After a series of beeping sounds, everyone fell silent, one after another.
Zhou Xiaochun was the first to speak, "Actually, I thought just doing the work honestly is not bad."
The punishment rule was really nasty. If the initial Soul Purity wasn't high, ten points would quickly put a player into a contaminated state.
Wen Shi asked a seemingly naive question, "What would be the fate of the members who got kicked out?"
He knew he had never been in a team battle before, so Ji Yuanzhi answered, "Getting eliminated."
Inside the game, getting eliminated meant dying.
Nobody could be sure that their team would win. If they got stuck with a teammate who slowed things down, even doing really well didn't help. To stay in the game, players would work hard to get the highest slacking-off score–meaning they'd go for the riskiest tasks.
Liu Yun gave a bitter smile and joked, "It's really testing our creativity."
The most dangerous thing had to be figured out on one's own. Who knew if triggering the death rule would happen during the process.
Even Zhang Suihe, who had a slight advantage with the[Slack Off]skill, furrowed his brow. It was the first time he had seen such a tormenting way of stealing a moment of leisure.
Each player picked up a freezer and placed it on the nearby shelf. From the recent demonstration by Hai Sheng, the difficulty didn't seem high, similar to cleaning pig hearts. Just wash it and place it on the conveyor belt.
When Liu Yuan picked up the heart, her brow twitched, "Could this possibly be a human heart?"
Although Hai Sheng kept emphasizing about the Pure-Hearted Beast's heart, NPC's words never held much conviction.
Liu Yuan comforted her sister, "Probably not. The color of fat varies."
She skillfully used a small blade along the major blood vessels. "Overseer Zhao mentioned that the most distinctive feature of the enhanced Beautiful Soul Elixir is its edibility."
Thinking this way, using flesh and blood as ingredients wasn't all that strange.
Just as she finished dealing with a heart, a prompt sound came through:
"Your Soul Purity has decreased by 0.1."
Liu Yuan placed the heart on the conveyor belt. Processing a hundred hearts a day would lead to a ten-point drop in Soul Purity.
Who could withstand such a thing?
In the time it took for her to lift her eyes, she saw a copper coin materialize out of thin air in Zhou Xiaochun's hand. This coin wasn't tangible. It appeared semi-illusory. The blood and water from the heart's veins merged silently at the bottom of the water tank, forming a character guided by the transparent coin. However, the surface of the character was veiled in mist, concealing the answer beneath for everyone except Zhou Xiaochun.
On the other side, Ji Yuanzhi's pace of cleaning hearts was exceptionally swift, as if he was completely undisturbed. Liu Yun suspected he possessed an item to resist contamination.
…The world of the big shots was truly satisfying.
Liu Yun and Liu Yuan could make it into the top one thousand of the player leaderboard. They were naturally not weak. Unfortunately, this instance didn't allow them to leverage their strengths. At least in this matter, they had no advantage.
Items to resist contamination that appeared in the in-game store were immediately sold out every time, so buying them now certainly wouldn't yield any available stock.
As if sensing someone watching, Ji Yuanzhi raised his head. "I can handle half the workload for both of you, Big Sis and Lil Sis."
This responsibility naturally had to be exchanged for benefits, such as the team leader spot they had discussed earlier.
Liu Yun fell silent for a moment, pointing toward the gathering of senior employees, "But I want to choose him."
Zhao Ze, the resident of Room 406, dragged over a few unused boxes and pieced them into a makeshift bench, wiping it with his sleeve before gesturing for Wen Shi to sit.
Li Nantian and Sun Cheng, residents of Room 404, offered a shoulder squeeze and a leg pat respectively, quite eager. "Is this amount of force okay?"
Wen Shi nodded with restraint. "It's okay."
He stifled a yawn, not having slept well last night. His eyelids drooped quickly, fully closing as he playfully hooked his slender pinky finger. "Lull me to sleep."
Li Nantian obediently began narrating a bedtime story, "A long, long time ago, they say the air was still fresh, and the four seasons changed distinctly…"
The pauses and phrasing were spot on, his voice full of emotion. Listening to the story, Wen Shi crossed his arms and was about to tilt his head down into a deep slumber.
Sun Cheng fetched a makeshift screen, shielding him from the overhead light.
The remaining ten or so residents swiftly worked on the hearts, helping to boost his performance.
Everyone from the same team halted their actions, turning their attention this way.
