In Jincheng, after the start of summer, the air turned humid and sticky, like a piece of candy that had gone soft under the blazing sun.
On the bulletin board of the Fifteenth District, the power restriction notice posted by the neighborhood committee had yet to be taken down. Due to the high temperatures and drought, the entire province’s power grid was facing a severe supply crisis. The sub-district office, actively responding to the power conservation policy, held two consecutive days of meetings and finally decided to move the Dispute Resolution Department’s office from their small building to a subway underpass—this would save the power from three air conditioners.
The Dispute Resolution Department’s job, as its name implied, was to mediate all sorts of neighborhood conflicts within its jurisdiction. The pay was low and the work was endless. Now, having lost their office, they had become the unluckiest department in the eyes of all the others. Wu Tao stared at the glaring relocation notice on the door, furious but not daring to voice it loudly. She slammed her hand on the desk. “Making us move offices on a weekend! Director Wang is definitely targeting us. Do you think he’s coveting our boss’s pure and handsome looks?”
Qian Yue corrected her, “It’s not coveting; it’s jealousy.”
The moment he finished speaking, a bottle of juice flew in through the doorway. Qian Yue sidestepped with lightning speed to catch it, then turned around and flashed a standard eight-toothed grin. “Morning, Boss.”
Zhuang Ningyu walked into the office, handed another bottle of juice to Wu Tao, and smiled gently. “Just a reminder: ever since you said that Director Li next door spends his free time taking self-study classes to get ahead, while our Director Wang spends his free time at the foot massage parlor, he hasn’t spoken a word to the Dispute Resolution Department.”
Confronted with his past deeds, Qian Yue threw his hands up in surrender, promising to keep his mouth shut from now on, then grabbed a cardboard box and bolted. Qian Yue had also planned to flee with him, but Zhuang Ningyu grabbed him by the collar. “Where’s this week’s department summary?”
“Have mercy, Boss, I really can’t write anymore,” Qian Yue lamented. “What kind of decent workplace requires a weekly ‘Summary of Departmental Shortcomings and Areas for Improvement’? I don’t think our department has any shortcomings. We’re practically perfect. And why don’t you make Wu Tao write it? She’s a liberal arts major!”
“I did. The result was a proposal suggesting that the name ‘Dispute Resolution Department’ was too down-to-earth. Citing the grand history of the world, she recommended we change it to ‘Arthur’s Knight Table.'” To this day, Zhuang Ningyu could not forget the shock he felt opening that PowerPoint. He felt the painful memory was too much to revisit. “In comparison, your 800-word dissertation on why the department needs a new microwave was a work of genius. So this job is yours from now on.”
Hearing this, Qian Yue burst into tears. “Is it too late for me to apply for a transfer to the Order Maintenance Department? Or the Rule Management Center would be fine too.”
“Recruitment for the Order Maintenance Department is already over. You’ll have to wait until next year if you want to go,” Zhuang Ningyu said, patting his shoulder. “As for the Management Center, it hasn’t been very interesting these past couple of years.”
After all, a full fifty years had passed since the rules first descended upon the world. Humanity had long since pulled itself out of the initial chaos and loss of control, re-establishing a completely new and efficient process for societal operation.
As for why the rules had descended, different people had different opinions. The vast majority of scholars believed it was a provocation and disruption to the original social order, yet they couldn’t deny that besides its negative impacts, it also had a positive side—because along with the rules, a large number of Evolvers had appeared, their bodies’ various functions greatly enhanced. Zhuang Ningyu was one of them.
After the two had packed up their desks, Qian Yue squeezed into Zhuang Ningyu’s car with his box, fastening his seatbelt while taking a call. “Uncle Zhang, yes, our office has been temporarily moved to the Heyun Road Subway Station, Underpass 2, in the Fifteenth District… What suicide? Why does Auntie Zhang want to commit suicide… Oh, she bought an eighty-eight thousand yuan bracelet on a tour group… It’s a custom product with a proper receipt, so it can’t be returned… Okay, okay, I’ll head over to your place now to check on her.”
Zhuang Ningyu hit the brakes. “Which Auntie Zhang?”
“The one who just bought that far-infrared health coat last month,” Qian Yue said, pushing the car door open. “Don’t worry, Boss, I’ll definitely handle the situation and calm her down. You go on ahead.”
Wu Tao had hitched a ride with a colleague and arrived a little earlier. She was waiting for Qian Yue in the underpass, planning for the two of them to hang the temporary office banner together. But when she turned, she only saw Zhuang Ningyu strolling over by himself. Puzzled, she asked, “Where’s Xiao Qian?”
