Jiang Xiaobai was normally quite cautious.

If only she’d known girls could also be… No, anyway—living alone in a big city, staying careful was only natural.

She’d never even set foot in bars or nightclubs before. Her impression of such places came entirely from news reports and hearsay. With those preconceived notions locked in, the girl firmly believed bars and nightclubs were no good.

Just hearing “bar” or “nightclub” made her mind jump to pale arms, then bare skin, then—logically fast-forwarding—to stories of people taking advantage of the drunk and other… compromising situations.

Still, after years of mundane office life, even a well-behaved girl like her sometimes craved a little novelty.

When she first stepped into this bar, she was tense, fidgety, hands unsure where to go. But chatting with the maid gradually eased her nerves until she could finally speak normally.

Back then, she still kept basic vigilance. Now? Gone.

The maid carried a gentle warmth. A faint smile always graced her lips; she’d occasionally narrow her eyes. Whenever Jiang Xiaobai spoke, her expression stayed fully focused, earnest.

Jiang Xiaobai felt respected—even if it likely came from professional duty.

Humans were strange.

You couldn’t open up to family you’d lived with for decades, yet you’d swap heartbreaking stories with goofy online strangers and wind down together after venting.

Probably because you knew nothing would ever come of it—no sequel, no continuation—so you could safely dump your worries into them like a trash can.

Same now.

The maid was the bar’s bartender. Jiang Xiaobai was the type of girl who’d never normally enter a bar. Their paths seemed destined not to cross again—so Jiang Xiaobai let go, treating the maid as a confidante, pouring out her heart freely.

She shared recent frustrations: life, work. Alcohol stirred her emotions. The girl grew slightly animated, whispering complaints about her boss to Jiang Jiu.

How he was pot-bellied and greasy-looking, pathetically bald before middle age, how garlic clung to him like a permanent scent…

Jiang Jiu listened attentively. No useful intel, but no disappointment either.

She found Jiang Xiaobai—lightly tapping the table when flustered—strangely… kinda cute.

(Admittedly, mostly because the girl was pretty. Jiang Jiu had always been unapologetically a looks person.)

As the talk deepened, the timeline shifted from months ago to recent days. Jiang Xiaobai finally mentioned the weird thing.

“There are… rats,” she said, waving hands vaguely. “Sounds like they’re in the neighbor’s place—or inside the walls. Every night I close my eyes, I hear squeaking, scratching, scraping…”

“Like rats running, gnawing, clawing at something. So scary! I haven’t slept properly for days—I’m near a breakdown.”

Her face fell into a dejected pout right on cue.

Jiang Jiu smiled gently. “Maybe your neighbor’s renovating?”

“Who renovates at midnight? And the sounds don’t match!”

“True… So what do *you* think it is?”

“What *I* think? Probably a rat infestation! But why haven’t they dealt with it? C’mon, neighbors, do your part!”

Jiang Xiaobai slumped onto the table.

She seemed drunk.

Well… pleasantly buzzed.

Witch’s Night wasn’t strong—for a cocktail—but the girl’s tolerance was low. Her cheeks already flushed rosy.

Dutch courage kicked in.

The once-stiff Jiang Xiaobai had fully let her guard down.

Exactly the situation Jiang Jiu wanted.

She swirled her nosing glass casually. “So, Xiaobai, why not knock and ask your neighbor what’s up? This can’t go on.”

“I want to!” Jiang Xiaobai protested softly. “But… I’m scared.”

“Scared?”

“Yeah… feels inappropriate. My next-door neighbor’s a gloomy guy in his twenties—doesn’t seem approachable…”

“You’re afraid?”

“I… I am! Okay? I live alone! What if I provoke him?”

…

Jiang Jiu stayed silent. She tipped back the last drop, paused, then nodded slowly.

“True.”

“Right? Girls living alone must be careful. Mom nags me: ‘Girls aren’t like guys—if bad people show up, fighting back is hard. Learn to protect yourself…’"

The girl murmured low. She disliked the nagging, yet knew it was right—so she listened.

Such a well-behaved kid.

Jiang Jiu smiled, set down her glass, regained her elegant poise. “Another drink?”

Maybe because Witch’s Night tasted good, the girl nodded vaguely, eyes hazy.

“Sure! Sis… recommend another one for me?”

“Mm.”

The maid pondered, then suggested a classic cocktail.

As she mixed, Jiang Xiaobai chattered like a goldfish blowing bubbles.

Like background music—nightclub EDM, quiet-bar jazz—Jiang Jiu found the murmuring oddly pleasant. Felt like… harvest joy? *Ahem*. More like listening to rain.

The drink was ready quickly.

Jiang Jiu slid it over on a coaster. After a sip: “How is it?”

Jiang Xiaobai beamed. Minutes later, only crushed ice and lemon remained.

Tipsy now, she resumed complaining, face melting into a pouty kitten expression.

“Ugh… when will the rat noise stop? When can I sleep properly?”

She sighed again. “This rat problem nearly cost me my job. Boss caught me dozing off multiple times—scolded me badly.”

Jiang Jiu listened with a quiet smile.

A light flickered—black light, rising like flame, clinging like a curse. Beneath the dim bar glow, the outline of a giant rat emerged.

The Rat in the Wall.

The maid paused, tilted her head.

“How about… I come home with you?”

“…Huh???”