Not only Xiao Jiao, but everyone around was stunned, especially Shen Qingqiu, who immediately turned to stare at Xiao Muyu.
Xiao Muyu lowered her eyes for a moment before raising her head, speaking calmly.
“My dad wasn’t a good person, nor was he a good father or husband. After he got addicted to gambling, he lost interest in working, and he would take all the money my mom earned to gamble. Whenever he lost, he would drink and come home to beat my mom and me.
My mom hated him deeply, and by extension, she hated me. Finally, when I was ten, he fell into debt and had nowhere to turn. During a home invasion, he killed a family and was sentenced to death.
My mom was relieved. Although she didn’t like me, she didn’t abandon me. Later, she found someone she liked, but his family wouldn’t accept her because of me, so she broke up with him. Eventually, she married another man, my stepfather.
However, the good treatment from this man didn’t last long. He started beating and cursing my mom, becoming a drunkard as well.
My mom blamed everything on me, but she couldn’t bring herself to leave him. My stepfather didn’t like me either. To appease him and vent her hatred for my dad, my mom began to drink and beat me just like my dad used to.”
Xiao Muyu’s tone was flat and emotionless, as if she were recounting a story, but Shen Qingqiu’s face grew darker, her expression changing with each sentence.
“Actually, it wasn’t that bad. She still raised me and sent me to school. But as I grew older, someone couldn’t hold back any longer.”
The adults present, though they hadn’t experienced it themselves, had heard many similar stories. Shen Qingqiu’s heart tightened when she heard Xiao Muyu mention her stepfather. By this point, blood rushed to her head, and she felt a cold, furious rage, completely uncharacteristic of her. She pressed her lips together and clenched her left hand tightly.
But seeing Xiao Muyu’s calm, indifferent face, her anger transformed into a deep, constricting pain in her chest.
“It’s like a cliché story. That man thought since I was eating his food and living under his roof, I should give something in return. He didn’t even hide his intentions from my mom. But my mom said I was seducing him.”
“What kind of mother is that? She’s insane!” Huang Junfeng’s expression was a mix of shock and pity, but he couldn’t help but curse upon hearing this, finding it absurd.
Xiao Muyu glanced at him and continued, “Their fights became more intense. Sometimes my mom would fight back, but she was usually the one getting beaten.
One day, my stepfather came home drunk and had been in a fight. I happened to come back from school to get something and walked in on it.”
Xiao Muyu mostly looked at Xiao Mei, speaking to her directly. Xiao Mei stared at her in surprise, her expression filled with confusion and a hint of sympathy, which made Xiao Muyu almost want to laugh.
Recounting this, Xiao Muyu herself seemed momentarily lost. To Shen Qingqiu, her tone finally showed a slight change.
Shen Qingqiu tensed up, able to vividly imagine the scene.
“He tried to do something to me, but my mom was home. They started fighting fiercely. He grabbed a fruit knife and killed her.”
At this point, Xiao Muyu seemed to be truly talking about herself. Though her voice remained calm, her gaze grew distant.
In that moment, she had a fleeting illusion that her mother wanted to protect her. But the look in her mother’s eyes during the struggle, and her vile curses, made Xiao Muyu give up hope completely.
Pulling herself from those emotions, Xiao Muyu fixed her gaze on Xiao Mei and smiled faintly, saying, “But he died too. He died with my mom that day. After spending over ten days in the hospital, I was discharged and finally free of them.”
She finished speaking, and Huang Junfeng and the others’ expressions shifted from anger and pity to shock as they stared at Xiao Muyu. Shen Qingqiu’s eyes were filled with deep sorrow and anger.
“You killed him?” Xiao Mei’s expression turned ecstatic, almost crazed.
“Yes. That fruit knife was bought by me. I placed it in the fruit basket on the table. After over six months, it finally served its purpose.”
