HP - Chapter 8

Typhoon Night Murder Files 03

[Room 206]

"Huh, why is this room so dark?"

 The room lights were switched on, immediately followed by screams of shock as the players were startled by the sight before them.

 Under the dim yellow light stood an ancient room with peeling walls.

 Red lanterns hung in each corner of the room, with red gauze curtains draped over a carved wooden canopy bed. On the octagonal table sat a peculiarly styled bronze mirror that resembled more of a picture frame—its spotted surface reflected distorted, unclear images that looked unnatural and eerie.

 Near the inner corner stood two clothing racks—one holding a qipao dress, the other a Zhongshan suit.

 "This room looks so ominous, bro," said the teenage girl, gripping her brother’s sleeve.

 "It's fine, it fits our character roles perfectly," the brother reassured her before turning to introduce himself to the other players. "I’m Xu Hangquan, a director specializing in horror films. This is my younger sister—we happened to draw sibling roles, so she’s playing Xu Hangjia."

 "I remember your character has a thing for Jiang Zhi? Like persistently pursuing her for years?"

 Xu Hangquan nodded. "Correct."

[Room 207]

This was a room full of childlike whimsy without being overly juvenile.

 Colorful doodles decorated the white walls, while a 'galaxy' hung from the ceiling—one could already imagine sleeping under the stars and entering beautiful dreams.

 "Thank goodness, it’s such a cute room," sighed Xu Hangjia’s player in relief.

 "My character films horror movies with my brother, so I was really worried my room would be ominous too..."

[Room 208]

"My character’s room is way too ordinary," grumbled the veteran player discontentedly.

 "I’m playing Liang Qing, a real estate agent... this character seems pretty generic, maybe just filler? That would be so boring."

[Room 209]

The window was slightly ajar, with sea breezes making the gauze curtains flutter like white birds. Stepping on the plush shag carpet felt like sinking into clouds.

 The furniture featured typical French styling—neither overly ornate nor tacky.

 The slightly curly-haired girl said, "Finally my room—pushing this heavy suitcase all the way here exhausted me... I’m Cui Shuying, stepsiblings with Mu Xingchao—the kind where my mom married his dad in a blended family."

[Room 210]

The room contained a lot of exercise equipment, clearly belonging to a fitness enthusiast.

Yet a teddy bear plush sat incongruously in the center of the bed.

 "This is my room—I'm playing Sang Long, a gym owner," said Ji Zhou as he quickly walked over and picked up the teddy bear.

 "Boss, do you have some misunderstanding about my preferences?"

 "Huh?" He suddenly paused, noticing a pure white gardenia flower blooming on the doll’s smooth foot.

 "Oh, this is reminding Sang Long not to forget Jiang Zhi," Ji Zhou realized.

 "Sang Long and Jiang Zhi are in a relationship."

After leaving Room 210, Zhong Xu announced, "We’ve finished touring the second floor—everyone can head up to the third floor now."

 Liang Qing pointed at Rooms 211 and 212. "We still haven’t seen your room and the twelfth person’s room."

 "I’m the owner of this homestay, and the one who invited you all to its opening," Zhong Xu said as she walked toward the third floor, showing no intention of opening any doors.

 "It’s very impolite for guests to demand to see the host’s private rooms."

 Liang Qing gnashed his teeth. "She’s clearly hiding something!"

 Mu Xingchao chuckled. "I told you, she’s just controlling the narrative."

 No matter their sarcastic remarks, Zhong Xu remained unmoved.

 With the room keys in the homestay owner’s possession, there was nothing anyone could do if she refused to open the doors.

The third floor was smaller than the floors below, containing a home theater room and a board game room.

 Through the board game room was a glass door leading to the balcony.

 "This home theater is quite comfortable," remarked Xu Hangquan as he pulled his sister onto the sofa.

 A large projection screen dominated the central wall, flanked by a karaoke machine on one side and a solid wood bookshelf on the other.

