Ruan Nan Zhu slept for a whole day in the hospital before waking up the next day. Lin Qiu Shi stayed by his side the entire time, worried that something might happen to him. Several people from the villa also came to visit the hospital and left the ward after making sure Ruan Nan Zhu was fine.
When Ruan Nan Zhu woke up, Lin Qiu Shi was looking at news on his phone. He didn't know if it was his imagination, but there seemed to be an unusually high number of bizarre accidental deaths over the past two days - several people had gotten trapped in an elevator during a fire and were burned alive.
Lin Qiu Shi looked up from his phone and saw that Ruan Nan Zhu had awakened. However, Ruan did not speak or move after waking up, silently staring at the ceiling above him.
"Nan Zhu!" Seeing his condition, Lin Qiu Shi worriedly called out his name.
Ruan Nan Zhu did not respond. His gaze slowly moved to Lin Qiu Shi, a hard-to-decipher emotion in his dark eyes.
"Are you thirsty?" Seeing his dry lips, Lin Qiu Shi went over to help prop him up, then brought a cup filled with warm water to his mouth. "The doctor said there's nothing seriously wrong with you, you're just too exhausted and need to rest for a few days."
Ruan Nan Zhu slowly drank down the water, closed his eyes briefly, then said "I see."
Lin Qiu Shi asked "Are you hungry? I'll get you some porridge."
"Not hungry," Ruan Nan Zhu replied. "Just stay here with me. Where's my phone?
Lin Qiu Shi handed Ruan Nan Zhu his phone. He made a call to someone. Though Lin could not hear what was said on the other end, Ruan gave a couple of "mmhm"s before casually hanging up.
"The fifth door's clue for Cheng Qian Li has appeared," Ruan Nan Zhu said. "You and him will enter together in five days."
"Alright," Lin Qiu Shi willingly went along with Ruan Nan Zhu's arrangements.
"I'll see if I can go in with you two, if the situation allows," Ruan Nan Zhu said, half-closing his eyes. "But it's not confirmed yet, I'll try my best."
"You don't need to push yourself," Lin Qiu Shi said. "I can handle it alone."
Ruan Nan Zhu shook his head without responding.
Later, Lin Qiu Shi learned this was Ruan Nan Zhu's tenth door. He had entered with another man from the organization, also going through his tenth door. But out of the two, only Ruan Nan Zhu came back out alive.
"In the end, only me and a woman I didn't know survived," Ruan briefly described what happened inside after returning to the villa. "That woman definitely wasn't ordinary."
Anyone who could make it to the tenth door was no idle person.
"You got your clue, right Cheng Qian Li?" Ruan Nan Zhu seemed unwilling to dwell on what happened inside and changed the subject.
"I did," Cheng Qian Li replied, taking out a slip of paper from his pocket. "Here it is."
After Ruan Nan Zhu read what was on the paper, he passed it to Lin Qiu Shi next to him. "Take a look, this is also your next door."
"Oh," Lin Qiu Shi took it and saw three words written on it - Ah Jie Gu.
"What's this?" Lin Qiu Shi did not understand the meaning. "A musical instrument?"
"No, it's the name of a song," Cheng Qian Li had already looked into the basic meaning of the clue. "The lyrics are about a younger sister searching everywhere for her older sister..."
"That's all?" Ruan Nan Zhu asked.
"There must be more meaning than that," Cheng Qian Li admitted embarrassedly, scratching his head with an awkward laugh. "I just haven't had the time to investigate further yet."
Cheng Yi Xuan indifferently commented from the side: "Hopefully you can stay that nonchalant when you die too."
Cheng Qian Li exclaimed: "Hey! That's still several days away!"
Seeing the two about to start bickering again, Ruan Nan Zhu made a "stop" gesture with his hand: "Hurry up and get to the bottom of this. Your entry times aren't completely stable yet, don't let anything go wrong."
"Got it," Cheng Qian Li obediently responded.
