Chapter 75: South Street Apartments
The layout on the second floor of the apartment was identical to the first.
Li Zhi led Meng Yuhan up the stairs, while her brother Li Feng continued upward. As they passed each other, Li Zhi quickly slipped a talisman into his hand.
It was the Damage Transfer Talisman she had obtained from the previous instance.
Given how many times Li Feng had likely entered instances before, there was a chance this was his first run as a newbie—and if so, he wouldn’t have any items. Li Zhi couldn’t shake the unease. If not for the incense burner being too bulky, she would’ve handed him that too—it could summon an allied ghost to aid in battle.
Li Feng discreetly pocketed the talisman without drawing attention. The siblings’ exchange went unnoticed, as all eyes were drawn to the eerie red glow emanating from the second-floor corridor.
Unlike the desolate first floor, the second seemed well-populated. Several doors bore couplets, and pairs of unadorned red lanterns hung on either side. The simple red fabric, devoid of any patterns or characters, cast a dim, hazy glow down the hallway.
The audience felt a creeping dread:
[Classic Chinese horror—just a white wall, a couplet, and a single red lantern at night is enough to induce nightmares.]
[Doesn’t anyone else find these lanterns strange? Why are they completely blank?]
[My lantern spins and plays music while casting rainbow lights—perfect for raves.]
[Spinning lanterns are festive; these silent, patternless red ones are straight-up creepy.]
...
Meng Yuhan clutched Li Zhi’s sleeve, her eyes wide with fear.
At the end of the corridor near the stairs was the shared bathroom. Li Zhi turned to her. "Need to use the toilet?"
Meng Yuhan blinked, then nodded vigorously. "Yes!"
They headed toward the bathroom.
The public restroom’s entrance featured an old-fashioned white-tiled sink area with five faucets. A full-length mirror covered the wall above, while green mold crept between the tiles. The rusted faucet valves dripped slowly, each drop plinking against the smooth surface.
At either end were separate rooms—male facilities on the left, female on the right.
Li Zhi guided Meng Yuhan into the women’s restroom. The layout was just as sparse: half-door squat toilets to the left, partitioned shower stalls to the right, each fitted with a flimsy blue curtain.
The walls, also tiled, hadn’t been cleaned in who-knows-how-long. The floor and grout were coated in a slippery brown grime, speckled with mold and yellowish stains. It was filthy and revolting.
Meng Yuhan squatted in the middle stall. Though the door closed, the flimsy wood only blocked half the view—she could still see her own head. As she relieved herself, she craned her neck nervously, half-expecting something to lunge out.
Thankfully, Li Zhi remained in sight, and her presence steadied Meng Yuhan. After finishing, they returned to the sink area. The sound of running water echoed loudly in the still corridor.
Meng Yuhan stared at her reflection, some terrifying image flashing through her mind, and shuddered violently. "Zhi-zhi, let’s go back!"
Li Zhi nodded, and they retraced their steps into the crimson-lit hallway. The rooms adjacent to 205 were 203 and 207—both seemingly occupied, their doors adorned with couplets and lanterns that bathed 205’s entrance in an ominous glow.
Li Zhi unlocked the door, and a musty odor of disuse hit them. She flipped the switch, and a round ceiling light flickered on, illuminating the compact single-room apartment.
Similar in size to the landlord’s unit, it had a wire bed against the wall stacked with bedding—likely provided by the company that rented out the space. Though small, the room was furnished adequately: a sofa, desk, wardrobe, tea table, and even a half-height refrigerator against one wall.
The moment the door closed, both the audience and the two women heard the system’s mechanical voice:
—You have checked into South Street Apartments. Current quest: You are tenants here. With your company’s finances struggling, you’ve opted to work from home—but strange secrets lurk within these walls.
—Objective: Uncover the truth beneath the glossy facade.
Meng Yuhan turned to Li Zhi, bewildered. "Zhi-zhi, what does that mean?"
Unlike previous quests, this one was vague, offering no clear direction. Every player had received it upon entering, leaving them equally puzzled.
"Uncover the truth beneath the glossy facade," Li Zhi repeated, pausing to consider. Seeing Meng Yuhan’s anxious expression, she smiled and ruffled her hair. "It’s probably tied to the apartment’s hidden secrets. Let’s sleep first—we’ll investigate tomorrow."
