Chapter 116: Haunted Amusement Park
When Owen Dong opened his eyes, he found himself locked in a bridal chamber.
The room was elegantly decorated in an old-fashioned style, but everything in sight was drenched in crimson. Opposite the bridal bed stood a round table draped with a red tablecloth embroidered with the double happiness symbol. On top were two tall, thin red wedding candles, both unlit.
Beside the candles sat a tray holding a wedding scale for lifting the bride’s veil, the bottom of the tray filled with longans, red dates, and peanuts.
Owen Dong had attended a friend’s traditional Chinese wedding before, and the bridal room had been set up exactly like this. His head buzzed with panic, but clinging to his last hope, he walked toward the full-length mirror leaning against the wall.
Reflected in the mirror was a tearful, miserable face. He was dressed in a traditional red groom’s robe, the vibrant color clashing awkwardly against his not-so-muscular frame, making him look downright ridiculous.
This time, this place, dressed as a groom, appearing in a bridal chamber—
Aaaaaaaaah! He was the unlucky groom!
Owen Dong was on the verge of breakdown.
His instinct was to run, dashing toward the door, but he suddenly remembered what Li Zhi had told them before entering:
Treat this like a new dungeon. Adapt. Don’t panic.
Stay calm! Stay calm!
Pressing his hands against the door, Owen took several deep breaths to force himself to calm down. The expert had said: never let an NPC suspect your identity. If he started freaking out now, he would definitely blow his cover.
Clues! Right! Find clues first! After finding clues, regroup with the others!
Li Zhi was so powerful—she would definitely find a way to save him. There was no way she’d actually let him go through with marrying a corpse!
Desperately brainwashing himself, Owen began searching the bridal room. But it was clear this room had just been set up. Everything was brand new. He even searched under the bed, but found nothing useful.
Just as he was getting increasingly anxious, footsteps suddenly echoed outside the door, and then someone pushed it open.
Owen instantly tensed, crouching behind a cabinet, hiding himself. Morning light streamed into the room through the open door, and when he saw who stepped inside, he practically burst into tears from relief. “Mengmeng!”
Family! Salvation!
At this moment, seeing a teammate was like being rescued from the edge of a cliff. You Jingmeng was startled by the sudden hug, not even recognizing who it was at first, but after hearing his voice, she realized, “Owen Dong? You’re the groom?”
“Wuwuwu… yeah, I’m the unlucky one…”
You Jingmeng let out a breath of relief. If the groom was a teammate and not an NPC, that was good news for her. But remembering their respective roles, she couldn’t help but shed a tear of sympathy. “Alright, alright, let go of me first. Listen.”
Sniffling, Owen released her and only then noticed her outfit.
A dark red robe with a blue and gold vest over it, her head wrapped in an embroidered cloth band. She looked unmistakably like…
“You’re playing the matchmaker?”
You Jingmeng looked utterly defeated. “More accurately, I’m the ghost matchmaker.”
Owen froze. “So you’re the one who set me up… to marry a corpse?!”
You Jingmeng gave him a look full of resignation. “No, you applied for the position.”
Owen: “???”
You Jingmeng pulled a trimmed newspaper from her sleeve, displaying an old matrimonial advertisement from a wealthy local family—the Pan family—seeking a son-in-law for their daughter who had died from a sudden illness. Requirements: male, brave, decent appearance. A full wedding ceremony would earn 10,000 silver dollars. If willing to complete the consummation ritual, an extra 20,000 would be paid.
Owen’s hand trembled holding the paper. “I… I applied for this role?”
You Jingmeng nodded solemnly. “Yep. You’ve already been betrothed, exchanged birth details, had your names posted, and even registered with the government. Technically, you’re already married. Just waiting on today’s wedding.”
Owen spoke with difficulty. “H-how much did I get paid?”
You Jingmeng looked at him with profound sympathy. “…Thirty thousand.”
Owen fainted on the spot.
You Jingmeng crouched beside him, sighing. “Playing dead won’t help. You’re just unlucky. Come on, the auspicious hour is approaching. You have to go to the Pan residence to fetch your bride and bring her back here—this is your new home. By the way, this house? The Pan family lady bought it for you two. Your love nest.”
Owen lay sprawled on the floor, wailing, “Why is my life so miserable?! Why am I so unlucky?!”
It was too tragic. Absolutely tragic.
Never mind the wedding, but the consummation…
Even You Jingmeng gagged at the thought.
While Owen cried, urgent footsteps sounded outside the courtyard. Both of them froze, and Owen scrambled up from the floor. No matter what, completing the mission was the key. If he couldn’t finish this, he really might have to live here married to a corpse!
An NPC dressed as a servant appeared at the doorway and said, “Young master, why are you still here? The horses are ready, the auspicious hour has arrived. Please follow us to fetch the young miss.”
Owen looked at You Jingmeng with a desperate plea for help.
She coolly acted as though it was none of her business. “Exactly! Don’t delay! Quickly set out, or you’ll miss the auspicious hour!”
Owen: “…………”
The three of them headed outside, the servant leading the way, the two teammates following behind. Owen whispered, “Where’s Big Boss Li? Have her come save me!”
