Chapter 0001: The Haunted House on the Brink of Closure
"Almost ran out of plasma, I remember there is still some stock in the attic" The haunted house is divided into three floors, with the first and second floors used to set up terrifying scenes, while the third floor serves as a storage room
"Uncle Xu, I know you mean well, but this haunted house holds a different significance for me; it is a memory left to me by my parents," Chen Ge said in a low voice, as if he did not want more people to hear.
Chen Ge's parents' situation is clear to the middle-aged man, who serves as the park administrator. He did not respond immediately; after a few seconds, he let out a soft sigh and softened his heart: "I can somewhat understand your thoughts. Alright, I will try my best to help you delay for a few more weeks."
Thank you, Uncle Xu
Unlockable Horror Scenes: Midnight Escape (A dangerous mental patient has taken residence in a dilapidated apartment building, armed with scissors and a hammer, lurking outside your door, Scream Index: 1 star); Ward 3 (This abandoned hospital emits strange sounds every midnight, and as a newspaper reporter, you will venture inside to investigate, Scream Index: 3 stars); Deadly Hearse (The hearse carrying the dead is already on the road, and if you cannot leave within one hour, you will be trapped on the vehicle forever, Scream Index: 2 stars). Ward 3 (This abandoned hospital emits strange sounds every midnight, and as a newspaper reporter, you will venture inside to investigate, Scream Index: 3 stars); Deadly Hearse (The hearse carrying the dead is already on the road, and if you cannot leave within one hour, you will be trapped on the vehicle forever, Scream Index: 2 stars)
Materialists fear nothing
"There is no need to go through so much trouble. When I sensed that the other party had this intention, I took the initiative and gave him a beating." Xu Wan shook the corner of her nurse's uniform, revealing the bloodstains: "This is not makeup, you know"
Daily Task: Complete the daily tasks of the haunted house, which will provide corresponding rewards and unlock more terrifying scenes
A clear female voice came from behind, and Chen Ge turned to look, only to see a "zombie" dressed in a nurse's uniform, petite in stature with a prominent bust, angrily running out of the haunted house
After all, while his peers were playing with letter puzzles, he was already running around holding a human head model.
Current facility scenarios: Zombie Resurrection Night (poor props, subpar actors, completely lacking in storyline and logic, scream factor: none); Ghost Marriage (not a couple in life, deceased buried in the same grave, ghostly wife haunting, scream factor: half a star)
Chen Ge was merely talking to himself, but when he mentioned the transfer of business, the black phone that had been silent in the wooden box suddenly flashed its screen, emitting a faint cold light
Seeing this scene, Chen Ge, holding a haunted house flyer, felt somewhat helpless
Are they leaving?" Chen Ge was momentarily taken aback, accepting the envelope: "Everyone has their own aspirations, you should finish work early too.
After he finished speaking, the girl in front of him, who was painted with a zombie makeup, did not move a step
Unfortunately, the pace of change in the times is too rapid, and the haunted house industry faces significant competitive pressure. It is inherently a niche market and also has many limitations.
The plush toy was the first toy that Chen Ge made during his childhood, while he has no recollection of the mobile phone
Conditions for the expansion of the haunted house: The number of visitors in the month exceeds 100, and the positive feedback rate reaches over 60% (after three expansions, the haunted house will be upgraded to a trembling maze)
More than half a year has passed in the blink of an eye
The amount of information is a bit overwhelming! However, his somewhat juvenile tone of speech is somewhat reminiscent of my father
I assure you, this is definitely the last month!" Chen Ge patted his chest, looking sincere.
Suppressing the excitement within, Chen Ge slid the screen, revealing a pitch-black phone desktop with only one application, represented by an icon resembling a haunted house
There should be, right
The artificial plasma in the repair room is running low and needs to be restocked; this passage should be tilted slightly inward to better block the tourists' blind spots; the puppet has been torn and needs to be repaired; damn! Where is the craft lamp I installed? Who stole it!
I have long told you that it is meaningless, it is better to play games in the dormitory, my Kun is already level 80
"This is too much, they even won't spare the zombies." As the boss, Chen Ge naturally would speak up for Xiao Wan: "I will go find the park administrator to report the situation and adjust the surveillance."
The same terrifying scene, after being viewed once, becomes boring upon subsequent viewings, while constantly innovating requires substantial funding
Watching this adorable little "zombie" leave, Chen Ge silently lit a cigarette
What you think in your heart is the answer. From this moment on, you will officially take my place as the new master of the haunted house. Of course, this is not something to celebrate. At the final stage of the tutorial for beginners, I would like to offer you a piece of advice: suicide is the most cowardly act, so please strive to live on
The props are too fake; after taking a stroll, I not only felt no fear, but even found it somewhat amusing
At that time, they were still operating a traveling haunted house. His parents took him to various cities, and sometimes when the young couple was busy, they would leave Chen Ge alone in the backstage, surrounded by various ghostly props. This early exposure contributed to Chen Ge's great courage.
My prop library: None
It is already quite remarkable that he can sustain himself for such a long time alone
The Haunted House in the Western Suburbs of Jiujiang City
This is the first time I have encountered such a non-frightening haunted house
"Uncle Xu, it's not that I don't want to help, but recently the funds have indeed been a bit tight. Please give me another month."
