end

I inhaled deeply, feeling the tension release from my body. As I did, everything around me seemed to grow lighter. And there she was, Marry, or rather, Vivian:

Vivian's features slowly came into focus, her long, thick, jet-black hair flowing gracefully. She was draped in an elegant, pale-colored dress that gave her an air of grace. With every twirl, the hem of her dress danced with her, like an innocent young girl sharing her joy with the world. I could almost hear her words as she said, "I'm sorry, Anna. I apologize."

Today marked my first day at work, and my role was that of the lobby manager. The hotel was splendidly decorated, but the square outside was unsettling, dominated by snake-like statues that looked astonishingly lifelike, as though they might come to life at any moment. I gathered my composure and returned to my workstation, where I noticed a set of rules posted prominently:

"Adapt rules according to each situation."

"Avoid women with black hair."

"Do not trust the guests."

"Do not go to the fourth floor."

"Do not leave the front desk for unusual sounds."

Beside these rules, a bowl of hot soup emitted tempting steam. Unable to resist, I took a sip, savoring its freshness and sweetness.

Just then, the dedicated line for room 504 rang. I hurriedly answered, finding a couple in the midst of an argument. The girl had long, flowing hair with hints of red, while the man appeared frail, his throat noticeably red, his voice hoarse as he insisted on checking out.

In accordance with the rules, I conducted a thorough inspection. Aside from some faint fingerprints on the door, everything seemed in order. I adjusted their bill accordingly and processed their checkout using the standard procedure. Accompanied by the restaurant manager and the head of housekeeping, I escorted them downstairs to bid them farewell.

As the girl turned to glance back at me before leaving, a wide grin lit up her face.