Acquaintance

She got out of bed, washed up quickly, changed her clothes, and opened the drawer of the bedside table. Inside lay a bank card and a few scattered bills.

The money in that card was what she had saved from years of working part-time jobs, money she had never dared to touch. But today, without hesitation, she slipped the card into her pocket, put on her coat, and stepped outside.

The morning air was cool. Yun Xian wrapped her coat tighter and walked along the street, eventually entering a small hardware store. The shop was cramped, with shelves stacked high with various tools, and the lighting was somewhat dim.

She stopped in front of a shelf, her gaze settling on a row of sharp knives. She picked up a small fruit knife, examining the edge repeatedly before deciding to buy it.

Next, she went to an outdoor gear store, selecting a portable lighter, a Swiss army knife, an emergency flashlight, and some essential survival supplies.

After packing everything into a durable hiking backpack, she checked everything carefully to make sure nothing was missing. Only then did she sling the backpack over her shoulder and return home.

As the time drew near, Yun Xian sat alone on the rooftop, hands in her pockets, leaning against the railing, staring at the city gradually cloaked in nightfall.

In the distance, neon lights flickered on one by one, their red and green hues interlacing and shimmering intermittently in the darkness, casting a cold and lonely glow.

There were no stars in the sky; the moon was hidden behind thick clouds. The air was heavy with moisture, and a gentle breeze stirred her bangs. The backpack on her shoulder felt weighty.

As time passed, the surroundings began to change in a strange way.

First, the wind ceased abruptly; the cold breeze that had brushed her face vanished. Then, the distant noise faded away as if someone had pressed mute.

Yun Xian looked up; the cars and pedestrians on the street below seemed frozen in place, all movement instantaneously halted. The entire world had fallen into an eerie stillness.

She held her breath, her heart pounding like a drum, and her eyes involuntarily fixed on the center of the rooftop.

The air began to ripple slightly, like water waves spreading outward. Suddenly, a cold metal elevator materialized out of the darkness, its surface gleaming with a pale white light. The elevator doors slowly opened, revealing soft, eerie illumination inside.

Yun Xian’s fingers curled slightly, her lips pressed tight as she stood up slowly. At that moment, something unexpected happened—

Her backpack did not move with her; instead, it hovered in place, as if held by an invisible force.

Stunned, she instinctively reached toward the strap, but to her horror, her fingers passed right through it without any sensation, as if she belonged to a different realm.

“What’s going on?” Her arm froze mid-air, a chill creeping over her. She tried to grab the zipper and handles, but it was all in vain—the backpack seemed to have lost its physical connection to her.

“Ding—”

A soft chime came from inside the elevator, as if urging her forward. Yun Xian turned and faced the open elevator doors; the pale white light stretched her shadow long and solitary.

She took a deep breath, tightened her lips, clenched her fists, and stepped toward the elevator. Pausing at the threshold, she glanced back at the floating backpack, then finally stepped inside.

As she entered, her eyes caught a figure crouched in a corner. The person hugged their knees, trembling slightly, with their head buried in their arms, looking helpless and disheveled.

Noticing her presence, the figure slowly lifted their head and timidly looked at Yun Xian. Their eyes met, and Yun Xian’s steps faltered, surprise flickering in her gaze. “Zhang Jingyi?” she frowned.

Zhang Jingyi clearly recognized Yun Xian too; her face was filled with shock and fear. Suddenly, she sprang up as if clutching at a lifeline, grabbing Yun Xian’s sleeve anxiously. “Yun Xian, what’s going on? You didn’t cause this, did you?”

Yun Xian’s eyes grew cold as she expressionlessly pulled her sleeve free. “What happened before you came in?”

Frozen, Zhang Jingyi seemed still trapped in panic. Her throat moved as she spoke haltingly: “My house… caught fire… I was trapped inside, the door wouldn’t open, I thought I was going to die…” Her voice grew faint, her gaze wandering. “Then… everything around suddenly stopped. After that, this elevator appeared.”

Yun Xian listened quietly, then after a moment’s pause, said calmly, “People see an elevator when they’re close to death. If you enter and complete the task it gives you, you can return.”

Zhang Jingyi’s eyes widened. “Really? So… you just have to finish the task?”

Yun Xian lowered her eyelids and added slowly, “But you’ll come back here again after three months.”

Zhang Jingyi trembled all over, her lips quivering. “Then you too…”

Yun Xian didn’t reply. She turned, leaning against the elevator wall on the other side, arms crossed, her expression indifferent as she stared at the elevator doors.

Zhang Jingyi hesitated, then lowered her head, biting her lip, quietly muttering, “I’m sorry…”

Yun Xian remained silent, her gaze never leaving the doors, as if she hadn’t heard a word.

Soon the elevator shuddered lightly. With a crisp “ding,” the doors opened again. A slightly plump young man stepped in, a simple, honest smile lighting his face.

Seeing the two inside, he grinned broadly and greeted warmly, “Hey, looks like I’m not the first! I’m Li Zhiqiang, nice to meet you!”

Zhang Jingyi instinctively shrugged her shoulders but said nothing. Yun Xian nodded slightly, her face calm and unreadable.

Li Zhiqiang was unbothered by the silence, moving to stand in a corner of the elevator, muttering, “I wonder what the task will be this time…”

Hearing this, Zhang Jingyi suddenly looked up. “You’re not here for the first time either?”

Li Zhiqiang paused briefly, then smiled and nodded. “Yeah, this is my second time.”

Zhang Jingyi’s eyes grew more frantic. “Then last time… how did you survive?”

“Luck, I guess.” Li Zhiqiang shrugged, his smile tinged with bitterness and resignation. “I don’t want to come back a second time, but there’s no choice.”

“Ding—”

The elevator doors opened again. This time, a tall, handsome young man entered. His features were refined, skin fair, hair neatly styled. He wore a well-fitted white sweatshirt paired with light blue jeans, exuding a clean, fresh aura.

His gaze swept lightly over the occupants before he casually leaned against the wall.

Zhang Jingyi froze for two seconds upon seeing him, then her eyes widened in disbelief and excitement. “You’re Song Ran, right? The trainee who was on that variety show?”