34: Chapter 30 Regional Blockade 34: Chapter 30 Regional Blockade Luo Di put on his winter clothes, slung his backpack over his shoulder, and stepped out of his home again,
The class monitor was sitting on the stairs opposite the door, stretching out her hand to point at the door next door covered with various small advertisement cards,
“Your neighbor seems to be away?
Also, when I came up, I noticed that there seemed to be quite a few households on the lower floors that had no occupants either?”
Who living here doesn’t aspire to move to a better place?
As soon as someone’s child successfully gains admission to a good school and gets into a decent company, they’ll immediately move out.
If the families don’t have any children who excel, they’ll also try to find other opportunities to turn their lives around, maybe try some high-paying, high-risk jobs.”
“Ah, that makes sense.”
The class monitor walked ahead with nimble steps, deliberately keeping her hands behind her back as she went downstairs, one of them beckoning.
But Luo Di didn’t seem to understand what this meant and wasn’t paying attention at all.
Something else was on his mind.
“How did you find my home?”
“How hard could it be?
There are only seven floors in this building, with two households each, not to mention many are vacant.
All I needed to do was knock on each door until I found you—turns out you live right at the top.”
“Knocking on every door?”
Luo Di couldn’t dare to contemplate such a thing, but it seemed just like something the class monitor would do.
As the two debated which fast-food restaurant to go to for doing homework, a police tape suddenly stretched across the exit on the first floor, and a man wrapped in a black trench coat, with his collar almost covering his face, stood in front of them.
“The residential area you are currently in is suspected of abnormal activity that has already caused the death of some residents, hence an ‘area lockdown’ is now being implemented.
All residents must not leave their homes during the lockdown and will need to cooperate with our investigation.
Later, I’ll come up and ask you some questions.”
The term ‘area lockdown’ paired with his attire immediately led Luo Di to associate the man with the identity of ‘City Investigator’.
Luo Di quickly asked, “Abnormal activity?
How long will the lockdown last?”
“It won’t be less than one day.”
“This girl is my classmate; she doesn’t live here.
She arrived only five minutes ago.
Could you let her go back?”
“You must comply with the arrangements and wait for the lockdown to be lifted.
Regardless of the purpose, anyone who came to the area cannot leave.
Also, I ask this young lady to pay extra attention and ensure her safety.”
Just as Luo Di wanted to argue further,
The class monitor gently tugged on the hem of his clothes, tiptoeing, “According to the Corner Law, once an area lockdown is encountered, everyone must cooperate with the investigator’s work.
Even if I had arrived just a minute before, I must comply.
My winter study classes have just finished, and my family has allowed me a three-day break.
Later, I will send the lockdown information to my father, and it’s okay if I don’t go home tonight.”
“It’s not that…” Luo Di was concerned about something else.
I know it’s inconvenient at your home, I can stay in the corridor or the rooftop myself until the lockdown ends.”
Luo Di remembered the funeral arrangements before and the reminder from the investigator a moment ago, leaving the class monitor alone outside could be dangerous, and the temperature was still very low.
After much thought, he sighed deeply.
“Phew~ Just wait at my place; my parents happen to be taking my sister on a trip.”
The class monitor’s eyes immediately widened in surprise, “No wonder I couldn’t hear any other sounds from your home, turns out your uncle and aunt have gone out to play.
Don’t worry; I won’t randomly enter the bedrooms, I’ll just stay in the living room.”
Once again, she followed Luo Di upstairs.
In the meantime, she pulled her scarf over her lips to hide her inner joy.
She was curious about what secrets the home of this reclusive top student might hold, who, without any extra tutoring, still consistently excelled in the sports tests.
Maybe this opportunity would allow her to uncover the so-called “gym treasure.”
The key inserted in the lock turned, accompanied by Luo Di’s deep breath.
It was his first time bringing someone home, and it happened to be a female classmate he got along with well.
“Wow, it’s so clean here!”
As the class monitor looked around the room, she could not spot a single speck of dust, very few cluttered items—simple and orderly.
“I just mopped this morning.
Wait a moment, I’ll find you a pair of slippers…
I guess they’ll have to be my sister’s since we don’t usually have guests over and don’t keep spare slippers.”
“No need~ It’s so clean there’s no need for slippers, and moreover, it’s not good to wear someone else’s.
