Qiao Xinyue looked at the real yet eerie scene before her, wanting to explore but feeling an inexplicable trepidation.
The two paper figures before the main hall seemed ready to come alive at any moment, emitting sharp, laughter-like sounds.
And the bride with the red veil inexplicably brought to mind the monstrous ghost faces from the posters in the corridor moments ago.
Then there was the dark coffin, as if a rotting, foul-smelling corpse lay within, ready to leap out with bared teeth at any moment.
Thinking of this, the stench seemed to assault her nostrils.
Qiao Xinyue instinctively took a step back, her desire to explore diminishing as fear slowly began to grow.
Wen Yan seemed to sense her unease. He glanced at her, then stepped inside.
Qiao Xinyue froze for a moment before quickly following, letting out a quiet sigh of relief.
Her heart was roaring, "It's better on screen. Seeing and touching it in real life is no fun at all."
Wen Xuanyuan remained in an ostrich-like posture, her head buried behind Li Bowen, not daring to look at anything. She was truly scared.
Wen Yan continued his steps into the next room.
The light instantly dimmed. Upon entering, a vast expanse of white greeted them, with the large character for "mourning" (奠) emblazoned before their eyes. This was a mourning hall.
The mourning hall was filled with white banners, swaying ceaselessly. The empty hall felt exceptionally eerie.
Wen Yan walked forward without any reaction.
Qiao Xinyue followed closely behind him, her heart pounding rapidly, an inexplicable sense of dread washing over her.
Halfway through, something fell from the ceiling. She felt a light veil brush against her cheek.
Qiao Xinyue's heart lurched. Fear spread through her heart. The sudden fright made her lose her wits.
She screamed and crouched on the ground, covering her face. In a daze, she looked up and saw a ghost face.
Stimulated by her scream, Wen Xuanyuan instinctively grabbed Li Bowen's hand and ran back.
She wasn't playing anymore; it was too scary.
Even though she hadn't seen anything.
Wen Yan glanced at Wen Xuanyuan fleeing in disarray, then his gaze fell upon Qiao Xinyue, who had cowered into a ball.
He said helplessly, "It's just a doll bride, fake."
Qiao Xinyue slowly looked up, calming her emotions.
The terrifying doll was staring at her, but it truly was just a doll.
Wen Yan looked down at her and extended his hand.
Qiao Xinyue dared not look at him, wishing she could disappear into a crack in the ground.
However, she still placed her hand in Wen Yan's palm because her legs had gone weak from fright and she couldn't stand.
Wen Yan pulled her up with a strong grip but didn't let go of her hand.
He could tell that Qiao Xinyue had been genuinely terrified moments ago.
"If you're scared, we can go back the way we came. We don't have to play anymore."
Qiao Xinyue didn't pretend to be brave and nodded, feeling extremely embarrassed.
She felt it was too humiliating. When they first entered, she had acted fearless, but now she had turned into a coward.
Wen Yan released her hand and extended his arm towards her.
"If you're scared, just hold onto me."
Qiao Xinyue, blushing, linked her arm through his. She was indeed scared, but she wanted to be closer to Wen Yan even more.
Wen Yan led her back, but they couldn't exit through the door they had entered.
The door had closed and wouldn't open. This meant they could only move forward.
Wen Yan tried pushing it a couple of times, but it still wouldn't budge. He smiled wryly, "It seems we can only go forward."
Qiao Xinyue didn't feel disappointed or scared. Instead, she felt a strange sense of anticipation.
Because she could be very close to Wen Yan, holding his arm.
On the other side of the door.
Wen Xuanyuan pressed her ear against the door. Although she couldn't hear anything, her face was full of excitement.
She had instructed the staff dressed as ghosts to lock the door.
This way, the two of them could walk through the haunted house alone.
A man and a woman, in such a terrifying and eerie atmosphere, it was hard not to have something happen!
And there weren't many people in the haunted house today. Wasn't fate helping them?
She raised an eyebrow triumphantly, "It's all thanks to me. Come on, let's wait for them at the exit."
As she casually turned her head, she saw the situation inside the room.
She was so startled that she jumped onto Li Bowen, burying her face in his chest.
"It's so scary, hold me and take me out."
Li Bowen held her steady and chuckled, "Okay, I'll hold you out."
Wen Xuanyuan in his arms clung to him like a koala.
However, he also realized at this moment that she was trying to set up Wen Yan and Qiao Xinyue.
...
Wen Yan and Qiao Xinyue continued to walk further inside.
With Wen Yan there, Qiao Xinyue seemed less fearful.
She held his arm tightly, inhaling his pleasant scent, and followed his steps deeper into the terrifying haunted house.
Leaving the mourning hall, they entered a long corridor. The corridor was narrow, with carved wooden doors on both sides, plastered with ghost-suppressing talismans.
Looking up, they could see many evil spirits chained, as if they could fall at any moment.
She fearfully tightened her grip on Wen Yan.
Wen Yan's breathing deepened inexplicably.
Because his hand brushed against something soft.
It was continuously rubbing against his arm.
But at this moment, it was awkward for him to push Qiao Xinyue away.
Because Qiao Xinyue's body was trembling lightly from fear, and her breathing was erratic.
Fortunately, they made it halfway down the corridor without encountering anything unusual.
Qiao Xinyue's taut nerves finally relaxed a little, and her grip on Wen Yan loosened.
Wen Yan cleared his throat and took a deep breath to moisten his dry mouth.
On this journey, not only was his mouth dry, but he also felt the temperature rising. Otherwise, why would he feel so hot?
Just as both of them let out a sigh of relief.
A door a step away from them suddenly opened, and a mournful cry emanated from it. A disheveled female ghost revealed her head.
Blood tears flowed from her face, and her smile was eerie.
"Ahhhhhh..."
Qiao Xinyue screamed and threw herself into Wen Yan's arms. Wen Yan was bumped against the adjacent door.
Wen Yan's breath hitched, and he dared not move.
His nose was filled with the fragrance of hair and a sweet body scent. In his arms was a warm, soft embrace, pressed tightly against his chest.
His heart inexplicably raced, and his breathing grew heavier.
Qiao Xinyue trembled with fear, holding onto Wen Yan tightly and whimpering softly.
She was truly terrified.
Wen Yan raised his hand, hesitated for a moment, then gently hugged her and softly reassured her, "It's okay, it's fake."
The staff member playing the female ghost flicked her hair and withdrew back into the door with a resentful expression.
His resentment was now greater than the ghost's. Honestly, having to witness public displays of affection while playing a ghost.
After a long while, Qiao Xinyue calmed down and, feeling embarrassed, looked up at Wen Yan.
They were very close, so close that they could kiss if they leaned in a little further.
Their breaths mingled, creating an inexplicable sense of intimacy.
Wen Yan simply gazed at the person in his arms. Her innocent eyes, shimmering with tears, were inexplicably captivating.
Qiao Xinyue had a doll-like face, but a well-proportioned figure.