Chapter 17

The female ghost was being very professional, trying her best to scare the guests by pounding on the door, but there were no screams from inside at all. It nearly made her think the classroom was empty.

Just as she was about to leave, someone in her earpiece told her there was still someone inside and instructed her to keep working.

The female ghost perked up and scared even harder.

All the NPCs in the escape room were extremely professional and fully in character. Zhai Yi understood Luo Xi’s twisted sense of fun. Right now, the live stream barrage was far busier than during regular filming, and it kept climbing Weibo hot searches. Tuantuan pulled up the hot searches for her, and they were all about Guardians of Glory.

Guardians of Glory Horror Special#

Guardians of Glory Taking It Easy#

Fu Liang Scared Shitless#

Zeng Ranran Scared to Tears#

Qi Yaoyao Scared to Tears#

Li Zhi Freaks Out and Beats Up an NPC#

Mu Li the Ferocious Player Storms the Haunted House#

Luo Weizhi, Little Princess#

Zhai Yi, A Woman as Mighty as an Eagle#

…..

The hot search list was basically dominated by Guardians of Glory, showing just how successful Luo Xi’s escape room setup had been. The massive buzz had rocketed the show to fame.

Zhai Yi just glanced at the hot searches and moved on. But since the female ghost hadn’t managed to scare her, she was pounding on the door to Classroom 412 with a hint of resentment.

The banging and kicking continued, interspersed with shrill shrieks.

Zhai Yi pulled back the foot she’d been about to take down the stairs and turned to watch the female ghost’s vigorous efforts.

Screams kept coming nonstop from the guests downstairs. The female ghost on the fourth floor was working hard at her role, terrorizing the people in Classroom 412.

But after one faint scream, the classroom went completely silent.

Tuantuan had told her Yu Lanting was in Classroom 412.

And she was terrified of the dark.

Zhai Yi asked, “Where’s the male lead?”

Tuantuan replied: 【On the second floor, being chased by a ghost.】

Zhai Yi eyed the stairs. Pitch black, no lights. Running down fast would mean a high chance of tripping.

She rubbed her forehead with a soft sigh, then walked past the stairwell and stopped behind the female ghost. She patted her shoulder.

“That’s enough scaring. Why make things hard for fellow women?”

“All that banging and kicking—if you break the door, Director Luo’s cheap ass will make you pay for it.”

The female ghost: “….”

Damn, that made sense.

The female ghost shot Zhai Yi a grateful look, then her skirt fluttered as she turned and floated away.

Zhai Yi?

Yu Lanting instantly recognized the voice outside as Zhai Yi’s. She had no idea why she was so sure it was her instead of some hallucination from being scared out of her mind, but she was absolutely certain Zhai Yi had come to save her.

“Zhai… Zhai Yi?”

Yu Lanting’s voice was hoarse. Prolonged tension and fear had left her throat raw, her voice so weak only she could hear it.

Zhai Yi twisted the door handle. Sure enough, it was locked.

There was probably an NPC inside requiring the guests to complete a task to get the key and escape.

Zhai Yi lowered her voice so Yu Lanting wouldn’t mistake her for a ghost. In a gentle tone, she said, “I just heard a girl’s scream. Is that you in there?”

She couldn’t let on that she knew Yu Lanting was in Classroom 412, or she’d get bashed for no reason.

Yu Lanting looked frantic. She clutched her raw throat and forced out a shout: “Zhai Yi, it’s me! I’m Yu Lanting!”

Zhai Yi feigned surprise: “Yu Lanting? You’re in there?”

Some strength was returning to Yu Lanting. She struggled to her feet and knelt on the floor. “Yeah, the staff brought me to a classroom.”

Zhai Yi nodded. “Door’s locked, can’t get it open from here. Do you have a key?”

Yu Lanting gripped the key in her palm. “Yes, I have the key.”

Zhai Yi figured Yu Lanting had finished the task the NPC assigned. “Can you open the door then?”

“I can, I can.” Yu Lanting took a few deep breaths and tried to stand, but her legs wouldn’t obey. They had no strength. She collapsed almost immediately.

Tuantuan: 【First Sister, the female lead’s terrified. No strength, can’t stand. She just fell again.】

Zhai Yi sighed. “Yu Lanting, you okay?”

Yu Lanting psyched herself up inwardly. “I’m fine. I’ll open the door right away.”

Her voice was hoarse and trembling from the extreme tension. Zhai Yi could hear it clearly.

She crouched down and slid her hand under the door crack. “Toss me the key. I’ll open it.”

Yu Lanting was still a bit away from the door, and the room was so dark she couldn’t make out the crack.

She inwardly cursed herself for holding everyone back again.

Yu Lanting bit her lip. “Zhai Yi… how about you go look for gold coins first? I’ll get the door open and escape on my own in a bit.”

Zhai Yi suddenly asked, “What task did the NPC in there give you?”

Yu Lanting blanked for a second but answered honestly. “There’s a male student here. He wants me to teach him a math problem.”

“What problem?”

“A geometry one.”

“Hard?”

“Not really. Just draw two auxiliary lines and it’s solved.” Yu Lanting didn’t get why Zhai Yi was asking, “Is something wrong? Did I mess up?”

No way—that was a basic geometry problem. She double-checked her mental math. The answer was right.

Even the NPC had said it was correct and given her the key.

Zhai Yi said, “A geometry problem you say isn’t hard means you solved it in one or two minutes. The NPC hands you the key right after. But it’s been at least ten minutes since then. In ten minutes, you could’ve run laps around the classroom and still had time to open the door and escape. But you haven’t. That means you’re facing some major obstacle keeping you trapped.”

