Area Lockdown

Luo Di changed into winter clothes, slung on his backpack, and stepped out of the house again.

The class monitor sat on the steps across from his door and pointed at the neighboring door, which was covered in all kinds of advertising cards.

"Doesn't anyone live next door to you? And when I came upstairs, I noticed that quite a few apartments downstairs seemed empty too?"

"That's normal. Who living here doesn't want to go somewhere better? Once a family's child gets into higher education and lands a decent job, they move away immediately.

"If they don't have an outstanding child, they'll try to find some other chance to turn their lives around, taking on high-paying, high-risk jobs."

"Mm, that makes sense."

The class monitor walked ahead with light, springy steps. As they went downstairs, she deliberately clasped both hands behind her back, one of them still making a waving gesture.

But Luo Di did not seem to understand what it meant, nor had he noticed it at all. Something else concerned him more.

"How did you find my home?"

"Was it really that hard? This building only has seven floors, with two apartments on each floor. And since so many of them are empty, I just had to knock on each door until I found you. Didn't expect you to live right at the top."

"You knocked on every door?"

Luo Di would never have dared imagine doing something like that, though it was indeed exactly the sort of thing the class monitor would do.

Just as the two were about to leave the building and were discussing which fast-food restaurant to go to for homework,

Screech— a cordon was suddenly pulled across the first-floor exit. A man wrapped in a black trench coat, its collar nearly obscuring his face, stood before them.

"The housing complex you are currently in is suspected of anomalous activity that has already caused resident deaths. This complex is now under an 'area lockdown.'

"All residents must remain in their homes during the lockdown and cooperate with our investigation. I will come up later to ask you some questions."

The man's attire, along with the term area lockdown, immediately made Luo Di think of his identity: a city investigator.

Luo Di hurriedly asked, "Anomalous activity? How long will the lockdown last?"

"Likely no less than a day."

"This girl is my classmate. She doesn't live here, and she only arrived five minutes ago. Could you let her go home?"

"Please comply with the arrangements and wait for the lockdown to end. No one who has entered this complex, regardless of their purpose, may leave. Also, this young lady should take particular care to ensure her own safety."

Just as Luo Di wanted to press the matter further,

The class monitor lightly tugged at the corner of his clothes and rose slightly onto her toes. "According to Corner Law, once an area lockdown is encountered, everyone must cooperate with the investigators. Even if I had arrived just a minute ago, I would still have to comply.

"It's fine. My winter break tutoring has already come to an end, and my family is letting me relax for three days. I'll send my father the information about the area lockdown later. It's fine if I don't go home tonight."

"No..." Luo Di was worried about something else.

"It's okay. I know it's inconvenient at your home. I can stay in the hallway or on the rooftop by myself until the lockdown ends."

Luo Di recalled the previous funeral matter, as well as the investigator's warning just now. Leaving the class monitor outside alone might be dangerous, and it was still very cold outside.

After thinking for a long while, he let out a long breath.

"Whew... Wait at my place. My parents happened to take my sister on a trip."

The class monitor's eyes immediately widened. "No wonder I couldn't hear anyone else in your house. So Uncle and Auntie went on a trip. Don't worry, I won't go into the bedrooms carelessly. I'll just stay in the living room."

She followed Luo Di upstairs once more, pulling her scarf over her lips to conceal her inner delight.

She was very curious about what secrets this reclusive top student's home held. He clearly did not attend any extracurricular tutoring, yet he repeatedly took first place in the physical fitness tests.

Maybe she could use this opportunity to obtain his so-called "training secrets."

Top floor.

The key in the lock turned along with Luo Di's deep breath. It was his first time bringing someone home, and she was a girl he was fairly close to.

"Wow, it's so clean!"

Under the reflection of the indoor lights, the class monitor could not spot a speck of dust. There were few miscellaneous items, and everything was simple and orderly.

"I mopped the floor this morning. Wait a moment, I'll find you a pair of slippers... You'll probably have to wear my sister's. We hardly ever have guests, so there aren't any spare slippers."

"No need~ It's so clean that I don't need slippers at all. Besides, wearing someone else's slippers isn't good.

"And I changed my socks before leaving this morning. I definitely won't dirty your home."

"Alright."

