So that’s how it is. I nodded and said I understood!

With about five minutes left, Su Xiaoniu taught me how to open the elevator and enter the underworld. This method must be used within one minute before midnight, that is, at 11:59. After the method is completed, at exactly 12 o'clock, the clock will ring, the underworld path will open, and the elevator will become a passage to the underworld...

I memorized the method, mentally counting the seconds as they passed, until a whirring sound of wind echoed from outside the elevator, accompanied by the faint, eerie sound of footsteps. Man Yuanyi broke out in a cold sweat, and I took a deep breath. Su Xiaoniu had told me that if footsteps were heard outside, it would be approximately two minutes to 12. When the footsteps began, I began to count down silently: 60... 59... 58...

When I counted to 30 seconds, the elevator made a slight noise and the doors opened...

Man Yuanyi and I looked up at the same time. A woman wearing a red cheongsam and high heels came in. Her skin was pale and colorless, and her lips were as red as blood. At first glance, she looked beautiful! But at second glance, something was wrong! At third glance, she looked like a ghost!

I was so scared that I almost lost track of the time I was counting. Fortunately, Su Xiaoniu reminded me and helped me stay calm.

Countdown about 20 seconds...

The elevator door closed, and the woman in the red cheongsam walked up to us, gazing seductively at Man Yuanyi and me. I was counting down silently, but I knew what was going on, so I closed my eyes decisively. The woman might have turned her gaze towards Man Yuanyi.

When I counted down to 10 seconds, the woman said, "Excuse me...what time is it now?"

Holy crap, several of Su Xiaoniu's "Ten Ghost-Proofing Rules for Nighttime Elevators" have come true all at once, scaring me to bits. But I'm in a race against time right now, and I can't afford to lose focus. Otherwise, I'll easily miscalculate the time, and then I'll be stuck in the underworld. I hope nothing happens to Man Yuanyi!

Countdown 6 seconds...

I heard Man Yuanyi say, "It must be quite late. Are you staying here or are you going home? But something happened here. Ma'am, could you please wait for the next elevator?"

The woman said, "But I'm in a hurry. Can you tell me what time it is? I'm in a hurry!"

I heard some rustling noises. It must be Man Yuanyi reaching into his pocket... I told him to hide his watch earlier, and he did. Now this woman asks him what time it is, and he actually pulls out his watch to show her the time! Little does he know, the time he gives will become the day of his death!

Countdown 3…2…1…

I suddenly opened my eyes, quickly reached out, and pressed the button for the third floor, saying, "Sorry, we don't have watches and don't know what time it is. Which floor do you want to go up to? Or should we go back now? Maybe we can still make it!"

Man Yuanyi suddenly stopped reaching into his trouser pockets, as if he had realized something...

The woman didn't say anything, but her strange eyes stared at me.

I gasped and ignored her. Four seconds later, I pressed the button for the 43rd floor. The highest floor in this office building is the 49th.

The woman spoke: "Do you live on the 49th floor?"

I still ignored her. Four seconds later, I pressed the button for the 13th floor.

The woman was a little confused.

Four seconds later, I pressed the 33rd floor. Four seconds later, I pressed the 23rd floor... then the 6th floor, the 46th floor, the 16th floor, the 36th floor, the 26th floor... and finally the 9th floor, the 49th floor, the 19th floor, the 39th floor, the 29th floor...

After pressing all the buttons, the time is almost exactly 11:59:59, if I calculated correctly!

Finally, I pressed the 3, 6, and 9 floor buttons simultaneously. Suddenly, the elevator lights went out. Not only did I freeze, but even Man Yuanyi was startled. Did something go wrong? I panicked, but soon after the main light went out, the elevator's emergency lights suddenly lit up, blinking non-stop.