Chapter 7

Four people have already died. Lin Qianqian wasn’t a newcomer who didn’t know anything. She knew about the bad end if one goes out after midnight but at this time, Lin Qianqian pointed out Chen Caixing went to the third floor before and took the letter.

The living room was in silence.

It was gloomy, seeping through to the gloomy and cold wind.

The expressions of the people present were all different but all of them looked towards the NPC, waiting for Mr. House to take action. Especially Jin Hai’s eyes which were more delighted. Since he violated the NPC’s words, that newbie was screwed.

Mr. House’s face was stiff because of his ‘fierce’ emotions, his face twitched and his cold gaze ferociously looked at Chen Caixing.

Chen Caixing’s heartbeat seemed to stop. His mind was blank but he tightened his hold on Yuan Jiuwan’s hand by a bit so that the little brother won’t be impulsive. The NPC said before the third floor was off-limits but he didn’t die when he went up and the NPC didn’t notice them on site.

Everything’s going to be fine.

Everything’s absolutely going to be fine.

As his mind gradually calmed down, Chen Caixing looked at Mr. House and recovered a bit of calmness. He smiled and politely said, “Perfect timing. Mr. House, I’ve troubled you for so long. We have yet to have a nice chat.”

Everyone: ???

Jin Hai: Something is wrong with this newbie’s mind, NPC put him to death without a moment’s delay!

Mr. House settled his gaze on Chen Caixing for a long time as if slowly eating away Chen Caixing’s skin and bones. Just when everyone thought that Mr. House would take action, he nodded his head and said, “Yes, I like to help children and also like to chat with all of you but all of you were scared of me before, except for you. You are truly an unusual little guy.”

His words were quite gentle and kind, on the premise that he didn’t speak coldly with a murderous and threatening tone.

The unusual little guy Chen Caixing: ……

It’s not that brother, could you not use that to address him.

Chen Caixing, a gay who has never been in any romantic relationship, was called a little guy for the first time. He couldn’t stand it.

“Come, I’ll pour a cup of hot tea. We can sit and talk for a little while.” Mr. House turned around to head to the kitchen after he spoke.

The kitchen was extremely quiet. The few who didn’t dare to come out due to the atmosphere just now, now looked at Chen Caixing with complicated gazes. Chen Caixing didn’t see Lin Qianqian’s pitifully trembling self and sneered. He said, “Let’s go, Mr. House invites us to drink tea and to chat. If you don’t go, you aren’t a good child.”

Mr. House was in the kitchen. They just experienced a round of a ‘life and death crisis’ so everyone did not dare to refute the invitation at the moment.

They obediently moved to the living room.

After a while, Mr. House came over holding a tray with both his hands. A hot teapot and teacup were placed on the tray. He poured a cup for Chen Caixing first.

The teacup emitted steam, faintly dispersing its aroma.

Chen Caixing originally didn’t intend to pick it up. This NPC saw him as an eyesore, who knew if there was something in the teacup. Yet, Mr. House kept holding the teacup and kept staring at him with a gloomy look. The two of them were at a stalemate.

“Gege, I’m thirsty.” Yuan Jiuwan started to talk all of a sudden, looking at the teacup and even licked his mouth with an appearance of ‘I’m thirsty I want to drink’.

Mr. House stiffly turned his head to look at Yuan Jiuwan. Chen Caixing was scared the little brother would speak so he took the teacup. Who would have imagined the little brother would move closer to the teacup in his hand and lower his head to gulp down half a cup of the tea.

His speed was so fast Chen Caixing had no chance to react in time.

“Thank you, Boss.” Yuan Jiuwan, the child’s voice had a distinctive childishness and he said happily after drinking, “Gege, this tea is nice to drink. Gege should drink it too.”

“……” Little brother, your appearance of selling and promoting a product. Chen Caixing suspected the tea in his hand had something else but Yuan Jiuwan was waiting anxiously and looking at him with hopeful eyes. Chen Caixing pondered over it. The boss could not be terrified so he drank the rest.

The tea was ordinary but it was tea indeed.

The corner of Mr. House’s mouth twitched, he probably wanted to show a smile but in everyone’s eyes, this smile was honestly too strange. It was as if he got away with his scheme.

He still grimly asked, “Is there anyone who wants to drink tea?”

