Chapter 20

"Chenchen has always been rather introverted and unwilling to take the initiative to play with the other children in the courtyard. He often stays alone."

"From some point on, he suddenly became more lively. I was quite happy at the time, thinking that Chenchen had finally found his own friends."

"But later, I gradually realized something was wrong. Chenchen would only go out to play after seven o'clock in the evening, and when he came back, he was always dirty, with small wounds on his arms and cheeks."

"One time, he didn't come back very late, and I was really worried, so I asked the building manager to look for him. We searched for a long time and finally found Chenchen in the abandoned water tank in the neighborhood."

"He was huddled in the water tank, shivering. When we asked him what he was doing, he said he was playing hide-and-seek with his friend."

"When the building manager and I asked him the name of his friend, Chenchen took a long time to say that his friend was called 'Ku.'"

"At that moment, I found it strange—how could someone's name be 'Ku'? The building manager's expression also changed when he heard the name. He asked Chenchen if 'Ku' lived on the third floor."

"Chenchen nodded, and then the building manager said something even more terrifying. Although no murders had occurred in the room on the third floor that was covered with talismans, something even more bizarre had happened there."

"Long ago in the neighborhood, children kept disappearing. In the end, all the clothes and belongings of those children were found in room 1034 on the third floor."

"Room 1034 was like a house that ate children. The situation only improved after everyone sealed off the doors and windows on the third floor."

"The child called 'Ku' hadn't appeared for a long time, and I never thought he would suddenly target Chenchen."

"The wrinkles on the old woman's face creased together: 'Ever since I stopped Chenchen from going out to play with 'Ku,' Chenchen seemed to be possessed. His personality became more irritable, and he often said that someone was waiting for him, someone was calling his name. Whenever I felt soft and let him go out, he would run to the opposite door, talking to himself, laughing, and crying. In the end, I had no choice but to lock him in the bedroom.'"

"After hearing the old woman's story, Han Fei felt a chill. There were many terrifying things in this building, but no one wanted to get close to room 1034, which had been sealed off. This showed how terrifying 'Ku' was."

"Chenchen was locked in the bedroom, and his personality became worse. Yesterday, during dinner, I wasn't paying attention, and the child ran out. When I chased him to the door, I found that the door opposite was half-open, and someone had removed the talismans and the wooden boards nailed to the door." The old woman sighed, really worried about Chenchen.

"The talismans could have been torn by Chenchen, but the wooden boards were probably removed by someone else." Han Fei felt that none of his neighbors were normal, so he considered the worst-case scenario: "Has anything major happened in this building recently?"

"I don't know." The old woman shook her head, then suddenly spoke after a moment of thought: "Right, I haven't seen the building manager for a long time. It feels like he has disappeared."

"Building manager?" Chen Ge had heard this title more than once: "Old lady, who is this building manager you're talking about?"

"He is one of the earliest residents of this building, in his sixties, very kind, and got along well with some of the old neighbors. But as those old neighbors left, the building manager's condition worsened."

"Can anyone living here be in good condition?" Han Fei carefully recalled what Meng Shi had said. He felt like he had seen the building manager before: "Old lady, does the building manager you mentioned have white hair and a black mole on his neck...?"

"Yes! Where did you see him?" The old woman was very surprised.

"Is it really him?" The scattered clues in Han Fei's mind gradually formed a line. The old man he had mentioned was the store owner who sold him the game helmet!

That old man was definitely not simple! The tomb guardian was probably just one of his identities!

Han Fei's mind raced. He still lacked information: "Old lady, do you know where the building manager usually lives?"

"He lives in room 1101 on the tenth floor. Are you planning to find the building manager to save Chenchen?" Meng Shi looked worried: "The hallway isn't safe, and we might encounter 'Ku' if we go out now."

Han Fei noted down 1101, the most important clue he had obtained since entering the game: "To get to room 1101, we need to go upstairs. I'm only level 2, and the chances of me surviving to the tenth floor are very low. We can't rush; we need to be steady and methodical."

Looking at Meng Shi, Han Fei had an idea.

Chenchen was Meng Shi's most important family member. Now that Chenchen was in danger, if Han Fei could save him, Meng Shi would likely become a trusted companion.

Teaming up with a seventy-year-old old lady was something Han Fei would never have considered before, but in this situation, every bit of help was extremely valuable.

Meng Shi had saved his life earlier, so helping the old lady was a way to repay her.

The most crucial point was that Han Fei did not plan to enter the neighboring room to find Chenchen. Instead, he wanted to lure 'Ku' to the haunted house on the fourth floor to permanently solve the problem.

Even if the monster roommate couldn't defeat 'Ku,' as long as it could hold 'Ku' back, Han Fei and the old lady would have time to enter the room on the third floor to find Chenchen.

Even if they didn't find Chenchen, Han Fei's willingness to risk his life would be enough to gain the old lady's trust.

If he could make the old lady completely trust him, he would have his first true friend in this terrifying and eerie apartment building!

After much consideration, Han Fei finally made up his mind. He was ready to seize this rare opportunity.

Taking a deep breath, Han Fei said to the old lady with a look of determination: "Old lady, I have a plan that might save Chenchen."

"What plan?" The old lady was anxious.

"I'll be the bait to lure 'Ku' upstairs, and you can take the opportunity to check the opposite room. If Chenchen is in that room, quickly bring him out."

"No! You're risking your life! Absolutely not!" The old lady firmly refused.

"We can't just stay here indefinitely." Han Fei expressed his true thoughts: "Let's wait three hours. If 'Ku' is still guarding the door after three hours, we'll do as I said. I'll lure him away, and you can go into the room to find Chenchen. If 'Ku' leaves after three hours, I'll go upstairs to seek help from other neighbors."

"But, whether you go to lure 'Ku' or seek help from other neighbors, it's very dangerous. You could lose your life. Aren't you afraid?" The old lady was very worried about Han Fei.

"I'm afraid, very afraid, but there's no better plan right now." Han Fei's face was resolute as he moved his cold fingers: "Maybe true bravery is being brave when you're afraid."

Seeing that Han Fei was willing to do this despite his fear, the old lady was truly moved.

At the same time, the cold voice in Han Fei's mind suddenly spoke: "Player 0000, please note! Meng Shi's friendliness has increased by ten points. A harmonious neighborhood relationship is the first step to a perfect life."

"Player 0000, please note! G-level hidden quest 'Find Chenchen' has been triggered! Do you accept the quest?"