The stairwell was far quieter than the outside world, with several sets of footsteps echoing lightly or heavily at varying rhythms.
Yu Bai walked ahead. As he brushed past the unfamiliar neighbor forced to take the stairs due to the broken elevator, he felt an urge to glance back casually.
The footsteps trailing behind him were unhurried, quietly mounting each step in turn.
After thanking him for his kind gesture, the Non-Human Neighbor had fallen silent.
Yu Bai had seen him more than once by now and felt they were growing somewhat familiar. He wanted to strike up a casual conversation—something like, “You’re not dumb after all; actually pretty sharp.”
But in this loop, it was the other’s first time meeting him. There had been no real exchange in the elevator earlier, leaving them complete strangers to each other.
No, not quite the first time. The man had mentioned seeing him once yesterday.
At that thought, Yu Bai finally gave in to his curiosity. He halted on the stairs, turned back, and asked in feigned casualness, “Did you go downstairs for takeout yesterday too?”
The day before this one—a week ago—he had hunkered down at home writing his manuscript. He’d only ventured out twice for takeout deliveries and hadn’t even left the complex.
He remembered encountering no one like this along the way. The man’s striking appearance should have left at least a vague impression.
So where exactly had this guy seen him?
The steady footfalls paused for a moment. The man looked up at the sound of his voice and fixed Yu Bai with a steady gaze.
Seeing this, Yu Bai unconsciously held his breath, awaiting the answer.
After what seemed like a moment of contemplation and a brief silence, the man spoke up earnestly.
“Takeout?”
It was a very serious question.
“…Never mind.”
Yu Bai fought to keep his expression from twisting and calmly averted his eyes.
Damn it.
As if he hadn’t asked.
He quickened his pace down the remaining seven flights of stairs, stepped onto the 12th floor, and returned to his Room 1205.
As he shut the door, the man from next door had only just entered the hallway—probably catching no more than a glimpse of the door slamming closed.
No polite farewell this time.
It didn’t matter. They’d likely cross paths again tomorrow anyway.
Yu Bai lingered behind his door, listening for the sound of the neighbor’s door closing next door. Then he pulled out his phone and stared at the screen.
He had planned to work on his manuscript that afternoon, but now there was no need. The rest of his time was entirely his to command.
Though Yu Bai still didn’t understand why he was trapped in this time loop—or how to break free—the key to the answers undoubtedly lay with the guy next door, who didn’t even know what takeout was.
He should start by learning more about this Non-Human Neighbor.
Understand first, then resolve.
Moments later, Sun Tiantian’s face—etched with anxious determination—filled the video call screen, meeting Yu Bai’s deeply thoughtful gaze.
“Little Bai, you okay? I heard from A Qiang that the elevator in your building crapped out—”
The fierce-mannered man on the other end abruptly halted his machine-gun barrage of concern, utterly baffled. “What’s with that look on your face?”
“I was fine in the elevator, but something came up after I got home.”
Yu Bai delivered the same excuse without a flicker. “I’ve hit a wall with my writing, Tian Ge. Mind if I pick your brain?”
“I damn near had a heart attack! Good thing you’re alright.” Tian Ge scrutinized him from every angle on the screen, confirming nothing was amiss before easing up. “Fire away. More heads, better ideas!”
Sun Tiantian swung his phone around, revealing the floor-to-ceiling window with a private jet parked outside and a row of sharp-suited subordinates waving in perfect unison at the camera. “Good afternoon, Young Master Yu!”
“…Hey, everyone.” Yu Bai raised a steady hand in greeting. “The scene goes like this.”
“For unavoidable reasons, my protagonist needs to get to know someone living next door. What’s the best way to approach them?”
Yu Bai had precious little experience in getting close to someone and figuring them out.
The last time had probably been back in elementary school. While playing alone with a paper airplane, he’d accidentally launched it right into Yan Jing’s bird’s-nest hair. He’d rushed to apologize, but the solitary Yan Jing had burst into loud sobs instead. From there, the two had gradually become like brothers from different families.
It sounded utterly illogical, offering zero practical reference.
Sun Tiantian listened, then waved a meaty hand. “How to approach? Just knock on the door and say hello!”
“Too direct. My… protagonist thinks it’d come off weird. Any subtler methods?”
“It’s your story—you call the shots! Just write it so the neighbor doesn’t find it odd. What’s the big deal?”
Sun Tiantian finished with mild puzzlement. Then one of his subordinates leaned in to whisper something, and realization dawned as he slapped his thigh.
“Oh! So it’s you—er, you’ve got a protagonist.”
Sun Tiantian leaned into the camera, eyes gleaming with gossip. “What’s this unavoidable reason your protagonist has for digging into the guy?”
His clever subordinates crowded in behind him.
Yu Bai fixed them with a resentful glare.
“It’s unavoidable, critically important—life or death. He has to learn about the other guy.”
“Oh, life or death? You planning to take him out?” Sun Tiantian drawled with a sly chuckle. “Or pursue him romantically?”
“…” Yu Bai clenched his jaw, face blank. “Take him out.”
“For real? Your neighbor piss you off?” Sun Tiantian dropped the teasing, brows furrowing. “Want me to send A Qiang to rough him up? Offing him’s a no-go—we’re a civilized society. Can’t have that.”
“No need. It’s not that bad. I just want to learn something from him. I’ll handle it myself—my protagonist will.”
