The results were posted quickly, and while I didn't secure first place, I was certainly among the top contenders—a result entirely within expectations, considering I’d spent half a year diligently studying. If I hadn't achieved decent scores after all that, I might as well have slammed my head into Cheng Susu's **** and called it a day.

After a full day of discussion, everyone finally decided I should enroll in the Finance program at Longteng University. They reasoned that I had already spent five years studying military strategy, but economics was entirely new to me. Moreover, they argued that future economic struggles would only grow more intense, making Finance my optimal path.

Naturally, Fang Yanmeng played the biggest role in this persuasion. Since the Finance department was her own, it afforded her the advantage of proximity; the others were simply left in the dust.

Once the women made their decision, they informed my mother. My parents, understanding little of these matters, were simply reassured by the mention of money and gold. My mother immediately grabbed her shopping basket to prepare a feast for a celebration that evening. Since my admission was now a certainty based on my scores, there was no need to anxiously await the official notice.

The women got drunk again; even Zhang Xiaoya was nearly incapable of making it home. After settling everyone down, I dove into Zhao Fen and Zhao Fang’s room. The twin sisters looked utterly delectable, and this time, I wondered where they thought they could run.

Damn it! Ugh! That infernal phone rang again. I saw it was Cheng Susu calling, and I dared not ignore it.

"Zhao Qian, where are you?"

"Me? Just sleeping at home. And you? Missing me, I bet." Since it wasn't a video call, I spoke while running my hands over the bodies of the sisters beside me.

"Of course, I miss you. But I need to go back to the office to retrieve a file. You know the place isn't very secure, and I need this file first thing tomorrow morning. I haven't finished with it yet. Could you come with me?"

I glanced at the time—it was nearly midnight. I hadn't realized we’d been drinking for so long. Returning now seemed imprudent, but I couldn't refuse a damsel in distress.

"Alright. Where are you? I'll be right over." With lingering reluctance, I covered Zhao Fen and Zhao Fang with a blanket and left the room.

We soon arrived at the entrance of Yuejin Tower. Here, I must mention the control methods for the Mechanized Soldiers. After all, these weren't fully sentient beings; they were merely a highly advanced and complex software system. Control was primarily managed through voice commands, image recognition, and command-line input.

Voice control involved issuing direct verbal orders. The Mechanized Soldiers would then cross-reference the command against their stored, encrypted voice library to determine the authorization level. If the speaker’s data was not in the library, the command would be completely ignored.

Image control utilized visual input. It deciphered the command's intent based on the commander’s body language and then matched the commander's image against the control profiles in the database. If there was no match, the command was also ignored.

Command-line input control was executed via wired or wireless dedicated, encrypted data transmission to issue instructions. Thanks to the powerful satellite support from Huanyu Communications, commands could be sent to any Mechanized Soldier from any corner of the Earth via a dedicated mobile network. This method is currently our most widely used control mode.

I used my phone to issue a command to the on-duty Mechanized Soldiers inside. They emerged quickly to open the gate, saving us a trip to the garage—a place I still found eerily dark. Even though large numbers of soldiers were now stationed there, I still preferred not to go.

Cheng Susu took my arm as we entered the elevator. "Why are these guards so stern? They look quite intimidating."

"They are the most loyal soldiers there are," I replied. "With them around, you haven't seen any strange occurrences here lately, have you?"

"That's true. Remember that night you saved me in the elevator? Thinking about it now still feels so thrilling and romantic."

Given the state of a woman’s body then, I doubted she felt that way at the moment. "I’ve almost found theoretical support for those strange figures that appeared, but how could the elevator malfunction so inexplicably? That doesn't even align with the Unified Field Theory. Could someone have tampered with the elevator shaft?"

"I doubt it," Cheng Susu said. "There are employees here all day and security guards at night. One would need an opportunity to tamper with things."

"What about maintenance workers? Of course, I’m just guessing. There are a few other things I don't understand, but in a few days, a new instrument will be invented, and then we can catch ghosts."

