A total of fourteen people entered through the door, gathering together little by little in the town square.
Lin Qiu Shi seized the time to observe his surroundings. This town looked extremely shabby. Over half the shops on the streets were closed. Occasionally a gust of wind would kick up dust from the roadside, making the town seem even more desolate.
Next to the square where they stood was a bulletin board. Lin Qiu Shi and Ruan Nan Zhu walked over to take a look. They discovered three missing person notices posted on the board, all seeking children between seven and eight years old. There were boys and girls, and all the notices were recently posted.
Upon seeing these missing person notices, Lin Qiu Shi immediately thought of the emaciated ghostly figure mentioned in their clue. Although that ghost also attacked adults, its primary targets were usually children. It seemed the disappearance of these children was closely related to that ghost.
Just then, a middle-aged man with an imposing demeanor approached from the end of the square. He briefly introduced himself to the crowd as the town mayor, then explained their roles and identities inside this door.
"We hope you can help us find the missing children," the mayor said. "All these children disappeared within a week. We've searched the entire town to no avail. Please complete the commission and find the missing kids."
So this was the clue for this door.
After the mayor finished speaking, he led them to the inn where they would be staying.
The inn matched the town's dreary atmosphere, appearing extremely shabby. A snoozing old man sat at the entrance. Seeing the mayor arrive with people, he didn't even lift his head to greet them. He simply tossed over a keychain in a perfunctory manner, then closed his eyes to continue napping.
The mayor was clearly used to this. He said, "We rarely get outsiders here. Everyone is on edge because of the missing children. Please be tactful when asking around for clues."
The rooms were double occupancy. Everyone quickly paired up with a roommate on their own accord.
Unsurprisingly, Lin Qiu Shi ended up rooming with Ruan Nan Zhu. Since he was playing a mute woman, he hadn't spoken much the entire time. When people looked his way, he pretended not to notice.
That Wang Tianxin seemed to still hold some interest towards him, but it was well concealed. Occasionally Lin Qiu Shi could feel his gaze, but ignored it.
After dividing the rooms, the mayor talked about some matters regarding the town.
Their town was originally a fishing village. Later a dam was built upstream, decreasing the fish population and leading to the town's decline. There was little industry in the town, only a canned food factory at the westernmost edge. The easternmost area was the town's cemetery. The mayor advised them not to go there if they had no business.
Everyone listened quietly, and some took notes. Clues were usually provided by NPCs. The keys would be hidden among these clues.
After fussing for a while, everyone was getting rather hungry. So they randomly ate something downstairs at the inn's restaurant.
The food here tasted awful. The bread was hard and dry, hurting one's teeth when chewing. Aside from bread there was also pan-fried fish that looked entirely unappetizing. Lin Qiu Shi eyed the dead stare of the fish and didn't dare pick up his knife and fork. This thing might actually be poisonous if eaten.
Ruan Nan Zhu also didn't touch the fish, only eating some bread. He hadn't spoken much since entering the inn, seemingly lost in thought about something.
After finishing this terrible dinner, everyone intended to return and rest to prepare for the next day.
Lin Qiu Shi did the same, simply washing up before climbing into bed.
This was a standard double room with two beds. His was by the window and Ruan Nan Zhu's by the door.
Ruan Nan Zhu took a shower and came out of the bathroom with his upper body bare, using a towel to dry his hair. He asked, "What do you think?"
Lin Qiu Shi leaned against the headboard playing on his phone: "Let's go ask the parents of those missing kids tomorrow first to see if there are any clues." After thinking for a bit, he said, "Since that mayor mentioned the canned food factory, we should probably go investigate it. There likely aren't many clues in this small town, so that factory should have what we want."
Ruan Nan Zhu: "Mm, how was it?"
Lin Qiu Shi thought Ruan Nan Zhu was asking about his impression of this door. He obediently answered, "Not bad. Though the food really was too awful."
Ruan Nan Zhu raised a brow: "I'm asking how you felt disguising as a mute woman."
