Every morning, Li Yachen and Lu Yunfei would wake up on time, have a simple breakfast, and then head to the town government office for work. At first, they both felt somewhat out of place, often finding their minds sluggish, their thinking and reactions always half a beat behind. Whenever they sat down to face their computer screens, their thoughts seemed disconnected, as though they were standing in a fog, reaching out but unable to grasp anything.
"What's going on?" Li Yachen asked softly, his fingertips pausing on the keyboard, his brow furrowed. "I'm stuck again today."
Lu Yunfei sat beside him, staring at the code on the screen. His lips twitched slightly—although he could barely understand it, something felt missing, and his thoughts lacked coherence. "Not sure, maybe we're just tired."
This wasn't the first time it had happened. Though their work didn't involve any physical labor, their brains felt drained, like their minds were emptied, sluggish, and slow, as though they were trapped in another world. It was like a dream—sometimes clear, sometimes blurry.
However, as the days went on, they gradually began to feel the sluggishness start to ease. The initial disconnection faded, their thoughts seemed clearer, and their fingers moved faster on the keyboard. Though the first few days had been full of confusion and discomfort, now, with each task they completed, their minds seemed to recover a little more. Slowly, Li Yachen and Lu Yunfei became more adept at handling emergency plans, and even when faced with a crisis, they no longer felt anxious.
Day after day, work seemed endless. Each morning, they walked into the town government building, processing daily tasks methodically. Li Yachen's work at the fire station also became more proficient; when faced with emergencies, he no longer panicked as he had at first. Instead, he calmly made judgments and responded quickly. Lu Yunfei, on the other hand, started handling system plans with ease, and the speed at which he resolved technical issues increased.
A month later, the town government issued their salaries. When they checked their bills, they were stunned—an income of several hundred thousand, almost enough to support them for ten years.
"What… this much?" Lu Yunfei frowned, staring at the bill. "This amount is wrong."
The female staff member smiled and explained, "Your work is irreplaceable."
"Irreplaceable?" Li Yachen repeated quietly, a flash of doubt crossing his mind.
They didn't ask more questions and simply continued working for the next three months. Life remained calm, even somewhat monotonous, but as time passed, they gradually adjusted to the routine. The money they earned was enough to support their future life, and they could even leave the small town to continue searching for the unresolved mystery.
Finally, on an ordinary day, they decided it was time to leave. They canceled their lease, took their wages, and prepared to leave the town to continue searching for an exit, for the truth.
On the day they resigned, Li Yachen and Lu Yunfei decided to celebrate at a local bar. As they walked in, it seemed like everyone in the bar was watching them, and the atmosphere was unusually lively. Every eye carried an unspoken warmth, as if they were the heroes of this small town. The bartender smiled as he greeted them, "You've finally made up your minds. Congratulations! You're the only ones who passed the test."
"Test?" Lu Yunfei raised an eyebrow, puzzled.
The bartender glanced at them, seemingly realizing he had let something slip. He chuckled, "Oh, nothing. You two are the first ones to pass all the assessments in the town. It's really amazing. No one else could make it through." His tone carried a sense of pride and relief.
"We?" Li Yachen frowned, clearly confused. "What test? We never heard about it."
The bartender's smile faltered for a moment but quickly returned to normal. "Oh, maybe you don't need to know all the details. It's just that not many people can adapt to this job, and very few can do as well as you two. I'm truly happy for you."
This inexplicable praise made both of them uncomfortable. Lu Yunfei felt an underlying sense of unease but didn't speak it aloud. He simply took a sip of his drink and smiled at Li Yachen. "Maybe we were just lucky."
Li Yachen stayed silent for a moment, then took a sip of his drink and quietly said, "Maybe. But something feels off."
They chatted for a while, and the atmosphere lightened, but the unease still quietly lingered between them. After the celebration, they realized that the small town was not only a mystery; perhaps they themselves were being controlled by some force. The test, the assessments, and even their seemingly smooth adjustment to their work all felt full of coincidence. But at this point, they had come so far that they couldn't stop now.
The next morning, they headed to the hardware and grocery stores to purchase the gear they would need for camping and self-defense. They picked out ropes, knives, tools, fire starters, tents, food supplies, and other necessary items. On the surface, these items seemed ordinary, but to Li Yachen and Lu Yunfei, they felt like the only safeguard they had in the face of the unknown world that awaited them.
"What do you think we'll encounter once we leave the town?" Li Yachen asked softly, holding a sturdy rope in his hands as he glanced at Lu Yunfei.
Lu Yunfei grabbed a sharp knife from the shelf. The blade glinted coldly under the store's lights. "I'm not sure, but we need to be prepared. Whether it's the forest or the endless plains, we might run into anything."
"Yeah." Li Yachen nodded, his expression resolute. "Whatever it is, we need to uncover the truth and find an exit."
With their bags full of equipment, they left the hardware store, ready to venture into the unknown. At this point, their understanding of the town no longer satisfied them. They knew that the town was not as peaceful as it seemed. The mystery lurking behind it was closing in step by step. Leaving this place was no longer a choice—they had to go. And their decision was final. No matter what awaited them, they would continue until the truth surfaced and they found their way out.
They knew the road ahead wouldn't be easy, but they were no longer the same as when they first arrived. Their bond, forged in shared purpose and uncertainty, gave them strength. Together, they would face whatever came next, determined to uncover the secrets of the town and escape the web that had trapped them.
With their resolve solidified and their future uncertain, they prepared to face whatever lay beyond the familiar roads of the town. There was no turning back now—only forward. The truth awaited them, and they would stop at nothing to find it.