Chapter 2

Chapter 2 Money Can Make Ghosts Turn the Millstone.

The moment she stepped through the unit entrance, Ning Rong felt as if she had entered another world. If the outside temperature was around twenty-seven or twenty-eight degrees, then the temperature inside the building was definitely below ten. She was only wearing a pink tank top, a pair of white denim shorts, and white sneakers. A small black bag hung from her body, used to hold her phone and wallet.

This outfit was just right under the blazing sun outside, but in this environment, it seemed she was dressed a bit too lightly.

She did not rush to look for Room 103. Instead, she first surveyed the surroundings. The inside of the building looked even more run-down than the outside. Everywhere were dark brown stains, covered in spiderwebs and some insects. On the walls were huge bright-red words everywhere. She could barely make out the two characters meaning “save me.” The rest looked more like bizarre graffiti patterns.

There were countless rooms inside the building, all looking similar. Every room appeared almost the same, the only difference being the numbers above them. Most of the rooms were tightly shut. Outside some rooms were horizontal seals pasted across the doors, as if entry was forbidden.

She looked left and right. Both sides seemed endless, as if the rooms stretched far, far into the distance.

Ning Rong believed this place probably used visual illusion to create the shocking effect of having countless rooms.

While she was observing, a panicked greeting suddenly came from behind her.

“Y-you… are you here to play the game too?”

She turned around.

She saw that, at some unknown moment, a middle-aged man had appeared behind her. He looked mentally stretched to the limit, his eyes frantic, his forehead covered in cold sweat.

During college, Ning Rong had also played script murder games. Some of those were horror scenarios, and some involved supernatural themes. In order to make players feel more immersed and heighten the experience, from the moment players decided to participate, they had already stepped into the store’s marketing scheme. In fact, even after the scenario ended, it did not count as truly finished.

The game master would even provide follow-up promotion. For example, spreading eye-catching stories online, such as strange things happening around players after finishing the scenario, thereby attracting more people to come play… But those too were only part of the marketing.

In short, the main point was creating atmosphere.

By the same logic, from the second she stepped in here, the so-called The One Thousand and First Nightmare game should already have begun.

Ning Rong only treated the middle-aged man in front of her as an NPC. She raised the game invitation card in her hand and answered, “Yeah.”

The middle-aged man seemed surprised by her calm tone.

“Y-you… aren’t nervous?”

Ning Rong sneered.

Nervous?

No. At this moment, her heart was full of rage! Like a volcano about to erupt, magma could burst forth at any time. She could tolerate Zhou Yujing being busy, but she could not tolerate Zhou Yujing deceiving her!

She still needed to find Room 103 and had no time for small talk with this middle-aged man. Her tone was indifferent.

“May we both enjoy ourselves thoroughly.”

Middle-aged man: ???

After saying that, Ning Rong strode firmly inward. Considering that she had made seven calls today without anyone answering, Zhou Yujing was highly likely to be here “playing the game” right now. It seemed this “game” truly attracted him so much that he did not even have time to answer a phone call.

Just as Ning Rong thought, from the moment she stepped in here, the game had indeed already begun. And all of her behavior had fallen into the eyes of the game audience.

[Enjoy ourselves thoroughly? What a unique farewell line.]

[So far, she seems to be the first player to say that. Interesting.]

[Let me hope her life is as tough as her mouth.]

[Let me see what this new unlucky ghost is called. Wait… Zhou Yujing? She is also called Zhou Yujing?]

[Obviously not. So she took Zhou Yujing’s game invitation and came here?]

[I understand now. Probably some unlucky fool who doesn’t know the true nature of the game. She probably thinks this is some immersive escape room game. A moment of silence for her.]

[Am I the only one curious about what relationship she has with Zhou Yujing?!]

It did not take long for Ning Rong to find Room 103. It looked like an utterly ordinary iron door. The soundproofing was unexpectedly good though—at least while standing outside, she did not hear any strange sounds from inside.

