"Then you haven’t worn it all day?!"

Goodness gracious—I genuinely didn’t see clearly!

“…”

What met my eyes wasn’t that dreamlike twilight scene, but a white ceiling.

…Just a dream…

“Tch…”

My mood soured.

I rarely get grumpy after waking, but today’s irritation wasn’t from poor sleep—it was that damn annoying dream.

*Bzzz…*

I jolted, snatching up my phone.

Just the alarm.

“…Hah…”

Tension melted away, replaced by a sudden urge to pee. Relief washed over me, tinged with… regret? Like hell!

What the hell was I regretting?!

I sighed heavily, rubbing my cheeks to wake myself up. It’d been ages since I’d dreamed so vividly. My spirit felt drained—and worst of all, I’d dreamed of *that woman*…

No denying it: her presence was too intense, too unforgettable.

No wonder so many adored her… like a magnet pulling everyone near.

“Brother…?”

Xinran rubbed her eyes, blinking sleepily at me. Her pajama collar had slipped off one shoulder, revealing smooth, pale skin.

“It’s nothing. Just a dream. Go back to sleep.”

I ruffled her hair with a smile. Xinran purred like a cat, eyes half-closed in comfort. After tucking her in, I grabbed fresh clothes and slipped out.

Sunday, 5:45 a.m. Dressed in a black suit—no tie—I headed downstairs. Mom was already waiting in the living room.

“Oh? Juncheng, up so early? I was about to wake you.”

“Well… I promised to help today. Couldn’t oversleep.”

I’d set the alarm for this job. Earlier, I’d mistaken it for a text from *that woman* and nearly scared myself half to death.

“Let’s go then. Today’ll be swamped—you ready, Juncheng?”

“Mhm…”

I replied absently, trailing her to the workplace.

What hit me first was the sheer crowd. The massive mortuary hall was packed… an ill-omened sight.

Faces were haggard—mostly grieving families who’d kept vigil all night. Their exhaustion hung thick in the air.

A sea of dark name tags. The tangible weight of their sorrow slammed into my vision.

I quickly put on the plain glasses I’d bought yesterday. The pressure eased slightly.

At home, Mom was warm and smiling. Here, she transformed—solemn, almost stern.

Fitting for a “Corpse Cosmetologist.”

After waving goodbye, she strode off to work. I followed Brother Zhang to the service hall.

Technically, I shouldn’t be working here—I was underage. But with Mom’s pull and today’s chaos, I’d been roped in as temporary help.

I’d wandered these halls often during middle school while Mom worked late. The staff knew me well.

…Was this child labor?

Usually, I handled reception—taking calls for body transport, answering mourners’ questions. Today, they’d dragged me to the cremation room.

Young people rarely worked there. Most operators were middle-aged. Today was an exception.

Local funerals peaked before noon. Mornings were brutal.

Only near afternoon did things slow enough for a break.

I peeled off my sunglasses. My eyes still stung—the furnace flames were blinding.

Master Wu lit a cigarette, slumping wearily. He flicked away the old butt. The acrid smoke helped mask the worst smells.

“Phew… Little An, tired? Rest up. Today’d have broken this old man’s bones without you.”

“It’s fine. I’ll check on Mom.”

“Go ahead.”

The cremation crew’s faces were blank, eyes heavy with gravity. Their job stole smiles.

…Guess I wore the same expression.

Maybe I *was* cut out for this work.

I rotated my stiff wrists and left the chamber.

Strange—corpses didn’t show name tags. Were they no longer “people”?

Outside, a familiar figure stood gazing at the public cemetery behind the mortuary.

“…”

What was *she* doing here? Ignoring her felt dangerous. I called out.

“Hey!”

No response. Deaf? Or…

I tried again, louder this time.

“Lianbing!”

She turned, gliding over with a smile.

“Oh? My dear boyfriend! What a coincidence~”

“Coincidence my ass… You really are relentless.”

No wonder she’d said “See you tomorrow” yesterday. She’d planned this.

Seeing Jilianbing dragged me back to our date—and that final moment. My expression twisted.

