noticed Yue Yiyue’s gaze and leaned her beautiful face in close. “Right, you mentioned getting these inexplicable messages and feeling like something was watching you, right?”

The woman rummaged in her clothes for a moment and tossed out a small item wrapped in black cloth.

Yue Yiyue awkwardly extended both hands and caught the somewhat heavy object that landed in her palms. She looked blankly at the woman in front of her.

Had she mentioned that?

She probably had.

After all, she had been receiving those inexplicable texts lately, like “Don’t leave me,” “Don’t hate her,” “She’s trying her best.”

Blocking the number didn’t work.

It was like an endless prank.

She must have let it slip to the Boss when venting about this annoyance. Ever since that accident last year, her memory had been fragmented.

“Good stuff. Off you go.” Seeing Yue Yiyue’s momentary look of panic, the Boss cheerfully slid the delivery bag toward her. “Don’t be late, or compensating for this would be a hassle~”

Yue Yiyue softly said thanks, picked up the delivery, and headed out.

Outside, she placed the delivery in the insulated box and stood there hesitating for a moment.

Another chime of wind bells rang out as she moved. A bright red bill was placed on the counter.

The woman, now seated at the cash register smoking, raised an eyebrow at Yue Yiyue. She leisurely exhaled a smoke ring, her expression blurring in the mist.

Yue Yiyue couldn’t see her face clearly through the haze and just stood there stunned. She thought the Boss was too beautiful for a place like this—she belonged at home…

The click of a lighter sounded. The woman toyed with the item in her hand and muttered something, then waved her off. “Fine, whatever.”

Yue Yiyue didn’t catch the latter words. She just politely bowed.

In the instant she raised her head, she suddenly felt warm breath on the back of her neck. She stiffened for a moment, carefully touched her neck, and added, “Let me know if it’s not enough.”

Another chime of wind bells. The figure in the yellow vest swiftly mounted her motorcycle and rode off.

As Yue Yiyue left, the restaurant lights flickered and gradually dimmed to a yellowish hue. The woman’s half-closed eyes stared at the coin on the table. She then carefully pinched the spot Yue Yiyue had touched, feeling the lingering warmth on the paper. Her tongue pressed against a back molar, as if suppressing some unspeakable emotion.

After a long while, a soft murmur came from inside the room: ‘I told you she’s very obedient, right? You’ll want to get her by any means, just like me.’

A flash of red light gleamed in the pitch-black God Shrine.

The wind picked up, making the wind chimes sway, but the store fell eerily quiet.

————

The motorcycle sped along the road. The weather was still a bit cold, and Yue Yiyue, who had casually thrown on two sweaters, regretted not wearing one more.

She rode with a blank expression, mentally calculating. Besides that 100 yuan, she had 1,769.70 left. She could use Pinduoduo to buy herself a thicker jacket and check Taobao for a better cotton-padded coat for hospitalized Aunt Zhang.

Next month, she needed to get some school supplies for the kids and ask the Aunties at the Orphanage.

She also had to save some for gas.

The night was deep. She continuously passed under dim yellow streetlights. A chill wind whistled into Yue Yiyue’s collar, raising goosebumps.

This order paid well, but the resident’s place was really far.

Still, this was the renowned Affluent District. She had heard colleagues mention during breaks that deliveries here could earn tips if done quickly—sometimes dozens, sometimes hundreds…

Yue Yiyue had hustled for a month to snag this one.

With that thought, she twisted the throttle harder.

But as she headed toward the city outskirts, the surroundings grew emptier. The distant trees’ clawing branches looked overly menacing, oddly reminding Yue Yiyue of that horror novel.

She sped through various intersections. Fortunately, a black car ahead was going the same way, and they proceeded one after the other toward the destination.

Upon arrival, Yue Yiyue removed her helmet, took the delivery from the box, and checked the temperature with the back of her hand. Phew, the expensive insulated box was worth it.

She glanced at the time, praying the security wouldn’t be too strict. In these Affluent District Gated Communities, guards often didn’t let outsiders in easily.

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed something amiss inside the gated community.

It was too dark.

Pitch black, with only tall trees and slivers of moonlight filtering through gaps.

The guard in the booth at the gate was nodding off, head down.

The scene made Yue Yiyue uneasy. It resembled her recent nightmare: her delivering to some gated community, then picked up by a beautiful person…

Recalling that bloody dream, Yue Yiyue shook her head to dispel it, telling herself not to overthink and focus on the task.

Just a delivery. Greet the guard, call the customer if she couldn’t enter.

But before she approached, the black car beside her honked. The guard instinctively pressed the open button. Another speaker blared, “Esteemed resident 10-12, welcome home—”

With the voice, the pedestrian gate emitted a grating creak as it opened.

The old gate shuddered open, silently awaiting passage.