Things took a dark turn after they looked deeper into the hidden meaning behind the song lyrics. Lin Qiu Shi felt a chill go down his back.
The opening lyrics of Ah Jie Gu were:
My elder sister was mute since she was little, leaving home in the year I gained awareness
From then on I thought of her everyday
Elder sister ah
Kept thinking until I reached sister's age
I suddenly understood her
From then on I searched for her everyday
Elder sister ah
At first glance, it seemed like a simple story of a younger sister searching for her mute elder sister. But after investigating the story's background, they discovered the song was actually about human skin drums.
A long time ago, a certain religion had the custom of flaying the skin off virgins alive and using it as drum skins, claiming drums made this way could connect life and death and transcend reincarnation.
As for the mute elder sister in the lyrics, legend said she willingly volunteered to be made into a drum, but whether it was truly willing remained disputed.
"The human skin must be chosen from a girl who has never experienced romance, as that is the purest. Mutes are even better since they have never told a lie and their souls are unblemished," Cheng Qian Li read from the information found. "Also, they must be flayed alive for the drum to produce the best sound..." He shivered after finishing. "Thank goodness we now live in a society governed by law."
Sometimes what people were capable of was even more horrifying than ghosts and monsters.
Lin Qiu Shi said, "The song creator claimed that while traveling, he met a younger sister searching for her elder sister. The younger sister didn't know why her sister suddenly disappeared. Not until she heard a 'hmm-ahh-nuh-bah-meh' sound and drum beats coming from the sky."
Ruan Nan Zhu listened quietly without comment. His complexion still did not look too good presently, though the doctor said nothing was seriously wrong. Mental trauma was difficult to quantify in the end.
"I'll go in with them this time," Cheng Yi Xuan, who sat beside, suddenly spoke up. "You rest for a period."
"You're going?" Ruan Nan Zhu asked.
Cheng Yi Xuan nodded. Though he looked around the same age as Cheng Qian Li, his temperament was much more steady than his younger brother's. He did not seem like a seventeen or eighteen year old youth at all. From a certain perspective, he and Ruan Nan Zhu appeared rather similar.
"I'll consider it," was all Ruan Nan Zhu said as he glanced at Lin Qiu Shi, not directly agreeing.
Cheng Yi Xuan's brows furrowed slightly, seemingly puzzled by Ruan Nan Zhu's hesitation. But ultimately he did not say anything further, only giving an "alright."
Fortunately, despite Ruan Nan Zhu's poor condition, he at least made it out from the perilous door alive.
That night, everyone prepared to properly celebrate. Lu Yan Xue cooked up a table full of delicious food in the kitchen, with Lin Qiu Shi helping out. He discovered her culinary skills were quite amazing. Upon asking, he learned that Lu Yan Xue previously ran a private kitchen, but closed up shop and moved into the villa after her door experience.
"My cooking actually isn't the best," Lu Yan Xue said. "Zhang Jiao's skills are better than mine, but he hasn't been around lately. You'll get to enjoy his cooking when he returns. Though you seem quite adept yourself, do you cook often?"
"I live alone after all," Lin Qiu Shi replied as he chopped vegetables. "I have to know the basics."
When the food was served, they also opened a few fine bottles of wine. The atmosphere at the table was very relaxed, with everyone chatting and joking as if there was no lingering gloom.
Lin Qiu Shi also drank two cups but did not have more, preoccupied with certain thoughts and afraid of getting drunk.
On the other hand, Ruan Nan Zhu's alcohol capacity was quite good, finishing an entire bottle of red wine by himself.
After eating their fill, everyone dispersed to rest. Lin Qiu Shi also returned to his room, taking a hot shower before coming out to find Ruan Nan Zhu sitting on his bed waiting for him.
"Nan Zhu, is something the matter?" Lin Qiu Shi walked over, drying his hair.
"I need you," Ruan Nan Zhu said, the words astonishing.
Lin Qiu Shi was taken aback. "What...do you mean?"
"The literal meaning," Ruan Nan Zhu stated plainly. "You cannot die."
