Losing Money to Be a Tycoon

January 25th, Tuesday…

At Shang Yang Games…

Ruan Guangjian entered the game again to experience Be Quiet properly once through.

Just like before, cries and screams of terror could be heard intermittently. However, everyone in Shang Yang Games was already used to this.

Ye Zhizhou and Wang Xiaobin mumbled between themselves.

"Big Boss Ruan is screaming much louder than before."

"Hmm, it looks like the improvements we made recently are quite effective."

Both of them looked at the decibel meter in front of them. The value kept fluctuating, but they recorded all the peak values.

Compared to the previous test, there was an obvious improvement this time.

After a while, everything went silent.

Ruan Guangjian's face was flushed, and he looked like he was bursting with life as he praised, "Good! The game finally plays like a horror game!

"I don't think any changes have to be made to the game's graphics. You just have to tie up some loose ends after this."

Everyone stood up one by one and clapped, feeling thankful.

During this period, Ruan Guangjian had helped them with the best he could. Not only had he changed the game's style entirely, but he had also given many suggestions to improve the gameplay.

The game's horror effects had only been passable at first. However, thanks to Ruan Guangjian's help, it was now outstanding!

What's more, Ruan Guangjian had made time to paint the shared phone booths and even contacted his friends to help out.

Everyone at Shang Yang Games appreciated Ruan Guangjian's efforts.

Although Lin Wan had already paid him enough, Shang Yang Games still felt like it owed Ruan Guangjian a huge favor.

"Alright, things here are done. I have to go back to Shanghai soon. I'll go back and organize the move, and then we'll celebrate the New Year.

"For all we know, my workspace would have moved to Jingzhou by then. Maybe we'll become neighbors!" Ruan Guangjian smiled.

Everyone began thanking him. Although they had not worked together for long, the employees at Shang Yang Games still could not bear to see Ruan Guangjian go.

After leaving Shang Yang Games, Ruan Guangjian retrieved his cell phone and called Boss Pei. He had to at least say goodbye now that he was leaving Jingzhou.

…

At that moment, Pei Qian had just seen Lin Chang off.

Both of them had agreed to wait until the horror game and the first cell phone were released before having Lin Wan dealt with. Then, they had a huge feast together to celebrate.

Pei Qian's cell phone began to vibrate.

"Eh?"

Pei Qian instinctively frowned when he saw Ruan Guangjian's number. He immediately thought about the shared phone booths!

However, no matter how angry he felt, he had to answer Ruan Guangjian's call. Otherwise, if he missed any news of a fatal back-stabbing, he would be in deep trouble.

"Boss Pei, I'm going to stay in Jingzhou to play for two more days before I return to Shanghai. Thank you for hosting me so well during this period. I know you're busy, and so I won't bid you farewell face-to-face.

"Once I move here after the Chinese New Year, us brothers can reunite and have some drinks!"

Pei Qian, "?"

What do you mean by 'move here after the Chinese New Year'? What do you mean by 'us brothers can reunite and have some drinks'?

Who said you could move your workspace here? Who said that we're brothers?!

Pei Qian was speechless. Ruan Guangjian and Teacher Qiao… the names of both of those enemies were written down in Pei Qian's little notebook, and yet they were acting so chummy with Pei Qian!

However, hearing that Ruan Guangjian was leaving, Pei Qian could not help but feel happy. After all, the bane of his existence was leaving. He could look forward to smoother days ahead, and he would not have to worry about being stabbed by a paintbrush anymore.

Yet, something was wrong!

Pei Qian quickly said, "Don't rush! I have something else for you! How about this? I'll pick you up from the hotel this afternoon. I want to give you a huge surprise!"

Ruan Guangjian sounded astonished through the phone. "Oh? A surprise? What surprise?"

Pei Qian sniggered. "It's a surprise… it won't be one anymore if I tell you what it is. Just meet me at the hotel lobby in the afternoon. I'll come and fetch you."

Ruan Guangjian did not ask any more questions. Instead, he just said, "Alright."

After hanging up, Pei Qian could not help but grin.

I almost let you slip away, brat!

Before this, Pei Qian had already confirmed something through the phone. After a month of pure hard work, three small containers for the second project of the haunted house were done.

Those small projects did not take up much space. Take the 'bathroom' for example. It only measured about ten square meters. All the game's content could be found in that cramped area.

What's more, they could work on multiple small projects at the same time. Thus, they had completed them quickly.

Although the third project would be the scariest in the Thriller Hostel, Pei Qian could not wait any longer. Ruan Guangjian was going to slip away. Pei Qian had to let him experience the Thriller Hostel; he could not let him walk away so arrogantly!

At that thought, Pei Qian called Chen Kangtuo.

"Prepare those three mini-projects for me. I'm going to bring a friend to experience them this afternoon. We have to scare him until he pees his pants!

…

…

In the afternoon, at the old industrial zones…

It looked like not much progress had been made on the construction of the Thriller Hostel for now. They had only picked out three factory buildings to commence initial works so far.

One of the factory buildings contained several shipping containers. That was where the second project would be located.

The old industrial zone was quite big. There would be a ticketing booth and surrounding shops in the future, but there was still no hint of those yet.

After all, only a month had passed since they had come up with the plan. Completing three mini-projects in that time frame was impressive enough.

Ruan Guangjian and Pei Qian alighted from the car and walked towards the factory building

"Boss Pei, if people weren't doing construction work here, I would have thought you were going to kill me and bury my corpse," joked Ruan Guangjian.

Pei Qian sniggered inwardly. Do you think I don't want to?

Ruan Guangjian looked around, confused. "Boss Pei, what exactly is the surprise you were talking about?"