Her words were bold, enveloping her in a sinister aura, making her seem eerie and terrifying, starkly different from her previous indifferent and elegant demeanor.
“Some people don’t deserve to be called human. My parents, my stepfather, and those eight scumbags. But sometimes, when there’s no one to turn to, we can only rely on ourselves.
I understand your feelings and your hatred. You’re not bad children, and Qu Muxi isn’t a bad person either.
But is this what you really want? To remain in this ghostly place, endlessly pretending to be alive, dealing with vengeful spirits?
I know you cherish your sister Qu. She must be the kindest, most gentle person you’ve ever known.
But now she stands beside you like a puppet, doing things she would never want to do in life. Can you bear it?”
Xiao Mei’s excited smile vanished instantly. She turned to look at Qu Muxi, her expression stunned, and in the end, she was on the verge of tears.
“I didn’t mean to, I just wanted to protect them. Even in death, those people wouldn’t let us go. I know their spirits linger, so I must constantly grow stronger to deal with them,” Xiao Mei said with a pained expression.
“But those dolls have already dealt with those perverts. We just need to burn the remaining body parts, and you won’t have to worry anymore,” Zhang Yangfeng quickly interjected.
Xiao Mei shook her head. “That’s not enough. The resentment is too strong. I hate those eight people, and their resentment should have dissipated after we dealt with them. But in reality, the hatred hasn’t subsided, and Sister Qu still can’t regain her sanity and leave.”
“Xiao Yue and the others still hold grudges, but I can’t figure out why.”
This news made the five people’s hearts sink once again.
After Xiao Mei finished speaking, she looked at Xiao Muyu. “For now, I won’t kill you, but if the resentment isn’t resolved, none of you will escape next time.” With that, the nine people in front of them vanished like the wind.
They stared blankly for a long time, then took a deep breath as if they had survived a great ordeal.
Afterwards, Huang Junfeng, Yang Rui, and Zhang Yangfeng snapped out of it, looking at Xiao Muyu with complicated expressions – surprise, apprehension, and sympathy all mixed together.
Xiao Muyu knew what they were thinking. She didn’t look at them, nor at Shen Qingqiu. She lowered her head and walked forward; their time was running out.
As she lifted her foot, Shen Qingqiu reached out with his left hand to support her, and the two walked away. Yang Rui and the others exchanged a glance and prepared to leave as well.
“So, was it them that you encountered in the illusion during the second instance?” Shen Qingqiu’s sudden question left Xiao Muyu momentarily stunned.
Realizing what Shen Qingqiu was referring to, she smiled faintly. “Why would you think it was them? What impact do they have on me?”
Shen Qingqiu didn’t follow up immediately. Instead, he said gently, “I just remembered how you looked at that time. It’s hard for me to imagine what kind of illusion could trap you. Also, your conversation with the old woman during the first instance seemed very similar to today’s situation.”
Xiao Muyu didn’t reply, and Shen Qingqiu’s hand slid down to grasp her wrist. He continued speaking on his own, “So what you said today wasn’t entirely true, but I’m not curious. Regardless, I believe it’s not your fault. I’m sorry for what you went through.”
Xiao Muyu stopped, turning to look at Shen Qingqiu. “Sorry? Do you pity me? You believe it’s not my fault? Do you know that I clearly understand their habits when they argue, know his temper so well that I rehearsed that day’s events in my mind countless times? Do you know that after two people died, I was only called in for a few statements and wasn’t even charged? Everyone was so careful, afraid of saying the wrong thing. That man not only died but was also labeled as a murderer and attempted rapist.”
She stared at Shen Qingqiu, her speech rapid, cold, and mocking.
Shen Qingqiu didn’t respond, gazing at her intently with a touch of gentleness. “Pity? Do you think someone like me would pity others? There are many tragic stories, what use is pity?
“I’m just… I just feel sorry. I told you before, I’m not a good person. But Xiao Muyu, you’re not a bad person. No matter how you deny it or disguise yourself, you can’t change that fact.
