In Virtual Reality

ically for the newly built haunted house, but it was under construction.
I don't know if it's open again.
There's also a water park over there.
If it's still hot out, we can go and try it together?”

Tan Bao's interest was tepid at best, but Lao Xiang was always up for a new adventure.

“Sounds like a plan,” Lao Xiang chimed in.

The conversation continued for a while longer, but the late hour eventually caught up with them.
Not wanting to disturb the other residents, they quickly tidied up and retired to bed.

Xu Jin Yi found herself restless, her phone's games failing to capture her attention…

Huh?

Xu Jin Yi's phone buzzed, and the game website app alert appeared on her screen.
“Elevator Safety Instructions, hey!” she exclaimed with a smile.

“This classic horror game is being remade?” The game's name immediately suggested its setting – an elevator, and its genre – horror.

In this jump scare-based game, the player enters the elevator and presses the button for their desired floor.
During the ride, they must keep their eyes open no matter how often the elevator doors open or what happens.
The player can safely exit and clear the game only when the elevator reaches the original floor and the doors open.
Although it's a simple game, it's full of crazy elements that can scare players witless.
Players don't need to move; they only need the courage to face the horrors the development team has prepared for them.

However, this time, the developers of “Elevator Safety Instructions” developed a first-person VR version.
It released an article inviting players to try it out with a teammate.

“[Do you think playing the game alone is too easy? Try bringing a teammate! (NPC.jpg handed over)].”

Xu Jin Yi's curiosity was piqued when she learned that “Elevator Safety Instructions” was now VR-compatible and had added interactive NPC characters.
While “Screaming Haunted House” and “Death Notice” were massive games, this was a small indie game meant to be played exclusively within the confines of an elevator.

Despite its limited scope, Xu Jin Yi was intrigued and couldn't resist the opportunity to try it out.
Grinning mischievously, Xu Jin Yi complimented the developer on their ability to entice her with such a unique game.

Although she had brought her VR glasses, she had to download the game on her computer before playing.
She hesitated momentarily, taking a quick survey of the room to ensure that her gameplay wouldn't disturb her roommates.
With Tan Bao engrossed in a drama with headphones on, Lao Xiang playing mobile games on her bed, and Yang An An burning the midnight oil studying, Xu Jin Yi concluded that it would be a waste of an excellent night if she didn't indulge in a bit of gaming herself.

Without delay, Xu Jin Yi got out of bed and started her computer.
She used her phone's WiFi to download “Elevator Safety Instructions” from the gaming website, eager to see what this unique game had in store.

**

Cao Wei Min headed to Prosperity Bay Community, the latest known address of “Silence.” His last known location was near a young man who lived with him.
Cao Wei Min frowned as he looked at the information on his phone about Wang Jin Long.

He had asked He Du to investigate Wang Jin Long's recent movements and discovered that he had been at the Morphy amusement park before and after the “Haunted House Incident.” He was also frequently seen near the stops of the No.
25 bus route after the “Bus Incident” had occurred.

In addition, his appearance was similar to the sketch of “Silence” drawn recently.
However, there were some age differences compared to the descriptions of other survivors.

Cao Wei Min clicked his tongue.

“This guy is a bit handsome.
At first glance, one could even ignore his age of 32 in his information.
It's not impossible to look younger and be misunderstood about one's age.”

He drove near Prosperity Bay Community, a semi-prosperous zone with a large flow of people.
After finding a parking spot, he turned off the car engine and headed straight for Prosperity Bay Community.

The security guard in the community's booth was dozing off with half-closed eyes, so Cao Wei Min didn't try to attract his attention.
Instead, he walked in openly and naturally.
After scanning the surroundings, he eventually located Building 3, where Wang Jin Long resided.
Cao Wei Min proceeded towards it, following the black-grey asphalt road, and soon arrived at the floor exit.

As he stepped into the lobby on the first floor, Cao Wei Min felt a slight drop in temperature, but it didn't reduce his tension.
If Wang Jin Long was indeed the Silence, would he know anything about “Ye Cheng Jing”? Would his attitude towards “Spirit Shenanigans” be the same as theirs? These thoughts filled Cao Wei Min's mind as he continued walking.

However, his progress was momentarily interrupted by a sudden shout from the nearby elevator.

“Wheatley! Don't go in!” A girl in a navy blue short T-shirt held a dog leash, trying to restrain a Chinese pastoral dog from rushing into the elevator.

The dog whimpered a few times, casting a longing look at the girl who refused to let it into the elevator.
It seemed bewildered, unable to understand why it couldn't go home.

A voice from inside the elevator offered reassurance: “Don't worry, miss! I'm not afraid of dogs.
Come on up!”

Cao Wei Min had yet turned the corner and could only guess that the voice belonged to a young man.

The girl shook her head, her face contorting into an unusual expression.
“No, it's okay.
You go first.”

With a scratch of his head, the delivery man in his yellow uniform muttered, “Okay,” and pressed the button for the 32nd floor.
'Does this girl think I'm a bad person? Do I look that terrible?' he wondered.
Nevertheless, he had a job and food to deliver before it got cold.

“Hey! Wait a minute!” Cao Wei Min rushed over, eager to take the elevator to the 14th floor to find Wang Jin Long.

The delivery man sprang into action, pressing the open button, but the elevator closed.

As the doors slid shut, the girl outside the elevator spoke hushedly, “Be careful…
be safe.”

The doors slid shut, and the delivery man felt a shiver run down his spine as the elevator began to ascend.
The girl's words echoed in his mind, and he wondered what she meant.
Was there something he should be worried about? He glanced nervously at the floor display, watching the numbers tick higher.

'…Perhaps it was nothing,' he thought, trying to calm his jangling nerves.
After all, crazy things don't always happen in life.

——— Translator's Notes ———

Yang (杨) poplar

安安 ān'ān (Tw) (Internet slang) Greetings! (used when it's unknown what time the reader will see one's post, or just to be cute)

“Lao Xiang” (老向) is a Chinese name composed of the two characters “lao” (老), meaning “old,” and “xiang” (向), which can have various meanings depending on the context.
It can mean “towards,” “facing,” or “in the direction of,” among others.
Without more information about the character, it's difficult to determine the exact meaning of “xiang” in this context.
The combination of these two characters could mean something like “old and experienced in a certain direction.”

“Tan Bao” (谭宝) is another Chinese name.
“Tan” (谭) is a surname that originated in the southern part of China, and it means “talkative” or “chatty” in Chinese.
“Bao” (宝) means “treasure” or “jewel.”

Wheatley “小麦” (xiǎo mài) literally means “small wheat”

Prosperity Bay Community 利海小区 Li Hai Community “利” meaning “benefit, advantage” and “海” meaning “sea”