Chapter 13: The Second Task - Watching TV
Within a few seconds of midnight, Han Fei's brain reacted instantly. He didn't have any extra time to think; his body moved immediately.
Racing against the clock, Han Fei arrived on the fourth floor first. He took out the bunch of keys and began searching for the key to the security door.
The footsteps behind him grew closer and closer, but what made him even more uneasy was the strong smell of blood that accompanied the footsteps!
Indeed, the thick and pungent smell almost suffocated him.
"Faster! Faster!"
The rigorous control and training of his muscles and body as an actor came in handy for Han Fei. Although he was extremely anxious inside, his hands did not tremble.
In the moment he found the key, he inserted it into the lock in one go.
With the sound of the spring clicking, Han Fei forcefully pulled open the security door and rushed in.
He slammed the door shut and covered his mouth.
Through the door, he could clearly hear the beast-like panting outside.
"What the hell is this?"
Standing straight, Han Fei looked out through the peephole. The empty hallway seemed devoid of anything.
"The panting has stopped, but the smell of blood remains!"
At this moment, it was impossible for Han Fei to open the door. He continuously adjusted his angle and finally, through the peephole, caught a glimpse of half of a face hiding beneath the security door.
The person from the sixth floor hadn't left! They were lurking in the blind spot of the peephole's field of view, right outside Han Fei's apartment door!
If the old lady on the third floor gave Han Fei a feeling of kindness with a hint of eeriness, then this person from the sixth floor gave him a sense of madness, bloodiness, and cunning.
"My neighbours are a big problem!"
Han Fei took a step back, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "This guy is blocking the door; I can't get out. To quit the game, I need to complete a task. Do I have to do a beginner's task in this room?"
To be honest, even the seemingly simplest beginner's task had left a psychological shadow on Han Fei.
"Let's wait for three hours." Han Fei didn't know how to evaluate his current situation. He had a bloodthirsty murderer blocking his door, and the haunted apartment where he lived was also restless at night. It was an indescribable predicament with wolves in front and tigers behind.
"I've been playing for so long, and I'm still Level 1. Maybe things will improve after I level up."
The game was mandatory, and now Han Fei could only console himself with that thought.
Staring at the clock on the wall, Han Fei didn't dare to go further into the room. He turned on all the lights and stood next to the security door.
The smell of blood in the hallway became stronger and occasionally strange sounds could be heard. The neighbour from the sixth floor was very patient, but his way of "greeting" made Han Fei uneasy.
"The system reminded me when I completed the task of changing the fuse—building harmonious relationships with neighbours is the first step in the perfect life. This game seems to want me to get along well with my neighbours."
"If I want to survive, I need to gain the friendship and help of my neighbours." As the pungent smell of blood filled the air, Han Fei wore a bitter expression. "This is really a healing game. I'm socially awkward and have social anxiety, and it gives me a treatment plan that says I'll die if I don't make friends."
Time slowly passed, and soon it was three o'clock in the morning.
The three-hour time limit had passed, and now Han Fei only needed to complete one more task to leave the game.
The "hospitable" neighbour outside the door hadn't left yet, so Han Fei couldn't go out for the time being. After careful consideration, he decided to try the second beginner's task.
"If that ghost comes after me again, I'll open the security door. If the neighbour from the sixth floor accidentally gets killed by the ghost, I'll find a way to take his keys and live in his apartment, surviving on his behalf. I won't let him die in vain."
That was the ideal situation, but it was more likely that Han Fei would be killed as soon as he opened the door by his neighbour.
Opening the task panel, Han Fei hesitated for a while before finally choosing the second beginner's task - watching TV.
When he did the sleep task, he had already discovered the presence of a ghost in the bathroom. If he chose the shower task now, wouldn't he be seeking intimate contact with the ghost?
"Player with ID 0000 accepts the G-rank beginner's task - watching TV!"
"Task Introduction: Since moving here, you have lost count of how many sleepless nights you've had. Unable to fall asleep, you decide to watch TV for a while."
"Task Requirements: Please turn off all lights in the room, turn on the TV, and watch any channel for thirty minutes. Within these thirty minutes, do not divert your gaze from the TV screen."
This beginner's task seemed easy just by reading the description, but Han Fei knew that some things couldn't be judged solely by appearance.
Unable to leave the room, Han Fei had no choice but to brace himself and proceed.
He turned off all the lights in the room and, at 3:05 am, turned on the television.
