Yu Xiao was chilling on her balcony, soaking in the sun and the cool breeze, with a grin that said she’d figured out how to enjoy even the craziest of days.
She was idly thinking about Misty and Precious, wondering where they’d gotten to, when she realised she was pretty parched.
As she opened her eyes and took a casual glance outside, something at the lawn’s edge caught her attention. She squinted, trying to discern the figure that seemed strangely familiar, yet not quite like the typical ghostly shape.
Leaning forward for a better look, it clicked—Xue Rong Rong, in her unmistakable rainbow tee and black shorts. Even blurry and at a distance, that outfit was a dead ringer. There was Xue Rong Rong, doing her thing, arms flailing like she was trying to cast a magic spell or something.
Yu Xiao hadn’t expected to see a friendly face here, but there was she, right across the lawn. She didn’t hesitate, waving like mad and shouting, “Xue Rong Rong!” hoping to catch her attention.
**
“Xue Rong Rong—!”
As she spread the fertiliser, Xue Rong Rong couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. The shout from across the way made her look up, and there was someone on the opposite balcony, waving and calling out to her.
A chill crept up her back as she realised the figure in the house had spotted her. Her hands grew sweaty with anxiety. She silently prayed that the creature wouldn’t venture outside, hoping the lawn’s edge would act as a barrier.
Then, the thing on the balcony called her name again, its voice harsh and grating, its teeth sharp and claws long.
“…?”
Xue Rong Rong’s heart skipped a beat. How did it know her? This was definitely not a Casper the Friendly Ghost situation. Panic surged within her, spurring her to finish her task with even greater urgency. She scattered the fertiliser faster, her mind racing with questions.
**
Meanwhile, Yu Xiao lingered on the balcony, her calls to Xue Rong Rong fading into the air as empty farts as she watched her teammate’s hasty departure. She coughed softly, the dryness in her throat reminding her she hadn’t paused for even a sip of water during her shouts.
As Xue Rong Rong vanished behind the groaning door, Yu Xiao pondered the day’s events. The place wasn’t as empty as she’d first thought. Bumping into Xue Rong Rong here made her wonder who else might be wandering this eerie labyrinth.
Realising that Xue Rong Rong must also have a task by entering through the Career door, Yu Xiao understood that the challenges behind the other doors wouldn’t be any easier. Perhaps all seven tracks were intertwined, but everyone seemed too focused on their own missions to notice the larger puzzle slowly coming together.
Yu Xiao spun around, taking in the strange house she’d found herself in. The front door was the sole way out. She peered at the lawn, contemplating whether a venture outside might lead her to where Xue Rong Rong had gone. But as the clock edged closer to eleven, she knew new challenges awaited; stepping out now simply wasn’t an option.
**
Gentle had polished off Indifference’s crispy remains, leaving just a few ash stains.
Despite the feast, his belly didn’t bulge a bit, yet his smile was now all sugar, eyes twinkling with a softness reserved for Zhou Xiao Zhen. His fondness for her? 30 points.
For Zhou Xiao Zhen, words escaped her. The sight of Gentle making a meal of such a hulking figure had somehow only given her 15 points.
“You’re just my type, Xiao Zhen,” Gentle cooed, looping his arms around her waist in a snug embrace. “Is there anything I can do for you?”
With the meat source sorted, Zhou Xiao Zhen let out a sigh of relief. Her mind was suddenly buzzing with ideas now that the weight had lifted. Not one to pass up the opportunity presented by such a good-looking man, she asked Gentle to strip, eager to see what lay beneath.
Gentle’s physique was truly impressive. As he undid his shirt, revealing his smooth, well-defined muscles, Zhou Xiao Zhen couldn’t help but feel a flutter in her stomach. Despite his good looks, she was merely curious, having seen his eating habits, she had no ulterior motives in mind.
Gentle nonchalantly unbuttoned his shirt, lowering himself gracefully in front of Zhou Xiao Zhen, a charming smile playing on his lips. “Is this more to your liking?”
“I quite like it,” Zhou Xiao Zhen admitted. “Been here long?”
Gentle’s look drifted off for a moment. “Time’s a bit of a blur, to be honest.”
“What’s your plan after I leave?”
It seemed no one had ever posed such a question to Gentle before. He looked a tad bewildered as he answered, “Just waiting, as usual. Someone’s bound to show up.”
Zhou Xiao Zhen pieced it together. These seven dashing gents were holed up here, awaiting patients to challenge them. But only one patient came at a time, and it was anyone’s guess which of the seven they’d pick.
Thinking this way, she sensed that Gentle’s occupation was somewhat similar to… hmn! *blush~*
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If it were Smiley who walked in and the handsome man offered some kind words, perhaps Smiley, in a good mood, would relocate him to work at St. Elizabeth’s.
But Zhou Xiao Zhen shook her head, knowing that Smiley wouldn’t do that. Gentle wasn’t Smiley’s type; she preferred the company of the living. If it were Smiley, with his unquenchable hunger, she might have already started beating him.
