I breathed a long sigh of relief and wiped my face. My palms were wet with sweat, as if I had just taken a hot shower. The dry grass roots pricked my butt, but I was too lazy to move. The yard was completely dark. The moon hadn't risen yet, and the wind was a little chilly. The stars in the night sky were peeking out one by one. At that moment, I felt the joy of being alive. 

After a while, I finally had the strength to stand. The office door was open, pitch black, and I couldn't see inside from the outside. I would never go back to that room, even with a knife at my throat. Fortunately, I had the key to the front door in my pocket. But I had to close the office door before leaving. I steeled myself, stepping forward, my heart pounding, my eyes fixed on the door, ready to turn and flee at any moment. But nothing rushed out. I grabbed the doorknob and swung it hard. With a click, the door locked. I wasn't sure this ordinary security door would be able to stop that terrifying woman, but if she rushed out, she would surely make a loud noise, and at least I would be warned. 

I opened the door and went to a streetside snack bar. I ordered a bowl of hand-pulled noodles. The bright lights and the aroma of the food were invigorating. A bowl of steaming hot noodles soothed my frightened heart. I drank all the broth, replenishing my lost fluids. Sitting under the bright light, among the diners chatting and chatting about trivial matters, what had just happened seemed so bizarre and unbelievable that it made me doubt whether it had actually happened. 

But as I left the snack bar, out of the light, and into the night, my heart began to sink. The further I walked, the more depressed I felt. The thought of being alone in such a large, dark courtyard, facing some menacing creature filled me with dread. I hesitated for a moment as I opened the door, but finally, realizing I had nowhere else to go, I mustered the courage to go inside. The courtyard was gloomy; anything horrible could have happened. Besides, she could easily have burst out and wandered around while I was gone. The thought sent a chill through me. 

I glanced toward the office. Though the doors and windows were black, they still looked intact, and my meager courage vanished. I wouldn't go in, even if I were beaten to death. I ended up in a small room next to the iron gate that had been used as a mailroom, and spent the night on a bare bed.

I woke up, completely oblivious to last night's events. Rubbing my eyes and yawning, I walked to the sink outside the office to wash my face. 

I'd slept soundly last night and was ready to go back to sleep, but it was almost time for work. The morning breeze was cool, and by noon, the weather was expected to heat up. I dried my face, humming a pop song, opened the office's security door, went into the kitchenette, cooked a plate of rice, and sat down at my desk under the south window, just as I was about to eat. Suddenly, I saw the portrait of the woman, and everything that had happened yesterday suddenly flashed back to me. I froze, my whole body cold, my heart stopped beating. How was this any different from falling into a trap? The only thought that flashed through my mind was: It's over, it's over, it's over this time. 

But for a while, nothing happened. Only the soft ticking of the quartz clock on the wall made me realize that nothing unusual had happened. I glanced nervously at the portrait. The woman's gaze was downcast, fixed on her toes, her expression still intense, but it looked like a flat image. I bravely took a closer look, finally confirming it was just an ordinary portrait. The figure depicted lacked any energy or life. 

My body relaxed instantly, and I quickly carried the plate outside. My hands trembled, my thighs stiff. I finally made it outside. The sun was shining, the air was fresh, and the courtyard was bright. It didn't look like anything horrific or terrifying was about to happen, but I dared not stay there alone any longer. I stared at the plate for a long time before I managed to take a few bites. I waited until someone arrived before I dared to carry the plate inside. 

"It's time for dinner!" Master Yang shouted from the door of the riveting and welding workshop. Someone who heard me called out twice, and I finally put down my work. 

I turned off the corner cleaning machine. The factory fell into an unusual silence. I brushed off the debris stuck to my short-sleeved shirt and swept it with a clean broom. The shed was dry and stuffy, and my short-sleeved shirt was soaked. I went to the sink and washed my face. The sun shone brightly in the yard, bleaching the waste cement slabs on the ground.