You’re the one who allowed this—I’m coming right now.

 

For a short video to go viral, it naturally takes more than just being scary. If it were only about a sudden twist meant to frighten people, the uploader would probably be cursed out by a handful of viewers, rather than standing far ahead of others in both views and likes.

The short video produced by Zhong Jiudao rode the wave of trending tags, and in just over ten seconds showcased the actors’ looks, storytelling, and visual tension. It delivered a powerful impact, which was the real reason the video spread so widely.

Of course, the staff’s efforts in liking and sharing also played a part. The initial hundred-plus likes that broke the deadlock were all gathered by the crew recruiting people everywhere to like the video.

Fallen Home was the title of the film, and Zhong Jiudao created this account specifically to promote it.

The staff knew it was a low-budget movie, but everyone involved felt it was made with great care, achieving the best possible results within limited funding. Everyone hoped the film would be released smoothly and receive better promotion.

After Zhong Jiudao uploaded the video, Qian Duoqun posted the link in the film crew’s group chat, and everyone worked hard to like and share it.

Especially Luo Huai—because he posted the video late at night in his primary school group, middle school group, high school group, university group, and extras group, he had already been thoroughly scolded by many people. After all, not everyone could accept such a frightening video, and even those who could still needed to curse a bit to calm their nerves.

Thanks to everyone’s unremitting efforts, the short video was finally gradually discovered, and the account “Welcome to the Fallen Home” gained quite a few followers.

When Qian Duoqun shared the good news, Luo Huai poked his head out from behind the door of a nearby room and happily rushed over to hug him: “Really? Our video went viral? That’s great!!”

Although no one knew there were ghosts in the crew, out of human instinct, the actors didn’t dare go out at night. Aside from Zhong Jiudao, the only two who dared to wander around at night were Qian Duoqun and Luo Huai.

Qian Duoqun knew these ghosts couldn’t harm him—they could at most just look at him. And as for being watched, well, whether inside his room or outside made no difference; he could even sleep with eyeballs staring at him by his pillow, so what did location matter?

As for Luo Huai, he simply didn’t think that much. During the day, he was still chatting with Qi Wanlian, admiring her superb acting skills.

At the time, Qi Wanlian hooked an arm around Luo Huai’s neck, gave him a playful wink, and said flirtatiously, “If you want to improve your acting, you can come to the third floor tonight. I’ll teach you.”

As she spoke, she leaned closer, her chest almost pressing against him.

She couldn’t actively harm people, but she could hardly stop a man from developing lustful thoughts. If she could lure Luo Huai in and get close to him, with him willingly offering his life force, Director Zhong wouldn’t be able to say anything. Qi Wanlian had calculated this plan quite well.

Luo Huai carried a faint fragrance of ghost-wood, something only ghosts could smell—a scent that made them irresistibly drawn to him. Qi Wanlian didn’t mind getting close to him.

Unexpectedly, Luo Huai shook his head, completely missing the hint. “That wouldn’t be appropriate.”

“What’s inappropriate about it? Men and—”

Qi Wanlian had intended to say “romantic relations between men and women are normal,” but Luo Huai cut in: “When we rehearse scenes, the director should be present. Otherwise, something uncontrollable might happen. Last time when Pang Xinhao and I rehearsed, he got too worked up and kicked the door lock broken, and even had to pay Producer Qian to fix it. Why don’t we go to Director Zhong’s room to rehearse? It’ll be better with his guidance.”

Qi Wanlian: “……”

He even thought to involve the director—seemed foolish on the surface but actually sharp underneath. Not easy to trick.

Qi Wanlian reached out and lightly tapped Luo Huai’s forehead. “Just live well, you fool.”

Rubbing his forehead, Luo Huai called out to her retreating figure, “If you don’t want Director Zhong, we could ask Shen ge too! I have a scene with him tomorrow and I’m really nervous. Could you help me?”

Qi Wanlian: “……”

So in Luo Huai’s mind, it wasn’t about having the director to supervise, but simply having a third person present to prevent things from getting out of control? Did he really think her invitation was just about discussing the script?

She had seen people who remained composed even when tempted, and she had seen hypocrites—but never someone as clueless as Luo Huai.

Just as Qi Wanlian was about to say something, a head suddenly popped between them. Shen Leshan appeared out of nowhere and said, “Sure, come to my room tonight to rehearse. I’ll teach you.”

His gaze lingered over Luo Huai’s exposed skin, and he said with undisguised greed, “You’re so young, such good skin. I happen to need a new outfit.”

Under Shen Leshan’s gaze, Luo Huai shrank his neck slightly, looking a bit troubled.

Watching coldly from the side, Qi Wanlian thought Luo Huai wasn’t entirely foolish—he still had some sense of danger.

But after a moment’s hesitation, Luo Huai softly asked, Shen ge, what price range are your clothes usually?”