Her white sneakers were neatly placed in the shoe area.

The class monitor had already stepped onto the floor in her white pantyhose.

Though this was only a housing complex, in this modern age where energy issues had been completely resolved, heating had long been supplied around the clock, keeping the indoor temperature at roughly 20°C.

Without entering the bedrooms, the class monitor looked around the place and even helped Luo Di feed the Corner Parrot on the windowsill.

"Your place is pretty big. At first, I thought homes like this were only as large as my bedroom, but it turns out it has the space of two bedrooms.

"I don't mean anything by it~ I just think it's nice to live in a small home like this."

Luo Di had already gone into the kitchen. Following the hospitality manners his mother had taught him, he found a tea bag and poured the class monitor a steaming cup of tea.

Just as he carried the tea toward the living room, his steps paused.

Because of the heating, the class monitor had taken off her thick down jacket and the scarf around her neck, neatly folding them in the corner of the sofa.

Underneath, she wore a fitted black turtleneck sweater.

Below it was a brown, Scottish-style wrap skirt.

Thick white stockings extended down from the skirt, wrapping the class monitor's long legs, so suited for running.

Until now, the class monitor had always worn either her school uniform or athletic clothes.

It was Luo Di's first time seeing her dressed like this. After blanking out for a moment, he quickly recovered and handed her the tea.

"Luo Di, you seem a little hot. Why don't you take off your coat?"

"Mm."

Luo Di's forehead was already covered in sweat, though he himself did not seem to notice.

The class monitor wiggled her eyebrows and stared at him curiously. "Why do you seem a little strange? Do you have something shameful hidden in your bedroom?

"Or did you hide some kind of 'fitness treasure' in there and are afraid I'll find it?"

"No. I'm just not used to having people over at home."

"Since there's nothing there, can I take a look at your bedroom?" The class monitor raised her right hand high like she was answering a question in class. "I swear I won't touch anything. I'll only look."

"You can watch TV outside for a while, or do your homework at the dining table."

"Oh~"

Since she had not obtained permission to enter the bedroom, the two tacitly took out their winter break homework.

But after they had only written a few words,

Knock, knock—someone knocked on the door. The investigator who had just locked down the complex downstairs had already come to their door.

"Hello~ Please cooperate with a situation survey. This is my personal identification. You can verify its authenticity through your wristbands."

After attaching dust-proof pads to the soles of his shoes, the investigator strode into the apartment.

After quickly sweeping his gloomy gaze across the home, he chose the dining table, where the two were doing homework, as the place for their conversation.

Based on their faces, the investigator retrieved their relevant personal information from the records database.

"You both attend Fourth Middle School. Half a year ago, you completed a practical project provided by our city's institute together, with outstanding results... exceptionally outstanding, I should say.

"According to what you said downstairs, you simply happened to meet up and do homework together, correct?"

The investigator suddenly turned his eyes toward Wu Wen and met her gaze.

She was clearly startled, and even her reply was somewhat hesitant. "Y-yes."

His stare did not stop because of the class monitor's answer. Only after about a minute did the investigator nod.

"I will mainly explain the current situation.

"A lurking Pseudo-Human that has already hunted two girls is suspected of operating in this complex.

"It has been in its Mind Corner state for at least half a year and can skillfully wield Phobia-concretization. Individuals like this are relatively difficult to search for and apprehend, and it will take longer.

"The lockdown of the entire complex is expected to last more than a day.

"You must be extra careful, especially you, Miss Wu."

With an obedient expression, the class monitor stated that she absolutely would not leave the apartment even half a step.

Luo Di, meanwhile, asked a question. "Has this entire building already been checked?"

"You were originally the last household.

"However, according to the list of permanent residents provided by the community and information on their daily activities, the resident on the third floor temporarily left the complex for something. Once she returns and undergoes screening, this building's inspection will be complete."

At this, Wu Wen beside him looked utterly confused.

"Huh? When I came upstairs earlier, I saw the resident on the third floor with my own eyes. It was about ten minutes before you locked down the building. Did she just happen to leave? What a coincidence?"

The investigator's expression changed instantly, like a predator that had caught a scent.

"Are you certain?"

"I'm certain."

"Thank you for providing valuable information."

After receiving confirmation, the investigator immediately got up and left.