TTIG Chapter 31.2

Tan Junwen wasn’t afraid of these red mysterious symbols—after all, his own drawings were quite abstract—but he was afraid of getting lost.

 

As someone who couldn’t even tell directions at a crossroads—a person with terrible sense of direction—navigating a maze was practically lethal for him.

 

So, viewers watched Tan Junwen wandering around underground.

 

He went around in circles, returning to his starting point for the third time.

 

The director deliberately cut to a god’s-eye view shot, allowing viewers to clearly see—he was going in circles in the same spot.

 

[Hahaha, he’s almost dizzy from spinning!]

 

[Always turning left at the crossroads, hilarious!]

 

[Is this guy super directionally challenged?]

 

[Can someone help him? Poor confused little thing]

 

[Tan Junwen: Save me, save me.jpg]

 

Meanwhile, Tang Che had also fallen underground.

 

Unlike Tan Junwen’s confusion, Tang Che appeared very calm. He found a flashlight nearby, turned it on, and observed the room.

 

It was a closed room of about 20 square meters, with its own bathroom, a small bed, bedside table, wooden table and chairs, and a wardrobe.

 

It looked like a studio apartment for a single person.

 

Tang Che rummaged through the bedside table and found a pen and a stack of music score drafts with many revision marks.

 

Additionally, he discovered a photograph in the bedside table—a picture of a man and woman together. Tang Che immediately secured this clue.

 

He walked forward to investigate the wardrobe.

 

The moment he opened the cabinet door, a skeleton suddenly lunged at him. Tang Che quickly stepped aside and watched expressionlessly as it fell flat on the ground with a “splat.”

 

[Damn, another one!]

 

[Is the production team insane? Hiding so many skeleton corpses in wardrobes!]

 

[The guy is so calm, dodged it so smoothly]

 

[Hahaha, Tang Che is like: Don’t come near me~]

 

Tang Che crouched down to carefully examine the skeleton and noted the clues.

 

An old four-digit number password lock hung on the wooden door.

 

The surrounding walls were cement, with many bloody handprints. These handprints seemed chaotic and ferocious, but after careful analysis, a pattern emerged.

 

Tang Che narrowed his eyes, walked to the door, and quickly input the password “5340.”

 

The camera in the room clearly captured a close-up of him entering the password.

 

Viewers were puzzled:

 

[How did he guess the password?]

 

[What’s the relationship between these bloody handprints and 5340!]

 

[It seems the direction of the fingers has a pattern]

 

Tang Che had been studying escape room knowledge during this time and knew common riddle-solving approaches for passwords. By treating those bloody handprints as arrows and following their directional patterns, he could derive four complete numbers.

 

He entered the password and, sure enough, heard a faint “click” as the lock opened. Tang Che folded the clues he had found and stuffed them into his pocket, grabbed a broom from the room, turned on his flashlight, and walked out the door.

 

Outside was a long narrow corridor with many bloody handprints on the walls, as if someone had been struggling for their life, with the handprints pointing toward the fork ahead.

 

Continuing forward, when passing a corner, he suddenly heard clear footsteps from the other side of the corridor.

 

Tang Che immediately turned off his flashlight, stopped walking, and pressed his back against the wall, hiding at the corner.

 

The footsteps grew louder, quickly passing the corner and approaching Tang Che.

 

Tang Che raised the broom to strike just as the person murmured confusedly: “I think I’ve been here before?”

 

Tang Che: “…”

 

The broom froze rigidly in mid-air.

 

When Tan Junwen turned around, what he saw was this strange scene—Tang Che with a broom raised high, back against the wall, standing like a statue.

 

He exclaimed in surprise: “Tang Che? Are you… striking a pose?”

 

[Hahaha what the hell “striking a pose”]

 

[He almost knocked you out with that broom]

 

[Hilarious, Tan Junwen’s confusion is so entertaining]

 

[This group really can’t escape being comedic?]

 

Tang Che lowered the broom and expressionlessly asked: “You fell down here too?”

 

Tan Junwen said: “Yeah, I’ve been wandering around here for a long time but can’t find my way out.”

 

Tang Che: “I’d be surprised if you could.”

 

Tan Junwen didn’t mind the sarcasm and smiled as he stood behind him: “You find the way, I’ll follow you.”