“Alright, alright, your call. I’ll teach you—teach your protagonist some solid tricks. But don’t breathe a word to that Li fellow!”
“Got it, Tian Ge.” Yu Bai mimed zipping his lips, eyes alight with eagerness. “Uncle Li won’t hear a thing from me.”
Sun Tiantian laughed at the gesture. “You seem in high spirits today—not like you’ve got troubles. You sure you’re not chasing the neighbor?”
A knowledgeable subordinate murmured from the side, “Boss, Young Master Yu probably met this neighbor in the busted elevator. When you’re on edge and your heart’s pounding, it feels like falling for someone. It’s called the Suspension Bridge Effect.”
“…” Yu Bai reached his limit and snapped, “Hey, that’s enough! I heard you!!”
By the end of the call, besides a trove of surveillance and interrogation tips he couldn’t let Uncle Police discover, Yu Bai had also gleaned a heap of dating advice for wooing girls from the well-meaning subordinates.
What nonsense.
So thinking, Yu Bai shouldered his backpack and headed out—though he couldn’t stop the corners of his mouth from quirking up just a bit.
No wonder Sun Tiantian and several of his men were perpetual bachelors.
Awful tips like that—no way they’d snag girlfriends.
If he ever made it back to a normal-flowing world, he’d have to set them straight on their bizarre notions of romance.
Yu Bai boarded a bus at the complex entrance, rode to the mall, and stocked up on supplies for an all-nighter and some staking out.
Then he headed to Yan Jing’s gym, fired off a message, and waited outside the building.
Tonight, he needed to stay awake—no sleeping—and see exactly where one loop terminated.
Going solo would be lonely, and he worried he’d nod off unwittingly. Having company was safer.
A week ago on this day, Yan Jing had been around anyway.
Quitting time came quickly. Yu Bai hadn’t waited long before the muscle-bound fitness coach hurried out.
“Wow, never had someone waiting to walk me out before.” Yan Jing panted, grinning like an idiot. “Kinda romantic. Pick me up tomorrow too?”
Yu Bai thrust the heavy bags at him. “I could, but you’re off tomorrow.”
“Right, forgot. How’d you know?” Yan Jing took the load like a dutiful pack mule. “Where to? My place first for dinner? Dad’s cooking.”
“Nope. Not in the mood for mushroom soup.”
“Fuck!” Yan Jing gaped in shock. “How’d you know Dad’s making mushroom soup? He just texted me he’s prepping the mushrooms!”
Yu Bai flashed a serene smile. “Because I’m a genius.”
Yan Jing shot him a suspicious glance, only to be distracted by the bags. “What’s all this? Hats, coffee, peppermint oil, telescope… and a ton of snacks. What’re we up to? Camping in the hills for stargazing? You should’ve grabbed bug spray—peppermint oil doesn’t repel mosquitoes…”
Amid his endless chatter, the world before Yu Bai’s eyes remained utterly normal, showing no hint of resetting.
Even dangling all the suspicious threads right in his face, Yan Jing—with his one-track mind—could blissfully ignore them. That was why Yu Bai trusted him to help.
The gulf between people was vast.
Oh—between human and non-human.
They bickered the whole way about whether peppermint oil repelled mosquitoes. By the time they reached Yu Bai’s place, night had fallen.
Dinnertime aromas wafted through the lightly occupied complex.
Everywhere except the 12th floor.
Room 1203 reeked only of tobacco and booze. Room 1204 carried no scent at all. Room 1205 brimmed with the sharp tang of peppermint oil.
Jolted to hyper-alertness by the smell, Yu Bai dragged over a small stool. He killed the lights, settled into his kitchen, mounted the telescope on the counter, and added some camouflage—just in case his target spotted it.
However, considering that the guy didn’t even know what takeout was, he probably wouldn’t recognize a telescope either.
Yu Bai carefully observed the house next door. Lights were on inside, but the angle limited his view to just the kitchen, the dining table right beside it, and a sliver of the living room wall.
Even from this narrow glimpse, he could tell the place was sparsely furnished to an unusual degree. Aside from the standard large furniture and appliances that came with most rentals, there was virtually nothing else. The rooms felt empty and echoing, carrying a faint air of loneliness.
The non-human wasn’t in Yu Bai’s line of sight at the moment—no telling what he was up to. Shadows occasionally flickered across the wall.
But Tian Ge had said the essence of a stakeout was mastering the art of waiting.
So Yu Bai gripped the telescope and settled in patiently on his little stool.
Yan Jing, who had slathered his arm with peppermint oil for the test, squatted down beside him with a bag of snacks to watch. He whispered his assessment: “Honestly, this is kinda creepy behavior.”
Yu Bai didn’t even blink. “This guy’s got some serious strength. His muscles must be pretty well-built.”
“For real?” Yan Jing tossed the snacks aside and snatched the telescope. “Where is he? Lemme see, lemme see!”
“Keep it down—”
“Shh, looks like he’s coming out.” Yan Jing’s eyes widened in tense excitement as he peered through the lens. He soon relaxed with a sigh. “Where’s the ‘well-built’ part? He’s nowhere near my level. Check out that artistic vibe—he’s definitely not packing much power.”
Yu Bai yanked the telescope back and peered intently.
His non-human neighbor was now seated at the dining table, a book spread open before him. Head bowed, he gripped a pen and scribbled something onto the page.
Surprised, Yu Bai figured this must be the only table in the barren house at a usable height.
What on earth was the guy writing?
No way it was a diary, right?