Lin Qiu Shi: "..."
Ruan Nan Zhu: "Not happy?"
Faced with Ruan Nan Zhu's imposing manner, Lin Qiu Shi turned into a cowardly dog, forcing out a smile. "Happy, very happy." Why did he have to run his mouth back then to ask that.
Indeed, with such an expression, the cross-dressing Lin Qiu Shi looked rather cute. No matter if he was willing or not, this answer at least satisfied Ruan Nan Zhu. He smiled faintly and gently said, "That's good if you like it."
Lin Qiu Shi: "..." He had a bad premonition for some reason.
The two chatted for a bit more before going to bed.
The window beside Lin Qiu Shi's bed was a casement window. He could vaguely see the shadows of treetops projected onto it from outside. A breeze blew past, making the leaves rustle. Although the inn looked shabby, the interior environment wasn't bad. The only downside was the cold weather and mosquitoes. Their buzzing was quite disturbing. Lying in bed, Lin Qiu Shi tried emptying his mind so he could fall asleep sooner.
But right as he was about to doze off, Ruan Nan Zhu gently poked him from behind. Just as he was about to turn his head, he heard Ruan Nan Zhu's low voice: "Don't move. There's something outside."
Lin Qiu Shi's body jolted as he instantly became alert.
He looked closely to find that somehow, an indescribable thing had attached itself to the tree outside. It clung onto the trunk, seemingly fusing together with it, yet also writhing about. It was long and slender like a snake, impossible to notice if not looking carefully.
That thing slowly stretched out an arm, pressing itself onto the casement window. Lin Qiu Shi watched as it flipped open one of the window panels. He expected to see a pair of black eyes, but instead only saw a stretch of ghastly white...the thing had no eyes at all.
"Close your eyes," Ruan Nan Zhu suddenly said.
Lin Qiu Shi obediently shut his eyes. His hearing was very keen. He could clearly hear the sounds of the window panels flipping about.
Then came soft rustling noises, as if something was moving across the grass outside.
Ruan Nan Zhu didn't allow Lin Qiu Shi to open his eyes for a while. At first he endured it, but eventually couldn't stand it anymore. "Is it over?" he asked.
No response.
Lin Qiu Shi's heart tightened. Fearing something had happened, he opened his eyes and turned to look. But he discovered that Ruan Nan Zhu had already fallen asleep beside him.
Lin Qiu Shi: "..." Looks like these sleeping pills not only made others sleep, but also himself.
The area outside regained its tranquility. Lin Qiu Shi closed his eyes to sleep.
The next day was overcast with light rain.
The temperature was a bit cold. Light drizzles floated about in the air.
Lin Qiu Shi and Ruan Nan Zhu got up early and went downstairs to the restaurant. Upon entering, Lin Qiu Shi heard Wang Tianxin flirting and joking with that girl from yesterday. After a night's interactions, the two seemed to have grown closer, now intimately hand-feeding each other breakfast.
Lin Qiu Shi glanced at him. He truly admired such shameless people, still able to happily hook up given the circumstances here. In some ways, that took talent.
Ruan Nan Zhu followed behind him into the restaurant. The two immediately attracted most of the gazes inside upon entering. Some looked towards the still-eye-catching Ruan Nan Zhu, while others cast ambiguous glances towards Lin Qiu Shi.
At first Lin Qiu Shi was confused, until halfway through the meal when he suddenly felt something off as he examined himself in the bathroom mirror...
He stretched his neck to take a careful look, discovering a red mark below his ear that wasn't there before. It felt somewhat itchy, probably a mosquito bite. But he knew it was a mosquito while others didn't, moreover the location seemed rather suggestive.
Lin Qiu Shi didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He scratched it a couple times with his hand, but that only made it itchier.
There was no way to immediately get rid of this. Lin Qiu Shi sighed, having no choice but to give up. He washed his hands and turned to leave, only to see Wang Tianxin walking into the bathroom from outside.