Cheng Susu nodded. By this time, the elevator had reached the 18th floor. Due to some underlying psychological stress, we had taken Elevator No. 1 going up; Cheng Susu would likely never step into the unlucky Elevator No. 2 again in her life.

Ten Mechanized Soldiers patrolled the long corridor on the 18th floor, tirelessly and faithfully standing guard throughout the night. If someone truly intended to cause trouble for us, they would be worn out waiting for an opportunity that would never materialize.

Cheng Susu unlocked her office door, and I sat on the sofa to wait while she booted up her computer to copy files. "Zhao Qian, there's a National Top 100 Enterprise Half-Year Summit the day after tomorrow. Are you interested in accompanying me? It would broaden your horizons and benefit your future development. Many influential social figures will be attending. I hear the popular star Liu Xue will even be performing. She's quite beautiful, by the way. I don’t mind if you go and introduce yourself to her."

I had already promised the Chairman I would attend, so doing her a favor now was convenient. "No problem, it would be my honor. As for Liu Xue, I think I’ll skip the introduction, just to save you from jealousy."

Cheng Susu rolled her eyes. "It’s good that you know. As long as you don't go out seducing innocent young ladies, I’ll agree to anything."

She didn't know that Liu Xue and I had actually shared a meal once, and I had even managed to get her autograph.

I stood up and went to the sofa to embrace Cheng Susu. "I'm going to make you my slave and torture you for a lifetime."

Cheng Susu kissed my cheek. "Don't you think you already are? I still have work to do. If I let you torment me thoroughly, I can’t guarantee I’ll have the strength to stick to the plan. What if it delays usage tomorrow?"

I understood priorities, so I didn't press Cheng Susu. Just then, a photograph lying on the desk caught my eye.

"Where did this photo come from?" I asked urgently.

"I don't know. It wasn't here when I left this evening." Cheng Susu glanced at it. It was an old photograph of an elderly man. She thought he looked somewhat familiar but couldn't place him immediately.

I pulled out my phone and swiftly connected to the 100 Mechanized Soldiers within the building. Through their eyes, I could observe everything happening inside the tower. Everything appeared as normal as before, except for the old photograph inexplicably appearing on the desk. This photograph was the very one that Da Ganliu had been clutching when he died! The person in it was the same eerie old man who had asked me for a flashlight!

"I remember now," Cheng Susu said.

I pressed her eagerly. "What do you remember?"

Cheng Susu replied, "I recognize this man. He was the night watchman when the Cheng family first bought Yuejin Tower. I was quite young then, and later I went to study in the U.S., which is why I’m only recalling this now."

"Do you know where he is now?" I asked.

Cheng Susu shook her head. "No, but I can ask my dad."

She called her father immediately. Surprisingly, Cheng Renwei was still awake this late. He said over the phone, "Old Zhang passed away long ago. He died of illness the year after you went to the U.S."

Hanging up, Cheng Susu asked me, "Is there something wrong with this photo? It's not strange for a deceased person to leave a picture behind; it's just the way it appeared that’s odd."

"I met this old man. He borrowed a flashlight from me in the surveillance room. I physically touched his body, and he felt incredibly, genuinely real. I’m certain he’s identical to the man in the photo; the chance of an imposter is slim."

"What!" Cheng Susu gasped, throwing herself into my arms and hugging me tightly. "That’s terrifying! How could something like that happen?"

"It’s nothing to be afraid of. Sooner or later, I will uncover the secrets of this tower. I suspect Da Ganliu and Xiao Cao Fei died of fright because they witnessed something unbelievable."

"What thing?" Cheng Susu asked me.

I explained, "Let me give you an analogy. Imagine you are using the restroom, and suddenly you see your reflection in the glass across from you. You raise your hand, but the shadow opposite doesn't move. You reach out to touch the shadow in the glass, only to realize it isn't a shadow at all, but you. Wouldn't you be terrified!"

Cheng Susu was already clinging to me, refusing to let go. "Stop telling ghost stories to scare me. I want you to stay with me tonight, or I won't be able to sleep."

"Well, I wouldn't refuse that." Everyone back home was drunk and asleep; it was the perfect opportunity to spend some intimate time with Cheng Susu.

