When Chao Musheng woke up in the morning and opened his phone, his messaging app was flooded with notifications from friends. Some congratulated him on entering a relationship, while others eagerly asked who his partner was—there were so many messages that he couldn’t reply to them all. The post he made on his social media last night had also shattered his previous records for likes and comments.
While brushing his teeth, he replied to his dormmates’ frantic tags from the previous night in their group chat.
【ChaoChaoMuMu: I’ll treat everyone when we’re back at school!】
【Eldest Brother: Make sure to bring your partner along.】
【ChaoChaoMuMu: Got it. Are Second Brother and Old Third still asleep?】
【Eldest Brother: After news of your relationship spread last night, so many people came asking us for details. Second Brother and Old Third were chatting in the neighboring dorm until late before coming back.】
After replying, Eldest Brother got up to buy breakfast at the cafeteria. Many people at school had a crush on their fourth dormmate, and now that he’d gone public with his relationship, who knew how many hearts would be secretly broken?
"Senior!" A stranger called out to him at the cafeteria entrance. "Is it true… that Senior Chao has someone he likes?"
Eldest Brother nodded.
The stranger’s face turned pale, taking a long moment to recover. "I’m a freshman… I worked so hard to get into Jinghua University just to be closer to Senior Chao…" His eyes reddened, his whole body swaying unsteadily. "The person Senior Chao likes must be incredible. I… I…"
A few passing students were moved by his devotion.
"Even though Musheng doesn’t know you, the fact that you got into Jinghua because of him is still a good thing."
What kind of logic was that—getting into Jinghua just to be near Chao Musheng? Now that Chao Musheng was taken, was this kid going to drop out and retake the college entrance exams?
"You’re right," the freshman forced himself to say, suppressing his heartache. "As long as Senior Chao is happy, that’s all that matters."
Eldest Brother studied him. "You’re a freshman, so you’ve never actually interacted with Musheng before, have you?"
The freshman shook his head in confusion.
"Did you see him online or in the university’s promotional videos?" Eldest Brother smirked. "A crush based on looks alone isn’t that deep. I’m sure you’ll get over it soon."
The freshman froze, and the onlookers gradually dispersed.
Seriously, it was just about looks—why make it sound like some tragic drama?
As Eldest Brother walked away, the freshman’s lovestruck expression slowly faded.
"Lin Sheng, did you get any info?" Two classmates ran up to him.
He shook his head, voice low. "Someone as outstanding as Senior Chao must be matched with someone of high status and influence. A poor student like me from a small town… how could I ever be worthy of him?"
"That’s true," Classmate A nodded. "It’s good you realize that. Someone like Senior Chao, a campus celebrity, is way out of our league."
The freshman’s expression stiffened slightly.
"Ahem." Classmate B coughed, signaling Classmate A to tone it down—at least spare their roommate’s feelings.
"Don’t overthink it. Relationships are about timing," he comforted. "If you and Senior Chao aren’t meant to be, then let it go. Maybe it’s for the best—at least you won’t have to worry about being mismatched in status."
Classmate A silently turned to stare at him. Was that really any better as a consolation?
"Thanks," the freshman forced a smile.
After all his efforts, why did no one suspect Chao Musheng of being a gold-digger?!
Did these people have zero imagination?
"Xiao Chao, congratulations!" The League Branch Secretary smiled softly at Chao Musheng as she boarded the bus. "Wishing you and President Su happiness."
"Thank you." Chao Musheng put away his phone and returned her smile.
"Texting President Su, huh?" she teased. "Men in love really are different—just sending a message makes you grin like that."
"Is it that obvious?" Chao Musheng touched his face, his smile not fading in the slightest.
"Very," she confirmed, pointing at the morning sun outside the window. "Brighter than that."
The other students joined in the teasing. Everyone on this aid trip was among the top of their class, but thinking about Chao Musheng’s boyfriend—the formidable CEO of Kunlun Group—they couldn’t help but envy him.
Talented, handsome, from a prestigious family, with a partner who commanded respect in the business world… Who wouldn’t envy such a perfect life?
Listening to the students’ banter, Professor Zhang at the front chuckled to himself.
Ah, youth—so full of energy even early in the morning.
As the bus turned a corner, Professor Zhang noticed ashes floating in the air outside and asked the driver, "The streets were spotless the past few days—why is there so much ash today?"
"Today’s the 14th of July. After midnight, it’ll be the Ghost Festival," the driver explained. "Last night, many people burned joss paper for their ancestors. The area we just passed is the town’s designated burning zone."
"Oh, right." Professor Zhang sighed. "I nearly forgot about the festival."
"I’ve heard big cities have strict rules against burning paper in urban areas, so it’s normal to forget," the driver said ruefully. "Even here, some young folks don’t bother with traditions anymore. Everyone’s too busy making a living—can’t be helped."
