HP - Chapter 7

Typhoon Night Murder Files 02

Ding-dong! Character relationships loading...

Please review Song Musi's relationships with her friends:

Jiang Zhi and Cui Shuying

 You're classmates and close friends, but since you're more reserved and they're both outgoing, they tend to click more easily. Sometimes, it makes you feel like an unnecessary third wheel.

Sang Long

 He's Jiang Zhi's boyfriend—and your ex. You've been keeping that a secret from Jiang Zhi, but she found out shortly before the accident and called to confront you.

Luo Fang

 Classmate. You dislike his cowardice.

Xu Hangquan and Xu Hangjia

 Classmates. You dislike their self-centered attitudes.

Zhou Zhi

 Classmate. You dislike his smooth-talking slickness.

Liang Qing

 Classmate. You dislike his insecurity and oversensitivity.

Mu Xingchao

 Classmate. You dislike his hypocrisy.

Xu Shuangyuan

 Mu Xingchao's girlfriend. She hangs out with your group because of him. You dislike her arrogance.

Lin Huaiping

 Jiang Zhi's cousin. He joins your group through her. You dislike his incompetent arrogance.

Captain Chen

 A recently acquainted police detective. You're annoyed by how slowly he replies to messages.

Player Zhong Xu, all known character information has been transmitted. Further details await your discovery.

Hint: This level involves role-playing. The system has activated immersive mode to help you subconsciously stay in character when needed.

Well damn, everyone’s just fake friends after all.

Zhong Xu felt herself slipping into character. She didn’t just hate those fake friends—she also hated this stupid game with way too many characters to remember.

"This level is... role-playing?"

Just then, six more people entered the guesthouse—three men and three women—arriving just in time to hear the "ding-dong" notification.

One of them, a girl with long, slightly wavy hair, asked, "What character are you playing?"

They could only hear the identity selection prompt. Only Zhong Xu had received the character background.

Zhong Xu looked down and noticed a phone and a set of keys had appeared on the table in front of her.

[You are the guesthouse owner and the organizer of this friends’ gathering! Don’t neglect your guests—invite everyone to sit down. Once all friends have arrived, you can give them a tour, assign rooms, and help them settle in!]

"I’m the owner of this guesthouse, Song Musi. Please, everyone—take a seat."

Ji Zhou stepped forward first, pulling out the chair beside Zhong Xu.

 "Boss, I’ll sit next to you!"

The other players followed—some confidently choosing seats they preferred, others hesitating before sitting down.

One thin man was the most cautious. Only after seeing everyone else seated and unharmed did he carefully take his place.

The ding-dong of identity selection notifications kept ringing.

But now, with the guesthouse owner included, only eleven people were seated at the long table—one seat remained empty.

Ji Zhou leaned in and whispered,

 "I think there are only eleven of us. Boss, how many people did you invite?"

Before Zhong Xu could respond, the veteran player from earlier also asked the same question with a suspicious look in his eyes.

"Twelve," Zhong Xu replied.

The last person should be the recently acquainted police detective—Captain Chen.

"Who else?" someone asked.

Zhong Xu's intended answer faltered at the tip of her tongue before she gave a slight pivot.

 "A guesthouse guest."

She picked up the phone in front of her and opened Captain Chen’s chat window. The message history had stalled at the text Song Musi had sent him: the departure time of the passenger ship. He hadn’t replied.

Zhong Xu thought Song Musi had a point—Captain Chen was annoying. She felt the same.

"We took the last boat over," said one of the six who arrived last. "The crew told us there’d be a storm later tonight—strong winds, no more departures."

"What if the last player isn’t a player at all, but an NPC?"

"Or maybe someone came earlier on an even earlier ship? Could they already be on the island, just unaware they’re supposed to come to the guesthouse?"

"Forget about them." Zhong Xu cut off the discussion, stood up, and picked up the keychain from the table.

 "Let’s start the guesthouse tour."

"Hold on. Are you trying to steer the narrative?"

The voice came from one of the six who arrived later—a tall man with sharp features and an intimidating presence.

 "I’m playing Mu Xingchao. Shouldn’t we start with introductions, so everyone knows which character each person is playing?"

Zhong Xu met his gaze coolly.

 "We’re playing a game, not taking roll call in class."

"You sure seem to be enjoying this game. What are you—an experienced veteran, or one of those sadistic players?"

His challenge made the veteran players around the table look up, wary.

In this game, so-called "sadistic players" were the ones who let their darker impulses run free—doing things they’d never dare to in real life, and enjoying every second of it.

Veterans who had played through a few games had all heard horrifying stories about sadistic players.