Pei Qian kept him on tenterhooks. "Follow me, and you'll find out."

As they entered the factory building, Chen Kangtuo and Hao Qiong walked out to welcome them.

When Ruan Guangjian saw the project title 'Thriller Hostel', a realization dawned on him. "Oh, Boss Pei, is this going to be the new haunted house?"

Pei Qian smiled. "That's right! You said you didn't have fun at the haunted house when you came to Jingzhou. That's why I arranged for you to come here!"

Pei Qian was telling the absolute truth. Apart from wanting to incur losses, the second biggest reason that he had decided to create a haunted house was to regain the upper hand with respect to Ruan Guangjian!

Even Teacher Qiao had suffered when he had visited Jingzhou the last time. How could Pei Qian allow Ruan Guangjian to leave Jingzhou unscathed?

That would be unacceptable!

Ruan Guangjian's face drained of all color at once. "No, no, no! I can't! Boss Pei, farewell!"

He cupped his fists and turned to escape.

Pei Qian quickly grabbed him. "Don't do that. You're already here. You have to at least give it a shot, right?

"What's more, I created this haunted house especially for you. If you don't go in, wouldn't I have done this project in vain?"

No matter what Pei Qian said, Ruan Guangjian shook his head profusely.

"Boss Pei, I won't hide this from you. I think nothing of rollercoasters, pendulum rides, bungee jumping, and other extreme activities like that; but I fear haunted houses the most!

"How about this? Boss Pei, I'll treat you to bungee jumping. We can jump together…"

Ruan Guangjian suggested changing the battlefield so that he could play on his own strengths, but Pei Qian turned him down decisively.

"No way! Bungee jumping isn't fun at all!" Pei Qian shook his head profusely. "Trust me—this haunted house is way more fun!"

After a long time, Ruan Guangjian finally gave in and reluctantly agreed to try out the haunted house.

Before entering the haunted house, he intentionally made a trip to the restroom. He had not brought a change of clothes after all. What would he do if he wet his pants?

Chen Kangtuo handed the instructions for the project to Ruan Guangjian. "Boss, read this carefully. Once you go in, you have to make sure to complete all the requests on these instructions. Only then would you pass."

As if he was facing his biggest enemy, Ruan Guangjian stared intently at the instructions and memorized them. Beads of cold sweat began to form on his forehead.

Pei Qian stood by the side, cheering on Ruan Guangjian on the surface but celebrating on the inside.

Ruan Guangjian, Ruan Guangjian… you've met your fate!

You're immune to pendulum rides and bungee jumps, aren't you? You savored every second of the roller coaster rides, didn't you?

I'll fix you today!

Pei Qian knew very well that the third project of the Thriller Hostel would be the scariest. However, the second project was not that far off in terms of horror effects.

While the third project scared people using traditional methods like backgrounds, props, and actors; the second project scared people using psychological hints.

The visitor would be scared by his own thoughts, and his mental stress would only intensify. Throughout the experience, he would be functioning in his most nervous state. That level of fear was the scariest.

Pei Qian could hardly wait to see Ruan Guangjian run out of the container in fear, with tears flowing down his cheeks.

Soon, Ruan Guangjian memorized the requirements of the first mini-project. Then, he entered the corresponding shipping container.

The original plan was for visitors to enter multiple shipping containers by chance. They would have to memorize the requirements for all the shipping containers and then try to make it through at least three before they would pass this stage.

However, since the construction of the other shipping containers was not complete, Ruan Guangjian could only experience them one by one.

After Ruan Guangjian entered, everyone moved to the laptop next to the shipping container to look at the surveillance cameras' footage.

Chen Kangtuo hesitated and then asked, "Boss Pei, shouldn't we do a brief physical examination on him? This shipping container is quite scary. I've gone through it myself, and I was scared stiff."

Pei Qian shook his head. "I don't think that's necessary."

Ruan Guangjian was well and healthy. He could sit through roller coasters and pendulum rides without a problem. Pei Qian highly doubted that there were any health problems that they had to beware of.

At most, he would scream and shout inside the haunted house. If he started showing extraordinary reactions, Pei Qian would send one of the staff to rescue him. Nothing could go wrong.

"Er… Boss Pei, he's shaking," said Hao Qiong.

Through the monitor, they could clearly see Ruan Guangjian. Upon entering the container, he spent ten seconds trying to lock the door alone. Then, he spent another ten seconds picking up the red candle and switching off the lights.

He was probably trying to brace himself.

Pei Qian sniggered. "Is he trying to buy time? The slower he moves, the more scared he would become!"

There was no limit to how long one could stay inside the shipping container, and there was no need to set one.

The longer one stayed inside such a frightening environment, the more terrified they would become. The best strategy was to move as quickly as possible, finish the mission, and then get out.

People like Ruan Guangjian would probably be scared out of the container before they could even fulfill all the requirements.

"Ah!"

They heard a scream.

There was a high-definition infrared surveillance camera, as well as a loudspeaker and microphone inside the container. Thus, those on the outside could hear what was going on inside.

The scream had scared all of them.

Pei Qian only recovered from the shock after two seconds. "What did he see?"

Chen Kangtuo scratched his head, puzzled. "He didn't see anything. He just placed the candle in front of the mirror. He hasn't even covered his eyes.

"Did he scream after just seeing his own reflection in the mirror?"

Hao Qiong turned to Pei Qian, who was looking at the monitor expectantly. "Boss Pei, Big Boss Ruan seems very timid. Should we let him go?"

Pei Qian shook his head. "How can we? I believe he'll be able to conquer his own fears!"