"It’s done copying. Let’s go. Your story makes this place feel truly terrifying. I won't dare stay here during the day anymore."

"Don't worry, Susu," I assured her. "There are no ghosts in this world. While I fear them too, I know that 'ghosts' are just our generalized explanation for phenomena we don't understand. This will all come to light eventually."

We retrieved the file and left the office. Because of the excessive drinking that evening, I suddenly felt an urgent need to use the restroom as we reached the stairwell. I said to Cheng Susu, "I need to use the washroom. Wait for me here for a moment."

Cheng Susu replied, "I don't dare stay here alone. These guards look scary enough."

"Then come with me to the men's room."

Cheng Susu whispered near my ear, "Anyway, these guards don't know us. Can I just wait for you outside the men's room?"

Smack. I stopped. I canceled the elevator and headed for the men's room on the 16th floor! Wasn't that where strange things often happened? Now that I had a theoretical framework, I no longer feared the supernatural. A visit might yield an unexpected discovery.

Cheng Susu protested, "Why are we going to the 16th floor? Let's go back to my office; it has a restroom too. Something bad happened here; I’m scared."

I held Cheng Susu. "Look at all these guards. Even if a ghost appeared, they would find it. We are deliberately walking into the tiger's den—perhaps we’ll find something unexpected."

At the men's room, Cheng Susu stayed by the door, looking nervous, while I went inside to relieve myself and survey the area. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, yet this place was the final destination for several strange occurrences. Perhaps it was an entrance to a multi-dimensional space, but where was the key?

"I'm scared standing out here alone," Cheng Susu finally dropped her apprehension and walked into the men's room, embracing me from behind.

I hadn't even finished fastening my pants when an alarm suddenly blared outside, and the restroom door was violently pushed open. A figure, panting heavily, rushed in, scaring me so badly I nearly dropped my pants to the floor. This intruder was no stranger; it was Head Zhang, the night watchman who had supposedly died!

Holding my pants up with one hand, I swiftly reached out with the other and grabbed Head Zhang. "See where you can run this time! If I don't make you dimensional trespassers pay this time, my surname isn't Zhao!"

Head Zhang pleaded, "It hurts, it hurts, it hurts! Be gentle! My old bones can't take this rough treatment."

Cheng Susu’s face turned pale with fright. She immediately recognized the old man from the photograph. "How is it really him? Didn't he die?"

I confronted Head Zhang. "Yes, you did die. Tell me, why are you back in our space? And why are you here now?"

Head Zhang retorted, "You’re the ones who are dead! I’m perfectly alive. Why are you cursing me? It’s my duty to keep watch; what business is it of yours?"

I was furious with these troublemakers and slapped him across the face. "Duty my foot! Did you kill Da Ganliu? Why did he have your photo in his hand? Did you cause trouble for Xiao Cao Fei too? And what about the deceased Wang Yongle? Speak up, or I’ll twist your head off right now!"

Head Zhang’s eyes darted around. "I don't know what you're talking about. I lost a photograph and was just trying to retrieve it."

The Mechanized Soldiers outside rushed in. I signaled two of them to grab Head Zhang, one on each side. I was even contemplating tearing his body open to see what made him different from the people of our dimension. I hated these strange people; they had caused unrest in my dormitory for days. Finally catching one, I hoped to kill him on the spot to prevent him from frightening anyone else in the future.

I used my X-ray vision on Head Zhang's body. He appeared utterly normal, yet I was certain he wasn't from our world. Killing him would bring some satisfaction, but without finding the entrance to that other dimension, who could guarantee others wouldn't keep causing mischief?

I told Head Zhang, "You have to return before dawn, right? I didn't expect you to dare show up even with so many guards watching the tower. This time, I'm watching you, and I’ll see how you vanish. Last time, you dared trick me out of my flashlight and play tricks so my divine cat wouldn't detect you. Say something now, or I'll let you die right here in this toilet!"

Cheng Susu whispered to me, "This old man looks quite pitiful. Why are you being so harsh?"

I spat. "Pitiful? What about those two dead people? Susu, don't let his appearance deceive you."

