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墨書 Inktalez
Shi Mo was surprised to discover that the Employee Handbook was handwritten. Even with his limited knowledge of calligraphy, he could tell that the writer had exceptional skill; the small characters were neatly written, with precise spacing.
The section of the handbook concerning his role as a chef was straightforward, but the instructions were rather perplexing.
“Orders are divided into three categories: 1. White, regular dishes that require no special attention, just pay attention to the notes. 2. Green, special dishes that require checking the notes and consulting the registry for any specific instructions based on the guest's name. 3. Red, exclusive dishes that must be prepared by the housekeeper personally. (If a green order comes in without a registered guest name, notify the housekeeper to register it.)
Note: If there are any questions about a dish, contact the guest or housekeeper directly. It is strictly forbidden to prepare dishes without clarity.”
Shi Mo found this rather odd, thinking that not only was this place remote and structurally peculiar, but its rules were also quite strange. However, he felt relieved that there were no excessively harsh requirements in the handbook; everything seemed manageable.
Returning home late at night, he washed up quickly and comfortably lay down, contemplating whether he should make a trip home before starting work in a few days.
His home was located in an even more remote village, requiring over two hours by rural bus to reach. With his busy work schedule and only one day off, going home didn’t seem worthwhile. In the years he had spent in the city, he had only returned home four or five times. When he missed his parents, he could only rely on video calls, which often suffered from poor connectivity.
Shi Mo didn’t have much luggage; one suitcase was enough to hold all his belongings. He had arranged with his landlord to vacate on the 19th and leave on the 20th, which meant he could spend two nights with his parents before heading out.
Thinking about going home made Shi Mo dream of the fragrant steamed buns his mother made. When the steamer lid was lifted, the aroma wafted through the air, and after letting them cool slightly and dipping them in vinegar sauce, he could eat eight in one go.
Initially, his mother worried that the landlord would be displeased with his early departure, but the landlord turned out to be quite easygoing. On the afternoon of the 19th, after inspecting the house and finding everything in order, he promptly returned Shi Mo's deposit via mobile payment. Seeing how clean Shi Mo had left the place, he even praised him as a considerate young man.
Feeling good after receiving compliments, Shi Mo couldn’t hide his smile when he got on the bus the next day. Sitting next to him was A Yue, who curiously asked why he seemed so happy. Soon after, she playfully winked and asked, “Are you really that happy?”
It was then that Shi Mo noticed A Yue’s rare reddish-brown eyes. Her black hair was neatly tied back into a bun, and her light makeup enhanced her features rather than masking them; she looked even more delicate and charming with her fair complexion and faintly red lips adorned with a small mole at the corner.
Aside from female friends he encountered at work, this was Shi Mo’s first time being so close to a woman. He shyly scratched his head and explained that he was happy because his parents were pleased about him finding a new job during his recent visit home.
He certainly couldn’t admit it was because of being called a good man. Shi Mo shifted his gaze away to avoid revealing his blush. The young girl straightened up knowingly and said her parents thought similarly. “When I received my first month’s salary, I went straight to buy my parents matching gold rings for their anniversary; they were overjoyed! I sold off the remaining 6 grams right away. I haven’t touched my salary for these two months; I plan to get myself a gold bracelet.”
A Yue's voice was crisp and pleasant, bringing joy to those who heard it. Shi Mo thought her personality must be as bright and energetic as her voice, like a chilled lemon soda on a summer day, making interactions easy and enjoyable.
This journey was much more comfortable than the last. Although A Yue didn't talk much, every conversation resonated with him. They had added each other on WeChat, and A Yue took the opportunity to share some important details about working in the building. Shi Mo was pleased to learn that A Yue's responsibilities included the Seventeenth Floor, which meant they would be partners in their work.
As the car hit a bumpy stretch of road, Shi Mo held onto the handle for balance. He turned to remind A Yue to buckle up, only to find she had already fastened her seatbelt and was smiling at him steadily. It was then that Shi Mo realized he had forgotten about the seatbelt in the back seat.
"Don't get too excited; the chef on the Seventeenth Floor is almost on call twenty-four hours a day, and most orders come in at night, which can affect your sleep," A Yue's voice floated over lightly, completely different from before. It felt like a feather landing softly in Shi Mo's ear, prompting him to gaze at her and ask why.