“Thanks, you’ve worked hard.” Yue Yiyue politely thanked them and hurried inside.

Behind her, the lights flickered. The figure in the guard booth stiffly stood up, mechanically repeating with a blank face, “Welcome home…”

This delivery was going smoother than expected. Yue Yiyue figured she could wash up and still squeeze in 20 minutes of reading on the way back.

She had been looking forward to tonight’s plot!

The cannon fodder with her name was about to face judgment!

The female lead, Gu Nanqiu, would finally realize this two-faced woman had nearly killed her multiple times!

Wonderful.

With that, Yue Yiyue’s steps lightened.

But first, the delivery. She carefully checked the building number, afraid to go wrong.

The entire gated community was dim—maybe bulbs out or a blackout. Streetlights on both sides were off. Looking up at the buildings, it was pitch black, with occasional faint red glows, like wax candles.

It all looked familiar, as if Yue Yiyue had been here before.

Figures with knives flashed in her mind, but a distant thud of something heavy falling interrupted her thoughts.

The night was too dark; she couldn’t see clearly. Probably the wind knocking something down.

After rationalizing the oddities around her, Yue Yiyue pulled out her old phone, turned on the flashlight, and muttered, “Building 3, Building 3—”

“Little miss, Building 3 is over there.” Suddenly, a friendly voice came from nearby bushes. Yue Yiyue turned to see an Auntie sitting on fitness equipment, stretching her legs.

Noticing the delivery in Yue Yiyue’s hand, “Hurry on, don’t keep them waiting.”

The Auntie turned away to continue stretching but muttered softly, “Security’s off duty this late—how’d she get in?”

Yue Yiyue glanced oddly back at the entrance and spotted a slow-moving figure.

That uneasy feeling from the gate returned. Normally, she would turn and leave.

But today, thinking of the 100-yuan fee…

Aunt Zhang in the hospital, the kids’ expectant faces for new books.

She gritted her teeth and headed to the elevator.

Ding—

The empty elevator doors opened with a sweet male voice: “Welcome home, esteemed resident—”

Yue Yiyue confirmed it was going up and stepped in.

She pressed 18, the light came on, and the elevator rose slowly, groaning as if chewing something.

Yue Yiyue double-checked the floor and boredly looked at the looping ad above.

Out of the corner of her eye, she caught the elevator mirror’s reflection, and a trace of confusion flashed in Yue Yiyue’s eyes. Was there someone else in the elevator just now?

The silver doors distorted briefly. Now Yue Yiyue clearly saw the figure behind her. It wore a familiar blue security uniform…

But atop it wasn’t a human head.

It was a large Fish Head draped with freshly peeled intestines, red bloodshot veins, and clinging skin tissue.

Blood slid down the Fish Head onto the uniform, dripping bit by bit to the floor.

The Fish Head’s glossy black eyes swiveled, then fixed straight on Yue Yiyue. Its pale pink mouth, opening and closing with gill flaps, squeezed into a grin.

Yet it seemed to fear something and didn’t attack directly in the elevator.

Instantly, Yue Yiyue felt as if plunged into an ice cave, her mind blank. She stared straight ahead at the doors, using the mirror to confirm she wasn’t hallucinating.

Ding—It felt like a century or mere seconds before they reached the floor. The sweet female voice announced it. Without hesitation, Yue Yiyue rushed out.

She didn’t dare look back.

The book said the Three Lamps on the Shoulders—don’t turn around.

Don’t let it know she could see.

Pretend nothing happened.

The hallway lights came on, revealing an ajar door.

Its owner seemed to have been waiting a long time, leaning backlit against the door, her face hidden by a mask. But those eyes and brows marked her as strikingly beautiful.

The elevator doors opened behind again, the sweet mechanical male voice broadcasting once more.

Yue Yiyue swallowed hard and hurried to the woman’s side. Regardless, she pushed her inside, blurting, “Sorry I’m late. Enjoy your m—”

She slammed the door shut.

Outside came heavy footsteps pacing, heavy breathing, and sharp nails scraping the wall in a piercing, hair-raising, nauseating screech.

No forced entry. Good.

Yue Yiyue felt a survivor’s relief. She steadied her trembling fingers and handed over the delivery box. “Sorry, it seems something was follo—”

“Mmm, I know.” Before she finished, the woman gripped her hand. The rustle of sweater against something reminded Yue Yiyue of the smoking woman under the no-smoking sign at the restaurant.

The entryway’s only light was a dim lamp casting its glow on the woman’s face. Yue Yiyue dazedly looked up at her inscrutable expression. Had she seen her somewhere?

But a strange elation filled her heart. Why did she feel happy?

Like a wanderer in a parched desert finding a clear spring.

Her heart raced with cheer. Before analyzing, she heard the woman’s murmur: “Welcome home—”

“Baby, welcome home.”