Chapter 37 Haunted House
Inside an office building in City S.
After listening to the report, Sun Jianglin slammed her phone onto the table, the screen hitting the solid wood with a dull thud.
"Even if one of them is crazy and the other is stupid, are you so brainless as to create a number without doing any investigation? Are you worried that others won't be able to find any evidence against them?!"
Her chest heaved violently; she was clearly furious: "Get out! Get out! I'll terminate the contract tomorrow!"
Hearing a knock at the door, she rubbed her temples and snapped, "Come in!"
Fang Yucheng, who had just finished his work and rushed over, was taken aback by her sudden outburst of anger: "Sister Sun, what happened?"
"Look at the trending topics yourself!"
Sun Jianglin was already barely suppressing her anger, but seeing Fang Yucheng's face made her furious again: "I told you long ago, we shouldn't go on those lousy shows like 'Our Past,' which rely on creating buzz to grab attention!"
"If you're a musician, you should stay in the recording studio, or at the very least go out and find material to write songs and let your work speak for itself, instead of participating in those third-rate shows that lower your status!"
"If you invite Meng Shuning to perform at your concert, I won't have any objections. But if you participate in a dating reality show, it won't benefit the company at all except for people using your popularity and putting you down!"
After being berated, Fang Yucheng, though unaware of the full story, obediently listened as Sun Jianglin dredged up all sorts of long-buried past events and launched into a tirade.
She only glanced at him with an unpleasant expression after the other person had finished cursing and calmed down.
"Have you finished writing the new song I asked you to prepare for the concert?"
"It's finished."
Fang Yucheng nodded, and as if prepared, took out his laptop bag: "Would you like to listen?"
Seeing this, Sun Jianglin's expression softened slightly: "At least you know what's important, and you don't spend all your time indulging in meaningless programs... Turn it on."
However, as the melody of the demo flowed through the professional audio equipment...
Sun Jianglin's brows, which had just relaxed, furrowed even more tightly, eventually forming a knot.
"Stop for a moment."
She suddenly raised her hand to stop the playback, took off her headphones, and looked sharply at Fang Yucheng: "Tell me honestly, has anyone else heard this piece of music?"
What she didn't notice was that a fleeting emotion flashed across Fang Yucheng's eyes, but in the blink of an eye, a look of confusion appeared on his face: "How is that possible? Why do you ask that? This is something I created in private."
Upon hearing this answer, Sun Jianglin seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, but her expression remained serious: "Change to another one, this one can't be used."
She said firmly, "I don't know where you got your inspiration, but this song can't be performed at the concert. You have to change it before it officially starts."
"good."
Fang Yucheng readily agreed, showing no sign of dissatisfaction: "Then I'll go and revise it again."
Hearing this, Sun Jianglin finally relaxed and casually waved his hand.
Amidst a slightly jarring sound, the frosted glass door blocked the view from inside the office.
Fang Yucheng raised his head and slightly curled the corners of his mouth.
It seems he guessed right this time.
Fang Yucheng's good mood only lasted until he returned to his residence and picked up his phone again to check his social media accounts.
[You might be interested in these trending topics: #MuJiuLiveStream#, #IsTheMorningAndEvenCPReal#]
Upon seeing the recommended post, Fang Yucheng narrowed his eyes in displeasure.
After quickly scanning the text, he tapped his knuckles heavily on the wooden table.
He hadn't expected that the other party wouldn't take his words seriously at all.
As expected of those two...
The level of discussion reached this point purely through popularity.
He clearly didn't intend to do anything to Mu Jiu as long as she continued to admire him and remained obedient and easy to manipulate.
As the knocking stopped, Fang Yucheng leaned back in his chair and casually dialed a number.
The ringtone only lasted a few seconds before being answered on the other end.
"Brother Yu Cheng?"
"I heard that Mr. Li's daughter didn't manage to get concert tickets, so I took the liberty of keeping two for myself."
Fang Yucheng raised his eyes indifferently and looked at the city lights shining through the floor-to-ceiling window: "You understand what I mean, right?"
The person on the other end whispered something.
Fang Yucheng listened expressionlessly, then stood up and slowly walked to the window.
In the darkness, his face was sometimes in the light and sometimes in the shadows.
"You listen to Sun Jianglin, but not to me?"
The voice on the other end of the phone explained in a flustered manner. Fang Yucheng rubbed his temples, and when he opened his eyes again, his gaze became even colder: "Do as I say. They are VIP guests. If they want to go backstage, don't stop them."
The night is spent with different people each preoccupied with their own thoughts.
The following morning, the live broadcast of "Our Past" was connected on time.
Fans who discovered that Fang Yucheng was not in the cabin flocked to the live broadcast room outside.