 Upon closer inspection, the shelves were neatly lined with rows of movie discs.

 "Wow," Liang Qing approached the shelf. "Actual discs—you rarely see these anymore. Do you all recognize these? I used to visit video rental stores all the time in middle school."

 "Haven’t seen them," the youngest player, Xu Hangjia, shook her head.

 Liang Qing grew enthusiastic, pointing at the disc player beside the shelf as he explained how to play the discs.

[Congratulations on completing hidden quest: Touring the Homestay with Friends]

 [Your performance proves you’re a qualified homestay owner. Reward obtained: ‘Master Key’—can open any lock, single use only.]

[Keep it up! As both homestay owner and gathering host, do your best to entertain your good friends~ For example, don’t let them go hungry!]

As the game notification sounded, Zhong Xu looked up in surprise.

 At first, she thought it was a mandatory quest, which was why she had stood up to lead the tour of the homestay.

 But unexpectedly, it turned out to be an optional hidden quest — and she even received an item reward.

 This likely meant every player had their own character-specific hidden quests.

Xu Hangjia wasn’t in the mood to listen to Liang Qing’s explanation about the discs and anxiously asked, "What should we do next?"

 Even now, the game rules hadn’t been announced. The longer the wait, the more uneasy the players felt.

Zhong Xu didn’t care much about this—what annoyed her more was how her role felt like a service job.

 She barely had the energy to live her own life, yet here she was, expected to play host.

 Just another day wanting to destroy the world.

Suddenly, Zhong Xu noticed countless pairs of eyes fixed on her.

 Without any game rules announced, everyone was running around like headless flies, actually preferring someone to lead them.

 Coincidentally, the homestay owner role was perfect for organizing.

Ji Zhou, who wasn’t playing gym owner Sang Long but a bootlicker, said, "Boss, whatever you say, I’ll follow."

 "Fine," Zhong Xu strode to the board game room, picking out what looked like an interesting card game from the shelf. "Let’s play a game."

"What a brilliant idea!" the bootlicker Ji Zhou quickly sat down beside her, loudly praising, "The main game hasn’t started yet, so let’s play a round ourselves."

 After examining the game description, he leaned toward Zhong Xu and whispered, "Boss, maybe pick something less scary? Mainly I’m worried I might wet your chair if it’s too frightening."

 "No problem, I’ll throw both the chair and you into the trash," she replied dryly.

 "No no no, it won’t come to that—I’ll try my best to hold it in," Ji Zhou said nervously.

After Zhong Xu and Ji Zhou sat down, others followed—like the Xu siblings—but some, like Zhou Zhi, said they wanted to take a shower and return to their rooms.

"The game map might cover the entire island," Mu Xingchao addressed the group, "I plan to take a quick look around while the weather’s still good. Anyone want to join me?"

 Xu Shuangyuan, Cui Shuying, and Lin Huaiping raised their hands in succession.

During the board game, Zhong Xu sent a few more WeChat messages to greet Captain Chen, but all went unanswered.

Unnoticed, the dark clouds over the island thickened, casting shadows that filled the windows as sea winds howled.

 Luo Fang raised his wrist, then suddenly remembered he no longer wore a watch.

 He glanced sideways, relieved no one noticed his strange gesture. Relaxing, he checked his phone: "It's already 4:30. Shouldn't we start preparing dinner?"

 Timid by nature, he had only forced himself to stay at the table to fit in, long wanting an excuse to leave the terrifying board game.

 Thinking this, he added, "I’ll bake everyone a strawberry pie."

Dinner was definitely necessary. So the players moved from the game room to the kitchen on the first floor, working together to prepare the meal.

 Zhong Xu patrolled around, sneaking a few strawberries while Luo Fang worked on the pie.

 After a few hours, the players’ relationships had somewhat progressed. They chatted about their characters’ stories while cooking, as if truly becoming ‘friends’ in the game.

