Chapter 15: The Unheeded Warning

Observing that the elevator was far too packed to accommodate everyone, the committee’s aunties and grandmas wisely refrained from pushing their way inside. They opted instead to wait patiently for the next available car.

Qiao Xia felt a surge of relief, silently thankful that the adjacent elevator was undergoing repairs. Had it been operational, a whole group of people might have ascended to the 20th floor, only to be ambushed by Liu Ge — a thought too horrifying to contemplate.

Even with the current arrangement, Qiao Xia felt a tremor of apprehension as they rode the elevator skyward, utterly unsure how to confront Liu Ge.

Reflecting on his recent experience of swiftly closing the elevator doors, and the unfortunate sacrifice of his phone, Qiao Xia realized something crucial: Liu Ge appeared to be highly sensitive to sound.

If this theory held true, once they reached the floor, he could employ a feint to distract Liu Ge, thereby preventing him from inflicting harm.

“Young man,” one of the committee members inquired, “I just saw the elevator descending, implying you came down from the 20th floor. Why, then, are you heading back up again so soon?”

As the elevator ascended with a gentle hum, the committee members cast perplexed glances at Qiao Xia. They couldn’t fathom why this young man had volunteered to accompany them; surely, he wasn’t merely curious to witness them apprehend someone?

If that was indeed his expectation, he was in for a disappointment.

This was, after all, a civilized society. Even if Liu Dali proved uncooperative, they wouldn’t resort to arbitrary force; their primary approach would be through verbal persuasion.

Violence? Impossible.

Never.

“There were too many people downstairs just now, so I couldn’t speak openly,” Qiao Xia explained. “I encountered Liu Dali at the elevator entrance on the 20th floor. He was in an extremely bizarre state and attempted to attack me! Had I not reacted swiftly, I might have already been harmed.”

Meeting their skeptical gazes, Qiao Xia deliberated for a moment before deciding to disclose the unvarnished truth.

Even Qiao Xia himself couldn’t predict what lay ahead, making it imperative that the committee members were forewarned, allowing them to prepare for any eventuality.

Yet, Qiao Xia knew, with a sinking feeling, that even his stark warning would likely fall on deaf ears.

After all, if he hadn’t personally endured the terrifying experience of being targeted, he too would never have believed Liu Ge capable of such ferocity, utterly heedless of the consequences.

Therefore, Qiao Xia had made up his mind: he would make the first move.

Apart from the phone he had flung away moments ago, Qiao Xia still had a lighter tucked into his trousers pocket.

It usually served a simple purpose: lighting a cigarette.

This particular lighter, however, boasted an extraordinary provenance. It was a ludicrously expensive, almost luxurious item Zhou Li had purchased solely for the purpose of impressing women. Ironically, he had never found a suitable opportunity to flaunt it.

In a fit of pique, Zhou Li had simply gifted the lighter to Qiao Xia, declaring he never wished to lay eyes on the cursed object again.

With righteous indignation, he had simultaneously vowed eternal fidelity to his ‘2D wives’ and sworn off any future attractions to ‘3D women.’

Then, of course, he met Duan Yulan… Qiao Xia recalled Zhou Li’s subsequent behavior, like a crazed fan meeting an idol, showering Duan Yulan with endless praise.

This blatant reversal, a veritable slap in the face to his previous declarations, almost made Qiao Xia chuckle aloud.

Now, at long last, the lighter was about to serve its true purpose.

“Young man, you’re exaggerating!” one of them admonished. “While we know you’re close with Grandpa Li, you can’t just falsely accuse someone without cause.”

“Precisely!” another agreed. “After Grandpa Li informed us, he even wanted to join us in taking Liu Dali to the hospital, as if he relished a spectacle. If a sudden phone call hadn’t pulled him away, we likely wouldn’t have been able to dissuade him.”

“Liu Dali has a decent reputation around the community,” another committee member chimed in. “He’s never been involved in anything underhanded. It seems unlikely he’d harm a student like you!”

