HP - Chapter 57

Deadly Dating Show 01

A van drives along a fog-shrouded highway.

Qiu Heming slowly opened his eyes; from his position, he had a direct view of the driver’s seat.

Currently, the driver’s seat is empty.

A van without a driver continues down the road.

As if awakening from a long dream, he still feels somewhat disoriented by the current situation.

Suddenly, someone tapped him from behind.

"You're awake!"

"..."

Even if he were awake, he could be startled into unconsciousness all over again by an idiot like Ji Zhou.

This van was carrying the four of them. Ji Zhou was the first to wake up, and he found the loneliness unbearable.

Having finally waited for Qiu Heming to wake up as well, Ji Zhou could not wait another second. He had a stomach full of words and had finally found an outlet to pour them out.

"Ah He, don't you find this scene familiar? It’s just like when we first met—except back then we were on a boat, and now we’re in a van..."

"Mm."

"Ah He, we haven't been dumped in some godforsaken place again, have we?"

"It’s possible."

"Are you trying to avoid chatting with me?"

"No."

Ning Zhi was woken up by the noise.

She also had the look of someone not yet fully awake, asking blankly, "What’s the situation? Where are we?"

Finally, someone was speaking more than three words; Ji Zhou immediately shifted his conversational target to Ning Zhi.

"I was the first to wake up. When I came to, we were already in the car, and outside was this highway with heavy fog."

"It’s just the four of us, there isn't even a driver... it’s my first time riding in a self-driving car." Ji Zhou’s face was full of excitement.

Ning Zhi: "..."

Are you certain this is a self-driving car?

"Ah Xu hasn't woken up yet." Ji Zhou turns his head, his gaze landing on Zhong Xu in the very last row.

After leaving "Kingdom of Gods," they had returned to the "transit space" where the star-river flows.

Soon after, they received a team invitation sent by Zhong Xu.

The message attached to the invitation was very much in Zhong Xu’s style, consisting of only two words:

Team building.

[The settlement for the players' game performance has been completed. The settlement points have been sent to your inbox; players, please check them in a timely manner.]

"Player Zhong Xu, congratulations on clearing the stage!"

A palm-sized mechanical butterfly materializes before her eyes, its metallic wings shimmering with a faint light.

It had been a while—the demeanor of this butterfly assistant has undergone a change... it seems remarkably excited.

Zhong Xu casts a glance at it, indifferent to its shift in attitude, and went directly to open the points exchange store.

The little butterfly flew closer, asking in an obsequious tone, "Zhong Xu, let me help you exchange for items! Are you going to meet with the game producer again?"

Last time, Zhong Xu spent all of her points just to meet with the game producer once, and proceeded to kill him twice in a row.

And yet, this little butterfly is still this excited...?

Sure enough, there truly is no employee who does not hate their boss.

"No."

Upon hearing Zhong Xu’s answer, a hint of disappointment surfaces within the little butterfly.

"Little butterfly." Zhong Xu points toward the [MOD] section of the points exchange interface. "This thing—does it apply to an individual, or to the entire game?"

A MOD—a game modification—is a program designed to modify or enhance a game.

The little butterfly did not expect Zhong Xu to start studying the game mechanics and was somewhat surprised. But as a diligent and responsible little assistant, it immediately replied, "Both kinds exist."

"For instance, inventory space and character skill cheats apply to the individual. However, things like violence mods, map mods, and plot mods essentially apply to the entire game..."

The little butterfly paused briefly. "Some veteran players who seek a thrill will install mods that affect the entire game."

Zhong Xu nodded thoughtfully.

The points required for a MOD were substantial; she still could not afford one.

The little butterfly offered a reminder: "Once players enter the game, they are no longer permitted to exchange for items. Player Zhong Xu, would you like to see what type of game the next level is before making a decision?"

Zhong Xu was surprised. "It's possible to know what the next game will be?"