The old-style CRT TV emitted a crackling sound. Perhaps due to poor signal, many channels had no images and only displayed black and white snowflakes.
Unbeknownst to him, the beginner's task had already begun. With the TV remote control in his left hand and a kitchen knife in his right hand, Han Fei sat straight on the sofa, staring intently at the TV screen.
"It's okay, I just need to endure for thirty minutes."
He kept changing channels, and when Han Fei tuned to channel 44, the TV finally displayed an image.
The lighting was dim, and the images on the screen were not very clear. It seemed to be an animated series, but Han Fei had never seen anything like it before because its art style was just too eerie.
"Realm of Shadows?"
Han Fei leaned forward, trying to raise the volume of the TV. Suddenly, footsteps reached his ears.
The gradually clear sound didn't come from the TV; it originated from within the bedroom.
Someone was moving inside the apartment!
The footsteps grew closer and closer to Han Fei. The person emerged from the bedroom and walked straight toward him.
"Is it that ghost?"
"Could it be holding a knife?"
Han Fei dared not move a muscle. The footsteps eventually disappeared behind the sofa.
Watching TV at three in the morning in a dark room, the sound of footsteps suddenly echoed. Finally, the sound vanished behind him.
"Did it leave? Or has it been standing behind me all along?"
His Adam's apple trembled slightly, but Han Fei forced himself not to turn around. He stared fixedly at the TV.
The animated series on the screen had no sound. The figure of the mutilated little character in the animation seemed to be evading something. Every time it paused for a moment, invisible hands would seize it and drag it backward.
Han Fei didn't know what the animation was trying to convey. When the little character was captured for the third time, Han Fei suddenly felt a heavy sensation on his left shoulder, as if something had rested upon it.
He didn't turn his head but glanced at his left shoulder with the corner of his eye, vaguely seeing a pale white arm.
His heart began to uncontrollably pound. Han Fei gritted his teeth, forcing himself to watch the TV. However, as he shifted his gaze, he witnessed an even more terrifying scene.
Behind the TV cabinet that held the CRT television, a pair of legs appeared.
There was not just one ghost in this sinister house. Han Fei's body began to tremble. At this moment, he really wanted to run over and open the security door, inviting the neighbour from the sixth floor to watch TV together.
Racing against the clock, Han Fei arrived on the fourth floor first. He took out the bunch of keys and began searching for the key to the security door.
The footsteps behind him grew closer and closer, but what made him even more uneasy was the strong smell of blood that accompanied the footsteps!
Indeed, the thick and pungent smell almost suffocated him.
"Faster! Faster!"
The rigorous control and training of his muscles and body as an actor came in handy for Han Fei. Although he was extremely anxious inside, his hands did not tremble.
In the moment he found the key, he inserted it into the lock in one go.
With the sound of the spring clicking, Han Fei forcefully pulled open the security door and rushed in.
He slammed the door shut and covered his mouth.
Through the door, he could clearly hear the beast-like panting outside.
"What the hell is this?"
Standing straight, Han Fei looked out through the peephole. The empty hallway seemed devoid of anything.
"The panting has stopped, but the smell of blood remains!"
At this moment, it was impossible for Han Fei to open the door. He continuously adjusted his angle and finally, through the peephole, caught a glimpse of half of a face hiding beneath the security door.
The person from the sixth floor hadn't left! They were lurking in the blind spot of the peephole's field of view, right outside Han Fei's apartment door!
If the old lady on the third floor gave Han Fei a feeling of kindness with a hint of eeriness, then this person from the sixth floor gave him a sense of madness, bloodiness, and cunning.
"My neighbours are a big problem!"
Han Fei took a step back, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "This guy is blocking the door; I can't get out. To quit the game, I need to complete a task. Do I have to do a beginner's task in this room?"
To be honest, even the seemingly simplest beginner's task had left a psychological shadow on Han Fei.
"Let's wait for three hours." Han Fei didn't know how to evaluate his current situation. He had a bloodthirsty murderer blocking his door, and the haunted apartment where he lived was also restless at night. It was an indescribable predicament with wolves in front and tigers behind.
"I've been playing for so long, and I'm still Level 1. Maybe things will improve after I level up."
The game was mandatory, and now Han Fei could only console himself with that thought.
Staring at the clock on the wall, Han Fei didn't dare to go further into the room. He turned on all the lights and stood next to the security door.