So what would be behind this door?! And what kind of scene would she see?

Ning Rong took a deep breath, her expression calm as she reached out and turned the doorknob. Amid the exaggerated scream of the middle-aged man who had been following her, she casually opened the door.

The instant the door opened, the game invitation in her hand changed. At some moment, the three words Zhou Yujing twisted and warped, becoming Ning Rong.

When Ning Rong opened her eyes again, it was already night. She had gone from that ancient-looking industrial building to a barren mountain. While she frowned slightly and thought about what had happened, lines of words floated before her.

“Name: Ning Rong”

Game Identity: Hidden Tycoon

Explanation: You dress plainly and appear before others in cheap clothing every day, but in truth you are a top-tier rich person with dozens of rental buildings at home.

Unlockable Skills: Money Can Make Ghosts Turn the Millstone; Smash People With Money; I’ll Give You Fifty Million, Now Give Me…

Note: Skills used together with cash have doubled effects.

Ning Rong: …

She roughly understood that some things were not as she had expected. By now, most of the anger in her heart had also faded. The biggest problem before her at the moment was: what were identity and skills? And what use did they have? What exactly was the nature of this game?

Just as Ning Rong was adjusting to the current situation, a small cry of surprise suddenly came from beside her.

“Eh? Zhou Yujing?”

She abruptly turned her head and instantly used a grappling hold to seize the other person’s wrist.

The young man quickly raised his hands in surrender.

“Sorry, it’s my first time meeting a complete newcomer, so I couldn’t help glancing at the name on the invitation card.”

For fairness, he introduced himself.

“Lu Wen.”

Ning Rong expressionlessly said, “Let me see yours.”

The young man said helplessly, “If you mean my game invitation card, then sorry, I’m not carrying it with me.”

To players, the game invitation card was an extremely important item. It granted the player their identity, and when they had nothing to do, they would always store it carefully. He kindly reminded her, “You’d better put your invitation card away.”

After all, the invitation card had other uses. If it were lost, it would be quite a troublesome matter.

Ning Rong put the invitation card away.

“Thanks.”

The conversation paused, but Lu Wen still could not help moving closer to chat.

“Your name is Zhou Yujing?”

Ning Rong glanced at him, neither saying yes nor no.

“What about it?”

Lu Wen scratched his head and cautiously glanced at her.

“It’s just that I happen to know someone named Zhou Yujing. Didn’t expect to meet another person with the same name so quickly.”

After saying that, he laughed foolishly twice.

So that was it. It seemed this game world was even smaller than she had imagined.

Ning Rong instinctively felt that the way Lu Wen looked at her was a bit strange. It seemed nosy, and also curious, but aside from that, there was no real malice.

After considering for a moment, she said,

“Zhou Yujing is my boyfriend.”

Lu Wen let out an ah. After that ah, he quickly smiled awkwardly at Ning Rong.

Those equally surprised were the audience members in the livestream room.

[Zhou Yujing’s girlfriend? No wonder she was holding Zhou Yujing’s invitation card! So what is she here for?]

[He really has a girlfriend? I always thought that was just an excuse he made up specifically to reject Juan Juan, because Zhou Yujing never talked in detail about his girlfriend, so it really seemed like he had fabricated one out of thin air.]

[I even said before that Zhou Yujing was playing hard to get…]

[Good, good, good. The official girlfriend has arrived.]

[Why do I feel like the official girlfriend came here to catch that something?]

[Judging from how aggressive she has looked from earlier until now, that’s really possible.]

[But Juan Juan is ranked eleventh on the newcomer player leaderboard, one of the strongest newcomers in this batch. I suspect this official girlfriend is about to make room for someone.]

Ning Rong sharply sensed something from Lu Wen’s reaction. She frowned slightly. On that pretty face completely mismatched with her physique, a faint smile appeared.

“What? Is there something you want to tell me?”