At first listen, the words seemed rather suggestive, but as an oblivious straight man, Lin Qiu Shi did not think too much about it. "Can you explain more clearly?"
In the end, Ruan Nan Zhu left after saying one line: "Some people are just born for the doors."
He exited, leaving behind a thoroughly confused Lin Qiu Shi.
Lin Qiu Shi felt Ruan Nan Zhu seemed somehow changed after emerging from the tenth door, but for now could not figure out exactly what the change was.
After resting for several days, Ruan Nan Zhu's condition gradually recovered.
Knowing he would face his third door in a few days, Lin Qiu Shi busily prepared.
His "preparations" consisted of watching horror movies at night with Cheng Qian Li.
"Is this really useful?" Lin Qiu Shi felt doubtful about it.
"Very useful, very useful! Watch more and we won't be scared anymore!" Cheng Qian Li declared, hugging a bag of chips.
"Shouldn't we be taking another look at the clue instead..." Lin Qiu Shi still felt it unreliable.
"The doors are simple for now and there's not much more we can find about the clues," Cheng Qian Li said. "Oh look, the female ghost appeared!"
While the two watched TV, Toast laid on a mat nearby, secretly eyeing Chestnut. Chestnut nonchalantly swayed his tail from the corner of the sofa.
When Manman passed by and saw Lin Qiu Shi accompanying Cheng Qian Li watch TV, she heaved a long sigh.
At first, Lin Qiu Shi wondered why Manman sighed, but three minutes later, he understood - Cheng Qian Li was absolutely terrified of ghosts.
The moment one appeared, he would start shrieking wretchedly as if he was a chicken being slaughtered, even trying to burrow into the sofa cracks.
Lin Qiu Shi was shocked. "You're that afraid?"
Cheng Qian Li shivered violently. "You're not scared?"
"I wouldn't be as scared as you even if I was," Lin Qiu Shi said. "Can you stop grabbing my arm..." He felt Cheng would snap it off.
Cheng Qian Li released Lin Qiu Shi, about to turn and grab Chestnut instead. Lin Qiu Shi hurriedly stopped him, saying "Just keep holding onto me."
Cheng Qian Li emotionally exclaimed: "You really are a good person!"
Lin Qiu Shi: "..." If not to protect his cat.
In the end, they didn't even finish the last horror film before Cheng Qian Li's shrieks resounded through the entire building. Lin Qiu Shi grew numb to it, his first reaction upon seeing a ghost now being to get away from Cheng Qian Li.
The shrieks were too wretched, even drawing those who had gone upstairs to rest back down.
"What's with the racket, Cheng Qian Li are you asking to be smacked around? Screaming like ghosts in the middle of the night!" Lu Yan Xue still had a green face mask on when she came downstairs, giving both Cheng Qian Li and Lin Qiu Shi a fright.
"I'm s-scared..." Cheng Qian Li stammered.
"If you're so scared why even watch horror films? Screaming like that, if I were a ghost I'd be the one scared to death by you!" Lu Yan Xue said.
Cheng Qian Li: "B-But I have to enter the door soon!"
Lu Yan Xue: "Then scream when you're inside! No one else will hear you then anyway, scream to your heart's content in there!"
Cheng Qian Li: "No! I want to scream so you guys can hear me-- AHHH!"
Lu Yan Xue: "Cheng Yi Xuan, come control your bratty little brother! He's making a racket!"
Amidst Lu Yan Xue's shouts, Cheng Yi Xuan leisurely appeared, expressionlessly saying one line to Cheng Qian Li: "If I hear another peep from you tonight, you can enter the next door yourself."
Cheng Qian Li: "..."
Cheng Yi Xuan turned to face Lin Qiu Shi: "Good night."
Lin Qiu Shi smiled wryly: "Goodnight."
One line easily settled the shrieking chicken. Before leaving, Lu Yan Xue reminded Lin Qiu Shi not to accompany Cheng Qian Li watch horror films again.
