The memories of all humanity are awakening, except for mine.

Behind the door, Jiang Chuan and Li Yi clung tightly to each other, their hearts pounding like drums.

Hearing the hurried footsteps approaching from outside, they hesitated for a moment at the door, seemingly searching for something.

Ultimately, it gradually drifted away and disappeared into the winding and complex maze.

"Is it safe?"

Li Yi asked softly, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

Jiang Chuan listened intently for a moment, and only after confirming that there was nothing else amiss did he reply in a low voice, "It should be over, but we can't let our guard down. This place is too eerie."

The two exchanged a glance and decided to take this opportunity to find a way out as soon as possible.

They cautiously opened the door a crack, peered outside, and, confirming that the corridor had returned to calm, quietly slipped out and quickened their pace to continue along the passage filled with horrifying specimens.

"What... exactly are these experiments?"

Li Yi asked in a trembling voice, trying to avoid looking at the unsettling glass jars.

"That's definitely the unique feature of this haunted house!"

Jiang Chuan gave a brief answer, not wanting to dwell on the topic any longer, lest he exacerbate Li Yi's fear.

At the end of the passage was a staircase leading upwards, as if guiding them toward liberation.

Without hesitation, the two quickly and carefully went upstairs. With each floor they went, the atmosphere around them seemed to brighten a little, until they reached the top floor, where a rusty door came into view.

"This should be it!" Jiang Chuan said calmly, pushing the door open, but it wouldn't budge.

"It's locked?"

Li Yi became worried.

Jiang Chuan looked around and noticed an old control panel embedded in the wall next to him. It was covered in dust, but it still seemed to be working.

He gently brushed away the dust from the surface and tried pressing a few buttons.

Suddenly, with a "click," the door slowly opened.

The moment Li Yi saw the night sky, her body suddenly went limp.

Jiang Chuan quickly helped him up, saying, "Look, this haunted house trip really scared you!"

Li Yiqiang pretended to be calm, pouting, "No way, how could I be scared!"

"But where's the toilet?"

Jiang Chuan chuckled, "You said you weren't scared, but I bet you're about to pee your pants!"

Li Yi pretended to raise her fist to hit Jiang Chuan, "Say that again!"

Jiang Chuan quickly waved his hand, "I won't say anymore, you go to the restroom first, it's just ahead, wait for Wu Zhen and the others."

"it is good……"

Li Yi said shyly, then went to the restroom. Jiang Chuan smiled as he watched Li Yi's retreating figure.

However, this haunted house experience was definitely much scarier than the previous ones, perhaps because it borrowed some other elements...

But soon, Jiang Chuan spotted three figures in the distance.

Who else could it be but Wu Zhen, Zhong Huahua, and Tang, Song, and Ming?
Jiang Chuan slowly walked over and said hello.

Upon hearing the sound, the three turned around abruptly, and Wu Zhen immediately ran over and hugged Jiang Chuan.

"Waaaaah, I thought I'd never see you again!"

Jiang Chuan frowned. What kind of talk is this!

"what happened?"

Zhong Huahua raised an eyebrow dismissively, "Don't even mention it. Didn't the three of us just go into the haunted house too?"

"He had only gone through two doors when Wu Zhen came running out yelling!"

"Tang Songming and I lost interest and left immediately."

Zhong Huahua shrugged, while Tang Songming nodded vigorously, exclaiming, "Yes, yes!"

……

Jiang Chuan was both amused and exasperated, never expecting Wu Zhen to be so afraid.

"Damn, don't even mention it! Just think how bloody it was inside that operating room!"

"Aren't you two scared at all?"

"No, Tang Songming, let me hug you to calm my nerves." Wu Zhen said, running straight towards Tang Songming.

Tang Songming screamed, "No, no!"

"Men and women are not allowed to kiss each other!"

This scene made Jiang Chuan and Zhong Huahua burst into laughter.

"By the way, where is Li Yi?" Zhong Huahua asked, puzzled. She had only seen Jiang Chuan and hadn't seen Li Yi.

"I'm going to the toilet."

Jiang Chuan answered, and the others nodded. Soon, Li Yi appeared in everyone's sight.