However, many people were so surprised when the screen loaded that they typed out a string of gibberish:
【%…%*&^…F￥】
【…%$#@！ ！ ！ That startled me!】
[This makeup effect is so realistic! I thought I'd accidentally clicked on a horror movie.]
[Is it...is it Chengbao? (Trembling.jpg)]
In front of the live stream camera, the person who initially closed their eyes and let the makeup artist leave deep "scars" on their face seemed to hear the audience's exclamations and slowly looked at the camera.
Beneath the pale white base makeup, the area around her eyes was outlined with sunken shadows. The bloodstains on her face, resembling those from a murder scene, and the realistic "stitching" marks extending from the corners of her mouth created a strong visual impact.
"morning."
Fang Yucheng noticed the rapidly scrolling comments on the screen and smirked at the camera. This gesture, combined with his current makeup, made him appear even more menacing: "Who else could it be but me?"
[That makeup! I recognize him! Isn't he the Ripper from 'The Haunted House'?!]
[Oh my god, that theme was super scary, the NPCs were incredibly dedicated, and the experience was absolutely immersive!!]
[Could we see Yu Cheng visiting the Endless Haunted House today? I'm so excited!]
[Did Chengbao mention in "Dream Journey" that he planned to visit an endless haunted house?]
[Is that like an immersive murder mystery game? It sounds so exciting!]
"Yes, I've always wanted to experience this. But..."
Fang Yucheng paused slightly, as if he had just thought of something, and then continued naturally, "Shu Ning is completely unable to accept anything terrifying, so she has never actually been there."
"It wouldn't be very fun to go to a haunted house by myself, so I asked my friends before, but I didn't expect to finally realize my wish on this show."
After the makeup artist finished the last step and stepped aside, Fang Yucheng politely thanked her and adjusted the camera, presenting the entire "funny face" to the audience.
"alright."
He spoke casually, with a hint of barely perceptible anticipation, "Next, I need to go find today's date."
The place where we did our makeup was very close to the place we had agreed to meet today.
It was still early, and there weren't many people on the street. Fang Yucheng interacted casually with the viewers in the live stream, and even without deliberately creating a show, the live stream's popularity instantly soared to number one just five minutes after it started.
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a figure not far away.
A fleeting, ambiguous emotion flashed across Fang Yucheng's eyes, so quick it was almost imperceptible, as he casually tossed the prepared prop around in his hand—
It was a prop dagger that looked rusty but was actually exquisitely crafted, which twirled nimbly in my fingertips.
"Found it."
He kept his voice low and gestured for silence towards the camera.
From the perspective of the live stream, that figure was getting closer and closer to them.
On the other side, when Mu Jiu noticed the faint breathing sound, the shadow cast from above had already enveloped her, and she subconsciously turned her head.
A hideous face filled her vision, and the red, rusty dagger, as if it had just tasted blood, was now less than five centimeters from her neck.
The other party was like a cold, venomous snake, capable of silently snapping her neck in the next second.
"ah!"
A short scream caught in his throat, his body acting faster than his thoughts. In the instant a shiver ran down his spine, Mu Jiubian quickly took two steps back, even the fingers gripping the railing trembling slightly uncontrollably.
Seeing her frightened expression, Fang Yucheng quickly sheathed his dagger, made a gesture of surrender with his hands, and took a few steps back: "I'm sorry, did I really scare you?"
I feel a little sorry for Mu Jiu; this makeup is really terrifying.
[Isn't this what variety shows are all about? People who say things like that really don't understand how to appreciate the atmosphere.]
My best friend and I sometimes startle each other; some people are just too sensitive.
[There are so many fake comments in the live chat. No matter the reason, it's impolite to scare other people like that.]
[Am I the only one who feels that Chengbao did this on purpose? Did he deliberately draw this way to keep the scheming woman away from him?]
...
Upon hearing Fang Yucheng's voice, Mu Jiu closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and slowly regained her composure.
She suppressed her discomfort and focused her gaze on the face of the person in front of her.
Mu Jiu straightened up using the railing, rubbing her forehead helplessly, her tone carrying just the right amount of lingering fear: "I was really scared. Teacher Fang is too dedicated; the makeup is too realistic... So, this outfit is a clue to today's date location?"
"I thought about where to go on our date for a long time; I hadn't originally planned where to choose."
Fang Yucheng took out the admission ticket and handed it to Mu Jiu: "But I remember you said you also wanted to experience some exciting rides, so I booked this place in advance."
Mu Jiu took the admission ticket, looked at the scarlet words "Endless Haunted House" printed on it, and raised an eyebrow thoughtfully.
Just then, Fang Yucheng added gently and warmly, "If one person is afraid, two people... won't be, right?"
Mu Jiu: "A haunted house?"
