Chapter Sixty: The Game

“Sir!”

Room 302, Li'an Street, Nankou City. Inside, two men and one woman were anxiously waiting.

A knock came at the door. The young woman opened it, and upon seeing Mr. Fang You finally arrive, she spoke excitedly, “Please, save us—and save Lin Xue!”

“Don’t panic, everyone. Tell me slowly what happened.” Fang You moved to the side, observing the room’s décor: a small rental, barely tidied, half in disarray as if neglected for ages.

“My name is Zhang Song, and beside me is Fang Yong. Lin Xue is our classmate. Alas…” The man who introduced himself as Zhang Song sighed deeply as he spoke.

“You dare say that—it’s all your fault!” The woman, Fang Min, the one who invited Fang You here, exclaimed in frustration.

“But the whole ghostly black cat game started with you, didn’t it? Let’s not blame anyone just yet,” Fang Yong replied awkwardly.

“Are you still my boyfriend? Always siding with others!” Fang Min fumed, raising both hands to thump Fang Yong.

“Alright, alright, let’s hear what the gentleman has to say.” Zhang Song adjusted his glasses. “Sir, you must help us!”

“What’s actually going on? You haven’t explained yet.” Fang You looked at the flustered group, thinking of Lin Xue, who might be in danger, and hurriedly pressed for details.

“It happened like this.” Fang Min began carefully, “The four of us, Lin Xue included, are college friends. Ten days ago, we arranged to visit a holiday village together. That day…”

Ten days earlier.

Fang Yong, Zhang Song, Fang Min, and Lin Xue arrived at the holiday village by cruise ship.

“Finally, a break! I hear the hot springs here are wonderful, we must enjoy ourselves!” Fang Min stretched lazily, then pulled Lin Xue into a hug.

“Yes, this was Fang Min’s idea. After all, we’re in our third year now. Soon we'll be heading off to work, maybe never meeting again. This could be our last gathering.” Fang Yong spoke as he pinched Fang Min’s lips and kissed her.

“Such enviable lovers. We two always feel like third wheels,” Zhang Song said, purposefully moving closer to Lin Xue.

“Yes, yes, what are you trying to do? Surely you don’t fancy me, do you?” Lin Xue teased.

“You know it!” Zhang Song replied.

“Lin Xue, you’ve been single for so long, shouldn’t you get a boyfriend? Maybe take this opportunity?” Fang Yong seemed eager to matchmake Lin Xue and Zhang Song.

“Exactly!” Fang Min chimed in.

“Oh, you two, stop scheming.” Lin Xue laughed, “I actually have someone I like—a very impressive person.”

“How impressive? Don’t tell me he’s a taekwondo master?” Zhang Song’s restless hand again found Lin Xue’s waist.

“Exactly! If he is, let him knock you out first for always taking advantage of girls.” Lin Xue grabbed Zhang Song’s hand and slammed it down.

Soon, the four arrived at a hotel. Zhang Song booked a room for all four. After heading upstairs, they each retreated to their own quarters, changed, and then reconvened in the center of the suite.

“What’s fun around here? You two love traveling, must be familiar, right?” Lin Xue asked Fang Yong and Fang Min, who were nestled together.

“We might get married soon. Pre-wedding trips are a must—after marriage, with children and in-laws, no time for outings!” Fang Min said, a hint of reluctance, then kissed Fang Yong.

“The highlight here is, of course, the grand hot springs. Nothing’s more relaxing than soaking for a day,” Fang Yong said leisurely.

“Actually, a frightening event happened in this very room,” Zhang Song adjusted his glasses, looking mysterious.

“What, trying to scare Lin Xue with ghost stories?” Fang Min grinned mischievously, “Always angling for a chance with her.”

“Ghost stories are an old trick to fool girls!” Fang Yong joked.

“I’ve been through scarier things than you can imagine. So no matter what you say, I won’t be frightened!” Lin Xue, emboldened after her experience with the spirit contract, boasted confidently.

“You said it, so here I go!” Zhang Song cleared his throat.

Legend has it, a female college student came here for a vacation and happened to rent this very suite with her boyfriend.

Her boyfriend arrived several days after her, so she came alone at first. On her first night, she heard a persistent thumping against the wall.

She was puzzled, but figured this was a holiday village—possibly couples engaged in unspeakable activities. She paid no mind.

Yet every night at midnight, the thumping continued, making her increasingly anxious. After several days, she started knocking on her neighbors’ doors, politely asking them to keep their “business” quieter. But the pounding persisted, night after night.

She endured it until her boyfriend finally arrived in the dead of night. When she excitedly opened the door, he uttered a sentence that chills her to this day:

“Who is that boy behind you, standing on tiptoe and banging his head against the wall?”

“Ahhh—horrible! So scary!” Fang Min shrieked, diving into Fang Yong’s arms.

“Meh, that’s all?” Lin Xue sipped her tea, utterly unmoved. “Not much, really.”

“I’ll tell a scary story too!” Fang Yong volunteered.

“I have a friend, once working late into the night. On his way home, he suddenly heard someone behind him calling his name. But when he turned, nobody was there. Thinking he misheard, he continued walking, but the voice called again, repeatedly.

He turned again, still saw no one. Now he grew fearful, remembering the saying: if someone calls your name at night, never turn around. Each time you do, your vital life energy diminishes. On the third turn, it weakens greatly—then a ghost can possess and harm you.

He resolved not to turn, no matter what voices he heard. But suddenly, his girlfriend’s voice called from behind, 'Darling, I came to get you!'

He instinctively turned—and again saw nothing. A strange terror surged within him. As he turned back, a ghastly pale face suddenly appeared before him, baring white teeth and whispering, 'You turned around again…'