 

The two had only walked a few meters in the underground maze when footsteps sounded behind them again. Tang Che frowned: “Did someone else fall down here?”

 

They both turned around and saw several NPCs wearing black hats labeled with “curse” characters crawling quickly toward them.

 

Tan Junwen let out a soft “ah” and ran away without hesitation.

 

Tang Che: “Do you even know your way around to be running off like that?”

 

Tan Junwen ran back and stood beside Tang Che: “No, I don’t.”

 

Tang Che: “…”

 

[Junwen is killing me with laughter]

 

[Tan Junwen ran away, then Tan Junwen ran back again]

 

[Sorry, ran in the wrong direction]

 

[Hahaha the tragedy of a directionally challenged person in a survival game]

 

Tang Che restrained the urge to roll his eyes, grabbed him, and sprinted down another path. The two arrived at the room Tang Che had just fallen into and slammed the door shut.

 

Tan Junwen opened the small window on the door and carefully observed the outside.

 

The NPC was clearly trying to scare them, crawling up and staring inside with their eyes, coincidentally making eye contact with Tan Junwen through the small window.

 

Tan Junwen blinked, closed the window, and said: “The screaming atmosphere team is on the first floor. No one’s screaming here. Teachers playing monsters, thank you for your hard work. If you’re tired, please go back and rest.”

 

The NPCs: “…”

 

Tan Junwen added: “I often watch horror movies, so I’m not afraid of these things.”

 

Tang Che raised an eyebrow: “Then why did you run just now?”

 

Tan Junwen: “His head says ‘curse.’ If we get touched, we might be eliminated, which would be troublesome.”

 

Tang Che found this reasoning logical.

 

After a moment of silence in the room, he suddenly thought of something and asked: “By the way, those paths you walked earlier had many things drawn on the walls. Could you tell what they were? I didn’t have time to look closely.”

 

“It seemed like a story,” Tan Junwen said, rubbing his chin. “It was about a loving couple who broke up when a third person interfered.”

 

“So it might be a crime of passion?” Tang Che pondered. “I remember there was also a jumbled musical staff on the wall.”

 

“I saw that,” Tan Junwen had been studying vocals intensively, so musical notation no longer puzzled him. “The notes on it are do-re-do-ti-do-do-do-la.”

 

12171116—could it be a password for somewhere?

 

The two exchanged a glance, and Tang Che said: “Once these monsters leave, let’s first find the exit. We need to regroup with Yinnian and the others as soon as possible.”

 

***

 

Meanwhile, on the first floor hall.

 

Fang Yinnian and Mo Xun came to Fu Fei’s side. Mo Xun asked: “Xiao Fei, where did Tang Che and Junwen hide?”

 

Fu Fei pointed to the rooms nearby: “Junwen was just in the study looking for clues, and Tang Che went to the kitchen.”

 

Fang Yinnian said: “These two places definitely have mechanisms—be careful.”

 

Mo Xun noticed the mop Fu Fei had placed aside, picked it up as a weapon, and said: “Let’s go.”

 

The three went to the study. Mo Xun crouched down and gently tapped the marble floor, quickly finding a place that made a hollow sound. He pointed to it: “Hidden compartment.”

 

Fang Yinnian said: “It must be a pressure-activated mechanism.”

 

This meant that the moment Tan Junwen stepped on this hidden panel, he fell straight through, so he didn’t have time to call for help. If some other switch had opened this trap door, Tan Junwen wouldn’t have disappeared so suddenly.

 

Mo Xun stood up, lifted the mop, and pressed down hard.

 

With force almost equivalent to half a person’s weight, sure enough, the floor panel gave way under the tremendous pressure and suddenly opened a hole.

 

Mo Xun, quick-eyed and nimble-handed, immediately used the mop to wedge the mechanism open.

 

The floor panel indeed couldn’t close.[6666]

 

[Exploited a bug hahaha]

 

[Mechanism destroyed~]

 

Fu Fei nervously gave the captain a thumbs up.

 

Mo Xun called down into the hole: “Junwen, can you hear me? Tan Junwen!”

 

Underground, the two who had just left the room suddenly saw a beam of light appear above them, with Mo Xun’s voice echoing in the space.

