Chapter 1 Qiao Liang Dragged to the Haunted House Nightmare Project

Qiao Liang was dragged by the crowd to the entrance of the "Haunted House Nightmare" project.

"Hurry up, whoever chickens out is a sissy!"

"Old Qiao, weren't you a big shot in *BeQuiet*? Hurry up and go in first!"

"Look, the promotional page says that the Haunted House Nightmare project is moderately scary, not the scariest..."

The crowd coaxed him, wanting to send Teacher Qiao in for a try.

Qiao Liang was gradually persuaded.

Yes, the promotional page did say "moderate level of terror," and the process was quite short. It shouldn't be too scary, right?

But just as he was about to step inside, he saw a muscular man with a pale face walking out of the exit, looking like he was about to faint at any moment.

Several girls who had just come out were crying their eyes out, their makeup completely ruined.

"Too scary!"

"I'm going to have psychological trauma, waaaah!"

"We even had to memorize game steps, might as well have killed me!"

Several tourists who came out of it had no intention of going to "Ultimate Horror" at all. Either they went to the Golden Maze, or they went back to "Escape from Desperation", as if they didn't want to stay here for a second longer.

Qiao Liang keenly sensed that something was wrong.

This is going to be bad!

This is definitely not "moderate level of terror"!

Come to think of it, for President Pei, a "highly difficult" game is like *Reconsider Your Ways*. So, what level is "moderate level of terror"? Just imagining it is enough to know.

This time, not only Qiao Liang, but even the fans who had been eager to try it before, began to back down.

"How about we... go back to line up for 'Escape from Desperation'? We can play it sooner if we line up now."

"We can't chicken out at the entrance, right? It's too embarrassing to say it out loud!"

"Hehe, no zuo no die, why don't you understand this simple truth?"

"'Now that we're here' is the most wrong idea in the world! We shouldn't be fooled, not every experience needs to be felt..."

The small team was divided.

Just like when a few friends go to an amusement park together, there will always be some people who back down at the entrance of the haunted house. To be precise, it is not just because they are cowardly, but also because they have a clearer understanding of how cowardly they really are.

"Excuse me... are you guys in line?" a voice said.

Qiao Liang and his group were hesitant, jumping back and forth at the entrance. The people behind didn't know if they wanted to go in, so they asked.

Qiao Liang turned around and saw a young man with a crew cut looking at them with a smile on his face.

"Ah, sorry, you go first." Qiao Liang and the fans quickly made way.

The young man didn't go in right away, but tentatively asked, "Are you... Teacher Qiao?"

Qiao Liang was stunned. Huh, he could meet fans here?

But thinking about it, most of the first batch of tourists to come to Jingji Hostel were Tenda's die-hard fans. Since they were die-hard fans, it was normal for them to have watched the *Masterpiece* series of videos.

"Yes, yes, I'm Qiao Liang. Have you watched my videos too?"

The young man was very happy: "Yes, I've watched them, and I like them very much! Your voice is very special, I just asked casually, I didn't expect it to be really you! Let me introduce myself, my surname is Ruan, Ruan Guangjian, I'm the art designer for *Reconsider Your Ways*."

Qiao Liang's eyes widened instantly.

Ruan Guangjian?

Then he's not just the art designer for *Reconsider Your Ways*, he's also done the art design for *Ghost General*, *Game Producer*, *BeQuiet*, gog, and other games!

That's President Pei's partner and close friend.

President Pei's friend is my friend.

"Nice to meet you!"

The two shook hands warmly, feeling like they had met too late.

They had heard of each other for a long time, and after meeting today, they were indeed as impressive as rumored!

Qiao Liang looked Ruan Guangjian up and down, and found that he was younger than he had imagined. He didn't have the traditional artistic vibe, and didn't show off, but the temperament of someone who had been immersed in the field of art for many years was still revealed.

Ruan Guangjian felt that although Qiao Liang looked a bit chubby and unremarkable, and looked like an ordinary otaku, his eyes seemed to reveal wisdom.

After the small talk, Ruan Guangjian suggested: "Actually, I'm also very timid. I did a lot of ideological struggles before coming here. How about we go together?"

Qiao Liang was skeptical: "Really?"

Ruan Guangjian nodded: "Really, my fear of haunted houses is well-known. Even President Pei knows about it."