“Li Yi…”

"here!"

As the crowd shouted, Li Yi skipped over, clearly no longer as frightened as before.

After the haunted house experience, everyone sobered up.

"We finally have a holiday, I want to do something else!" Wu Zhen suggested.

"But it's so late now, what can we still do?"

"Now basic infrastructure has to be shut down."

Zhong Huahua disagreed. It's so late, are we really going to go drinking?
She didn't want to drink it anymore.

Unexpectedly, Wu Zhen changed the subject, a smile playing on his lips.

"Hey hey, murder mystery game, wanna play?"

Murder mystery game script?

They were all taken aback. They weren't familiar with murder mystery games; they only knew about them online.

Then everyone shook their heads, indicating that they didn't know much about this murder mystery game.

Seeing this, Wu Zhen was furious!
"No, are you all cavemen?"

"You don't even know what a murder mystery game is!" "My god, don't tell anyone I'm Wu Zhen's friend!"

Wu Zhen clutched his head, feigning pain. These people didn't even know what a murder mystery game was! How pathetic!

However, this is a good opportunity for everyone to have some fun.

"Tonight we're playing a suspense game, not a horror game."

Wu Zhen suggested that, after all, most of the night had been spent in terror, and it was really making him feel nauseous.

If I play anything scary, I'm afraid I'll dream about ghosts and the like tonight...

Don't don't!

The group hesitated, after all, they didn't know what this scripted murder mystery game was, but from what Wu Zhen said, it seemed pretty good.
Li Yi looked it up on her phone to find out what this "scripted murder mystery" game was all about.

"In short, we need to play different people and decipher the mystery in a specific location?"

Wu Zhen immediately snapped his fingers. "Brilliant!"

"Don't you already know that?"

Li Yi picked up her phone and waved it in front of him.

"Um, I checked it on my phone right now."

Wu Zhen was speechless. "But it's okay, you'll know how to play once you read the script."

"I remember there's a murder mystery game venue not far from Happy Valley. Shall we go there now?"

"It's open 24 hours, let's go have some fun!"

The crowd echoed in agreement.

Following Wu Zhen's suggestion, the group decided to try this so-called "scripted murder mystery game".

Their steps were hurried, passing through the cool night air, and they arrived at a secluded alley on the edge of Happy Valley.

A dim lantern hangs at the entrance of the alley, and under its faint light, the four characters "Mist Script Club" appear and disappear, adding a touch of mystery to the small shop.

Pushing open the half-closed wooden door, a bell jingled softly, and a subtle fragrance, a blend of the scent of books and the aroma of wooden furniture, wafted out.

The store is decorated in a retro style, and the bookshelves are filled with all kinds of scripts. Each book seems to have its own story, waiting for explorers to uncover its secrets.

The shop owner was a middle-aged man wearing a dark vest and round glasses, whose eyes revealed wisdom and gentleness.

"Welcome everyone, I am the owner here, Mr. Ye."

"It seems you have been led here by the winds of fate, preparing to embark on an unknown journey?"

Mr. Ye's voice was deep and magnetic, and his smile seemed to be able to see into people's hearts.

The crowd was puzzled; were people who played murder mystery games talking so strangely these days?

The group nodded, and then Wu Zhen stepped forward with his chest puffed out. "That's right. We heard your place is quite fun, so we came to check it out."

"I heard you have a suspenseful murder mystery game here, is that right?"

Mr. Ye smiled slightly and pulled out an exquisitely bound script booklet from the bookshelf. The cover was printed with the title "The Secret of Misty Manor" in gold lettering.

"This book is perfect for beginners. It has the tension and excitement of suspense and reasoning, but it is not too scary."

"I think it's a great fit for you."

Mr. Ye clapped his hands lightly, and a side door slid open quietly. A young woman stepped out, wearing a black vest with a "DM" name tag on her chest and a confident smile on her face.

"Hello everyone, I'm your guide, Xiaoyou. Please take good care of me."

Xiao You's voice was clear and melodious, and her presence seemed to add a touch of formality to the game.

The group sat around a spacious long table, each with their own script in front of them.

Xiaoyou patiently explained the rules: "When reading, please try to immerse yourself in your own character. Remember, you are not just readers, but also participants in this story."