Under the weight of so many intense gazes, even trying to ignore it was difficult. Wen Shi reluctantly opened his eyes, "Last night, using my exceptional charisma, I did a small deed, and they chose me as the fourth floor's dormitory supervisor."
He hinted that he had passed a certain side quest to become the dormitory supervisor.
Wen Shi shrugged, continuing. "Just to clarify, I'm not slacking off. I'm still pondering how to goof off in a big way."
So, this was not considered goofing off yet?
Zhou Xiaochun swallowed and turned to Ji Yuanzhi, "Is Young Master planning something really big?"
Ji Yuanzhi understood Wen Shi quite well. He wouldn't exert ten times the effort for something that could be done with just three.
"Perhaps the game system doesn't recognize this kind of slacking off method."
He wasn't wrong. Wen Shi hadn't received the notification sound from the system. The latter proved a point through personal experience: slacking off referred to things other than the assigned tasks. Subcontracting didn't count.
Private discussions among players about game content were ignored by NPCs. However, speaking about such matters in their presence would affect the role-playing aspect. Clearly, no one cared about this at the moment. Normally, unless it was a hundred percent certain, the bonus from the settlement module could be disregarded.
Suppressing the urge to delve into Wen Shi's secret, Lv Tang looked around. He noticed there were no surveillance cameras above his head, only a smart panel standing at a distance by the end of the water tank. It displayed factors like temperature and time, its purpose unclear.
Hai Sheng was currently in the rest area, a prime opportunity for slacking off. Lv Tang immediately thought about taking out his phone from his pocket.
Ji Yuanzhi: "Step away a bit."
Lv Tang didn't catch on immediately.
"Make sure your blood doesn't splatter onto the freezer when you die. Don't contaminate the raw materials."
Lv Tang hesitated for a moment, but Liu Yun quickly understood. Recalling Zhou Xiaochun's use of a half-illusory copper coin for his skill, they had also gone through a series of disinfection procedures when they entered. Players were most likely only allowed to interact with the work area or items necessary for their tasks. Using a phone directly was obviously a violation.
Lv Tang understood the joints of the situation and felt a shiver down his spine. Gratefully, he said to Ji Yuanzhi, "You saved my life. I won't forget this great favor."
Then he hurried over to Wen Shi, who could assign tasks to others. "I choose you as the team leader."
Ji Yuanzhi: "..."
Wen Shi almost nodded off. Everyone was frighteningly practical.
Lv Tang's reason for approaching Wen Shi was straightforward: he wanted to use someone else's hand to complete the cleaning work. In the system prompt, the emphasis was on completing the workload.
Even senior employees had their own set amount of work to finish. Wen Shi didn't make any concrete promises. "If there's extra, I'll distribute it among everyone."
This time it was about total points. Each person's presence contributed to the team. That was why Ji Yuanzhi had reminded Lv Tang earlier, otherwise, in a normal team battle instance, he might not have bothered. Someone who couldn't even grasp a simple death rule could easily become a liability.
Lv Tang knew his weaknesses well. He had survived till now because his damage output was truly strong. Strong enough to survive being surrounded by monsters last night, and with a stroke of luck, he hadn't encountered any particularly malicious players.
He asked, "Is anyone willing to team up with me to go to the bathroom? Just need someone to think, I'll handle any monsters."
Just as Lv Tang was looking for a companion, Wen Shi bounced back to his workstation. "Hai Sheng's here."
Everyone immediately lowered their heads, pretending to be busy
Hai Sheng shielded the intense overhead light with a partition, his tone dripping with venom, "Have you all been slacking off?"
He circled around the players' freezers, "Lazy trash, deduct twenty…"
He became slightly more satisfied upon seeing the freezers belonging to Wen Shi, Ji Yuanzhi, and Zhou Xiaochun, "You three are spared, but barely up to standard."
Suddenly, the smart panel in the distance started flashing red, "Warning! Trainee workers Yu Wen, Yu Shi, and Feng Shizhuang slacking off during cleaning. A fine of twenty."
These were the character names for the twins, Big Sister and Sister, and Lv Tang in this instance. As for Zhang Suihe, he managed to escape a scrape using his[Slack Off]skill.
The senior employees escaped criticism, while Hai Sheng roamed around the new employees. An itch from his skin made him move back and forth, occasionally bumping into people. The technique of cutting blood vessels was also important. Some players came close to puncturing the wriggling white worms.
