Chapter 28: This Isn’t What We Agreed On
“They want to come over now?” Chen Ge didn’t actually take the seniors from Heshan’s school seriously.
“I’m tipping you off secretly. The seniors plan to film a funny video in your haunted house and post it online to amuse the学姐. Don’t hold it against them—our department has five classes, and there are only seven girls total. The one you scared into tears is the department’s star. Take care of yourself, boss!” It sounded like someone was moving around near Heshan, and he hung up after saying that.
“Film a funny video in my haunted house?” Chen Ge put away his phone, a strange look on his face. “Forensic medicine students tend to be braver. Let them help me test out the new scene. Hope they can still laugh by then.”
Lunchtime ended, and Chen Ge went downstairs, pushing open the haunted house’s barrier. Tourists who hadn’t had a chance to visit in the morning immediately crowded around.
Some had come from other places after seeing Chen Ge’s short videos and livestreams, others were recommended by friends and family, and a few were just curious—seeing so many people in line, they figured this attraction must be interesting.
“Tickets are twenty yuan. For the best experience, no more than three people at a time.” Chen Ge kept order while coordinating with Xu Wan, both of them busy nonstop.
Time slipped by unnoticed. Around three in the afternoon, seven stylishly dressed young people entered New Century Amusement Park. They seemed to carry a mission, heading straight for the horror house.
Their personalities varied, and they barely spoke to each other, quietly queuing at the haunted house’s entrance, making the whole line feel much more serious.
After about ten minutes, when the previous group of tourists came out supporting each other, the tallest of the seven stepped up to Chen Ge.
“Boss, six tickets.” His voice was steady.
Chen Ge looked him over, then glanced at the line. “You seven aren’t together?”
“This one’s just guiding us.” The tall guy shoved Heshan, who was behind him, forward.
“Boss, I’m not going in.” Heshan already had a psychological shadow from the horror house. He waved and quickly backed away.
“Since you’re here, how can I leave you outside? This ticket’s on me.” Chen Ge casually handed over seven tickets. “You’re all from Hanjiang Medical College’s forensic department, right? Hope you’ll look out for me in the future.”
Chen Ge’s friendly, enthusiastic demeanor made the forensic students, who hadn’t yet entered society, feel a bit embarrassed.
“Heshan, the boss is giving you a ticket, don’t refuse.” The tall guy distributed the tickets to everyone, and their next move left the surrounding tourists stunned.
They didn’t enter the haunted house directly but gathered at the entrance.
“Heshan and I are a team; Monkey and Old Zhao, a team; Old Song, Xiaohui, and Shiling, you three are a team. Before we came, did you all memorize the strategy posts from the forum?”
“Yeah, got it.”
“Heshan has sketched out a simple map of the whole scene, and we know all the mechanisms inside. I want you to mentally prepare—don’t show a hint of fear. Show the spirit of Hanjiang Medical College’s forensic department!”
“Understood!”
“Good. From now on, adjust your state and get pumped up! Speed up your breathing, pretend you’re about to skydive or bungee jump, get every cell moving!”
“Right! Look fierce! You’re a ghost scarier than any ordinary ghost! You’re afraid of nothing!”
“Remember the oath you swore when you enrolled!”
“If the heart is not upright, the sword will tilt!”
“Hanjiang Medical College, speak for the dead, defend the rights of the living!”
“Go! Let’s move!”
They were so fired up that even the nearby tourists couldn’t help applauding, and Chen Ge cheered them on in his mind.
The barrier opened, and Heshan and the tall guy stepped out first. “We’ll take the lead. We’ll share our experience when we come out.”
They walked up to Chen Ge, exuding some confidence.
“Just the two of you?”
“Doesn’t your rule say a maximum of three people at a time?”
“Oh, that’s for the *Resident Evil* theme scene. Don’t worry about it. All seven of you come together—saves time.” Chen Ge led them into the haunted house, where the temperature was much lower than outside. “First, sign the waiver on the table. Any accidents inside the haunted house are not our responsibility. Then I’ll take you in for the tour.”
“We didn’t have this last time?” Heshan walked over to the table and looked.
“That’s because no one had ever been scared unconscious before you.” Chen Ge smiled at the seven energetic forensic students. “I’m sure Heshan has told you about the background of my haunted house, so I won’t repeat it. I’m keeping you here to give you one more warning.”
Chen Ge slowly dropped his smile, took out his phone, and pulled up the morning’s news. “The five-year-old Ping’an Apartment massacre case has finally been solved, but one killer is still at large. Normally, this wouldn’t concern you, but when I came to work this morning, I found the horror house’s door open, as if someone had slipped inside. Ping’an Apartment and New Century Amusement Park are both in the western suburbs. Let’s hope I’m just overthinking it.”
With a few words, Chen Ge planted a seed of doubt. He didn’t need Heshan and the others to believe him—just to give them something to think about. After all, even the most realistic virtual creations can’t compare to the terror of reality.
Once they all signed the waiver, Chen Ge led them to the third floor and slowly pushed open the door to the Midnight Escape theme scene.
A cold wind blew from somewhere in the eerie corridor. Behind half-open doors, it felt like someone was watching. Tangled pathways, endless stairs, a charred ceiling, and knife scars scattered everywhere like hideous wounds.
The forensic students’ enthusiasm had already cooled by half when they saw the scene.
They stood frozen, all turning to Heshan in unison.
“Where’s the courtyard?”
“Isn’t this different from what we agreed on?”
“I practiced weighted lifts all night just to open the coffin fast…”
They stared at Heshan, nearly making the honest college student cry. He could only look to Chen Ge for help, but Chen Ge gave no response. “This scene’s theme is Midnight Escape. No photography or recording inside the scene. Violators will bear the consequences. The exit is hidden within the scene. Time limit is twenty minutes. If you get too scared, you can shout at the surveillance camera, and I’ll come get you out.”
Once they all entered the corridor, Chen Ge watched them with a smile. “Finally, have fun in there.”