“I believe in you, based on my judgment of Xiao Muyu. Those things are in the past. The old woman let go, Xiao Mei let go, and so should you.”
With that, she held Xiao Muyu’s hand and smiled. “Let’s go. We still have things to do, and your injury can’t be delayed.”
Xiao Muyu let herself be led, slowly walking forward. Her expression was still dazed, then she looked annoyed.
Her mind was unclear; why had she suddenly said so much to Shen Qingqiu? But despite her annoyance, she couldn’t help but glance at Shen Qingqiu. This feeling… was much better than she had expected.
When they returned to Ren’ai Orphanage, they saw Qu Muxi and the eight children again in the dining hall. They were lively and moving, completely unlike their skeletal remains.
Xiao Muyu and her companions realized that here, the children had two forms. At Ren’ai Orphanage, under normal circumstances, they acted as humans to deceive players, but in specific situations, they revealed their true state.
“Only Xiao Mei is awake now. Does that mean the other eight are illusions? Do their actions and words still matter?” Zhang Yangfeng asked, worried.
“It doesn’t affect things. Each of them has simply ignored the fact that they are dead. They’re not just puppets. I remember Qu Muxi said once that when Xiao Mei and the others leave, she will leave too. Thinking back, I feel Qu Muxi was somewhat aware,” Xiao Muyu said, recalling the details sharply.
“Miss Xiao, do you mean when she said ‘when Xiao Mei leaves,’ she didn’t mean leaving Ren’ai Orphanage for another welfare institution, but letting go of resentment and finding peace?” Yang Rui responded, catching on.
“Xiao Mei said their resentment wasn’t just towards the culprits. They must have held grudges against people within the orphanage. It can’t be Qu Muxi, so it must be Lao Sang, or perhaps they resented each other.”
Xiao Muyu’s mind was always clear, as if nothing could confuse her.
“Could it be Xiao Qiu?” Yang Rui and Zhang Yangfeng had heard Xiao Qiu and Xiao Muyu’s conversation before. If there were mutual grudges, Xiao Qiu was the only one showing signs.
“I’m not sure yet, but since it’s a crucial part of the game, it can’t be baseless. Xiao Qiu should be the key, or else the ‘Adventures of Pinocchio’ book wouldn’t make sense.”
Zhang Yangfeng and the others suddenly understood, and Huang Junfeng admired Xiao Muyu deeply, saying, “Miss Xiao, your mind is incredibly sharp. Even though you’re injured, you’re still so insightful. It’s like we’re all pieces in the game, and you’re the one who sees the whole picture, almost as if you already know the script and everything you say is spot on. This time will be no different.”
Huang Junfeng didn’t mean anything else by it; he was simply expressing his admiration for Xiao Muyu’s clever mind. But Xiao Muyu, hearing this, was taken aback and then said softly, “That’s too much. I just think a bit more.”
When the five of them entered, Xiao Mei was the first to look up at them, followed by Qu Muxi.
Qu Muxi was still the same, with a gentle smile, a woman as serene as the moon, soft and delicate, with a heart softer than others.
For this group, their feelings towards Qu Muxi were complicated. Someone like her should have had a beautiful life, but it was all ruined in this orphanage.
“You’re awake. I was just asking Old Sang where you went. Come, let’s eat together,” Qu Muxi invited them to sit down.
By now, none of them picked up their chopsticks; they just watched quietly. Qu Muxi and the eight children had fixed routines every day, and after eating, they still gathered in that classroom.
The glass broken by Shen Qingqiu had been restored, and the photos were back to their original state.
It felt like after an escape room game ended, all the props had been repaired and reset, ready for the next batch of players.
They noticed these changes, and their hearts tightened. This haunted place was just too bizarre.
Xiao Muyu and Shen Qingqiu walked straight to Xiao Qiu. The boy was sitting alone, still reading that book. When Xiao Muyu stood in front of him, he looked up at her.
