Chapter 21

Zhao Xiaorou’s stance on the platform was dramatic. Her red cheongsam slit all the way up to her thigh, her skin glowing white thanks to Filorga treatment.

Hu Xiu, standing next to Zhao Xiaorou, felt vaguely that this woman wasn’t here just for a murder mystery game. Probably, after regaining her single status, she was eager to conquer a realm full of handsome men and then—capture cities and territories.

Sure enough, when Qin Shaoyi opened the large iron door to Rongcheng, Zhao Xiaorou took a deep breath: “Hu Xiu, today is your last chance. If you don’t make a move on Qin Shaoyi, I’ll take him back to Xafeyuan and tear him apart.”

“Are you that desperate?”

“You have no idea. I was once a married woman. Do you know the feeling of releasing a hungry and craving tiger back into the wild? Forget about shedding blood, just seeing a living one makes me want to take a bite.”

“What are they talking about over there?” Qin Shaoyi pointed at Zhao Xiaorou with a smile. “Why does something have to be said outside the platform? We’re all guests, and it’s pretty cold out here.”

It was only October. Qin Shaoyi, in the game, was always in the winter of 1934. The difference now was that his smile, when directed at Hu Xiu, went from indifferent to one now hiding a tacit secret.

Hu Xiu’s heart surged with waves, silently thinking to herself, “Zhao Xiaorou, you better not think you can have Feng Youjin and Ning Zechen.”

But Qin Shaoyi was completely off-limits—he was the man who had already sent me home twice at night!

Hu Xiu had originally planned to work with Zhao Xiaorou to help Feng Youjin succeed, but Zhao Xiaorou had directly joined Ning Zechen’s group in secret and sat next to him, exposing her bare thighs.

Hu Xiu thought, “She’s really going all out, huh?” Zhao Xiaorou turned around and saw Hu Xiu from a distance, and even pulled her cheongsam up a little.

Hu Xiu saw Ning Zechen’s eyes nearly fall out of their sockets, and she quickly took money out of her pocket, shoving it into Zhao Xiaorou’s hand without a second thought. There was no need to think twice—she was going to get Zhao Xiaorou to send a love letter to Lin Qiumei.

Zhao Xiaorou stood up and walked away, her figure curving in a way that made Hu Xiu secretly sneer—this terrifying woman! A year ago, I would have cursed if I saw someone like her, but now I’ve turned into someone just as shameless!

It’s true, with age, we often become the people we once despised.

The Snowpiercer had changed again after a month. Hu Xiu was never worried about getting tired of playing the same murder mystery game, as they seemed to have reserved a few rooms for new themes regularly.

They didn’t allow private connections and often added new content, which was probably why Snowpiercer remained the number one murder mystery venue in the city center.

Hu Xiu was enthusiastic about collecting every new version of the plot. Coming back was like returning home.

She saw some familiar names on the players, and realized the journalist and casino boss she had played with before were gone, replaced by new roles—the script had been rewritten.

In this round, Zhao Xiaorou played a socialite, while Hu Xiu played a diplomat. The two characters had no interaction.

And whenever Hu Xiu thought about having more interaction with Qin Shaoyi, she always drew a role with no connection to him.

Although she wasn’t worried about not seeing him outside of the game, it was frustrating to be given a role with no value during the rare three hours where they could interact closely.

But the hidden script lost some of the excitement of opening Pandora’s box. In the past, Hu Xiu liked stability and safety, hoping to see conclusions to everything. Now, she wished for surprises to happen in her routine life—ups and downs were what made it interesting.

If her only goal was to come in and date Qin Shaoyi while ignoring the task cards, she would have found it boring to be motivated only by love.

Zhao Xiaorou once said this was the reason Hu Xiu hadn’t managed to get Qin Shaoyi. Hu Xiu sat by the door of the theater and sighed. She had once chased after Qin Shaoyi within the game, but whenever Qin Shaoyi looked at her, his eyes always seemed to say, “You’re an idiot.”

After all, in front of Qin Shaoyi, her intelligence just didn’t seem to be up to par!

Never mind. Hu Xiu sat on a bench and looked at her task card, when the casino boss suddenly stuck a rose card behind her.

Looking around, Hu Xiu realized she had never seen a prop like this before. She had a faint feeling it might be part of a task. She peeled it off and checked the back of the card, but there were no words.