His thinking was simple: Shen was helping him rehearse and needed clothes, so it was only natural to buy him one as thanks. How could he let someone work for free? But he was short on money, and Shen looked like someone from a wealthy background—his ten-thousand-yuan pay might not even cover Shen’s clothing.

At the mention of clothes, Shen Leshan touched his Zhongshan suit (NT: better known as Mao suit) and suddenly showed a trace of sadness. “About the price of a sheet of A4 paper.”

Director Zhong’s handmade paper clothes were always made from the best A4 paper bought wholesale!

“Shen ge, you’re too kind!” Luo Huai said, deeply moved.

Shen clearly knew he was broke and deliberately quoted an extremely low price. A sheet of A4 paper costs only a few cents—basically free. Great kindness needs no thanks; when he earned money in the future, he would definitely have a proper suit custom-made for Shen!

“Just remember that I’m kind,” Shen Leshan said, putting away his sad expression. “How about coming to my room at midnight? If you’re scared alone, I can also invite Sister Qi and Sister Fu.”

In this villa, whenever something good was shared, it had to be first offered to Qi Wanlian and Fu Yue, the strongest among them. Shen wouldn’t keep it to himself.

“Midnight is too late, wouldn’t it disturb your rest?” Luo Huai hesitated. “How about 8:30? We’ll rehearse for an hour and won’t affect anyone’s rest.”

“8:30 is a bit early, but fine.” Shen Leshan patted Luo Huai’s shoulder, his fingertip brushing lightly over the healthy skin of his shoulder blade.

Young people really do have great skin, Shen thought with satisfaction.

Watching from the side, Qi Wanlian: “……”

She had just used every trick in the book to seduce him, yet Luo Huai ignored her completely. And now he was falling for Shen Leshan’s clumsy trick so easily, even planning to venture alone into a haunted house at night—what an insult to her charm.

Qi Wanlian glared resentfully at Luo Huai. Her gaze was no longer seductive but somewhat sinister. Leaving behind the words “I’ll be waiting tonight,” she walked away.

Unaware of all this, Luo Huai nervously kept track of time that evening. At 8 o’clock, he left his room early and happened to hear Qian Duoqun sharing the good news, so he joined in celebrating.

While they were hugging in celebration, Luo Huai stepped on something round and nearly slipped.

Letting go of Qian Duoqun, he bent down to pick it up—and saw it was an eyeball.

Qian Duoqun: “……”

I-it’s over. It has … been found out.

At that moment, hearing the noise outside, Zhong Jiudao opened the door. Seeing the scene, even his expression stiffened.

Qian Duoqun hurried over to Zhong Jiudao and looked at him pleadingly, desperately signalling with his eyes.

Use the same method you used to threaten me to subdue Luo Huai too—find a way to make him keep it secret!

Qian Duoqun tried his best to convey this message with his squinting eyes.

Zhong Jiudao, however, clearly couldn’t read anything from eyes narrowed into a slit—after all, Qian Duoqun didn’t have particularly expressive eyes. Still, Zhong Jiudao felt that if the one who discovered the eyeball was Luo Huai, the situation might not be so bad.

Luo Huai showed a puzzled expression, glanced around the floor, then crouched down and picked up another eyeball from beside Qian Duoqun’s feet.

Seeing him holding an eyeball in each hand without the slightest fear, Qian Duoqun couldn’t help but feel terrified.

“Found them!” Luo Huai handed the eyeballs to Qian Duoqun. “ Qian ge, these props weren’t collected. Did you forget them in your pocket? You were so excited just now that you didn’t even notice they fell out.”

Qian Duoqun: “……”

Oh heavens, it’s such a blessing that Luo Huai is a naive sweetheart !

Even though Luo Huai casually handed over the eyeballs, Qian Duoqun didn’t dare take them. His hands trembled as he had no idea what to do.

At that moment, the eyeballs rolled, their pupils shifting from looking at Luo Huai to staring at Qian Duoqun, as if accusing him angrily.

Qian Duoqun was both scared and anxious—scared of the eyeballs, of course, and anxious because now he couldn’t explain them as props!

“Huh? They can move?” Luo Huai pinched one eyeball between his fingers and turned the pupil toward himself. “I remember when they were in the bowl earlier, they moved too. Are they remote-controlled?”

“Mm,” Zhong Jiudao patiently waited for Luo Huai to come up with his own explanation, then waved his phone. “I just controlled them with an app, wanted to scare you a bit.”

“Oh, they can connect to Wi-Fi and be controlled by phone? That’s so advanced!” Luo Huai poked the eyeball to check its texture. “The outside is soft and bouncy, but if it’s smart-controlled, there must be metal inside, right? The core is wrapped in the center?”

