The Cursed Lady's eyes moved away from Chen Ge's face and glanced at the back of his hand.
When the man and ghost approached, the wound on the back of Chen Ge's hand that had not healed started to bleed again like it was triggered by something.
"Was it you who left the wound on the back of my hand?" Chen Ge raised his arm but the Cursed Lady only nodded.
10 minutes later, the Third Sick Hall returned to normal and all the black threads had disappeared.
Lao Zhou and Tang Jun climbed up from the ground. After making sure everyone was fine, Meng Nan also woke up from his coma.
"We have underestimated the Cursed Lady's power, she should be the strongest ghost in this city." Meng Nan sucked in a cold breath. "It is not embarrassing to lose to her but I'm afraid we will need to give her a lot of thought before we can ask for her help."
"We have already met the 3 scariest Specters in this city. The remaining Specters will be dealt with by the tenants at Ping An Apartments. Chen Ge, you just stay inside the Haunted House and do not get involved with us anymore." Zuo Han's mind was clear and his mind was clear. "After we have prepared everything, we will go to the Haunted House to find you."
After Zuo Han said that, he realized Chen Ge had not said anything. He patted Chen Ge lightly on his shoulder. "Do not take what the Cursed Lady said to heart. Without a heart, can a person still be a complete person?"
"Actually she has a point."
"Do not overthink things, you are the key to all of our escape …" Before Zuo Han could finish, he saw Chen Ge's bloodshot eyes.
Honestly, among all of them, Zuo Han was the one who could understand Chen Ge the most.
He had once considered exchanging his life with the Single Eye, only when he was forced to that stage would he understand that kind of feeling.
Zuo Han knew that Chen Ge, who was the focus of all the chaos, must be suffering ten times more despair and pain than him. He wanted to comfort Chen Ge, but all his words seemed pale and powerless in the face of true despair.
"We will recover our memory." Zuo Han did not disturb Chen Ge, who was deep in thought, and they left the Third Sick Hall together.
After discussing the new contact method, Chen Ge parted ways with the tenants at Ping An Apartments. He took a long detour back to the Haunted House at the theme park.
He lay on the bed in the staff lounge. In the past, he only felt that the rising sun of this world was very warm, but now he was a little afraid of the sun rising.
He didn't know what would happen tomorrow, but he knew it would be worse than now.
As misfortune approached, Chen Ge lay on the bed, unable to sleep for the entire night.
The next morning, at 8 am, Chen Ge woke up out of habit to start cleaning. Even though the Haunted House was not open for business, he still went to inspect the scenarios and props every day.
At 8: 10 am, Zhang Ya appeared at the entrance of the Haunted House. Her face was tired, and she seemed to have lost a lot of weight in just a few days.
She had another nightmare last night. She woke up at 2 am. Once she closed her eyes, the nightmare would appear in her mind.
Her father's condition was worsening, and her mother was taking care of him alone. Zhang Ya did not want to add more pressure to them, so she did not dare tell her parents. Instead, she turned to Chen Ge as the person she could confide in.
"At 3 am, I couldn't sleep no matter what. I woke up to take a sip of water. When I walked past the window, I saw someone downstairs. He kept staring at my window and smiling." Zhang Ya leaned against Chen Ge. "The nightmare is slowly turning into reality. Now I can't tell them apart anymore."
At this point, Chen Ge knew that the hospital had started to make their move on Zhang Ya.
This was the hospital's usual style. First, they would drive a normal person crazy and then they would intervene and 'cure' them.
Chen Ge was very worried about Zhang Ya's mental breakdown and then she would be sent to Xin Hai Central Hospital. Once she was sent to that hospital, it would be too difficult for her to leave.
At one point, he even had the thought of taking Zhang Ya and running away from this place, but where could they run to? This was a city without hope. All the memories and happiness were fake. Even if they wanted to run, they could not find the direction to run.
Looking at the exhausted Zhang Ya, Chen Ge's fingers slowly tightened. "Why don't you go back to the room and take a nap. I will take care of everything here."
The words that he wanted to say could not be said. The cruel truth was squeezed in his heart. In this beautiful life that was slowly crumbling, Chen Ge carefully protected Zhang Ya, that was the only thing that he could do now.
