The bus suddenly let out a snort and stopped by the roadside. Looking out of the window, tall trees lined both sides, extending forward in parallel. The bus was parked next to a bus stop sign, but the iron sign was blurry, making it unclear which stop it was.
The door opened, and a blank sheet of paper transformed into a person standing at the front of the seat, waving their short hand, urging them, “Let’s go, let’s go, to the next room, hurry up, we have to welcome the next batch of players.”
Several people filed out, and as they stepped out of the bus, the scenery changed abruptly. Everything disappeared like a drawn curtain, leaving only a dark and deep corridor. Tall doors stood on both sides of the corridor, with bright red or green lights at the top.
“This is the corridor,” Xia He said when Han Qianqiu didn’t respond, “the place to choose rooms, and you can also use the money earned to shop.”
Zheng De gritted his teeth and said, “I’ve always felt that this mechanism is unfair. Why can the MVP directly get a gold coin, while the rest of us can only get a bronze coin? This just makes the strong stronger and the weak never have a chance.”
“Excuse me!” A crisp voice suddenly echoed in the dim corridor, and a sheet of paper floated down from the air, landing accurately on Zheng De’s shoulder and sitting down. “What you said is really insightful. We’ve always thought that this mechanism is problematic. The issue of social inequality needs to be addressed! So, would you consider coming to our room?”
Zheng De was taken aback, turning to the paper person on his shoulder, “What do you mean?”
“Let me make a simple introduction first. I am KP number 67, and my game room is gathering players like you.”
“Oh—” Xia He suddenly let out a long “Oh.”
The others stared at her.
KP number 67 tensed up, crawling up from Zheng De’s shoulder.
Xia He smiled and said, “We just came out of a room and want to take a break first. We haven’t planned to go to the next room yet.”
67 wanted to insist, but Xia He pulled one and pushed another, urging them to leave, saying softly, “Let’s go first.”
Xia He said, “Sorry, number 67, we really want to take a break. There were too many checks in the previous room, and the kids were checked silly.”
67 regretfully said, “Alright, but, my room is right ahead. If you ever feel like resting, come and play! You must come and play!”
The others remained silent.
Xia He led them forward for a while. When she confirmed that number 67 hadn’t followed, she breathed a sigh of relief and said, “Ah, we managed to dodge that. I’ve heard about this character from other KPs before. Room 67’s KP is famous for being eccentric, with a lot of tricks.”
“Oh?” Han Qianqiu widened his eyes, “What kind of tricks? S/M?”
“You’re thinking about peach,” Xia He said, “I’m not sure what specific tricks, but the previous roommates advised us not to go to his room. And you know, if this KP is out here pulling players, how cold must his room be? No one goes there.”
“No,” Zheng De felt a sticky feeling left by the KP on his shoulder. Clearly, it was a clean sheet of paper, but he felt a slippery sensation as if touched by a sticky fluid. He patted his shoulder while saying, “Why are there still KPs out here pulling people? Is this KP out of his mind?”
“I wanted to ask before,” Han Qianqiu said, “Why are there no other KPs in this corridor? Isn’t this supposed to be a transit station for each room? Why can’t we see anyone else?”
“It’s because you can’t see them,” Xia He said, “Only people who come out of the same room can see each other. In fact, they are all here. Oh—” She suddenly bumped into someone, glaring at them, “Can’t you see? Can’t you see people?”
Han Qianqiu shrank his head in fear, “Isn’t it supposed to be invisible?”
“It’s just scaring you,” Shen Lin pulled Han Qianqiu’s collar, lifting him up, “There’s no one here.”
Han Qianqiu: “………… Too much! Xia He!”
“Hahaha!” Xia He laughed loudly twice, “Anyway, it’s quite eerie here. I don’t dare to think too much. Every time I think about the eyes that can’t be seen staring at me from all directions, I feel very excited.”
“It’s creepy, not exciting, right? It’s surrounded by invisible ghosts and spirits. You can’t feel their presence. Forget it, I’m scared.”
“In the eyes of others, you’re the ghost. It’s even, what are you afraid of?”
“Boring,” Zheng De put his hands in his pockets, glanced at them, “You scare each other, I’m going to the next room.”
He walked away, and soon the shadows faded, disappearing from their sight.
Han Qianqiu became even more afraid.
“Come on,” Xia He waved to them, “It was quite fun playing with you. It’s just that this room isn’t terrifying enough. Let’s find a scarier one.”
The group dispersed, Han Qianqiu reluctantly murmured, “I wonder how the players from our first room are doing. Strange, why have I forgotten what they were called… What were they called?”
