Being fully trusted by someone is naturally a pleasant thing. Ruan Nan Zhu sat down next to Lin Qiu Shi and said slowly, "Since you've said so much, it does seem unreasonable for me not to tell you what's actually in your pocket."
Lin Qiu Shi looked at Ruan Nan Zhu, waiting for his answer.
After a moment of silence, Ruan Nan Zhu parted his thin lips and said softly, "I put Yang Mei Shu's note in your pocket."
"A note? You mean the one with the little poem she wrote?" Lin Qiu Shi instantly understood something when he found out it was this item. He revealed a slightly incredulous expression, "So that note has this kind of use too." Without that note, he would definitely have been forcibly dragged back into the door by that woman.
"Yes." Ruan Nan Zhu said, raising his finger to his lips as he gently warned, "So you must remember to keep it secret."
Lin Qiu Shi nodded, "I know."
Ruan Nan Zhu went on, "This kind of note is very special. Not only will the clues be extremely detailed, it can even have special effects - blocking an attack from a ghost once inside the door. As you can imagine, having something like this at a critical moment is invaluable. If too many people find out about this..."
Lin Qiu Shi now completely understood.
The method of obtaining Yang Mei Shu's special notes was to kill all her teammates inside the door with the help of ghosts. After her teammates died, not only could she leisurely search for all the clues in an invincible state, she could also obtain a very important protective talisman for the next door. When the benefits were big enough, people would always take huge risks. Who knows how many times Yang Mei Shu had done things like this.
"Only a few people know about this," Ruan Nan Zhu said. "It absolutely cannot be made public."
Indeed it could not be made public. If everyone knew about the special note's abilities, there would probably no longer be any cooperation inside the doors. Instead, most people would be hoping for their teammates to die faster. Such an atmosphere would be terrifying. Just thinking about it made Lin Qiu Shi shudder. If everyone inside the doors was like Yang Mei Shu...
"This is an evil path. Those who walk it will eventually destroy themselves," said Ruan Nan Zhu. "I've seen three people do this. One of them passed through the eighth door."
"So he was very capable?" Lin Qiu Shi was a little curious.
"Anyone who can pass through the eighth door is capable," Ruan Nan Zhu said lightly. "Naturally he was too... Of course, he also died more horribly than normal people."
Lin Qiu Shi: "Oh..."
"Alright, go to sleep," said Ruan Nan Zhu, reaching out to rub Lin Qiu Shi's head. "You must be tired too."
Lin Qiu Shi felt this treatment of him like a child was laughable. After all, he was a man in his twenties: "You shouldn't touch a man's head or a woman's waist."
Hearing these words, Ruan Nan Zhu didn't speak. He simply reached out and pinched Lin Qiu Shi's waist. Of course he didn't use much force. The flesh around Lin Qiu Shi's waist was already sensitive, and he couldn't help laughing involuntarily from Ruan Nan Zhu's actions. He quickly dodged Ruan Nan Zhu's hand: "Stop stop stop, that tickles!"
Ruan Nan Zhu: "Quite slender."
Lin Qiu Shi: "Not as slender as you."
Ruan Nan Zhu really did have an excellent figure, a standard inverted triangle shape, with a narrow slender waist and beautifully lined muscles. One look would tell that he specially trained.
"Keeping the body well-trained means you can run faster when being chased by ghosts," said Ruan Nan Zhu. "Haven't you noticed that the protagonists in horror movies can only run a few steps before they can't run anymore?"
Lin Qiu Shi felt that what Ruan Nan Zhu said made a lot of sense... If he could run faster in his painted world, perhaps he wouldn't have been caught by that monster. He made up his mind on the spot to properly exercise his body and strive to attain a physique like Ruan Nan Zhu's.
After speaking, Lin Qiu Shi returned to his room for a good night's rest.
The next day, with nothing to do, he took some time to go to the hospital for a physical exam to check on his liver cancer.
A few days later when the test results came out, the doctor almost popped his eyeballs out staring at Lin Qiu Shi's reports. He specifically called to ask Lin Qiu Shi what treatments he had undergone, since his condition was so stable. He sincerely asked if Lin Qiu Shi could come to the hospital again for more detailed examinations.
Lin Qiu Shi politely declined all these requests. If his body really was making some miraculous medical contribution, it would be one thing, but his current experiences completely exceeded scientific scope. He certainly couldn't tell the doctor that his illness got better from going through the ghost doors right?
These days, the people at the villa had started going into the doors one by one, mostly to take jobs and earn money, while some were collecting clues. With nothing to do, Lin Qiu Shi stayed at the villa, stroking Tousi's fat butt while watching TV. As he was changing channels with the remote control, he happened to see Tang Zao Zao's TV interview.
This girl who had slept curled up like a worm inside the doors was now gracefully sitting in front of the TV camera, smiling as she answered the host's questions.
The host asked, "When was the last time you cried?"
Tang Zao Zao brushed back her hair and smiled, "Probably the last time I was acting and had to cry."
The host said, "So you haven't actually cried for a long time?"
Tang Zao Zao: "I rarely cry. Tears can't solve problems."