"That’s something you’ll have to ask the housekeeper." Just as she finished speaking, the car came to a stop. Shi Mo looked out the window; the weather was clear, and a gentle breeze alleviated the heat of the sun, making this place more comfortable than the city. The old building now appeared refreshed, even its gray exterior looking more uniform.
Dragging his suitcase behind him, Shi Mo followed A Yue and noticed that all the broken windows had been repaired. The table on the first floor was gone, replaced by an open space filled with greenery. The doors of three rooms stood ajar, with staff bustling inside, busy with their tasks.
The housekeeper was very busy; after briefly giving instructions in the lobby, he took the elevator and zipped between floors like a flash of black lightning. He still wore that Tang Suit but seemed slightly worse for wear than when Shi Mo first met him.
"You should head up; I have to get to work," A Yue said as she was called away by a colleague, leaving Shi Mo alone to carry his suitcase upstairs. When he reached the fourteenth floor, he encountered the housekeeper again. The man smiled upon seeing him and told him to go ahead while he finished his tasks before coming back with further details.
After saying this, the housekeeper exited on the Sixteenth Floor and nearly jogged away. Taking this opportunity, Shi Mo noticed that the structure of the sixteenth floor was completely different from others. It felt like one cohesive unit; the outer corridor was enclosed in glass while inside it was dimly lit and cluttered with various items. As the elevator doors closed behind him, Shi Mo caught a strange scent—something reminiscent of incense from a temple mixed with a hint of animal musk and herbal aromas.
The odd sensation faded once he arrived at the Seventeenth Floor. The sunlight poured in, painting this little world in vibrant colors; even the small flowerbeds around looked beautiful. The door to his room stood open, revealing a fresh interior with bed linens in entirely different colors from before. The bathroom featured new fragrances that emitted a subtle woody scent. Shi Mo didn’t have many belongings; he quickly unpacked and placed his Employee Handbook on the desk, planning to read it thoroughly before starting work to avoid any issues.
He couldn’t shake off an unsettling feeling since entering this room; it felt as if someone were watching him. The gaze seemed to fluctuate in distance but had a strong presence that brought an eerie chill amidst the warm atmosphere—an icy sensation creeping up from his feet to his neck over time. He searched for the source of this feeling but found no signs of cameras on the tightly painted walls or in shadowy corners.
Having flipped through only a few pages of the handbook, Shi Mo lost interest due to this strange sensation and decided to head straight for his future kitchen to familiarize himself with its tools. The kitchen wasn’t large; it seemed intentionally designed to feel compact yet included everything—a freezer, refrigerator, and storage cabinets—all clearly labeled on each door and drawer. There was even a designated label box at the entrance organized by size and color for easy access.
The important registry was directly hung beside the main stove, bound with tough cardboard and covered with a plastic book cover to prevent it from getting dirty. He took it down and opened it; the contents seemed to be a patchwork of multiple entries, with four or five different handwriting styles on a single page. Some of the handwriting matched that of the manual, indicating it was likely written by the same person.
It detailed the special habits of the guests, even recording their check-in times. Some spent the winter here, while others only came for two days each year. Occasionally, there were one-time guests who had many peculiar requests.
Shi Mo carefully inspected every corner of the kitchen, slightly adjusting the placement of seasonings and utensils according to his cooking habits. After finishing his busy work, it was already lunchtime, but the order machine remained silent, indicating that the current guests had no dining needs.
Fortunately, the feeling of being watched had disappeared. Shi Mo returned to his room and took out a rare flavor of instant noodles he had saved, planning to celebrate his new job with it. As he stood in the kitchen boiling water, the sound of boiling was suddenly interrupted by a series of sharp beeps from the order machine—five quick beeps followed by silence.
Turning around, he saw a white strip of paper in the order machine. Shi Mo excitedly jumped in front of it and respectfully picked up the paper.
【One bowl of white rice.】
The five short words felt like cold water splashed on him, and he forced a smile as he flipped over the paper to read the notes on the back. This side had more text: Please have the chef personally deliver the rice to Room 5 and wait.
He didn't even need to steam rice specifically for this order because A Yue had mentioned that guests here only recognized rice steamed by the butler himself. Therefore, the butler always ensured there was rice in the steamer, allowing the chef to serve it directly.