The inn was very small with only one unisex bathroom downstairs.
The two encountered each other in the narrow space. Lin Qiu Shi shifted his body to make way, signaling for Wang Tianxin to go first.
But Wang Tianxin smiled at him and suddenly spoke: "Why are you so afraid of me?"
Lin Qiu Shi was startled.
"When we're doing the same kinds of things, what's the point in acting like I'm the bad guy?" Wang Tianxin's voice wasn't actually bad, and he had a pair of attractive peach blossom eyes. Such a man would easily capture young girls' hearts outside. He reached out to grab Lin Qiu Shi's arm and continued, "Right?"
Lin Qiu Shi knew it was a misunderstanding. He wanted to jerk his arm out of Wang Tianxin's grasp, but was afraid of exposing his identity if he used too much strength. So he could only take out his phone with his other hand to type: You misunderstood. We're not like that.
But Wang Tianxin just gave a cold laugh after reading it and said, "Don't pretend to be dumb. That mark on your neck, was it a mosquito bite?"
Lin Qiu Shi: Yes, it actually was a mosquito bite!
Wang Tianxin glanced outside, his expression suddenly turning sinister as he revealed an evil smile: "If I fucked you right here in the bathroom, do you think he'd notice?"
Lin Qiu Shi: "..." Friend, I wonder who would actually be fucking who.
Perhaps Lin Qiu Shi's expression gave Wang Tianxin the wrong idea. He laughed and said, "What's this, scared now?"
Lin Qiu Shi's eyes darted around the bathroom. He was already considering how best to beat down the man in front of him to vent his anger.
But just as Lin Qiu Shi was about to make his move, footsteps suddenly approached from outside.
Even so, Wang Tianxin still refused to let Lin Qiu Shi go until Ruan Nan Zhu himself appeared at the doorway, staring at him with unkind eyes. Only then did he reluctantly withdraw his hand, an awkward smile on his face. "Misunderstanding, all just misunderstandings. I didn't do anything to Qiu Qiu..."
Ruan Nan Zhu coldly said, "Last warning. If I catch you trying anything with her again, I'll kill you." His tone made the threat seem genuine. Even Lin Qiu Shi in Ruan Nan Zhu's embrace sensed the thick killing intent.
Ruan Nan Zhu was serious.
Both Wang Tianxin and Lin Qiu Shi knew that.
So Wang Tianxin hurriedly responded and fled without even using the bathroom.
Watching his panicked, retreating figure, Lin Qiu Shi almost wanted to spit.
"You alright?" Ruan Nan Zhu asked him.
Lin Qiu Shi shook his head, then pointed at the mark below his ear.
Unexpectedly, a warm, soft thing suddenly pressed itself onto that area, sucking lightly for a few moments. Lin Qiu Shi's eyes widened as he reflexively tried pushing the person in front of him away. But Ruan Nan Zhu just chuckled lowly and said, "Little mute girl, when did you start seeing me as a good person?"
Lin Qiu Shi: "..." Senior, you're really that happy to act out this scene?
"I'm not a good person either," Ruan Nan Zhu's fingers roughly kneaded that spot, making Lin Qiu Shi involuntarily shiver. He opened his mouth wanting to speak, but Ruan Nan Zhu made a shushing gesture, hinting that the walls had ears.
"You have to obediently listen to me before I'll take you out. If you don't behave, don't blame me for abandoning you here alone." Ruan Nan Zhu said.
Lin Qiu Shi: "..." That's going a bit overboard.
Ruan Nan Zhu: "Understand?"
Lin Qiu Shi could only nod.
Satisfied, Ruan Nan Zhu revealed a pleased expression. He grabbed Lin Qiu Shi's hand and walked out.
Only now did Lin Qiu Shi fully understand Ruan Nan Zhu's malicious intentions in making him dress up as a mute woman. If he wasn't mute, he could still retort a few lines to ruin Ruan Nan Zhu's spur-of-moment performances. But now as a mute woman, by the time he finished typing a response on his phone, Ruan Nan Zhu would have already finished his act.
