Chapter 102: Ghost Amusement Park
Two teammates had already perished here—their cabin shattering upon impact from the terrifying height—and the memory still made Ou Wendong shudder.
Now standing before the Ferris wheel, he looked up at the massive structure. The missing cabin had been silently replaced, completing the circle once more.
We already proved ourselves on the carousel... Surely we can skip this one? Ou Wendong thought desperately. High-altitude attractions were the last thing he wanted to experience again.
At the entrance, a staff member in blue overalls wore a glittering heart-shaped headband, waving cheerfully. "Welcome to the Love Confession Ferris Wheel! Legend says couples who kiss at the peak witness eternal love! Each ride accommodates two guests. Please scan tickets here."
True to its romantic reputation, even the staff were different.
No wonder the Perfect Match duo had chosen this attraction first. A couple conquering the Ferris wheel together would surely boost their popularity.
Chi Yi immediately grabbed Li Zhi's arm. "Zhi-Zhi and I are going first! We've got this!"
If Du Jia and Chen Tianran could succeed, so could they! Team Butterfly wouldn't lose!
Ou Wendong was more than happy to sit this one out, though he pretended to hesitate. "Only two per ride? Maybe I'll go next round..."
He just wanted to save face, not appear too cowardly. To his horror, Li Zhi actually considered it. "Clues are randomized. With two per ride, we can split into two groups—each doing one round. With luck, we'll get two different clues."
Ou Wendong: "......"
Why did I have to open my big mouth?!
You Jingmeng, ever the peacekeeper, suggested, "Let's draw lots! Winners go next round."
Qi Yongyi flashed a bright smile. "Sounds good!"
Ou Wendong forced a grin. "Sure..."
Three hands shot out for rock-paper-scissors. Ou Wendong chose paper; the other two chose rock. He exhaled in relief, feigning disappointment. "Aw, guess I'll have to wait!"
Viewers saw right through him:
[Stop pretending!]
[He's secretly thrilled!]
[Why do I find his cowardice weirdly endearing?!]
Despite the teasing, Ou Wendong's popularity oddly rose. Other players' fans were baffled. Audience appeal was fickle—some won votes by being timid, others lost despite being brave.
Divided into two teams, Li Zhi and Chi Yi entered first. If they could identify the death condition, the next pair would have an easier time.
After presenting their tickets, the staff member stamped a tiny Ferris wheel icon, her voice sweet. "This way, please."
She led them down a short passage. To the right was a heart-shaped photo collage featuring couples—heads together, arms arched in heart shapes, smiling brightly.
The only difference? Some photos were black-and-white, others in color. And...
The passage was too brief—just seconds to glance. As Li Zhi tried to pause, the staff chirped, "Your cabin is arriving. Missing it counts as failure."
She had to hurry forward.
Among forty-eight cabins, only one stood open—pink, of course.
As the wheel slowly descended, Li Zhi and Chi Yi stepped inside. The door shut behind them with a click.
This time, no announcement played.
As the pink cabin ascended, Chi Yi whispered, "Zhi-Zhi, those photos... the angles seemed..."
"Like they were taken midair," Li Zhi finished, scanning their surroundings. But who could've taken them?
No cameras or selfie sticks were visible inside the smooth cabin.
Li Zhi sat back down. "Without a broadcast, the death condition must be in that photo wall. Remember what the staff said?"
Chi Yi recalled, "'Eternal love at the peak'?"
Li Zhi nodded. "Those heart photos were likely all taken at the top. Capturing that moment 'eternalizes' it. So the death condition is probably taking a posed photo there. Fail that, and the cabin detaches."
Chi Yi shuddered. "At that height, only a ghost could take our photo! This clue was way too easy to miss!"
Previous attractions had relied on broadcasted hints. Players conditioned to expect them might overlook the inconspicuous photo wall.
This amusement park was a minefield of traps.
As the wheel rose, Li Zhi noticed something odd—the park's lights formed a giant cross below.
Just ambiance, or something more?
"Zhi-Zhi! We're nearing the top!" Chi Yi's warning snapped her back.
At the peak, the wheel halted abruptly. A knock sounded at the door.
"Excuse me," a voice asked outside, "would you like a photo?"
Beyond that door was a hundred-meter drop.
Had they not deciphered the clue, who would dare answer?
Li Zhi replied, "Yes."
The door slid open, revealing a pallid man floating outside, holding a Polaroid camera. His grin stretched unnaturally. "On three, say cheese!"
They mimicked the couples' poses—arms arched into a heart.
Click.
The ghost examined the photo, then leered at them. "Photo's ready. May your love last forever."
Chi Yi forced a smile. "...Thanks. It will."
The door closed. The wheel resumed turning.
Chi Yi exhaled shakily. "So creepy."
Players usually avoided engaging with ghosts. Those who'd fallen likely hadn't noticed the photo wall and stayed silent.
This challenge was deceptively simple yet easy to fail.
Mission accomplished, Chi Yi sighed. "What a waste."
No thrills—just a photo for safety. Yet two had died for it.
As the cabin descended, the staff member presented a pink box. "Congratulations! Here's your reward."
Inside was a card depicting scissors.
"Scissors?" Chi Yi frowned. "What ghost relates to scissors?"
Li Zhi had a theory but remained puzzled. Pocketing the card, she said, "We're doing round two."