Dimensional Store: Welcome to the Apocalypse Apartment - Chapter 2

No infection, no decay!

Why are you not afraid of radiation and dust?

Gu Huaiwei was pulled by him and staggered, nearly falling down.

“Guest, attacking staff is prohibited.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the defense robots on both sides of the corridor entered alert mode.

“If you don’t let go, I’ll have to evict you from the hotel.” Gu Huaiwei’s tone was stern.

It was her first day at work, and she didn’t want any trouble.

Unfortunately, this guest was not only making a fuss, but also had a strong grip. That squeeze just now was like an iron clamp, almost crushing her wrist.

“Sorry, I was just a bit surprised…” Xiao Youqi recognized the advanced defense robots on both sides. He released her hand, his tone now feigning gentlemanly softness. “Forget it, I was out of line.”

Gu Huaiwei rubbed her aching wrist, deactivated the robots’ alert, and spoke coldly: “I start work at 7 a.m. and finish at midnight.

During working hours, you can come to the front desk for anything.

At night, when I’m not here, don’t wander around the hotel.

You need to check out before noon tomorrow.

If you exceed the time by less than half an hour, there’s no extra charge. More than half an hour, you’ll be charged three Gold Coins per hour.”

Xiao Youqi nodded.

Gu Huaiwei was about to turn and leave when Xiao Youqi called out to her.

He licked his lower lip, as if suppressing excitement: “Miss, may I ask you a question?”

“Not really.” Gu Huaiwei, afraid of exposing herself, put on a cold, hard shell, tossed her long hair behind her, and strode away.

“Is that so? What a pity.” Xiao Youqi watched Gu Huaiwei’s departing figure with some regret.

Since she won’t cooperate, then…

Xiao Youqi licked his lips, countless mischievous ideas swirling in his mind.

Gu Huaiwei returned to the front desk and began studying the hotel’s work system.

The work here wasn’t difficult.

The guest rooms had dust purification functions.

Cleaning and security were all handled by robots.

She only needed to handle guest reception, record the hotel’s income and expenses, and procure supplies.

During lunch break, Gu Huaiwei carried her own lunchbox to the staff lounge.

The lounge was a small storeroom, usually used to store daily necessities that needed replacing in the hotel.

Since staff rested and changed clothes here, there were no cameras.

Gu Huaiwei searched the storeroom and found her sister’s handwritten diary.

Opening the leather-bound pages, her sister’s elegant handwriting lay on the paper. As her fingertips brushed over the black ink, Gu Huaiwei felt as if she was touching her sister’s anxious heart through time.

Gu Huaiwei’s brows knitted tightly together. The further she read, the more she realized things were not simple.

July 25th

“I’ve been working for a month and still haven’t seen the boss. I’m the only staff member in this hotel, but thankfully the work isn’t tiring and there aren’t many customers. I need to perform well so I can keep this job for a long time.”

August 25th

“Turns out the boss owns so many shops, all managed by me. But why am I the only staff member? Honestly, it’s lucky there’s some automation technology, otherwise I’d be overwhelmed.”

September 25th

“There are even more good things here than I imagined-time, crystal cores, cultivation, energy, equipment can all be used as currency. Too bad only I can use them, and many things can’t be taken home. Should I stay here? It’s nice, but I can’t let go of my little sister.”

October 25th

“I heard Paradise has even more treasures. What kind of place is Paradise? Is it better than Oasis? I wonder if the boss will send me to work in Paradise.”

November 25th

“The boss said when the shop’s management level reaches 100, I can be promoted to Paradise. With a visitor pass from Paradise, I can bring my sister in too. I have to work hard.”

December 25th

“It’s almost New Year. I hope to reach my management goal before the year ends.”

January 17th

“Next Friday, I can enter Paradise.”

January 24th

“Paradise isn’t what I imagined. So this is what Paradise means… (bloodstains) I really shouldn’t have come here. Ah, I’m bleeding. Has the punishment come so soon?”

January 25th

“Today the boss talked to me. He was very different from before, which made me a little scared. I can’t do what he asked. I want to resign.”
A few more pages ahead in the diary had been torn out.