A fan asked in confusion: "Ah? You're especially scared, why do you still want to go?"

Ruan Guangjian had an expression of being ready to die: "A true warrior must face difficulties head-on! As President Pei's friend, of course I have to support him!"

It was like a hero who would never return once he left.

Everyone observed carefully and found that his expression didn't seem to be lying, but was very serious.

This fearless spirit infected Qiao Liang and also infected the other fans.

Qiao Liang suddenly felt ashamed.

Qiao Liang, ah, Qiao Liang, haven't you always prided yourself on being a hardcore gamer? Haven't you always prided yourself on being the one who understands President Pei the most?

Look at him, a painter, daring to enter a haunted house to challenge himself, but you're chickening out?

Where did the courage you had to fight to the death with *Reconsider Your Ways* and finally complete the "Masterpiece" series of videos go?

Thinking of this, Qiao Liang couldn't help but become impassioned: "Okay! Since that's the case, then I'll risk my life to accompany you. Let's go together to meet the challenge that President Pei has set for us!"

For some reason, Ruan Guangjian's joining suddenly made the team feel more confident, and everyone entered the factory where the "Haunted House Nightmare" project was located together.

Qiao Liang walked in the front, his identity as a hardcore player making him take the lead and be unyielding.

The first thing they saw was many mysterious containers. As for what was inside, it was not very clear.

The staff seemed to have seen a lot of tourists like them who were talking and laughing, so they didn't pour cold water on them or encourage them. They just silently handed out the project details to everyone, and then gave them a meaningful smile.

This smile made people feel a little scared.

There was a rest area next to it, and everyone sat down in the rest area with a blank look, holding the instructions.

"Ah!!!"

A loud scream came, and then a girl fled from the exit behind the container.

Everyone looked at each other.

Qiao Liang carefully looked at the instructions in his hand and found that "Haunted House Nightmare" was divided into many small projects, including the bathroom, windowsill, TV, stairs, ceiling, under the bed, and so on.

Each small project has a "task description". For example, "bathroom" requires you to lock the bathroom door, light a candle, blindfold yourself, wash your hands, and so on.

This is not mandatory. Tourists can go in and do nothing and come out, but if they want to get a ticket to "Ultimate Horror", they must follow these task descriptions and complete "Haunted House Nightmare".

The more Qiao Liang read, the colder he felt.

It wasn't because it was difficult to remember. In fact, although there were many items, they were basically related and in order. He could remember them when he saw the props in the scene.

He felt cold mainly because when he looked at these items, he felt that he couldn't do it at all!

Imagine, in a pitch-black bathroom, holding a red candle, and then blindfolding yourself in front of the mirror...

The level of terror is no lower than that of a traditional haunted house!

Looking at the others, it was obvious that their previous ambitions had also been thrown to the back of their minds, especially Ruan Guangjian, who was already trembling slightly.

Seeing that Ruan Guangjian was more flustered than him, Qiao Liang calmed down a bit.

It was like taking an exam. A bad student feels a little safer when he sees someone worse than him.

There was no time limit for memorization. They could continue to memorize in the rest area. When they felt ready, they could line up to enter the project experience.

Qiao Liang felt as if he had returned to his student days, the feeling of a teacher asking him to memorize ancient poems and checking them in an hour.

It's just that the content to be experienced this time is much more exciting.

From time to time, people entered the challenge, but whether they screamed inside or not, they all looked like they were about to die after coming out. Seven or eight people went in, and none of them succeeded in completing the challenge, and it seemed that everyone didn't want to experience it a second time at all.

As a result, many people in the rest area backed down. The more they memorized, the more terrified they felt. In the end, they gave up without even trying.

Seeing that there were fewer and fewer people in the rest area, Qiao Liang felt as if a dark shadow shrouded him.

But just as he was hesitating and wanting to retreat, Ruan Guangjian stood up.

Like a ray of light, it cut through the dark clouds that shrouded everyone's heads!

Qiao Liang was stunned: "Brother Ruan, you..."

Ruan Guangjian had an expression of being ready to die: "If I don't go to hell, who will? Everyone, I'll go first and scout out the enemy's situation for you!"

Everyone was overjoyed, and Qiao Liang was even more delighted.

Great!

He was worried about who would go in first!

Since Ruan-dalao wanted to go in first, everyone could listen to what he had to say about what it was like inside, so they could be mentally prepared.

