"That's impossible, I'm sure of it. You definitely know each other, especially you. The energy within you is exactly the same as that man named Wang," Yan Ming stated with absolute certainty, pointing at Mi Xueer.
Mi Xueer, just like Duan Chen, looked utterly bewildered.
Seeing their expressions, Yan Ming couldn't help but be puzzled. "How can this be? There's no mistake."
"What does the man named Wang you mentioned look like?" Duan Chen asked.
"He's about this tall, this sturdy, with rather terrifying eyes. His entire demeanor is quite sharp, and his facial features... well, let's say he has defined angles?" Yan Ming scratched his face.
Just by his description of the eyes and demeanor, Duan Chen felt a resemblance to Mi Buwei in the photograph.
Mi Xueer and Mi Le exchanged glances.
"Could it be him?" Mi Le mused. "It's not impossible if Dad used a fake name."
"I knew you would recognize him!" Yan Ming laughed heartily, as if he had solved an age-old mystery. He stepped forward, took Mi Xueer's hand, and shook it up and down. "If you see him, please thank him on my behalf!"
"Uh..." Mi Xueer managed to extract her hand, feeling awkward. Whether she would even see him was still uncertain.
Yan Ming was overly enthusiastic, and Mi Xueer, embarrassed, pulled her hand back. He didn't seem to mind. Pointing to the room behind him, he said, "One of your friends has also entered. Come with me and see which floor he's reached."
"Master?!" Sheng Chen's eyes lit up.
The room Yan Ming led them to was unlit and dim. More than a dozen monitors hung on the walls, displaying the progress of all floors. Several stools were scattered around, emitting a faint aroma of instant noodles.
"Please, sit anywhere you like. Don't be shy." On one of the monitors, Sheng Chen spotted Qi Qing.
"It really is Master... Who is that man?" Qi Qing was on the tenth floor, with a man standing calmly beside him. The man, despite the summer heat, wore a trench coat and sunglasses, a cigarette dangling from his lips. He held up the teetering Qi Qing with one hand, standing steadily on the precipice. His weapon was his finger; each flick could fell a wolf. After clearing the pack, the man looked up at the sky and pointed. *Bang!*
"This man is probably not your friend, is he?"
"Indeed, he isn't." Duan Chen couldn't recall this face from his memories.
Yan Ming's expression grew serious. "They entered when you reached the eighth floor, but their progress is no slower than yours. This man seems to know Building 263 very well. No matter the floor, he navigates it with ease."
"Oh?" Duan Chen frowned. Yan Ming nodded slightly.
"I think I need to go meet him."
"You all come with me. And bring your friend back."
"No problem."
As they stepped out, they bumped into a peculiar-looking, stylish young man chewing gum, followed by a cold-faced female housekeeper.
"Hey, Yan Ming, you saw that uncle too?" the young man asked, approaching.
Yan Ming shrugged. "Yeah. Liu Teng, you're monitoring the floors too?"
Liu Teng shivered, glancing at the perpetually stoic female housekeeper behind him, then leaned in. "How about we switch? I think your Zuo Tian is pretty good."
"Not for trade."
"So cold!"
"Master, it's time to go." The housekeeper's voice was icy, sending a shiver through everyone present.
Liu Teng scoffed and looked at Duan Chen's group behind Yan Ming. "You have guests?"
"Impressive, reaching the fifteenth floor." The housekeeper's gaze also shifted. When she saw Mi Xueer and Mi Le, her pupils trembled slightly.
"Whoa, little brother, your eyes are pretty cool! Come over to my place later." Duan Chen felt no ill will towards the forthright Liu Teng and smiled. "When I have the chance, I will."
"It's a deal."
Liu Teng led the way, with Yan Ming following. The two housekeepers were close behind, and Duan Chen's group trailed at the end. They entered the elevator and arrived at the lobby, where people were already waiting. One man and two women. The man was gaunt and looked anxious, sitting on a sofa, hugging his knees, trying to minimize his presence. The two women, one a mature older sister type and the other a younger girl, the latter clinging to the former's arm and begging for something. The three of them, upon seeing Yan Ming and Liu Teng, approached in unison.
"Yan Ming, why did you bring your friends out?"
"Ah... the master of this little guy is that uncle. He's quite worried," Yan Ming said, ruffling Sheng Chen's hair. "Let me introduce you. This is Gu Hang, this older sister is Xiao Yang, and this is her sister, Xiao Yue." Yan Ming scratched his head. "But I really didn't expect all of you to be here."
"Um... it feels very dangerous..." Gu Hang spoke slowly. The Xiao sisters simply ignored him.
"Wow—Brother, can you give me your eyes?" Xiao Yang exclaimed.
Xiao Yang frowned. "Xiao Yue, don't demand everything!"
Duan Chen managed a strained smile. "This... is probably not something that can be given away."
"It seems you've found two rather interesting people," Xiao Yang said, crossing her arms and tucking her long hair behind her ear, her gaze lingering on Mi Xueer and Mi Le.
"Mmm?" Yan Ming smiled without answering.
*Ding!*
With a clear sound, the elevator door opened, and Qi Qing tumbled out. "Damn... finally out. I told you, big brother... Huh?! Duan Chen?! You guys are faster than us!"
"Master!"
"Good disciple!"
The master and disciple rushed towards each other, a scene of touching reunion.
Jun Ci frowned in disdain. "Captain, should we pretend we don't know these two?"
"So embarrassing," Mi Le also rolled his eyes.
"Can we be a little more united?" Qi Qing glared at them upon hearing their whispers.
"Quite a few people have arrived."
*Tap, tap, tap.* Behind Qi Qing, the man in the trench coat emerged. He removed his sunglasses, revealing sharp eyes. It wasn't Mi Buwei.
Mi Xueer and Mi Le's eyes clearly showed a flicker of disappointment. Although the demeanor and eyes were similar, it was just similarity; his features were not the same as Mi Buwei's.
"Honestly, the moment I saw you, I really thought Wang Gang had returned," Xiao Yang said casually, admiring her freshly painted nails.
"Sister, can't you speak more politely?"
The man merely scoffed at this. "All guests are welcome. You, and your building manager, will keep your word, won't you?"
"Of course. Which resident's home would you like to visit?" Liu Teng asked with a hostile smile.
The man looked at Duan Chen.