Chapter 96
The next morning, Yu Jinzhe, with dark circles under his eyes, sat in the dining room having breakfast. He looked completely absent-minded, not even responding when several people greeted him.
“I’m done eating.”
After finishing, he walked away in a daze, carrying his tray.
Just then, Xie Mi, who had come over with instant noodles, noticed he had left his phone behind. She picked it up to return it to him, “Your phone—”
Buzz buzz.
Two messages popped up, lighting the screen.
[ Xie Lian ]: So? Did she get scared?
[ Xie Lian ]: The horror novel I recommended you—wasn’t it awesome?
“?”
Xie Mi rubbed her chin and gave a knowing look.
So that’s how it is.
She put the phone back exactly where it was and went on slurping her noodles.
But before she could finish the first bite, the noodles were taken away and replaced with soy milk and soup dumplings.
Xie Mi looked at Shen Yanqing in horror.
“You made this?!”
They had agreed to be kitchen disasters together, but he had secretly leveled up!
Her own failure was pitiful enough, but a friend’s success was even more heartbreaking!
Before she could wail and beat her chest, Shen Yanqing knocked her lightly on the head.
“What are you thinking? I bought it during my morning run.”
“Oh. That’s a relief.”
“Hm?”
“I mean… I’m grateful for you.”
That morning’s schedule was garden work.
All eight guests gathered in the villa’s backyard to trim plants, water flowers, and play a few interactive games. It was very relaxing.
Just as Yu Jinzhe was finally easing up about the terrifying scene from last night, he suddenly received a text message.
[ Anonymous Number ]: I’m coming to find you~
The boy instantly felt chills all over, breaking out in a cold sweat.
The horror novel he read last night was about a protagonist who suddenly got a strange text—after which a curse haunted him…
Yu Jinzhe forced himself to stay calm, putting the phone away and dismissing it as a prank.
After the gardening session, today’s chefs, Xiao Jingxi and Liu Woxing, went to prepare lunch, while the others had free time.
Since he hadn’t slept well, Yu Jinzhe returned to his room intending to nap—only to find a sticky note on the horror novel lying on his desk.
The note read: I’m coming to find you~
Yu Jinzhe, horrified, immediately threw the book into the trash!
He went to the staff to check the surveillance footage—no one had entered his room all morning. Even Xiao Jingxi hadn’t been back.
“…”
Waves of dread rippled through him, though he still tried to stay composed.
Now that he’d thrown the book away, surely it would be fine.
Lunch was ready.
Liu Woxing, once scolded by her family for not showing good cooking skills on the show, had since studied hard.
At least with simple dishes like steak and pasta, she could now manage them.
Xiao Jingxi, known by fans as the all-round movie emperor, had secretly practiced after his embarrassment at the seaside barbecue.
This time, his tofu-and-fish stew actually looked pretty good.
Xie Mi, heartbroken at her peers’ progress, reluctantly took a sip of the fish soup.
Then she put down the spoon, grinned, and clasped her hands in mock gratitude, “Thank you, Emperor Xiao, for sparing our lives.”
The others, puzzled, each tasted it too.
And then, one after another, they also put down their spoons and made the same gesture.
“Thank you, Emperor Xiao, for sparing our lives.”
He could have used the whole packet of salt and killed them all, but he only used half—half-killing them instead.
Seriously, she could cry.
[Xiao Jingxi is perfect for working in a cafeteria. When he pours salt, his hand doesn’t even tremble—half a packet gone in one sweep.]
[The presentation looked so good, but the taste… let’s just say forget it.]
[Only Sister Liu deserves praise—look how quickly she learned Western food.]
[Who remembers her Oreo fried egg from the first day?]
[Hahaha you mean the one burnt on both sides with raw white in the middle?]
After lunch, Yu Jinzhe returned to his room again.
At the sight of the desk, his heart lurched!
The book he had thrown into the trash was back on his desk—with a different note this time.
The note read: Did you think you could get rid of me that easily?
Yu Jinzhe staggered back two steps, then hurriedly grabbed the book and hurled it into the villa’s outside trash station.
He even watched with his own eyes as the garbage truck carried it away, before returning to the villa.
Afternoon leisure time at the villa.
Liu Woxing and Qiu Chengye sat in the small garden pavilion, drinking coffee and chatting.
Xie Mi and Shen Yanqing were watching a movie in the projection room.
Xiao Jingxi, afraid the two would spend time alone, also joined them.
Xu Shuangrong, under the excuse of “helping Xiao Jingxi pursue Xie Mi,” came along as well.
And Lai Bingxuan, who joined the show just to spite Xu Shuangrong, naturally followed her everywhere.
Thus, five people gathered in the projection room.
“So lively.”
Yu Jinzhe pushed open the door and smiled sweetly at Xie Mi, “Big sister, may I join too?”
Before Xie Mi could respond, Xu Shuangrong answered with a gentle smile.
“Of course, Jinzhe. Come sit in the middle.”
She even gave up the center seat for him.
The live comments once again praised her for being kind to her juniors.
As Xie Mi was scrolling through movie options, she suddenly paused, then gave Shen Yanqing an evil smile.
Raising an eyebrow, Shen Yanqing stood and locked the door.
“Why lock the door?” Lai Bingxuan asked.
Shen Yanqing curved his lips into a casual smile and smoothly replied:
“To stop the crew from barging in mid-way with tasks. At least let us finish a movie.”
[That’s so him]
[Production team: …so?]
Hearing this, the others seemed to agree.
Slacking off during filming sounded great.
Since Shen Yanqing locked the door, they wouldn’t be blamed anyway.
So they all accepted it with ease.
“It’s starting, it’s starting!”
Xie Mi drew the curtains, turned off the lights, then happily threw herself onto the beanbag sofa.
Beside her, Shen Yanqing shoved popcorn into her arms. The movie began.
The others settled in for a leisurely afternoon screening—until they realized something was wrong.
This seemed to be… a horror movie?
On the big screen, the protagonist sat under a dim lamp. His phone buzzed with an anonymous text.
[ I’m coming to find you~ ]
Startled, the boy threw his phone away and hid in the bathroom, locking the door.
But on the bathroom mirror, a line of bloody words slowly appeared.
[ I’m coming to find you~ ]
Bang!
A ghastly face suddenly filled the screen.
“Ahhhhhhhhhhh!!”
Everyone shrieked in terror, scrambling to open the door—only to discover Shen Yanqing’s method of locking it…
Was rather special.
He had used a chain lock.
Shen Yanqing dangled the key in his hand, leaning lazily against the sofa with a smirk.
“You’ve got to watch till the end.”