Having drank up the milk before him, Lin Qiu Shi secretly lamented in his heart at man's cruel nature...
The way others looked towards Ruan Nan Zhu and Lin Qiu Shi grew even more ambiguous. They probably took the two for a hookup couple.
Currently Lin Qiu Shi truly was a mute man eating bitter melon, full of grievances but unable to voice them. He could only glare at Ruan Nan Zhu a few times.
Shamelessly, Ruan Nan Zhu said, "Stop glaring, or I might get hard."
Lin Qiu Shi: "????" Damn hard my ass!
Finally finished with this awful breakfast, Lin Qiu Shi hurriedly pulled Ruan Nan Zhu out of the restaurant. They had planned to visit the families of those missing children today to check for any clues.
The town's population was very small. Reportedly there were only eight or nine kids total. For three to suddenly disappear was naturally a huge incident.
Ruan Nan Zhu and Lin Qiu Shi quickly arrived at the home of the first missing child, accompanied by several seniors from their team.
The family's attitude was very cold towards them, answering questions sentence by sentence and not voluntarily providing any information.
Fortunately they were at least willing to reply. Ruan Nan Zhu asked several key questions—when did the child disappear, where did he disappear from, who was the last person to see him, were there any signs beforehand.
"He had a weird temper to begin with," the parents spoke of their missing son's disappearance with an attitude seemingly detached, as if they didn't want to say much more. "Always running off and not coming home for entire days. He disappeared six days ago at dusk after going out. Just never returned after that. The last person to see him was his sister. As for signs...would he have gone missing then if there were signs?"
Everyone recorded down these clues. It happened that the missing boy's sister was also present to the side. Ruan Nan Zhu went over to ask her some things as well.
Perhaps due to his handsome looks easily capturing young girls' favor, the sister's attitude towards them was decent.
She looked around seventeen or eighteen years old with average features, a few freckles on her cheeks. But her beautiful golden hair behind her was extremely eye-catching. She said, "My brother Laurence said before disappearing that someone was following him. But the town is so small without any outsiders. Who would follow a child? We didn't put his words to heart back then..." She seemed somewhat regretful, her eyes growing moist.
"Do you mind if we take a look in his room?" Ruan Nan Zhu asked.
"Go ahead, we'll bring you there." The sister replied.
The missing boy's name was Laurence. His room was an attic loft, very narrow and messy. A small bed and piles of various books and odds and ends were crammed into the not-so-big space.
Since the attic was far too cramped, they couldn't all go in together. They entered in batches instead.
Lin Qiu Shi, Ruan Nan Zhu and another girl were the first group to enter.
Ruan Nan Zhu made a beeline towards the bookshelf while Lin Qiu Shi started checking Laurence's bed.
Soon, Lin Qiu Shi discovered something—a locked notebook hidden beneath Laurence's pillow. He reacted swiftly, immediately stuffing the notebook into his clothes while acting as if nothing had happened. At times like this, Lin Qiu Shi felt cross-dressing did have some advantages. It would have been difficult for a man to secretly hide anything while wearing such simple clothes.
Meanwhile, Ruan Nan Zhu found many notes Laurence had taken about local urban legends on the bookshelf. These urban tales were quite abundant, including the emaciated ghostly figure mentioned in their clue.
"Looks like he had a premonition about something," Ruan Nan Zhu analyzed. "The deaths inside this door had warning signs."
Lin Qiu Shi nodded, signaling that he understood. Then he pointed towards the door, hinting that they should head out.
Ruan Nan Zhu glanced at him and understood his intent. "Let's go out."
The two used the excuse of needing fresh air to go outside, finding an isolated corner to take out the diary that Lin Qiu Shi had secretly obtained from Laurence's room.
Seeing him act so skillfully, Ruan Nan Zhu laughed. "Quite adept."