The tires rolled over patches of burnt paper ash as the bus sped toward their destination.
"So much ash." Peng waved his hand, batting away flakes drifting toward his face. After a light cough, he turned to browse the snacks in the store.
"Did you hear? The sweet potato thieves got caught a few days ago."
Peng and Huaba stiffened.
"Yeah, caught last night. The sirens went on forever—it was quite the scene."
"Word is they’re real scum—tried to kidnap a kid too. Some big shot from the capital stopped them and saved the little girl."
"You didn’t know? The kid was Factory Manager Chen’s daughter!"
As the elderly gossipers at the store’s entrance shifted topics from sweet potato thefts to factory wages, Peng and Huaba exhaled in relief. Thankfully, no one recognized them.
After paying for their snacks, they walked back with a full bag, the peaceful surroundings making them slow their steps.
After constantly scrambling to survive in one horror-filled scenario after another, it had been so long since they’d strolled down such a tranquil street.
"You useless bastard! I told you to burn offerings for our ancestors, and you went to play mahjong instead?! Do you want me to break your legs?!"
A woman kicked her husband out the door. "Even forgetting your own ancestors—do you even want this family to stay together?!"
…Okay, maybe not completely tranquil.
Peng and Huaba sidestepped the berated man and quickened their pace, only to be distracted by the lively market ahead.
Fresh produce overflowed from the stalls—more than anyone could possibly eat.
"We never had it this good in other survival scenarios," Peng muttered, buying a few pounds of meat while Huaba picked out fruit.
When they returned to the rental, the other three players were already back—only Xiaojuan was missing.
"Where’s Sister Juan?" Peng set down the meat.
"Went out to earn some money." Da Chang glanced at the snacks they bought. "You bought so much junk food—did you use up all the pocket money Xiaojuan gave you?"
"Couldn't resist the urge." Peng sprawled on the sofa, enjoying the cool breeze from the AC. Now this was the life.
"We scouted the area earlier, and this place really does feel like the real world," Da Chang said as he sorted their groceries into the fridge. "The NPCs here are different from other dungeons—they have strong autonomy."
"So we just wait for the dungeon time to run out?"
With so many of them relying on Xiaojuan alone, her financial burden was too heavy.
"I asked around. There’s a construction site nearby hiring temporary workers—150 a day, paid daily." Da Chang pulled a slip of paper from his pocket. "Here’s the foreman’s number. If no one objects, we can start tomorrow."
"No problem." Peng nodded. "I’ll follow your lead, Chang-ge."
"I plan to do some more reconnaissance tonight." Da Chang looked at Peng. "You’re coming with me."
"Got it."
Used to survival dungeons where danger lurked everywhere, Da Chang couldn’t let his guard down completely until he confirmed the night was as safe as the day.
"Tonight seems darker than usual." The League Branch Secretary yawned, pinching the bridge of his nose to stay awake. "The equipment at Hanyue—if we follow the original operational plan, the skill requirements for maintenance are too high. We need a different approach."
"Another night of overtime." A classmate glanced toward Professor Zhang’s office and whispered to Chao Musheng, "I heard it’s easier to run into… those things during the Ghost Festival. Let’s finish early and get back."
"Senior, those are just folk tales. Don’t scare yourself." The League Branch Secretary wheeled his chair back to his computer. "So tired…"
He shouldn’t have stayed up gossiping with friends last night.
"Speaking of the Ghost Festival, I’ve heard a story about it." Chao Musheng lifted his head, rubbing his stiff neck. "Might help wake you up."
Back in the R&D and game tech teams, he’d often heard colleagues swap ghost stories—he had plenty at the ready.
"Go on." The nearby students perked up.
"They say before the Ghost Festival, the underworld opens its gates to the living world, letting the deceased return to visit their families." Chao Musheng lowered his voice. "When the moon rises, if the living crouch under grapevines, they can hear the whispers of spirits…"
"The moon’s so bright tonight." Peng looked up at the huge, nearly full moon, its edges haloed in a soft glow.
"Last night, there were street vendors selling barbecue. Why’s it so empty tonight?" Peng scanned the deserted streets. "Do people here sleep this early?"
"I noticed a lot of elderly folks out today." Da Chang relaxed slightly when he saw lights still on in nearby houses. "Old people prefer early nights. It’s normal for the streets to be quiet."
They walked down the road, passing a few hurried pedestrians before reaching the end of the short street.
"This town is tiny." Peng stopped at the edge of town, where a construction site glowed in the distance, trucks rumbling as they hauled dirt and rocks.
"Chang-ge, is that where we’re working tomorrow?" Peng pointed.
Da Chang nodded. "Want to check it out?"
