Chapter 66: Building a Paradise for Her
"Is there something you need?" The man had a refined, scholarly air, nothing like a typical businessman.
"Director Luo, this is Xiao Chen, the one who stepped up to help the police catch a fugitive." Uncle Xu pulled Chen Ge closer. "It's about what I mentioned to you before—he wants to lease the unused underground parking lot."
"Alright, I understand. Go ahead and attend to your work." Director Luo signaled for Uncle Xu to leave, leaving just him and Chen Ge in the room.
"I've already heard about your plan to lease the underground parking lot. Can you tell me what you intend to use it for?" Director Luo gestured for Chen Ge to sit on the sofa and poured two cups of tea.
"To expand my haunted house. I plan to turn the underground parking lot into an underground maze."
"An underground maze—an interesting idea. But do you have the ability and the funds to support it? The cost of leasing the space is only a small part; the real challenge is bringing the scene to life." Director Luo leaned back against the sofa, a hint of weariness and world-weariness in his eyes. "I'm not opposed to your idea, and I can lease you the space, but before that, I need to ask you a few questions."
Although Director Luo agreed to lease the underground parking lot to Chen Ge, he hadn't mentioned the rent yet, so Chen Ge was still a bit uneasy. "Go ahead, ask away."
"You run a haunted house, so you should know better than I do how much upfront investment it requires. And unlike restaurants or hotels, if a restaurant goes under, you can still sell the plates, tables, and chairs secondhand. If you can't keep going, who would you sell those severed hands, feet, and other props in your haunted house to?"
Director Luo made a valid point—things Chen Ge had never considered before.
"Even if your haunted house runs well, let's think about repeat business. A haunted house is a one-time consumption item. After a period of popularity, it will inevitably fade because your pool of potential customers is limited. If you pour in a lot of money, can you recoup your costs?"
"And one last question: if you build your haunted house in an underground parking lot, how will you get exposure? Your visitor numbers depend on the park's foot traffic. But if one day the park goes under, what happens to your haunted house?"
Chen Ge could see that Director Luo was trying to dissuade him out of goodwill. In fact, these people who tried to stop him were the ones genuinely wanting to help, not wanting to see him suffer a loss.
Director Luo's three questions echoed in Chen Ge's mind. The first two didn't pose a problem for Chen Ge because of the black phone, but the last one worried him.
If New Century Amusement Park closed down, his haunted house wouldn't escape the same fate.
Relocating to another place to reopen would be a nightmare—not to mention the mountain of paperwork alone would keep Chen Ge busy, and with his limited funds, finding another venue that could accommodate the terrifying scenes from the black phone was nearly impossible.
"Have you thought through these three questions?" Director Luo seemed to have anticipated Chen Ge's answer. "Go back. Some things need careful consideration before you act."
Chen Ge remained seated on the sofa, not moving. He looked up at Director Luo and suddenly asked, "Is the park really on the verge of shutting down?"
Director Luo neither confirmed nor denied it, but the weariness in his eyes deepened. "If I told you the park is about to close, would you still lease the underground parking lot?"
"Yes, I would." Chen Ge's answer caught Director Luo off guard. His gaze was resolute. "Director Luo, I've already figured out solutions to your first two questions. As for your third question, it doesn't even hold up."
There seemed to be flames dancing in Chen Ge's eyes; he knew no fear or retreat. "My haunted house has never relied on anyone. My visitor numbers are by no means dependent on the park's total foot traffic. Give me time, and I won't just attract countless visitors to the haunted house—I'll revitalize the entire park along with it. Leasing the underground parking lot is only the first step. I'll create an unprecedented special park themed around horror and thrills."
After blurting it all out, Chen Ge suddenly remembered Uncle Xu's advice: say less, make fewer mistakes, and never say too much.
He looked nervously at Director Luo, a bit regretful for spilling his heart out.
After hearing Chen Ge's words, Director Luo set down his teacup. The weariness in his eyes had faded. He was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed. "Every sentence starts with 'I'—you remind me of myself when I was young."
He stood up and pulled open the curtains. From the office window, he could overlook the entire park.
"New Century Amusement Park closing down—I'm the one who's most reluctant and heartbroken about it." He opened the window, letting the wind tousle his salt-and-pepper hair. "This park means something special to me. If I could, I'd want it to keep running forever."
Director Luo wore a smile, but it was a complicated one—a calm smile that had grown accustomed to all the ups and downs. "I've heard about you. Your parents went missing, you quit your job, and you've been running the haunted house they left behind on your own. Actually, we're quite alike, except you're much luckier than I am."
He picked up a photo frame from the desk—the only one in the room. It held a picture of a father and daughter.
The man wasn't tall, with a refined demeanor, and the girl in his arms was cute, though her arms were deformed and her smile was vacant.
"This is my daughter. She has severe dyslexia and needs a special brace to keep her back straight. God was harsh on her, but she was strong. She loved to smile—at me, at any stranger." Director Luo stared blankly out the window. "But the world doesn't always return kindness for kindness. I once took her to the park for a walk, and none of the other children would play with her. At that moment, she looked at me helplessly, scared, thinking she had done something wrong. I didn't know how to comfort her. After that, I only took her to play in quiet places at noon or on rainy days. That was also when I first had the idea of building a paradise for her."
"Unfortunately, she never got to see it finished." Setting down the photo frame, Director Luo's gaze remained calm. "Many people don't understand why I'd go bankrupt to keep a park that loses money year after year. But I think you might get it."
"I feel the same way." Chen Ge had already stood up. He hadn't expected Director Luo to share this with him.
"Everyone's thinking about their own escape plan, but you're the only one who surprises me." Closing the window, Director Luo pulled a document from a drawer. "Actually, I agreed the first time they told me about this. Take it. If you need anything, just let me know. But remember—you might only have two to three months."