Hai Sheng accused Lv Tang again, "Six minutes! You haven't finished cleaning a single heart. Deduct ten yuan."
"Warning! Trainee worker Feng Shizhuang slacking off during cleaning. A fine of ten yuan." The smart panel would notify everyone when it approved the superior's deduction.
Even Wen Shi couldn't slack off under his watchful eyes. He was forced to handle hearts, aiming for a pace of around five minutes per heart.
"Your Soul Purity has decreased by 0.1."
"Your Soul Purity has decreased by 0.1."
One reminder after another, creating a subtle psychological pressure.
Close to half an hour passed before Hai Sheng left.
Everyone collectively breathed a sigh of relief.
Ji Yuanzhi: "Finish slacking off as quickly as possible. Following the game's twisted sense of humor, Hai Sheng's next visits might likely be longer each time."
Work couldn't come to a halt. Hai Sheng would inspect periodically, doling out fines upon speaking.
"I have a safe method, no need to leave or touch anything outside the work area." Since Liu Yun spoke up, it meant she had a solution to share.
Wen Shi felt immensely gratified. This team was finally showing some cohesion.
The next moment, Liu Yun and Liu Yuan exchanged a glance. Astonishingly, one of them deliberately pierced the cyst of a wriggling white worm. The fibrous material inside immediately wriggled outward, and the nearby fibers crawled toward Liu Yuan's palm, fiercely gnawing at her gloves, attempting to break down and burrow deeper into her flesh. Liu Yuan squeezed compressed[Bubble] between the glove and the insects, then ignited the bubbles using an item. She took a small risk. This workshop, which only brought in hearts during the day, probably didn't have any specific rules against open flames, especially since there were no warning signs on the walls.
Insects generally feared fire, and these small flesh worms were no exception. Accompanied by crackling sounds, Liu Yuan gave them a strong pinch, reducing the insects to a small pile of powder. She removed her mask and expressionlessly swallowed it.
The rule was not to eat hearts. It didn't say anything about not eating insects. It was worth a try.
"Congratulations, you've experienced one of the C-tier joys of slacking off at work – snacking! Deduct six points."
Liu Yun: "Does it work?"
Liu Yuan nodded. "Six points."
"Not bad," Liu Yun said, "Make more, let everyone have a taste. At least that way, each person gets a guaranteed score."
Based on a few examples given before the game, six points barely made the cut.
Liu Yun burned some more, "Here."
Several players present took a step back.
"Come on." Liu Yun repeated.
Everyone shook their heads like they were playing a tambourine.
Liu Yun looked disgusted. "It's just eating an insect. What are you big guys afraid of? Overreacting."
Wen Shi directly stood behind Ji Yuanzhi, forfeiting his dignity, "I'm a little guy."
The corner of Liu Yun's mouth twitched.
Lv Tang, who had been contemplating if using the restroom was risky, no longer hesitated, "I'll go to the restroom."
Zhou Xiaochun spread his feet and caught up with him, "Let's take a paid restroom break together!"
Ji Yuanzhi seemed to have another plan but didn't act immediately. He focused on the resting area. Hai Sheng was in a convulsive state as if undergoing withdrawal. He twitched and curled up on the bench. After about a quarter of an hour, he eased slightly and seemed to be heading in their direction.
Once he approached, there was a high likelihood he'd categorize the two going to the restroom as slacking off, rendering their trip pointless.
Ji Yuanzhi prepared to use a skill to slow down Hai Sheng's pace.
Skills directly correlated with a player's strength.
After advanced skill quests, players gained unique advantages. One kind, like Wen Shi, had derivative skills. The other type was dual-skill players.
Ji Yuanzhi was one of the few dual-skill players, one of them being[Fleeting Illusion], possessing a potent hallucinogenic effect.
Just as he was about to act, Wen Shi preemptively walked toward Hai Sheng.
Scratching could no longer quell the itching sensation on his skin. Hai Sheng kept drinking cold water to alleviate the discomfort, imagining himself standing in the cutting area of Workshop Two. He visualized workers skillfully manipulating machines to precisely dissect hearts. The moment the blades sheared through the heart valves, Hai Sheng felt as if a layer of his skin had been peeled away, taking the itching sensation with it.
The feeling of relief hadn't lasted three seconds when a figure approached from directly ahead.