Having watched all of Li Zhi’s previous runs, Meng Yuhan trusted her implicitly and nodded eagerly before busying herself with the bed.
The wire bed was barely a meter wide—just enough for two. After testing it with a creaky sit, Meng Yuhan lay down while Li Zhi inspected the room. No abnormalities detected, and the window had security bars, making it reasonably safe.
She placed the warning device beside her pillow, then turned off the lights and climbed into bed after Meng Yuhan nestled against the wall.
In the darkness, Meng Yuhan’s eyes stayed wide open. The excitement, fear, and tension of her first instance surged uncontrollably. Being inside was a thousand times more intense than watching from afar.
Hearing her ragged breathing, Li Zhi asked softly, "Scared?"
Meng Yuhan pressed her lips together, hesitating before admitting, "A little." She groaned, "I’m so useless!"
She had been the one insisting on entering—but now that she was here, she was too terrified to sleep. Pathetic.
The wire bed squeaked as Li Zhi shifted beside her. Warm arms wrapped around Meng Yuhan. "You’re the bravest girl I know."
Meng Yuhan sniffled, burrowing into her embrace. The turmoil in her chest slowly settled. Li Zhi stroked her thin back, just as she used to soothe Li Shuang. "Don’t be afraid. I’m right here. Sleep."
Meng Yuhan closed her eyes, comforted by the gentle pressure against her back. As her breathing steadied, Li Zhi stopped moving and shut her own eyes.
The wire bed pressed against the wall, the thin barrier offering no soundproofing. When the neighboring door creaked open, Li Zhi immediately recognized the sound—Room 203’s occupant had stepped out.
Tap—tap—
Footsteps moved toward the bathroom. Soon, the sound of running water echoed from the corridor’s end.
The landlord had warned them earlier not to wander the halls at night, yet Room 203’s tenant dared to venture out now. Did the rule only apply to players?
Li Zhi waited, but no return footsteps came. The water’s rhythm was odd—not the clean plink of liquid hitting tile, but a muffled splash against something soft before dispersing.
He/she was washing hands.
Realizing this, Li Zhi could almost picture the scene: Room 203’s tenant standing at the sink, mirror reflecting their actions.
The water continued for a while before new footsteps emerged. This time, a heavy, labored breathing reached her ears through the thin wall. Something—or someone—was moving past outside.
It walked slowly, the footsteps scratchy, as if the entity struggled with its limbs, leaning against the wall for support.
When it reached the wire bed’s position, the breathing halted abruptly. Separated by mere plaster, the thing stood motionless, staring at the wall. Then it pressed closer, sniffing loudly—the sound piercing through the barrier.
Meng Yuhan’s breathing hitched in Li Zhi’s arms.
She heard it too.
The warning device on the pillow emitted a shrill beep—audible only to Li Zhi. She pressed close to Meng Yuhan’s ear. "Hold your breath." Muffling her own nose and mouth, she stilled completely.
Meng Yuhan followed suit instantly. The room’s breathing vanished. Outside, the sniffing continued for a moment before the footsteps resumed, shuffling toward the stairs. Meanwhile, the bathroom’s water kept running.
Room 203’s tenant was still washing up.
Li Zhi waited, but no screams or struggles followed. Amid the steady stream, the scratchy footsteps descended slowly toward the first floor.
Meng Yuhan’s breath-holding turned to trembling. Li Zhi whispered, "Breathe now."
She inhaled sharply, voice trembling. "That scared me to death!"
Li Zhi rubbed her head. "Go back to sleep."
The first-floor corridor lacked lanterns, its aging bulb flickering intermittently, casting deeper shadows.
The players downstairs hadn’t dared use the bathroom, rushing to bed after laying out their bedding. The choking sounds from the corridor’s entrance had long since ceased, leaving an eerie silence.
They closed their eyes, forcing themselves to rest—but the more they tried, the harder it became.
In the darkness, hearing became painfully acute.
Suddenly, thud-thud-thud footsteps raced down the hall, as if someone fled in panic. A loud crash followed as the corridor’s offering table was knocked over.
Then, after a tense hush, the scratchy footsteps returned.