Three months after I was laid off, I was forced to move into a cheap, run-down apartment complex.
The old building had terrible soundproofing, and every night I could hear the couple on the other side of the wall arguing.
A month later, I couldn't take it anymore and knocked on the door next door.
The old man who answered looked bewildered and said:
"Young man, you must have heard wrong. That apartment has been empty for ten years. The couple who lived there before disappeared a long time ago."
I froze. From inside the open doorway, I heard their voices again.
"Old Zhang, we've been gone for ten years, and you're still hung up on your research results?"
At that moment, the TV left on in the room was broadcasting the news:
"At present, there is still no news regarding the mysterious disappearance of Professor Zhang and his wife... If anyone has any information, please call..."
Holding my breath, I walked to the wall and knocked on it with a trembling hand.
"Excuse me, are you Professor Zhang Guowen?"
The surroundings fell silent for several minutes.
Then the man sounded excited.
"Young man, you can hear us?"