"It’s raining," Zhou Zhi came downstairs from the second floor.

 The storm brewing all day above Buji Island finally unleashed torrential rain, strong winds driving sheets of water diagonally, flowing in along the windowsills.

 Zhou Zhi closed the window tightly.

The four who had gone exploring returned just before the rain worsened, each soaking wet.

 Zhou Zhi gently said, "Go upstairs for hot showers quickly."

"Smells amazing," Mu Xingchao stood outside the dining room, smiling. "What a feast. Thanks to our chef friends—we’ll do the dishes after eating."

 "Oh no, my phone got water damage!" Xu Shuangyuan exclaimed before rushing upstairs.

Ji Zhou’s phone suddenly vibrated. After reading the message, his smile vanished.

 "My phone got a news alert—the typhoon has intensified into a super typhoon and changed course. It’s predicted to make landfall at Xiangmeng City."

 "Oh god, is this level’s game about typhoon survival or something?"

 "I think we should eat dinner early. If it really is an escape game, we’ll need energy—and might not get to eat later."

The long table, covered with a pale yellow cloth, was set with dinner. Everyone took their seats, keeping the same spots as at lunch.

As Cui Shuying raised her fork with strawberry pie, she noticed Lin Huaiping across the table resting his chin on his hands, watching her with a smile.

 "Shuying, has anyone told you your eyes are beautiful? Not just the unique color, but even your pupil size is different from others. Do you know the average human pupil diameter is…"

 Zhong Xu smirked and interrupted, "Planning to switch careers and steal Zhou Zhi’s job?"

Hearing this, Zhou Zhi laughed and looked up. "Really? Medicine’s pretty easy to learn—just makes your hair fall out fast."

 Lin Huaiping looked a bit embarrassed but pressed on, staring at Cui Shuying. "I’m serious—your eyes are truly unique."

 "If you don’t know how to flirt, just don’t try," Cui Shuying mocked mercilessly. "I’m wearing colored contacts—you can’t even tell?"

Lin Huaiping’s expression stiffened further, and he awkwardly covered it with a cough.

“Oh, I see.”

He quickly grabbed a slice of strawberry pie and changed the subject with praise.

“Luo Fang, your strawberry pie is really delicious!”

Luo Fang visibly relaxed, then smacked his lips, puzzled.

“My character’s great at making pies, but it’s my first time… I thought the taste was a bit strange.”

Others chimed in, “Not at all, it’s really good.”

“How’s your phone?” Mu Xingchao remembered Xu Shuangyuan’s water-damaged phone and asked quickly.

Xu Shuangyuan, uncomfortable with this ‘boyfriend,’ avoided his gaze and sipped her juice.

“It’s fine. But whether it’s because of water damage or the typhoon, the signal seems to be getting worse.”

“Probably the typhoon—my signal’s bad too.”

“Can you come here for a moment?”

A soft voice floated by. Zhong Xu felt a poke in her side. Turning, she saw Cui Shuying’s back.

Shee raised a brow but followed her to the living room.

Cui Shuying handed her a small brown box. Inside was a silver necklace.

She extended her hand, showing a silver ring balanced delicately between her slender pale fingers.

“I’m the ring, you’re the necklace, Jiang Zhi is the earrings—this symbolizes our friendship,” Cui Shuying said awkwardly, feeling silly about the gesture.

Zhong Xu understood immediately—it must be Cui Shuying’s character task.

Having embraced her homestay owner role, others were now deep into their characters—

Luo Fang baking pie to please friends, Lin Huaiping flirting, Cui Shuying giving gifts…

Their actions matched their character backgrounds perfectly.

Zhong Xu nodded, not wanting to make things difficult.

“Okay, I’ll take it.”

Cui Shuying relaxed, about to speak, when—

Piercing screams suddenly cut through the rain—

They rushed back to the dining room and found Luo Fang slumped in his chair, head thrown far back, chest rising and falling rapidly, breathing frantic.