"Why’s everyone so tense?" Ji Zhou stood up with a grin. "We’re just guests—listening to the host’s arrangements sounds pretty normal to me. Besides, we’ve all been 'friends' for years, right?"

A player with a refined, gentle demeanor chimed in,

 "She’s got the room key item. Whether or not we sleep well tonight kind of depends on her."

"Come up if you want—no pressure." Zhong Xu had already stepped away from the table. "The rooms are ready. Let’s bring up the luggage."

This time, when the suitcases were moved, they had noticeable weight.

At some point, the luggage had mysteriously filled itself with belongings.

"Ugh, why is my suitcase so heavy?" At the foot of the stairs, the long-haired, wavy-haired girl tugged at her bag a few times without success. "Anyone feeling generous enough to help me carry it?"

Mu Xingchao walked over.

 "Are you Xu Shuangyuan?"

The girl froze.

 "I'm not..."

"Ah," Mu Xingchao said simply, turning to another girl.

 "Then you must be Xu Shuangyuan. I’ll carry yours."

Xu Shuangyuan’s player hesitated.

 "...Thanks."

The wavy-haired girl muttered under her breath.

 "...Seriously?"

Ji Zhou had already brought his own suitcase upstairs, but hearing the exchange, he came back down. Without breaking a sweat, he lifted the wavy-haired girl’s suitcase.

"Thanks," she said, walking beside him. Nodding toward Mu Xingchao up ahead, she muttered,

 "Someone got into character real fast... what a jerk."

Ji Zhou just smiled and said nothing.

—

The second floor was lined with ensuite guest rooms—twelve in total, including Song Musi’s.

At the top of the stairs was a small lounge with leather sofas. From there stretched a hallway just over a meter wide, with six rooms on each side. At the far end was a window looking out over the courtyard.

Zhong Xu played the guesthouse owner role with a blank expression.

 "Each room has been tailored to your character’s personality and preferences. Feel free to explore. I hope you like them."

[Room 201]

The room was cloaked in heavy blackout curtains. Every piece of furniture had a high-tech edge, and colorful LED lights spilled across the walls and floor, creating a flashy gaming atmosphere. A giant screen dominated one side, paired with an ergonomic gaming chair and two retro consoles.

"Wait... is this mine?"

 A man with a student-like aura stepped forward, hesitating as he glanced at the ashtray on the desk.

 "I'm playing Lin Huaiping. I’ve only been through two games—I’m still new. Veteran players, quick question: my character has a smoking addiction, but I don’t smoke… should I actually smoke?"

The refined man said calmly,

 "The game has already activated its immersive mechanism. If your character smokes, even if you don’t, you’ll subconsciously crave it."

Mu Xingchao added,

 "Yeah. Deep immersion is key to role-playing."

Lin Huaiping’s player nodded.

 "Got it. Thanks."

He began to describe his character:

 "Lin Huaiping loves video games, has a smoking habit, and is fiercely loyal. He’s basically the glue holding the friend group together—he’s the one who’s always been organizing our get-togethers over the years."

Uncertain about what details were safe to reveal, he spoke cautiously, almost word by word:

 "He didn’t care much for school, dropped out after middle school, went straight to work… but never stuck with anything long-term. Struggles with hard labor. He’s Jiang Zhi’s cousin."

[Room 202]

A pale green room, spotless and serene, with sea breeze drifting in through open windows. The furnishings were minimal, but arranged with meticulous precision—visually soothing.

The players lingered at the doorway, hesitant to step inside.

 "Whoever this is must have OCD... and a serious cleanliness thing."

The refined man gave a small, satisfied smile.

 "I’m Zhou Zhi, a surgeon."

[Room 203]

Sky-blue wallpaper framed a clean and tasteful space. A large bouquet on the windowsill perfumed the air with a soft floral scent.

Two posters on the wall featured a cartoon penguin in a tuxedo, top hat, and black umbrella.

The thin man let out an impressed noise and pointed up at the chandelier.

 "My character’s obsessed with strawberry pie—look at that, even the light fixture is shaped like one!"

"Oh, right! I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Luo Fang, a team lead at an ad agency. A really hard-working guy..."

He added quickly,

 "Also, my character sheet had one thing in bold red text: severe peanut allergy. So I absolutely can’t eat anything with peanuts."

[Room 204]

A stark all-white room—bed, wardrobe, and a minimalist desk. The whole space radiated a cold, ultra-clean aesthetic with no decorative elements whatsoever.

"Ugh, this style’s so not me. I’d freeze to death in this color scheme."

 The girl with shoulder-length hair laughed,

 "I’m Xu Shuangyuan. A total workaholic. Also—Mu Xingchao’s girlfriend."