Yu Lanting: “…..”

Zhai Yi went on, “You’re scared of the dark, right?”

“In a pitch-black, terrifying room, your fear makes you overly tense, saps your strength, leaves you unable to move. Even with the key, the darkness and the NPC’s ghost wails have you too scared to budge. You’re stuck in place, curled up, hugging yourself protectively, telling yourself it’s okay. Right?”

Yu Lanting: “….”

“You really want me to leave?” Zhai Yi asked softly. “Worried I’ll waste time on gold coins and mess up the game? That you’ll drag me down?”

Yu Lanting: “….”

“Yu Lanting, forget those irrelevant worries for now. Focus on the problem at hand. You’re too weak to stand, so hand over the key. I’ll make some noise here. Crawl toward the sound, give it to me, and I’ll get you out. Okay?”

Tears welled in Yu Lanting’s eyes, a sour ache surging in her chest. Trembling, she said, “Okay.”

:FML! Hits the nail on the head every time!

:Zhai Yi got mind-reading powers?! Way too accurate!

:So badass. Every guess spot-on. Asked a few questions and nailed Yu Lanting’s exact situation. Incredible!

:Zhai Yi, what CAN’T you do?

:Wifey wifey wifey wifey wifey wifey wifey wifey wifey wifey…

:Zhai Yi must’ve read some psychology books on the side.

:Zhai Yi first assessed and clarified Yu Lanting’s issues, listed all the problems, discussed solutions with her, offered options, then acted.

:Exactly! That’s the six steps of psychological counseling!

:Just watching a live stream and now it’s a lesson? Wrong room?

:Zhai Yi’s the ultimate girlfriend. Gentle temper, kind heart. Even in this tense horror setup, zero annoyance. So soft and coaxing with Yu Lanting.

:In love, in love…

:Everyone’s constitution is different. I’m straight-up pregnant.

…..

Zhai Yi knocked on the door, making crisp sounds. “Yu Lanting, I’m right here. Hear me?”

Yu Lanting sniffled. “I hear you.”

She used her hands and feet, mustering her strength to crawl toward the sound.

Zhai Yi nodded. “Good, come to me.”

“Mm.”

“I’m right in front of you. Just reach out and you’ll touch me.” Zhai Yi coaxed patiently.

“Okay.”

Yu Lanting couldn’t see ahead, her eyes blurred by tears and sweat, but she felt Zhai Yi right there. One more inch and she’d touch that radiant light like the blazing sun.

“Yu Lanting, don’t be scared. I’m right here waiting.”

Zhai Yi kept talking to ease Yu Lanting’s fear and tension.

“Almost there. Give me the key, door opens, and you’ll see me.”

Yu Lanting bit her lip, swallowing a sob. “Mm.”

Her hands groped in the dark, brushing something soft. Before she could wonder what it was, that warm softness gripped her fingertips tight.

In the pitch-black terror, everything seemed to freeze.

All Yu Lanting could feel was the strength in her gripped fingertips and that gentle, watery reassurance.

“Yu Lanting, it’s me.”

In that moment, Yu Lanting let the tears roll, overcome with joyful sobs. But more than that was an indescribable thrill and excitement.

She was thrilled to be saved—and beyond thrilled that it was Zhai Yi.

Zhai Yi took the key and unlocked the door.

Looking down, she saw Yu Lanting slumped on the floor. In the corridor’s safety light glow, she took in Yu Lanting’s fragile state.

Her messy hair stuck to her face and neck.

Cold sweat beaded her forehead and neck, her hands trembling unconsciously.

Eyes red, tears pooling at the corners, her pale little face even more wan and weak.

Her teary pupils looked even more innocent and clear, softening the heart.

Yu Lanting like this was truly pitiable, delicate and vulnerable.

Zhai Yi pulled a tissue from her pocket and handed it over with a soft laugh. “Yu Lanting, you did it.”

Yu Lanting’s lips quivered as she took the tissue, tearfully saying, “Thank you.”

“Can you stand?” Zhai Yi asked. “Need a bit more rest?”

Yu Lanting didn’t want to hold up Zhai Yi’s game anymore. “I can.”

She summoned her energy and shot to her feet. Her legs still weren’t steady, and she pitched forward right into Zhai Yi’s arms.

Zhai Yi let out a muffled “oof,” caught her, and chuckled. “Yu Lanting, it’s okay if you can’t. No need to push yourself.”

Yu Lanting’s face flushed crimson. She scrambled upright in a panic. “S-sorry, did I hurt you?”

Zhai Yi said, “With your little frame? You’d be lucky to knock over a single pin bowling.”

Yu Lanting: “….”

Seeing her so embarrassed, Zhai Yi smiled helplessly. “Lean on the wall and catch your breath.”

Yu Lanting braced against the wall, easing the stiffness in her limbs as blood flow returned, her color improving.

“I’m good now. Let’s go find those gold coins quick.”

Zhai Yi saw she was recovering. “Alright, let’s go.”

They’d barely taken a step when Zhai Yi spotted the female ghost at the end of the hall—super dedicated, red light glowing behind her, ready to charge.

Zhai Yi wanted to warn Yu Lanting not to look, but too late. A shrill scream rang right by her ear.

“Ah—”

Yu Lanting slammed into her, trembling as she shrank into her arms.

Zhai Yi grunted in pain, pressed down Yu Lanting’s head, and eyed the charging female ghost. “Try it again and I’ll fight back.”

The female ghost: “…”

I’m this dedicated and you wanna hit me?