Anonymous user: Has anyone ever found the dark human nature hidden beneath the sea?
Huang Ying (Test Account Number 0999): Including this time, Perfect Life has conducted six internal tests, and countless players have dug deep without finding the so-called Deep World. Now, everyone thinks it's just a rumor. Even Deep Space Technology and Eternal Life Pharmaceutical, the developers of the game, have issued statements saying there is no Deep World in "Perfect Life."
Anonymous user: I also think it's just a rumor.
Huang Ying (Test Account Number 0999): By the way, can I visit your house? How should I address you? It's quite a fate that we can meet in 999 chatrooms.
Anonymous user: You are welcome to visit my house anytime, I will introduce all my friends to you, my name is...
Han Fei was just about to randomly type a name when he suddenly noticed that chatroom 444 had turned gray again.
Turning his head towards the wall, the digital clock now showed 4:01 AM.
"Can chatroom 444 only be used from 3:59 AM to 4:01 AM?"
"Could it be that I can only enter the chatroom during the two minutes when night and dawn interchange?"
Thinking this, Han Fei recalled his conversation with Huang Ying: "This person seems to be playing a different game from me."
Sitting on the sofa, Han Fei stared at the haunted television: "If what Huang Ying said is true, then according to him, I might be in the deep world of this game right now. They are playing the normal game on the surface. And the surface and the deep can only communicate through the chatroom in the instant before dawn arrives. But there's another possibility, Huang Ying is deceiving me; he might not even be human, but a ghost. Through various means, he killed a player, hence he knows many things."
In this Underworld, nothing is impossible; only by being careful can one survive.
"Huang Ying's ID shows the number 0999. After I leave the game, I can investigate it or secretly make contact with him in reality."
Han Fei still remembered the number behind Huang Ying's ID and wanted to prove his conjecture; the best way was to check it himself.
"It would be great if I could find a way out through him." Getting up and walking to the window, Han Fei looked outside through the cracks of the wooden boards: "The sun here seems to never rise; it's always night."
After ensuring the surroundings were safe, he chose to exit the game at the corner of the haunted house.
Originally, Han Fei had planned to exit the game at an elderly person's home, where it would be safe to log back in.
But then he thought it over carefully; it's better not to let the residents in the building know he can exit the game.
Clicking the exit button on the attribute panel, the world before his eyes was covered with blood-red, and Han Fei exited the game.
Setting the helmet aside, Han Fei turned on his computer and tirelessly entered the information from his memory into a document.
"I also need to buy some of the books that Meng Chang'an has read; maybe this will help me enter his inner world more easily."
In the past few days, Han Fei had ordered many books and learning materials. Facing the threat of life and death, he no longer found learning boring.
After sorting it out, Han Fei began searching for information about Huang Ying online.
He tried various methods, but all internal tester information for "Perfect Life" was confidential. Even knowing the number, he couldn't look it up.
"It looks like I'll have to rely on Li Xue. I need to think of a good reason this time."
The cold light from the screen illuminated Han Fei's face as he sat next to a wall plastered with photos of victims, staring silently at the information on the computer, making anyone who saw him unlikely to think of him as an actor.
The early sun had risen unknowingly, but Han Fei drew the curtains; he was accustomed to the dark, and the sudden appearance of light was still a bit too much for him.
After eating something simple, Han Fei took out his phone and called Li Xue.
"Could you help me look up someone?"
"Dead or alive?"
"I'm not sure if he's dead or alive, all I know is his name is Huang Ying, and he's a doctor," Han Fei suddenly sped up his speech, "He likes to play games at night, especially the latest immersive games."
"Is this person related to the Human-body Puzzle case?"
"There's a subtle connection."
"Then give me a moment."
The conversation between Han Fei and Li Xue was very brief; it only took a few minutes before Li Xue called back.
"I found someone who fits your description, the new vice director of Xinhu Male Hospital—Huang Ying. He graduated from a top domestic medical university, took over his father's hospital in his early thirties, and became the vice director. He lives in the heart of Smart City and is very fond of gaming. Years ago, he made a shocking statement on a dating show. When the host asked him to choose between his girlfriend and gaming, he decisively chose to give up his girlfriend, which might be why he's still single."
"Quite an eccentric character, huh?" Han Fei, recalling the way Huang Ying spoke in the game, vaguely felt that Li Xue's description of Huang Ying was the person he was looking for.
After thanking Li Xue, Han Fei hung up the phone and stepped out of his room.
He took the express train between Old City District and Smart New City into the central urban area, too overwhelmed to appreciate the charm and convenience of Smart City, and hurriedly made his way to Xinhu Male Hospital.
After a fruitless search on the computer, Han Fei asked the hospital's duty staff, only to receive a frustrating answer—Vice Director Huang Ying was currently participating in an event at Deep Space Technology.
As the sixth beta test went smoothly, "Perfect Life," this epoch-making game, was about to enter public beta, and its advertisements were everywhere; promotional activities were nearly daily occurrences.
"Why would the vice director of a male hospital attend an event at Deep Space Technology?"
Han Fei didn't understand at first, but when he arrived at the event venue hosted by Deep Space Technology, he gradually realized why this place held such allure for a gaming enthusiast.
With deep pockets, Deep Space Technology had rented out the entire International Business Square, using six dynamic exhibition halls and twelve experience pavilions to promote the game, making it feel like entering another world.
Years ago, the future that people imagined has now arrived, with mature technology and wild concepts, it seems humans can create both Heaven and Hell.
"How am I supposed to find him amid so many people?" After registering his information, Han Fei went to the least crowded experience pavilion, number twelve.
His social anxiety had just been treated, and suddenly seeing so many people made him feel dizzy and a bit overwhelmed.
"'Perfect Life' is a leisurely Healing-type game that nourishes the soul and soothes the body. Here, you'll find heartwarming plots and cozy everyday life. We focus on hope and happiness as our main themes, bringing positive power to all players!"
Hearing this familiar opening speech, Han Fei shivered and his face turned slightly pale.
Surrounded by enthusiastic gaming fans, only he stood alone in the corridor, awkwardly out of place.
"Dude, are you feeling all right?" A hand gently patted Han Fei's back and handed him a bottle of mineral water from the exhibition area.
"Thank you." Han Fei turned around to see a handsomely dressed, exceptionally handsome man standing beside him, wearing clothes that probably cost half of Han Fei's yearly salary, clearly one of those so-called elite professionals. "You're visiting the game exhibition area dressed so formally?"
"I actually hate dressing like this, but my family arranged a blind date for me today. I usually get out of it by saying I'm busy with work, but today they sent the girl directly to my workplace."
"So, to avoid it, you just ran out to attend a gaming event?"
"How can you say I'm avoiding it? I love gaming; a man's joy is just that simple." The man was warmly personable, completely different from Han Fei. "You look like it's your first time at a 'Perfect Life' promotional event. Come on! I'll show you around, let you feel the charm of this game!"
"No need to bother, I prefer being alone."
"It's no bother at all! It's right on my way." The man collected two virtual reality glasses from the counter using facial recognition. "I promote this game to everyone I meet; it's the best game I've ever played in my life! If you like this game, then we're buddies! Here, put on the glasses, and when you're done, just go to the counter and input my name, which is Huang Ying."
"Huang Ying?" Han Fei's expression shifted slightly but quickly returned to normal.