Chapter 4 — A Day as a Janitor

In the year 2022, the Administrative Center temporarily sealed the old archives on the twenty-ninth floor. The processor was Luo Qian, and the handover supervisor was Zheng Huaiyin.

All the blood drained completely from Luo Qian's face. Finally, Shen Zhao'an's gaze landed upon her.

"Who authorized the sealing of the old archives on the twenty-ninth floor?"

Luo Qian opened her mouth, but Zheng Huaiyin cut in ahead of her. "The Chairman’s Office has been vacant for years; it was done for safety and management reasons." Shen Zhao'an asked, "Where is the inventory list of the sealed documents?" Zheng Huaiyin fell silent. At that exact moment, a middle-aged man pushed open the door, holding a freshly printed surveillance inspection report in his hand.

"Chairman Shen, a sealing box is missing from the filing cabinet on the twenty-ninth floor."

Shen Zhao'an's gaze instantly turned glacial. The middle-aged man looked directly at Zheng Huaiyin.

"The person who last registered to check it out was Vice President Zheng."

Every single person's gaze snapped toward Zheng Huaiyin. Zheng Huaiyin stood up.

"I have never checked out any sealing box."

The middle-aged man placed the report onto the table.

"System data shows that three months ago, at ten forty-six in the evening, you used the Administrative Center's privileges to unlock the inner restricted zone of the twenty-ninth floor."

Zheng Huaiyin offered a cold laugh.

"System privileges can be duplicated. We cannot rely solely on raw data."

Shen Zhao'an asked, "Then who do you suppose duplicated them?" Zheng Huaiyin glanced at me. It was a fleeting glance, but it was already enough. Luo Qian immediately chimed in.

"Tan Yuzhen has managed administrative keys for so many years; she understands the procedures better than anyone else."

Someone in the conference room shifted uncomfortably in their chair. I did not move an inch. Neither did Shen Zhao'an say a word. Luo Qian clutched at this like a drowning person grabbing a lifeline.

"She went up to the twenty-ninth floor today and even took away old registration logs and various copies, which proves she always knew where those things were kept."

Zheng Huaiyin continued, "Perhaps before her retirement, she held some resentment toward the management system and deliberately stirred up trouble." Pan Ming hurriedly nodded in agreement.

"The finance department only processes documents as they are presented. If the documents were already tampered with by someone else, there is nothing we could have done."

I looked at Pan Ming. He averted his eyes, avoiding my gaze. Over the past thirty-two years, I had witnessed too many pairs of eyes just like his—hands tucked safely into sleeves whenever trouble brewed, only stretching out to reap the benefits once the storm had passed. Shen Zhao'an laid the report down.

"Tan Yuzhen."

"Present."

"Have you entered the inner area of the twenty-ninth floor?"

"No."

"Do you possess the keys?"

"The old keys were handed over to the Chairman's Office five years ago."

"Do you have access permissions?"

"At nine-twenty this morning, my department manager clearance was locked."

Luo Qian knitted her brows.

"How could you possibly know that?"

I retrieved the elevator card-swipe log from my file folder.

"Before I took over the sanitation duties, old Hu issued me a temporary access card according to standard procedure, which only permits entry to public areas."

Old Hu was called into the conference room. He was so nervous he did not know where to place his hands. Shen Zhao'an asked, "Did you issue it?" Old Hu nodded.

"Yes, temporary card number 317. It only grants access to public zones from the first floor up to the twenty-ninth floor elevator lobby, but the twenty-ninth floor elevator itself was unlocked afterwards by Chairman Shen personally."

Luo Qian's expression stiffened. I added one more detail.

"I was able to reach the twenty-ninth floor because the elevator button had been unlocked at that moment, but the access control door to the inner sector remained securely closed."

The middle-aged man immediately verified the data.

"That is correct. Today, there is no record of manager Tan swiping her card within the inner zone of the twenty-ninth floor."

The muscles in Zheng Huaiyin's face tightened. He still wanted to argue, but Shen Zhao'an raised a hand to stop him.

"Head downstairs."

"Where to?"

"The utility room on the first basement level."

Not a single person dared to object. At twelve past twelve at night, a group of high-ranking executives followed the chairman down to the first basement level. The small room used during the day to store mops was now brightly illuminated under the glare of overhead lights. He Miao stood by the doorway, still clutching a pair of cleaning gloves in her hands. Seeing so many people arrive, she grew so frightened she pressed herself flat against the wall. I told her, "Do not be afraid. Just tell everyone what you saw." He Miao looked at me, then glanced at Shen Zhao'an.

"Last night, while working overtime to organize cleaning supplies, I saw Director La leading people to move two cardboard boxes in here."

Luo Qian instantly snapped, "You are talking nonsense!" He Miao's shoulders trembled, but she did not back down.

"I am not talking nonsense. The words 'Twenty-ninth Floor Old Archives' were pasted right on the boxes."

"Who helped her move them?"

He Miao spoke in a small voice, "Deputy Manager Pan." The laptop in Pan Ming's hands almost slipped to the ground.

"I merely happened to pass by and lent a helping hand!"

I asked, "Where did you help move them to?" Pan Ming offered no answer. He Miao pointed toward the innermost iron cabinet.

"Over there."

A brand-new padlock hung on the iron cabinet. I had noticed it earlier during the daytime inventory. A brand-new lock on an old cabinet. Shen Zhao'an stared at Luo Qian.

"The key."

Luo Qian's throat bobbed as she swallowed.

"I do not have it."

Zheng Huaiyin chimed in, "Since it is a cabinet inside the utility room, we should just call logistics to cut the lock." Shen Zhao'an ignored him entirely.

"Old Hu, fetch the bolt cutters."

Old Hu spun around and sprinted away. Luo Qian suddenly lunged forward.