Just as she was about to stand up and leave, the casino boss sat down beside her and softly said, “Congratulations, you’ve picked the wrong-positioned rose. I have a house deed here, it’s for a private residence next to Peace Hotel.”

“No one has gone in yet. If you’ve earned a hundred thousand in Rongcheng, come find me, and I’ll give you the keys to the house.”

Hidden task!

Earning a hundred thousand in the game wasn’t easy. Last night, the rewards from the task cards had been one thousand for a task, one thousand for rewarding an NPC; manual labor like sweeping the ballroom or pulling a rickshaw could only earn three thousand; reporting an undercover agent could get five thousand, but Hu Xiu would never do something so evil; the only thing she could do was—follow the instructions of the candidates and do tasks, which could earn two to three thousand, plus increase favorability.

Having tricked Feng Youjin into writing a love letter to Bai Luoyu at the department store, Hu Xiu earned forty thousand. Now, she set her sights on Ning Zechen.

She couldn’t approach Qin Shaoyi for money unless it was a critical moment, as the finance minister was too sensitive about money.

When Hu Xiu opened the door to room 303, she was stunned. Zhao Xiaorou was... playing rock-paper-scissors with Ning Zechen.

Zhao Xiaorou had used her bar skills. One leg was kneeling on the coffee table, bending over and teasing Ning Zechen.

The glass contained iced tea (having been there so many times, she could tell by the color what the drink was), but both of them pretended to be drunk, using the finger-guessing game as an excuse to touch each other’s hands.

Hu Xiu felt that the surveillance cameras above their heads were essentially ornamental, but Zhao Xiaorou’s movements were extremely subtle, never crossing any boundaries, and the skin contact was minimal, so neither of them felt like they were being harassed.

Ning Zechen rolled up his sleeves, his muscles stretching against the fabric. His laughter was loud and cheerful: “Finish this drink, and I’ll reward you with thirty thousand!”

People die for money, just as birds die for food. Hu Xiu hurried over and stretched out her hand: “Officer Ning, can I also play the finger-guessing game?”

After leaving Room 303, Hu Xiu only earned ten thousand; Zhao Xiaorou, on the other hand, had earned a great deal and was so excited she was spinning around the hallway of the grand restaurant.

Hu Xiu couldn’t help but tease, “Zhao Xiaorou, you’re too much. When I pushed open the door earlier, I thought I had walked into a massage parlor. You made the lighting pink.”

“What did I do?” Zhao Xiaorou responded. “I just played the finger-guessing game. If I really did anything, it’s just that I’m very clear about my goals, and I don’t hide my motives. Opportunities don’t go to those who are prepared; they go to the quick-witted warriors. Are you really trying to play house with Qin Xiao Yi like you did before? As for Ning Zechen, such a brainless muscle man—he deserves better.”

“I’ll show you when you and Qin Xiao Yi can have such physical contact.”

“Zhao Xiaorou, wait a second.”

Zhao Xiaorou turned her head: “What’s up?”

“Can you lend me thirty thousand... I need it for a mission.”

“No way. I just made a bet with Ning Zechen that I’d help him become the boss of Rongcheng.”

“What happens if you win the bet?”

“I’m not telling you...” Zhao Xiaorou threw a flirtatious glance.

At the dance, Zhao Xiaorou and Ning Zechen ended up dancing the rumba. Zhao Xiaorou had been a Latin dancer when she was younger, professional and intense on stage, almost like a bullfighter.

Now, she had learned to master her movements, dancing slowly with Ning Zechen to the background music of Shanghai Nights, with him holding her and pulling her close in the dance. Hu Xiu sneered, thinking it was disgusting that Zhao Xiaorou used dancing the rumba as a way to engage in physical contact. Her eyes were getting filthy.

Feng Youjin, sitting off to the side, clicked his tongue: “Isn’t that the girl who caused a marriage scandal last time?”

“She got divorced and is single now.” Hu Xiu added.

“Interesting—she’s got something,” Feng Youjin said, standing up and heading to the stage, tossing a thick stack of cash. The players and NPCs on stage crowded together, leaving only Qin Xiao Yi and Hu Xiu off to the side.

Hu Xiu glanced at Qin Xiao Yi and noticed he was looking at her too. Summoning her courage, she walked over: “Minister Qin, I want to make some money. Can you give me some tasks?”

“What are you up to this time?”

