Cold air squeezed in through the gaps in the door, making the dilapidated building feel even more decrepit. Cockroaches scuttled through it, and rats danced alongside them.
Little House Centipede crawled out of a nest of woodlice and waved his antennae as he looked down at Emma.
Emma looked up at him too, her voice stern and tinged with anger. "No. You can play with them, but you absolutely cannot let them stay in the areas I've cleaned! I've made everything spotless, and I won't allow a single bug in here, except you."
The two antennae on Little House Centipede's head waved even more vigorously, as though he were arguing with Emma.
Emma shook her head firmly. "No means no. Begging won't help, and insulting me will help even less!"
"Emma! You're here too?"
Just then, Beiwei and Lü Yating happened to reach this part of the building.
The area was dim, and Emma had covered the places where the paint was badly peeling with oil paintings.
But she had used portraits she'd found in this eerie building, which meant that when Emma turned to look at them, all the figures in the portraits turned to look at them along with her.
Lü Yating went rigid, unsure whether to leave or stay. She whispered, "You two really know each other? Why do I get the feeling she's a native of this instance?"
Beiwei gave her a puzzled look. "Emma is a native."
Then, smiling, she ran over and hugged Emma. "It's been ages! What have you been doing lately?"
Emma wasn't quite used to such enthusiasm. Struggling to keep her lips in a flat line, she stepped back and spoke earnestly.
"I'm working as His Lordship the Viscount's assistant. The Butler knew you would be coming, so he asked us