Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Yihan, busy with a case, is incommunicado for a day.
• The case involves an impossible fall from scaffolding, with no other injuries or drug residues found on the victim.
• The hotel owner, Liu Xiangqian, is suspected due to his opposition to a nearby construction project and his strange behavior after the incident.

Character Developments

• Chen Yihan is portrayed as dedicated and responsible, handling a high-pressure case.
• Liu Xiangqian is shown as a successful businessman with mysterious beliefs and behavior.

Significant Themes

• The power of belief and superstition (Liu Xiangqian's sudden interest in Buddhism and Taoism).
• The impact of construction projects on businesses and the environment.

Character Interactions

• Chen Yihan and Chen Xiaoqiu discuss the case, with Chen Xiaoqiu providing additional information about Liu Xiangqian's behavior.
• The group chat among Chen Xiaoqiu, Fatty, and the narrator discusses the case and its supernatural possibilities.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A food delivery rider, Mr. Dong, describes a strange restaurant, "Home-style Stir-fry," where he frequently delivers bento boxes to a mysterious customer named Liu.
• The restaurant has an eerie atmosphere, with dim lighting, a peculiar cashier, and a greasy cook. The customer, Liu, is also unusual, with a greenish face and dead fish-like eyes.
• The restaurant suddenly closes and reopens, and Mr. Dong's colleagues start avoiding him after he inquires about it. He discovers that Liu has starved to death.
• Mr. Dong continues to receive orders from the same shop, now for a different customer, despite taking time off. He can't delete the order from his rider software.

Character Developments

• Mr. Dong: Becomes increasingly concerned and frightened by the strange occurrences, eventually taking time off and considering resignation.
• Liu: Revealed to have starved to death, with no food or water found in his room.
• The Cashier: Described as wearing heavy makeup, with a harsh voice and dead fish-like eyes, she becomes more menacing as the story progresses.

Significant Themes

• Supernatural or unexplained phenomena: The strange occurrences at the restaurant and with the customer hint at something otherworldly.
• Isolation and avoidance: Mr. Dong's colleagues start avoiding him, and Liu is isolated in his apartment, leading to his death.

Character Interactions

• Mr. Dong and the Cashier: Their interactions are minimal but tense, with the cashier glaring at Mr. Dong when he tries to open a bento box and later staring at him through the glass door.
• Mr. Dong and Liu: They have no direct interaction, with Liu only snatching the takeout and slamming the door shut each time.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A mysterious glitch occurs on a CCTV footage whenever a rider in green passes by a certain community activity center.
• A food delivery rider reports seeing disgusting contents in the food from the activity center's restaurant, which he believes led to another rider's disappearance.
• Three rider disappearances linked to the activity center are found, with no leads or resolution.
• A website founder reveals that the activity center's restaurant was not on their records, and riders who delivered from there disappeared after contact.

Character Developments

• The rider in green becomes a suspicious figure due to the CCTV glitches.
• Mr. Dong, the informant rider, becomes frightened and considers using amulets for safety.
• Ma Baoguo, the website founder, reveals he has knowledge of the strange occurrences but hadn't pursued it due to business pressures.

Significant Themes

• The supernatural or unexplained, hinted at through the CCTV glitches and mysterious disappearances.
• The consequences of ignoring or brushing off unusual events, as seen with Ma Baoguo's past inaction.

Character Interactions

• The informant rider, Mr. Dong, interacts with the client, sharing his knowledge and fears about the activity center.
• Ma Baoguo interacts with the client, revealing his past experiences and knowledge about the strange restaurant and rider disappearances.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A mysterious restaurant appears on a food delivery app, with orders only at noon and no physical restaurant found.
• The delivery manager receives orders from this restaurant, ignores them initially, but later assigns them to riders.
• A rider, Yan, receives an order from the restaurant and goes missing. His last location pinged at the restaurant's address.
• Investigators visit the restaurant's address and find an abandoned activity room with a chilling aura but no ghosts.
• The restaurant disappears from the delivery app, and the investigators contact the residential committee for information.

