Upon seeing the newcomer wanting to team up with the male player, everyone else fell silent.
Only the male player’s eyes brightened, and the anger on his face diminished significantly.
Among everyone, Jiang Xiuxiu was especially shocked.
She had just thought this newcomer had some courage, but now he seemed to be courting death.
In an escape game, forming a team meant more than just a verbal agreement between two people.
At the very least, after forming a team, most teams would have all members gather in one place, staying in the same room to rest.
In subsequent actions, considering mutual assistance, teammates would almost never leave each other's side.
The way Jiang Xiuxiu and Shu Xin acted separately in the first world was abnormal.
"Aren't you afraid something might go wrong by teaming up with him?"
Jiang Xiuxiu thought for a moment and couldn’t help but speak up to remind him.
After all, game slots were hard to come by.
Even if he couldn't clear the game, it was better to experience it longer.
It would be a pity to be eliminated just because of some reckless decision.
Seeing everyone watching him, the newcomer seemed unaware of the inappropriateness of his actions.
Hearing Jiang Xiuxiu’s question, he looked at her in confusion and asked, "Since no one wants to team up with him, why shouldn’t I team up with him? What’s the problem with that?"
Jiang Xiuxiu was speechless.
"It's not like that, it's just..."
"What's the problem with teaming up with me? What do you mean by that?"
Before Jiang Xiuxiu could finish her sentence, the male player’s face turned sour.
He glared at Jiang Xiuxiu with disgust and raised his voice, swearing, "Little girl, you’re so young, yet so mean-spirited. Watch your mouth and stop insulting others!"
The male player, who had finally found someone to team up with, immediately grabbed the newcomer, afraid he would run away.
The newcomer didn’t resist, just tilted his head and smiled innocently at Jiang Xiuxiu.
Jiang Xiuxiu was speechless.
Fine.
If someone insists on courting death, who can stop them?
Jiang Xiuxiu originally had nothing to do with the newcomer, so after being inexplicably scolded and seeing his attitude, she couldn't be bothered to remind him anymore.
Seeing the strange male player not causing any more trouble, and with nothing else happening there, the remaining players exchanged glances and soon left the corridor.
Without hesitation, Jiang Xiuxiu followed them.
Time was tight, and the more information she had, the safer she would be.
Therefore, she had to act quickly and not be delayed by irrelevant matters.
After the commotion caused by the male player, it was almost six o'clock in the evening.
After dispersing, many players went to the kitchen to find something to eat.
To ensure realism, players would feel tired and hungry after entering the game.
The game also provided food for players.
Even in deserted dungeons, there would be long-lasting food like instant noodles.
The source of the food was an aspect that could be selectively ignored by the game’s setting.
Jiang Xiuxiu, along with others, had a quick meal in the dining room.
Feeling a bit more energized, she decided to check the study while it was still early.
She had found some clues in the children's bedroom on the second floor earlier.
Since her intuition told her there was something off, she planned to investigate further.
Having already checked the children's room, she now headed to the study to see if there were any messages left by the couple.
With this in mind, Jiang Xiuxiu set off.
The study was on the second floor, not far from the bedroom.
Jiang Xiuxiu quickly found the entrance to the study, opened the door, and walked in.
Inside the study, she found two other players.
They were gathered around the study desk, reading the notes left by the couple.
Not wanting to disturb them, she moved a bit further away and focused on the bookshelves.
At the same time, she mentally organized the information she had gathered.
This family had a son and a daughter. The daughter was still there, but the son had gone missing.
According to the information, the son had been missing for quite some time.
He might have gone missing even before they moved in.
Interesting. Jiang Xiuxiu thought.
She was almost certain that this was a significant breakthrough.
Usually, people had specific reasons for buying a house.
Things like the house's size, price, location, or layout.
This mansion, while aesthetically pleasing and unique, was remote, desolate, and far from the city.
Moreover, according to the information provided by the system, it had been abandoned for a long time due to certain incidents.
Normally, no sane family would choose it as their residence.
Especially since the mansion was large and would cost a considerable amount to purchase.
So the motive for the couple choosing this house was intriguing.
Jiang Xiuxiu observed the mansion’s interior and the children’s toys.
She could confirm that the couple was not extremely wealthy but definitely well-off.
Jiang Xiuxiu had an idea.
She skimmed over the numerous books on the bookshelf, eliminating those obviously there for show, and categorized the remaining ones by type.
With her strong memory, she quickly completed the task.
Among the hundred-plus books on the shelf, at least half were about paranormal events and supernatural occurrences.
Seeing this, Jiang Xiuxiu squinted her eyes.