“No, no, I don’t want to drink it.” Zhao Ru refused with a trembling voice.

Hearing that, Mr. House also didn’t insist and his gaze swept over the others. With Zhao Ru’s refusal and nothing happening to her, Lin Qianqian also followed after her to refuse. By no means did she want to drink stuff given by that freak.

The veterans thought over it. In general, there will always be an ‘element’ to promote the development of the plot in the supernatural game. Wang Xingping felt that ‘to drink tea and have a chat’ was considered as it but the power to choose was in the player’s hands, choosing to drink or not to drink had two outcomes, life or death. Furthermore, there was a type in which drinking the tea was not considered to be a ‘strike’ in the game and it didn’t matter which was chosen.

Wang Xingping didn’t dare to try with his life but it was beyond his control. At least, he clenched his teeth and said, “Please, I’d like a cup too.”

The ball started rolling, Monkey and Jin Hai also wanted tea, Wang Xiaoxiao followed to drink too.

Out of everyone present, only Lin Qianqian and Zhao Ru didn’t drink. The two of them realised something. Zhao Ru’s face paled as she said, “I, I want to drink tea too.”

“There’s no more tea.” Mr. House said in a flat tone.

The teapot was made of transparent glass. There was obviously still half a pot of tea left but Mr. House said there was no more tea. Zhao Ru and Lin Qianqian were struck dumb and asked Mr. House again but he used a cold gaze to look at them. The two of them shook with fear and didn’t dare to speak again. They thought in their minds that it was all right, it was all right, what if it was correct to not drink the tea and it wasn’t only her who didn’t drink……

After drinking tea, the following was to chat.

“I have stayed here for two days. I’ve forgotten to ask for Mr. House’s full name?” Chen Caixing said first.

Mr. House looked at him first before correcting him, “Three days. Edward House.”

As expected. Chen Caixing was certain of the relationship in the letter, Joanna and John were a married couple. The real owner of this wax museum should be John. Edward was John’s little brother.

The man contained in a wooden barrel in the basement was John. Edward was still ‘alive’ in front of them, then where was Joanna?

Chen Caixing thought of that tender and beautiful fresh flower in the flower pot at the balcony on the third floor. The third floor was absolutely empty and nobody lived there. In that case, for who was Mr. House changing the flowers regularly for? That direction was directly facing the walnut tree……

A grave mound.

“……The wax museum was handed down by my paternal grandfather. At that time, it had quite a reputation in the small town. The wax figures our House family made were the most realistic so a lot of people were attracted to come here.” Mr. House’s voice was even and didn’t undulate as he talked about the House Wax Museum, the glory of the family.

This sort of story would always have a but.

”

”

“The wax museum was handed down to my father later on. His craftsmanship was mediocre and not as good as grandfather so grandfather entrusted all his expectation onto me and my brother. My brother is called John House.” When Mr. House said this, he looked at the players.

That letter was destroyed by the NPC so how would he explain clearly about John’s name. He indescribably had a feeling of ridicule.

Chen Caixing was brazen and asked, “And then?” Don’t blame him for rushing him, it was getting late. If they don’t finish today and miss this opportunity, who knows if they could drink tea and continue to ask tomorrow? By delaying a day, the dangerous variables would be more.

“John had a talent for making wax figures so much that he was better at making them than grandfather. When grandfather died, he handed the wax museum to John. Afterwards, he lived up to his expectations. John’s fame grew and grew. To the extent he even surpassed grandfather. At that time, there was still a mayor who came forth to take a joint photo with John. But unfortunately, not long after, John unexpectedly had an accident and fractured his hands. After he recovered, the wax figures he made were no longer as realistic as before.”

“Slowly business was not good for the wax museum. John pursued perfection and was unable to tolerate a wax figure with flaws. Simply, closing down the museum. Afterwards, he got married. I went away to find a job until I read a newspaper saying that people would go missing in a small town every year. Later, more and more people went missing, spreading a lot of horror stories. The residents in the whole town started to move away. I was worried and returned to the town. In the empty small town, only the wax museum John looked after was left. He could make vivid and lifelike wax figures again and his craftsmanship was better compared to before but he cherished those wax figures, not one was sold……”

When Mr. House said this, he avoided speaking about Joanna the whole time but the existence of Joanna was divulged. For example, John was married. He went away to work and the people in the small town disappeared. He said he was worried but who was he worried about?