Character Developments

• The delivery manager becomes increasingly uncomfortable and scared with the mysterious restaurant orders.
• Liu Miao, Wu Ling, and Ye Qing, the investigators, explore the abandoned activity room, finding it dilapidated and filled with trash.
• Director Zhu of the residential committee reveals the activity room's history and the reason for its abandonment.

Significant Themes

• Supernatural occurrences and their impact on the living (mysterious restaurant, chilling aura).
• Fear of the unknown and the consequences of ignoring warning signs (delivery manager, Yan's disappearance).
• The struggle between practicality and idealism in community management (Director Zhu's explanation for the abandoned activity room).

Character Interactions

• The delivery manager interacts with the police and the investigators, providing information about the mysterious restaurant orders.
• Liu Miao, Wu Ling, and Ye Qing work together to investigate the restaurant's address, exploring the abandoned activity room and discussing their findings.
• The investigators contact Director Zhu, who provides background information on the activity room and the restaurant that once operated there.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A delivery rider reports a problematic restaurant on a food delivery app, which was previously closed due to hygiene issues and a cockroach incident.
• The restaurant's owner, Xu Quanguan (using a fake name), had a business license issue and was forced to close after a dispute with residents and intervention from the property management.
• The restaurant's activity room has been closed for years, and residents haven't noticed any recent activity.
• The client, Dong Feng, starts acting strangely, eating unknown food and ordering takeout that he doesn't consume.

Character Developments

• Director Zhu reveals past incidents involving the restaurant and its owners.
• Niu Jiahao, the former property manager, confirms the restaurant owner's death and provides little helpful information.
• Dong Feng's roommate expresses concern about Dong Feng's strange behavior.

Significant Themes

• The consequences of illegal business practices and lack of proper licensing.
• The impact of past events on current situations, as seen through the former property manager's reluctance to help.
• The potential supernatural element hinted at by Dong Feng's roommate.

Character Interactions

• Director Zhu and the reporter discuss the restaurant's history and try to gather more information.
• Niu Jiahao and the reporter discuss the restaurant owner's death and the current situation.
• Dong Feng's roommate and the reporter discuss Dong Feng's strange behavior and the takeout deliveries.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Dong Feng is in a dazed state, with no signs of recovery.
• A video surveillance shows Wu Ling using a talisman on Dong Feng, which burns for two hours.
• Dong Feng suddenly regains consciousness and becomes aggressive when he tries to order food.
• A delivery man, Zhang Sheng, arrives with food. He is interrogated and suddenly dies after eating the food, with a rat emerging from his mouth.

Character Developments

• Dong Feng: He remains in a dazed state, showing no signs of recovery. When he regains consciousness, he becomes aggressive and hungry.
• Zhang Sheng: He is a delivery man with limited knowledge about the restaurant he works for. He dies under mysterious circumstances after eating the delivered food.

Significant Themes

• Hunger and food obsession: Dong Feng and Zhang Sheng both exhibit an extreme desire for food, suggesting a deeper, supernatural cause.
• Memory loss and confusion: Zhang Sheng struggles to remember his hometown and his sister-in-law, hinting at a possible mind-control or memory-altering element at play.

Character Interactions

• Liu Miao and Ye Qing: They work together to interrogate Zhang Sheng and handle the situation with Dong Feng.
• Liu Miao and Zhang Sheng: Liu Miao physically restrains Zhang Sheng during the interrogation and later tries to pull him back when he starts eating the food.
• Wu Ling and Dong Feng: Wu Ling uses a talisman on Dong Feng and monitors his condition.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A mysterious entity, possibly a starving ghost, drains Dong Feng's life force, leaving him emaciated and skeletal in just three days.
• True Master Xuan Qing arrives but is unable to save Dong Feng, who dies violently after being fed.
• The investigation reveals that the victims, the Zhang family, died from food poisoning or starvation, with the wife and son's whereabouts unknown.
• The incident is classified as "Incomplete," with the mastermind, the restaurant owner, remaining unidentified.

