Chapter Five: A Gift for You—No Thanks Needed

You Huo sat hunched on the sofa, long legs stretched out, idly fiddling with his earring.

Hearing Qin Jiu’s words, he lifted his eyelids slightly, gave him a cold glance, then looked away again.

No explanation. No reflection. No response.

The most troublesome kind of person.

…

The moment 154 stepped into the office, he felt suffocated—like walking into a disciplinary office.

“You called for me?”

With a candidate present, his tone turned formal.

Qin Jiu slowly spun a pen between his fingers. “Second violation. What’s the penalty again? Haven’t been around in a while—can’t quite remember.”

154 went blank for two seconds. “Solitary confinement.”

Qin Jiu: “…”

You Huo’s fingers paused. He finally looked up.

Still expressionless. Still cold. Still indifferent.

But 154 felt an unmistakable trace of mockery.

Maybe it was just his face.

Maybe it was Qin Jiu’s talent for attracting this kind of look.

“Nothing else besides confinement?” Qin Jiu asked.

154 opened his mouth—

Beep.

A sharp sound cut through the room.

You Huo’s gaze shifted to Qin Jiu’s wrist—something flickered there.

“See?” 154 said. “Extra punishment violates the rules.”

Qin Jiu lowered his eyes, adjusting his cuff. The light disappeared.

When he looked up again, his gaze met You Huo’s.

“A confinement room with just tables and chairs is a bit boring,” Qin Jiu said—looking at You Huo, but speaking to 154.

154 nodded. “True.”

“How about you join him? At least there’d be some atmosphere.”

154: “……”

Who exactly are you punishing?

Qin Jiu smiled. “Just kidding.”

154 exhaled in relief.

“So… send him back downstairs for another three hours of sleep?”

Qin Jiu raised an eyebrow. “What is this, a hourly hotel room?”

154 shut up.

He waited. No further instructions came.

He glanced sideways—

You Huo was staring out the window, looking like he couldn’t care less whether they lived or died.

As for Qin Jiu—

Hands loosely clasped, eyes fixed on You Huo’s pale profile.

154 suddenly felt—

Their boss was curious.

But also… in a bad mood.

“Boss?” he prompted.

After a pause, Qin Jiu finally spoke.

“Go trick another candidate into violating the rules. Lock them in with him.”

154: “……”

What nonsense is this?!

Beep.

Another warning.

Qin Jiu ignored it.

“Forget confinement. Just send him away?”

Beep.

Qin Jiu clicked his tongue.

Then asked, “Has the last confinement room been cleaned?”

154 blinked. “Cleaned? I took the rope and threw away the ‘go to hell’ note.”

“Not that one. The other.”

“…Oh. Not yet.”

Qin Jiu turned to You Huo. “Then let this… frequent offender handle it. What should I call you?”

You Huo let out a cold snort.

“Let Mr. ‘Hmph’ clean it.”

You Huo: “……”

154 sensed imminent violence and quickly escorted the danger downstairs.

…

In the storage room—

922 and 154 searched for tools.

You Huo leaned against the door, arms crossed, face dark.

“Don’t look so pissed. If you fight him, you’ll lose,” 922 said.

You Huo didn’t respond.

Clearly didn’t care.

“You think ‘001’ is just a number?” 922 continued. “When I first met him—whole street covered in blood, he was carrying a shoulder cannon—”

“Find your bucket,” 154 cut him off.

“…Right.”

922 shut up and handed You Huo a bucket.

“Go ahead. I’ll bring the rest.”

…

Back in the hallway—

“These bloodstains all need cleaning,” 154 said.

Then he unlocked the bald man’s confinement room.

You Huo suddenly asked, “You used to be candidates?”

“…Yeah.”

“How do you become proctors?”

“Pass the exam. Excellent results.”

You Huo frowned. “What kind of exam is this?”

154 hesitated. “A… special selection mechanism.”

“Selecting what? Bravery champions?”

“…Not exactly.”

“Then what is it? A supernatural event?”

154 shook his head. “Not supernatural. It’s—”

Beep.

His ring flashed red.

He shut up immediately.

You Huo glanced at it. “You have restrictions too?”

“Of course!” 922 said, walking over with a bucket.
“No dangerous topics. No abusing candidates. No helping them cheat. No inappropriate relationships—”

You Huo: “……”

“Though honestly, that last one’s unlikely. Most people just want to kill each other.”

“…What happens if candidates kill proctors?” You Huo asked.

922: “……”

Silence.

Then a strained laugh. “Don’t ask. It’s… not good.”

…

The door opened.

A wave of stench hit them.

Inside—

Blood.

Fragments.

Residue stuck to walls and floor.

You Huo’s expression darkened.

“…You clean this manually?”

“Of course not!” 922 pinched his nose. “Otherwise it’d be punishment for us.”

“Cleaning’s still better than confinement though.”

You Huo gave him a cold look.

“…Okay, maybe not for you.”

922 and 154 quickly fled.

…

Silence returned.

You Huo stood at the doorway.

Then picked up the bucket—

And dumped water directly into the room.

Blood washed away.

Fragments loosened.

He crouched.

Bone shards.

A clump of long black hair tangled around them.

He stared.

Expressionless.

Then stepped inside.

…

After finishing—

One bucket full of blood, fragments, and debris.

At the top—

A pale piece of skin.

With a small tattoo.

A simple wind chime flower.

…

Three hours later—

922 returned You Huo to the exam room.

Upstairs—

Qin Jiu opened his office door—

And froze.

At the entrance—

A bucket.

Filled with blood and remains.

Beside it—

A torn piece of paper.

Messy handwriting:

“For you. No thanks needed.”

154’s voice came from the side:
“Boss, I’m grilling some beef. Want anything?”

Qin Jiu: “……Not hungry today.”

154 walked over—

Stared at the bucket—

“…I think I’ll never be hungry again.”

Qin Jiu picked up the note, studied it, then asked:

“For the same candidate—what’s the penalty for a third violation?”

154 hesitated. “There… probably won’t be a third time?”

“…What if there is?”

154 swallowed. “Then… full-time, on-site supervision. Priority monitoring.”

Qin Jiu: “…………”

The entire building fell into an eerie silence.