Chapter 1 — The Secret in the Basement B2

The security guard secretly gave me a piece of paper: "Before 8:00 a.m. tomorrow, absolutely do not go to the basement." The Next Morning, I Realized He Saved My Mother. The night was pouring rain, I worked overtime until dawn. The security guard stood huddled in front of the gate, his whole body soaked, shivering from the cold. Seeing that, my heart softened so I conveniently drove him home. Before getting off the bus, he suddenly stuffed a wet piece of paper into my hand. On it are scribbled words:

"Before 8:00 a.m. tomorrow, absolutely do not go to the underground parking lot."

I just thought he was drunk so he talked nonsense. Until the next morning... The company chat group suddenly exploded. Heavy rain poured down like a waterfall, repeatedly hitting the windshield. The wipers operate at full speed but the view ahead is still blurry. When I left the company, it was 1:20 am. The entire office building was in darkness, only the light on the third floor was still on. That's the light I just turned off a few minutes ago. In front of the guard hut there is a person standing. The company's security guard, over fifty years old, rarely speaks, only nods to everyone he meets. Uncle didn't bring an umbrella. Rainwater flowed down his face from the brim of his hat, his pants stuck to his calves, and his whole body shivered. I drove to the front gate and rolled down the window.

"It's so late and Uncle Ma hasn't come back yet?"

Uncle raised his head and looked at me, his eyes somewhat absent-minded.

"Miss Nguyen."

His voice was hoarse.

"Are you... going towards Nam Thanh?"

I live in Nam Thanh, and he also lives in the old apartment complex there. Looking at the torrential rain outside, I spoke up:

"Get in the car, I'll take you a while."

But he still stood still. Rainwater flows down every wrinkle on my face. He turned his head to look towards the company building first. I also unconsciously watched. The whole building was pitch black, only the yellow light at the entrance to the basement was still flickering. A wind blew. The light bulb flickered slightly. At that time, Mr. Ma opened the back seat door and sat in the car. Soon, the car was filled with a damp smell. I gave him a package of tissues.

"Please dry yourself, so you don't catch a cold."

Uncle did not accept. The two hands were still clasped tightly. Tighten until your knuckles turn white. I looked at him through the rearview mirror.

"Uncle Ma, are you unwell?"

His lips moved slightly. The car had not gone more than three hundred meters when he suddenly spoke:

"Miss Nguyen... will you still come to the company tomorrow morning?"

"Of course. I have a meeting at eight thirty."

Uncle was silent again. The sound of the rain outside became more and more intense. I smiled, trying to dispel the heavy atmosphere.

"What's wrong? Did you check the fire safety again?"

Uncle did not laugh. Through the rearview mirror, his face was strangely pale. After a while, he said softly:

"You... don't come early."

My hand on the steering wheel stopped.

"What do you mean?"

Uncle turned to look out the window.

"Nothing."

For the rest of the journey, he didn't say another word. I stopped the car at the beginning of the alley next to Nam Kieu market. The old apartment complex where I live is so cramped that cars cannot enter. Uncle Ma opened the door and walked down. Half of his body was submerged in the rain when he suddenly turned around. He walked to the driver's seat door. I lowered the window. The rain immediately poured into the car, wetting my sleeves. Uncle put something in my hand. As if he had hidden it in his pocket for a long time.

"Miss Nguyen."

"Before eight o'clock tomorrow morning... don't go down to basement B2."

I was stunned People.

"Basement B2?"

Uncle did not answer. Just turned around and walked straight into the rain. I called out. But his steps became faster and faster. The light in front of the apartment complex's gate was half broken, and his back was quickly swallowed by the rain. I bowed my head and looked at the piece of paper in my hand. It was wet. The scribbled handwriting seemed to tremble.

"Before 8:00 a.m. tomorrow, don't go down to basement B2."

I stared at that line for a long time. Then burst out laughing. Uncle Ma must have been drunk. Basement B2 of the company is just a parking lot. Besides a car, what else can there be? I conveniently stuffed the piece of paper into the compartment next to the passenger seat and drove home. After showering and lying down on the bed, it was already past two in the morning. The phone vibrates. Is the company's administrative group. A new message appears.

"Tomorrow morning at 8 a.m., all employees will gather at basement B2 to coordinate with the building management board to complete parking registration procedures."

The sender is the head of the administrative department, Mieu Tue. I stared at the screen. The finger stopped for a few seconds. Basement B2. Eight o'clock in the morning. Uncle Ma's wet face appeared in my mind again. I opened the message input box, intending to ask why I had to gather so early. But before I could even type, the second message appeared.

"All employees are required to be present. Anyone absent will be considered absent from work without leave."

I frowned slightly. This is nothing like registering for a parking space. It's more like... roll call. I immediately sat up, opened my contacts, and looked up Mr. Ma's number. No one answered the phone. I called again. Still no one picked up the phone. On to the third call... The phone connected. On the other end of the line there was only the sound of rain. I keep calling:

"Uncle Ma? Uncle Ma?"

No one replied. Just as I was about to hang up, a very soft gasp rang out from the receiver. Then there was Uncle Ma's voice.

"Don't come..."

The next second... The call was cut off. I sat motionless on the bed, my palms were cold. Just before the phone screen went dark, a new notification appeared. In the company group... Mieu Tue just sent a photo. In the photo is the barrier gate of basement B2. Next to the barrier gate, there was a person wearing a raincoat standing silently. That person bowed his head. The raincoat's hood was pulled very low, making it impossible to see the face clearly. But the set of keys was being held tightly in that person's hand... I recognized it immediately. That is the set of keys that Uncle Ma has always worn on his waist for many years.