The staircase stretched endlessly downward, resembling the eerie places often seen in horror films, where ghosts are prone to haunt. If Eloise were walking alone, she could already imagine a long-haired female ghost crawling down from above with a "crack-crack" sound.
It wasn't that she wasn't afraid; fortunately, the steady footsteps behind her eased some of her imagination, bringing her a measure of comfort. Eloise was immensely grateful that the man had suddenly gotten the urge to exercise in the middle of the night.
The two of them walked down in a loose formation, maintaining a certain distance. Eloise kept her gaze fixed on the ground beneath her, while the man behind her watched her round, slightly raised head and slender neck. His hands were casually tucked into his pockets, his expression relaxed.
The motion of descending the stairs was mechanically repetitive, with no one speaking. The numbers on the hallway wall kept getting smaller. The long staircase ended on the second floor, with a heavy white iron door at the end.
Seeing Eloise's gaze linger hesitantly between the iron door and the wall blocking the path, the man spoke up to explain, "The second floor is the conference level of this hotel. If you walk through the corridor, you'll reach the hotel lobby."
A regular guest knew more about the hotel's layout than she, a "housekeeper," did. Eloise blushed but remained defiant, saying, "Of course I know."
The man teased, "You know, yet you're not leaving? Are you hesitating about confessing to me?" Eloise was left speechless as she watched him stretch an arm over her shoulder, push open the iron door, and step out first.
A vague, indescribable fresh scent swept past her ear, accompanied by the warmth of his body brushing against her.
Beyond the iron door lay a corridor stretching endlessly into the darkness. The only source of light was a dim white lamp mounted on the right wall ahead, offering little illumination.
The doors to the conference rooms on either side of the corridor were wide open, revealing pitch-black interiors that resembled the gaping mouths of monsters. It was far more terrifying than the staircase they had just descended. Eloise instantly recalled countless classic scenes from horror films.
"Hey, wait for me!" she squeaked, chasing after the man who had taken a few steps ahead. This time, she stayed less than twenty centimeters behind him, desperately suppressing the urge to grab his shirt.
As they walked, something even more dramatic happened. The only white lamp above them flickered a few times before making a sharp "pop" and went out. The surroundings, catching Eloise completely off guard, were suddenly plunged into darkness.
The moment the light disappeared, every hair on her body stood on end. The fading afterimages on her retinas seemed like countless restless ghosts, rushing toward her from all directions. With a scream, she jumped three feet into the air and clung to the solid, warm body in front of her.
"Is it you? Is it you? Is it you?" she asked, her voice quivering with a near-crying tone.
"It's me." The man's helpless voice floated down from above, and a warm hand gently patted her, calming her tense nerves. Eloise was determined to never let go, and the man made no attempt to push her away, allowing her to cling to him like a koala as they continued walking forward. "It's me." The man's helpless voice floated down from above, and a warm hand gently patted her, calming her tense nerves. Her tense heart eased somewhat, and Eloise firmly decided that she would not let go, no matter what. The man made no move to push her away, allowing her to cling to him like a koala, moving forward together.
Beneath her thin clothing, the girl's body felt soft like a water balloon filled with warm water, but denser than a water balloon. It was incredibly comfortable to rest against. Her bare chest pressed against his solid arm, and in addition to the soft elasticity, he could also feel a small, soft yet firm bead rolling beneath her skin.
A fresh experience, the man couldn't help but curve his lips into a playful smile in the darkness.
When they finally reached the brightly lit hotel lobby, Eloise let out a relieved sigh and gratefully said to the man, "Thank you for 'working out' with me all the way here. It's getting late; you should head back and rest. I'll just grab a taxi from the street."
The man stared at the television screen above the lobby, saying nothing. Eloise followed his gaze curiously, only to see the screen replaying the local news from earlier in the day: a young woman had taken a taxi alone late at night, only to be raped and murdered by the driver.
Eloise:"..."
Meeting the man's indifferent gaze, Eloise forced a charming smile as sweet as a peach on her round face, "Do you mind if someone sleeps on the floor in your room tonight?"
The man tilted his head slightly, hiding the smile at the corner of his lips. "I... wouldn't mind."