Plus, I just changed into fresh socks before I left this morning; I won’t dirty your home.”
White sports shoes neatly placed in the shoe changing area,
The class monitor found herself stepping on the floor with her continuous white socks,
Though it was just a residential area, in the modern era where energy problems have been fully resolved, heating was provided around the clock, keeping the indoor temperature around 20°C.
The class monitor looked around, making sure not to go into the bedrooms, and also took the opportunity to feed the Horned Parrot on the window sill.
“Your home is quite spacious, I initially thought this type of housing was only as big as my bedroom, but it seems to be about the size of two bedrooms.”
“I didn’t mean anything else, just thought it’s pretty nice living in such a small house.”
Luo Di had already walked into the kitchen, and following the guest etiquette his mother had taught him, he found a tea bag to pour a steaming cup of tea for the class monitor.
As he carried the tea towards the living room, his steps paused for a moment,
Due to the heating, the class monitor had taken off her thick down jacket and scarf around her neck, neatly folded them, and placed them in the corner of the sofa,
Underneath was a snug black turtleneck sweater,
Paired with a Scottish-style brown wrap skirt,
And extending downward from the skirt were thick white socks, covering the class monitor’s adept running legs.
The class monitor had always either worn a school uniform or sportswear.
This was the first time Luo Di saw her dressed , and he quickly recovered from his brief daze to hand over the tea.
“Luo Di, you seem a bit hot, why don’t you take off your coat?”
Luo Di’s forehead was covered in sweat, but he himself seemed unaware of it.
The class monitor squeezed her eyebrows together and stared at him curiously, “Why do you seem a bit off?
Is there something in your bedroom you don’t want seen?
Or are you hiding some kind of ‘gym treasure,’ afraid that I’ll find out?”
“No, I’m just not used to having visitors at home.”
“Since there’s nothing, can I take a look in your bedroom?” the class monitor raised her right hand as if answering a question in class, “I swear I won’t touch anything, just want to look.”
“You can watch TV outside for a while or go to the dining table to do homework.”
Since she didn’t get permission to go to the bedroom, in tacit understanding, they both took out their holiday homework.
However, just as they started to write a few words,
Knock knock~ A knock on the door, and the investigator who had just been downstairs locking down the community had found their way to the door.
“Hello~ Please cooperate with our situation investigation; this is my personal ID, and you can verify its authenticity with your wristbands.”
After sticking a dust cover on the bottom of his shoes, the investigator stepped quickly into the house.
With a somber glance quickly scanning through the home environment, he chose the dining table where the two were working on their homework as the area for conversation.
The investigator called up their relevant personal information from the archive based on their appearances.
“You both attend Fourth Middle School, and six months ago you completed a practical project provided by our City Research Institute with outstanding performance… it should be very outstanding.
According to what you’ve said downstairs, you just happened to come over to do homework together, right?”
The investigator suddenly turned his eyes to meet Wu Wen’s gaze.
She was clearly startled, stuttering a bit in her reply, “Yes…
The investigator’s gaze did not break from the class monitor even after her answer, it was about a minute before the investigator finally nodded.
“I mainly want to explain the current situation to you.
There is a Lurking Pseudo-Person suspected of having killed two young girls possibly active in the current community.
This individual’s ‘Thought Cornering’ period is at least half a year, and they can skillfully wield ‘Fear Embodiment’.
Searching and arresting such individuals is relatively challenging and time-consuming.
The lockdown of the entire community is expected to take more than a day.
You need to be more alert, especially this Miss Wu.”
The class monitor innocently stated that she absolutely wouldn’t step out of the room.
Luo Di, on the other hand, had a question, “Has this building been fully inspected?”
“You were originally the last household.
However, according to the community’s permanent resident list and daily activity information, a resident on the third floor has temporarily left the community for urgent matters.
Once she returns and has been inspected, this building’s inspection will be considered finished.”
Hearing this, Wu Wen next to him was full of confusion,
When I was coming up earlier, I saw the third-floor resident with my own eyes. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ novel-fire.ɴet
It was probably just ten minutes before you guys sealed off the building, could they have just gone out, what a coincidence?”
The investigator’s face changed immediately, like a predator who had caught a scent.
“Thank you for providing valuable information.”
After receiving a definitive answer, the investigator immediately got up to leave.