Opening the door to the staff breakroom, Chen Ge looked at the sleeping Zhang Ya and memorized her appearance in his heart.
"It feels like I owe her too much."
Leaning against the side of the bed, Chen Ge did not move an inch away because he knew this was probably the last time he had left.
When it was almost noon, the park's management and a few security guards entered the Haunted House. They did not even greet Chen Ge before they barged in.
When Chen Ge arrived, the park's management came up with the renovation plan that they had decided on their own.
The Haunted House's most popular Murder by Midnight scenario was given three days to be dismantled. They believed that this scenario had scared the visitors until they fainted and had caused a negative impact on the Haunted House, so it had to be dismantled.
A few amateurs walked around the scenario and commented on the props and traps that Chen Ge had carefully designed. Anything that they did not like had to be dismantled.
Without waking Zhang Ya, Chen Ge followed behind the few managers with pen and paper. He carefully recorded down all the changes that needed to be made.
This was not his Haunted House, this was Zhang Ya's Haunted House. He wanted to try his best to protect the Haunted House so that it could reopen for business.
As long as the Haunted House could be reopened, they would have a chance to overcome this obstacle. That was already a very small request.
There were more than seventy changes that needed to be made and one scenario that needed to be dismantled. They only gave Chen Ge three days to do all that.
After the park's management left, Chen Ge's hand that was gripping the paper so tightly that it had crumpled.
"As long as the Haunted House can reopen, life will have something to look forward to."
After Zhang Ya woke up, Chen Ge took the paper and found her.
Seeing the content on the paper, Zhang Ya also felt very sad. Chen Ge stood beside her and tried to console her.
In the afternoon, the two started to modify the Haunted House. They closed down Murder by Midnight and removed most of the scary props.
They were busy all the way until six in the evening. The two of them were about to go out for dinner when Zhang Ya suddenly received a call from her family.
Zhang Ya's father had been moved to another sickroom and her mother had to stay to take care of him.
After receiving the call, Zhang Ya immediately rushed to Xin Hai Central Hospital. Chen Ge dropped her off at the entrance of the hospital.
When the two parted, Chen Ge grabbed Zhang Ya's hand and told her that if she was afraid at night, she should go to the Haunted House to find him and try not to stay home alone.
Seeing Zhang Ya walk into the inner part of Xin Hai Central Hospital, Chen Ge's heart slowly squeezed. He was afraid that this would be the last time the two of them would see each other.
After returning to the Haunted House, Chen Ge could not calm down.
He kept pacing down the corridor. When it was around 9 pm, he wanted to numb himself with work like he usually did.
But when he entered the Haunted House with the modification proposal, his whole person became lost.
All of his talent and power was to make the visitors enjoy the Haunted House more and to give them a better experience. He had never done a job that would actively destroy a Haunted House before.
Gripping the mallet tightly, Chen Ge looked at the Haunted House that he had personally created and silently entered it.
In one night, Chen Ge destroyed the Murder by Midnight scenario and modified all the scare points.
The sun shone into the dark Haunted House through the window but Chen Ge did not feel any warmth. The light appeared to be hiding a bone-chilling chill.
"It's morning."
Sitting at the entrance of the Haunted House, Chen Ge who had not slept for the whole night did not feel sleepy. He patted the white cat on its head. The man and the cat looked into the distance quietly, waiting for Zhang Ya's arrival.
At 10: 30 am, long after the theme park opened for business, Zhang Ya finally arrived at the Haunted House.
Seeing Zhang Ya appear, Chen Ge sighed in relief. He was really worried that last night would be their last goodbye.
"Zhang Ya, take a good rest. Leave the Haunted House to me." Chen Ge, who had not slept for the whole night, hoped that Zhang Ya would be able to take a good rest. He stood beside Zhang Ya and his eyes were filled with complicated emotions.
The two entered the scenario. Zhang Ya was shocked to realize that Chen Ge had completed the modifications requested by the theme park's management. "You didn't sleep at all last night?"
Zhang Ya was reminded of what Chen Ge had said earlier and her heart ached.
At noon, Chen Ge found the manager of the theme park. After they gave the Haunted House a thorough inspection, he and Zhang Ya thought that they could open the Haunted House as usual, but to their surprise, the manager only told them to wait for further notice.