Shen Lin couldn’t quite remember either. He had a bad memory and would forget things for sure.
Han Qianqiu didn’t delve into it further, asking, “So what do we do now?”
Shen Lin turned around, seeing a paper person floating not far away. It had somehow swayed here and looked pitiful in the silent room.
In their default understanding, KPs usually stayed in their rooms waiting for players to come, so most of those who actively came out to pull customers had ulterior motives, either the room’s difficulty was too high or it had too many gimmicks.
Seeing Shen Lin looking at that KP, Han Qianqiu remembered Xia He’s reminder and asked, “Are you thinking of going to room 67?”
Shen Lin avoided his gaze and said, “Not interested, but, Zheng De is right about one thing. If we can only get a bronze coin every time, don’t you want to leave?”
Han Qianqiu shook his head, saying, “To be honest, I haven’t thought about it yet, but I don’t want to idle around. I plan to go through a few more rooms with you. You’re too powerful. I’ll learn from you first… and then decide.”
Shen Lin nodded in understanding.
They selected among several rooms with green lights.
Han Qianqiu hesitated and asked Yan Xiu Yi, “Big Brother Yi, what about you? I feel you’re quite powerful. Why have you been following Linjie? You won’t earn any gold coins like this. Don’t you want to go back?”
Yan Xiu Yi remained silent, as if he hadn’t heard, lost in thought. He didn’t know where to go, not interested in any of the surrounding rooms.
He felt like something was missing from him, yet also felt like he had always been here, melding with this gray sky, the long rows of giant, endless doors.
He stood sideways in the middle of the road, gazing straight ahead at the end of the corridor, his gaze deep and distant.
Seeing Yan Xiu Yi not responding, Han Qianqiu shut his mouth voluntarily. This person was too mysterious, silent, and frosty, with a coldness in his eyes. It wasn’t easy to get close to him, but occasionally, with Shen Lin around, Han Qianqiu dared to make a joke.
They thought they wouldn’t get an answer from Yan Xiu Yi, but suddenly, he spoke in a cold tone, “Can’t be bothered.”
Shen Lin: “…” Is he acting as a guide?
Shen Lin was about to make a sarcastic comment, but suddenly, a blank sheet floated over.
They ran into the KP that was pulling customers everywhere again.
Han Qianqiu: “It’s so inspiring. Even paper people are working so hard. What reason do we have not to work hard? I’m full of fighting spirit again.”
Shen Lin looked up at it, and their gazes met, causing the KP to pause for a moment. Then, it flew back with fear in the air, paddling with both hands to retreat.
Shen Lin quickly caught it. “Where is your room?”
Fate throttled the struggling KP.
Imagining all sorts of tricky moves by KPs, Han Qianqiu’s scalp tingled. “… Are you interested? Zheng De, you said you weren’t.”
Shen Lin glanced at Yan Xiu Yi, “Can’t be bothered.”
Yan Xiu Yi frowned slightly.
Shen Lin let go of the KP, which still wanted to escape, and then grabbed it again. “Why are you running? Where’s your room?”
KP: “!!!”
Shen Lin: “What are you afraid of?”
KP: “…”
Its two round paper hands slapped together innocently, saying, “I’m naturally timid… Your presence is too strong, and I’m afraid you’ll hit me.”
Shen Lin: “…”
Han Qianqiu asked curiously, “KPs can get hit too?”
KP squeaked, “Isn’t that being afraid?”
Han Qianqiu: “…” There are KPs with all sorts of personalities.
They stopped in front of a huge door, with a plaque hanging on it with a long string of text, like writing an essay. Shen Lin quickly scanned it:
【Golden Circus】
Number of people: 6 people; Restrictions: None; Background: 1950s; (Alternate era); Tags: Suspense
Note: (Please read the following note carefully!)
(1): This room KP attaches great importance to role-playing! Therefore, before entering the game, players’ real memories will be temporarily deprived, fully entering the game role. After entering the game, players will think they are the people of this world.
(2): This room does not support players creating their own character cards. Six non-identical character cards will be provided for everyone to choose from. The selection method is voluntary, and in case of conflict, a dice roll will decide. The player with the lower score can obtain the role-playing rights of that character.
Han Qianqiu: “It’s like filling in college entrance exam preferences blindly. Why stage this?”
Shen Lin: “That’s not the point. The point is the first one.”
Han Qianqiu turned to the first point and carefully pondered it, “Damn, doesn’t that mean once you’re in, you won’t recognize anyone? Blindly playing with your eyes closed?!”