“He went to that Auntie Zhang’s place in Taoli Community,” Zhuang Ningyu said, pulling over a chair and solemnly emphasizing, “I think you’ve been paying a little too much attention to Xiao Qian lately. I’ll reiterate: office romances are forbidden in the Dispute Resolution Department.”
Wu Tao’s focus went astray. Her tone was mournful. “But we don’t have an office now.”
Zhuang Ningyu was struck speechless. He really had no comeback for that. After they hung the banner together, Wu Tao pointed at the remaining pile of pull-up banners. “Boss, I’ll leave these to you. I need to go fix my hair and get ready for the TV interview.”
Director Wang probably thought his ‘save electricity by working in the subway’ method was brilliant, so he had specially invited reporters for a feature story, hoping to promote it city-wide. Zhuang Ningyu had been staring at a new message on his phone with a look of utter despair, but when his ears caught the words “TV interview,” he felt that all was not lost. “I’ll do it,” he immediately volunteered.
His enthusiasm startled Wu Tao. “For real? Just so we’re clear, once you take on this… wonderful task, you can’t give it back to me.”
“Guaranteed,” Zhuang Ningyu said, walking to a less crowded spot with his phone. He cleared his throat tactically for a good while before finally dialing the number.
Ring—Ring—
The phone buzzed, sending a warm, tingling sensation through his palm. In a top-floor apartment in the Guanxing Building, Yi Ke stared motionlessly at his phone screen. His friends, perhaps disgusted by his expression, curiously craned their necks to look. Seeing the caller ID, they asked in shock, “You’re not going to answer this call?”
Yi Ke raised an eyebrow slightly, like a noble and elegant swan. “Wait.”
Jing Lan was in awe. “I never thought I’d see the day you’d play hard-to-get with Brother Zhuang. Looks like you’ve finally seized the upper hand in this relationship.”
Under his lead, a round of enthusiastic applause quickly erupted in the apartment. Yi Ke, perhaps in an exceedingly good mood, chose to simply ignore the group. He waited patiently until the phone stopped vibrating, then waited another full five minutes before deigning to call back. Zhuang Ningyu answered almost instantly. Yi Ke propped his forehead up with one finger, projecting a voice of pure languor. “I was busy just now. What’s—”
Before he could finish the word “up,” a string of words flew from the other end, as if the speaker were being chased by a dog—
“Xiao Ke ah, I have a TV interview today, so I can’t come have dinner with you. I’m so sorry, goodbye!”
Yi Ke: “Wait—”
Zhuang Ningyu didn’t wait even half a second.
A dial tone buzzed from the receiver. An eerie silence fell over the apartment. After a long moment, someone broke the deadlock, fabricating nonsense with a guilty conscience, exclaiming how Brother Zhuang was so busy with work yet still remembered to call. The concern, it must be real concern.
Yi Ke gritted his teeth and dialed the number again, but this time it wasn’t answered.
Jing Lan grabbed the TV remote and, sure enough, found the live interview on the local channel. Due to the city-wide power restrictions, the subway underpass wasn’t as cool as in previous years. Wu Tao had managed to procure a second-hand industrial fan from somewhere. Its powerful motor made it oscillate with vigor, blowing Zhuang Ningyu’s hair into a messy disarray. Perhaps because of the heat, or perhaps because of the phone vibrating incessantly in his pocket, he seemed a bit distracted. “Yes, we will definitely hold our ground on the front lines, using our focus and patience to contribute to maintaining social stability… I’m sorry, I have to take a call.”
The reporter expressed her understanding—work was important. The camera panned away to interview a bystander. Zhuang Ningyu pulled the scalding hot phone from his pocket and took a deep breath under immense pressure, but the breath caught in his throat, because the caller ID wasn’t Yi Ke.
Jing Lan, watching Zhuang Ningyu answer the phone in the corner of the screen, was also surprised. “That wasn’t you calling?”
Yi Ke turned his head and gave him a look one would reserve for an idiot. “Why would I call at a time like this? Can’t you see he’s in the middle of a TV interview?”
So considerate! That’s not like you at all! After a long pause, Jing Lan managed to squeeze out two words: “…I can.”
Qian Yue had found a quiet place to report in. “Boss, it’s confirmed. The entire Taoli Community has been taken over by the rules. I’m trapped here.”
He looked at his phone screen, where a large block of red text was floating.
Taoli Community Daily Life Guide—
- The 155 community bus departs daily at 10 AM sharp. All minors must be accompanied by their mother to ride. The fare is 2 Rule Coins per person. Please note, all other passengers are not within the scope of the transport company’s services.