There was no hope for the future but Chen Ge and Zhang Ya did not give up.
In the afternoon, Zhang Ya went to the hospital while Chen Ge stayed alone inside the Haunted House. He looked at the scenario that had been modified beyond recognition and bit on his cracked lips.
At around 11 pm, the gate of the Haunted House was knocked on. Chen Ge, who was inside the scenario, rushed out in a hurry.
He saw Zhang Ya leaning against the gate. Her face was as white as paper and her gait was unsteady.
"What's going on?" Chen Ge quickly helped Zhang Ya into the room.
"After I left the hospital at around 8 pm, I kept feeling agitated. The scary memories from the nightmares felt like they were trying to crawl into my brain." Zhang Ya closed her eyes in pain. "The world in my eyes will bleed for no reason. The strange man downstairs is getting closer and closer to me. I can feel him waiting for me in the stairwell!"
Zhang Ya's mental state was extremely unstable. The nightmares kept colliding with reality and it twisted the world in her eyes.
She was in a dangerous situation and could not afford any more stimulation.
"Zhang Ya, you will sleep in the staff breakroom tonight. I will stay by your side and not let anyone disturb you." Chen Ge made a mattress on the floor and had Zhang Ya sleep on the bed.
The staff breakroom was not big. After the lights were switched off, they could hear each other's breathing.
The moonlight shone into the room through the gap. Zhang Ya, who was facing away from Chen Ge, suddenly whispered, "Chen Ge, am I sick?"
"No, it is the world that is sick."
"But why am I the one suffering?"
With the tip of her toes on the ground, Zhang Ya sat up in bed. The moonlight slid down her black hair.
Hearing the sound, Chen Ge turned back to look. Zhang Ya was lying next to him like an injured cat.
"It is the world that is sick, but why are we the ones suffering?"
Her head leaned lightly against Chen Ge's back, hiding herself behind Chen Ge.
"It will be fine." Chen Ge did not turn around. The despair in his eyes could not be hidden. His natural acting seemed to have lost its effect before Zhang Ya.
"It will be fine."
Listening to each other's heartbeat, neither of them fell asleep. They leaned on each other and waited for the next morning.
At around 4 am, Zhang Ya received a call from her mother. She rushed to the hospital. Chen Ge wanted to stop her, but he did not have a good reason.
At 8 am, Chen Ge tidied up the bed and started to clean the Haunted House.
After everything was done, he sat at the door.
There was only one person and one cat inside the Haunted House. There were no visitors or other employees.
After the park opened for business, Chen Ge went to the management many times, hoping that they would give him some leeway.
His efforts did not get any response. If anything, they advised him not to waste his time at the same place.
After being rejected again and again, Chen Ge still insisted on going to the park's manager, hoping that they would give his Haunted House a visit. He had already changed the rules.
But even when the park closed for the night, Chen Ge still did not get the answer that he wanted. The manager left the park, and the other managers ignored Chen Ge.
After having some food, Chen Ge still sat at the door and occasionally glanced at the park's clock.
He kept waiting for Zhang Ya, but this time, Zhang Ya did not return to the Haunted House.
The bad feeling in his heart grew stronger. Chen Ge left the Haunted House at midnight. He called Zhang Ya's number at the convenience store, but there was no answer.
At 1 am, Chen Ge went to the hospital.
He looked at the brightly lit Xin Hai Central Hospital, but in the end, he did not enter it.
He tossed and turned that night. Chen Ge would wake up to check if he heard any movement, but the entrance to the Haunted House was empty, there was no one there.
The next morning, after cleaning the place, Chen Ge hurried to the entrance of the Haunted House.
But even when the park opened for business, Zhang Ya still did not come.
The whole day, Zhang Ya did not show up.
"Why is she not back yet?"
When night fell, Chen Ge kept moving around the Haunted House. He had not done this before.
On the third morning, there was still no news from Zhang Ya and her parents. Chen Ge and the Haunted House seemed to have been forgotten by them.
The fourth day, the fifth day …
On the morning of the seventh day, Chen Ge, whose eyes were bloodshot, was cleaning the Haunted House when several workers in security uniform suddenly rushed into the Haunted House.