Lin Qiu Shi vigorously nodded, absolutely no next time.
Poor Cheng Qian Li shot him a resentful look to the side, resembling a pitiful wife betrayed by her husband.
After Lu Yan Xue left, Lin Qiu Shi exchanged a few words with Cheng Qian Li, who didn't even dare to open his mouth, only able to type out responses on his phone.
Lin Qiu Shi: "You're really not going to talk now? Isn't your brother just joking?"
Cheng Qian Li typed: He never jokes.
Lin Qiu Shi: "...Then I'm going to sleep too, goodnight?"
Cheng Qian Li typed: Goodnight.
Only then could Lin Qiu Shi slip away and hurriedly go sleep.
The next morning, Chen Fei asked if Cheng Qian Li watched horror movies yesterday and who was free enough to accompany him do that.
Lin Qiu Shi embarrassedly pointed at himself.
Chen Fei was silent for three seconds: "Sorry, I forgot to tell you something - actually everyone in the villa has some quirks that you'll discover after living together for a while."
Quirks? Lin Qiu Shi's first reaction was to glance at Ruan Nan Zhu.
His gaze gave away his thoughts. Cheng Qian Li whispered almost inaudibly beside him: "Does liking to crossdress count as a quirk?"
Lin Qiu Shi: "..." He found himself unable to refute that???
Ruan Nan Zhu suddenly stopped his chopsticks: "Cheng Qian Li."
Cheng Qian Li: "Y-Yes, brother Ruan?"
Ruan Nan Zhu said: "Nothing." He dabbed his mouth with a napkin and revealed a smile. "Just wanted to call your name."
Cheng Qian Li instantly cowered, his expression as if wishing he could sew his mouth shut.
Lin Qiu Shi actually found it rather amusing. Contrary to his initial expectations, the villa's atmosphere was not tense or serious, but quite relaxed like a group of companions. Aside from the days they entered the doors, everyday life was carefree.
Time slowly passed until Lin Qiu Shi's entry day arrived.
The night before, Ruan Nan Zhu finally decided to personally lead Lin Qiu Shi and Cheng Qian Li inside.
Cheng Yi Xuan disagreed with this decision, arguing that Ruan Nan Zhu had not fully recovered and he could handle the task himself.
"I'm not at ease," was Ruan Nan Zhu's very calm response. "Surely you don't wish any mishaps upon your younger brother?"
Cheng Yi Xuan fell silent. Cheng Qian Li currently sat in the living room downstairs happily kneading Toast's butt, the very image of a carefree youth unaware of life's troubles.
Cheng Yi Xuan said: "If Lin Qiu Shi was not present, would you still insist on leading the team yourself?"
Ruan Nan Zhu replied: "No."
Cheng Yi Xuan asked: "What makes him so special then?"
Ruan Nan Zhu just smiled. "Does being cute count as special?"
Cheng Yi Xuan raised a brow, clearly disbelieving Ruan Nan Zhu's words. After interacting for so long, he understood very well that Ruan Nan Zhu was not someone easily swayed by emotions. For him to value Lin Qiu Shi so highly meant there was an underlying reason. He just did not know what that reason was yet.
In the end, things were decided and Cheng Yi Xuan did not persist further.
Since they would be entering Cheng Qian Li's door, over the next few days the three of them were practically glued together at all times, even going to the bathroom in groups.
Fortunately such a situation did not last too long. In the afternoon of the tenth day, Lin Qiu Shi leaned against the sofa playing games with Cheng Qian Li. Ruan Nan Zhu sat beside them reading a book, a cat nestled in his arms.
While happily gaming, Cheng Qian Li seemed to sense something. He suddenly stopped moving and murmured "It's here."
Ruan Nan Zhu asked "Where?"
Cheng Qian Li replied: "Second floor."
"Let's go," Ruan Nan Zhu put Chestnut down and the three of them got up, heading together towards the stairs.
After turning the corner of the staircase, Lin Qiu Shi saw the original corridor transform into twelve orderly iron doors. Seals were pasted over four of them.