The mansion’s former owners were very superstitious.
She pulled out two books and casually flipped through them.
After a few minutes, she found that the content matched her expectations.
Many of these books were domestic publications, covering a wide range from ancient to modern times, filled with strange stories.
Stories about telepathy, southern Miao witchcraft, and even absurd tales of ghosts and gods.
Foreign books were even more diverse.
Some recorded famous mediums, others on how to raise Thai ghost children, and some on bizarre supernatural cases.
This couple was indeed fanatical.
Jiang Xiuxiu closed the book, somewhat surprised.
Based on other financial books, Jiang Xiuxiu sensed that the couple might have been well-educated.
Their strong belief in the supernatural was unexpected for Jiang Xiuxiu, who didn’t believe in ghosts or gods.
But seeing that some stories in these books were marked with a red pen, especially those about missing children, she began to understand.
Perhaps their obsession with supernatural methods was driven by the disappearance of their child.
Jiang Xiuxiu recalled a similar case from her hometown: an old woman whose husband died of illness and whose son’s family all died in an accident.
Afterward, the old woman became very superstitious, praying in temples every day, spending all her money.
The couple’s choice to live in the mansion might have been influenced by similar factors.
But what exactly was the factor?
What happened to the mansion long ago that led to its abandonment?
“Big sister, can you help me get that book on the top shelf?”
Jiang Xiuxiu’s deep thoughts were interrupted by a soft, familiar voice behind her.
Get a book?
Without thinking, Jiang Xiuxiu nodded and was about to ask which one.
Then, as she opened her mouth, she suddenly froze.
Wait, what did this person call her?
Big sister?
But who in this batch of players would call her big sister?
She was basically the youngest.
Jiang Xiuxiu’s heart pounded, her palms sweaty.
Was the presence behind her a player or a ghost?
“Big sister, please help me get that book on the top shelf.”
A chilling sensation crept from her back to her ears.
The voice became clearer, matching the one that questioned her at the mansion's entrance.
"You nodded. You can hear me, right?"
Though phrased as a question, the voice was confident.
Hearing this, Jiang Xiuxiu’s heart sank slightly.
Though she hadn’t verbally responded, her nod was a mistake.
Unlike at the mansion’s entrance, her nod now meant the ghost child wouldn't leave due to her silence.
It had latched onto her.
“Help me get that book, the one on the top shelf.”
Seeing Jiang Xiuxiu unresponsive, the child's eerie voice repeated persistently.
Jiang Xiuxiu took a deep breath, clenching her teeth, remaining silent.
Meanwhile, her mind raced, seeking a way out.
She recalled the ghost child at the mansion entrance asking about its ball.
The male player’s response of “no” had led to his capture by the ghost children.
Just now, despite her nod, nothing happened, implying it wasn't a complete response.
So, her nod might not count as a full response.
Considering this time, the ghost child asked her to get a book from the top shelf.
A full response likely meant retrieving the book.
As long as she didn’t respond or fetch the book, she might survive.
With this realization, Jiang Xiuxiu relaxed a bit.
She could stand there for hours, waiting for the ghost to leave.
While Jiang Xiuxiu clung to this hope, the ghost child behind her let out an eerie laugh.
“You nodded,” it said coldly, “You agreed.”
“If you agreed, why aren’t you getting the book?”
A sharp rebuke was followed by a cold sensation in her fingers.
It felt like something unseen was holding her hand.
The intense cold spread through her bones, and within moments, she lost all feeling in her hands.
What’s happening to her hands?
Jiang Xiuxiu's heart skipped a beat, a sense of foreboding rising within her.
The next second, she found her hands moving uncontrollably.
Jiang Xiuxiu’s eyes widened as her hands, seemingly under an external force, extended toward the top shelf of the bookcase.
No, she couldn’t get that book!
Just as she tried to step back, she found the ghost blocking her path, an invisible force preventing her from moving.
What should she do?
In a flash of inspiration, Jiang Xiuxiu bent her legs slightly.
The next moment, her outstretched hands were blocked by the shelf.
The ghost child was speechless.
The ghost child let out an angry scream.
“Get the book! Get the book for me!”
Unexpectedly thwarted, it began to shake Jiang Xiuxiu’s hands furiously.
But no matter what, her hands couldn’t reach the top shelf.
Though just a couple of centimeters away, it felt like an insurmountable gap.
Meanwhile, with the book so close yet out of reach, Jiang Xiuxiu felt relieved.
She stood firmly, her posture unaffected by the ghost’s attempts to move her hands.
For the first time, she was genuinely grateful to her parents and all the snacks she had eaten.
Being short indeed had its advantages.