 

Tan Junwen quickly replied: “Brother Mo, I hear you! Tang Che and I found a maze underground!”

 

Tang Che was with him, which was good. Otherwise, Tan Junwen’s poor sense of direction would have kept him wandering until tomorrow.

 

Fang Yinnian asked: “Can you find a way up?”

 

Tan Junwen: “Not yet, but we just found a second room underground.”

 

Fang Yinnian and Mo Xun exchanged glances.

 

Mo Xun discussed quietly: “This is a three-dimensional plot-driven escape room with many clues. How about this—let Tang Che and Junwen search underground while we check the second and third floors. We can reconvene once all clues are gathered, saving time?”

 

Fang Yinnian also felt this arrangement was reasonable.

 

He nodded and called down: “Tang Che, Junwen, thoroughly search all the rooms underground, then come back up to regroup.”

 

Tang Che said: “Alright.”

 

Mo Xun and Fang Yinnian turned to go upstairs.

 

Fu Fei asked: “What about me?”

 

Mo Xun patted his shoulder: “Stay here as our messenger. If we need to exchange information, they might not hear us if we call directly. Also, the villa’s electrical system is unstable and might trip at any time. Remember where the electrical panel is—if the lights go out, immediately pull the main switch. We need to keep the lights on continuously.”

 

Fu Fei nodded vigorously: “Understood!”

 

Mo Xun and Fang Yinnian returned to the second floor.

 

Fang Yinnian said: “Xiao Fei, ask them if they’ve found any clues related to numbers? Eight digits.”

 

Fu Fei called out at the skylight, then shouted back upstairs: “They found a musical staff code on the wall, 12171116.”

 

Mo Xun walked to the door of the room on the second floor from which piano music was coming.

 

He glanced at Fang Yinnian, signaling him to move aside. Fang Yinnian understood immediately and stepped away.

 

Mo Xun quickly input the eight-digit password, and the door actually opened.

 

The two didn’t rush in, instead standing guard on either side of the door. The piano inside continued playing, and they feared a monster or murderer might suddenly rush out.

 

After waiting a few seconds with no response, Fang Yinnian shined the flashlight inside… no one? The two exchanged glances, slipped into the room from opposite sides, and Mo Xun quickly found the switch on the wall and turned on the lights.

 

No one was in the room, and there was no piano either.

 

In the center, on a table, sat an old CD player playing a record—the source of the eerie piano melody they had been hearing all along.

 

Fang Yinnian suddenly realized: “So it was a CD playing.”

 

Mo Xun said: “This room seems to be a music studio?”

 

The room contained many instruments such as violins and guitars, as well as music drafts. On the nearby shelves sat numerous albums.

 

Singer Stephanie’s 2003 album “For the Dream,” singer Diane Fen’s 2001 album “Love You,” and more.

 

Fang Yinnian took all the music albums down and arranged them on the table: “They’re all autographed commemorative editions from the singers. It seems this music producer had good relationships with all these artists.”

 

Mo Xun said: “We should check the birthday party guest list later. These people probably all attended, and… all died.”

 

This statement immediately made the atmosphere in the room turn cold.

 

All the clues in this room were related to albums and musical works. The two compiled all the clues together.

 

Fang Yinnian had grabbed a plastic bag from the kitchen earlier, which was perfect for holding these materials. They carried the bag as they continued to check other rooms.

 

Suddenly, Fu Fei’s voice came from the first floor: “Brother Che is asking if you’ve seen anything related to a woman named Stephanie—any English words or numerical clues?”

 

Fang Yinnian said: “She has an album called ‘For the Dream.’ What have they found?”

 

Fu Fei replied: “There’s a computer in the second room with Stephanie’s photo as the screensaver. It needs a password to unlock.”

 

Fu Fei excitedly added: “Brother Che says ‘For the Dream’ was indeed the password, and the computer is now unlocked!”

 

Fang Yinnian felt delighted.

 

The clues in this three-dimensional escape room were scattered everywhere. By working separately and providing information to each other, they were saving a considerable amount of time.

 

Mo Xun said: “There’s one more room on the second floor.”

