Chapter 94: They Came Knocking
"Xiao Chen, where did you run off to? Why are you so late?" Uncle Xu grabbed Chen Ge's arm, pulling him behind himself to keep him from getting into trouble.
"I just got back from the city precinct. I helped the police solve a corpse concealment case."
"What?"
Not just Uncle Xu, but even the few people who had gathered around stopped in their tracks. Normally, wouldn't the answer be something like traffic jams or using the bathroom? The jump in conversation was way too big—this was definitely not the normal way to start things!
"Corpse concealment case?" Uncle Xu stared blankly at Chen Ge, suddenly forgetting what he was supposed to say.
"Yeah. Unlike the last family annihilation case, this one probably won't be made public."
There was a last time? Family annihilation case? The few people who had been aggressively surrounding them suddenly felt their bravado falter.
"Alright, let me handle this." Chen Ge stood in front of those people. "You looking for me?"
Just him standing there alone gave off a stronger presence than the other side. The people blocking the haunted house entrance exchanged glances, and finally, the shortest middle-aged man among them was awkwardly pushed forward.
"We're from Qin Guang Studio. Last night, you used unfair competitive tactics, hired online trolls to spread rumors, and caused reputational damage to Qin Guang..."
"Unfair competitive tactics? You're really good at throwing accusations around. Who's been copying whom—don't you know in your own hearts?" Chen Ge cut him off directly. "If you've got nothing else, you can leave. Don't disturb the tourists' normal visits."
"Qin Guang's livestream just happened to choose the same location as you. You can't claim that someone copying your idea just because they streamed there after you did." The middle-aged man didn't leave and kept trying to argue.
"Compare my livestream video with Qin Guang's. The reasoning at the beginning in the room is exactly the same, and the whole process is imitation. If that's not plagiarism, what is?"
"He only imitated the beginning. The later plot has his own innovations. That's not plagiarism at all—at best, it's following a trend."
Chen Ge had never seen such a shameless person. When words fall on deaf ears, half a sentence is too much. He couldn't be bothered to engage, so he opened the haunted house barrier and prepared to start business.
"You're a new streamer. We understand your perspective, but you need to know that a big streamer's popularity isn't that easy to leech off." The middle-aged man pulled a document from his briefcase. At first, Chen Ge thought it might be a lawyer's letter or something, but he clearly overestimated the other side's resolve.
"You're not in this circle, so there are things you don't understand. Many big streamers are built on capital and traffic. Right now, it seems like you're riding the wave and gaining momentum, but the platform won't offend Qin Guang for a newcomer. Qin Guang is promoted by the platform—his interests are tied to theirs." The middle-aged man waved the document. "Like I said, cooperation benefits both sides. If you agree to stop your malicious attacks on Qin Guang and issue a public apology on your personal page, we'll give you some compensation. But if you insist on going your own way, continuing to hire trolls to disrupt Qin Guang's livestream and poach viewers for your own, then we'll contact the platform to block all your recommendation channels."
"Don't drag trolls into this every time something doesn't go your way. The trolls don't deserve that blame—it's just that even the passersby couldn't stand it anymore." Chen Ge didn't care about the threat at all, because the platform had never given him any recommendations. Even he wasn't entirely sure how he'd gotten so much attention.
"Acting on impulse won't do anyone any good. Think it over again." The middle-aged man's tone softened, completely lacking the toughness he'd shown when blocking the entrance. They'd come as a group of five or six to demand an explanation, full of aggression, but before they even got close, Chen Ge had thrown their entire plan off with just one sentence.
To be fair, it wasn't their fault. Who would expect Chen Ge to start talking about corpse concealment cases and family annihilation cases right off the bat? That was terrifying.
"No need to think it over. I already know the selling points of my short videos and livestreams. Even if I'm forced off this platform, I can quickly gather my fans again." Chen Ge shooed the Qin Guang Studio people aside and told Xu Wan to prepare for business.
He'd been running around all night and was genuinely a bit worn out, so he sat down outside to sell tickets.
After the first few waves of tourists finished their experience, the Qin Guang Studio people came back again.
"Why are you like a stubborn stain? If you're not visiting, can you not block the way?" Even a clay figurine has some temper. Chen Ge felt he'd been polite enough earlier, but these people just wouldn't let it go.
"Who said we're not visiting? We want to go into your haunted house and see for ourselves how scary this so-called scariest haunted house in Jiujiang really is." Two young men from Qin Guang Studio, carrying backpacks, blocked the entrance to the barrier.
"You want to come in and visit too?" A weasel paying a New Year's visit to a chicken—no good intentions. Chen Ge couldn't figure out their plan and felt they had some other motive.
"If you're afraid we'll expose your false advertising, then we won't go in." Among the two young men, one was burly, clearly someone who worked out regularly. He wore a tank top, deliberately showing off his muscles.
Chen Ge was amused by this kid. "Don't say I didn't warn you. The last person who said that walked in and was carried out."
"With you saying that, I want to try even more." Next to the burly young man was a bespectacled, seemingly gentle guy. "I've loved horror movies since I was a kid. Before I was recruited into Brother Qin's studio, I even worked on some horror film sets. Too bad those sets were all too fake—didn't feel like anything at all."
"I really appreciate people like you who love seeking thrills." Chen Ge lifted the opaque black curtain. "Come on in. Sign the liability waiver first."
Why would Chen Ge turn away test subjects who came to him willingly? The smile on his face even grew a bit more genuine.
Beside him, Uncle Xu shivered involuntarily when he saw Chen Ge's smile. His mind flashed back to the pile of law school students sprawled on the floor.
Clearing his throat, Uncle Xu stopped Chen Ge. "Xiao Chen, don't go too far. They're tourists now."
"Nice act. You're already setting the stage, huh?" Before Chen Ge could speak, the bespectacled young man, thinking he'd seen through it all, sneered. "I checked the reviews on Dianping about this haunted house before I came. Someone said the owner knows a bit of psychology. Seeing you in person, the reputation isn't undeserved."
Uncle Xu looked at him speechlessly. Psychology my ass! If I weren't afraid someone might die, I wouldn't bother with you!
"I know my limits. Don't worry." Chen Ge led the two young men into the haunted house and watched them sign the liability waiver.
The burly one in the tank top was Zhu Jianing. The bespectacled, thinner one was Fei Youliang.
Thanks to Luoye Guigen for being Weizi's盟主!