HP - Chapter 58

Deadly Dating Show 02

This door was the color of crimson, like blood.

The others also gathered around, reading through the [Heart Room Rules] posted beside the door.

Zhong Xu turned her head to look at Xiong Yu and You Jiayun. "Have you two been inside to look yet?"

Both You Jiayun and Xiong Yu shook their heads.

"We thought we would wait for everyone to arrive before touring it together."

The main reason was that they did not yet know how many strange rules this cottage contained, or if some danger might occur if a rule were violated...

Thus, the two of them did not dare to act rashly.

Hearing this, Zhong Xu turned around and walked toward the sofa.

They would wait for everyone, then.

Just looking at the living room, one could tell it had been arranged with great care; it was romantic and possessed a homey atmosphere, with lighting that was bright and warm.

Qiu Heming looked up at the lights on the ceiling, appearing thoughtful.

Sure enough, even in broad daylight, the lights were on.

After they had sat on the sofa for a while, the welcome announcement broadcast once more from outside the door.

Xiong Yu and You Jiayun stood up again to greet the newcomers and reminded them to check their bodies for cat hair.

"Zhong Xu?!"

Hearing someone call her name, Zhong Xu turned her head to look at the people near the entryway.

A man and a woman had newly arrived, both with unfamiliar faces.

"Oh? You know each other?" You Jiayun asked in surprise.

Before Zhong Xu could deny it, the man spoke with a mix of shock and excitement. "What? You didn't enter 'Kingdom of Gods'?"

Neither You Jiayun nor Xiong Yu had entered "Kingdom of Gods."

The man then began to embellish and exaggerate how difficult and strange that game was, expressing how impressive it was and how difficult it had been for him to survive.

The other woman also smiled and chimed in, "I only survived by laying low. Those who can actually go out and fight are so impressive."

After flattering him with a few words, she bypassed them and came over to the sofa area.

"Hello."

The woman looked on with innocent eyes, a sweet smile playing at the corners of her mouth.

After greeting everyone first, she sat down next to Zhong Xu and spoke in an envious and admiring tone. "Zhong Xu, you are so amazing."

She had sprayed perfume on herself—a faint jasmine scent that was quite pleasant.

Zhong Xu silently moved aside a bit and replied with a smile, "How amazing?"

"The final district was such chaos; I truly thought I was done for. It was you, Zhong Xu, who led everyone to victory." She grew more excited as she spoke and even tried to take Zhong Xu's hand.

Zhong Xu crossed her arms over her chest. "Oh? And how exactly did I lead everyone to victory? Could you elaborate on that?"

"..."

Good question.

Was she expected to launch into a three-thousand-word speech of praise?

The woman gave a sweet smile and directly changed the subject, her gaze sweeping over the others seated on the sofa.

"Are you all teammates? I’m so jealous; I wish I had teammates, too..."

"..."

Ning Zhi grabbed a nearby magazine and began flipping through it.

Qiu Heming poured himself a glass of water.

Silence—is the Cambridge of tonight.

(T/N: This line is a famous literary reference in China. It is a direct quote from the poem "Taking Leave of Cambridge Again" (再别康桥, Zài Bié Kāngqiáo) by the renowned modern poet Xu Zhimo (徐志摩).

In the poem, Xu Zhimo is expressing a deep, melancholic nostalgia as he prepares to leave the University of Cambridge. The specific line in the poem is: “悄悄是别离的笙箫；沉默是今晚的康桥。”

"Quietness is my farewell music; silence is the Cambridge of tonight."

In modern internet culture and literature, this line has become a humorous way to describe extreme social awkwardness or a "dead" conversation because someone said something cringeworthy, annoying, or unanswerable.)

Ji Zhou scratched his head. "Isn't that guy over there bragging your teammate?"

At the entryway, the newly arrived man was still deeply engrossed in a long conversation with You Jiayun and Xiong Yu.

He was talking about everything from the start of the game to the process of how he had used Tarot cards to kill his enemies.

Hearing a response, the woman quickly said, "No, we just happened to arrive at the same time."

"Oh..."

The woman seemed to realize that, among those present, only Ji Zhou was easy to talk to.

With an expression of pure innocence, she sat directly next to Ji Zhou. "God Zhou, I know you, too!"

"Is that so..."

The woman asked plaintively, "Do you just not want to talk to me?"