You Jingmeng whispered back, “Who can save you? What, you want her to marry the corpse for you?” After a pause, she comforted him, “It’s fine. Let’s go first—maybe we’ll meet them on the way, and then we can think of something.”
That was all they could hope for.
Owen sat on the tall white horse waiting by the door, complete with red decorations.
He couldn’t ride, but with a saddle and a servant leading the way, all he had to do was sit. The bridal procession set off with festive music, heading for the Pan residence.
Meanwhile, the livestream comment section was in chaos with laughter:
【When Owen finds out the powerful “rescuer” he’s counting on is the Pan family matron marrying off her daughter, he’s gonna lose it.】
【Who would’ve thought he’d be the unlucky one—HAHAHAHAHAHA】
【What is the task here in the haunted house? How do they get out of this?!】
【Of all six roles, Owen’s feels the most dangerous. What if he can’t finish the mission?】
【No way Owen’s completing this—marrying a corpse… yikes!!!】
【Li Zhi’s side is terrifying too. You guys better go check it out.】
…
The heavy scent of cosmetics couldn’t mask the underlying stench of decay. Instead, the two mixed into something even more nauseating. The old nanny standing before the heavily powdered, pale face murmured, “The delay really was too long. Miss’s face has already begun to rot. Good thing it all ends today.”
She turned to Li Zhi. “Madam, you should comb the young miss’s hair now.”
She handed over a sandalwood comb. After Li Zhi took it, the nanny stepped back.
Li Zhi moved behind the already-dead “daughter.” Reflected in the mirror, that face did not look serene in death. Rigor mortis had locked her expression into one of twisted agony—she must’ve suffered terribly before she died, contorting her muscles in a way that froze into bitterness even after death.
Even the thick layers of powder couldn’t cover the large patches of corpse spots on her skin. Her lower legs were propped up on custom steel supports, holding the corpse upright in a seated position.
Li Zhi checked behind her and confirmed her suspicion: inside the wide wedding dress, a steel frame supported the whole body. Otherwise, Chi Yi wouldn’t have been able to hold her up like this.
“Madam,” the old nanny urged coldly. “Begin.”
Li Zhi gently gathered the long black hair and began combing down from the back of the head.
The room was eerily quiet, with only the strange, cloying scent hanging in the air. The nanny’s voice echoed, cold and rigid, in the sinister crimson bridal chamber.
“One stroke, till the end.”
Li Zhi barely used any force, but the hair still came loose from the scalp as she combed downward. Strands of hair tangled with decaying scalp peeled off in clumps.
She flicked the hair to the floor and continued.
“Two strokes, may your hair turn white together.”
The second pass was worse. Entire patches of scalp detached from the skull, revealing dark yellow pus.
The rancid liquid dripped down the strands, staining the red collar of the wedding robe. The stench intensified. Beside her, Chi Yi was trembling, her entire body stiff with suppressed nausea. She clenched her mouth shut, forcing herself not to retch.
“Three strokes, may you be blessed with many children.”
Li Zhi worried that with one more stroke, she’d peel the bride’s whole scalp off. It was too cruel for Chi Yi, holding that rotting head in her arms.
She remembered that Chi Yi had said she feared corpses most of all. Li Zhi paused, then looked gently at the old nanny. “Let’s stop here. Nannan was a beauty; if she loses any more hair, it would be a shame.”
On the way here, Li Zhi had observed the courtyard’s setup—typical of a southern household. And in the South, daughters were often affectionately called “Nannan.” As the cherished only daughter of a wealthy family, loving beauty was only natural.
As expected, the nanny didn’t insist further.
She brought over a tray holding a phoenix crown adorned with pearl curtains and a red veil. “Please veil the young miss.”
The bride’s head still rested against Chi Yi’s shoulder.
The old nanny instructed, “Butterfly, straighten the young miss’s head.”
Chi Yi, utterly hopeless, adjusted the position of that head.
Li Zhi bent over and placed the phoenix crown atop the bride’s head, but whether from mismeasurement or dehydration causing her skull to shrink, the ornate crown slipped downward, engulfing her entire head.
The crown was heavy. The added weight caused the corpse’s head to tilt sideways.
Crack.
The head drooped, like something had snapped. The crown tumbled to the ground. The bride’s twisted face lolled to the side—and one eye suddenly opened, staring at them through the mirror’s reflection.
Chi Yi bit her tongue so hard she nearly drew blood to keep from screaming and letting go in that instant.
Li Zhi swiftly bent down to pick up the crown, her expression calm. “It’s too large. Nanny, please find someone to adjust it—add more cotton padding. Quickly, the auspicious hour is near.”
The old nanny nodded and left hastily with the crown.
Li Zhi stepped forward, taking Chi Yi’s hand, helping her reposition the bride’s head.
Then, she gently reached out and closed the corpse’s exposed eye, crawling with corpse bugs.
“Don’t rush,” she whispered, smiling as she pressed down on the bride’s shoulder like a gentle mother. “Mother’s right here with you.”