Character Developments

• Ye Qing: Maintains a calm demeanor even in dire situations, showing respect for True Master Xuan Qing's authority.
• Wu Ling: Shows concern for Dong Feng's condition and is familiar with the case's details.
• True Master Xuan Qing: Demonstrates expertise in dealing with supernatural entities but is unable to save Dong Feng, hinting at his limitations.
• The Narrator: Becomes increasingly cautious about ordering takeout after learning about the incident.

Significant Themes

• The dangers of the unknown and the supernatural.
• The power dynamics between Qing Ye and the mysterious restaurant owner.
• The consequences of ignoring or underestimating potential threats.

Character Interactions

• Ye Qing and Wu Ling: Work together to handle the situation, showing a level of trust and familiarity.
• True Master Xuan Qing and Ye Qing: The master-student relationship is evident, with Ye Qing showing deference to Xuan Qing's expertise.
• The Narrator and his friends: React with fear and caution after learning about the incident, highlighting the impact of the story on the audience.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A second death occurs at the Junli Hotel, within the cordoned-off site, a week after the first incident.
• The hotel manager is found dead beneath the horse sculpture in the lobby, crushed by the falling sculpture.
• The police are investigating but have not yet allowed access to the scene.
• Chen Yihan plays an audio recording of the hotel manager's last moments for Gu Mo, but Gu Mo cannot discern any useful information.

Character Developments

• Chen Xiaoqiu, Chen Yihan's niece, is more involved in the investigation and shows initiative in sharing information.
• Gu Mo and Nangong Yao express their unwillingness to give up on helping people, despite the risks and previous failures.

Significant Themes

• The investigation into the Junli Hotel deaths, which may involve supernatural elements, such as a feng shui array.
• The struggle between duty and self-preservation, as seen in the characters' reactions to the potential dangers of the case.

Character Interactions

• Chen Yihan, Chen Xiaoqiu, and the three agency members (Gu Mo, Nangong Yao, and the narrator) discuss the case and possible solutions.
• Gu Mo and Nangong Yao share their thoughts on why they continue to take on commissions, despite the risks and previous failures.
• The group decides to seek help from Xuan Qing Zhenren, but Gu Mo expresses doubt about his whereabouts and willingness to assist.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Junli Hotel case hits a stalemate, with the government intending to close it as suicides and accidents.
• A third death occurs at the Junli Hotel, this time a cleaner found scalded to death in a shower stall.
• The news sparks nationwide discussion and rumors, with the police controlling the narrative.

Character Developments

• Chen Yihan, the police chief, is working overtime and hasn't contacted his family.
• Skinny feels anxious and uneasy about the situation, despite his previous experiences with bizarre incidents.

Significant Themes

• The tension between official stance and public opinion regarding supernatural or unexplained events.
• The impact of internet culture on news dissemination and public reaction.

Character Interactions

• Nangong Yao hints at the Junli Hotel's danger to the protagonist.
• Skinny shares his unease with the protagonist and Fatty.
• The group chat discusses the third death and its details.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Yihan, the Police Chief, is in a dilemma regarding Liu Xiangqian, as the three cases seem like accidents, and there's no solid evidence to arrest him.
• The group discusses the potential consequences if more people die, including the hotel closing and construction stopping.
• They visit a property owner, Yuan Zhiyi, but he's not home. They learn he's attending a memorial service for his son who recently died.
• Chen Xiaoqiu calls, saying there's trouble at Gongnong Village 6 targeting Qingye. They find an old man crying outside Qingye's door, surrounded by people.

Character Developments

• Skinny realizes his eyelid twitching is due to staying up late playing games, not supernatural causes.
• The protagonist (Qi Ge) sees a ghost for the first time, a middle-aged man with a caved-in chest, who writes 'Please' on the wall.

Significant Themes

• The struggle between law and justice, as Chen Yihan can't take action against Liu Xiangqian due to lack of evidence.
• The consequences of inaction, as the group worries about what will happen if more people die.
• The supernatural theme is introduced with the appearance of the ghost.