Disappointed, Shi Mo approached the pot. The moment he lifted the lid, he was enveloped by the warm aroma of freshly cooked rice. The scent was comforting—rich yet not overpowering—instantly satisfying his senses as if he were in a gentle and serene place where all fatigue faded away, leaving only a craving for food.
Shi Mo scooped a spoonful into his mouth; the soft and plump grains broke apart easily between his lips and teeth. The fragrance flowed through his body, making him feel weak in his limbs and causing him to forget all displeasure and worries. He realized that in nearly thirty years of life, he had never tasted such delicious rice. However, with customers' needs taking precedence, he decided to savor it thoroughly after finishing his work.
The registry noted that for guests in Room 5, regardless of any remarks, rice must be served in coarse porcelain bowls with black edges, piled high without any gaps or deficiencies. Shi Mo carefully filled a bowl using a technique that ensured it was perfectly rounded at the top without any protrusions or indentations; each grain adhered closely together under his spatula's pressure, glistening under the light.
To be safe, he called Room 5 on a landline to confirm if only one bowl of rice was needed. However, when the call connected, there was no response from the other end. After waiting for nearly thirty seconds, he finally heard a barely audible "Hmm."
Understanding that there was no further clarification needed, he placed the rice in a designated tray and strode confidently toward the door. However, he was startled by an unexpectedly appearing butler at the corner, nearly dropping what he was carrying. The butler quickly steadied him and his tray while asking what order he had received.
Shi Mo reported truthfully, and the butler frowned slightly upon hearing this, but soon relaxed, saying he would accompany him. However, just as he finished speaking, the order machine in the kitchen beeped again. They both turned to look, only to see a red paper stuck in the machine. The butler's expression grew serious, instructing Shi Mo to deliver the food first, assuring him he would finish the order and come to Room 5 to meet him immediately.
Carrying the meal, Shi Mo proceeded, feeling that the butler's reaction was somewhat exaggerated. It was just delivering food; what could a guest do to him? Eat him like a side dish? Shaking his head to dispel such thoughts, he stood in front of Room 5, straightened his back, and knocked on the door with a bright demeanor.
Room 5 was also a red brick house, with a wooden door painted in reddish-brown and a brass handle gleaming in the sunlight. However, the windows were tightly shut, and heavy blackout curtains were drawn inside, making it impossible to see what was going on inside.
The door soon opened a crack, but no one was visible inside. Shi Mo caught a strong whiff of incense that reminded him of the times he accompanied his elders to pay respects at graves. Thinking that perhaps the door wasn't closed properly, he knocked three more times and called out, "Hello, I’m the new chef. Your order has arrived."
Still no response from inside, but the door opened wider. Shi Mo was puzzled by the guest's behavior and wondered if they were trying to avoid the sun. After all, midday sunlight could be harsh; some people indeed cared about it. He decided to lean closer and extend his hand to pass the tray directly inside for easier access.
Just as the tray entered the shadow of the doorway, a cold and strong hand suddenly reached out from the darkness and gripped his wrist with great force. Before Shi Mo could react, he was yanked inside.
He stumbled and fell to the ground, his eyes not yet adjusted to the darkness and seeing nothing. The pain in his knees kept him alert as he blinked rapidly to adapt to his surroundings. He could clearly sense someone nearby, and that person had taken the tray from him at the moment of pulling him inside without letting any food fall.
Slowly getting back on his feet, Shi Mo initially wanted to express his anger but quickly bit his tongue; after all, it was his first day on the job. It was better to endure any issues for now. He found a random direction and slightly bowed as he greeted them, explaining that he had just started today and asking for forgiveness if there were any shortcomings in his service.
As he finished speaking, he heard the sound of the tray being placed on a table behind him. Suddenly, a loud click sounded above as a dim bulb flickered on, causing his eyes to sting painfully. Reflexively closing his eyes before opening them again, Shi Mo saw that this room was simply decorated; a low-wattage bulb cast a yellowish light over the space.
Turning around, he noticed an elderly woman standing by the table. She was hunched over with nearly all-white hair tied up at the back of her head and wearing a traditional wrap dress. Her face appeared even older under the dim light, adorned with an unsettling smile that made Shi Mo feel uneasy; it seemed her eyes glimmered with a greenish hue.
"Young man," her somewhat sharp voice drifted through softly, "Grandma needs to inspect your goods before you leave."
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