The moment Wu You stumbled backward, the man inside the elevator pulled out a massive chainsaw from behind his back.

The man then started the chainsaw, its high-speed rotation producing a terrifying buzzing sound that chilled the soul.

If Wu You hadn't realized he needed to run now, he would have been truly foolish.

Though completely confused about the situation, he immediately turned and fled.

Being only 19 years old, his reflexes were far better than Zhou Wu's middle-aged father with deteriorating physical and mental capabilities from last time.

Wu You sprinted toward the automatic glass doors leading outside.

The towering chainsaw-wielding man chased after him with thunderous footsteps that echoed through the hall!

This chainsaw murderer was incredibly fast.

Within just a few strides, he caught up to Wu You and swung the chainsaw horizontally toward Wu You's neck. Fortunately, Wu You had been keeping an eye on his pursuer even while running. He quickly ducked and then straightened up, narrowly avoiding the deadly attack.

Next, he aimed for the automatic glass doors!

Despite being exhausted from caring for his father all day, his mind remained exceptionally clear and quick.

He needed to reach the security booth - that would mean safety!!!

There were several security guards there!

Moving swiftly, he heard the sound of shattering glass behind him as he passed through the automatic doors - likely the chainsaw striking the glass.

This time, he didn't dare look back as before, fearing any hesitation would mean death.

So he kept running straight to the luxurious security booth at the main entrance.

The security booth's lights were still on.

Wu You grabbed the doorknob and found it unlocked. His heart leapt with hope as he pushed the door open while shouting:

"Call the police! There's a chainsaw-wielding maniac!"

But the joy on his face quickly turned to shock, then terror.

Because inside the security booth, there were no guards - only several human-shaped straw figures.

Wu You couldn't understand why rural scarecrows would be here.

But he realized now - those figures he'd seen in the security room when returning must have been these straw men.

"I'm done for... completely done for..."

No guards in the security room, and he'd wasted precious time here.

Cold sweat poured from his forehead.

Wu You turned to leave the booth and escape Alice Apartments, when excruciating pain exploded from his left side.

The unbearable agony instantly dropped him to the ground.

From a third-person perspective, one could see a young man screaming on the ground, his severed left arm lying nearby. Blood gushed from both the arm's stump and his left shoulder, as if calling to each other.

The chainsaw had taken his arm so suddenly that his mind and body hadn't immediately registered the pain, with adrenaline initially numbing the sensation.

But as seconds passed, horrific pain engulfed his entire being.

The physical agony was secondary to the soul-crushing terror and dread of approaching death that made his heart pound violently.

Wu You lay writhing, clutching his severed arm with his right hand while howling.

Tears and sweat blurred his vision, but through the haze, he saw the chainsaw murderer standing at the booth's entrance, both of them illuminated by the same light.

"You! Who are you?! Why are you trying to kill me?!"

Wu You had absolutely no idea why he was being hunted.

He hadn't made any enemies!

He was just an ordinary college student, one who'd taken extended leave to care for his sick father!

Who could possibly want him dead?!

The only recent change in his life was signing the agreement to live at Alice Apartments!

"Is... is this because of that?!"

Wu You's eyes became bloodshot, veins spiderwebbing across them.

He had seen the 10,000-per-day agreement as a lifeline.

Regardless of its authenticity.

So he hadn't questioned why such an incredibly generous offer existed.

Subconsciously, he'd assumed it might involve a haunted apartment or some reality show.

Never had he imagined encountering a chainsaw-wielding psychopath here!

Attacking him without reason!

If he'd known returning tonight would lead to this,

He would never have come back! Even if it meant losing that 10,000!

Now he regretted even more coming to Alice Apartments and signing that agreement.

Because without signing, none of this would be happening.

Even if he hadn't encountered the chainsaw killer tonight, it might have happened tomorrow night!

Ultimately, not signing would have been best - he'd never have faced this horror!

But in his current situation, he knew regret was useless.

All he wanted now was to know - who was this person?!

Why try to kill him?!

The chainsaw murderer only responded with a chilling chuckle.

Instead of removing his mask to reveal his identity, he pulled out a folded white paper from his pocket and unfolded it.

On the paper were printed words:

Why didn't you attend the welcome party?

The punishment for absence is death!

Seeing these words, Wu You's eyes widened in disbelief. His current nightmare was simply because he'd missed that welcome party?!

"You... you're Xiao Zhang?!"

In this apartment complex, having just arrived today, he only knew three people.

First was manager Xiao Zhang, second was assistant manager Jiang Ran, and third was Wang Anjian.

If the chainsaw killer was one of these three,

Wang Anjian was unlikely - they were both new residents.

That left Xiao Zhang and Jiang Ran as prime suspects.

Between these two, when Wu You missed the welcome party, Jiang Ran hadn't contacted him at all.

Only Xiao Zhang!!!!!

Had frantically tried reaching him!

The chainsaw murderer didn't answer, only continuing his eerie chuckle.

Then he raised the massive chainsaw and swung it down toward Wu You.

...

"FUCK!!!!"

At this very moment, on the rooftop of Alice Apartments.

Mike, the detective ranked tenth nationally in the U.S.,

Was watching everything that had just happened through his binoculars!!!!

After attending the welcome party, Mike had returned to his usual rooftop spot.

As in previous nights, he maintained vigilant observation of the entire property.

He hadn't expected anything unusual, assuming tonight would be as uneventful as before.

But to his complete shock, this had occurred!!!!

He'd witnessed the entire sequence.

He saw Wu You arrive by bicycle, enter through facial recognition, and go inside the apartment building.

Initially paying little attention, he was startled minutes later by Wu You's screams and immediately looked through his binoculars.

He saw Wu You inexplicably burst from the building with a chainsaw-wielding maniac in pursuit.

Then Wu You ran into the security booth, followed by the killer.

The booth's structure blocked his view of subsequent events.

At first, he thought Wu You might be saved.

But hearing the agonized screams from the booth, he knew - Wu You was doomed!!!!