Lin Qiu Shi: "..." He recalled Tang Zao Zao's crying and snotting mess of a face, and silently changed the channel with the remote control.
Today there was no one else at the villa until evening when Cheng Qian Li and his brother returned, looking exhausted.
"Where did you go?" Lin Qiu Shi asked him.
"Took a job," said Cheng Qian Li. "Never seen anyone who likes courting death this much in my life."
Lin Qiu Shi: "Did he die?"
Cheng Qian Li nodded painfully: "Lost the final payment."
Lin Qiu Shi deeply sympathized.
Cheng Yi Xuan nodded at Lin Qiu Shi in greeting then went upstairs. Cheng Qian Li sprawled on the sofa bemoaning his fate, saying they really needed to check the job quality in future and not find someone with mental issues. After all, illness could be cured, but stupidity had no medicine.
Lin Qiu Shi: "Speaking of which, you still haven't told me about the website for taking jobs."
Cheng Qian Li sat up straight and casually grabbed the computer on the table to turn it on. After some operations, he turned the screen to face Lin Qiu Shi: "This is the website. It has people looking to take jobs and jobs on offer. Of course most of the jobs we take now are through private channels. We only look on there for brushing clues or testing our courage."
Lin Qiu Shi browsed the website.
It was very active, with most posts being anonymous. You had to private message if you wanted to take a job. The posted notices generally stated the requirements, as well as how much the poster was willing to pay.
"For Brother Ruan's level, anything less than 7 digits is rejected," said Cheng Qian Li, sprawling back on the sofa. "And every target is pretty awesome. I think one of his jobs was even for a big celebrity, though I don't know exactly who."
Lin Qiu Shi nodded.
Cheng Qian Li yawned and told Lin Qiu Shi to keep looking while he went to rest first.
Coming out from the doors was the most relaxing period when they could properly unwind before going back in. At least that's what Lin Qiu Shi thought. But one morning while frying pancakes for the villa residents, Chen Fei suddenly asked him, "Aren't you nervous?"
"Nervous?" Lin Qiu Shi didn't understand. "Why would I be nervous?
Chen Fei: "That feeling of the door deadline ticking down. This is your sixth door already right?"
Lin Qiu Shi shook his head, indicating he felt no nervousness at all. Just go through whichever doors come, whatever is meant for him won't escape.
Seeing Lin Qiu Shi's natural expression, showing no pretense at all, Chen Fei gave him a thumbs up and praised, "Awesome!"
Lin Qiu Shi wondered why he was being praised so inexplicably. Until a few days later when a newcomer joined the team.
This newcomer was a man in his thirties who could be considered handsome, but his handsomeness was ruined by the anxiety and fear on his face.
He was brought back by Yi Man Man. Lin Qiu Shi only realized then that when they were speed-running low-level doors, they would also pay attention to newcomers with potential and bring them back to replenish the villa's fresh blood. Li Dongyuan had entered that way by relying on White Deer - although the fundamental reason he could enter was that Ruan Nan Zhu wanted free labor.
The newcomer's name was Qin Bu Dai, quite an interesting name, but his mental fortitude didn't seem great. He was very nervous upon arriving at the villa.
He came while Lin Qiu Shi was eating pancakes. Recently everyone had come to love Lin Qiu Shi's pancakes. He wrapped the fillings very generously himself, with thin skin and lots of stuffing. Fried in the pan they would sizzle with oil, crispy on the outside and soft within. Every bite had a crisp exterior followed by a tender, juicy meaty interior.
Cheng Qian Li could eat thirty in one go without stopping his mouth, while Lin Qiu Shi was slightly more restrained, but could still eat over a dozen.
So the scene became the anxious newcomer sitting at the dining table while everyone else heartlessly ate pancakes and expressionlessly watched him - a rather bizarre situation.
"Three questions," said Yi Man Man, holding up three fingers at him. "You can only ask three."
Qin Bu Dai asked: "What exactly are the doors?"
Yi Man Man: "Don't know. Why else would I still be sitting here if I knew what the doors actually were?"
Qin Bu Dai: "Where do the doors come from?"
Yi Man Man: "..."
Qin Bu Dai: "The doors..."
Before he could finish speaking, Yi Man Man's expression turned to one of immense headache. She said, "Bro, you can't seriously be asking where the doors ultimately lead right?"
Qin Bu Dai nodded.
Yi Man Man: "Are you a philosopher or what?? Can't you ask more sensible questions?"
Qin Bu Dai: "...These are very sensible questions!"
Yi Man Man nearly collapsed, while the others began mercilessly mocking him, telling Yi Man Man to teach her own newcomer, then turned their gazes to Lin Qiu Shi, heartily praising Ruan Nan Zhu's judgement - leaving Lin Qiu Shi struggling not to laugh.
But privately, Cheng Qian Li told Lin Qiu Shi that newcomers like Qin Bu Dai were common, and also often disappeared quickly. Whether they could survive a few doors completely depended on luck. So it was best not to get too close with them in the early doors.
"After all, it'll be more heartbreaking if you were close when they die," were Cheng Qian Li's words.