"Go on," Ruan Nan Zhu looked at Cheng Qian Li.
Cheng Qian Li's face paled slightly. He forced a smile and walked up, pulling open the fifth door.
With a light creak, the seemingly heavy iron door opened easily. Lin Qiu Shi felt a force shove him through the doorway. His vision spun upside down as the scenery before him drastically changed.
The villa corridor vanished. What appeared before Lin Qiu Shi was a lush, dense forest. He looked all around him, but Ruan Nan Zhu and Cheng Qian Li were nowhere to be seen. In front of him, the tall ancient trees of the forest extended as far as the eye could see. A small stone path cut through them, leading deeper inside.
Lin Qiu Shi took out his phone - unsurprisingly, there was not a bar of signal. He followed the sole trail, only walking a few steps before spotting a sobbing girl sitting at the roadside up ahead.
The girl was curled up in a ball, crying so hard she was gasping for breath. Upon seeing her, Lin Qiu Shi's first reaction was that the scene looked oddly familiar. After some thought, he suddenly recalled his initial encounter with Ruan Nan Zhu seemed quite similar to this scene...
Could this girl be Ruan Nan Zhu? Lin Qiu Shi stood in place, not going over yet as he watched the pitifully weeping girl with a complex expression.
After crying for a while, the girl glanced up and saw Lin Qiu Shi frowning at her. She was so frightened that she hastily retreated several steps back, face full of terror: "W-Who are you? What do you want from me - Where is this place?!"
Hearing her words, Lin Qiu Shi relaxed, realizing she was probably not Ruan Nan Zhu after all. "You just got here?" he asked.
The girl timidly nodded, looking quite pitiable. She was cute and petite, eliciting sympathy.
Lin Qiu Shi said, "Come over, it'll be dark soon. We need to hurry to our destination." He pointed at a large wooden building nearby.
"Destination? Where? Who exactly are you? And where is this?" The girl barraged him with questions.
Dealing with her stream of inquiries made Lin Qiu Shi's head hurt. Now he finally understood why the villa residents had initially been so averse to newcomers - each one meant having to answer ten thousand whys - and tearable books at that.
"Let's talk as we walk," was the only way Lin Qiu Shi could explain things.
Perhaps it was Lin Qiu Shi's harmless looks that gave the girl courage. Though still somewhat doubtful, she followed along with him.
As the two made their way down the trail, Lin Qiu Shi briefly explained the world inside the doors, of course not too clearly since a full explanation could probably take an entire day. The girl introduced herself as Xu Jin. She had been walking perfectly fine on the road when, upon entering her apartment building's stairwell, she suddenly saw twelve iron doors...
Half an hour later, they arrived at the end of the trail where a secluded village nestled within the lush forest.
The village was full of exotic flavor. Almost all the houses were wooden pile dwellings, with bone ornaments hanging outside them - though what bones they were made of, no one knew.
"You've arrived!" They had barely reached the village entrance when someone already enthusiastically greeted them. It was a young woman. "The others have already gone inside, they're just waiting for you two now," she said, pointing at the large wooden building beside them.
"Excuse me, but where exactly are we?" Xu Jin still questioned.
Yet the woman did not answer, only smiling at them. At first, Lin Qiu Shi thought her smile quite cordial, but on closer look, he felt something strange about it. No matter what they said, the woman simply kept smiling without any change in expression.
Lin Qiu Shi guessed she was probably an NPC from inside the doors rather than someone from the outside world.
Her perpetual smile also unnerved Xu Jin somewhat. The girl sidled two steps away from the woman as Lin Qiu Shi said, "Let's go in and take a look first."
Xu Jin gave a small nod.
The two followed the stairs up into the wooden building. But before even entering, they heard the sounds of fierce arguing coming from inside.
"F*ck, just where the hell is this place?! Don't try to fool me, I already called the police!!" — Lin Qiu Shi instantly recognized those familiar lines and understood what was happening inside.