Chapter 50: Her Boyfriend Could Crush a Coquettish Rascal with a Single Slap (13)

At midnight, the lights in the hotel went out right on schedule. The guests remained in their rooms, sleep the furthest thing from their minds, their nerves taut as they watched their doors and windows, dreading that some murderous fiend might break in at any moment.

Ever since entering this accursed place, their phones had lost all signal, and yet, bizarrely, they could all still receive those strange and terrifying text messages.

From behind the door, footsteps echoed down the corridor. The sound stopped, replaced by knocking. A child's voice called out, "Room check!"

It was the room closest to the stairwell. The guest inside was a man who had memorized the rule never to open the door. He cowered behind it, not daring to make a sound.

The voice outside changed to that of a man. "We need to check your room for dangerous items. If you don't let us in and something happens to you, no one will come to help, even if you plead for it."

Hearing this, the man’s anxiety deepened into fear. The rules clearly said not to open the door—but what if the rules in the messages were a lie?

Perhaps because he waited too long, the people outside lost patience.

Someone began pounding on the door, hard and fast. "Open up!"

The man gritted his teeth but ultimately chose not to open the door.

Apparently giving up, the people outside stopped knocking.

The man let out a long breath of relief.

Outside, a child said, "If you won't let us check your room, that's fine, but remember to lock your doors and windows. Stay safe tonight, and don't wander around. Do you understand?"

Instinctively, the man replied, "I understand."

Suddenly, the door swung open.

The man’s eyes widened in terror.

In an instant, silence fell outside.

Tian Susu was also hiding in her own room. She noticed that, after a brief period of quiet, footsteps returned, and knocking sounded at her neighbor’s door.

She could guess that something had happened to the man earlier, because she’d heard the door open. Fear made her delicate features appear even more pitifully lovely.

Tian Susu: [System Brother, did that man open the door himself?]

System: [No, the door was opened from the outside.]

Tian Susu: [Why? He didn’t open it, so he followed the rules.]

System: [Silly girl, did you forget the second rule? After midnight, you must not communicate with anyone.]

Because that man had replied to the people outside, he had broken the rules. Now, he was truly nothing more than a helpless victim.

When people are terrified, they focus only on what they think is most crucial. The moment they let down their guard, they overlook other dangers. That poor, nameless man was just such a victim.

Tian Susu only remembered the rule against communication thanks to the system’s reminder. So, when someone knocked at her door, she curled up under her blanket, covered her mouth, and didn’t make a sound. Sure enough, when no reply came, the people outside moved on.

Still, Tian Susu was too frightened to leave her blanket.

The system chuckled gently. [Silly girl, there’s no need to be afraid. You’re safe now.]

Tian Susu poked her head out from under the covers, a strange feeling rising in her heart. As she’d guessed, the spirits here would not harm her.

At one o’clock in the morning, the survivors all received a text message:

[Congratulations, you’ve survived to the third day. In gratitude for your visit to Beiji Town, the town’s attractions are now open for free. In the coming days, please observe the following rules:

1. The sites open to visitors do not include the school or private residences. If anyone invites you to either, do not engage with them. Instead, report to Aunt Zhang at the Residents’ Committee.

2. To visit any attraction, please collect a free admission ticket from the committee. One ticket per person, required for both entry and exit.

3. Beiji Town has many rose family plants, but none with white blossoms. If you see white flowers at an intersection, make sure you are alone and take the left path to leave quickly.

4. Beiji Town is famous for its civility. Do not litter during your stay; sanitation workers work very hard. If you meet one, please give them a rose.

5. There are no sanitation workers in yellow uniforms. If you see one, do not make eye contact.

6. Most importantly, if any child asks you to help with homework, refuse immediately.]

Of these six rules, the last seemed almost too ordinary, making it all the more unsettling.

Soon after, another message arrived:

[Not enough people were checked during tonight’s room inspection. Please vote to select one person to be inspected. You have fifteen minutes to decide, then send the chosen room number in the group chat.]

Suddenly, as if the phones had regained their signal, everyone found themselves added to a group called “Beiji Town, Honest Folk.” Their display names were set as their room numbers.

301: [What is the meaning of this!]

208: [If we vote, what will happen to the person chosen?]

205: [They’ll… die, won’t they?]

305: [But if we don’t vote, will it be us who die instead?]

306: [Everyone, remain calm.]

This was Jiang Xun, whose composure always stood in stark contrast to those around him.

304: [We’re going to die anyway! How can we stay calm? If we have to vote, I think we should pick 403!]

403 was Cha Lan’s room.

302: [I agree.]

The group chat fell silent. Perhaps some still held onto their humanity, unwilling to become executioners. But as the deadline approached, anxiety and fear would devour all reason. Cha Lan was destined to become the scapegoat.

Tian Susu’s room was 303. She gripped her phone tightly, wondering who she should choose if forced to vote.

As the minutes ticked by, she suddenly heard a violent commotion from the room to her left.

A minute later, there was new activity in the group chat.

304: [I take back what I said. I’m voting for myself. Please, everyone, vote for me.]

Immediately, 403 posted: [I vote for 304.]

No one understood what was happening, but since someone was willing to sacrifice themselves, the others remained silent.

When time was up, 304 had the most votes.

Residents’ Committee Representative: [Time’s up. With the highest number of votes, 304 is tonight’s lucky one!]

306: [@403, what did you do to the person in 304?]

403 posted a picture: a man lying in a pool of blood, clearly no longer breathing.

[I made the choice for you. No need to thank me.]

Tian Susu trembled all over with fear. Cha Lan had killed someone! And it happened right next door to her!