Other functions: Not unlocked
Upon seeing him, Chen Ge hurriedly quickened his pace, much like a mouse encountering a cat
Yes, I will go remove my makeup
Do not thank me, just put in some effort and sell more tickets for the haunted house
At the entrance of the haunted house in the western suburbs of Jiujiang City, several students rode shared bicycles, leaving without any lingering attachment
"It has been so long, where are you all?" Chen Ge picked up the plush toy, pinched its face, and sighed softly: "I should hurry to find someone to make blood plasma. If we can't get through this off-season, the haunted house might really have to close down and transfer ownership."
It is somewhat different from what I imagined, but this icon looks familiar; it seems to be the door to my own haunted house!
At the same time, haunted houses are also a form of one-time consumption. Many haunted houses in the market adopt a mobile approach, continuously attracting new visitors to tour. Haunted houses like Chen Ge's, which are fixed in a certain location, can only persist for a long time if they possess significant fame that draws people in; otherwise, they cannot last long.
After sending off the amusement park manager, Chen Ge returned directly to the haunted house, where he began to repeat his daily tasks: checking equipment wear and tear, maintaining props, and cleaning.
"Those little rascals just now wanted to take advantage of me!" She clenched her tiger teeth and tightened her fist.
In the eyes of outsiders, he is the owner of a haunted house, and can be considered a promising young entrepreneur; however, the hardships behind this are known only to him.
I do not know how much longer I can hold on
"Are you pretending not to see?" A middle-aged man firmly grasped Chen Ge's shoulder and said, "Today we need to clarify things. You have already owed the water and electricity bills as well as the venue rental for two months. The higher-ups have been urging me, and it's causing me a lot of pressure right now"
These two items were found by the police in an abandoned hospital in the suburbs, and no one knows the reason why Chen Ge's parents went there late at night
I had tried to turn on this phone a hundred times before, but how did it suddenly start by itself today? It was found at the place where my parents went missing. Could it be that they know I am in a difficult situation now, and are trying to contact me?
Status: On the brink of collapse
They are all memories
Rating: None
Seeing objects reminds one of people, which is why Chen Ge rarely comes here
Six months ago, his parents mysteriously disappeared, leaving behind only this haunted house
The repair process is complex and monotonous, requiring the stitching of the doll's skin, re-coloring, and aging.
Looking at the familiar array of equipment, Chen Ge recalled his childhood
The Horror Roulette (consumes the fear value generated by visitors in the haunted house, allowing the wheel to spin): Life and death are fated, wealth and nobility are determined by heaven. Here, there are spiritual fruits that can extend life, as well as vengeful spirits filled with resentment
Chen Ge opened the haunted house application again, and a brand new interface appeared
Is there anything else?
Is there a ghost in the world? This is a surreal philosophical question, and for someone like Chen Ge, who is a science and engineering type, the difficulty level is quite high
Well, no problem, girls should learn to protect themselves. Chen Ge wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and glanced at the setting sun: "Then let's call it a day, there probably aren't many tourists left, inform the others and leave work early."
What is the situation? Is it advanced technology? Is it a supernatural phenomenon?
Unknowingly, Chen Ge found himself once again beside the wooden box containing his parents' belongings, inside of which lay a rough cloth doll and a pitch-black mobile phone
Unlock achievement: None
Number of visitors in the month: 10
The haunted house industry is currently in decline, struggling to attract visitors. If you ask me, you should stop insisting on this. The middle-aged man known as Uncle Xu looked at the envelope in Chen Ge's hand, his grip gradually loosening: "You are so young, why not do something else? Why live such a tiring life?"
Dragging the torn doll, Chen Ge entered the repair room. He majored in toy design and manufacturing in university, and many of the dolls and mechanisms in the haunted house were designed by him.
Scaring people is a skilled endeavor, yet modern individuals, having been subjected to various horror films, possess exceptionally strong psychological resilience, making their experience in haunted houses akin to being in their own backyards
Since a few weeks ago, the haunted house has been operating at a loss, with the daily ticket revenue barely covering even the smallest portion of the utility bills
"What happened, Xiaowan?" The girl named Xu Wan is one of the temporary actors in the haunted house.
Haunted houses can be considered a form of "horror" consumption. In a terrifying environment, a person's muscles and mind become highly tense, and once released, it feels akin to a massage. This method can provide a sense of satisfaction in a short period of time
After extinguishing the cigarette, Chen Ge was about to return to the haunted house when a middle-aged man dressed in a New Century Paradise uniform approached him
Boss
In order to continuously pursue his aspirations, Chen Ge resigned from his job and devoted himself entirely to managing the haunted house, aiming to achieve better results
Pushing open the dust-covered wooden door, the attic was filled with various discarded equipment, most of which were left behind by his parents when they operated the haunted house
Number of visitors today: 4
Boss..." Xu Wan hesitated, slowly pulling out a letter from her pocket: "This is the resignation letter from Tao Ming and Xiao Wei. You have treated them well, and they feel embarrassed to tell you in person, so they asked me to pass it on to you.
Chen Ge frowned as he opened the application, and a line of blood-red text appeared on the screen—Do you believe in ghosts in this world
You said the same thing last month
Chen Ge made his choice, and a few seconds later, new text appeared on the phone screen
My ghost team members: None
So it turns out you are here to complain
If it were someone else, they might experience an increased heart rate, look around anxiously, and have sweaty palms. In contrast, Chen Ge's reaction was quite straightforward; he picked up his phone, held it up to his eyes, and began to conduct a secondary confirmation