Enduring the pain in her back, Xiao Muyu squatted down to be at eye level with him and pointed to Qu Muxi, who was wiping Xiao Jiao’s face. “Does Xiao Qiu like Sister Qu?”
Xiao Qiu slowly turned his head to stare at Qu Muxi for a long time, then nodded.
“And Xiao Jiao, Xiao Mei, and the other children, do you like them too?” she asked gently and patiently.
“Yes.” Xiao Qiu’s eyes shimmered as if they were about to break.
“Then Xiao Qiu wouldn’t lie to them, right?”
Testing him, Xiao Muyu said this, and Xiao Qiu’s expression changed immediately. This kind of self-defense when touched on a sore spot was evident on the young boy’s face.
He glared at Xiao Muyu, blackness swirling in his eyes. Shen Qingqiu, wary, darkly drew out a dagger and casually stabbed it into the ground.
“Lying isn’t scary. What’s scary is lying to cover up lies. People like that can’t just have a long nose.”
Shen Qingqiu’s cold tone carried a killing intent, and Xiao Qiu couldn’t help but shrink back.
“Xiao Qiu, do you remember what I said? Lying comes with a price. I believe you’ve already paid for it, so don’t keep making the same mistake.
This lie weighs on your heart. Until you speak it, it will hang over you, never disappearing. The price you’ve paid hasn’t offset your pain, has it?”
Xiao Qiu’s expression was pained, his eyes filled with tears. He seemed cloaked in dark clouds, kneeling and curling up, ghostly energy surging. It was clear that this human form of Xiao Qiu was on the verge of breaking.
The five exchanged glances, while the other children stared at Xiao Qiu, worried.
Xiao Qiu looked at Xiao Muyu for help, whimpering painfully, and after a while, he nodded.
“If a lie doesn’t hurt others, it’s a white lie. If it does hurt others, it might not be intentional. But no matter what, if you hurt someone, you should apologize.
Hiding it forever, making others suffer without an apology, and you feeling guilty forever—saying it is good for both of you. Like Pinocchio, his honesty didn’t bring misfortune, right?”
Xiao Qiu sobbed, and finally, he looked at Qu Muxi and cried out, “That day, Sister Qu was about to leave, but I didn’t want her to go. Everyone was happy when she was around, and the director wouldn’t hit me or lock me in the dark room.
So that day, the director told me to give Sister Qu a glass of water. He said if I listened, Sister Qu would stay. I agreed.
I just gave her a glass of water. I didn’t know what would happen next. Ah…ah! He lied to me, and I lied to Sister Qu. If I had told the truth, she wouldn’t have drunk it. Ah!”
Xiao Qiu couldn’t accept it. His voice, young and innocent, was now filled with heart-wrenching cries.
Not only did Xiao Qiu break down, but Xiao Mei, Xiao Yue, and the other children instantly turned into fierce ghosts, screaming hysterically at Xiao Qiu.
It looked like another battle was about to erupt!
Shen Qingqiu quickly helped Xiao Muyu up, protecting her, and the five of them gathered together. At this moment, Qu Muxi suddenly spoke up, “Xiao Mei, Xiao Yue, Xiao Qin, calm down.”
Xiao Muyu and Shen Qingqiu turned to look at Qu Muxi, who was now gentle, her eyes filled with compassion.
“Calm down, don’t do anything rash. Xiao Qiu is your friend. It’s not his fault.”
Xiao Yue cried, unwilling, “Sister Qu drank that water, and it hurt you. Xiao Qin, Xiao Mei, and I always remembered but didn’t know who did it. Now that we do, why are you still defending him? Xiao Qiu was too foolish, too stupid. The director was so bad, how could he give that water to Sister Qu?”
Xiao Qiu cried bitterly, kneeling on the ground, motionless.