"Sure." Peng was eager. After so many survival dungeons, this was his first time doing manual labor in one.
To save time, they took a shortcut through local farmland lined with vineyards.
"These grapes look sweet." Peng itched to pick some, but since they belonged to real people—not NPCs—he resisted.
After a while, Da Chang tensed.
"Peng, how long have we been walking?" He stopped, turning back. The path behind them was overgrown with grass and vines, their trail completely obscured.
He looked down. Had the grass been this thick earlier?
"Peng!" Da Chang grabbed his arm. "Run!"
The rustling of weeds against their pants sounded eerie under the moonlight, which cast a frost-like sheen over the endless vineyards.
"We can’t get out." Peng panted, surrounded by grapes in every direction.
"Shh." Da Chang strained his ears. "Do you hear voices?"
Laughter and chatter seemed to drift from afar, but they couldn’t pinpoint the source.
"Chang-ge… are we stuck in a ghost wall?"
When Xiaojuan returned to the rental, two were missing. "Where are Peng and Da Chang?"
"They went out." Little Rou handed her a plate of sliced fruit. "Da Chang found us daily-paid work. Don’t worry about money."
"I’m not just earning for you." Xiaojuan smiled but didn’t explain.
If not for the dungeon’s malfunction, she’d have left for another world already.
She didn’t know if she’d ever return, so she had to prepare what she needed now.
The System—that bully who only preyed on the weak—would never dare establish footholds here again if it kept losing. It would stick to underhanded tricks instead of wasting energy on exploration dungeons.
"We’ll leave this world eventually. What’s the point of hoarding its currency?" Little Rou frowned. "Do you like it here that much?"
"Yeah." Xiaojuan nodded. "A lot."
She often wondered—if the System vanished, how wonderful it would be to stay forever.
Little Rou’s eyes softened with pity.
Players had no choice.
They were wanderers who could neither return home nor linger in any world.
"Enough of that." Xiaojuan flopped onto the sofa and pulled out her phone. A notification popped up:
#Things You Must Never Do During the Ghost Festival#
#It’s Dark—Are You Home Yet?#
She tapped it, scanning the list of taboos before sitting bolt upright. "Little Rou, how long have they been gone?"
"About an hour."
"I’ll go look for them." Xiaojuan stood. "The rest of you, stay inside tonight."
"What’s special about tonight?"
"Tomorrow is this world’s Ghost Festival." Xiaojuan sighed. "Tonight, spirits return to the living realm."
She didn’t know if ghosts existed here, but…
She could only hope Da Chang and Peng were lucky.
"Who the hell is talking? Show yourself!" Peng was irritated by the voices but couldn't locate the source. "Stop hiding in the vineyard at this hour—it's creepy."
The voices quieted briefly before resuming their chatter.
"I—"
Da Chang clamped a hand over Peng's mouth, sweating nervously. "Stop talking. Let's try going back the way we came."
The voices they were hearing were clearly unnatural.
He feared Peng's shouting might provoke whatever unseen presence was lurking.
"Finally done with overtime." The League Branch Secretary stretched as he stood up. "It's almost midnight."
"T-this late?" The students exchanged uneasy glances.
Their earlier enthusiasm for swapping ghost stories had now turned into sheer dread.
They followed Professor Zhang out of the studio in silence.
"Huh?" The League Branch Secretary powered on his phone as he walked, then glanced up and smirked at Chao Musheng. "Xiao Chao, your sweetheart’s here to pick you up."
Young love really was something else.
Su Chenzhu had come?
Chao Musheng squeezed past his classmates. "Excuse me, excuse me—thanks."
Watching his cheerful figure dart into the moonlit courtyard, the others suddenly felt their fear of ghost stories melt away.
If someone as distinguished as President Su could stand alone in the yard at this hour waiting for his lover, what did they—a whole group—have to fear?
"Why did you come?" Chao Musheng hooked his arm around Su Chenzhu’s as soon as he reached him. "I couldn’t spend time with you again tonight."
"It’s fine. We have plenty of time ahead." Su Chenzhu opened a paper bag in his hand. "Want a bite first?"
"Smells amazing." Chao Musheng leaned against his shoulder as they settled into the car. "The chicken strips are still warm. Are there really shops open this late?"
Given how seriously Hanyue took the Ghost Festival, he was surprised any businesses dared operate at this hour.
"I paid the hotel chef to make them." Su Chenzhu held a piece to Chao Musheng’s lips. "Try it."
"Delicious." Chao Musheng chewed happily. "I barely ate dinner—I’m starving."
Su Chenzhu fed him another piece. "Too much fried food at night isn’t good."
"Indulging once in a while won’t hurt." Chao Musheng took another bite. "Feed me a couple more."
