Everyone was in awe.
“Really?”
“Look at Brother Ruan’s expression. He seems fine!”
“Has Old Qiao not screamed even once since he went in?”
“Does that mean that it’s not that scary? Even someone as timid as Brother Ruan could persevere. We should be able to as well, right?”
“Wait, have you all changed your minds?”
“Just think about it. When Old Qiao emerges later, he would be so proud. He would surely mock and diss us in the group for being cowards! It’s fine if it was especially scary, but what if it was not? We would never be able to wipe our slate clean again!”
In the end, the most hesitant person in the group turned to Ruan Guangjian. “Big Boss, do you think… I’ll make it through?”
Ruan Guangjian patted his chest. “Don’t worry! Even someone as timid as me could make it through. You definitely will as well!”
That line gave everyone great courage. One by one, they queued up and waited to experience it for themselves.
Chapter 576 - This Person could not be Understood through Common Sense
An hour later…
Teacher Qiao’s last fan turned pale and left the ‘Haunted House Nightmare’ project. He then looked at the resting area again.
Big Boss Ruan had a ruddy complexion, chatting and laughing and even wanted to do it again.
The others lay awkwardly on their chairs. Some of them raised their eyes to the skies; some were staring blankly as though they had lost their souls.
As for Qiao Liang… he was stuffing chocolate into his mouth piece by piece with a pale face.
A pale-faced brother next to him raised his hand weakly and stopped him. “Old Qiao, don’t eat anymore. Any more and you’ll get diabetes…”
Qiao Liang turned a deaf ear without any energy to speak.
Everyone saw the last fan who came out with weak knees. Everyone saw each other’s state. One thing was certain no matter how stupid they were.
They were fooled big time!
Obviously, the only reason why the squad of fans, Teacher Qiao team, was annihilated was because of a spy who led everyone into the enemy’s ambush! Big Boss Ruan still had the face to say that he was timid and was a scaredy-cat? How was he scared at all, other than letting out more screams?!
When everyone saw Ruan Guangjian screaming all the way but still managed to successfully clear the game, they thought it was probably not that scary after all.
Everyone was even more convinced after Qiao Liang entered without saying a word.
However, all of these were illusions!
It wasn’t that Qiao Liang was unafraid. He was just so frightened, lying in the bathtub shaking without making a sound. When it came to the project under the bed, his legs turned to jelly, and he could not get out at all. The staff helped to bring him out.
His mind went blank, spinning dizzily after coming out; and he wildly stuffed chocolate into his mouth.
Ruan Guangjian was a little strange. “Eh? No one passed the customs? Then, no one can join me on the next project?”
Everyone: “…”
Could you have more shame?!
Especially Qiao Liang, who almost fainted from anger.
Boss Pei could stand such a person and be his friend? How broad-minded must Boss Pei be!
Ruan Guangjian’s current state was like everyone was grieving because the exam was too difficult, but he came over with a 100-mark paper and said, ‘Hey, the question this time is quite simple; why did everyone fail?’
Moreover, he did so with a very sincere tone that infuriated others even more! Of course, Qiao Liang was angry because of other reasons as well. He wondered… why was there such a big gap between everyone? Why could this person yell all the way and still pass this stage while I could only be dragged out by the staff because I was so scared?
However, Qiao Liang suddenly had a thought when looking at Ruan Guangjian’s annoying ‘superior student expression’.
‘You might not be afraid of ‘Haunted House Nightmare’, but… what about ‘Ultimate Horror’?’
It was written on the leaflet that the Haunted House Nightmare was on a ‘medium’ scary level. It was already so scary so the Ultimate Horror was directly marked with ‘Don’t go’; how scary would that be?
Qiao Liang was most certain about one point after playing so many games with Boss Pei: that was that Boss Pei usually meant the opposite of what he said. However, he fully believed it when Boss Pei said that this game was very difficult and abusive!
They must not be stubborn about it, or else they would definitely regret it.
Qiao Liang changed his expression as he thought of this. “Big Boss Ruan is too awesome! Hidden talent! You actually obtained the admission ticket for ‘Ultimate Horror’ so you’ll definitely experience it, right?”
Ruan Guangjian was a little hesitant. “But… no one else obtained the admission ticket so no one would be able to come with me.
“What about I wait here, you try again, and we’ll go after you obtain the admission ticket…?”
Qiao Liang waved his hand. “No, no, no! Really don’t need it! I’m not feeling too well today. I’ll be in Jingzhou these few days so I’ll try again another day.
“More importantly, Brother Ruan, shouldn’t you try to be the first person to pass the ‘Ultimate Horror’?”
Ruan Guangjian hesitated. “But I’ll be very scared if I were to go alone…”
Qiao Liang did not know what to say. “…”
As if I believe you!
You might talk about fear and scream around, and yet you could remember all the steps and execute them perfectly? You could still have color in your cheeks after exiting?
Qiao Liang laughed. “It’s okay, I believe you can do it! Let’s go, we’ll cheer for you!”
Ruan Guangjian was moved. “Alright, I’ll bet my life and try it out since Brother Qiao trusts me so!”