“Xiao Zhen,” Gentle said, his eyes softening. “I’m peckish. I want meat.”
Zhou Xiao Zhen raised an eyebrow. Hadn’t he just scoffed down a whole crispy bloke? And he was still hungry?
A chill ran through her, and a twinge of dread set in. At this rate, even if she bumped off the rest of the blokes and served them up to Gentle, it might not be enough to curry favour with a full 100 points.
“Hold on a sec,” said Zhou Xiao Zhen, stepping out for a bit of air. She needed to mull things over.
But as she flung open the door, what did she find but a ghost on the telly, gawping at her like a starved zombie, drool and all.
A bit rattled, Zhou Xiao Zhen ran through everything Dr. Fu Shen had said since she landed in this scenario, then recalled the instructions she got when she walked through the Love door. Nothing about not bashing the ghost on the box.
So, with a steely look, she strode up to the telly.
The ghost on the screen: “?”
Without a second thought, Zhou Xiao Zhen grabbed a mahjong set and gave the telly a good whack.
The ghost let out a howl, “What are you doing? Ahh!!!”
**
“Oh, would you look at the time? You’ve blitzed through your morning chores, you star. Bet you’re peckish and knackered, eh? Time for a bite and a bit of shut-eye. Tuck into your lunch before the clock strikes twelve, then kick back for a cheeky hour-long breather.”
Yu Xiao’s face lit up like a Christmas tree. A whole two hours to herself?
Snatching a raw chicken wing from the kitchen, she clocked that the rules only said lunch had to be before noon, not where. With a crafty grin, Yu Xiao nipped out to the balcony, spotting the lawn looking tip-top again.
Her eyes narrowed at the sight of two knackered ghosts who’d just finished weeding.
The Fridge Ghost and the Nightgown Ghost sensed her gaze and turned to her, looking confused.
…
Under the blazing midday sun, amidst the lush greenery of the lawn, a ghost exuding a cold aura and another ghost in a nightgown with long hair were carrying a reclining chair. Seated on the chair was a young girl, lazily fanning herself with a stack of talismans.
The pair of spooks, weighed down by the chair, plodded along, their legs showing marks by the nippy grass.
Yu Xiao chucked a healing talisman each their way, not out of sympathy, but because she’d need them to help her traipse across the lawn again soon.
Standing at the edge of the lawn, Yu Xiao stood where Xue Rong Rong had been earlier. She squinted at the silhouettes in her house from a distance, then her gaze darted to a villa nearby.
Was Xue Rong Rong hiding in that villa?
“Chop chop,” Yu Xiao piped up, waving her hand. “Onwards, clear the way!” Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
The two ghosts, tears brimming but not spilling, got a wriggle on, leading Yu Xiao forward.
**
Ye Lang had combed through the entire flower garden, utterly exhausted, and had only found twelve coins.
He observed a pattern – every time he found a coin, a ghost would appear to chase him. However, if he dropped the coin on the ground without touching it, the ghost would merely circle around it, seemingly unable to see him.
After wandering aimlessly for a while, the ghosts seemed to disappear leaving behind the gold coin. So, Ye Lang scooped up the coins, and just like that, the coast was clear.
Once he sussed out the routine, fear took a backseat as he started digging three feet underground in the villa grounds, searching for those elusive coins.
Post treasure hunt, Ye Lang was spent. He flopped down, mopping his brow, when a rap at the villa’s gate had him on edge.
“Knock knock knock.”
Who’d be knocking in this godforsaken place? Could it be the person who hid the coins in this place, maybe?
“Anyone about?” A voice rang out, clear as a bell.
Despite the normalcy of the voice, Ye Lang had doubts about encountering any living beings around here. Surveying the sprawling villa, he realised there weren’t many hiding spots.
Without wasting a moment, he legged it to the nearby swimming pool, hunkering down by the edge, only peeking out half his noggin.
The gate creaked open, and in walked a ghost, nightgown all bloodied, hair cascading down. Her eyes wept blood, her skin was a sickly blue, and her hands were all twisted.
Bingo. A real ghost!
Ye Lang ducked under, pressing against the pool’s edge, holding his breath like it was do or die, not budging an inch.
Yu Xiao stepped in, expecting to find someone since she’d seen Xue Rong Rong head this way. But the joint was empty.
Something was off, though. The messed-up flower garden, the rug in the living room askew – signs of life, but where’d everyone scarper off to?
Ye Lang, tough as old boots from all his training, could hold his breath longer than most. But even he had his limits. Eventually, he had to come up for air, ever so carefully.
As he surfaced, the ghost in the nightgown, who’d been lurking behind Yu Xiao, cranked her head around a full 180 degrees to meet his gaze. She gave Yu Xiao’s clothes a gentle tug.
“What’s up?”
Ye Lang, still catching his breath, nearly jumped out of his skin when the voice from the gate asked, “Did you say there’s someone in the pool?”
Ye Lang: “!!!”