Several people stared blankly at the flamboyant signature and the clear, neat official seal next to the contract date.

Lin Xiaobei pursed her lips. "Could it be a typo?"

But this explanation was quickly met with unanimous opposition from others.

“It’s been two years since the apocalypse… It’s possible to make a mistake for a day or two, but how can it last for two years?” Zhang Xiaojuan shook her head, leaning against the wall as she observed the workers who had just finished lunch and returned to the workshop.

"Moreover, the weather is so hot right now that people are practically being roasted alive. These people aren't wearing hats or sun protection clothing, and they're acting like nothing's wrong. That's just not scientific."

The afternoon sun was scorching; even wearing a UV-protective jacket, I could still clearly feel my skin being baked.

In the distance, several workers, carrying water cups, strolled slowly towards the workshop, chatting and laughing. They were wearing long-sleeved canvas overalls, and their faces were completely dry.

"Aren't these people...aren't they hot?" Sun Tiantian's leather watch strap was burning hot from the sun.

A rotten, spoiled lunch; workers braving ultraviolet rays; a date written incorrectly...

The eerie chaos inside the steel mill sent chills down the spines of the group even under the sunlight.

Just as the group was discussing, Song Xiaogang's voice suddenly came from behind them, "You guys come over here, I'll show you to your dorms. Our accommodations are pretty good, with hot water and Wi-Fi, just bring your own sheets and stuff."

"Thank you, Director. We came in such a hurry today that we didn't bring any toiletries. Can we go home now to get them and come back to report tomorrow?" Lu Sheng replied, following up on Song Xiaogang's words.

Song Xiaogang sighed and waved his hand helplessly, "Hey, you young people are so careless. Come early tomorrow, we start work at 8:30 sharp."

He had already turned to leave, but then turned back to remind Lu Sheng and his group, "You must come. Our factory has a heavy quota this month, and we just received a big order, so we're short-handed. Do your best."

"Thank you, Director. You're such a good person." Zhang Xiaojuan gave Song Xiaogang a "good guy" card, and the group immediately slipped out of the steel factory.

They found a clean spot nearby, took out their RV, and the group temporarily huddled inside, keeping a close eye on the steel factory's activities from a distance.

Even after the five o'clock closing bell rang, not a single person in the entire steel factory left the factory area.

"It has to be a state-owned enterprise. At five o'clock, all the lights in the office building are turned off, and there's no one working overtime."

As an IT worker who works 996 year-round, Zhang Xiaojuan looked enviously at the steel factory that had already gone dark.

After the bell rang, all the office lights were turned off, and from their angle, they could only see some people coming out of the building and walking towards the factory dormitory.

Lu Sheng took out some egg pancakes he had stockpiled before the apocalypse and gave them a makeshift meal, keeping his eyes fixed on the direction of the steel plant.

"Holy crap! An egg pancake! And it's still hot!" Lin Xiaobei's eyes widened like eggs, and he almost bit his tongue when he took a bite.

Zhang Xiaojuan patted Lin Xiaobei on the shoulder, "It's okay, you'll get used to it. Don't even mention egg pancakes, if you want to see a rooster lay an egg, your sister Lu can make it for you."

They waited until 11 o'clock, when the last glimmer of light in the steel plant went out, and still no one left the factory.

The entire factory area was quietly hidden in the depths of the night, suddenly appearing lifeless and gloomy.

"Could there really be ghosts..." Zhang Xiaojuan, who had been a staunch atheist, was starting to lose confidence and silently took out a Party badge and pinned it to her chest.

"It's impossible for everyone in a factory to live in the dormitory. At least the director and leaders have to go home, right? But we've been waiting for so long and haven't seen a single person."

Lu Sheng pulled his coat closed and leaned against the car window, pretending to doze off. "Then I'll kill anyone who gets in my way."

...

At 8:30 a.m. the next day, Lu Sheng and the others appeared at the steel factory gate on time.

The work bell had already rung, and there were only a few workers jogging along the way in the yard.

As soon as the group stepped through the gate, a familiar voice came from the right front.

"You lot! What are you doing!"

The well-groomed Song Xiaogang had one hand in his pocket and the other pointing at Lu Sheng and the others.

"Director Song, we're here to report for duty." Zhang Xiaojuan, ever the friendly one, pulled out a cigarette and offered it to him.

Song Xiaogang took the cigarette and looked at Lu Sheng and the others with suspicion. "You want to work as temporary laborers? Our temporary labor service includes room and board, and it's three thousand a month. If you work full hours, you get an extra 200 yuan."

"Sigh, there used to be plenty of people around this time of year, but this year there isn't a single day laborer."

Upon hearing this, everyone present paused, a chill creeping up their spines to the back of their heads.

This conversation is exactly the same as yesterday!

Even Song Xiaogang's parting, which was styled with hair oil, is exactly the same as yesterday!

They had just signed the contract yesterday, and Song Xiaogang had repeatedly told them to come, but today they don't recognize each other at all?

Lu Sheng stepped forward calmly. "Director, we want to do it. What are the procedures?"

"We are a legitimate state-owned enterprise, and all employees must sign contracts. Please come with me to the Human Resources Department first." After saying this, Song Xiaogang led the group towards the office building.

Crunch, crunch.

The old wooden floors of the office building still groaned weakly with every step.

Lu Sheng and the others followed Song Xiaogang slowly forward, their eyes warily scanning the rooms on both sides of the corridor.

The kettle on the desk had just boiled water, the cardboard boxes piled up by the door were still unopened, and the office staff were chatting and gossiping while snacking. Everything in this building was exactly the same as yesterday!

Even the mops along the corridor walls were in the exact same position!

Several people followed Song Xiaogang into the Human Resources Department, and sure enough, the contract date was still September 2023!

Lu Sheng's gaze quickly swept across the office, finally settling on the torn-out desk calendar on the table.

A page had just been torn from the calendar, the crumpled paper still lying on the table. The latest date was clearly September 5, 2023!

"It's lunchtime. You guys go to the cafeteria to eat first. Our food is pretty good."

As soon as Song Xiaogang opened his mouth, it was the exact same conversation as yesterday.

The hearts of the people present were in their throats, and they could only mechanically follow Lu Sheng to the cafeteria according to yesterday's route.

They arrived a little late today, and the table was already set with food. A few of them followed the crowd and took a portion, then found the same spot as yesterday and sat down.

"I feel a little numb."

Zhang Xiaojuan gripped her chopsticks tightly and lowered her voice, "The dishes are the same as yesterday, and the people around us are sitting in the same seats."

"Your phone case is really nice..."

Once again, a girl's soft, gentle voice came from next door.

Even now, everyone in the factory is repeating the same actions and conversations as yesterday!

“This factory is stuck in a time loop of September 5th.” Xu Yishou pushed up his glasses with his long, slender fingers.