“Ugh!” Qian Duoqun gagged and waved at Luo Huai. “Stop describing how the eyeballs feel. Just give the props back to Director Zhong.”

“Okay.” Luo Huai obediently handed the eyeballs to Zhong Jiudao.

Zhong Jiudao didn’t particularly want to take them either. He turned back into his room, grabbed a bunch of tissues, and only then reluctantly wrapped the eyeballs to collect them.

He glanced at Luo Huai’s hands, frowned slightly, and said, “Come in and wash your hands. Those props rolled on the floor—they’re not hygienic.”

“Oh, I’ll wash in my own room,” Luo Huai said.

“Wash them here,” Zhong Jiudao insisted firmly. “The soap in my room has better disinfecting properties.”

The soap was handmade by Zhong Jiudao; when making it, he had mixed in some talisman ash, giving it a mild exorcising effect.

Luo Huai wanted to say that his own hand soap was fine too, but since the director insisted, he obediently agreed.

Anyway, he had left half an hour early, so there was still plenty of time before his appointment with Shen ge.

After washing his hands clean with Director Zhong’s simple handmade soap, Luo Huai stepped out of the bathroom. He saw Zhong Jiudao’s computer on the table, with a music app open, playing a song on repeat.

Zhong Jiudao found a cardboard box and stuffed the eyeballs inside. When he turned back, he saw Luo Huai tilting his head, listening to the music.

“What kind of sound is this? It’s so creepy,” Qian Duoqun, who had followed in, shuddered. “In the middle of the night, it sounds like ghosts crying.”

“I’m looking for suitable background music. The composer of this piece has created many works in a similar style over the past six months and is quite well-known in the app’s community. I’m trying to contact him,” Zhong Jiudao said.

“Yeah, this style would fit our film pretty well,” Qian Duoqun nodded.

On the other side, after listening to the entire song, Luo Huai found himself tearing up. Seeing this, Zhong Jiudao handed him some tissues. “What’s wrong?”

Luo Huai wiped his tears. “Nothing… I just feel like the composer is in a lot of pain, like they’re struggling on the brink of death, unwilling to give up but unable to do anything. It feels really distressing to listen to.”

“There is indeed that kind of emotion in it,” Zhong Jiudao said. “You have a strong sense of empathy.”

“Did they reply to you?” Luo Huai asked.

Zhong Jiudao replied, “I sent a message an hour ago. We’ll just have to wait patiently.”

“Okay.” Affected by the music, Luo Huai’s mood was clearly a bit down.

Since he had an appointment with Shen Leshan, Luo Huai soon said goodbye to Director Zhong.

After closing the door, Luo Huai stood alone in the hallway. Thinking about the song, he couldn’t help but open the music app, find the composer’s profile, and send a private message: “Your music is amazing. It really resonates with people and helps them release stress through crying. Keep it up!”

Unlike Zhong Jiudao, who hadn’t received a reply after an hour, Luo Huai immediately got a response: “Really? You like my music?”

“Of course! What an outstanding original piece!”

“Would you be willing to support me all the time?”

“Of course! You already have a lot of fans!”

Luo Huai glanced at the app—the composer indeed had many followers, and each song had tens of thousands of comments, yet he never replied. The fact that he replied today made Luo Huai feel lucky.

Thinking that Director Zhong wanted to hire this composer, Luo Huai sent another message: “Someone wants to commission you to compose!”

“Is it you?” the other party asked.

“Not me, but someone I know. He sent you a private message.”

“There are too many messages. I don’t bother reading them—I just pick ones that catch my eye, and I saw yours.”

“I’ll send you his ID.”

“No need. I only want to talk to you. Can I come find you in person?”

“I live in the same place as the person who invited you. You can come find me, and I’ll help mediate between you.” Luo Huai replied happily, glad he could help Director Zhong.

“ You’re the one who allowed this—I’m coming right now.

”

The lights in the second-floor hallway flickered a few times.

Luo Huai looked up at the light in confusion. Seeing it stop flickering, he lowered his head and replied: “Okay, let’s add each other. I’ll send you the location. This place is quite remote—you won’t find it by address alone.”

The phone screen flickered, turning bright and dim intermittently.

Is the phone breaking? He had bought it when he first started university, and it had been four years. Recently it had been lagging due to low storage—it wouldn’t be surprising if it were failing.

Luo Huai slapped the back of the phone a few times. At times like this, giving it a knock often fixed many electronics.

Sure enough, the screen stopped flickering. Luo Huai asked for the composer’s contact, but after waiting a while with no reply, he sent his own account instead. “This is my account. If you have time, I hope you can add me. Thank you,” Luo Huai said politely.

It was almost time for his appointment with Shen Leshan and the others. Luo Huai put away his phone and headed toward the forbidden third floor.

The lights in the hallway flickered once more.

 

Translator : DarNan