Character Interactions

• The group discusses the cases and potential consequences, showing their concern and helplessness.
• The protagonist and Skinny interact, with Skinny asking what's wrong when he notices the protagonist's reaction to the ghost.
• The protagonist, Skinny, and Fatty work together, visiting property owners and dealing with the situation at Gongnong Village 6.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Qi encounters Yuan Zhiyi, a grieving father who believes Ye Qing can help find his deceased son's cause of death.
• Lin Qi opens the door to Building Six's sixth floor, revealing an eerie, ancient atmosphere.
• Yuan Zhiyi's son, Yuan Kang, appears in Lin Qi's dream, indicating a possible possession.

Character Developments

• Lin Qi demonstrates courage and calmness in the face of supernatural events.
• Yuan Zhiyi's grief and desperation become evident as he seeks help from Ye Qing.
• Yuan Kang, in Lin Qi's dream, appears as a successful, authoritative figure.

Significant Themes

• Supernatural occurrences and their impact on the living.
• Grief and desperation leading to irrational behavior (Yuan Zhiyi).
• The potential curse on Gongnong Sixth Village and its inhabitants.

Character Interactions

• Lin Qi interacts with Yuan Zhiyi, showing empathy and understanding.
• Lin Qi's conversation with Chen Xiaoqiu and the skinny guy reveals their shared experiences with the supernatural.
• Lin Qi's possession by Yuan Kang suggests a potential connection or conflict between them.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yuan Kang, the hotel manager, learns about the cancellation of the city's fireworks show and couple's rooms due to construction, but new guests are still interested in booking.
• An employee falls to his death from the hotel's scaffolding, later identified as Wei Xiaozhong, a kitchen staff member.
• Yuan Kang and his family discuss the death, with his wife and daughter expressing unease, suggesting they know about a past incident in the hotel (likely Room 809).

Character Developments

• Yuan Kang: Initially focused on work, he becomes increasingly unsettled by Wei Xiaozhong's death and his family's reaction.
• Yuan Kang's wife: She is worried about her husband's job and their family's safety, hinting at a past incident in the hotel.
• Yuan Kang's daughter: She is uneasy about the death and the hotel's reputation, showing concern for her family's well-being.

Significant Themes

• Death and Superstition: The death of Wei Xiaozhong and the mention of Room 809 bring up themes of death, supernatural occurrences, and superstition.
• Family and Work: The tension between Yuan Kang's family life and his job at the hotel is highlighted, with his wife and daughter expressing concern about his work.

Character Interactions

• Yuan Kang and his family: Their conversation reveals their shared unease about the hotel and the death of Wei Xiaozhong, hinting at a past incident.
• Yuan Kang and hotel staff: Yuan Kang is seen managing the staff and handling the aftermath of Wei Xiaozhong's death, showing his professionalism and responsibility.

Key Plot Points & Events

• Yuan Kang leaves home, walking purposefully towards the Junli Hotel.
• He enters the hotel, bypassing locked doors, and approaches Room 809 but doesn't enter.
• He goes to the rooftop, looks at the scaffolding where Wei Xiaozhong died, then pats the horse sculpture in the lobby.
• The horse sculpture comes to life, crushing Yuan Kang to death.
• The hotel feels alive and conscious, focusing its attention on the narrator.
• Yuan Kang's ghost appears, accepts his death as an accident, and leaves with his body.

Character Developments

• Yuan Kang: Shows no signs of abnormality or fear during his strange journey, even after his death.
• Narrator: Feels increasing unease and fear, especially when the hotel feels alive and conscious.

Significant Themes

• The supernatural: The hotel's consciousness and the horse sculpture's movement.
• Death and acceptance: Yuan Kang's death and his ghost's reaction to it.
• Fear and unease: The narrator's feelings throughout the chapter.

Character Interactions

• The narrator follows Yuan Kang, trying to stop him but failing.
• Yuan Kang interacts with the hotel's objects, with the horse sculpture ultimately causing his death.
• Yuan Kang's ghost briefly interacts with the narrator, showing no suspicion about his death.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wei Xiaozhong dreams of himself working at the Junli Hotel, then committing suicide by jumping off the rooftop.
• He discovers that inanimate objects in his dream can cause harm, similar to the Junli Hotel.
• Wei Xiaozhong wakes up with a start and feels uneasy about the objects in his home.

