If Li Wangxi's trembling before had been little more than a shiver, now she was shaking so badly she could barely hold her phone.
Still, Li Wangxi wasn't completely useless.
After a brief moment of shock, her mind finally started working. She checked the time and confirmed she had only eight minutes left, then immediately searched online for the insurance company's customer service number.
She called. A system voice answered, telling Li Wangxi how to proceed.
She tapped through the options one by one, growing more and more anxious, but the results were far from satisfactory.
"This service cannot currently be handled by phone. Please bring your ID and the original contract documents to one of our service counters in person. To return to the previous menu, press the star key. To hang up, end the call."
The electronic voice on the other end fell silent.
Clinging to a sliver of hope, Li Wangxi looked up the address of the insurance company's nearest branch. It would take twenty minutes to get there, and besides, they weren't even open at this hour.
More than six minutes had already passed on the clock in the top-right corner of her phone screen. Li Wangxi had less than a minute left.
She had stopped trembling, but despair was welling up inside her.
She still hadn't noticed that ever since her colleague had left—that is, since the phone call—the entire floor had been silent.
Li Wangxi stared at her phone screen, watching the number representing the minute hand suddenly change.
The instant the time was up, Li Wangxi held her breath.
No new call came in, and no one suddenly appeared.
Li Wangxi raised her head and looked around. Only then did she notice the eerie silence.
She looked at the computer screen, then at