Chapter 4: No One in the Room
The fact that someone was hidden in the locked room—a room that couldn’t be opened—sent an unsettling chill down Yu Sheng’s spine. His scalp prickled, and questions began to tumble through his mind like a wild storm he couldn’t control.
Who was it? How had they managed to sneak inside? Did they slip in while he was asleep, or—far worse—had they been there the entire two months since he’d moved in?
The second thought was unbearable. It would mean that someone had been concealed in that very room while Yu Sheng lived in the house, unaware and alone. He distinctly recalled that no one, not once, had opened the door to the second-floor room. Could someone have been there all along? Was there some hidden passage? Or worse—was it even human?
A flood of wild thoughts swept through his mind, but soon, his expression calmed. Maybe it was because of that strange encounter with the “frog” not too long ago, or perhaps it was the strange sensation of having narrowly survived something dangerous. His reaction felt… odd. The voice didn’t sound hostile, nor did it sound friendly—it was just… strange. And after the initial shiver of fear passed, all that remained was a burning, undeniable curiosity.
He needed to know what was inside.
He had to understand what secrets this house, his supposed refuge, was hiding. After all, this was meant to be his safe place, his sanctuary in a sprawling, unforgiving city. There couldn’t be anything unsafe here—right?
Slowly, he leaned in, pressing his ear to the door, straining to hear. Was that a faint chuckle? Or was it just the wind?
Without hesitation, he knocked.