Struck by Lightning

Hu Haoran was a recent college graduate. Every day, he coasted through life doing nothing, his hobby being reading novels to pass the time. Under his family's threats and inducements, he completed the simple task they had set for him and became a mid-level electrician who coasted through life, spending his days weaving through residential buildings and helping residents solve electrical problems.

That night, he arrived at an old residential building as usual. More than half the paint on its walls had peeled away. Due to its long-standing wiring problems, the building's lights constantly flickered. It was a rundown, gloomy residential building.

"Ugh, when is this lousy life ever going to end? Leaving early and coming home late every day, brushing shoulders with death. Damn it, what a crappy job I picked." A handsome young man in his early twenties wearing a blue electrician's uniform complained.

"Well, well! Haoran, how many days have you even been working? You can't take it already? A young master like you isn't suited for work here. Go back wherever you came from!" Another man in his forties, also in a blue electrician's uniform, teased him. His face was weary, and his eyes were streaked with red.

"Stinking old man, a few days?! I've been tagging along with you for a whole year, and you still call me a young master! If I were some young master, I'd have run off ages ago. Why would I stay here waiting to die?"

"You can't put it that way. Even if you were a young master, you couldn't run away. Your parents pulled so many strings to get you into the power bureau and land you this job. If you dared to run, your dad would pluck you bald."

Hu Haoran: "..." He immediately wilted.

"Get to work!"

Hu Haoran picked up his tools and inspected them one by one, choosing what he might need later. He continued muttering, "What's wrong with this crappy building? The wiring breaks down once a month. It's annoying as hell. And the residents inside only know how to call for repairs. Don't they know how to move?"

"That sounds like a load of crap. Move where? Housing prices are so high that even if you wanted to move, you couldn't afford it. I worked for over twenty years before I could barely afford an apartment. You really don't know the pain when you're standing up."

"Old man, do you think this place might be haunted? Why does it break down every month? This thing is more punctual than a girl's period."

"Ghost my ass. Get to work. The sooner we finish, the sooner we're done. I still need to go home and spend time with my wife and kid."

Reluctantly, Hu Haoran picked up his tools, climbed the ladder, and prepared to repair the building's wiring.

Suddenly, a fierce wind rose. The large trees lining both sides of the street swayed as though they might topple over at any moment. Even the ladder beneath Hu Haoran began to shake in the wind.

"Looking at this damn weather, it's definitely going to rain! Let's go and come back tomorrow. It's not safe to repair this line now." Concerned for safety, the older electrician spoke to Hu Haoran.

"Bullshit. How can this weather stop me? You said it yourself—the sooner we finish, the sooner we can rest. I don't want to come back to this damned place tomorrow night. I worked in weather like this last time too, and nothing happened. Where are all these dangers coming from?" Hu Haoran said dismissively.

"I'm going to get the vehicle ready. Hurry down! Safety comes first!" After saying that, the older electrician turned and rushed toward the vehicle.

The moment the older electrician finished speaking, a bolt of lightning tore through the sky. Half the sky lit up, dazzlingly bright. A rumble slowly rolled in from afar, growing louder and louder.

"Look at the sky! Hurry up and leave!" the older electrician shouted at Hu Haoran.

"Wait a second! I'm almost done!"

A second bolt of lightning split the heavens. This time, the thunder came without warning, like the furious roar of a lion. It shook the windows of the residential building nonstop, and Hu Haoran was so startled that he nearly fell.

Hu Haoran immediately sped up his movements. He was racing against time. A thrill slowly rose in his heart, and excitement appeared on his face. The older electrician shook his head. After a year together, he knew Hu Haoran's personality well—he would not give up until he hit the Yellow River. Once he threw himself into something, not even ten oxen could pull him back. Clearly, Hu Haoran was fully invested now. The older electrician looked up at the sky again and involuntarily began praying for Hu Haoran.

Lightning and thunder grew increasingly dense and frequent. Lightning streaked through the sky, illuminating the pitch-black night. The rolling thunder refused to be outdone, turning the silent night restless. Hu Haoran kept increasing the speed of his hands, refusing to stop his work because of the surroundings. The older electrician's heart clenched tight, and his prayers turned into muttered pleas.

"Stop working and come back! It's too dangerous!" The older electrician could not help but call out, though he knew Hu Haoran would not stop. "As long as you live, there'll always be work to do! The work will never end!"

"Alright, alright, alright! Stinking old man, stop yelling nonsense! I'm just at the very last bit." Without looking back, Hu Haoran continued working, his hands unconsciously moving even faster.

Three minutes later, Hu Haoran stopped working. He burst into loud laughter. "Hahaha! Breaking my limits! I finished that fast! Hahaha!"

Seeing this, the older electrician smiled in relief and stepped forward, intending to give Hu Haoran a hand.

At that moment, lightning and thunder erupted again. It was as though Heaven itself refused to accept Hu Haoran's provocation. Dark clouds gathered over his head for no reason, growing thicker and heavier. The older electrician also sensed the oppressive atmosphere.

"This looks like it wants me to undergo a Heavenly Tribulation." Hu Haoran read too many novels, and at that moment, his mind could not help wandering into wild thoughts.

"Hu Haoran! Get down already, we're going home!" the older electrician bellowed.

"Alright! I'll come down right now..."

Before Hu Haoran could finish speaking, a massive bolt of lightning descended from the sky! Rumble!

Hu Haoran was instantly swallowed by the gigantic bolt. Before the older electrician could react, the person before his eyes vanished alive and whole. Not even ashes remained, as though he had never existed in this world. Once the older electrician recovered his senses, two streams of murky tears slowly ran down his face.