Chen Caixing thought of that rose, it was quite obvious Edward also loved Joanna.

“Alright children, chatting with you tonight was very delightful. It’s getting late, all of you should go to bed to rest.” Mr. House said minding his own business and stood up. His eyes swept to Zhao Jun, the wax figure, in the living room. He said in a cold tone, “Beware, don’t go out of your room after midnight.”

Mr. House leaving was like a signal——It was almost midnight.

Everyone didn’t delay anymore and went upstairs one after another.

The amount of information tonight was a lot and it was made open to the public. Everyone thought about the words the NPC said. Chen Caixing was not an exception. After he brought Yuan Jiuwan to wash up, he met Lin Qianqian in the corridor when they came out.

“I’m sorry Chen Caixing. I was too afraid at that time. I didn’t do it on purpose. You might forgive me.” Lin Qianqian’s weak voice along with her pale face, made it very easy to attract others’ sympathy.

But others don’t include Chen Caixing.

“I don’t forgive you.” Chen Caixing was not polite.

Lin Qianqian’s face was not good when she got attacked verbally. She muttered, “Such a narrow-minded man, you didn’t die and are living well. I already apologised to you, what are you dragging for.”

“I’m dragging people apart.” Chen Caixing didn’t want to argue with Lin Qianqian and said with a cold face, “It’s going to be midnight soon, you’re not going?”

Sure enough, Lin Qianqian was very scared and scolded Chen Caixing for being short-lived and that he was not a man before leaving.

Chen Caixing’s face blackened. How was he not a man?

He’ll pull out a big one!1

Chen Caixing muttered a sentence. Coincidentally, he was heard by Yuan Jiuwan. He curiously asked, “Gege, what is to pull out a big one? You pull it out for me to see, what’s the treasure?”

“……”

He felt that little brother got hold of pornography but he had no evidence. Besides, Xiao Jiu was only seven years old, how would he know this? Blame him for not guarding his words.

“My stomach is bigger than yours.” Chen Caixing found an excuse.

Yuan Jiuwan moved his gaze to Chen Caixing’s stomach. Because they returned to the room, Chen Caixing removed his coat and only wore a thin sweater. That beer belly he wished he could lose was revealed.

“Alright, don’t look anymore. Go to bed.” The little brother stared at Chen Caixing weirdly.

Yuan Jiuwan obediently retracted his gaze and went to bed and said seriously, “Gege, you really pulled out a big one.”

“……” What was this, those words became impure when spoken.

Chen Caixing’s head was going bald. He was gay so he didn’t plan to get married nor to have children. He had a little boy in front of him now and genuinely did not have experience in being a ‘father’. He didn’t know how to talk about physiological health with him.

Good thing this topic persisted as the lights in the room went out. It was midnight.

He didn’t know if they’ll meet with a mishap tonight.

Chen Caixing thought of the ‘tea party’ in the evening, the gaps in the backstory were already filled up.

People disappeared in the small town, John’s marksmanship in making wax figures as better than before. Each and every component pointed at John using the residents in the small town to make wax figures. In fact, it was him, the cranky male broke a wax figure and human bones were in it.

The whole story pieced together.

After John got hurt, his marksmanship couldn’t return to his golden age. He pursued perfection so it was easy for him to go to extreme measures to do it. He didn’t know why but John started to use real people to make wax figures in the basement and the results should be pretty good so more and more people went missing.

Later on, his wife, Joanna, discovered it. John was scared Joanna would leak out information so he killed Joanna. The NPC, Edward House received news about residents disappearing in the small town through the newspaper and was worried about Joanna so he returned to town. Then, he discovered everything.

House, who suffered the painful loss of his love, killed his brother, John. Afterwards, he kept watching over the wax museum up to now.

The overall context was clear then here comes the important point.

What did the game want them to solve? What do they do so that they can return to reality and end this bout of the game?

Chen Caixing was thinking before a sound came from outside.

It was a thumping sound this time but it was snapping. The type of sound made from the movement of stiff joints. All of a sudden, he thought of those wax figures downstairs. As if to confirm his guess, soon the sound of footsteps echoed.

It was mechanical and stiff. The sound of lots of footsteps sounded.

It wasn’t only one ‘person’.

Those wax figures seemed to have come to life and were coming to the second floor at the moment.