Chen Ge's heart raced at Director Luo's revelation, his curiosity sharpening like a blade as he leaned forward. "You heard them mention that?" he asked, his voice tinged with urgency, the connection to the Third Sick Hall reigniting his hope of unraveling the mystery of his parents' disappearance. Director Luo nodded, his expression thoughtful as he recalled the moment. "Yes, the day before your parents vanished, they came to my office with a peculiar story. They said someone wanted to give me a gift but, due to complications, couldn't deliver it themselves and had entrusted it to them." He turned to a nearby bookshelf, retrieving a small wooden box with a worn finish, its edges smoothed by time. Opening it, he revealed a crudely carved roly-poly toy, its rounded base and simple design unremarkable yet heavy with significance. "It's rough, but I cherish its meaning—a symbol of resilience, standing up no matter how many times it's knocked down," Director Luo said, holding the toy gently, his voice carrying a quiet reverence that hinted at a deeper connection to Chen Ge's parents.
Chen Ge's impatience bubbled beneath the surface, his mind fixed on the Third Sick Hall. "What did my parents say after that? Where did you hear those words?" he urged, his tone insistent as he sought any fragment of information that might illuminate their fate. Director Luo set the toy back in its box, his brow furrowing as he pieced together the memory. "After delivering the gift, they left my office, but I overheard them talking in the corridor since I never close my door. They hadn't gone far when your father said something like, 'The door to the Third Sick Hall has been opened again.' Your mother responded, 'The door wasn't closed in the first place.'" He paused, his eyes distant as he replayed the moment. "Their voices were low, almost secretive, as if they were discussing something they didn't want others to hear. It struck me as odd, but I didn't think much of it at the time." The words sent a shiver through Chen Ge, the cryptic exchange hinting at a reality far beyond the ordinary.
"That's it?" Chen Ge pressed, his voice betraying a mix of hope and frustration, desperate for more details to anchor the fleeting clue. Director Luo shook his head, his expression apologetic. "That's all I could make out. They continued talking as they walked away, but their voices faded, and I couldn't hear the rest clearly. It was just a passing moment, but the name 'Third Sick Hall' stuck with me because of how urgently they spoke it." The limited information was a blow, leaving Chen Ge grasping at fragments of a puzzle that refused to come together. They spoke for a few more minutes, Chen Ge probing for any additional insights, but Director Luo had nothing more to offer. With a heavy heart, Chen Ge gathered the bracelet and note, offering a quiet, "Then, I'm sorry for disturbing you," before turning to leave, the weight of unanswered questions pressing down on him like a physical force.
As he stepped into the corridor, Chen Ge's mind churned with the implications of his parents' words. The door to the Third Sick Hall has to be more than a literal door, he thought, his imagination racing with possibilities drawn from his experiences with the Haunted House's supernatural phenomena. Could it be akin to the mirror in the Haunted House, a portal to another world, a bloody realm of specters and secrets? The black phone's mission hint—"He came from the Third Sick Hall"—echoed in his mind, suggesting that the figure haunting Men Nan's dreams might have emerged from that same otherworldly place, much like the mirror monster Chen Ge had encountered. The idea that his parents had been discussing such a door the day before their disappearance sent a chill through him, raising the chilling possibility that they had crossed into that other world, a realm the police could never have searched.
The connection between his parents' disappearance and the Third Sick Hall grew stronger in Chen Ge's mind, though doubts lingered. He pulled out the black phone, rereading the mission details with a renewed sense of urgency. The hint about "he" coming from the Third Sick Hall suggested a direct link to Men Nan's nightmares, but was it referring to the figure in the dream or Men Nan himself? The timing of his parents' conversation—right before their vanishing act—pointed to the abandoned hospital where they were last seen, a place the police had scoured without finding a trace. Chen Ge's heart pounded as he considered the possibility that his parents hadn't simply disappeared but had entered this otherworldly door, trapped in a reality beyond reach. The thought was both exhilarating and terrifying, a lead that could bring him closer to them or plunge him into dangers he wasn't prepared to face.