"Cut me." Under the aura of[Cutting Princess], Hai Sheng murmured involuntarily, his eyes carrying a hint of daze, "I feel like you're really skilled at cutting."
Wen Shi's smile froze for a moment. He wasn't showcasing any talents or offering himself.
Struggling to maintain a smile, Wen Shi leaned down and whispered a few words in Hai Sheng's ear.
During that brief glance, he vaguely noticed large areas of blue patches on the other person's skin, now covered with a nauseating layer of yellow-green fuzz, resembling moss in damp regions. The skin around his neck had already been scratched raw by Hai Sheng, with the blood blisters in the middle acting as spores, aiding the moss in its propagation.
No wonder the other person wanted to experience the sensation of being cut.
Wen Shi's words brought Hai Sheng back to his senses, and he skeptically asked, "Do you really have that confidence?"
Wen Shi nodded, revealing his dormitory supervisor badge. "Coincidentally, I need to submit an application form. The factory manager insisted on it being delivered today, so I'm also going to talk to Jian Qingrong."
The best way to sway Hai Sheng was through money. He was currently in dire need of Beautiful Soul Elixir, and his salary couldn't support his demand for it.
Wen Shi seized the opportunity to influence Hai Sheng.
Hai Sheng was unaware that the factory manager had instructed the interviewer to have Jian Qingrong support him. Upon hearing Wen Shi mentioning seeing a passbook at Jian Qingrong's house yesterday, he immediately started calculating.
Hearing Wen Shi suggest taking the initiative to persuade Jian Qingrong filled him with instant elation.
"Alright, alright, as long as you can persuade Jian Qingrong to voluntarily support me this time, I'll give you a set of protective suits."
[Solo Side Quest 2: Jian Qingrong's passbook
Quest Objective: Jian Qingrong has worked hard to save up some money, and now Hai Sheng wants it. Please help Hai Sheng obtain Jian Qingrong's passbook and passcode.
Quest Reward: Soul Purity +5; Makeshift Protective Suit*1]
"..." You really are quite stingy.
...
Wen Shi caught a glimpse of Zhou Xiaochun and Lv Tang returning on the other side. They looked really bad, and it was hard to imagine what they went through in the restroom for the past fifteen minutes. Lv Tang's face was pale, constantly using potions to replenish his health.
There was a separate compartment in the restroom for changing sterilized gloves and such. Lv Tang seemed visibly exhausted, forgetting to zip his uniform up to the collar as required. It was Zhou Xiaochun who reminded him.
Seeing them back, Wen Shi didn't linger. He removed the restricting jumpsuit and other gear, regaining his mobility, then turned and left the workshop.
The roadside broadcast continued to announce that the air pollution index had exceeded limits, advising everyone to reduce outdoor activities.
However, a new soothing message had been added:
"Please remain calm. At any time, there's still the option of seeking refuge in the sanatorium."
The pale tree leaves had gained a few inconspicuous spots compared to yesterday, and fallen leaves littered the ground. Wen Shi couldn't help but touch his own head, "I'm afraid of breathing dirty air for too long, becoming a little baldy like you guys."
A trembling leaf fluttered down, landing precisely on top of his head.
Wen Shi inexplicably shuddered, contemplating whether there was a way to expedite leaving the instance.
The task stated that the quota for selecting outstanding employees would be finalized next month. Tomorrow was the beginning of the next month, and the end of the month was also considered "before next month." There was still quite a bit of maneuvering room.
With the belief of avoiding baldness, Wen Shi headed towards Workshop Three.
When he went to the dormitory with the interviewer before, Jian Qingrong had retrieved his passbook from under the table. Maybe the passbook had returned to its original place by now, but he decided to first look for Jian Qingrong, aiming to maximize their respective interests through some means.
Since the interviewer didn't succeed yesterday, he would surely continue to pressure Jian Qingrong to cooperate for another "good deeds" campaign today. Wen Shi had to settle everything before the interviewer could.
…
The main responsibility of Workshop Three was shipping, and each shipment had its own supervisor. There wasn't any password lock involved.
Workshop Three had the best benefits, but surprisingly, there weren't many workers around. Since Wen Shi had entered until now, he hadn't seen a single person. Passing by an office, he glimpsed someone moving inside through the glass and spoke as he walked, "Hello, can you help me call Jian Qingrong?"
