Chapter 86: Butterfly Paradise (8)

Chapter 86: Butterfly Paradise (8)

◎“That thing... went to your room!”◎

In the four staff dormitories in the basement, besides Jiang's father’s room, which only had men's items, the other three showed signs of both men and women living there. By correlating the NPCs’ genders and numbers, it was easy to deduce that the other three families were typical families of three.

The paintings with chrysalises, apart from Wang Shuo’s room before his death and the 304 room where Shi Youqing stayed, the other two were three-person rooms: 204 with Lu Wei and two male players, and 207 with Chen Lan and two female players.

During dinner, Shi Youqing called the residents of these two rooms together.

He shared the situation in the rooms and then asked a question he’d been curious about, "Last night, especially during the power outage, did any of you notice anything unusual?"

The expressions of the people before him varied, with several scared to switch rooms upon learning they corresponded to those of the deceased boys.

Shi Youqing averted his gaze, focusing on the relatively calm Lu Wei and Chen Lan.

Lu Wei ate heartily, "I went out last night and met Wang Shuo. I’ve already said everything that needed to be said."

Chen Lan hesitated for a moment, then said, "I... I'm not sure if it was just a hallucination."

"It's okay if it was a hallucination, just share what you experienced," Shi Youqing encouraged softly.

Chen Lan glanced at the short-haired girl next to her and whispered, "Wang Yu, you were sleeping with Xiao Yan last night, right?"

The girl named Wang Yu nodded, "Yes, why?"

Chen Lan turned to Shi Youqing, "Our three-person room is arranged like a family suite. I chose to sleep alone in the smaller room because I'm braver, and they shared the larger one. During last night's blackout, everyone got scared, and someone came to my room, saying they were frightened. The person was petite and thin, with a voice similar to Wang Yu's, so I thought it was her. I planned to check once the lights came back on, but for some reason, I suddenly felt very tired and fell asleep. When I woke up, it was already morning."

"We thought you were just confused from sleep!" Wang Yu retorted in shock, "That never happened! I was with Xiao Yan the whole time. Even after the power came back, I went to check on you. You were sleeping so soundly that we couldn’t wake you up!"

"So, I'm not sure..." Chen Lan said, looking bewildered, "I don't know if it was just a dream after falling asleep. I can't tell anymore."

Shi Youqing didn’t press further, instead turning to study Wang Yu for a moment.

Wang Yu continued to reassure Chen Lan about the previous night, telling her not to overthink it. If one ignored Wang Yu’s obviously adult face and attire and just listened to her voice, it did sound somewhat like a middle schooler going through a voice change, slightly hoarse.

The girl in the school uniform on the roller coaster had also spoken with a slight rasp.

Shi Youqing didn’t believe it was just a hallucination by Chen Lan. He said, "It's fine to change rooms, we've already switched. If anyone else wants to change, do it quickly. Just make sure not to get the paintings mixed up. But I don't think those two rooms will remain unoccupied; other players are probably waiting to switch into them."

"What do you mean?" a square-faced man next to Lu Wei asked with a frown, "You mean to say people are eager to stay with ghosts?"

This time, Feng Bin couldn’t help but laugh, "If you want to switch, you can with me. I’m currently in a single room."

The man hesitated, caught off guard.

Lu Wei, sounding displeased, said, "You wanted to switch, right? Go swap with him then."

"I... it's not that... aren’t you guys scared?"

Lu Wei was momentarily speechless, then said, "There indeed was a ghost in Wang Shuo’s room, but he died because he broke the rules. As for our room, it might have appeared there too, but you all wear eye masks at night, so you definitely can’t see anything. Something already appeared in Chen Lan’s room last night... but only Wang Shuo, who broke the rules, died. What’s there to fear? Are you afraid of not finding clues?"

This statement made it clear – having a ghost in the room wouldn't threaten their lives, and it might even lead to crucial information for escape.

Not everyone had the courage to face the unknown ghosts, and after much internal struggle, the man finally said firmly, "I don’t care, I’m switching!"

The others had complex expressions and, after several moments of hesitation, ultimately remained silent.

After dark, everyone returned to the visitor hotel, where the NPC at the front desk smiled as they processed the room changes for several players. The square-faced middle-aged player who had swapped rooms with Feng Bin was surprisingly assigned by Zongzhu Yuan to room 201 – the room where Wang Shuo had died.

The man was on the verge of tears, filled with regret, "I don’t want to go..."

Zongzhu Yuan, barely containing his impatience, said, "You won't die. Just get up there."

Everyone: "..."

Back in their rooms, Hao Tianshuo went to tidy up his small room while Bo Huai immediately headed to the bathroom to prepare a bubble bath.

Shi Youqing remarked, "A quick shower should be fine."

Bo Huai shook his head, "There are a lot of bacteria in the wooden box... We have plenty of time tonight for a bath."

Shi Youqing: "...Alright then."

After Shi Youqing went for his bath, Bo Huai returned to the living room to continue piecing together the chrysalis fragments.