Ji Zhou remained silent for a long moment before nodding honestly. "A little bit, yeah."

"..."

Qiu Heming, catching sight of Ji Zhou’s expression, nearly laughed out loud.

It was a rare sight indeed to see Ji Zhou in a state where he didn't want to speak.

One by one, all twelve guests arrived.

Six male guests, six female guests.

"Heart Room?" The last male guest to arrive curiously gripped the door handle. "Tsk... the color of this door is really unlucky."

Despite saying such things, he unexpectedly pushed the door open and went right inside.

You Jiayun frowned. "How can he be so reckless..."

"Holy crap!" A startled cry rang out from inside the room.

"What happened? What happened?" Several people nearby hurried forward.

The person standing inside the room turned around and laughed. "Some kind of heart rate value suddenly unlocked—it gave me a fright!"

Heart rate value?

[Ding-dong! Heart rate value unlocked!]

[Heart Rate Value Rules]

[1. Guests must monitor their heart rate value at all times; if the heart rate value drops too low, you will drop dead.]

Everyone who entered the Heart Room received this new notification.

Simultaneously, something resembling a health bar materialized before them; in the very center was a red heart, pulsing steadily.

"How do we play this? What are the conditions for the heart rate value to decrease or increase?"

"Why are these rules explained so vaguely?"

"Could it be related to the nightly heartbeat notes?" Ning Zhi guessed. "Receiving a heartbeat note increases the heart rate value, while not receiving one lowers it."

The room fell silent immediately.

Everyone looked toward the wall of mailboxes lined up against the wall of the room.

There were twelve mailboxes in total.

Twelve pink mailboxes filled the space, creating a particularly romantic atmosphere.

However, each mailbox was fitted with a crimson lock, making them feel somewhat out of place.

Every mailbox had a name written upon it.

On a round table in the center lay a stack of letter paper, pens, and other items.

Once night fell, the guests could write the names of those they were attracted to on the letter paper.

[Welcome, guests. I am the director.]

The sudden voice snapped the guests back to their senses.

They instinctively searched for the director’s figure, but aside from the twelve of them, no one else was present.

"Director, where are you?" someone asked loudly.

The director’s voice rang out in a stiff, mechanical tone.

[This program is an immersive dating show; therefore, cameras are hidden in places guests cannot see, and there will be no interference from the directing team.]

[Guests, please be sure to perform well. There are only twelve of you in Heartbeat Cottage, but your performances will be seen by thousands upon thousands of viewers from afar.]

[Serving the audience well is the guests’ duty.]

[You have now entered the official recording of the program. Guests, please return to the living room to begin your self-introductions.]

[Cast aside the past! In this new time and this new place, let us have a formal introduction and allow hearts to begin drawing closer to one another!]

[During the self-introduction segment, guests must, at minimum, introduce their name, age, occupation, and hobbies.]

Following the announcement, the director fell silent, as if it had all been an auditory hallucination.

"What does this mean?" one of the women asked uneasily.

The man beside her offered some comfort. "Don't worry, it's just recording a show. Regardless, let’s head to the living room and introduce ourselves first."

The living room, self-introduction segment began.

The spacious sofa area was now packed with all twelve people.

Everyone remained silent; it seemed no one wanted to be the first to speak.

Ji Zhou picked up a bottle of water from the table and suggested, "How about we spin the bottle? Whoever it points to will go first, and then we’ll proceed clockwise. How does that sound?"

"Fine." No one had any objections to this.

The bottle spun around and came to a stop, pointing at the male guest who had been the first to enter the Heart Room.

He gave a hearty laugh. "Then I’ll start. My name is Jian Xiu, 24 years old... what else was I supposed to introduce again?"

Everyone was left somewhat speechless.

The person next to him said helplessly, "Occupation and hobbies, too."

"Oh, right, right..." Jian Xiu quickly added, "I'm a sprinter; my hobby is running."

Next.

"My name is He Bin." The second guest to introduce himself was the boastful man who had first claimed to know Zhong Xu. "I’m 32, a photographer. I like taking photos, and I'm very good at photographing women..."

Before he could finish, the person next to him cut him off.

Dressed in a white shirt and possessing soft features, he spoke up: "Lin Shi, 26 years old. I started my own company. I enjoy reading."

"I am Yu Jianxing," the girl with slightly wavy, chestnut-colored long hair said gently. "26 years old. I’m a second-tier actress. I like painting, and I’m very happy to meet everyone."

