Xiao Yan was at work when his nicotine craving hit. He quickly said goodbye to his colleague and rushed into the restroom. "Who's more diligent than me? With all this smoke, aren't they afraid of getting caught by the inspectors?" Xiao Yan muttered to himself, glaring at the thick haze filling the bathroom.
He opened the stall door, sat down on the toilet, and blissfully enjoyed the pleasure of smoking. "A cigarette after a meal, happy as a celestial being—how true that saying is!" Xiao Yan puffed contentedly, eyes closed, thoroughly savoring the moment.
"Knock knock." Xiao Yan jumped in surprise. "Can I be this unlucky? I just got in and you're already here—damn inspector!" He quickly flicked his half-smoked cigarette into the toilet bowl and flushed it—destroying the evidence. Deny everything, and even the inspectors can't do anything. Xiao Yan had used this trick countless times, and it always worked.
"Knock knock." Someone knocked on his door again. "Stop it!" Xiao Yan snapped irritably. "I'm not smoking! Go check the other stalls. You're making my stomach hurt with all that knocking!"
"Knock." One more tap. Xiao Yan was furious. "Damn inspector, stop knocking on my door! Knock again and I'll file a complaint! Do you think it's easy for me? Can't even use the toilet in peace!"
"Brother, I'm not an inspector. I just ran out of cigarettes—mind lending me one?"
"You could've just said so! I thought you were an inspector—my heart's pounding! Here." Xiao Yan pulled a cigarette from his pocket and slid it under the door.
"Thanks."
"No problem. Fellow sufferers of the smoke, why be formal?" Xiao Yan lit another cigarette and relaxed.
Five minutes later, a startled cry came from across the restroom. "Brother, I've gotta go. If anyone asks if you saw me, say you didn't—remember!" Xiao Yan grunted in response.
Suddenly, a gust of wind brushed past Xiao Yan's head. He was puzzled—how could there be wind? The bathroom was completely sealed. He looked up—and froze.
A human head, a cigarette dangling from its mouth, was floating right over his head.
Cold sweat poured down Xiao Yan's forehead. "GHOST!" he screamed, lunging for the door.
Just as he grabbed the handle, a hand reached from outside and flung the door open. "Hey, did you see a head fly through here?"
Xiao Yan looked up at the figure—and instantly fainted in terror. This wasn't a person at all. It was a headless body.
"So scared? Hmph. You 'Head,' sneaking off for a smoke without me? That's just not cool." With that, the headless body passed through the wall and vanished from the restroom.