Qu Muxi walked over, standing in front of Xiao Qiu, her eyes red, “Xiao Qiu was too young then. How could he understand the evil of adults or know how much they lied? Have you forgotten how Xiao Qiu… how he died?” At this, Qu Muxi’s tears fell.
Upon hearing Qu Muxi’s words, Xiao Mei and the others fell silent.
Xiao Qiu was the first of the eight children to die. He discovered the director’s attempt to molest Qu Muxi and, in a fit of rage, confronted him. For the first time, he fought back against the director, whom he had always seen as all-powerful. Despite being beaten and kicked by the man, he refused to give in.
Xiao Qiu was beaten to death. Whenever Qu Muxi thought of the child who protected her until the very end, she felt endless gratitude and heartbreak, unable to muster any hatred.
Listening to Qu Muxi’s account, Xiao Muyu and the others were silent, and Yang Rui’s eyes reddened.
“We owe Sister Qu an apology.” Xiao Mei, the girl who had dominated this scenario, for the first time showed a vulnerable expression, her hostility fading.
“It’s not just Xiao Qiu’s fault. I also made a mistake by telling Sister Qu about those things. If I hadn’t said anything, she would have gone home safely instead of risking her life for us and losing it.”
When Xiao Mei began to cry, the other children followed. They had all been murdered, and now, with their sanity restored, they gathered around Qu Muxi, apologizing. Little Jiao, who understood nothing, saw her friends crying around Sister Qu and joined in, her mouth trembling.
“Have they all regained their senses?” Huang Junfeng, wiping his tears, murmured.
“Yes, once Xiao Qiu’s issue was addressed, their obsessions were resolved,” Zhang Yangfeng, his eyes also red, replied.
The entire scenario had finally become clear. With her sanity restored, Qu Muxi revealed everything.
Indeed, Ren’ai Orphanage was about to relocate years ago, but the director had secretly used the better-looking children to attract donations, including Xiao Mei. After only eight children remained, the director became increasingly brazen.
At that time, Xiao Mei didn’t dare speak out until she met Qu Muxi, who often visited, bringing gifts and dolls for each of the eight children who would later become vengeful spirits.
Qu Muxi eventually realized something was wrong and tried to rescue them, but the director noticed. He tricked her into drinking a sedative and then killed both her and Xiao Qiu. Xiao Mei and the others witnessed this and, in a desperate move, the director killed all eight children. He then coerced the other seven to help him cover up the murders, and Old Sang also succumbed.
Transformed into vengeful ghosts due to their intense resentment, Qu Muxi and Xiao Mei, in their madness, lured people one by one, killing and dismembering them.
“Thank you. They are just children and shouldn’t be wandering here as lost souls. Thank you for helping us. I hope you all live peacefully and happily in the future.”
Qu Muxi embraced the children, then smiled at Xiao Muyu before disappearing with the nine of them.
Ding!
“Congratulations, players, for completing the main storyline exploration. You are awarded 20 points. Settlement will begin now, and the ranking will be announced shortly!”
Huang Junfeng and Zhang Yangfeng quickly checked their points. Completing the storyline awarded 20 points, discovering Qu Muxi and the children’s grave added 5 points, and correctly identifying Xiao Qiu added another 5 points.
In the end, Zhang Yangfeng scored 84 points, while Huang Junfeng, who did not identify Xiao Qiu, scored 75 points.
The leaderboard showed Xiao Muyu still in first place with 150 points, Shen Qingqiu in second with 126.5 points, and Yang Rui in third with 102 points.
Barely passing, Huang Junfeng was astonished by the disparity. He knew there would be differences, but he didn’t expect such a huge gap. Xiao Muyu’s total was double his.
“How did you get so many points?”
Xiao Muyu didn’t respond. The extra points were because…
“Congratulations to players Xiao Muyu and Shen Qingqiu for completing the hidden task, preventing all from becoming ghosts, and saving Old Sang!”