"Hu Tongtong." The girl with the ponytail had a timid expression. "20 years old. I’m still in university. I like binge-watching dramas."

Xiong Yu tucked a strand of hair back. "Xiong Yu, 28 years old, a lawyer. My hobby is singing."

"You Jiayun, 25 years old. A restaurant owner. I enjoy reading."

"Hi, everyone! My name is Lai Xia." As the sweet-smiling girl spoke, everyone caught a faint scent of jasmine. "I'm 23 years old and a tea artist. I really enjoy brewing tea and I also like exercising. I saw earlier that there’s a gym here—you’re all welcome to join me for a workout!"

Jian Xiu immediately responded, "As an athlete, I have to exercise every day even while I'm here. We can work out together!"

He Bin also chimed in quickly, "Actually, I really like exercising, too!"

"Ning Zhi." It was Ning Zhi’s turn. "25 years old, a game designer. I like playing games."

"Qiu Heming, 29 years old, a doctor. Reading."

"Zhong Xu, 24 years old..."

Sensing everyone’s eyes upon her, Zhong Xu suddenly altered her tone. "A crematorium operator. My hobby is collecting bodies."

"...?"

He Bin immediately voiced his doubt. "You’re lying, aren't you?!"

Zhong Xu remained perfectly composed. "What, you didn't see me at the crematorium? That’s a good thing."

He Bin: "..."

Only then did everyone belatedly realize something.

While they were told to introduce themselves, no one had said they couldn't lie.

Furthermore, when you're out in the world, your identity is whatever you grant yourself!

How careless... had they known, they would have given themselves identities that could reach the heavens.

Everyone’s thoughts began to drift in different directions.

"Ji Zhou, 25 years old. I'm an actor, and my hobby is performing."

Ji Zhou also delivered a self-introduction that was a blend of half-truths and fiction.

With that, all twelve people had finished their introductions.

[Thank you to our twelve guests for your introductions.]

[It has grown dark. Guests, you may begin preparing tonight’s dinner.]

[Will the kitchen be the starting point for romance? Cooking together always causes feelings to heat up~ Guests, please decide among yourselves who will prepare the meal.]

Upon hearing the director’s announcement, the sofa area erupted into a buzz of chatter.

Clearly, having too many players was not a good thing.

Zhong Xu stood up soundlessly and walked toward the kitchen.

Sure enough, a set of rules was posted at the kitchen entrance as well.

[Kitchen Rules]

[1. Each day’s dinner must be prepared by at least one man and one woman working together.]

[2. If you hear a cat meowing, please provide cat food immediately.]

[3. There is no beef in the refrigerator. If there is any, please throw it away immediately.]

List of Characters:

The Main Team

Zhōng Xǔ (终栩): 24 years old, who says she's a crematorium operator whose hobby is "collecting bodies."

Qiū Hèmíng (秋鹤鸣): 29 years old. A doctor who enjoys reading. 

Níng Zhì (宁稚): 25 years old. A game designer who enjoys gaming.

Jì Zhōu (季舟): 25 years old, claimed to be an actor who enjoys performing.

The Other Male Guests

Yóu Jiāyùn (游嘉运): 25 years old. A cheerful restaurant owner and real-world friend of Ning Zhi; he was one of the first to arrive at the villa.

Jiǎn Xiū (简修): 24 years old. A blunt and hearty professional sprinter whose hobby is running; he was the first to trigger the "Heart Rate Value" notification.

Hé Bīn (何彬): 32 years old. A boastful photographer who claims to be an expert at photographing women.

Lín Shí (林时): 26 years old. A soft-featured entrepreneur who started his own company and enjoys reading.

The Other Female Guests

Xióng Yù (熊玉): 28 years old. A tall, elegant lawyer who enjoys singing; she acted as the initial guide regarding the villa's entry rules.

Lài Xià (赖夏): 23 years old. A sweet-smiling tea artist who smells of jasmine; she acts very "innocent" and tried to cling to both Zhong Xu and Ji Zhou.

Yú Jiànxīng (俞见星): 26 years old. A gentle, second-tier actress with wavy chestnut hair who enjoys painting.

Hú Tóngtóng (胡彤彤): 20 years old. A timid university student with a ponytail who enjoys binge-watching dramas.

Sevyn here ~~~

Enjoy!