Everyone left the Haunted House Nightmare, passed by the Golden Maze, and marched towards the Ultimate Horror.
Qiao Liang was hit by the sunshine as he stepped outside, his cold hands and feet finally started warming up again. At the same time, his empty brain was finally able to recall the experience.
Qiao Liang realized that it was not that they were too weak; the Haunted House Nightmare was just too scary!
The other haunted houses were basically dark settings with periodic strange sounds and things popping out to scare one from time to time. They mainly relied on sudden unknown fears.
However, Haunted House Nightmare was completely different. It was more like an open strategy, psychological warfare!
The visibility was not low. Everything that was required to be done had been explained in advance so one could predict what was going to happen. However, that did not help to reduce the sense of fear at all!
An unsuitable analogy was that a general haunted house was like watching a horror movie. The sudden emergence of a bloody human head would give people a strong visual impact, and they would be scared at a certain moment. However, this fear would gradually dissipate after watching the movie.
The Haunted House Nightmare was akin to one being forced out of their house after watching a horror movie. One came to a strange place after walking under the dim streetlamp and moonlight.
There were no scary things that popped out suddenly-no ghosts, only silence. However, that person would continuously look behind them to confirm if any mysterious shadows were behind them.
The more they turned back, the more flustered they would become and the more they would want to run… yet they dared not. They would only collapse under this growing psychological pressure.
Qiao Liang calmed down and analyzed naturally as someone who liked to do that.
At the same time, he was more certain about something.
Ruan Guangjian was too terrible! He was able to persist in such a scary place and remember all the steps to clear the game. There was definitel
y something very wrong with this person!
They came to the entrance of Ultimate Horror, and Ruan Guangjian once again gave him a solemn expression. “Brother Qiao, here I go!” Qiao Liang was not deceived at all. “Okay, all the best, we’ll support you!” He pretended to say in goodwill.
Everyone’s squirmed faces returned to normal after Ruan Guangjian was allowed into that black hole of an entrance upon showing his admission ticket.
“How dare you look down on us! Big Boss Ruan, I’m great with my words! Say, how long do you think he can stay in there?” Qiao Liang snorted.
The fans exchanged glances with different expressions.
“Don’t underestimate him. He managed to persevere previously even though he screamed continuously. This time, I guess it would take at least ten minutes.”
“I don’t believe it! It was marked as ‘Don’t go’ on the leaflet, which is a level higher than the previous one. How can he come out in one piece? That would be looking down on Boss
Pei!”
“Come, let’s make a bet. Whoever loses will treat the rest to a meal!”
They had nothing to do while standing outside the entrance anyway.
Qiao Liang began his analysis. “At present, most large haunted houses take more than half an hour to play. Any shorter would be unworthy of the fare.
“This place is so big; the entire process will probably take half an hour?
“In that case, let’s bet on how long he would take before coming out!” “Less than twenty minutes or above twenty minutes, including clearing the game!”
The fans were also thinking hard to avoid being the one treating tonight.
“I believe in Boss Pei. Boss Pei’s Ultimate Horror must be very scary so I’m guessing less than twenty minutes!”
“I also feel that it will be less than twenty minutes.”
Most of the fans actually chose below twenty minutes. They then looked towards Qiao Liang and waited for his prediction.
Qiao Liang was silent for a while. “Of course, I also believe in Boss Pei. I also believe that ‘Ultimate Horror’ must be very scary. However, I think Ruan Guangjian is not someone that can be understood through common sense.
“Everyone underestimated him previously, which was why we had such a big lesson and did not make it through the Haunted House Nightmare.
“This time, I guess he will be able to persevere for more than twenty minutes and can even pass!”
Everyone took out their cell phones and looked at their timer while waiting for Ruan Guangjian to come out.
Ten minutes…
Fifteen minutes…
The more it continued, the more confident Qiao Liang was. He was looking at the rest as though they were all meal tickets.
It lasted for fifteen minutes, which meant Ruan Guangjian had gradually adapted to the level of terror within.
Wouldn’t it be a piece of cake to continue persevering past twenty minutes? He looked at the increasingly anxious expressions of these ‘meal tickets’. Qiao Liang’s lips could not help but bend upwards, waiting to declare his victory the moment it passed twenty minutes.
However, the ‘meal tickets’ let out cheers when the timer reached seventeen minutes. “He’s out, he’s out!
“It’s not twenty minutes yet!”
“Old Qiao’s treat!”
Qiao Liang raised his head incredibly and saw Ruan Guangjian coming out calmly with a ruddy face. Indeed, it had only been seventeen minutes!
Qiao Liang shouted hurriedly seeing how these ‘meal tickets’ were about to celebrate. “Not so fast!”
“I chose more than twenty minutes and also for him to clear the game. Therefore, it is still my win if he cleared the game!”
The fans were instantly shocked.
“The f*ck? Old Qiao, you cheater! Playing around with words!”
“No can do, it is under twenty minutes!”
Qiao Liang laughed. “Twenty minutes were originally estimated based on the entire clearance requirement of thirty minutes. Put it bluntly, you bet that he cannot complete the game while I bet that he can.
