The next morning.
The Captain clocked in. A little while later, a notification came from the Attendance System.
"Why hasn't Xiao Zhang left yet?" the Captain said.
Normally, whoever worked the night shift left before the day shift began, then took a day off. After seeing the notification, the Captain went to the duty room.
He found Xiao Zhang asleep with his head on the desk.
The Captain walked over, rapped his knuckles on the desk, and called, "Hey."
"Xiao Zhang, clock out already. What are you waiting for?
Go home and get some sleep in a proper bed!"
Xiao Zhang woke and looked up at him with bloodshot eyes. The Captain frowned. "Xiao Zhang, what's wrong? Are you feeling sick?"
Xiao Zhang's head was in a fog.
He stared at the Captain blankly.
It was as though he hadn't understood a word.
After a moment, he leaned back, shook his head, and said, "Oh, Captain. Is it morning? I need to get off work."
He started to stand, but the Captain pressed him back into his chair.
The Captain studied him. Something was clearly wrong. "Don't rush. Sit and rest a while. You look—
What happened last night? Did something happen?"
The Captain glanced at the computer.
The mouse had moved during the commotion, dismissing the Screensaver.
Now the Captain could see the images arranged on the screen.
Photos of the dead filled the display. Looking at them, the Captain wondered if Xiao Zhang had been under too much pressure lately.
"Get something to eat at the cafeteria first," he said. "And don't drive yourself. In this state, you might have an accident.
If the PowerPoint isn't finished, send it over when you get home. I'll have someone else finish it."
Xiao Zhang nodded numbly.
After the Captain left,