Emerging refreshed from the bath, Shi Youqing, wearing a robe provided by Bo Huai, went over to look at the "puzzle" on the coffee table.

Upon his arrival, Bo Huai’s movements became noticeably less fluid.

When Bo Huai looked up at Shi Youqing, Shi Youqing smiled, "No need to keep working on it."

The pattern had mostly come together when Shi Youqing first opened the door, but Bo Huai had continued the task unconsciously. Tensely, he put down the tweezers and grunted in acknowledgment.

Shi Youqing carefully examined the partially completed chrysalis shell as he sat down beside him.

Bo Huai, leaning forward, restrainedly and cautiously inhaled the scent on Shi Youqing, a mix of medicinal herbs, and in a hoarse voice began to explain the "puzzle," "The chrysalis inside, if it hadn’t been chopped up, would be abnormally large."

Shi Youqing, observing the patterns that were several times wider than a normal chrysalis shell, nodded.

"Qingqing brother!"

Shi Youqing turned around as Hao Tianshuo dashed over like a whirlwind, leaning on the armrest to look at him, and gently touched his hair tips with his finger, "Let me dry your hair for you!"

Before Shi Youqing could respond, the tall figure beside him abruptly stood up, and together with a visibly startled Hao Tianshuo, they rushed towards the bathroom.

The ultimate victor, Bo Huai, came back with a hairdryer.

Hao Tianshuo stood nearby, his expression anxious.

Midway through drying his hair, Shi Youqing felt thirsty, prompting Bo Huai to go fetch water.

Seizing the opportunity, Hao Tianshuo rushed over, gently blowing a few times with the hairdryer on Shi Youqing's silver-white hair. Seeing someone approaching, he set down the dryer and diligently applied essential oil to Shi Youqing’s hair tips, "Qingqing brother, your hair smells so nice. You grew it this long just after leaving that guy in the last scenario. Why is that?"

Shi Youqing: "..."

A man approached, his face clouded with a storm.

Holding Shi Youqing’s hair, Hao Tianshuo stiffened his neck and continued, "Qingqing brother, you must dislike those rough types, right? It's not like we're living in primitive times… right?"

Bo Huai, already clenching his fists, paused in his steps.

"Right... I'm tired," Shi Youqing yawned, "I’ll drink my medicine and go to sleep."

Upon hearing this, Bo Huai forgot all about Hao Tianshuo's presence, stepped forward with the cup, took out the medicine, and brought it to Shi Youqing’s lips, "I’ve made the bed."

"Thank you."

Hao Tianshuo stormed back to his room, frustrated.

Tossing and turning, he couldn't sleep. Even though he had never felt bothered about Shi Youqing and Bo Huai living together before, now, all being in the same suite, his mind raced with restless thoughts.

After a while, Hao Tianshuo sat up abruptly, deciding to go out and investigate the situation.

Opening his door, he faced the door of Shi Youqing’s room, and as he looked across, he could see half of the bed in the opposite room...

The door was open, with someone lying on the bed, their fair and smooth feet exposed. Bo Huai was bent over the bed, holding one of the feet...

"You..." Hao Tianshuo's voice, filled with despair and anger, was cut short by a piercing, warning glare.

"Hao Tianshuo?" A groggy voice came from inside, "You’re still awake?"

"I-I was just going to the bathroom..." He stood frozen at the door, staring at Bo Huai's actions. Once he was sure it was just a foot massage, he let out a long sigh and hurriedly made his way to the bathroom, face flushed.

Hao Tianshuo washed his hands in the bathroom, then stood in front of the mirror, lost in thought.

He dwelled on the recent scene, feeling uneasy — Bo Huai's hands in his mind were like venomous dog paws, bound to scratch Shi Youqing one day!

With this thought, a wave of melancholy surged through Hao Tianshuo. He looked at his reflection, at his green-haired face, not particularly rugged but still handsome...

Suddenly, Hao Tianshuo's eyes widened in realization.

Suddenly, the brightly lit room plunged into darkness.

Hao Tianshuo could no longer see anything, but his mind was still replaying the image from the mirror — his facial features had morphed into someone else's in the blink of an eye, a face more delicate and softer than his own.

A chill ran up his spine, and Hao Tianshuo turned and ran. Perhaps in critical moments, one's true potential is unleashed; he managed to return to his room smoothly in the dark.

Perhaps too terrified, he was completely silent the whole way, not even letting out a scream.

Back in his room, before Hao Tianshuo could close the door, illuminated by the moonlight, he saw a human-like shadow rush past him and then lie on his bed.

“……”

"The power’s out again," Shi Youqing, hearing the noise from across the door, got out of bed, "Hao Tianshuo, are you alright?"

Hao Tianshuo was gasping for breath, unable to speak.

Shortly after, Shi Youqing and Bo Huai arrived with flashlights.

Hao Tianshuo stiffly turned his head to look.

Shi Youqing was calm, glancing at him and then at the bed, "Aren’t you sleeping?"