“Honestly, I’m trying to buy a property deed. I’ve been running all over Rongcheng to make money, but I’m still short thirty thousand.”

Qin Xiao Yi’s face flickered with a subtle expression. He almost smiled but held it in, squinting his eyes. He took thirty thousand from his jacket pocket: “Consider this your housing fund. But that house... well, let’s just say you’re on your own with it.”

Hu Xiu didn’t quite understand what Qin Xiao Yi meant—what was so complicated? It was just a house.

Maybe if I buy the house, I’ll change the plot and become the new ruler of Rongcheng. The first thing I’ll do is bring the finance minister into my room...

Wait, what am I thinking about all the time? My mind is filthy, Zhao Xiaorou has really corrupted me.

When it was time to vote for the candidate, Hu Xiu played the poor card, taking ten thousand to find the casino boss and completely ignoring Feng Youjin.

The casino boss, seeing the ten thousand, smiled mysteriously, took out the key, and said, “Follow me.”

Hu Xiu walked confidently behind him. Hidden tasks? I, Hu Xiu, can do it on my own!

When they opened the door, the boss said, “The rest of the journey, you’re on your own. Take care.”

This was a newly developed area in Rongcheng, unused until now, because it was a—haunted house.

As soon as the door closed behind her, Hu Xiu was left with a bunch of question marks. The background music in this room was entirely different from that in Rongcheng. It was eerie and sinister, with the volume fluctuating as if the sounds were from a horror movie.

As she walked further into the scene, the dark, blue atmosphere made it hard to see her fingers. The path ahead blurred, and Hu Xiu’s legs grew weaker. What was this place? How had the Snowpiercer added a secret room in just one month?

Before she could finish her thoughts, a figure suddenly flashed by, crashing in front of her. Screams and laughter echoed from all around.

A cloud of dust erupted, and with the lights on, Hu Xiu saw it was a... corpse.

It was a real body, dropping straight from above, like a martial arts stunt double.

What kind of strange plot was this?! Hu Xiu screamed and hid to the side. Just as she turned to leave, a zombie charged at her from behind.

Only then did Hu Xiu realize the scene didn’t have a single path forward. Seven or eight different paths were crawling with zombies—some running, others crawling on the narrow ceiling, all coming towards her, faces covered in blood, clothes torn and ragged, eyes scarred, and tangled hair mixed with dry leaves. This was like a scene from Train to Busan!

Still not running? As Hu Xiu tried to dodge a zombie on the ground, it grabbed her foot, making her stumble and crash to the floor. Screaming, she crawled forward.

Hu Xiu had never played escape rooms. These kinds of terrifying scenarios were only suited for tanks. If she had known it would be like this, she wouldn’t have entered. Now, there was no way back. Crying and crawling, the zombies and skeletons closing in from all sides. Her vision blurred with tears, and she wiped her eyes. Her body turned into a puddle of mud, unable to move. She saw a room with an open door ahead, mustered all her strength to push herself up, and hurriedly ran inside, slamming the door shut behind her, gasping for breath.

Her clothes were covered in dirt and dust. The scene was so realistic. The zombies outside pounded on the door, shaking it violently. The old wooden door was starting to smoke, and with one more push, it would break open.

Hu Xiu turned around and saw nothing but skeletons and decaying zombies behind her. She cried harder, desperately looking at the door, bits of wood falling off.

She had to gather her courage, open the door, and run back past the zombies. The terrain was unfamiliar, and there was a good chance she wouldn’t make it back to the main entrance of the haunted house.

Her throat was already hoarse from screaming, and she kept trying to convince herself that it was all fake, fake, don’t be scared, quickly shout for help, the scene controller would see her, she couldn’t possibly let the players get scared to death in there...

But she couldn’t speak. It was too terrifying, she had never seen such a scene before, not even in horror movies, and this was a 4D experience. If the scene controller didn’t notice, she was very likely to die here today.

Suddenly, the door opened, and Hu Xiu was so frightened that her heart nearly shattered. Qin Xiaoyi knelt down and pulled her into his arms, comforting her: “Don’t be afraid, come with me.”

Her tears suddenly couldn’t stop, and she couldn’t even stand up—this was definitely not a pretty hero-rescuing-the-beauty scene. Mixed with dirt and dust, her face must have looked dirty and ugly from crying, and her already not-so-refined makeup was probably smeared. The sound of zombies was still ringing, and there were sounds of fighting and collapsing outside the door. She couldn’t tell if it was special effects or real, her whole body trembling, her soul lost.