Fang Yucheng continued her words in a relaxed tone, as if the fright just now was really just a harmless joke: "Yes, it was a 'surprise' that was specially prepared."
[The contrast between this makeup and that gentle tone is amazing!]
Although I'm a fan of Mengxiang Chengzhen, I'm an omnivore and will try anything that comes my way.
[Don't eat dirty things! This woman is clearly scheming. Why is she pretending to be brave and wanting to try thrilling activities? She just wants to get close to Yu Cheng.]
[For a long time, the other person's teacher was just a colleague, showing respect. Have you all forgotten that dating is a matter of choice?]
Contrary to the warm and romantic atmosphere imagined in the comments, the actual parties involved were frighteningly calm.
It can be confirmed that the other party did it on purpose.
Mu Jiu lowered his eyes and gently rubbed the admission ticket in his hand.
In fact, when Mu Jiu noticed the shadow approaching silently behind him, he knew who it was.
Although the production crew members do not usually appear on screen during the live broadcast, they still have to ensure that there are no unexpected disturbances at the live broadcast site.
This deliberate approach could hardly be from anyone other than Fang Yucheng.
However, Mu Jiu had no idea that the image that appeared before her eyes would be like that.
After the original owner of this body and Fang Yucheng went into the haunted house in private, she grabbed him and cried and made a fuss for a long time. How could she possibly say that she wanted to experience the haunted house again?
She wasn't sure whether Fang Yucheng's actions were intended to elicit her true reaction to him under pressure, or simply because he had angered her during last night's live stream.
However, if she overreacts during a live variety show broadcast, it won't be a good thing for her.
But if she goes along with him and admits that she likes thrills, and then actually runs away in fright after entering the haunted house, she will again be suspected of still having feelings for Fang Yucheng...
"Teacher Fang, are you sure it's a 'surprise' and not a 'fright'?"
Mu Jiu slowed down his movements, glanced at him hesitantly, and gave him a subtle look as if he had seen a living, breathing straight man: "It seems that Shu Ning is a person with a stronger inner strength than I expected. I am really not good at dealing with this kind of subject matter, especially haunted houses."
[Hahaha, I think so too. Would a guy who really cares about a girl deliberately scare her on a date? Fang Yucheng looks like a typical elementary school boy.]
I remember Jiu Jiu mentioning that she was afraid of haunted houses, and I was quite surprised that our date was scheduled here.
Didn't Fang Yucheng choose the date location himself without considering whether the girl liked it or not?
[Did Fang Yucheng really misremember? Wasn't he just trying to ride on Yucheng's popularity before, and now that he has a more popular on-screen couple, is he trying to clear his name of past controversies?]
[What innocent act by pretending to be a woman? How dare she compare herself to Shushu!]
[I'm speechless. Do some of the comments even know how to read and understand? She clearly doesn't like this kind of date, but Fang Yucheng still chose this location. Mu Jiu thinks Meng Shuning only said that because she likes it.]
[I just find Mu Jiu's answer hilarious, how did the comments section start arguing about it?]
Fang Yucheng was taken aback by her direct retort and paused for a moment in surprise.
Before he could speak again, a faint groan and sobbing sound, mixed with the howling wind, interrupted their conversation.
Following the direction of the sound, the two of them looked up at the same time.
The Endless Haunted House.
Even before stepping inside the building, just peeking through the open, dark doors, one can clearly feel the ominous atmosphere.
The interior was extremely dimly lit, with only a few flickering wall lamps emitting a ghostly green or scarlet glow, casting distorted shadows on the mottled walls.
"...Next, our 'guide' will lead you into the depths of the Crimson Castle."
After a brief explanation of the story's background, the staff at the haunted house took out unopened blindfolds: "To prevent the two explorers' eyes from being impacted by turbulent currents when passing through the time tunnel, please wear our protective blindfolds during the teleportation process."
"..."
If he was still being stubborn just now, at this point, Mu Jiu could only put on a brave face.
With vision obstructed, one's sense of surroundings becomes more acute.
The air grew cold and damp, and the distant, faint sound of metal chains dragging across stone slabs could be heard, the sound effects quite realistic.
Mu Jiu pursed her lips, forcing herself not to pay attention to the atmosphere created by the outside world, but her heartbeat still accelerated little by little with each step she took.
The body's instincts do not lie.
In an environment where one feels insecure, and with those around them being people one needs to be extremely vigilant about, it's fair to say that today has started off badly.
She also couldn't be sure that she could give the appropriate response in a state of emotional turmoil.
During the long period of trying to hypnotize myself.
She didn't know how much time had passed, but when she felt she was gradually getting used to the atmosphere around her.
The staff member who had been supporting him also left.
Fang Yucheng: "They're gone."
Upon hearing the sound, Mu Jiu tentatively removed his blindfold.
There was not a single ray of light around.
