Dimensional Store: Welcome to the Apocalypse Apartment - chapter 73

Gu Huaiwei leaned back in her computer chair, her eyes fixed intently on the screen, replaying her sister’s video over and over.

On the screen, her sister sat in the central executive chair, a man in a white lab coat to her left, and a female secretary in office attire to her right.

“Huaiwei, if you’re watching this video, there’s a high chance I’ve already left the Black Spiral Research Institute.”

Her sister’s voice in the video was gentle.

“Don’t rush to look for me yet. I’ve left some things for you in my office that will help with your upcoming journey.

Before you finish your work in this dimension, remember to come and get them.

As for the password, it’s the date your favorite virtual character was reborn.”

Gu Huaiwei clicked play again and again, analyzing the video frame by frame, afraid she might miss any detail.

A string of questions lingered in her mind:

How did Xiao Youqi get this disc?

Is he still at the Black Spiral Research Institute?

If so, was this video tampered with?

Gu Huaiwei couldn’t rule out the possibility that the video had been altered or forged.

She thought of the techie Lin She.

Maybe he could help her analyze the video, to see if there were any signs of editing or AI face-swapping.

Gu Huaiwei walked to the library door and knocked softly, but there was no response from inside.

She took out the spare key Lin She had given her and slowly unlocked the door.

“I’m coming in,” Gu Huaiwei poked her head in, her voice low. “Lin She, are you still resting? I need your help with something.”

As the door opened, a wave of heat mixed with the damp scent of earth hit her; the air inside was much stuffier than outside.

Gu Huaiwei frowned slightly, her eyes adjusting to the dim light.

Looking down, she saw the floor covered in soft, grass-like fluff. Stepping on it felt like walking on cotton, making her footsteps unconsciously lighter.

“Lin She?” she called again, but still got no response.

Suddenly, a book slid off the shelf.

It landed softly on the floor, the sound barely audible.

Gu Huaiwei followed the direction the book had fallen, her gaze settling behind the bookshelf.

On a folding bed, something heavy rustled under a thick quilt, the lump beneath tightly wrapped. It didn’t look like a person, but rather like a giant snake coiled in its nest, quietly sleeping.

It was just like a snake hibernating.

Gu Huaiwei held her breath, her steps unconsciously drawing closer, so light they were almost soundless.

This was a good chance to test her long-held suspicions.

Dangerous, but she might get answers.

The key was given to her by Lin She.

It was like a sweet lure placed in a trap-tempting and easy to reach.

Should she lift the quilt and take a look?

One glance would satisfy her curiosity that had lasted so long.

…No, she had to restrain herself.

Gu Huaiwei, whose eyes kept drifting toward the bed, pinched her thigh to suppress the urge to peek into someone else’s privacy.

“Lin She, are you in this room? I have a video I need you to check.” Gu Huaiwei killed her curiosity, moved away from the bed, and raised her voice.

“I’m here.” A hoarse voice suddenly came from behind her.

Gu Huaiwei spun around to see Lin She standing right behind her, holding an open book, his eyes weary as if he’d just woken up.

Correspondingly, the lump on the folding bed had disappeared.
Lin She was wearing loose pajamas, exposing the pale skin of his neck and collarbone. His eyes were half-open, half-awake, dragging his silk pajamas behind him as he walked barefoot across the cotton bedding.

“Give it to me. I’ll take a look for you now.”

Gu Huaiwei handed the disc to Lin She.

Lin She took the disc and walked to the computer desk, operating with his eyes closed the whole time.

His long fingers tapped rapidly on the keyboard.

Yet his head kept nodding, as if he might doze off and hit the keyboard at any second.

It seemed that calling him out to work at this hour was really making things difficult for him.

“This video has been damaged before-there are traces of repair, but no signs of tampering.”

Lin She returned the disc to Gu Huaiwei. He sat on the computer chair, his body arching back limberly like a boneless creature, covering his face with an open book.

“Is there anything else you need help with?”

His muffled voice came through the book.

“No, that’s all, thank you.” Gu Huaiwei, seeing how tired he looked, lowered her voice. “I can handle the inn’s business. You should get some rest.”

Thinking that the inn might have new staff coming, Gu Huaiwei decided not to keep it from Lin She.

After all, he had helped her a lot, and this was something he cared about. She felt she should tell him sooner.

“Oh, right, there’s one more thing I should tell you in advance. After the inn upgrades are complete, the boss might send new staff over to apply for the job.”

Lin She turned his head, and with a thud, the book slipped from his face to the floor. His fine black hair brushed against his cheek, and his once-drowsy eyes opened a little, gazing at Gu Huaiwei with those deep green eyes.

“The boss is sending them?”

“Yes, they’re employees similar to you. If they pass the interview, we’ll be able to get a new staff dormitory.”

The library only had a folding bed, and it was actually not comfortable for Lin She to stay there.

“I don’t like newcomers.” Lin She stared at the ceiling, blinking expressionlessly.

“I know, but as the inn expands, it’s just not realistic for only the two of us to run it.”

“If the new staff comes, let them live in the library. I want to have the staff dormitory to myself,” Lin She said.

Gu Huaiwei smiled. “Of course. That’s your privilege as a senior employee.”

After their conversation, seeing that Lin She didn’t have any extreme reaction and only calmly accepted this fact he clearly didn’t like, Gu Huaiwei left with the disc, feeling at ease.

Since there were no signs of tampering on the disc, the Black Spiral Research Institute was now a place she had to visit.

Gu Huaiwei wasn’t here in this world just to run a business.

She was here for her sister.

Although there were dangers outside, there were also clues left by her sister. Her sister had said she left something for her, and she had to get it.

The Black Spiral Research Institute was a long way off.

Gu Huaiwei needed to prepare thoroughly: fill her bracelet with weapons and supplies, hire several reliable bodyguards, and then head there.

The shop upgrade this time required one million Gold Coins.

These Gold Coins had been accumulated bit by bit.

After completing the basic upgrade, Gu Huaiwei had almost no Gold Coins left in her account and no extras to unlock paid features.

What she needed most now was to unlock the high-speed rail station.

The high-speed rail station was an outdoor facility.

It took up a huge area, and once unlocked, it would cover other old buildings on this street.

Construction would take seven days.

The station could connect the Middle District and the Upper District.

It would solve the problem of travel for high-end customers.