The smell of blood in the hallway became stronger and occasionally strange sounds could be heard. The neighbour from the sixth floor was very patient, but his way of "greeting" made Han Fei uneasy.
"The system reminded me when I completed the task of changing the fuse—building harmonious relationships with neighbours is the first step in the perfect life. This game seems to want me to get along well with my neighbours."
"If I want to survive, I need to gain the friendship and help of my neighbours." As the pungent smell of blood filled the air, Han Fei wore a bitter expression. "This is really a healing game. I'm socially awkward and have social anxiety, and it gives me a treatment plan that says I'll die if I don't make friends."
Time slowly passed, and soon it was three o'clock in the morning.
The three-hour time limit had passed, and now Han Fei only needed to complete one more task to leave the game.
The "hospitable" neighbour outside the door hadn't left yet, so Han Fei couldn't go out for the time being. After careful consideration, he decided to try the second beginner's task.
"If that ghost comes after me again, I'll open the security door. If the neighbour from the sixth floor accidentally gets killed by the ghost, I'll find a way to take his keys and live in his apartment, surviving on his behalf. I won't let him die in vain."
That was the ideal situation, but it was more likely that Han Fei would be killed as soon as he opened the door by his neighbour.
Opening the task panel, Han Fei hesitated for a while before finally choosing the second beginner's task - watching TV.
When he did the sleep task, he had already discovered the presence of a ghost in the bathroom. If he chose the shower task now, wouldn't he be seeking intimate contact with the ghost?
"Player with ID 0000 accepts the G-rank beginner's task - watching TV!"
"Task Introduction: Since moving here, you have lost count of how many sleepless nights you've had. Unable to fall asleep, you decide to watch TV for a while."
"Task Requirements: Please turn off all lights in the room, turn on the TV, and watch any channel for thirty minutes. Within these thirty minutes, do not divert your gaze from the TV screen."
This beginner's task seemed easy just by reading the description, but Han Fei knew that some things couldn't be judged solely by appearance.
Unable to leave the room, Han Fei had no choice but to brace himself and proceed.
He turned off all the lights in the room and, at 3:05 am, turned on the television.
The old-style CRT TV emitted a crackling sound. Perhaps due to poor signal, many channels had no images and only displayed black and white snowflakes.
Unbeknownst to him, the beginner's task had already begun. With the TV remote control in his left hand and a kitchen knife in his right hand, Han Fei sat straight on the sofa, staring intently at the TV screen.
"It's okay, I just need to endure for thirty minutes."
He kept changing channels, and when Han Fei tuned to channel 44, the TV finally displayed an image.
The lighting was dim, and the images on the screen were not very clear. It seemed to be an animated series, but Han Fei had never seen anything like it before because its art style was just too eerie.
"Realm of Shadows?"
Han Fei leaned forward, trying to raise the volume of the TV. Suddenly, footsteps reached his ears.
The gradually clear sound didn't come from the TV; it originated from within the bedroom.
Someone was moving inside the apartment!
The footsteps grew closer and closer to Han Fei. The person emerged from the bedroom and walked straight toward him.
"Is it that ghost?"
"Could it be holding a knife?"
Han Fei dared not move a muscle. The footsteps eventually disappeared behind the sofa.
Watching TV at three in the morning in a dark room, the sound of footsteps suddenly echoed. Finally, the sound vanished behind him.
"Did it leave? Or has it been standing behind me all along?"
His Adam's apple trembled slightly, but Han Fei forced himself not to turn around. He stared fixedly at the TV.
The animated series on the screen had no sound. The figure of the mutilated little character in the animation seemed to be evading something. Every time it paused for a moment, invisible hands would seize it and drag it backward.
Han Fei didn't know what the animation was trying to convey. When the little character was captured for the third time, Han Fei suddenly felt a heavy sensation on his left shoulder, as if something had rested upon it.
He didn't turn his head but glanced at his left shoulder with the corner of his eye, vaguely seeing a pale white arm.
His heart began to uncontrollably pound. Han Fei gritted his teeth, forcing himself to watch the TV. However, as he shifted his gaze, he witnessed an even more terrifying scene.
Behind the TV cabinet that held the CRT television, a pair of legs appeared.
There was not just one ghost in this sinister house. Han Fei's body began to tremble. At this moment, he really wanted to run over and open the security door, inviting the neighbour from the sixth floor to watch TV together.
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