Chen Ge stood by the door listening for a while and felt a little embarrassed. "Should I tell Old Zhou and the others that the sculpture can judge whether a statement is true or false? Never mind, it's fine as it is."
Leaving the underground set, Chen Ge returned alone to the staff break room. He opened the door and collapsed onto the bed.
"Three places in one night — my nightlife is really something."
He took off his jacket and didn't fall asleep until just before dawn.
At a little past eight in the morning, Chen Ge was woken by his alarm. After a quick wash, he put away the laundry he'd washed earlier, then started cleaning the haunted house.
At half past eight, Xu Wan arrived carrying breakfast. She exchanged a few words with Chen Ge before heading into the makeup room on her own.
Chen Ge was eating the breakfast Xu Wan had brought when Gu Feiyu showed up shortly after. The young man was brimming with energy as usual, radiantly cheerful — without makeup, you'd never guess he worked at a haunted house.
"Morning, Boss!"
"Go get your makeup on, the visitors will be here soon." Chen Ge sat at the haunted house entrance, shoveling food into his mouth. He noticed the grin on Gu Feiyu's face and grew curious. "Something good happen to you?"
"Nope, just feels like life's gotten really interesting lately." Gu Feiyu squatted down next to Chen Ge, gave him a light nudge, and said in a conspiratorial tone, "Boss, does Sister Xu Wan like you or something? She brings you breakfast every day. I even saw her arguing with the breakfast vendor once, saying you pull late nights all the time and can't eat spicy food."
"I pull late nights all the time? How does she know that?"
"Because she cares about you." Gu Feiyu's smile widened. "Actually, I get here pretty early every morning. The reason I'm late sometimes is because I don't want to disturb you two."
"That's not an excuse for being late. Next time you're not here by eight thirty, I'm docking your pay." Chen Ge finished the last bite and stood up.
"Don't do that!" Gu Feiyu scrambled to follow him. "Boss, I just feel like so many people like you, and I want to become someone as popular as you."
Xiao Gu trailed Chen Ge into the haunted house corridor, apparently sincerely seeking advice. "When my uncle got out of the hospital, he told me to learn from you, but I'm a pretty dumb guy — I don't even know where to start."
"You want me to teach you how to become a popular person?" Chen Ge thought about it with some difficulty, recalling the things he'd done in the past. He had a feeling that if he listed them all out, the image he held in Gu Feiyu's mind would crumble to ash on the spot.
After a moment's hesitation, Chen Ge gently patted Gu Feiyu on the shoulder. "Calm, hardworking, fearless — that's all I can tell you."
Gu Feiyu savored the words, feeling that Chen Ge spoke with real wisdom.
"You're still young. There's a lot you still need to learn." Chen Ge looked at Gu Feiyu's youthful, spirited face. "Work at the haunted house during the day, and at night, you'd do well to study something on your own. That way, if the haunted house ever can't keep going, you'll still be able to live well."
Entering the makeup room, Chen Ge first helped Gu Feiyu get into his Skull Crushing Doctor costume, sent him on his way, and then began doing Xu Wan's makeup.
Watching his employee in the mirror, Chen Ge's lips moved slightly, as though he wanted to say something.
"Boss, if you want to say something, just say it. Don't hold back." Xu Wan knew Chen Ge well — the two of them had weathered the haunted house's hardest days together.
"It's nothing major. I just feel like I'm the boss, yet I'm being taken care of by my employee every single day. It's a bit embarrassing." Chen Ge's hand was steady as he carefully finished the makeup.
"I just think you work too hard and I want to help, but I don't know how. So all I can do is bring you a meal and handle a few small things." Xu Wan studied her reflection in the mirror, quite satisfied. "I'm heading into the set."
"Mm, go ahead."