Character Developments

• Wei Xiaozhong: Becomes more aware of the potential dangers around him, both at the Junli Hotel and in his own home. He starts questioning his mental state and the reality of his experiences.

Significant Themes

• Supernatural phenomena and their connection to the physical world.
• The line between reality and illusion, and the impact on mental health.
• The fear of the unknown and the loss of control.

Character Interactions

• Wei Xiaozhong shares his dream with his friends, causing Fatty to become more anxious.
• Wei Xiaozhong's parents notice his dark circles but attribute them to late-night movie watching.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ren Pi, a 27-year-old salesman, experiences two terrifying incidents involving endless roads and time loops while driving and on a bus.
• He first encounters the phenomenon while driving home from work, causing him to panic and run out of gas.
• The second incident occurs on a bus, with no driver and a dead phone, ending at another intersection.
• The police find him at both scenes, leading him to believe he might have fallen asleep or experienced sleepwalking.
• Ren Pi seeks help from the police and a temple but is unsure of the cause.

Character Developments

• Ren Pi becomes increasingly frightened and desperate as he experiences these inexplicable events.
• He is cooperative with the police but fears they might not believe him or find him guilty.

Significant Themes

• Fear of the unknown and loss of control.
• The struggle between reality and supernatural occurrences.
• The isolation and helplessness of the protagonist.

Character Interactions

• Ren Pi interacts with the police, who initially seem skeptical but investigate his claims.
• He has no significant interactions with other characters in this chapter.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Surveillance footage shows a black sedan disappearing at an intersection and reappearing elsewhere, with no sign of the vehicle in between.
• A man is seen boarding a bus at a terminal, and the bus later vanishes from surveillance cameras while driving on Jinxiu Avenue.
• The client, Mr. Ren, experiences a mysterious incident while driving home, ending up in the middle of an intersection with no memory of how he got there.

Character Developments

• Mr. Ren, the client, is initially calm but becomes panicked and scared after recounting his experience.
• The investigators remain professional and empathetic, trying to piece together the events and help Mr. Ren.

Significant Themes

• Disappearance and Reappearance: The black sedan and the bus both disappear and reappear under mysterious circumstances.
• Memory Loss: Mr. Ren has no memory of the time he reappeared at the intersection, raising questions about his experience.
• Mystery and Unexplained Phenomena: The entire chapter revolves around unexplained events, creating a sense of intrigue and unease.

Character Interactions

• The investigators review surveillance footage and audio recordings, trying to understand the events and help Mr. Ren.
• Mr. Ren recounts his experience to the investigators, expressing his fear and confusion.
• The investigators suggest two possible courses of action to help Mr. Ren, showing their commitment to assisting him.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The protagonist, Mr. Ren, hires a firm to investigate his supernatural experiences.
• He is picked up from work twice with no anomalies, and his recent work activities are investigated with no related individuals found.
• On July 30, Mr. Ren remembers an old lady, Zhuang Lan, who lives downstairs and seemed to dislike him.
• The firm discovers that Mr. Ren will have a car accident at a certain intersection at 5:35 AM one morning, as he had precognized.
• Surveillance footage shows a car accident at the intersection, but the cars are in a semi-transparent state and the sports car causing the accident is blurry.
• The firm contacts Zhuang Lan, who complains about Mr. Ren's mother throwing trash and cursing at her.

Character Developments

• Mr. Ren: Struggles with his supernatural experiences, becomes increasingly anxious and desperate.
• Zhuang Lan: Revealed to be a bitter and unreasonable old lady who argues with her neighbors.

Significant Themes

• Supernatural events and their impact on the protagonist's mental state.
• The struggle between memory and reality.
• The consequences of past actions and their influence on the present.