Qin Xiaoyi took off his suit and covered her head with it, lifting her horizontally into his arms, his chin resting on her head: “Don’t be afraid, hold onto me.”

The sound effects hadn’t stopped. Hu Xiu’s mind was blank, and her tears kept falling.

The wind that passed by her feet was definitely the zombies. Something must have hit Qin Xiaoyi, and the sensation of the impact was dull. It must have hurt a lot.

Body heat couldn’t bring stability; the fear was too immediate. However, Qin Xiaoyi moved steadily, and the strength transmitted through his muscles was very firm. The sound gradually became quieter, and there was the sound of a door opening. It was the casino boss.

Qin Xiaoyi was a bit angry: “This kind of task shouldn’t be given to scared players. She almost lost consciousness inside.”

“Poisoned milk. I didn’t expect it either. Seeing her come here often, having participated in the battle royale almost ten times, I thought she was a veteran at escape rooms.”

“Definitely not. Look, she’s still trembling.” The corner of the suit was gently lifted.

In her line of sight was half of Qin Xiaoyi’s face: “Are you okay? Sorry, I felt like it might be too dangerous for you to go in, so I followed you, and sure enough.”

Hu Xiu, with her tears still not wiped off, murmured, “I must look ugly now...”

“Not ugly. It’s just that you got my suit all wet. Also... your nails are really sharp.”

Sitting on the ground, Hu Xiu took the wet wipe handed to her by the casino boss, wiped her face, and calmed down. It was a while before she stood up.

The first thought that came to her as she stood up was that Qin Xiaoyi’s muscles were really well-trained, and—she would never touch any escape rooms again in this lifetime.

By the time she came out, the battle royale had ended, and a group of people were sitting in the review room, intensely analyzing the experience.

Zhao Xiaorou took off her coated gear and saw Hu Xiu’s red, swollen eyes: “I didn’t see you just now, why are you taking off your makeup in there? Your cheeks are still allergic.”

“I...” Hu Xiu took a huge effort to exhale, “It’s a long story...”

A staff member walked over, handing her a hot towel and an envelope: “Congratulations on completing the hidden mission. This is our Halloween bonus for October. The person who picked up the rose can buy the house deed and enter. Are you satisfied with this experience?”

“Of course, I’m not satisfied. Her face is allergic. What kind of terrifying thing is this, it scared her to tears, can she even go home with her eyes this swollen?”

“She’s your loyal player, she came here to see Qin Xiaoyi. After crying like this, do you think she’ll be satisfied to see him?”

Remembering the moment when Qin Xiaoyi suddenly burst in and hugged her in the dark room, Hu Xiu blankly nodded: “Satisfied. This experience, I’m very satisfied.”

“Are you crazy?” Zhao Xiaorou opened the envelope and frowned: “What is this? A ticket for Snowpiercer? Is this the hidden mission bonus?”

“Yes, successfully completing the haunted house experience earns you a ticket. Although she was saved by our NPC.”

“Saved?”

“Yes, your friend couldn’t move inside, and it was Qin Xiaoyi’s actor who carried her out...”

Zhao Xiaorou cursed loudly on the way home. Hu Xiu was too deep, precisely learning her famous saying—

“Opportunities are not given to the prepared, but to those who make quick decisions.” Hu Xiu went out, ate a large bowl of beef noodles with two braised eggs, and finally came to her senses, wanting to argue. But Zhao Xiaorou stuffed chewing gum into her mouth: “Shut up. I thought I was smart, but you always seem to get luckier by accident. Ever since you met Qin Xiaoyi, you’ve just been lucky.”

“No way. You don’t understand the hardships of being a translator, and I have a lot of insomnia. Also, you’ve seen how broke I am.”

Zhao Xiaorou’s high heels stomped loudly, completely ignoring Hu Xiu’s words: “You’ve touched him, you’ve hugged him, if Qin Xiaoyi doesn’t marry you, it’s against nature.”

“Next time, you should also go inside and buy the house. Ning Zechen won’t disappoint you.”

“I don’t need to...” Zhao Xiaorou spread her hand in front of Hu Xiu, showing a number written in water pen: “WeChat. I’ve already got it.”