“He passed very fast so obviously, I should have won the bet!”
The fans were speechless. Qiao Liang was very proud. He was absolutely right no matter whether he was analyzing problems or people!
This Ruan Guangjian could not be understood by common sense. See how steady his steps were and how ruddy his face was. How did it look like he was frightened? He obviously cleared it too fast!
These ‘meal tickets’ wanted to compete with me? Too naive!
A ‘meal ticket’ went up. “Big boss! Did you really pass it?”
Qiao Liang sneered in his heart. What futile resistance! They just could not afford to lose! Look at Ruan Guangjian’s expression, what was there to doubt?
However, Ruan Guangjian smiled. “No, I only passed half of it.”
Qiao Liang: “??”
The fans were ecstatic while Teacher Qiao was in a daze.
“W-why?” Qiao Liang could not accept this fact.
ve
Ruan Guangjian smiled. “Oh, I actually planned to clear it, but you can actually save your progress in this game! You can continue to play from where you left off when you come again next time!
“I can’t bear to clear the game all at once so I want to save it to experience the most exciting part the next time.” Qiao Liang: “???”
What the f*ck did you mean by ‘save it’?!
You can’t bear to finish the delicious food all at once and want to pack it up to enjoy later? Am I supposed to praise you for being economical?
Qiao Liang’s analysis was right, but the answer was wrong.
The fans got it all wrong, but they got the right answer!
What kind of haunted house could save one’s progress? It must be a rubbish haunted house!
Qiao Liang did not know whether to bear a grudge against Boss Pei or Ruan Guangjian. He only knew that his wallet would bleed out later.
Chapter 577 - Theme Restaurant
The struggling Qiao Liang, the well-intentioned Ruan Guangjian, and the fans who were watching on fervently came to the theme restaurant in the Thriller Hostel.
Ruan Guangjian gave a reason that was difficult for Qiao Liang to refuse, but he still failed to make up his mind to challenge the ‘Ultimate Horror’. Getting the admission ticket alone made him very desperate. On one side was filled with thirst for knowledge; the other side was filled with thirst for survival. Qiao Liang fell into a battle between heaven and man.
Therefore, everyone came first for lunch. They were all hungry especially after they were shocked at the Haunted House Nightmare.
However, Qiao Liang instinctively felt that something was wrong when he came to the entrance of the theme restaurant.
“Wait, where is the maid cafe? Why are we here?”
He had seen a healing maid cafe on the map of Thriller Hostel in between Ultimate Horror and Haunted House Nightmare. It was said that lovely young ladies would be there to serve you warm, hot drinks to comfort the frightened people.
However, for some reason, the fans actually walked to this ‘lunatic asylum theme restaurant’. Qiao Liang felt something was wrong when he saw this sign with white letters and red background.
“The maid cafe is only to drink coffee. There is nothing much to eat there. That is why we are here to eat. Come on!”
Everyone brought Qiao Liang in with malicious intent. Ruan Guangjian followed behind, smiling silently.
There was an iron prison door stained with bloody handprints under the dim light with a huge red button on it. Reaching out and pressing it, the iron prison door would automatically open before one could enter the theme restaurant.
Qiao Liang almost sucked in cold air.
What the f*ck was with this theme restaurant? This was just another haunted house project, right!?
The lights inside were obviously much brighter than ordinary haunted houses, but the dark iron fence,
the thick chain on the door, the surrounding arrangement, the bottle of bright red liquid that looked like plasma on the counter…
It seemed to remind them of the scene in the horror film.
Of course, strictly speaking, it could not be regarded as a prison theme, but a prison and hospital theme. Its setting was more biased towards the mental hospital in general movies and games.
There was a huge difference in the positioning of the two.
Many restaurants in China had prison themes as well, but they had all failed. There were two reasons: the first was the wrong location, and the second was the overall direction.
In real life, most people were not interested in horror themes. Who would go if a prison-themed restaurant was opened on the streets? However, if there was a prison-themed restaurant in a haunted house, then it would be fitting because those who came to a haunted house were generally young people who had strong psychological endurance to accept it all.
Another point was that it might be prison-themed, but it was different from prisons. The failed prison-themed restaurants in China were all built strictly in accordance with actual prisons and even made military green quilts. The upper and lower bunks, tables and chairs, and iron fences were all made of stainless steel. It felt like a very modern and real prison. That 100% recreated the experience of having a prison meal which was neither horrible nor comfortable, simply disgusting. However, the setting at this theme restaurant was completely different from the real prison. Its poisoning was closer to the mental hospital in horror movies and games. The layout was in the western style of the last century and felt more like a separate kind of horror and curiosity of a real prison image.
Eating inside would not feel as though one was in jail, but more like participating in the recording of a horror game. This sense of separation from reality made the players not resist from the bottom of their hearts and to reject this arrangement. On the contrary-after accepting this style, one would feel happy. Of course, different people accepted this style differently. For example, Qiao Liang was very resistant to it. “I understand everyone’s curiosity very well, but… we just came out of the haunted house! Isn’t it good for us to find a cozy restaurant with a comfortable dining environment?”
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