The little butterfly circled around her. "Little Butterfly feels that Player Zhong Xu is very kind, so I can provide a few hints."

"Then I thank you for your kindness."

Zhong Xu actually did not dislike the little butterfly.

Furthermore, in the previous level, the little butterfly had reminded her to listen carefully to the rules, which had allowed her to discern that the producer had lied at the very beginning.

Never expecting to receive a word of thanks from Zhong Xu, the little butterfly’s wings flapped rapidly, and its mood seemed to soar along with them.

"Zhong Xu, since you just formed a team, would you consider going into a social-type game? It will increase the bonds between teammates! After clearing the stage, every surviving teammate will receive double points~"

Double points?

Hearing this, Zhong Xu immediately sent a team invitation message to her teammates: Team building.

"Three of the people on your team you met through a deduction game, so would you like to choose a social deduction game this time?" the little butterfly suggested further.

Zhong Xu looked at it upon hearing this. "Little butterfly, you’re being so cooperative. Aren't you worried your producer will punish you?"

"It’s no matter. Our game is full of shady dealings; plenty of players have bribed me. The producer knows all about it—he just turns a blind eye."

"..."

However, it was the little butterfly’s turn to fall silent shortly after.

It watched as Zhong Xu opened the points exchange store and spent a few points to buy a bottle of Physical Stamina Magic Potion, the effects of which would last for the entire game.

Little butterfly: The purpose of buying a stamina potion for a social game is...?

No... who on earth thinks about how to beat people up in a social game?!

It was fortunate that it was only a mechanical butterfly; otherwise, Zhong Xu would have seen its face contorted in bewilderment.

"Ready," Zhong Xu said.

The little butterfly snapped back to its senses.

"Oh, by the way—while Little Butterfly can't tell you exactly what game this is yet, this round is an 'looks-check' round. I will first detect whether the four of you meet the appearance standards. If you pass, you'll be automatically matched; if anyone fails, then it’s a regretful goodbye."

[The next game is loading. Players, please prepare to enter.]

A looks-check round?

What kind of game cares about appearance?

...

The van came to a stop.

On the fog-shrouded highway, there was a single villa that remained untouched by the mist.

The vehicle parked right outside of it.

Zhong Xu opened her eyes at that exact moment.

Ji Zhou smiled brightly. "Ah Xu, you woke up right on time!"

Ning Zhi added, "Ah Xu is so smart. Next time, I’m going to pretend to be asleep too."

Qiu Heming signaled his agreement.

Ji Zhou: "...?"

[Dear player, welcome to "Deadly Dating Show." The game is restarting. Please read the following information carefully.]

[Game Background]: This is a heart-pounding romance variety show! Twelve single men and women with diverse backgrounds and personalities will move into the Heartbeat Cottage to embark on a four-week journey of pulse-racing excitement! Shh... is that racing heart a signal of love? Or could it be a signal that your heart is about to stop?

[Game Level]: B

[Number of Players]: Twelve

[Game Objectives]:

(Mandatory) 1. Among you, an imposter has (already or is about to) slipped in to replace a guest; please find them. 2. Reside in Heartbeat Cottage for four weeks.

(Optional) 1. Uncover the truth behind Heartbeat Cottage.

[Game Rules]: The rules are distributed across multiple locations within Heartbeat Cottage. Players, please explore, read the rules carefully, and comply with them.

[Game Reminders]: 1. Please be wary of the other guests. 2. Please reread the game background.

[The game has finished restarting. We hope you have an enjoyable game journey.]

The van drove away, leaving behind a cloud of exhaust.

The four companions stood at the villa’s entrance in a brief silence.

"This is 'team building'?"

"A dating show?"

Zhong Xu said calmly, "There are double points."

Ji Zhou put his hands in his pockets. "I’d even get married for that."

Qiu Heming stepped toward the villa’s main door. As he paused, everyone noticed a sign hanging on the entrance.

[Heartbeat Cottage Rules]

[1. Once you have moved in, you are forbidden from leaving Heartbeat Cottage without authorization.]

