"Today a kid came to visit my haunted house. He looked about eight or nine, didn't talk much. The creepier and more terrifying the environment, the more excited he got. What kind of condition would you say that matches?" Chen Ge got straight to the point. He only had two people he could consult — He Shan and He Feng.
"Forensic science majors study applied medicine, biology, and a bit of chemistry. Psychology covers mental phenomena, cognitive functions, and neuroscience — completely different branches. Asking me is pointless." He Shan sounded exasperated. "Boss, are you really not going to do anything? Your short-form videos haven't been updated in days, and you haven't streamed once either. At this rate, the following you worked so hard to build up is going to bleed away. Look at your page — people are already commenting that you've run out of ideas, and some are dragging your haunted house through the mud along with it."
"They're badmouthing my haunted house? That's happening?" Chen Ge couldn't stay calm. He opened his profile page and sure enough, there were plenty of negative comments.
"Boss, there are way too many short-form videos out there, and they're all starting to look the same. Once your videos lose their momentum, people will quickly shift their attention to other creators."
"Fair point, but it's not as serious as you think." Chen Ge gave a perfunctory agreement. His mind was still on Fan Yu and the gaunt dark-skinned woman. In his view, livestreaming and short-form videos were merely auxiliary tools — what mattered most were the Black Phone's missions.
"All right, I just wanted to let you know." He Shan's voice still carried a note of regret. "That Qin Guang is a major streamer with a lot of resources. The platform will definitely push him hard. But I think what he streams can't be as good as yours."
"He's streaming stuff I already did ages ago." Chen Ge smiled. The biggest difference between his short-form videos and those of other creators was that his content was entirely real and impossible to replicate. "When it comes to resources, channels, and follower counts, Qin Guang can lap me several times over. But as far as mastery and use of horror and terror go, he's got a long way to go."
"True enough — you are the professional." On the other end of the line, He Shan paused for a moment. "Boss, something just came to mind."
"What is it?"
"Remember the senior student who cried because you scared her last time?"
"There have been plenty of 'senior students' I've made cry. Just give me a name."
"Gao Ruxue. Her father is a psychiatrist and a senior lecturer in criminal psychology. I'll see tonight if I can get her phone number for you."
"That'd be great. Once you get it, I'll treat you to dinner and take you through the new haunted house scene for free." Chen Ge was grateful to this straightforward and honest medical student and made the offer readily.
"No way! Last time I came out of your haunted house, I had nightmares for days. I think something broke in my head." He Shan vented freely. "I fell asleep during class once, and I didn't even notice the professor walking up to me. I was dreaming that a doctor with a hammer was chasing me through a building. I was sprinting toward the rooftop, and just as I was about to reach it, I suddenly felt someone grab my shoulder. I was so terrified I threw an elbow without thinking. When I opened my eyes, the professor's glasses were flying across the room."
Chen Ge held it in for a moment but couldn't help laughing. "Fine, I won't force you to come visit."
They chatted a while longer before Chen Ge hung up. He gazed out the car window at the scenery. The sunlight had been swallowed up, and thick clouds were piling across the sky — the weather was about to turn.
When he returned to New Century Paradise, Chen Ge could see from a distance that a sizable crowd had gathered at the entrance to the haunted house. Xu Wan was busy talking with them.
"Xiao Wan, what's going on?"
"You're finally back! These people came specifically to visit the haunted house. I couldn't find you anywhere, so I could only keep everyone calm and tell them not to worry." Xu Wan had removed her makeup, and beads of sweat lined her forehead.
"Good job. Just keep selling tickets out here — leave the rest to me." Chen Ge pushed through the barrier, put on the Skull-Crushing Doctor coat, and stepped into the Midnight Escape scenario.
Around three or four in the afternoon, a light rain began to fall outside. The cloud layer thickened by the hour.
Many of the park's outdoor rides shut down. Visitors who didn't want to leave started converging on the indoor attractions, and Chen Ge's haunted house almost by accident became the most popular destination. The crowd outside only began to thin after the park closed at five thirty.
Having dragged a sledgehammer around the haunted house all afternoon, Chen Ge was tired. He stripped off the doctor's uniform and stepped outside.
The sky was gloomy, dark clouds hanging low. A downpour was imminent.
"The night Fan Yu's parents disappeared years ago was also a night of torrential rain." Chen Ge stared at the sky, his expression complicated. He told Xu Wan to head home first, then returned to the maintenance room and retrieved his backpack.
He stuffed in the lighter, flashlight, tool hammer, and cloth doll in one go, pulled on a raincoat, and left the haunted house.
There had been far too many visitors today, and it was already six o'clock by the time Chen Ge reached the park gates. He flagged down a taxi and gave the address — Muyang High School — but the driver refused the fare.
He had no choice but to try another cab. The second driver told him that the area around Muyang High School was nothing but wasteland now. There were no roads, and it was completely inaccessible — the best he could do was drop Chen Ge off somewhere nearby.
The Black Phone's missions had time limits. The earlier he arrived, the more time he would have to explore freely and minimize the risk.
Chen Ge didn't want to waste any time. He negotiated a price with the driver and set off.
Along the way, he tried asking questions, hoping to pick up some information about Muyang High School. Unfortunately, the driver kept a grim expression and just stared straight ahead in silence.
In that moment, Chen Ge found himself almost missing the chatty driver who had taken him to Xicheng Private Academy.
The taxi didn't arrive until after seven in the evening. The road conditions were terrible — they were well past the suburbs, in territory far more remote.
"The road ahead, my car can't go any further. This is as far as I'll take you." The driver pointed outside. "There should be people living nearby. If you're not sure where to go, ask someone. Scan the QR code for payment — I don't take cash."
"No cash?" The driver was emphatic. Though Chen Ge found it odd, he didn't press the matter. After paying with WeChat, he stepped out.
The rain was picking up, and the sky had gone completely dark. Chen Ge looked left and right. In the distance, he could make out a few rows of houses, but they appeared to have been abandoned long ago — not a single light shone from within.
"How am I supposed to find Muyang High School like this?"
He turned back to ask the driver, only to catch a glimpse of the man tossing the seat cushion Chen Ge had been sitting on out the window. Then, without a moment's hesitation, the driver threw the car into gear and sped away.
"He won't take my cash, and he tosses out the cushion I sat on — what's that supposed to mean? Is he afraid his cab will pick up something bad?"