The factory manager's tiger skin was always easy to pull. "I have some matters regarding the application forms that I need to consult with him about."
The excuse that worked wonders elsewhere seemed to lose its magic here.
People inside were still wandering about. Wen Shi approached because he saw a shadow. Monsters like the castle master and the blood brides didn't have shadows. He remembered the real bride didn't either.
As Wen Shi got closer, he noticed the glass, not cleaned for years, was too dirty to gain any insight.
Wen Shi hesitated for a moment, not pushing the door directly. He wiped away the accumulated dust from the outside of the glass with his hand and then looked inside. Through the dusty glass, he could faintly see a person standing behind the office desk. Wen Shi wasn't sure if he should even call that a person. The person's blood seemed drained, leaving only a thin layer of skin clinging to their bony frame. Their head appeared unusually large.
"I've successfully transferred to Workshop Three now. Can I, um, move to the upper floor of the dormitory…?"
The man pleaded humbly towards the vacant office desk.
[Reward 'Meet Wang Wei' has been activated.]
[You've successfully met Wang Wei. Wang Wei unexpectedly discovered a secret about the Big Factory before his death. But how will you manage to question a dead man?]
The monster didn't lose its body after death, which was why it still had a shadow. Wang Wei's cause of death stemmed from being scratched by the monster. Even now, his shoulder remained indented, his skin resembling a beehive in that area, as if corroded by strong acid.
Wang Wei was still racking his brain about moving upstairs when suddenly, those naturally sinister, small eyes looked towards the glass. "Are you here to apply for the upstairs dormitory too?"
The voice, mixed with anger and envy, easily bypassed the glass barrier and reached his ears intact.
Wen Shi took a step back.
"Are you also trying to snatch the spot from me?"
The pendant lamp above Wang Wei's head swung violently, and the light bulb shattered abruptly.
Without a moment's hesitation, Wen Shi turned around and ran frantically.
He still remembered the route to the shipping warehouse. As he ran towards it, a trace of uncertainty crept into Wen Shi's mind. He recalled that Hai Sheng was on the night shift there. What if there was no one there now? It would be a spacious dead end.
"Is anyone there?" Wen Shi began shouting loudly. Even if just one employee appeared, it would prevent him from becoming too passive.
In the vast workshop, there wasn't a single response.
Ding!
Suddenly, a freight elevator door not far from a large machine opened, but it was empty inside.
In horror stories, taking an elevator was as dangerous as being in a fire scene. Wen Shi glanced back and saw Wang Wei still relentlessly pursuing him.
"Let all competitors die. Go to hell…"
Wen Shi changed direction and rushed into the freight elevator, continuously pressing the door close button.
The freight elevator door slowly closed.
At the same time, Wang Wei lunged from a few meters away. Just as he was about to jump in, the freight elevator door closed, and Wen Shi heard a heavy 'thud' from outside.
The floor indicator lights above only lit up halfway. The freight elevator only served two underground levels.
Wen Shi pressed the button for B1.
The freight elevator descended at an unusually slow pace, and the creaking sound of the steel wires swinging made it feel like the elevator would plummet the next second. The dilapidated surroundings and dim lighting didn't evoke any pleasant associations.
He took out his phone. There was no signal. A minute had passed, and the freight elevator was still swaying in midair.
There wasn't much anxiety on Wen Shi's face. He leaned back comfortably. Jian Qingrong had mentioned in his diary that the electric baton could deal with monsters, so he wasn't panicking.
Monsters moved quickly and could climb to higher places. Directly engaging them in an open area wouldn't favor Wen Shi. In comparison, the freight elevator suited him better, though it required a buffer space.
Suddenly, the freight elevator started plummeting at high speed, then abruptly stopped. The door wouldn't open. To get out now, he had to risk prying the freight elevator door open.
Wen Shi didn't take the risk. "Even ghosts aren't in a hurry, why should I be?"
Enemy doesn't move, I don't move.
He took out the electric baton and lightly tapped his palm.
Outside, Wang Wei grew impatient. Why was there no sound from inside?
Finally, he couldn't wait any longer and started using force to pry open the door.
Wang Wei's overly long nails and slender fingers suited this job well. Wen Shi silently encouraged him.
The door opened, revealing a space to crawl out. A distorted ghostly face emerged from below.
"Hehe, found you, competitor."