Chen Ge shook his head, patting his cheeks lightly to ground himself. It's too soon to confirm the Third Sick Hall mission is tied to the hospital where my parents disappeared, he reasoned, forcing his emotions into check. The three-star rating of the Third Sick Hall mission loomed large, its difficulty a stark reminder of the risks involved. Even if he accepted it now, he might not be equipped to survive its challenges. The Trial Mission at Hai Ming Apartments, however, offered a more immediate opportunity, its connection to the Third Sick Hall promising insights that could prepare him for what lay ahead. By focusing on Men Nan's case, he could gather crucial information, building a foundation for tackling the larger mystery. With a deep breath, he resolved to prioritize the task at hand, letting the Third Sick Hall's secrets wait until he was better prepared.
By 4 p.m., the influx of visitors to the Haunted House slowed, the afternoon lull giving Chen Ge a moment to shift gears. He handed the keys to Xu Wan, entrusting her with closing duties, and slipped into the props room to prepare for the night's Trial Mission at Hai Ming Apartments. The doll left by his parents, now known to house Luo Ruoyu's spirit, was the park's guardian, its power confined to New Century Park's boundaries. Reluctantly, he left it behind, knowing it would be useless outside the park. Instead, he selected practical tools: a phone charger to keep the black phone active, a lighter for emergencies, a safety rope for unpredictable scenarios, and the multi-purpose mallet, its weight a reassuring constant in his hand. Each item was chosen with care, reflecting the lessons of past missions where preparation had meant the difference between survival and disaster.
After a moment's thought, Chen Ge added the reward money from the Ping An Apartment case to his backpack, its presence a practical backup for his next stop: the mannequin workshop. It's early, he thought. If the price is reasonable, I can secure a down payment today. Completing Mu Yang High School's Hidden Mission was a priority, and securing mannequins for the lingering spirits would bring him closer to its rewards. As he passed the dressing room on his way out, he caught sight of Xiaoxiao, the small doll hiding behind the door, its surface smeared with fake blood that had splattered across the floor. "What are you doing?" Chen Ge muttered, scooping up the doll and calling Xu Wan to clean the mess. A roomful of fake blood—Xu Wan probably thinks I've lost it, he thought with a wry smile, wondering if his employee suspected her boss was unhinged.
In the staff breakroom, Chen Ge grabbed a towel, carefully wiping the fake blood from Xiaoxiao's tiny form, its stitched features staring back at him. Pinching the doll's face playfully, he said, "If you keep being naughty, I'll…" He trailed off, realizing he had no idea what Xiaoxiao feared, the threat hanging unfinished in the air. With a huff, he tucked the doll into his backpack, its mischievous presence a small comfort amidst the uncertainties ahead. Fully prepared, Chen Ge left the Haunted House and stepped into the fading daylight of New Century Park. The visitor numbers had dwindled, the open-air carpark deserted, and the bus stop stood eerily empty, a stark contrast to the morning's bustle. The quiet felt ominous, a prelude to the night's mission at Hai Ming Apartments, where Chen Ge would confront the shadows of Men Nan's dreams and the secrets of the Third Sick Hall.
The dwindling number of visitors to New Century Park cast a long shadow over its future, and Chen Ge couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for Director Luo, who bore the financial burden of maintaining the sprawling grounds. The park, once a vibrant hub of laughter and excitement, now echoed with a hollow quiet, its rides and attractions struggling to draw crowds. The weight of keeping the park afloat must have been immense, a constant pressure on Director Luo's shoulders, especially given the personal significance of the park as a tether to his late daughter, Luo Ruoyu. As Chen Ge crossed the road outside the park, his thoughts lingered on the director's quiet grief and the toys scattered across the grounds, each one a silent prayer for his daughter's return. But his focus soon shifted to the task at hand—locating the mannequin workshop that could bring his vision for Mu Yang High School's Hidden Mission to life, a step toward unlocking the rewards promised by the black phone.