Character Interactions

• Mr. Ren interacts with the firm, sharing his experiences and trying to find a solution.
• Zhuang Lan interacts with her neighbors, arguing and causing disputes.
• Mr. Ren's mother is mentioned, having a history of arguing with Zhuang Lan.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ren Pi, the client, reveals he had a car accident in elementary school and has recently started experiencing precognitive abilities.
• Investigations uncover that Ren Pi attended World Experimental Elementary School in the capital, where a car accident occurred on April 19, 1992, with no casualties.
• Ren Pi hears that a colleague was asked if he was dead by Wang Xiaoshuai, a logistics person he had previously worked with.
• The investigators contact Wang Xiaoshuai, who admits that he has the ability to cause people Ren Pi touches to see their impending death.

Character Developments

• Ren Pi: Becomes increasingly anxious and desperate as he fears for his life due to his precognitive abilities.
• Wang Xiaoshuai: Initially denies any wrongdoing but eventually confesses to having an ability that causes people touched by Ren Pi to see their impending death.

Significant Themes

• Precognition and fate: The idea that some people can see their own or others' impending deaths, and the struggle against destiny.
• The consequences of power: Wang Xiaoshuai's ability has caused him to change jobs and isolate himself, highlighting the burden of extraordinary abilities.

Character Interactions

• Ren Pi and the investigators: Ren Pi seeks help from the investigators, who try to find a solution to his predicament.
• Ren Pi and Wang Xiaoshuai: Wang Xiaoshuai is indirectly connected to Ren Pi's recent precognitive experiences, causing distress for Ren Pi.
• The investigators and Wang Xiaoshuai: The investigators confront Wang Xiaoshuai, who initially denies any involvement but eventually confesses to his ability.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wang Xiaoshuai recounts incidents where people he knew died in accidents after he interacted with them, leading him to believe he was causing these deaths.
• He realizes he can foresee people's deaths, but feels helpless to prevent them.
• Wang changes jobs twice to avoid these situations, but encounters similar incidents at his new workplaces.
• Investigators confirm five incidents Wang mentioned and question him further about his involvement in Ren Pi's death.

Character Developments

• Wang Xiaoshuai: Struggles with his ability to foresee deaths, feels guilty and scared, tries to avoid using his ability but fails.
• Ren Pi: A colleague who dies in an accident; Wang is suspected of being involved in his death.

Significant Themes

• Fate and free will: Wang believes he can foresee but not prevent deaths, questioning his role in these events.
• Guilt and isolation: Wang feels guilty for the deaths and fears others will blame him, leading to his isolation.
• The burden of knowledge: Wang struggles with knowing about impending deaths but being unable to stop them.

Character Interactions

• Wang Xiaoshuai interacts with several people who later die, leading him to believe he is causing their deaths.
• Investigators question Wang about his involvement in Ren Pi's death and his ability to foresee deaths.

Key Plot Points and Events

• An investigation is conducted about Wang Xiaoshuai's resignation from his company, which occurred around the same time as Zhang Shuyi's mental illness and subsequent death.
• Wang Xiaoshuai is suspected of having an unusual ability to influence others' deaths, as he had dinner with Zhang Shuyi before his illness and advised a client, Mr. Ren, to avoid driving.
• Wang Xiaoshuai confirms his ability to see others' deaths in his dreams, describing an endless road with no end, where he walks with others who are about to die.

Character Developments

• Wang Xiaoshuai: Initially thought to be timid for resigning, he is now suspected of having a special ability to influence others' deaths. He is frightened and reluctant to discuss his ability.
• Zhang Shuyi: A former colleague of Wang Xiaoshuai who fell ill and later died, potentially due to Wang Xiaoshuai's influence.

Significant Themes

• The supernatural: The exploration of Wang Xiaoshuai's ability to see and influence others' deaths.
• The burden of knowledge: Wang Xiaoshuai's struggle with knowing about others' impending deaths and his inability to prevent them.

Character Interactions

• Wang Xiaoshuai and Zhang Shuyi: They had an ordinary relationship, with Wang Xiaoshuai treating Zhang Shuyi to a meal before his illness.
• Wang Xiaoshuai and Mr. Ren: Wang Xiaoshuai subtly advised Mr. Ren to avoid driving, hinting at an impending accident.
• Wang Xiaoshuai and the investigators: Wang Xiaoshuai is hesitant to discuss his ability but confirms his dreams of an endless road where he walks with those about to die.