Dimensional Store: Welcome to the Apocalypse Apartment - Chapter 219

Chapter 219

Gu Huaiwei spoke in fluent human language. Not only was she physically intact, but she also possessed a charming aura that made people instinctively want to get close to her.

She looked nothing like those low-level Anomalies with their hideous, terrifying appearances that made one’s skin crawl.

In Lu Xiaoxing’s mind, he had mistaken Gu Huaiwei for a high-level Anomaly and viewed the Oasis Sanatorium service agreement as a supernatural Contract. Feeling as though he had stumbled upon a treasure, he hadn’t even bothered to clarify the terms before rushing to sign his name.

Once he finished, he let out a sigh of relief, feeling as though he were about to reach the pinnacle of his life. He rubbed his hands together and looked up, a smug grin spreading across his face that he couldn’t hide. “So, I assume you’ll be assisting me in clearing this Instance now?”

Most salespeople possess 120% enthusiasm during the marketing phase, spinning extravagant tales and talking a mile a minute, only to revert to a strictly business-like demeanor the moment the contract is signed.

Gu Huaiwei was no exception.

She stowed the contract back into her Jade Bracelet, retracted her trademark smile, and said flatly, “Once you leave the Instance, remember to report to the Oasis Sanatorium. Your stay begins in seven days and will last for a thirty-day cycle. At that time, whether you show up at the shop or not, the service fee will be deducted from your Lifespan on schedule.”

Lu Xiaoxing froze. “…Where are you going?”

This wasn’t how he had imagined things would go.

“To find new customers, of course.” Her tone was light as she turned to leave.

Lu Xiaoxing was completely stunned and scrambled to follow her. “Wait! We just made a Contract! Shouldn’t you be following me? Obeying my commands and helping me deal with the dangers in this Instance?”

Gu Huaiwei paused and turned back to explain patiently, “Valued customer, you’ve misunderstood. What we provide are Sanatorium services.

The terms of the contract state that we will provide you with convalescence-related services during your stay.

However, since you haven’t checked in yet, I’m afraid I cannot serve you at this time.”

“…Huh? Isn’t this a scam?!” Lu Xiaoxing finally realized what was happening and shouted, his hair practically standing on end.

“Watch your words,” Gu Huaiwei said, arching an eyebrow slightly. “I reminded you to read the contract earlier. It’s all there in black and white, clear as day. There was absolutely no coercion involved.”

Lu Xiaoxing immediately looked down at the contract. He had been too excited earlier and had only glanced at the required Lifespan cost; he hadn’t read a single word of the other clauses.

Now that he looked closer, he realized the dense text in the contract was indeed different from a typical Anomaly Contract.

Terms like “Sanatorium,” “nursing fees,” and “customized catering” filled the pages. Although the payment was still in Lifespan, the content was worlds apart from a supernatural pact.

Most importantly, the signing party wasn’t the girl’s name, but an organization called the Oasis Sanatorium.

What kind of ghost place was the Oasis Sanatorium?

Wasn’t that supposed to be the name of an Instance?

Since when did Anomalies start working in sales?

Lu Xiaoxing’s dream of contracting a high-level Anomaly shattered.

“You’re an Anomaly! Why are you doing legitimate business in an Instance? Are you so desperate for Lifespan that you’ve gone mad? I don’t recognize this contract! I want to break it!” Lu Xiaoxing pointed at her, trembling with rage.

“Of course you can. You have the right to breach the contract.” Gu Huaiwei didn’t bother explaining her identity. Instead, she spread her hands good-naturedly. “However, according to Article 20 of the agreement, the penalty for breach of contract is 30% of the total service price. If you want to back out now, remember to settle that Lifespan payment first.”

“You… you…” Lu Xiaoxing was speechless, his face turning various shades of blue and white.

Anomalies really were insidious and cunning creatures.

He shouldn’t have trusted his intuition so much.

It was all because Gu Huaiwei looked so much like a powerful, high-level Anomaly that he had been so impatient to sign.