"What are you doing?" Chen Ge stood at the door with a broom in his hand and did not move an inch.
"We are following the contract. This Haunted House has been losing money for years and has failed several inspections. The management had a meeting and decided to demolish this place and prepare to build a new entertainment facility."
"The Haunted House's boss is hospitalized. Don't you think it is too cold-blooded to close down the Haunted House now?" Chen Ge's eyes were red as he guarded the Haunted House's door.
"Before you think we are cold-blooded, you'd better think about your unpaid salary first. Move aside!" The few guards rushed forward. Chen Ge tossed the broom away and took out the mallet from the Prop Room.
"Bang!"
The mallet that was painted red smashed through the wooden boards. Chen Ge's scary strength made everyone stop moving.
"This is my discharge certificate. While I am still trying to reason with you, leave immediately!" Chen Ge tossed the certificate on the ground. "After the Haunted House's boss recovers, you can do whatever you want, but you have to get his permission first."
Even if Chen Ge gave up his life, he would protect the Haunted House. The few guards seemed to have received the order from the management. They did not confront Chen Ge directly. Instead, they found wooden boards and nails to seal up the Haunted House's front door. Now, even if Chen Ge had the key, he would not be able to open the door.
"Let's go!"
After the guards left, Chen Ge, who held the mallet, leaned against the wall and slowly sat on the ground. He was the only person left in the Haunted House.
Hugging his head silently, Chen Ge gritted his teeth.
He did not eat and stayed there until the afternoon. When the sun was about to set, Chen Ge came to the top floor of the Haunted House alone.
In his mind, he remembered that he had found something here before, something that had changed his life.
He searched everywhere but found nothing. The exhausted Chen Ge sat by the window.
At the moment of fate, Chen Ge saw the most despairing scene of his life.
Xin Hai Central Hospital across the street, in the third sick hall that he once stayed in, at the window that he once stood at, Chen Ge saw Zhang Ya in the patient's garb!
With empty eyes, Zhang Ya stood inside the room in the patient's garb. She lowered her head to look at the white pill in her palm.
"Zhang Ya!"
His hands gripped the window frame tightly. Chen Ge's voice was loud but Zhang Ya did not seem to hear anything.
His palm was cut open by the window glass. Blood slid down his arm and dripped to the ground but Chen Ge did not seem to feel the pain at all. His eyes kept staring at the sickroom that was not far away.
The sun slowly sank below the horizon and the night enveloped Xin Hai.
The sickroom window was closed by the doctors and the thick curtains blocked everything.
With blood dripping from his palm, Chen Ge stood at the top floor of the Haunted House. He looked at the endless cluster of buildings.
"You guys are not even willing to give me the fake happiness anymore?"
Picking up his backpack, Chen Ge went downstairs and entered the Haunted House's bathroom.
He first glanced at the cubicle door that had been closed for some time and then he used his strength to smash the cubicle door and the bathroom window.
Jumping out from the Haunted House, Chen Ge did not leave immediately but he turned back to look inside the Haunted House.
A white cat was squatting obediently by the window. When it saw Chen Ge looking at it, it immediately ran over.
Rubbing the white cat's head, Chen Ge said softly, "Tragedy has befallen me. The closer you are to me, the more dangerous it will be, so do not come back to find me."
The white cat did not seem to understand what Chen Ge was saying. It just followed every step that Chen Ge took.
When Chen Ge got into the taxi, it called out anxiously …
When he arrived at the Third Sick Hall, Chen Ge knocked on the door that was carved with curses.
The Cursed Lady in a red dress appeared silently. She seemed to have known that Chen Ge would come.
"I can give you the heart but before that, I want to give my left eye to another ghost." Chen Ge's tone was so calm that it was scary. "I will use everything I have to help you recover your memory but I hope that you can promise me one thing."
"You really want to use everything you have?" The dark black words appeared silently. That was not the Cursed Lady's initial plan.
"Yes, the left eye, the heart, the head, the body, you can take everything. I only hope that you can leave my shadow behind so that I can stand guard behind her."
As he said that, Chen Ge took out a sharp knife from his backpack. The sharp blade reflected on his face and the remaining memory flashed across his mind.
"This time I will be her shadow."
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