"No one can kill me," Head Zhang declared. "I come when I want and leave when I want. I am the true owner of this building. Those two dead security guards appeared at a time and place they shouldn't have. I didn't kill them; their own tolerance levels were simply too low."

I pointed at Head Zhang. "You’re still arguing? If you hadn't caused those strange events, would they have been scared to death? Tell me what’s really going on."

Head Zhang sighed. "All things in the world have their own laws. I am merely a humble night watchman; how could I possibly know so much? All I know is that I have traveled through time and can now coexist with this building. That is my only lifelong wish."

"Hearing you say that, it sounds like I wrongly accused you just now. Then tell me the whole truth. I won't press the old scores."

Head Zhang laughed, then his body began to change strangely. Everything seemed to fade, like a special effect in a movie. First, his clothes, then his skin, followed by muscle and bone—all the fading matter shattered into countless virtual points, then violently compressed into a swirling vortex that shot towards the ceiling.

Even standing far away, one could feel their hair and body hair standing on end, as if enveloped by a powerful electrical current or magnetic field. The rotational suction made threads of clothing rustle. At this moment, a simple jump might send one soaring into the air. Cheng Susu grabbed me tightly, oblivious to the fact that the suction was pulling her skirt up to expose her.

The vortex hit the ceiling, and the ceiling itself began to transform. Looking up from below, it resembled a flat map of the solar system, with currents spiraling around a central point. The vortex that Head Zhang had become merged into these currents, swirling together until it was indistinguishable. Then, the currents rapidly shrank, and the ceiling returned to normal.

"What just happened?" Cheng Susu asked.

I felt my voice tremble, not from fear, but from excitement. "The Unified Field, the Unified Force—it truly exists! Old Peng was a genius, a great scientific mind, yet he was suppressed as a demon! What an era of historical inversion!"

"You mean Einstein's Unified Field Theory?" Cheng Susu had enough knowledge from her advanced U.S. university studies to know of it.

"Exactly. A theory that changes time, space, and speed; a force capable of providing infinite energy. It’s right here in your tower."

Cheng Susu studied the structure closely. "No way. We haven't noticed anything for decades."

I said proudly, "Everything in the world depends on predestined opportunity. Some people seek the Tao their entire lives in vain, while others achieve enlightenment in a single day."

Cheng Susu hugged me. "You're praising yourself, but for some reason, I like that about you. Let’s hurry and search. The tower isn't that big; finding the secret shouldn't be hard."

"No need to search," I indicated the rooftop. "I already know where the secret lies—it’s inside the massive concrete wall of your conference room, as our current position is directly beneath it."

Cheng Susu became impatient. "Then let's quickly find tools and break it open to see!"

"Absolutely not! We don't understand the principles behind the Unified Force. If we accidentally damage the internal design, we might destroy this epoch-making miracle. That loss would be catastrophic."

Cheng Susu looked troubled. "Then what do we do? Knowing it’s right there but having to ignore it is unbearable."

"We wait," I said. Taozi and I had inspected that wall before and found nothing mysterious. Haphazardly breaking it open might lead to eternal regret. It seemed we needed to design several more specialized tools. I’d have the little rain drops back home keep busy.

Cheng Susu sighed in disappointment. I dismissed the Mechanized Soldiers and reviewed the video recording of Head Zhang's appearance. The corridor was initially empty, then suddenly Head Zhang materialized. The soldiers sounded the alarm and moved to surround him, and he then turned and ran toward the restroom where we were. The rest is what we witnessed together.

I put away my phone and told Cheng Susu, "Don't worry. What belongs to us can never be taken away by others. Since Peng Cun discovered this earth-shattering secret, he certainly wouldn't let it be buried in history. But under the Great Dragon Nation’s environment back then, he could only wait silently for the right time. He hid the secret here for future generations to find. I believe the internal structure won't be too complex, but we cannot afford to be careless."

Cheng Susu linked her arm through mine as we walked out. "I believe that saying: what belongs to us can never be taken away. You belong to me, and no one is allowed to snatch you away from my side." I secretly groaned internally. How was I going to explain my harem of women back home to Cheng Susu?