"Ethan, pay attention. This is Lakeside Residence, the neighborhood closest to our company. Lots of people live here. Last year, Manager Lan secured it for us, so it's now our biggest client.",
I nodded. Indeed, this place is less than three kilometers from Dongfeng Gas Company. Sure enough, at the lakeside entrance, I saw several company employees riding motorcycles, hauling gas canisters inside.
Just then, I saw a large group of people, noisy and carrying tools, dressed in blue work uniforms. They looked like a bunch of renovation workers, walking past us.
They made many passersby laugh, and I almost burst out laughing myself. There were about twenty of them. The reason they were so funny was their odd, lopsided walk, as if disabled. Some even looked mentally challenged, tilting their heads, mouths slightly open, drooling.
"Damn it, walk properly!"
Among the group, the only one who looked somewhat normal was a burly, bearded man. He barked out the order.
"Boss, it's a bit awkward to walk like this."
With a loud smack, the one who spoke was slapped. Suddenly, I realized something was wrong—the face that was hit instantly collapsed, like a deflated ball, sinking inward.
Then the others scrambled in a panic, quickly surrounding him. I only caught a glimpse before my smile vanished. The renovation workers entered the neighborhood, and the man whose face had caved in returned to normal.
I watched, startled and uneasy.
"I've seen these people before. Haha, did they recruit from the disabled? I'm curious how they'll get the job done."
Something felt off. On the surface, their movements were clumsy, but on second thought, it was like those actors in amusement parks wearing big costumes.
Suddenly, the leader turned and ran toward us.
"Are you Ethan Zhang?"
I looked at him in confusion and nodded.
"Do we know each other?"
"Where do you work? Where do you live?"
I let out a sound of surprise, staring blankly at him.
"What, looking for trouble?" William Wu immediately stepped forward. Though nearly fifty, William Wu was tall and sturdy.
The man glanced at my work badge.