The lady with a long coat finally entered the room, walking as majestically as ever, her eyes scanning the room attentively. Automatically, everyone fell silent, their eyes fixed on her; some with fear, others with indifference.
The room grew quiet, so quiet that Qi Wei could hear the lady's footsteps clearly. His hands somehow found their way to hold Huang Peng's nervous hand, attempting to reassure him that things would be alright.
"Welcome, everyone. Please remember that you were all hired to improve the welfare of the residents. Our village had an odd condition: many people had died in the past few months for reasons unknown. This had greatly affected the mentality of the townsfolk. Schools were closed as children dared not venture from their homes, and women were also confined indoors. Only a few dared to venture out. The men, somehow, seemed safer," explained the lady.
Her face was void of emotion, remaining flat even as she discussed the dead. Her voice was calm, chilling the atmosphere, making it somehow gruesome.
Qi Wei had never been a gamer, a fact known to Huang Peng as well. Naturally, Qi Wei detested competitive games as he had never been skilled at them. The only games he played were either idle or farming games. However, in a time where he was forced to play a game that cost lives, his brain couldn't help but absorb any information he received and try to come up with a plan on how to win the game quickly.
The lady surveyed the room, her gaze somehow fixed on Huang Peng, instilling fear throughout his entire body. A sudden small smile could be seen on her emotionless face. Panic turned to Qi Wei.
Did she target Huang Peng?
Out of his protective instinct, Qi Wei moved closer to him, trying his best to block her vision of Huang Peng.
Sneering as she saw the panic in Qi Wei's actions, the lady averted her gaze away. "Be wary of allure's touch, for vanity's embrace may lead to downfall. Good evening, everyone. I will take my leave now."
A man wearing a tuxedo and a sunglass suddenly took the place where the lady was standing before. In his hand, there was a rectangular wooden plate with keys on it. Qi Wei could already guess that they must be keys to the bedrooms.
"You shall take your keys and get some rest. You are free to choose which room you want to stay in. Up to four people could stay in each bedroom. For your meals, please take care of it yourselves. Caution was urged: gazing too deeply into reflective depths may ensnare, beckoning a perilous journey toward demise."
As if it were default, Qi Wei was roomed with his new friend, ex-boyfriend, and new archenemy.
The situation in their group was rather gloomy because of the prior fight Qi Wei and Lai Yuan had. The two innocent sheep somehow felt uncomfortable with the silence in the room.
There was one thing that Qi Wei just noticed by now. The house was full of mirrors. There were mirrors the size of an adult body, totally covering the walls, lining up on the hallway. And now, entering the bedroom, Qi Wei noticed that on the wardrobe there's also a huge mirror that could reflect his reflection from head to toe.
In the room, there was also an old vanity with mirrors on it.
There were two bunk beds with a small drawer next to each of them; on the drawer, there was a small mirror too.
Lai Yuan was the first to enter the bedroom. He quickly walked up to the drawers and took those mirrors before putting them into the drawer. "Do not stare into the mirror," he announced flatly.
Qi Wei heard what he said but chose not to acknowledge it.
"Ah, Xiao Yi," Huang Peng called to the little girl, trying to ease the awkwardness, "Are you okay? The lady said that women are not safe. What should we do? How can we protect you?"
"Aww," Xiao Yi cooed, sitting next to Huang Peng before squeezing his face in her palm, "Gege, you are so sweet. Unlike some others, you actually worry about me."
Huang Peng, not used to the sudden affection, just laughed awkwardly, trying to slowly pull away Xiao Yi's grip on his face. On the other bunk bed across from his, Qi Wei sat, smiling at the interaction.
Huang Peng was indeed a sweet person. Pride bubbled up in Qi Wei's chest as he saw someone taking a liking to his favorite person in the whole wide world.
Knowing that Xiao Yi was shading him, Lai Yuan, who was still standing around, looking at every detail of the room, answered without giving Xiao Yi a glance, "You've been playing this game for a long time. If I had to worry about you after that many clues given, not even an hour into the game, I'd tell your brother that his sister is brainless."
With a mention of her brother, Xiao Yi shut up and pouted.
"Right, Xiao Yi, you have played the game before. Do you have any tips you can give us?" Qi Wei asked.
Xiao Yi nodded excitedly; no one had ever asked her for tips before. People around her tended to treat her like she was a dumb kid who didn't know how to protect herself. Finally seeing that there were actually people more in need of her help, she couldn't help but feel excited.
"The tip is not to be dumb. Every word matters. Misinterpreted clues can lead to death. It's that simple," Lai Yuan interjected before Xiao Yi could answer the question, as he positioned himself next to Qi Wei.
"I asked Xiao Yi, not you."
"I am smarter than her."
"Can you not sit on my bed?"
"Do you want me to sit on your lap instead?"
"Do you want to die?"
Before the bickering—which sounded like flirting to the ears of the two sheep—continue, Xiao Yi faked a cough. "Do you want to help me make some dinner?" She turned to Huang Peng, who quickly nodded at the invitation.
"Is it safe to go outside of the bedroom at night like this?" Qi Wei turned his face away from the grinning Lai Yuan to Xiao Yi and Huang Peng.
"Yeah, yeah, ge. Do not worry, I can protect Peng ge," Xiao Yi said as she grabbed Huang Peng's wrist and dragged him out of the room, leaving Qi Wei only with the annoying guy.
As if he were immune to the annoyance Qi Wei radiated, Lai Yuan took a position to lay down on the bed.
"This is my bed, go upside if you want to rest," Qi Wei nudged Lai Yuan's arms, trying to stop his annoyance and make peace with the guy.
"Later, I'll go up later," Lai Yuan answered with eyes closed, "Let's talk about something instead, Huang Peng is your ex, correct?"
"Why do I have to tell you about my private life?" feeling tired of being angry, Qi Wei just answered dejectedly.
With a playful grin, Lai Yuan answered, "One should always tell their wife everything."
Disgusted by what he said, Qi Wei shot him a weirded out look. "Disgusting. Since when are you my wife?"
"Well, I'm flexible. I can be your husband instead if you want me to," Lai Yuan replied with a playful grin.