Lin Qiu Shi had thought he could rest quietly for a while after exiting the door, but unexpectedly, a very unwelcome person came knocking.
That day, he and Cheng Qian Li had just finished walking Tousi when they returned to the villa and saw Ruan Nan Zhu sitting expressionlessly on the living room sofa with a baby-faced man - none other than Li Dongyuan who had infiltrated Hei Yao Shi by pretending to be a newcomer.
"Ruan Nan Zhu, a promise is a promise!" said Li Dongyuan.
Ruan Nan Zhu: "Mm."
Li Dongyuan: "Then it's settled!" Hearing the door open, he quickly turned to look, and sighed regretfully when he saw it was Lin Qiu Shi and Cheng Qian Li.
"See you next door!" Li Dongyuan said. "Don't forget what you promised me!"
Ruan Nan Zhu nodded coldly.
Li Dongyuan got up and left: "Until we meet again!"
Ruan Nan Zhu didn't speak to him either, just watching as he walked out the door.
"Brother Ruan, why did he come?" Cheng Qian Li didn't like this guy. He and Lin Qiu Shi were the only ones kept in the dark back then about Li Dongyuan's ploy, and he especially couldn't stand how his intelligence had been insulted by Cheng Yi Xuan. So he harbored an inexplicable resentment towards Li Dongyuan.
"He wants to cooperate with us," said Ruan Nan Zhu.
"Cooperate? He actually wants to cooperate with us?" Cheng Qian Li found it a little unbelievable.
"Yes." Ruan Nan Zhu said very calmly, "He's willing to share sources with us."
Cheng Qian Li had an expression like he'd seen a ghost.
"Of course, he has conditions," Ruan Nan Zhu continued matter-of-factly. "He requires teaming up with Zhu Meng at least once a month."
Cheng Qian Li and Lin Qiu Shi both fell silent, gazing at Ruan Nan Zhu's unchanged expression and sinking into bizarre stillness. Finally, Cheng Qian Li couldn't hold back and burst out laughing until tears came out: "Fuck, fuck!! Has Li Dongyuan lost his mind or what - Zhu Meng, where did Zhu Meng come from?!"
Ruan Nan Zhu remained utterly indifferent, saying, "No wonder Li Dongyuan is still single."
Hearing Ruan Nan Zhu's words, Cheng Qian Li's intelligence short-circuited yet again. He fearlessly added: "Isn't Brother Ruan single too?"
Ruan Nan Zhu: "..."
Lin Qiu Shi struggled not to laugh beside them.
Before Ruan Nan Zhu could erupt, Cheng Yi Xuan hurriedly came to haul his foolish younger brother away. Cheng Qian Li also seemed to realize he'd asked something he shouldn't have and obediently made himself scarce like a chick.
"Very funny?" came Ruan Nan Zhu's calm voice from beside the head-lowered Lin Qiu Shi who didn't dare show any expression.
Lin Qiu Shi: "..." He strangely sensed an impending storm from Ruan Nan Zhu's seemingly calm tone, and quickly said: "Brother Ruan, you're different from Li Dongyuan! He can't find a girlfriend while you don't want one!"
Ruan Nan Zhu looked at him expressionlessly without speaking.
Lin Qiu Shi felt pressured to continue: "That's the difference between subjective and passive..."
Ruan Nan Zhu: "Have you had a girlfriend before?"
Lin Qiu Shi: "..."
Ruan Nan Zhu: "Not even one?"
Lin Qiu Shi's face betrayed his shame. He did want one! But he was always doing homework in school, then working overtime after graduating. When was he supposed to find a girlfriend?!
Ruan Nan Zhu: "Impressive."
Lin Qiu Shi suddenly felt an indescribable sadness. He was already over 20 but still single. Wasn't that just too pitiful?
Ruan Nan Zhu's mood seemed to improve instead. He half-heartedly comforted Lin Qiu Shi, saying not to worry, he'd definitely find someone in future. And if he really couldn't find a girlfriend, there were always other options.
Lin Qiu Shi: "A cat?"
Ruan Nan Zhu had a "are you kidding me" expression as he stood up and patted Lin Qiu Shi's shoulder: "You really are single through your own ability." Then he briskly walked off.
Lin Qiu Shi: "..." What does that mean? Can't I even have a cat?
At this moment, Lizi happened to walk by. Seeing Lin Qiu Shi, it gave a "meow", no longer as resistant to him as before. Lin Qiu Shi swiftly captured an innocent kitten.
Lizi: "Meow meow meow?"
Lin Qiu Shi: "Let daddy hug you~" *blissfully snuzzles*
Lizi's pink paw pads softly pushed against Lin Qiu Shi as it mewled unhappily. After Lin Qiu Shi had his fill of cat hugs and pets, he reluctantly let the little cutie go.
*sigh* No girlfriend, but at least he had a cat! As Lin Qiu Shi watched Lizi's retreating back, he felt very comforted. And with Li Dongyuan's tragic example right here, he suddenly didn't feel so sad anymore.
Li Dongyuan who was studying the notes suddenly sneezed. Someone asked if he had a cold. As he rubbed his nose with a frown, he said: "Must be someone cursing me!"