"There’s something on my bed..."

Before he could finish, Bo Huai walked over, sweeping the bed with the flashlight beam. Finding nothing, he then knelt down to check under the bed and soon stood up, "Nothing there."

Hao Tianshuo protested, "But just now..."

Shi Youqing interrupted him, "Why don’t you tidy up your bed and sleep on the floor in my room?"

Hao Tianshuo was stunned.

Bo Huai remained silent.

Hao Tianshuo initially wanted to accept the offer but then remembered their purpose for staying. If the ghost was indeed in this room, and he left for the night, wouldn't he miss any potential clues?

"No, no need..." Hao Tianshuo managed a strained smile, "I must be overthinking it. Qingqing brother, go back to sleep."

Shi Youqing gave him another look, "Are you sure?"

Hao Tianshuo, on the verge of tears, replied, "Yes, I’m sure."

Shi Youqing nodded, and he and Bo Huai left together.

The room was once again enveloped in darkness and silence.

It wasn’t completely dark, however, as moonlight streamed through the curtains, illuminating the bed.

Hao Tianshuo mustered his courage, hesitantly approached the bed, and within a minute, he had recited every prayer known to mankind until he finally lay down.

Eyes tightly shut, he told himself he wouldn’t be afraid as long as he didn’t look. He kept reassuring himself, yet he didn’t want to miss any information, so his ears remained alert to any sound in the surroundings.

Quiet.

Time passed quietly once more.

"So you're just like me, aren't you?"

Suddenly, he heard a young boy say this beside his ear.

Hao Tianshuo's whole body stiffened, his heart pounding wildly, struggling not to tremble.

"You like that one? I'll go have a look..."

It was still the voice of that young boy.

The same? What does that mean? And what does liking that one mean? Can't you, as a ghost, scare people properly without saying such nonsensical things?!

Hao Tianshuo couldn't hold back anymore, resignedly opening his eyes — but there was nothing in his field of vision.

……

Shi Youqing lay in bed, about to succumb to sleepiness, when a sudden sense of being watched made him instantly open his eyes.

By the bed, a shadow was crouching, seemingly watching him quietly.

Shi Youqing: "..."

At that moment, the landline phone by the bed suddenly rang.

Bo Huai, who was nearby, picked up the receiver.

To their surprise, it was Hao Tianshuo on the line.

"Brother Qingqing," Hao Tianshuo's voice trembled softly, "that thing in my room... it seems to have gone to your place..."

Shi Youqing, hearing the voice through the receiver, looked again towards the shadow by the bed: "I see... Okay."

"That thing... it went to your room!" Hao Tianshuo repeated with a shaken voice.

"I understand," Shi Youqing, now being held and moved by Bo Huai, continued, "You can go to sleep now... Sleep well."

*

On the other side, Hao Tianshuo, tears streaming down his face, hung up the landline. After a period of deep contemplation, he suddenly sat up straight, his gaze piercingly fixed on the door.

No matter what, he was determined to guard this room tonight.

If what that guy said was as he suspected, they would definitely come back...

For the sake of the clue, he was even willing to pretend to be gay!

No, that's not right! It seems he had already gleaned a piece of information—

Gay? Homosexual? Bald... electric shock... perverted...

Suddenly, the words of Shi Youqing echoed in his ears again:

"This kind of statement, preserving some information while overshadowing key contradictions, can mislead and confuse others."

"The words of NPCs, including those of the youths, should only be taken as references, not followed blindly."

Meanwhile, a stream of strange inspiration continuously flowed in Hao Tianshuo's mind. Always reliant on luck and money to get by, for the first time, he methodically untangled the messy threads in his head, and soon, he understood the thrill of excitement...

In the video of the teenagers, whether the xx No. 3 Middle School they mentioned corresponded to the real Ruocheng No. 3 Middle School was unclear. But the name and the girl's school uniform clearly indicated a public school, typically not expensive. Moreover, good public high schools can't be entered simply with money, and that couple didn't seem wealthy enough to just casually donate a building...

Yet they said they spent so much money to send him to such a good school...

It was only now that Hao Tianshuo realized he had fallen into a terrible misconception, initially taking the NPCs as victims by instinct and then overlooking a key word in their speech—school.

Besides educational institutions, some organizations also refer to themselves as schools.

Like... internet addiction treatment centers!

[Author's Note]

Thanks to the little angels who threw mines: Cute Bao, 1;

Thanks to the little angels who irrigated with nutrient solutions: Du Heng, 60 bottles; zbht (Love Raising Xiao Jiao version), 26 bottles; Luo Shui Fudeng, My Husband Why Are You Grassed Again, 20 bottles; Mercury's Official Girlfriend, Grilled Skewers Are the Best, Lin Beibei, 10 bottles; Hu Yu Chili Pepper I Love You, 9 bottles; 66669532, 3 bottles; Zhou Zhou Zhou Zhou Zhou Zhou, 1 bottle;

Thank you all very much for your support, I will continue to work hard!