The driver raised the partition and drove slowly. As the car left the studio compound, the solar-powered streetlamp at the gate flickered.
"The moon seems unusually bright tonight." Chao Musheng rolled down the window, nibbling on the food Su Chenzhu offered before lazily resting his head on his shoulder. "Aren’t you supposed to return to Jing City the day after tomorrow?"
"Not going back." Su Chenzhu opened a carton of milk, inserted a straw, and held it to Chao Musheng’s lips. "The factory’s anniversary is in a few days. I’ll leave after that."
Hearing this, Chao Musheng burst into laughter against his shoulder. "Su Chenzhu, you’re adorable when you make up excuses so seriously."
Su Chenzhu wrapped an arm around him, smiling tenderly as Chao Musheng’s hair brushed against his cheek.
Only Chao Musheng, who loved him, would find him cute.
"Eldest Brother, I can’t run anymore." Peng panted, staring at the grass around them—now waist-high when it had only reached their calves moments ago.
As a player accustomed to physical combat, he was helpless against this eerie supernatural assault.
"What do we do now?"
"Remember what Xiaojuan said?"
"Which part?" Peng pushed aside the overgrown weeds ahead, clearing a path for Da Chang behind him.
"Mr. Chao’s lover is an incredibly powerful figure," Da Chang said, tilting his head back. The grapevines were closing in, leaving only slivers of moonlight visible. "But he’s a total simp."
"How does that help us get out of here?"
"What if we praise him and Mr. Chao? Think he’d bless our escape?"
Peng: "..."
Probably not.
Wasn’t that just absurd?
"Worth a shot." Da Chang took a deep breath. Players would do anything to survive, no matter how ridiculous.
"Mr. Chao and his boyfriend are a match made in heaven."
"Mr. Chao and his boyfriend will last forever."
Fine.
Inspired by Da Chang’s chanting, Peng wiped his face—raw from the grapevines—and bellowed: "Mr. Chao’s favorite person is his boyfriend!"
His voice boomed, echoing far into the night.
And straight into Chao Musheng’s ears through the open window.
"Did someone just mention 'Mr. Chao'?" Chao Musheng signaled the driver to stop, straining to hear more.
Su Chenzhu turned his head, gaze cool as he studied the vineyard by the roadside.
"Mr. Chao and his boyfriend will never be parted!"
Chao Musheng: "..."
He stepped out of the car and peered down the path. Two vaguely familiar figures stood under the moonlight, howling like wolves.
"Mr. Chao and his boyfriend are peerless, a love for the ages—"
"Enough." Chao Musheng had seen plenty of flattering comments under Su Chenzhu’s posts, but never anything this over-the-top.
Shouting like this in the middle of the night would make people think ghosts were haunting the place.
Why was he the one feeling secondhand embarrassment when they were the ones buttering them up?
Peng and Da Chang snapped their heads toward the road.
Under the moonlight, a black car idled silently. A young man in a light-colored shirt stood by the hood, staring at them with an awkward expression.
The tangled grapevines were gone. The wild grass had vanished.
Everything was back to normal.
"Mr. Chao!" Peng and Da Chang rushed out of the path, only relaxing once their feet hit the paved road.
They’d made it out.
Thank you, Mr. Chao.
Thank you, his simp boyfriend!
"You’re Xiaojuan’s friends, right? If you need something, just say it outright. No need for..." Chao Musheng paused. "...such enthusiasm."
"Sorry." Peng apologized swiftly. "We’ll tone it down next time."
Noticing Su Chenzhu stepping out of the car, he hastily added, "But you and your boyfriend really are perfect together."
Su Chenzhu’s aloof gaze lingered on him briefly. "Thanks for the compliment."
"How did you know we’d pass by here?" Chao Musheng eyed the grass stains and dirt on their clothes.
Peng and Da Chang stayed silent.
They hadn’t.
Before they could answer, Xiaojuan came sprinting toward them.
Chao Musheng didn’t press further. Waving at Xiaojuan in the distance, he tugged Su Chenzhu back into the car.
Xiaojuan arrived, panting. "Brother Chao, President Su—good evening."
"Evening." Chao Musheng nodded. "It’s almost the Ghost Festival. Head home early."
"Got it, Brother Chao." Not daring to ask more with Su Chenzhu present, Xiaojuan waited until the car drove off before rounding on the other two. "Let’s go. Don’t linger here."
"What’s the Ghost Festival?"
"The Ghost Festival in this world," Xiaojuan gasped, still catching her breath. "You didn’t run into anything strange, did you?"
"We did."
"What?!"
"But we’ve already handled it." Peng’s expression was complicated. "Praise love."
Xiaojuan: "…"
Had they been scared out of their minds?
"Juan-jie," Da Chang said with unusual gravity. "I think Mr. Chao might already be suspicious of us."