At the same time, the live stream screen turned into a dark green color in night vision mode.
[Don't even mention it, I really wouldn't dare open my eyes if Chengbao weren't here. Even now, I only dare to peek through my fingers.]
[The girls in front are so cute, haha. I've been to the Endless Haunted House once, and the atmosphere was pretty well done, but watching the live stream probably won't make it that scary.]
[Don't believe it!!! I've been there too!!! It's almost non-stop high-energy!!!]
Is it really that scary? Even timid people are starting to chicken out.
[What's there to be afraid of? It's all fake anyway.] [It feels so dark.]
I feel like I'm going to go blind from this color.
[It's too immersive, could the production team manually adjust the streaming brightness?]
Just as the comments section was buzzing with chatter, the two people in the video also began to take action.
Mu Jiu took another deep breath and slowly groped around on the ground. When his fingertips touched the wall, he carefully stood up and explored his surroundings.
Just as she was waving, she suddenly bumped into something and made a clumsy moving sound.
It looks like... a table?
After touching the handle, Mu Jiu hesitated for a few seconds, then, after mentally preparing himself, pulled it open with force.
The sharp "squeak" sound, like fingernails scraping a blackboard, almost pierced one's taut nerves.
The piercing screech made both of them momentarily contort their expressions into something somewhat ferocious.
As the world returned to silence, Fang Yucheng's voice came through: "Is there something?"
Mu Jiu: "I think I opened a drawer."
As they were talking, Mu Jiu's fingertips touched an object.
Her hand instinctively flinched away, and after a while, she carefully picked it up again.
It feels like a wax product, and it's long and narrow, and it seems to have a fuse...
For fire safety reasons, players cannot find matches to light themselves inside the haunted house, so the only lighting available most of the time is a flashlight with poor battery life.
But this is a candle...
A thought flashed through Mu Jiu's mind quickly. He continued to search around the tabletop and finally found a recessed groove.
On a whim, she stuck the candle in her hand into the socket.
Before I was fully prepared, the flickering candlelight illuminated a small patch of white wall and the eerily beautiful, exquisitely crafted picture frames on it.
[Oh my god! The doctor's skills are amazing! I'm blind!]
Night vision mode is so bright it'll make your eyes go blind!
[Although Mu Jiu seemed a bit scared, she still actively searched, so she's not as bad as some people say.]
Is this something to praise?
Not long after the light came on, before Mu Jiu could remove his hand from the candle, a sinister and terrifying bell rang out from above.
In the enclosed space, the picture frames on the wall suddenly fell off.
The hole behind the picture frame appeared without warning!
A very realistic background sound effect slowly seeped in—like some kind of heavy, water-soaked cloth being dragged across an empty concrete floor, making a "shh...shh...shh..." sound.
The sound grew clearer and clearer as it approached from afar. It carried an eerie rhythm, as if something was crawling out step by step from the depths of that dark cave.
A distorted, deathly pale face, glowing with an eerie light, suddenly emerged, revealing a pair of "empty" eyes behind stark white bones.
Its withered hand suddenly reached out and grabbed at Mu Jiu.
At the same time, the tightly closed door on the side seemed to be suddenly ripped open by a tremendous force, making a loud bang!
No!!!
Prosperity, democracy, civility, harmony, freedom, equality, justice, and the rule of law
[Protect me! Protect me! Where are my army of commenters? Why haven't they come to my aid yet!]
[The production team should have some decency!]
[Such a quick and aggressive response is truly unsportsmanlike! My eyes are offended!!!]
Viewers in the live stream were already frantically spamming the chat, and those actually at the scene were even more terrified.
The sudden burst of horror far exceeded the visual impact.
Mu Jiu's hair stood on end instantly, and a chilling coldness rushed up his spine from the soles of his feet. At that moment, his mind went blank, and his reason snapped.
Before she could even see what it was, her body instinctively turned sharply in the opposite direction of the cave entrance, and she ran wildly out the door.
Fang Yucheng's voice came from behind her, but she had no time to pay attention.
However, because she was running too fast and in a panic, when she realized that the corridor in front of her had fallen into darkness again, Mu Jiu wanted to stop but tripped over the floor tiles, causing her to almost stumble and fall into the darkness in the distance.
Losing her balance, her vision flipped, and just as she was about to fall to the ground, she suddenly felt someone grab her arm.
In the darkness, Mu Jiu couldn't see what was in front of her, but the impact from inertia made her feel her nose being hit hard.
Almost instinctively, her nose tingled, and a tear welled up in the corner of her eye.
The sudden change affected more than just Mu Jiu.
I could clearly sense that her body was still trembling slightly and uncontrollably.
The person who was bumped hesitated for a moment, and after a few seconds of silence, he spoke softly:
"Don't be afraid, it's me."
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