“I’m actually a doctor in real life,” Zhou Zhi quickly knelt beside Luo Fang to provide first aid.

“Try calling 120!”

Liang Qing opened his mouth.

“We’re inside a game…”

“Call 120!” Zhou Zhi’s usually gentle tone turned urgent and angry.

“How would you know it won’t connect if you don’t try? Call 120!”

Ji Zhou raised his phone, face grim.

“Can’t get through. No signal…”

Liang Qing said, “I’ve played many games but never seen an emergency rescue level.”

“Enough with the nonsense,” Zhong Xu said, looking at Mu Xingchao.

“When you explored the island, did you see a hospital or pharmacy?”

Mu Xingchao shook his head.

“No.”

“It’s too late…”

Zhou Zhi’s words brought a heavy silence.

Luo Fang’s breathing slowed; swelling was visible on his face, especially eyes and lips.

Before they could fully process the shock, his breathing suddenly stopped.

Night had fallen, rain battered the windows, and the warm yellow light in the room seemed to dim.

“Luo Fang… Luo Fang?”

After half an hour of CPR, Zhou Zhi withdrew his hand from Luo Fang’s neck, shaking his head gravely. The meaning was clear without words.

Xu Hangjia gripped her brother Xu Hangquan’s arm.

“Was it an accident? What happened?”

Zhou Zhi carefully judged,

“Symptoms suggest an allergic reaction.”

“I remember during the character introduction, Luo Fang said he was allergic to peanuts—not even a trace.”

“Tonight’s dinner didn’t have any peanuts.”

“Then… was it murder?”

【Dear players, welcome to Typhoon Night Case Files. The game is rebooting. Please carefully read the following information.】

All players shuddered.

【Game Background】: Night falls, the typhoon passes. A gathering of friends at a homestay turns deadly—a murder has occurred! Find the killer quickly. No one knows who the next target might be…

【Game Level】: E

【Number of Players】: 11

【Objectives】:

(Mandatory) 

1. If you’re not the killer, find the killer;

2. If you are the killer, conceal your identity.

【Rules】:

To ensure an immersive experience, players must roleplay according to their character profiles (no OOC [Out Of Character]).

When the bell rings, players may vote to search rooms.

Each player has side quests—completing them provides key clues or items.

【Reminders】:

Protect your personal information to avoid becoming a target.

This is roleplay—the players are separate from their characters. Treat each person as two distinct identities with different personalities, relationships, and histories. Characters will be discarded after game completion.

【Game reboot complete. Wishing you an enjoyable gaming experience.】

1. 布吉岛 (Bùjí Dǎo) - Fictional island name, homophone for "don't know island" in Chinese, implying mystery.

2. 八仙桌 (Bāxiān Zhuō) - Traditional square table seating eight, symbolizing communal dining.

3. 中山装 (Zhōngshān Zhuāng) - Mao-style formal suit representing conservative Chinese values.

4. 美瞳 (Měitóng) - Colored contact lenses popular in East Asian beauty culture.

5. 心肺复苏 (Xīnfèi Fùsū) - CPR, emphasized due to medical emergency context.

6. OOC (Out of Character) - Used untranslated in Chinese gaming communities to mean breaking roleplay.

7. 隐藏任务 (Yǐncáng Rènwù) - "Hidden quests," a core mechanic in Chinese RPGs.

8. 眼中钉 (Yǎnzhōng Dīng) - Idiom for "thorn in one's side," reflecting social threat dynamics.

9. 草莓派 (Cǎoméi Pài) - Western dessert localized as comfort food, used as plot device.

10. 台風夜事件簿 (Táifēng Yè Shìjiàn Bù) - Game title styled after Japanese detective novels ("事件簿" = case files).

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 ~~~

I was dumb, keeping it as Buji Island makes more sense than Phuket Island.