“You look so handsome today, Master Cheng~ All dressed up?”

“Hah…”

This suit was a mistake. I’d expected desk duty, not shoveling bodies into furnaces. Now it reeked of smoke and death.

“Cut it out, Lianbing. Go home. This isn’t your place.”

“So cold… I came all this way just for you.”

“We saw each other *yesterday*.”

“Hehehe~ Lovers should cling every day, no?”

“Only idiots do. I’m not an idiot.”

I wrinkled my nose, scrambling for an excuse to ditch her—when Mom’s voice cut through.

“Juncheng?”

“Over here.”

Mom approached, eyes wide with disbelief as she took in Jilianbing and me.

“Uh… she’s—”

“Oh my! I was just wondering which honest young man won such a beauty’s heart… Turns out it’s my silly son?”

Huh? Mom *knew* her?

“Wait, Mom—you know her?”

I blurted it out.

“Oh! I saw her wandering the hall earlier. She said she was looking for her boyfriend… Never guessed it’d be *you*.”

“Ah…”

So she really *had* come for me. Shirley must’ve tracked my schedule again.

“So you’re Master Cheng’s mother? You work here?” Jilianbing switched to honeyed sweetness, beaming. “I’m Jilianbing—his girlfriend.”

“I’m An Yue. Juncheng’s mother. And a mortician here.”

“Mortician…”

Jilianbing froze.

“Mother!”

She suddenly seized Mom’s hands, eyes shining with worship.

“Eh?!”

Mom’s eyebrows shot up in panic, shooting me a helpless look.

What was *wrong* with her? That starstruck gaze—like a fan meeting their idol.

“Your profession is so noble! I’ve always dreamed of a mother like you!”

Ah. I got it.

Jilianbing was a necrophiliac. Mom beautified corpses. To her, a mortician was… sacred.

“Oh dear! I’ve got two lovely daughters already… But if you want to be mine, just marry into our family!”

“Hehehe~ Master Cheng and I are already a done deal.”

“Oh? Is that so?”

“Yes. He’s seen every inch of me… *shy*…”

Shy my ass!

“Well then, my son must take responsibility!”

No! Mom *liked* her?!

Jilianbing marrying me?! What?! Huh?!

Our wedding would probably end with me as the main attraction in a murder mystery!

“Wait—!”

“How much longer must Master Cheng work today?”

“Oh, the afternoon’s light. He can handle it alone. I won’t interrupt young love~ Juncheng, take Lianbing out.”

“But Master Wu—”

“Leave it to me. Here’s your pay—go have fun.”

She pressed a thick wad of cash into my hand. Zero joy.

*Mom!*

You’re digging your son’s grave!

Alone with this walking disaster? On day three of our bet? She might kill me *today*!

I’d end up as one of the corpses in that hall!

I trailed Jilianbing nervously. She surprised me by asking to visit the cemetery.

“Chengjun… this place is lovely.”

“Yikes… Only you’d think that.”

“Hehehe~ Maybe you’re right.”

She *laughed*.

That smile froze my blood.

Unreal. Like a demon’s whisper from the deepest hell. My pulse hammered.

A horrifying thought took root:

*Did she kill these people?*

Jilianbing was a necrophiliac killer. Creating corpses to satisfy her cravings? Entirely possible.

The sudden spike in funerals… most victims of murder… and that smile…

The more I thought, the more certain I became. She *was* a killer.

I forced the words out, voice tight.

“Did you… kill them?”

“…Is that what you believe, Chengjun?”

She was still smiling.

A smile that made my heart ache.

“Answer me!”

“What if I did? What if I didn’t?”

Damn it!

I gritted my teeth, stepping closer to grab her shoulders—

Then the world shattered.

Black name tags erupted from the earth, blanketing the ground.

My heart and eyelids throbbed. Cold sweat slicked my neck. Every nerve screamed: *RUN!*

*Get out NOW or you’ll die!*

*You’ll really die!*

The name tags lifted from the soil, revealing their ominous titles:

【Undead Corpse】

【███】

A hand clawed out of a grave.

In that instant, the ordinary world I knew ceased to exist.