If Ruan Guangjian, who was naturally timid, could persevere, then everyone else should be about the same.

Qiao Liang patted Ruan Guangjian on the shoulder: "Go ahead, Brother Ruan, we'll wait for the news of your triumphant return!"

Ruan Guangjian had an expression of being ready to die and entered the container.

Qiao Liang and the others returned to the rest area and sat down to continue memorizing.

But before they had sat down for long, they heard a high-pitched scream from the container.

"Aaaaaah!!!"

Qiao Liang was startled, and everyone looked at each other.

What does that mean? Was he instantly killed?

He just went in and was gg'd in less than two minutes?

The rest area was very quiet, no one spoke, but the expressions on everyone's faces had already said everything.

They chickened out!

It seems that this place is really scary!

Qiao Liang had already begun to imagine the scene in his memory, feeling that Ruan Guangjian wouldn't be able to last a few minutes before retreating from the container.

After less than two minutes, there was another scream.

Qiao Liang couldn't help but be moved.

Brother Ruan is so scared, but he's still persevering. This fearless spirit is worth learning from!

Everyone stopped memorizing and looked up at the terrifying container, wanting to see how long Ruan Guangjian would persevere before giving up.

Five minutes passed.

Ten minutes passed...

Although the screams inside were still constantly ringing out, Ruan Guangjian still didn't come out.

Qiao Liang was completely moved.

Look, what is never giving up! What is conquering yourself! What is a fearless spirit!

Think about it, Ruan-dalao is just a painter, but he's still persevering in such a scary situation, and he's about to see the light of victory. You, Qiao Liang, claim to be a hardcore gamer, but you don't even dare to go in!

Don't you feel ashamed? Don't you feel guilty?

After memorizing all the items once, Qiao Liang resolutely stood up and walked towards that road of no return.

Although Ruan Guangjian hasn't come out yet, there are many small projects inside, and the experience time for each small project is about the same. Moreover, they choose their own routes, and passing a part of the projects counts as passing the challenge, so they won't run into each other.

A fan was stunned: "Old Qiao, aren't you waiting for him to come out?"

Qiao Liang had an expression of being ready to die: "I'm not waiting, Brother Ruan has already gone to the battlefield, how can I hesitate behind? I'm already one step behind him. If I only dare to go in after he comes out, wouldn't that be even more shameful? Wait for the news of my triumphant return!"

Under the guidance of the staff, Qiao Liang also strode in.

Less than two minutes after he went in, Ruan Guangjian came out from the other side.

The staff immediately greeted him: "Congratulations! You are the first brave person to successfully complete 'Haunted House Nightmare'! This is your admission certificate to participate in 'Ultimate Horror', please keep it."

During the challenge process, there are special staff members in the monitoring room next door to observe the situation inside and confirm the tourists' behavior. Once a tourist is so scared that they give up, they must immediately go in to rescue them.

Ruan Guangjian succeeded in completing the challenge, so the staff naturally knew about it as soon as possible.

Qiao Liang's fans all widened their eyes, their faces full of disbelief.

He passed?

This... does this mean that it's not that scary inside, and perseverance is victory?

Everyone immediately surrounded him and asked about the situation inside.

Ruan Guangjian smiled and said: "Actually, after thinking about it carefully, it's not that scary. Although you will suffer some setbacks, you can completely overcome them. As long as you overcome them, the sense of accomplishment is unparalleled!"

Everyone was in awe.

"Really?"

"Looking at Brother Ruan's expression, it seems that it's really okay."

"Old Qiao hasn't screamed once since he went in, right?"

"Then that means it's really not that scary? Even someone as timid as Brother Ruan can persevere and complete the challenge, so we should be able to too, right?"

"Wait, are you changing your minds already?"

"Think about it, when Old Qiao comes out later, he'll definitely be showing off, and he'll definitely be making fun of us for being cowards in the group! If this is especially scary, then that's one thing, but what if it's not that scary? Won't we be able to wash away this stain in the group?"

Finally, one of the most hesitant fans looked at Ruan Guangjian: "Dalao, do you think... I can persevere?"

Ruan Guangjian patted his chest: "Don't worry, someone as timid as me can persevere, so you definitely won't have any problems!"

These words gave everyone great courage, and they lined up to wait to experience it.