Seeing that he was about to blow a fuse, Gu Huaiwei offered a lukewarm consolation. “Customer, don’t be so angry. A month’s service fee isn’t that expensive – it’s only a few hundred days of your Lifespan. Come experience our Sanatorium; you might even want to renew your subscription when the time comes.”
Lu Xiaoxing stood frozen, staring at her in disbelief. “Do you have any idea how much Lifespan Reward we get for clearing an Instance?”

Hundreds of days of Lifespan? There were only three hundred and sixty-five days in a year, for heaven’s sake!

He felt like he’d already lost a few days of his life just from getting worked up a moment ago.

The customer wanted to back out.

Gu Huaiwei wasn’t about to let this bird fly away now that she had it in her hand.

Seeing Lu Xiaoxing’s intense resistance, Gu Huaiwei lowered her head, covered her mouth with her hand, and mimicked an Anomaly’s voice, letting out a series of clicking sounds from her throat.

“Click, click, click… Are you sure you want to terminate the Contract?”

“Are you sure… click, click… you’re unwilling to pay the penalty for breach of contract?”

Lu Xiaoxing’s panic was visible to the naked eye.

He immediately waved his hands. Though he was in agony, he forced a smile onto his face. “Calm down. Since the Contract has been signed, I won’t go back on my word.”

He didn’t have any relevant guiding Rules in his possession.

To his immense heartbreak, Lu Xiaoxing treated this Contract as an invitation to a new Instance.

Anomalies were indeed insidious and cunning creatures.

Though he was full of resentment, he didn’t dare actually violate the agreement.

He was afraid of provoking Gu Huaiwei and revealing her wicked Anomaly form, and even more afraid of violating the Rules and having her bite his head off in one gulp.

“It’s for the best that you’re willing to keep your word.” Gu Huaiwei clasped her hands together, her smooth black hair falling over her shoulders as she put on her signature harmless smile. “Good luck clearing the stage. I’ll be waiting outside the Instance with a car to pick you up.”

Lu Xiaoxing had to leave the Instance alive before he could fulfill the terms of the Contract at the Oasis Sanatorium.

To prevent any other Instances from intercepting him, Gu Huaiwei decided to park a car at the exit and wait for him once this Instance ended.

A private shuttle service-now that was quality service.

Lu Xiaoxing hung his head in dejection.

He hadn’t even finished this Instance yet, and he was already booked for the next one.

He felt like he had the worst luck in the world.

Gu Huaiwei left the increasingly withdrawn Lu Xiaoxing behind and went to find Han Zhusheng.

In the Newspaper Reading Area of the Library, the Trial-takers had already departed, leaving behind traces of blood on the tables. The Anomalies working in the reading hall hadn’t left yet; staff members in Library uniforms were sprawled across the tables, licking up the fresh blood.

Han Zhusheng was busy tidying the newspapers on the tables.

When Gu Huaiwei appeared, the Anomalies-crawling on all fours with their unsightly eating habits-twisted their necks and looked at her with dark, gloomy eyes.

“Carry on.”

Han Zhusheng stood tall and lean, stacking the newspapers together. Every movement he made carried an old-fashioned elegance, like a charcoal sketch.

The Low-level Anomalies obeyed his command, lowering their heads to continue feeding, no longer paying any mind to Gu Huaiwei’s sudden appearance.

The Low-level Anomalies resumed their cleaning work.

“Please wait a moment. I’ll be finished tidying up shortly.”

Once an Instance began, Han Zhusheng needed to return the books and newspapers that the Trial-takers had messed up in the Library to their original places.

“Go ahead and do your thing.” Gu Huaiwei pulled a nearby chair over and sat down.

The wooden chair creaked.

The moment her bottom touched the seat, an Anomaly janitor-wearing a faded, old uniform and holding a ragged cloth-walked over.

It walked straight up to Gu Huaiwei and, without even glancing at her, reached out to push the chair back to its original position.

“Someone’s here, Ma’am. Someone is sitting here.” Gu Huaiwei pressed one foot firmly against the floor, holding the chair leg steady.

The janitor kept its head lowered, mechanically repeating its professional instinct.

The chair wobbled as it was pushed.

This Anomaly janitor was certainly stubborn.