A veteran player gave her a mischievous look.

 "Then shouldn’t you two be sharing a room?"

Her smile dropped instantly.

 "This is role-play, not real life."

[Room 205]

This room was vintage in style—deep emerald-green walls paired with a red leather sofa, with old-fashioned lamps, a stereo, and oil paintings completing the look.

Closer inspection revealed the items were genuinely old, not props made to look vintage.

"Whose room is this?"

No one stepped forward at first.

Zhong Xu glanced at the name tag on the key and looked toward Mu Xingchao.

 "It’s yours."

Mu Xingchao blinked in surprise.

 "Huh. So he’s into this kind of style?"

His eyes landed on a dark red table with thin legs—and an old camera resting on it.

 "Mu Xingchao’s a rich kid. Got into photography a few years back and even won some awards."

He picked up the camera, turned it over in his hands, then placed it in a drawer.

 "I don’t really shoot pictures anymore, though."

1. 暴虐型玩家 (bàonüè xíng wánjiā) – Sadistic player, refers to players who indulge in dark behaviors in-game that they wouldn’t in reality.

2. 沉浸式机制 (chénjìn shì jīzhì) – Immersive mechanism, a system that subconsciously compels players to act according to their character’s traits.

3. 塑料朋友情 (sùliào péngyou qíng) – Fake/faux friendships (lit. plastic friendship), describes superficial, insincere relationships.

4. 性冷淡风格 (xìng lěngdàn fēnggé) – Minimalist style (lit. asexual冷淡 style), a stark, emotionless aesthetic in design.

5. 代入角色 (dàirù juésè) – Immerse into character, fully embodying an assigned role’s personality and behaviors.

6. 老玩家 (lǎo wánjiā) – Veteran player, experienced players familiar with game mechanics and lore.

7. 企鹅人 (qǐ'é rén) – Penguin (character), likely references the Batman villain, hinting at eccentric tastes.

8. 强逼症 (qiángpò zhèng) – OCD (obsessive-compulsive tendencies), used casually for extreme neatness.

9. 富二代 (fù'èrdài) – Rich second-gen, privileged offspring of wealthy families, often stereotyped as spoiled.

10. 客船 (kèchuán) – Passenger ship, highlights the remote island setting, crucial for plot tension (e.g., storm isolation).

Characters (Players)

• 终栩 (Zhōng Xǔ)

  • Role: Protagonist 

  • Game Role: Later assumes the identity of 宋慕思 (Sòng Mùsī), the idealistic guesthouse owner with a hidden agenda tied to her friend’s death.

• 季舟 (Jì Zhōu)

  • Role: Self-proclaimed "萌新" (newbie)

• 老玩家 (Lǎo Wánjiā, Veteran Player)

  • Role: Experienced survivor

• 瘦弱男人 (Shòuruò Nánrén, Thin Man)

  • Role: Terrified newbie

• 眼镜男 (Yǎnjìng Nán, Glasses Man)

  • Role: Silent observer

~~~~~~

• 宋慕思 (Sòng Mùsī) – The protagonist; a quiet, introspective young woman who organized the friends' gathering and owns the 民宿 (guesthouse). Hides complicated past relationships.

• 江栀 (Jiāng Zhī) – Outgoing and sociable; Song Musi’s close friend (闺蜜) but also entangled in a love triangle involving Sang Long.

• 崔书颖 (Cuī Shūyǐng) – Another extroverted friend in the trio; makes Song Musi feel like a third wheel at times.

• 桑隆 (Sāng Lóng) – Jiang Zhi’s current boyfriend and Song Musi’s ex; their past relationship is a hidden source of tension.

• 骆方 (Luò Fāng) – A timid, cowardly classmate whom Song Musi dislikes. Later revealed to have a peanut allergy.

• 徐杭泉 (Xú Hángquán) & 徐杭佳 (Xú Hángjiā) – Self-centered siblings; both are classmates disliked by Song Musi.

• 周至 (Zhōu Zhì) – A smooth-talking, socially adept classmate (possibly a surgeon); Song Musi finds him insincere.

• 梁青 (Liáng Qīng) – An insecure and overly sensitive classmate; another person Song Musi dislikes.

• 牧星朝 (Mù Xīngcháo) – A hypocritical rich kid (富二代) with a photography hobby; Xu Shuangyuan’s boyfriend.

• 许双园 (Xǔ Shuāngyuán) – Proud and arrogant; Mu Xingchao’s girlfriend, whom Song Musi resents.

Sevyn here ~~~

Dang, I just recently checked the ratings on NovelUpdates 😭