Guided by the information he'd found online, Chen Ge scanned the street for the workshop's address, his eyes catching on a weathered sign hanging above a nondescript door that led underground. The sign was faded, its letters barely legible, a testament to the workshop's decline alongside the park's fading fortunes. Curious, he approached a nearby street hawker, whose stall was piled high with trinkets and snacks, and inquired about the workshop's location. The hawker, wiping his hands on a rag, nodded toward the door. "It's down there, underground," he said, his tone matter-of-fact but tinged with pity, as if the workshop's obscurity was a shared local tragedy. Chen Ge thanked him and descended the concrete steps, the air growing cooler and mustier with each step, a stark contrast to the warm daylight above.
The stairwell was dim, its walls covered in chaotic scrawls—graffiti that ranged from abstract swirls to cryptic phrases, none of which Chen Ge could decipher. The art, if it could be called that, felt like a rebellion against the forgotten space, a desperate attempt to leave a mark on a place slipping into obscurity. At the bottom of the steps, a glass door greeted him, its surface marred by a 'FOR RENT/SALE' sign that hung crookedly, its edges curling from neglect. Peering through the glass, Chen Ge saw a cavernous space that resembled an underground storeroom, vast but eerily empty, its shelves and workstations stripped of life. "Is anyone in?" he called, his voice echoing in the stillness. After a long pause, footsteps shuffled from within, and a slightly overweight man in his twenties appeared, wearing worn slippers and a casual t-shirt, his face still carrying traces of baby fat that gave him a deceptively youthful look.
The man pushed open the glass door, and a blast of cold air from the workshop's air conditioning hit Chen Ge, carrying with it the faint scent of dust and machine oil. The man's eyes sized Chen Ge up, a mix of curiosity and wariness in his expression. "You the boss?" Chen Ge asked, stepping inside. "I want to order a set of custom-made mannequins." The man nodded, his demeanor relaxed but professional as he gestured for Chen Ge to enter. "Okay, come in," he said, leading the way into the workshop. "How big do you want them? If it's under thirty centimeters, I can have them ready in three days." His tone was practiced, but there was a hint of resignation, as if he expected Chen Ge to request something small and manageable, a far cry from the workshop's former days of supplying New Century Park with elaborate displays.
Chen Ge shook his head, his vision for the Haunted House far grander. "That's too small. I need them life-sized, the same as real people, with fully moveable joints. Can you handle something like that?" He glanced around the workshop, noting the array of equipment—molds, cutting tools, and sewing machines—that suggested a level of professionalism belied by the shop's desolate exterior. The man's eyes widened slightly, a spark of interest breaking through his apathy. "Life-sized, with moveable parts?" he repeated, a knowing look crossing his face as if he'd fielded similar requests before. "How many do you need?" Chen Ge didn't hesitate. "Twenty-four," he said, his tone firm. The number was precise, calculated to fulfill the needs of Mu Yang High School's lingering spirits, each requiring a vessel to complete the Hidden Mission.
The man's jaw dropped, his voice rising in a startled shout. "Twenty-four‽" The sudden outburst caught Chen Ge off guard, and he flinched, his hand instinctively tightening around the strap of his backpack. "Why are you screaming? Is twenty-four too many for you to produce?" he asked, a mix of amusement and impatience in his voice. The man blinked, his expression shifting to one of clarification. "All for your personal use?" he asked, a hint of suspicion in his tone. Chen Ge realized the misunderstanding and quickly clarified, "What use would I have for them personally? I own a Haunted House; the mannequins are for the set design, to enhance the scenarios." His explanation was matter-of-fact, but he couldn't help but wonder what kind of clientele the workshop usually attracted to prompt such a question.
The man let out a visible sigh of relief, his shoulders relaxing as he nodded. "Okay, that makes sense. If it's for a Haunted House, I'd recommend against using high-end fillers—too expensive, and the wear and tear in that environment would be brutal. We can do two types here: solid base or half-solid base. The most expensive ones run about 12,000 each, the cheapest around 3,000. But I've got to warn you, I'm the only one left here. All the other workers have moved on, and I'm just keeping the place running until it sells. Twenty-four custom-made, life-sized mannequins with moveable joints? That'll take at least a month to complete, maybe more." His tone was apologetic but firm, the reality of his struggling business laid bare. Chen Ge nodded, mentally calculating the cost and timeline, determined to secure the mannequins to advance his mission, even as the looming Trial Mission at Hai Ming Apartments weighed heavily on his mind.