“Wait, I recall you and Liu Dali actually had a rather good relationship,” an older woman interjected, her brow furrowed. “I often saw you two exercising together by the community’s fitness equipment. How could it suddenly be that Liu Dali is attacking you?”

The moment Qiao Xia’s words left his lips, they struck the group like a massive stone hurled into placid water, eliciting a torrent of agitated questions and suspicions.

The committee members, one after another, voiced their profound skepticism. Listening to their disbelief, Qiao Xia felt an immense weariness settle upon him; it was truly exhausting to be dismissed even when speaking the truth.

“I am not saying this because of anyone else,” Qiao Xia insisted, his voice firm. “Once you encounter Liu Dali, you will understand everything. However, I must warn you now: Liu Dali is extremely dangerous. Regardless of whether you believe my words, you must take precautions to protect yourselves. Do not take any chances.”

Although Qiao Xia knew his warnings would likely prove futile, he uttered them nonetheless, if only to grant himself a measure of peace.

Knowing the impending danger, he found himself incapable of simply standing by. While it might sound like unwarranted meddling, Qiao Xia, a product of a society that championed collective responsibility, was far from a malicious individual; he was merely an ordinary person.

Perhaps, at most, a touch more laid-back than his peers.

It was precisely this concern for the committee members’ safety that compelled Qiao Xia, despite having already escaped danger, to return. He was determined to ensure Liu Ge was safely transported to the hospital, ideally without anyone else sustaining injury.

Perhaps, it was this very nature that had bestowed upon him his ‘golden finger’ ability.

*Cough, cough…* Then again, it might also be attributed to the black bracelet Duan Yulan had given him, which seemed to have triggered his ‘golden finger’ at a most opportune moment. Despite its timely arrival, Qiao Xia harbored no desire to thank her.

Duan Yulan’s public display of affection — hugging and kissing him at the school gates — was utterly unacceptable. Even as a man, though he suffered no physical loss, such behavior was inappropriate!

In some respects, it bordered on harassment!

‘Ding.’

Before the committee members could even respond to Qiao Xia’s urgent warnings, the elevator chimed, signaling their arrival at the 20th floor.

Qiao Xia’s gaze immediately darted to the elevator entrance, but Liu Ge was nowhere to be seen. Only his pitiable phone lay there, snapped irrevocably in two, utterly useless.

A pang of regret struck Qiao Xia; his phone, bought just last year, was now a complete write-off. This was truly a significant loss.

Meanwhile, despite their skepticism regarding Qiao Xia’s claims, his earnest demeanor instinctively prompted the committee members to heighten their vigilance, just in case his warnings proved true.

Qiao Xia’s earlier account had clearly stated he was attacked right at the elevator entrance. Consequently, as soon as the doors opened, the committee members instantly positioned themselves defensively, wary of anyone lurking outside.

As it turned out, the elevator entrance was completely deserted.

Their apprehension had been entirely unfounded.

This revelation caused a large-bearded man from the committee to cast a look of utter exasperation at Qiao Xia. He said nothing, merely letting out a dismissive snort within the confines of the elevator.

‘Children these days,’ he thought, ‘are truly something else.’

Their fabrications were so convincing, they could almost pass for truth.

What was even more galling was that he had actually believed the boy!

Immediately, as if to dispel any notion that he had been the one to flinch, the bearded man was the first to boldly step out of the elevator.

“Young man, were you intentionally trying to frighten us?” the bearded man scoffed, turning back towards Qiao Xia inside the elevator. “From where I stand, there’s no danger here whatsoever!”

Having exited the elevator, the bearded man quickly scanned both ends of the corridor. Finding it empty, he promptly turned back to address Qiao Xia, who remained inside.

Inside the elevator, however, the other occupants’ faces blanched, their eyes widening in collective horror.

Standing directly behind the bearded man, a figure clad in a black trench coat now loomed. He held a blood-stained iron hammer, and his movements were unnervingly stiff.