[2. Please do not turn off the lights.]

Ning Zhi looked around at their surroundings. "With this thick fog all around us, I wouldn't dare go out casually even without that rule."

"But..." Her gaze lingered on the second rule. "What does 'Please do not turn off the lights' mean? We can’t turn them off even to sleep? Does it mean all the lights in the villa are currently on?"

Though they didn't know what time it was, the sky outside was bright; did the lights have to remain on even in broad daylight?

"Let’s go in first," Zhong Xu said, pushing open the front door.

[Welcome to Heartbeat Cottage]

Speakers were mounted on the two pillars of the gate. As they pushed the doors open and entered one by one, the sound of a welcome message rang out.

This was a large two-story villa; one could enter the building by crossing a gravel path.

Before Zhong Xu could pull open the villa door, it was opened from the inside first.

Two people—a man and a woman—squeezed out from within.

"New guests? We are guests, too; we arrived not long ago... We heard the welcome announcement just now and thought we’d come out to greet you."

The speaker was a woman, tall and elegant, with a certain charming air about her.

"You Jiayun?" Ning Zhi’s surprised gaze fell upon the man.

The man called You Jiayun froze for a moment, then broke into a delighted smile. "Ning Zhi! I didn't expect to run into you here. Are you about to die soon, too?"

Ning Zhi: "..."

You Jiayun laughed heartily and rubbed his nose. "I never thought we’d be reunited here."

Ning Zhi nodded with a complicated expression.

It appeared the two of them were acquaintances from the real world.

The woman smiled and said, "My name is Xiong Yu. Did the four of you come here as a programmed team? Jiayun and I came as a team, too—originally there were four of us as well... but for some reason, only Jiayun and I actually entered the game."

Zhong Xu originally hadn't intended to answer.

However, everyone else was quite surprised by this and began discussing whether the missing players had been eliminated for violating some rule.

Zhong Xu felt compelled to say, "This game has an appearance requirement."

Everyone fell silent.

You Jiayun smiled. "It is a dating show, after all. Audiences like watching good-looking people fall in love."

"Since it’s a variety show, are there directors and cameramen?" Qiu Heming suddenly asked.

Xiong Yu and You Jiayun both shook their heads. "The two of us were the first to arrive. There were only the two of us in the entire cottage."

"How about we head inside first? We can discuss things further once everyone is here."

Upon reaching the entryway, Xiong Yu turned back. "Everyone, check yourselves to see if you have any cat hair on you."

As she spoke, she pointed to a sign hanging in the entryway.

[Living Room Rules]

[1. Please check if there is cat hair on your body; you may only enter if you have no cat hair.]

The game rules had stated that guests must comply with the cottage rules.

Consequently, no one raised an objection and they all began checking themselves for cat hair.

Zhong Xu finished her check first and stepped into the living room, her gaze immediately drawn to the adjacent room.

[Heart Room Rules]

[1. Each night, you may deliver a 'heartbeat note' to one member of the opposite sex; if there is no one you are attracted to, you may choose not to deliver one.]

[2. Cheating is prohibited.]

[3. Guests who deliver heartbeat notes to one another will be regarded as a temporary couple the following day. The boyfriend may not refuse any request made by the girlfriend.]

[4. Guests who do not receive a heartbeat note for three consecutive nights, please go die immediately.]

List of Characters Thus Far

[Familiar Names]

Zhōng Xǔ (终栩)

Jì Zhōu (季舟)

Qiū Hèmíng (秋鹤鸣)

Níng Zhì (宁稚)

[New - From Deadly Dating Show Arc]

Yóu Jiāyùn (游嘉运): A  male guest who knows Ning Zhi from the real world and arrived as part of a team that was partially filtered out.

Xióng Yù (熊玉): A female guest who greeted the group and currently serves as a guide to the villa’s specific entryway rules.

Sevyn here ~~~

New Arc!