Wang Wei's deformed head oozed constantly, his withered arm propping against the edge of the floor. He tried to squeeze his body inside completely. The elevator instantly turned red, and Wang Wei's emaciated body appeared as if soaked in the sea for over ten days. The pungent, salty smell filled the elevator.
As these smells condensed into mist and entered his lungs with each breath, Wen Shi's Soul Purity began to decrease.
[-1,-1...]
"I've… been waiting for you for a long time too!" Wen Shi wielded the electric baton and swung it down heavily, like an executioner's blow. By the time Wang Wei tried to retract his head, it was already too late. Under the high-pressure impact, his body writhed and convulsed like a worm.
Wen Shi took the opportunity to forcefully pull him in.
Being scratched by the monster posed an infection risk. He didn't dare let his guard down for a moment. He began interrogating, "What secret did you discover before you died?"
Fear flashed in Wang Wei's eyes.
"Not talking, huh?" Wen Shi smiled, swinging the baton forcefully at the already sunken area of his shoulder. This agony struck straight to the soul. Wang Wei screamed in pain.
Once he confirmed that his arm had gone limp and couldn't harm anyone, Wen Shi struck again, this time aiming for his abdomen. "From now on, every ten seconds you hesitate, my baton will descend a certain distance. Guess how long until it reaches your most vulnerable spot."
With the[Cutting Princess]manifesting again, each word spoken by Wen Shi was enough to send shivers down one's spine.
A gruesome and inhumane scene unfolded inside the confined compartment.
"Help—"
"Aaaaaaaaaaahhhhh! Help! I don't remember anymore!"
In contrast, another voice sounded quite indifferent. "A dutiful child is born under the stick. It seems I haven't struck hard enough."
"I really don't remember, my memories become chaotic every so often. I don't know…"
Amid Wang Wei's desperate struggle, something fell from his tattered clothes.
[Sketch of Dormitory Building*1]
Wen Shi opened it and found a hand-drawn sketch, crooked and uneven. After reading it, his gaze narrowed. The dormitory building depicted on it had a total of nine floors. Yet, when the teenager had asked about the residents on the upper floors and whether they were powerful, the dorm supervisor had mentioned that the factory manager would give face to the senior employees on the seventh and eighth floors.
Wen Shi had always thought the dormitory building had only eight floors. From the outside, it certainly appeared to have only eight floors.
However, this sketch clearly overturned that conclusion.
Wang Wei kept shivering and knocking his head. It seemed his memory was truly lacking. Wen Shi changed the subject, "After your death, you went to find Jian Qingrong. What happened then?"
Jian Qingrong's diary only mentioned that Wang Wei had returned to the dormitory, but it didn't elaborate on what happened afterward.
"I…"
A stronger sense of weightlessness came over them. Just as Wang Wei was about to speak, the elevator suddenly started descending again.
Wen Shi was forced to move to a corner to stabilize himself. His heart seemed to sink along with the freight elevator. When it came to a stop for the second time, he glanced at the dimly lit indicator, revealing that the elevator had reached the second underground level.
A slender and tall figure stood outside the door. In the dim light, the person slowly lifted his head. Sweat covered his body from working, and he casually swept aside the long strands of hair on his forehead, revealing a face that appeared to have been chiseled and carved like wood.
It was Jian Qingrong.
This was the first time Wen Shi had fully seen his appearance. His throat moved, trying not to display any unusual expression.
"What a coincidence," he stopped torturing the ghost, "I was just about to come find you."
There were quite a few murky bloodstains on Wen Shi's work coveralls sleeves, especially on his electric baton. The grooves inside the baton were all filled with slime and blood.
Jian Qingrong didn't look much better either. He was pulling a cart with crates, and from the sealed joints of the wooden planks, dark red blood was seeping. Inside the crates, faint growls and muffled cries resembling those of wild beasts could be heard.
Jian Qingrong fell silent for a moment, "What a coincidence."
The two of them didn't say anything further.
Only a single application form lay in the middle, making a rustling sound as the cold wind from below swept over it. It was the same application form that had slipped out of Wen Shi's pocket while he was interrogating Wang Wei with too much force earlier.
There were also scattered specks of blood on the paper, and under the section for self-evaluation, Wen Shi's neat handwriting and the mottled bloodstains intertwined perfectly:
"I am compassionate, have an outgoing and easygoing personality, can quickly get along with colleagues, possess excellent organizational and interpersonal skills…"