To the others, sharing a room with a stunning beauty like Nan seemed like a stroke of good fortune.

　　Lin, however, knew better.

　　 Nan was far from the gentle and amiable persona she presented in this world.

　　"Let's take a look at the other rooms first," Nan suggested. "We need to figure out where everyone's staying."

　　The rest agreed.

　　The woman had given them four keys, corresponding to four apartments on the fourteenth floor.

　　Nan led them on a quick tour, unlocking each door.

　　As expected, the layouts were identical: a single cell-like room with a door, a window, and a solitary bed.

　　The low ceilings only amplified the feeling of being trapped inside a coffin.

　　"I want to take a shower," the volatile middle-aged man suddenly announced. "Is there even a bathroom in this place?"

　　He still bore the remnants of his bloody encounter, his eyes filled with a lingering fear.

　　He seemed to have calmed down, however, no longer clinging to the naive belief that this was all an elaborate prank.

　　"There is one, I think it's at the end of the hallway," Lin replied. "I saw a communal bathroom earlier. We can check it out later."

　　He couldn't deny the discomfort of being around someone covered in dried blood, the metallic scent heavy in the air.

　　"Alright," the man nodded, finally introducing himself as Zeng, a jewelry businessman.

　　His tone held a hint of arrogance, suggesting a man accustomed to a certain level of self-importance in the real world.

　　Unfortunately for him, reality had taken a backseat here, replaced by a world where money held no sway over vengeful spirits.

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　　"Let's decide on the rooms," Nan interjected. "Yu Lin will be with me. The rest of you can work it out."

　　The others exchanged glances, eventually forming their own pairings.

　　 Xu would room with Yao, the remaining two men decided to stick together, leaving Zeng predictably ostracized.

　　His face flushed with anger, but no one seemed inclined to cater to his bruised ego.

　　Nan, though not overtly unkind, merely advised him to clean himself up as soon as possible.

　　"Am I going to be alone?" Zeng, despite not fully grasping the implications of death within this world, seemed to sense the danger.

　　His voice trembled, "What if something happens?"

　　Yao, her tone sharp, retorted, "Don't worry. When it's your time, it's your time. Doesn't matter who you're with."

　　Zeng, sensing the futility of arguing, fell silent.

　　Once the rooms were allocated, Nan proposed they investigate the rooftop for any clues.

　　Yao agreed.

　　The fourteenth floor led to a door secured with a heavy, rusted padlock, seemingly untouched for years.

　　Peeking through a gap, Lin saw nothing of note.

　　"Let's check downstairs. Doesn't seem like there's anything up here."

　　"We can check again tomorrow morning," Yao suggested. "It's getting dark soon. We should wash up and get some sleep."

　　"Can't we stay together and keep watch?" the young man, experiencing the "door" for the first time, voiced a concern Lin had also harbored. "Wouldn't we be safer together? At least we'd know if something happened."

　　"No," Nan stated firmly. "If we're all together, we'll inevitably fall asleep at some point. As someone who's been here before, my advice is to sleep as early as possible. And if you hear or see anything strange during the night, stay put."

　　The young man, convinced, nodded in understanding.

　　"Let's go freshen up then," Nan declared. "While there's still time."

　　It was six in the evening.

　　Though technically still afternoon, the sky was shrouded in a thick blanket of dark clouds, as if night were about to descend prematurely.

　　The four men headed towards the communal bathroom first.

　　 Zeng, having retrieved a change of clothes from his solitary room, seemed determined to scrub himself clean.

　　Lin, finding the prospect of a full shower daunting, decided to wash up quickly and return to his room.

　　The others seemed to share his sentiment, their movements rushed.

　　As Lin washed his face, he took in his surroundings. T

　　he bathroom was grimy and unsettling, with slick, unidentifiable stains coating the floor.

　　The walls and even the squat toilets exuded an aura of grime.

　　The fading light had triggered the ceiling lamp, casting a sickly yellow glow that made everything resemble a faded, filtered photograph.

　　The two men who’d paired up were ready to leave.

　　“Yu Lin,” one of them called out, “we’re heading back.”

　　Lin, almost finished, nodded in acknowledgement.

　　He grabbed his towel, intending to join them.

　　“Yu Lin,” Zeng’s voice suddenly rang out from the shower stalls. “You’re leaving already?”

　　"Yes," Lin replied, sensing the man’s fear. "How long will you be? I can wait a bit.”