Extreme Vigilance

22: Floor 22 doesn’t exist 22: Floor 22 doesn’t exist Xun Jiasheng tried to act calm as he slowly turned around and found nothing behind him, forced a laugh and said, “You guys…” He doubted in his heart that the security team was collectively playing a trick on him.

However, before he could finish speaking, his face changed.

Along with Jin Xin and others, he looked up and found something utterly horrifying.

The indicator light on the elevator showed that it had stopped on the 13th floor.

Xun Jiasheng’s heart pounded fiercely, one thought reverberating in his mind — the Giant Building never had a 13th floor!

Struck by this idea, he was dumbstruck and speechless for a moment.

The elevator was eerily silent.

Everyone’s attention was drawn to the number 13 on the indicator light.

“There is no 13th floor in the Giant Building, right?” Jin Xin finally broke the tension, his voice carrying a hint of strangeness.

“Yes, that’s right.”

Hai Mingzhu felt her heart jump.

If it weren’t for the stabilizing force of Shen Yue next to her, she would have screamed.

Trying to suppress her fear, she rapidly added, “Definitely no 13th floor in the Giant Building, I’ve been here twice.

I specially checked the floor display each time, it always indicated 12 and 14, never 13.

I checked it twice, I couldn’t be wrong.”

With the three men in the elevator frozen in terrifying silence, Hai Mingzhu asked, her voice trembling, “Can you guys say something?”

“What’s there to say?” Shen Yue finally spoke, his words adding little to the conversation.

Hearing Shade Yue’s consistent, calm tone, Hai Mingzhu mused that she had always found him lacking in emotional color.

She now thought this must be the way a real man should respond.

He’s a man who can handle things!

“For example….” Hai Mingzhu started brainstorming, “Most commercial buildings are quite superstitious.

Many consider 13 to be an unlucky number and intentionally omit the concept of a 13th floor.”

“Then?” Seeing Hai Mingzhu stop, Shen Yue urged her to continue.

“Then… then…” Hai Mingzhu repeated numbly, “So why did the elevator stop on the 13th floor?

Advisor Shen, could you provide a professional opinion?

You are an advisor, after all.”

Shen Yue calmly replied, “Architects can ignore the concept of a 13th floor, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t one.

If there was no 13th floor, there wouldn’t be a 14th one, don’t you think?”

Upon reflection, Hai Mingzhu realized he was correct.

Following Shen Yue’s logic she asked, “So, the 14th floor is actually the 13th floor?”

“No,” Shen Yue shook his head.

“The 14th floor is still the 14th floor, and the 13th floor remains the 13th.”

Frustrated, Hai Mingzhu pleaded, “Advisor Shen, please don’t talk in riddles.

Can you explain in simpler terms?”

Shen Yue considered for a moment and proposed, “I don’t know how to make it simpler.

Above the 12th floor, there’s the 13th, and above the 13th, there’s the 14th.

Is that simple enough?” He seemed a bit troubled, finally appreciating the challenges of teaching elementary school.

Hai Mingzhu shook her head, “I still don’t understand it.

My math teacher always said I was slow.”

Jin Xin suddenly interjected, “Didn’t you say that your elementary school teacher praised your math skills?”

“That was my PE teacher.” In this situation, Hai Mingzhu had no choice but to reveal the truth.

Jin Xin was left speechless.

Shen Yue looked at Hai Mingzhu’s embarrassed expression and found himself amused.

He extended his middle finger towards Hai Mingzhu.

“It’s not my fault that I’m bad at math.

Why are you looking down on me?” Hai Mingzhu felt affronted.

Quickly, Shen Yue extended his index finger, “I’m trying to give you a more vivid example.

An index finger has three knuckles, just like the floors 12, 13, and 14.

The last two times you rode the elevator, the floor indicator showed 12 and 14, but that does not mean the 13th floor does not exist, and it doesn’t mean we didn’t pass it.”

Finally, Hai Mingzhu understood, “So you’re saying the 13th floor has always been there.

We just didn’t see it because we’ve always travelled from the 12th to the 14th floor without stopping at the 13th?

That’s why outsiders get the impression there is no 13th floor in this building?

But the elevator still reaches it?!”

Shen Yue nodded with a hidden sigh.

It really was exhausting trying to explain such a simple thing to superstitious people.

“Impossible!” Xun Jiasheng was back to reality, having listened to the exchanges between Shen Yue and Hai Mingzhu.

He suddenly objected to Shen Yue, “That’s not the case.

There isn’t an extra floor between the 12th and the 14th floors.

The Giant Building never had a 13th floor.”

Shen Yue smiled, “Why are you so sure?”

“Because… because…” Xun Jiasheng clenched his teeth, “because there were numerous unidentified gravesites below this ground before.

With numerous ghosts roaming around, when the Giant Building was constructed, the 13th floor was allocated to these spirits to prevent them from causing trouble.

Only when turned into a ghost can you see the 13th floor!”

Hai Mingzhu, having been relieved by Shen Yue’s explanation, was startled by Xun Jiasheng’s words.

She cried, “What nonsense are you talking about?

We’re all alive and well.

Look…” She pointed at the elevator’s metallic wall, which could almost serve as a mirror, “Look, there are four of… Ah!”

She suddenly screamed!

In her fright, Hai Mingzhu stepped backward and almost fell into Shen Yue’s arms.

Everyone was startled and Jin Xin anxiously inquired, “What happened?

What did you see?”

Feeling Shen Yue steady her, Hai Mingzhu immediately straightened up, “No, I just saw five shadows.

I didn’t notice Manager Song was here too and thought something was wrong.

Manager Song, why haven’t you said a word this entire time?

You scared me into thinking there are only four people in this elevator.”

Everyone didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, yet Manager Song still hadn’t lifted his head.

Given the changed atmosphere, everyone felt that Manager Song was acting a bit strange, and they looked at one another.

Hai Mingzhu tentatively said, “Manager Song?” She almost thought Manager Song was dead.

Otherwise, why wouldn’t he make a sound under such circumstances?

Manager Song still kept his head down, apparently deep in thought.

The elevator had stopped and the air system seemed to be operating as usual, continuously transmitting cold air.

Everyone sensed eerie gusts of wind.

Xun Jiasheng couldn’t prevent himself from patting Manager Song’s shoulder and said, somewhat displeased, “Manager Song, stop playing around.

It’s not the time to create an atmosphere.”

In Xun Jiasheng’s mind, Manager Song had always been a pushover.

He knew Manager Song’s weaknesses and had always treated him disdainfully.

Arrogance can become a habit, as can contempt.

In Xun Jiasheng’s eyes, Manager Song was a lackey that could be ordered around.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have let Manager Song press the fingerprint scanner.

Had Manager Song even made a sound?

As soon as Xun Jiasheng’s hand touched Manager Song’s shoulder, he felt something was wrong.

Manager Song suddenly raised his head, his eyes bloodshot, and shouted, “Don’t touch me!”

Xun Jiasheng saw Manager Song’s peculiar look, and was suddenly shouted at by him, he stepped back in shock, stumbling against the elevator wall.

The impact was so hard that his back hurt.

The elevator fell silent once more, and everyone could hear each other’s slightly labored breathing.