The VR Horror Experience

The two of them looked somewhat familiar, and someone asked, "Are you two participants from the 'Ghost Hunt' show? I wanted to ask earlier, but you both looked so serious I didn't dare speak up."

"Actually, I recognized them too. Whispering, your skin is so good! What kind of cleanser or toner do you usually use?"

"Is that sachet for sale? My kid really wants one!"

"Can I post about our chance encounter on Weibo?" a girl asked with a shy smile; she was clearly a CP fan.

Qi Gu answered each question in turn before heading to another area with Lin Hanzhi.

Before long, they arrived at the VR zone. This place had excellent soundproofing; as long as one didn't peek inside the booths, it was impossible to see what the players were doing.

Qi Gu had been curious about this area before, as he often heard players inside letting out blood-curdling screams.

Lin Hanzhi was very perceptive: "Let's play this next."

He cradled the hamster against his chest, resting his chin on its head as he looked at Qi Gu with sparkling eyes.

"...Alright."

The two of them climbed into their respective VR pods. Inside, a line of text read: "If assistance is required, please contact staff for operational support." However, Qi Gu had already sought help from the staff earlier, so he could handle it himself.

Soon, both had their VR headsets on and controllers in hand, entering the selection interface.

Only then did Qi Gu realize that all the options in this experience pod belonged to the horror genre, such as "Haunted House Terror," "Crimson Snow Village," "Ghost Park," and so on.

Considering Lin Hanzhi's fear of ghosts, Qi Gu asked, "Should we switch to a different pod?"

"It's too much trouble. You just spent all that time setting it up. Let's just play this," Lin Hanzhi said obediently.

"Then... I'll hold your hand," Qi Gu offered.

Qi Gu’s right hand fumbled over the soft padding until he touched Lin Hanzhi’s cold fingertips, then he moved his hand up to grasp his wrist.

He truly felt a bit guilty for bringing the man here without knowing the situation, so the offer to hold hands slipped out instinctively.

Lin Hanzhi’s wrist was also ice-cold, feeling like touching a cold-blooded reptile. However... this wrist wasn't as thin as Qi Gu had imagined. The wrist bone protruded slightly, looking quite alluring.

His heart... was also beating a bit slowly.

"Your hand is so warm," Lin Hanzhi remarked.

It had been a long time since he felt such burning body heat. Ever since that incident occurred, he had lost the warmth of a human body, growing colder by the day.

"It's your hand that's cold," Qi Gu said. "Do you have a cold constitution?"

"Yeah."

"Which one should we play?"

"That amusement park one. I really like amusement parks. My family once built a private one for me," Lin Hanzhi said casually, though it was a subtle boast of his wealth.

Qi Gu choked: "......"

Finally, he was witnessing this extravagant display of riches.

Qi Gu pressed the start button.

The scene shifted, and their vision opened into a pitch-black space. The fog was so thick it felt like anyone going to an amusement park in this weather was definitely not normal.

Sure enough, as the player's perspective entered the park, the cloth doll at the entrance—which initially looked normal—suddenly ripped off its own head, revealing a severed neck.

Following that were giant human-shaped balloons, floating tears for drinks, and pirate ships made of white bone... In short, all sorts of grotesque faces loomed within the mist.

Players had to "check-in" at various attractions, providing opportunities for monsters to appear before the game could end.

For Qi Gu, these things were trivial. He played with an expressionless face, merely feeling that the game's connectivity and playability weren't great—perhaps the production team lacked the budget to do better.

As for Lin Hanzhi, every time a ghost appeared, he would let out a scream or a sharp intake of breath.

By the end, he was too tired to even scream (or perhaps just lazy to keep acting).

"This game is too terrifying." Lin Hanzhi removed his VR headset and hugged the hamster tightly, his face pale.

Qi Gu gave his shoulder a reassuring pat: "Let me help you sit down for a moment."

Lin Hanzhi leaned half his weight against Qi Gu. "Thank you."

He didn't understand why he was acting this way. He clearly had a germaphobic streak, yet from the moment he first saw Qi Gu, he had craved contact with him.

More and more.

He had intended to restrain himself, but then he thought—he was a dying man, so what was the harm in a little indulgence?

Besides, it was just normal physical contact; he wasn't doing anything immoral.

Leaning against Qi Gu’s shoulder, which radiated a faint scent of sandalwood, Lin Hanzhi couldn't help but nestle his head deeper, like a large cat finding a safe place to curl up.

Qi Gu assumed he was clinging out of fear and said, "Do you still have that sachet I gave you last time? With that, ghosts can't harm you."

Lin Hanzhi suddenly jumped as if stung, his voice full of grievance and his eyes brimming with tears: "What sachet? Didn't you take it back after the show ended and give it to Mu Xingchen? If I remember correctly, Mu Xingchen is currently at Fu'ai Temple? You two were even livestreaming together a few days ago?"