Lin Qiu Shi was nearly suffocated from the act: "Stop kidding around. Hurry and see what's inside."
Ruan Nan Zhu nodded. He easily unlocked the lock on the notebook and looked at its contents.
The first part of the notebook contained Laurence's daily life - complaining about parents, complaining about school. Wait, school?
Lin Qiu Shi asked: "This small town has a school?"
Ruan Nan Zhu: "Should have it. But not here, probably in the next town over."
Lin Qiu Shi: "Oh...the mayor didn't mention it."
Ruan Nan Zhu said: "He wasn't the biological father. No wonder the parents had that kind of attitude."
Laurence wasn't the father's biological child, but rather the son of the mother from her remarriage. The stepfather had always disliked him, often causing him trouble and even beating him. After his disappearance, the stepfather also reacted nonchalantly, seemingly not caring at all that his child was missing.
"What about Laurence's mother?" Lin Qiu Shi found it strange.
"Barely mentioned." Ruan Nan Zhu said. ".....Which is rather odd."
It was indeed strange. When they had entered the house, they didn't see the lady of the house at all. No one had brought up whether there was originally a lady living there either.
Continuing to flip down, Lin Qiu Shi saw clues related to the disappearance.
In his diary, Laurence kept complaining about someone who seemed to be following him - on his way to and from school, yet he couldn't find that person no matter how he tried.
At the start Laurence's tone was merely angry and annoyed. But soon, the anger and annoyance transformed into fear. Laurence seemed to have discovered something...
"It appeared outside my window again. I hid under my bed, hoping it wouldn't find me."
"This time I hid in the closet. Luckily I didn't hide under the bed. I saw it bend down with its hand reaching towards the space below, as if looking for me."
"No one believes what I say. They all think I've gone crazy. That thing almost squeezed in through the gaps in my window. I don't know what it is at all."
"I know its name now, but it's too late...there's no more time left..."
"It's all over."
These were Laurence's diary entries from the recent period. In the last entry a few days ago, he wrote the final five words - "It's all over."
Afterwards, Laurence disappeared. The diary stopped there as well.
"So it was that thing which took the child away." Having read the entire diary, Lin Qiu Shi said, "The emaciated ghostly figure..."
Ruan Nan Zhu: "Wonder where it brought him."
Lin Qiu Shi and Ruan Nan Zhu looked at each other, both revealing awkward smiles. "It didn't bring him to the canned food factory, right?"
It seemed the only special location in this town.
Ruan Nan Zhu asked: "So did you eat any canned fish this morning?"
Lin Qiu Shi hurriedly shook his head. That canned fish looked unappetizing from the start. He had eaten light for breakfast and didn't have any interest.
But even if he didn't eat any, others had eaten quite a bit, especially Wang Tianxin who seemed to favor fish.
Lin Qiu Shi said: "Let's not think too deeply about this. It's too disgusting."
Ruan Nan Zhu: "Where to next then?"
Lin Qiu Shi: "Weren't there a few other missing kids? Let's go ask about them to see if there are any common threads."
Ruan Nan Zhu nodded, agreeing with Lin Qiu Shi's suggestion.
Thus the two headed towards the homes of the remaining missing children, discussing some details about the town along the way.
Of course, to maintain his mute woman act, Lin Qiu Shi didn't dare speak much. He communicated with Ruan Nan Zhu for the most part through his phone's voice function.
Seeing him lower his head as he typed, Ruan Nan Zhu smiled and said: "Qiu Qiu, you're really cute."
Lin Qiu Shi: Where's the cute?
Ruan Nan Zhu: "Everywhere, makes me want to hug you back and lock you up to only let myself see."
Lin Qiu Shi: "....." Ruan Nan Zhu, do you know you sound just like some pervert?
Ruan Nan Zhu: "Haha, just joking around."
Lin Qiu Shi truly felt that every time Ruan Nan Zhu said this line, he was actually serious.