Seeing him enter, the security guard just glanced at him before lowering his head to continue playing with his phone.
That was actually fine.
Liu Zheng didn't really like dealing with people in this world either.
All that casual banter was just for survival.
But he soon had no choice but to interact, because the turnstile blocked his way.
Although given the turnstile's height, Liu Zheng could easily jump over it from a standing position.
But even an idiot would know that forcing his way through would lead to trouble.
Maybe a laser net would suddenly appear and slice him into grilled lamb cubes.
Just as he prepared to go talk to the security guard, a white-collar worker approached.
Her painted face was in anime style, apparently AI-generated since she had three ears."I can swipe you in."
The office worker offered proactively.
"Oh? Thank you then."
Liu Zheng stepped aside.
"But you need to give me the delivery bag."
The office worker said.
"Why do you want the delivery bag?"
He asked curiously.
"That's none of your concern. Give me the delivery bag, and I'll swipe you in."
The office worker repeated.
Whether he could give her the delivery bag genuinely touched upon Liu Zheng's knowledge gap.
After all, Bullhorse hadn't mentioned this rule.
And based on his real-world delivery experience, the platform never emphasized this aspect either.
Since delivery packaging varied by store - better ones used insulated bags, worse ones just plastic bags.
When in doubt, ask Bullhorse.
Liu Zheng decisively made the call, which unsurprisingly didn't connect.
This time Bullhorse was determined not to answer, not even bothering with the courtesy of a call notification.
"Fine then."
He shrugged, preparing to fish for more information from the office worker.
Just then, the security guard walked over.
"Manager Huang, aren't you going to work? I remember your break time is only five minutes."
He said to the office worker.
"I have extra credits."
The office worker pursed her lips.
"You should save them, keep them for critical moments. Don't you think?"
The security guard said expressionlessly.
His face was painted in oil painting style, showing some Rembrandt mid-to-late period skill.
Deep eyes hidden behind gloomy lighting, creating quite an intimidating presence.
"Fine."
The office worker's expression shifted several times before she finally conceded.
She gave the delivery box one last reluctant look, swiped her card, and passed through the turnstile.
"Delivery bags are precious. Don't give them away easily."
Watching the office worker enter the elevator, the security guard said to Liu Zheng.
"What are they actually used for?"
He asked.
The security guard didn't speak, just pointed to his own face.
"Oh~"
Liu Zheng seemed to understand.
"Where are you delivering to?"
The security guard asked.
"403."
"To whom?"
"Manager Wang."
He replied.
"That guy is troublesome."
The security guard frowned.
"Last time Xiaomei didn't mop clean enough, he almost got her fired with a complaint."
"Who's Xiaomei?"
"The cleaner."
"Oh. How inhuman!"
Liu Zheng pretended to be righteously indignant.
"He wasn't human to begin with. You'll understand when you see him."
"There are cameras in the building. I can't help you too much."
"Just remember one thing - argue in private, fight in public."
The security guard swiped him through the turnstile, then returned to his post.
"Thanks."
Liu Zheng said to the air as he passed through the turnstile.
Entering the elevator lobby, he found three elevators.
One served only odd-numbered floors, one only even-numbered floors, and one stopped at every floor.
Which one to choose?
While hesitating, he suddenly heard the security guard cough.
"Cough! Cough!"
Understood.
Liu Zheng comprehended the hint and chose the even-floors-only elevator.
The elevator arrived quickly, doors opening to reveal an elevator attendant wearing something resembling a flight attendant uniform.
"Which floor are you going to?"
After he entered, the elevator attendant with an American comic-style painted face asked.
"Thanks, I can press it myself."
Liu Zheng said cautiously.
"Sorry, only elevator attendants can operate the elevator. Property management regulations."
The elevator attendant maintained a standard American sweetheart smile.
"Fine, I'm going to 403."
He went along with it.
"Okay."
The elevator attendant pressed 1103.
"What does that mean?"
Liu Zheng stared at her.
"Property management regulations require visitors to take the elevator to the top floor."
The elevator attendant said.
"Then why did you even ask? Playing with me?"
"If that's how you want to interpret it, I can't help that."
The elevator attendant replied without changing expression.
"How about we become friends?"
Liu Zheng took out a cup of coffee.
It wasn't that he minded climbing stairs, but mainly worried about other unexpected troubles.
"Not interested."
The elevator attendant switched to a bitchy American green tea smile.
"You refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit."
Liu Zheng's eyes turned fierce as he pulled out insecticide.
"What are you doing?"
The elevator attendant's expression turned panicked.
"Helping you exterminate some pests."
He grinned viciously.
"I'm not a bug. That won't work on me."
The elevator attendant forced composure.
"Really? Then why are you panicking?"
"Who, who's panicking?"
The elevator attendant stubbornly insisted.
Liu Zheng noticed something interesting - these face-painted people apparently couldn't control their expressions well.
And the more exaggerated the art style, the weaker their control.
Like this elevator attendant, whose facial features looked about to fly off.
What was she afraid of?
If she herself wasn't afraid of insecticide, then she was afraid of him spraying it in the elevator.
Could this elevator be a bug?
Liu Zheng tapped the elevator with his tentacles while observing the elevator attendant's expression.
It was a mocking expression.
So probably not that reason.
Maybe she was worried about other elevator users?
Recalling the security guard's earlier words, he began to understand.
"If I spray this elevator full of insecticide, certain leaders won't be able to use it, right?"
"This elevator is under your management. If they can't use it, you'll be held responsible, right?"
"Ding!"
As he spoke, the elevator reached the 11th floor.
The doors opened to reveal a dense jungle outside.
Insect chirping echoed all around, but he couldn't see a single bug.
Maybe they were too small, or hidden in the shadows.
"Press floor 4. Now."
Liu Zheng said sternly.
The sense of danger from his intuition made his hair stand on end.
The elevator attendant bit her lip, remaining silent.
"Then let's die together."
Liu Zheng said, about to press the spray nozzle.
"No!"
The elevator attendant screamed and pressed floor 4.
The elevator doors quickly closed, shutting out that chilling feeling.
"So you see, wouldn't it be better if we all got along? Why hurt each other? Don't you agree?"
Liu Zheng patted her shoulder and handed her a cup of Unlucky Coffee.
"You're right."
The elevator attendant forced a smile and took a sip of coffee.
The one she took was a full-sugar latte. As the sweet, slightly bitter flavor filled her taste buds, her expression improved considerably.
"That's better. Smile more when you can. We're all just working - scowling through the day or smiling through it, it's still a day. The more they don't want to see us smile, the more we should smile at them. Right?"
Liu Zheng smiled.
"Right. So what's that in your hand?"
The elevator attendant asked with a subtle expression.
He put away Tindalos' Chew Toy.
"Hehe."
Soon, they reached the 4th floor.
Just as Liu Zheng prepared to exit, the elevator attendant stopped him.
"Be careful of Wang Manni. She's a bitch."