On the last page of the notebook, there was a yellowed old photograph.

In the photo, a middle-aged man and woman with blurred faces stood before a massive stone monument, each cradling a baby girl in their arms. Though time had passed, Gu Huaiwei could still recognize that the twins in the photo were herself and her sister.

Worried, she put the diary away.

Where was the Paradise mentioned in the diary?

Her sister’s incident happened after entering Paradise.

The torn pages at the end of the diary must have contained information about Paradise. Who tore them out?

Were the people in the photo their biological parents?

Mysteries followed one after another.

Gu Huaiwei clenched her fists tightly. She was determined to uncover the truth behind all these things.

After checking into the hotel, Xiao Youqi didn’t sleep all night.

He discovered that this hotel was actually filled with air.

It was free-he could take in as much as he wanted!

There was even clean drinking water in the bathroom, flowing endlessly from the tap.

In the Wasteland, air and fresh water had to be purchased.

After leaving the safe house in the Underground City, the respirator became like an organ attached to their bodies; it couldn’t be removed at will, or they’d die from lung infections.

Fresh water was even more precious-a kettle of fresh water cost a Gold Coin.

In this hotel, not only could he take off his Protective Suit and move freely, he could also remove his respirator and breathe free air.

He had brought seven spare air bladders and five water bottles.

Last night, he spent the whole night breathing free air and filled all his water bottles.

He even developed dark circles under his eyes.

It wasn’t that he was easily impressed, but this hotel was simply too miraculous. Even as a scavenger born in the Third District, wandering the Wasteland, he was shocked.

The next day, Gu Huaiwei, still pondering her sister’s diary, also went to work with panda eyes.

She saw Xiao Youqi walking from the elevator to the front desk.

He had already taken off his Protective Suit. He still wore black military pants, but his shirt was a bit worn and old.

The shirt looked like it had been washed many times, the cuffs were yellowed, and threads were coming loose.

He had short black hair, gray eyes, a high nose bridge, a thin build, and his skin had an unhealthy grayish tone.

His waist was wrapped in bandages, as if freshly dressed.

His distinctive appearance made Gu Huaiwei glance at him a few more times.

“I want to extend my stay.” Xiao Youqi threw a leather pouch filled with Gold Coins onto the counter with a dull thud. “There are 120 Gold Coins in here. I want to stay for another four days.”

“Welcome. It’s our honor to make you feel satisfied,” Gu Huaiwei said as she registered him on the computer.

“Is there a discount for a monthly stay?”

“Just a moment, let me check.” Gu Huaiwei opened the employee manual and pointed to the relevant clause with her index finger. “A monthly rate for a king-size room is 850 Gold Coins, which is 50 cheaper than paying daily.”

Xiao Youqi nodded. “Register me for a monthly stay. I’ll pay the remaining balance within three days.”

Gu Huaiwei agreed and asked, “Would you like your room cleaned?”

“Yes. I’ll be going out at noon. You can come up and clean the room then.”

During her lunch break, Gu Huaiwei saw Xiao Youqi put on his Protective Suit and leave the hotel.

The outside air was heavily polluted.

After he left the hotel lobby, his figure was swallowed by endless sand and dust.

Gu Huaiwei went upstairs and had the cleaning robot tidy up the guest room.

Inside Xiao Youqi’s room, she saw damaged clothing, with some yellowed fabric stuck to tumor-like lumps of flesh.

Though the flesh had been separated from the body, she could still see blood vessels pulsing within the tumor.

“What kind of filthy thing is this?”

Wearing a layer of leather gloves, Gu Huaiwei pinched the lump with her fingers and, with disgust, tossed the tumor into the trash bin.

After cleaning the room, Gu Huaiwei carried the trash bag downstairs.

Her fingers hadn’t yet touched the hotel door when it was slammed open by brute force.

Xiao Youqi rushed in, tore off his respirator, and knelt on the ground, gasping for breath, his face pale and haggard.

Damn it!

He’d almost suffocated to death.