At Xiaoyou's signal, the five of them eagerly opened the script. Under the light, the rustling of the paper and the occasional sound of the wind coming from outside the window intertwined, creating an indescribable atmosphere.

"You only need to watch the first act."

As the first act ended, the five of them closed the script as agreed, their eyes sparkling with curiosity and excitement.

Xiaoyou encouraged, "Now, based on the information you just read, please introduce your role to everyone."

Jiang Chuan spoke first. His character was a down-on-his-luck detective, and his expression revealed a hint of melancholy.

"I am Zhao Yunfei, a once-glorious detective, but now my reputation is ruined because of a failed case. I came to Misty Manor to investigate an unsolved mystery, and at the same time to find clues to prove my innocence."

Li Yi's character is an elegant mistress of a manor, and her tone carries a hint of composure and arrogance:
"I am Su Mengyu, the current owner of Misty Manor. This manor holds too many secrets, including the glory and shame of my family. I invited you all here because I believe that only the truth can dispel the fog and bring everything back into the light."

Wu Zhen's character is particularly lively; he plays a young explorer whose eyes sparkle with a thirst for the unknown.

"Hi, I'm Lin Feng, an explorer full of curiosity about the world. I received a mysterious letter that led me to this manor, which is said to hold clues to a lost civilization. I've come here to unravel this mystery."

Zhong Huahua's character is a witty and insightful writer, whose smile hides a hint of cunning:
"I am Mo Yuqing, a bestselling novelist. The legend of Misty Manor inspired my writing, but my real purpose is to find the soul of my next work. Perhaps, solving the mystery here will bring a brand new life to my writing."

Tang Songming plays a seasoned lawyer, his tone calm and authoritative:
"My name is Qin Minghui, and I am an experienced lawyer. I have come here because of an unresolved case, hoping to find key evidence. At the same time, I am willing to use my legal expertise to help everyone here to clear their confused thoughts."

After the introductions, the five individuals, each with a distinct role, seemed to each carry a piece of a puzzle, waiting to be assembled into a complete picture.

Xiao You nodded in satisfaction: "Very good. Now you are no longer your real selves, but characters in the script. Remember, every detail could be the key to solving the case."

"Next, let's uncover the secrets of Misty Manor together."

"Now, our story officially begins."

Xiao You's voice, like a gentle breeze, dispelled the last trace of reality and completely immersed them in the eerie atmosphere of the Misty Manor.

The soft light spilled onto the long table, making the words on the script seem to come alive, guiding everyone into their own character's world.

An indescribable anticipation filled the air, as if what was about to be revealed was not just the secret of a game, but a mystery hidden in everyone's heart.

"The midnight bells echoed through the manor, and a sudden storm cut off communications within the manor, flooding all roads leading to the outside world."

"And you, trapped in this ancient mansion, are facing an unsolved mystery—the owner of the manor, Su Mengyu's grandfather, mysteriously disappeared after a banquet many years ago, and his whereabouts remain unknown to this day."

"Tonight is the perfect time to unveil this mystery."

Zhao Yunfei, the down-on-his-luck detective played by Jiang Chuan, frowned and looked sharp: "Since we are all trapped here, why not take this opportunity to unravel the secrets of this manor? Perhaps I can regain my reputation and help Miss Su clear her family's name of shame."

Su Mengyu, the manor owner played by Li Yi, gently stroked the old photo in her hand, a resolute glint in her eyes: "Detective Yunfei is right. Tonight, no matter how horrifying the truth may be, we must face it."

Lin Feng, playing the role of Wu Zhen, stood up, looked around, and said excitedly, "Everyone, this is not just about satisfying our curiosity; it's an adventure, an exploration of the unknown. How can we miss such an opportunity?"

Mo Yuqing, the writer played by Zhong Huahua, smiled mysteriously: "I always feel that every corner of the manor holds a story, and I long to be the recorder of these stories. Let us become witnesses to history together."

Qin Minghui, the seasoned lawyer played by Tang Songming, calmly organized the clues on the table: "Well then, let's begin, using logic and evidence to tear away the veil of mystery." (End of Chapter)