Qi Gu felt his tone was a bit strange, but since it was his own doing, he recalled the original sachet he had given Lin Hanzhi: "Sorry, I forgot. Here, take this one for protection."

With that, he pulled a duplicate talisman from his pocket and flicked it into the wind. A small Purple-Gold Gourd appeared in his palm.

"This can be used to catch ghosts. Just remember the mantra. It's better than that sachet, which is only for defense," Qi Gu explained. Lin Hanzhi’s grievance finally subsided as he placed the gourd in his pocket, patting it contentedly.

"Does Mu Xingchen have this gourd too?" Lin Hanzhi didn't know what kind of nonsense he was spouting, but his mouth moved faster than his brain.

"Yeah," Qi Gu nodded instinctively, only to see Lin Hanzhi look even more aggrieved.

He quickly changed the subject: "However, the ones before were just recently drawn. They aren't as powerful as this one. This one can catch two ghosts at once."

Lin Hanzhi’s expression finally brightened. "I'm fine now. Let's keep playing... Oh right, don't go back to the mountain tonight. Since you have to participate in the program tomorrow morning anyway, why not stay at my place for the night?"

Qi Gu suddenly remembered his disciple who was practicing hard on the mountain during the day.

Lin Hanzhi saw his hesitation and said, "My chef comes from a lineage of imperial cooks and knows many lost palace recipes. Do you really not want to try?"

A fatal blow.

Qi Gu was instantly enticed.

"Alright, then I'll let Xingchen do his homework himself today... wait, that's not right. I still need to bring clothes for bathing." Qi Gu realized he was overthinking.

"Just wear mine. We're friends; it's normal to wear each other's clothes." Lin Hanzhi spoke with such dignified righteousness that he quelled Qi Gu’s doubts.

Qi Gu had no friends, so he chose to believe Lin Hanzhi’s words.

*

Late at night, the lights were brilliant, and the streets were crowded with traffic.

Qi Gu and Lin Hanzhi had played all afternoon at the arcade. As soon as they got into the Lin family's car, both collapsed like two pancakes in the back of the supercar.

Seeing this, the driver kept his eyes straight ahead and pressed the button to close the front partition.

Qi Gu looked at the partition, showing a rare moment of surprise: "So supercars really have these. I thought authors were just making it up."

Lin Hanzhi pointed to the control panel on the left: "Yeah, you can control it from here too. Want to try?"

"No, I'm a bit tired. I'll lie down for a bit," Qi Gu said, tilting his head and falling into a deep, baby-like sleep.

Lin Hanzhi: "......" So fast.

Lin Hanzhi was about to follow Qi Gu’s lead and sleep when he heard his phone ring.

He took out his phone and opened the messages.

[Unfilial Daughter: 6, so much for so-called 'purity.' Isn't this just a secret date?]

Miao Yue then sent a photo of Lin Hanzhi and Qi Gu sitting close together on a bench, looking like they were posing for a couple's photo.

Lin Hanzhi: "......"

[Lin Hanzhi: What date? Is playing games with a friend called a date?]

[Lin Hanzhi: Don't you have friends?]

[Unfilial Daughter: My friends and I aren't close enough to hold hands while playing VR.]

Miao Yue replied mockingly, sending a photo taken inside the dark VR pod showing Qi Gu and Lin Hanzhi holding hands, with Lin Hanzhi clutching a silly plushie.

Lin Hanzhi: "......"

Passersby were truly something; why did they like to photograph everything and post it online?

[Lin Hanzhi: Anyway, there's nothing between us. Stop your delusions.]

He was a dying man; how could he lead someone else on?

Miao Yue was so angry she could spit blood. No, this germaphobe who was constantly initiating contact, acting spoiled, and being cute was now saying there was nothing between them? Who was he kidding?

Miao Yue then found her convenient younger brother, Pubu Gesang, and sent him the photos one by one.

[Convenient Brother: Damn!]

[Sharp Daoist Sister: Isn't it infuriating! I asked the Big Boss if he was dating or if he liked the guy, and he said absolutely not. Who would believe that! He's treating me like a fool.]

[Convenient Brother: Damn! Those two went to the arcade secretly without inviting me! Who does that!]

Miao Yue: "......"

Fine.

I found the right fool.

Miao Yue took a deep breath and patiently guided him: [Don't look at the setting. Look at their movements and posture!]

Pubu Gesang: [Isn't this normal? It's nothing.]

Pubu Gesang: [In our first year, we used to hold hands and hug like this all the time during the three-legged race.]

Miao Yue took a deep breath, feeling that complaining to Pubu Gesang was just asking for trouble.

So she sent: [It's nothing. You may leave now. Go play by yourself. Go do your three-legged race.