- After 8:30 PM every day, everyone should stay at home and avoid making unpleasant noises.
- A knock on the door after dark often signifies impending danger, but residents must still open their security door immediately and maintain a proper smile and politeness. Please do not attempt to keep the knocker outside.
- A tidy environment, delicious meals, a soft bed, and clean clothes will protect your safety to the greatest extent. Therefore, it is recommended that every resident of the community learn to cook and clean. Laziness will be punished.
- If you are truly unskilled in the culinary arts, you may occasionally opt for the instant noodles sold at the Spring Breeze Supermarket. The instant noodles will have a certain probability of bringing you good luck.
- The wet market will open on time to provide residents with fresh and delicious ingredients.
- With the exception of the supermarket and the wet market, all other transactions of goods are prohibited in this community.
- Please stay as far away from the terraces as possible.
“Colleagues from the Order Maintenance Department have already arrived.” Qian Yue looked at the fleet of vehicles in the distance and estimated their numbers. “First Operations Area, First Squad. Not too many, probably about thirty people.”
The Order Maintenance Department sounded like a sister agency to the Dispute Resolution Department, but in reality, their members were all A+ level Evolvers at minimum, specializing in breaking the rules. When it was first established, it was called the Violent Elimination Department, but later, because the name was just too awful and frequently drew complaints from the public, they were recently forced to adopt a gentler branding.
“Boss, don’t worry about me. I’ll go communicate with the other departments myself.” This wasn’t the first time Qian Yue had been trapped within a rule zone; he was very familiar with the whole process. The captain of the First Squad was named Ye Jiaoyue. After checking his work ID, she asked, “What are you doing here?”
“An elderly person encountered a scam tour guide during a trip and was tricked into buying a ridiculously expensive bracelet. She only just realized it, but the seller refuses to issue a refund,” Qian Yue explained. “Her family was afraid she’d do something drastic, so they asked me to come over and help talk her down.”
Ye Jiaoyue nodded and returned his ID. “Thank you for your hard work. You can rest for a bit. Later, you’ll assist us with resident screening and registration. The mental contamination level in the area is currently zero, so protective measures are not yet needed.”
Within a rule zone, the work of the Order Maintenance Department was the top priority; all other departments had to cooperate fully. Qian Yue stood by the side of the road, preparing to take a few photos of the community, when a Bentley suddenly pulled up in front of him. He decisively took two steps back, refusing to get involved in a “porcelain collision” he couldn’t afford.
“Yi Ke, over here.” A tall girl with a ponytail ran out from the main gate. “Captain Ye sent me to get you. Check in first.”
Check in? Someone from the Order Maintenance Department? Qian Yue glanced at the young man getting out of the car. He was tall and well-built, with a pair of sunglasses perched on his nose, exuding an aura completely at odds with his surroundings. As he walked, he casually clipped his work ID to his chest. The sunlight passed through his long fingers, casting a heart-shaped shadow on his black shirt.
So unfair! Qian Yue raged with jealousy in the department’s meal-planning group chat. How can a rich guy’s work badge be in the shape of loving you when he wears it?
Wu Tao: You should worry about yourself first.
Qian Yue: Where’s the boss?
Wu Tao: A flash delivery guy was just looking for him.
The recipient on the delivery package was Yi Ke, but the phone number and address were Zhuang Ningyu’s. His phone rang at the perfect moment. Staring at the name on the screen, Zhuang Ningyu once again felt the despondent urge to just give up on life. He had wanted to steel himself emotionally first, but then he turned and saw Wu Tao staring at him, her big, watery eyes shining with gossip. A man with a guilty conscience couldn’t withstand such a scene. His feet nearly stumbled, and his finger slipped, swiping the answer key.
Yi Ke’s lazy voice came through the phone. “Did you get my package?”
“Why was your stuff sent to my place?” Zhuang Ningyu asked him. “Also, you haven’t even finished your internship period. Why are you at a rule-breaking site?”
“Because I’ve already passed the qualification exam and am certified for action. And the Order Maintenance Department happened to be short-staffed today,” Yi Ke replied. “As for the package, my grandma sent it to me. She’s probably getting old and got a little muddled, so she filled in the wrong address. Could you do me a favor and bring it over?”
Zhuang Ningyu looked at the sender’s name. “Your grandma’s name is Ninja Dante.”
What kind of ridiculous name is that? Yi Ke fell into a brief silence, then continued nonchalantly with a hum of confirmation. “That’s right.”