 

The two walked forward. Mo Xun gently pushed, but this room also had a password—a smart lock. They hadn’t found other password information on the second floor, but beside the lock was written a line: “just for you.”

 

Fang Yinnian said: “Xiao Fei, ask if there are any numerical clues related to ‘just for you’?”

 

In the underground room, Tang Che sat at the computer reviewing information. This computer was likely used for composition/arranging, with various software scattered on the desktop. One folder was named “Just For You.”

 

When he opened it, inside was a recorded song demo.

 

Just then, Fu Fei’s voice came through: “Brother Nian is asking if there are any numerical clues related to ‘just for you’?”

 

“One moment,” Tang Che immediately clicked on the music. A gentle melody came through the speakers. Tang Che listened carefully once and said, “I’ll write out the score. Ask Yinnian to analyze it.”

 

Fu Fei: “Okay, you say it and I’ll remember!”

 

Tang Che quickly recited the complete music score. Teacher Qiao’s vocal lessons hadn’t been wasted on them—he could now listen to a tune and transcribe the notation directly.

 

Fu Fei wrote it down and recited it to Fang Yinnian, who quickly discovered a pattern: “There’s a clearly repeated melody, 1671423152. Try entering that.”

 

Mo Xun stepped forward to input the password, but the door didn’t respond.

 

Fang Yinnian thought for a moment: “Could it be voice-activated?”

 

Mo Xun: “Let’s try.”

 

Fang Yinnian said: “Xiao Fei, ask Tang Che about the octave of the first note.”

 

Fu Fei said: “C3.”

 

Just then, the villa’s lights went out again, plunging everything into darkness.

 

The sound of something moving with a rustling noise came again. Fang Yinnian quickly pointed his flashlight toward the first-floor entrance. Fu Fei darted out from the study and ran to the electrical panel at top speed, pushing the switch.

 

The lights came on, and those creatures immediately disappeared.

 

Mo Xun smiled slightly: “The monsters only appear in darkness.”

 

They had guessed correctly.

 

Fang Yinnian steadied himself and began singing the melody Tang Che had sent. C3, the first note was do, and his pitch was flawless. As each note was sung, the voice-controlled lock on the door began to flash.

 

After completing the melody, the flashing lock turned green, and the door opened.

 

Viewers in the livestream flooded the screen with “6666” (an expression of amazement).

 

Fang Yinnian shined his flashlight inside and saw two skeletons arranged in the room, nestled together and smiling at the doorway.

 

Fang Yinnian: “…”

 

Mo Xun was also startled and fumbled to turn on the wall light.

 

This room was also a bedroom, but unlike the master bridal chamber, it was arranged very cozily, with pajamas, bath towels, and toiletries all in pairs. The nestled skeletons were positioned in a very intimate pose.

 

Mo Xun and Fang Yinnian looked at each other in bewilderment.

 

Fu Fei’s excited voice came from downstairs: “Brother Che says they found a storage room underground with three skeletons! Plus one hidden in the wardrobe of the room Brother Che fell into, making a total of four bodies underground.”

 

Fang Yinnian said: “We found three on the second floor, plus one in the living room, that’s… eight bodies in total?”

 

Fu Fei said: “Brother Junwen says he just found the birthday party invitation in the study with six names on the list.”

 

Fang Yinnian said: “Adding the male and female owners, that means there were eight people in this villa that day, and all were killed.”

 

Mo Xun said with a smile: “Looks like we’ve found all the bodies.”

 

Fang Yinnian: “Let’s compile the clues.”

 

The livestream viewers: “…”

 

They had this kind of approach?!

 

[My goodness! Their coordination is so seamless!]

 

[Two searching upstairs, two searching downstairs, one staying to relay messages and keep the lights on—ensuring illumination while exchanging clues at maximum speed to save time]

 

[It feels like a team running a dungeon in a game!]

 

[Direction, deduction, logistics, communication—truly amazing~]

 

[This is the most smoothly coordinated escape room episode I’ve ever seen]

 

[As expected of a group—I’m not even their fan but I’m feeling their team spirit!]

 

The five had no idea that the bullet comment section was going wild.

 

They just wanted to do their utmost to complete the escape room.

 

This was a good opportunity their manager had snagged for them, and their small unknown group needed to seize every chance for exposure.

 

 

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