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“It’s already over?” Ah Cheng who stood at the front of the line stared at the worker dumbly, he almost swallowed the gum he was chewing, “But how can it already be over when we have not even started the readings? None of us has taken the stage yet!” When a person was delivered bad news, they would normally go through stages of disbelief, bargaining and finally acceptance. Ah Cheng was now in the first stage. He staggered a few steps forward which caused the worker to move away from him.

“The selected actor is Han Fei who took the stage earlier. To be honest, the director has already decided on his pick beforehand. Han Fei is the main reason Director Zhang is even in Xin Lu in the first place.” The worker said to console Ah Cheng, hoping that the man would not take offense. But when Ah Cheng heard the words of ‘consolation’, his face burned even redder.

“Didn’t you guys say that you’ll give blessing to whomever that is selected earlier?” Noticing the drawn expressions on the young actors’ faces, the worker quickly changed subject, “In any case… we’re closing down the theatre soon. Please leave if you have no other business here, we need to clean up the place already.”

“That’s impossible! Something must be wrong, why is it him? An unknown actor? One who has no talent at all?” Ah Cheng gripped the script tighter. He did not turn to look at his other colleagues, his face was purple like someone had given him several slaps.

“Ah Cheng, there are still many other opportunities out there…” Wu Li tried to comfort Ah Cheng out of sympathy but before he could say anything, Ah Cheng huffed and stormed out from the room. The other actors stared awkwardly at each other. Staying would not make things better so each of them made their own excuses and left the theatre.

…

Han Fei went on his merry way home. He couldn’t care less about the other actors in the waiting room, he worked hard for what he got. He did not owe anyone anything. ‘The pay for a big movie is definitely something else. After Director Zhang sent me part of the advancements, I should have enough to purchase the gaming hub.’

Being an actor was like gold mining. If you struck the motherlode, then congratulations. But before that? An extra’s salary might be lower than a normal convenience store worker. Furthermore, they had to work harder and be under greater pressure. Also not everyone would be rewarded for their hard work, therefore 90 percent of hopeful actors eventually left the business without making a blip on the scene. However, once your fame arrived, then everything would change, the most obvious being the income.

Han Fei was starting to taste the sweet fruit of success. The moment his name got on the actor’s ranking, his life changed. To be able to be a part of Director Zhang’s movie and play one of the main characters? Han Fei was practically skipping with joy as he headed home. However, all that joy evaporated the moment he crossed the door into his home.

Han Fei chuckled mirthlessly when his eyes landed on the gaming helmet on the table. “I can already envision tomorrow’s headlines. Rising actor found dead in his own home.”

As beautiful as his projected future was, he needed to be alive to enjoy it. Han Fei noticed that after he obtained the gaming helmet, his life did change like the game promised. He started to have anticipation towards tomorrow, he’d begun paying attention to live a better life.

‘Is it really as they say… You’ll never miss something until you have lost it. Many people spent their lives just slaving away through chores, but once that life was being given an expiration date, one would do everything to make every single second that much more meaningful.’ Reaching out to touch the sticker on the side of the helmet, Han Fei felt like his life had been intricately bound with this game. ‘Is there really a perfect life out there?’

The clock on the wall ticked away. Han Fei adjusted his emotions. He pulled out the layout of Yi Ming Private Academy’s infirmary from the internet and remembered every corner of that room. Ma Manjiang might still be there waiting for his return. Therefore, Han Fei planned to enter the infirmary, pull open the cupboard door and leave with Jin Sheng through the window the moment he logged into the game. Han Fei rehearsed the scenario many times in his mind until he could get every single step down to the minute details. Time passed until it was finally midnight.

After connecting all the wires, Han Fei put on the helmet. Blood descended!

The moment the robotic voice rang out to welcome him, Han Fei leaned his body to the right. The stinging smell of decay, the hair-rising presence of malice, the frost that came from his finger, all these stimuli came at once!

Without any hesitation, like he had practiced in his mind, Han Fei kicked the door to the infirmary down. He charged towards the cupboard where they stored the medicines. Since most medicine could not be exposed to direct sunlight, the cupboard was placed in the deepest corner of the room.

Almost the same time as Han Fei darted into the infirmary, several blood red arms slammed into his earlier position, causing thundering tremors. Blood splattered everywhere. Han Fei knew something was on his heel but he did not have the time to stop to examine his pursuer. For Han Fei, every second was invaluable!

Before the person attempted the second round of onslaught, Han Fei fired off like a bullet towards the cupboard. He gripped the handle and yanked the doors open!

“Jin Sheng!” Han Fei was betting with his life, he had no other choice. Then doors painted black were pulled open and when Han Fei turned to glance inside the cupboard, the system announced in his mind, “Notification for Player 0000! Since you’re in possession of Grade G Cursed Object, Jin Sheng’s Exercise Book, you’ve successfully triggered Grade F Manager Mission—Yi Ming Private Academy’s Patrolling Teacher.

“Yi Ming Private Academy’s Patrolling Teacher (Grade F Manager Mission): At the school, the teachers are the students’ caretakers. Your responsibility is to love and cherish every student while respecting their individuality. Help mold their moral, mind, and physique. While you carry out your duty, you have to murder anyone that aims to harm the students.

“Warning! Since the mission difficulty is too high for the player’s current level, the system will provide the player with additional hints!

“Warning! Each Manager Mission is manufactured and constructed from the previous manager’s memory and past, in other words, during this mission, you will enter the manager’s memory. There is no death penalty here but with each death, you will lose part of your own memory.

“Warning! Completing all the tales of horror at the school will greatly lower the manager mission’s difficulty. Jin Sheng’s tales of horror’s current completion rate: 4/7!”

When the robotic voice came, a wounded arm reached out from inside the cupboard. Han Fei instinctually reached towards it. Han Fei wanted to pull the boy out but to his surprise, the arm was much stronger than he expected. Han Fei was yanked forward and he tripped and fell into the cupboard. Before Han Fei hit the ground, he turned to look behind him.

Dragging endless malice behind him, the mad Ma Manjiang dominated the corridor. Mouths split on his body and they all roared at the cupboard.

It appeared like only those who possessed Jin Sheng’s Exercise Book could trigger the secret inside the cupboard. Ma Manjiang’s expression darkened as his heart tore open, showering blood everywhere. Just as the cupboard doors were about to close, a blue butterfly wreathed in resentment floated out from Ma Manjiang’s chest and fluttered into the cupboard alongside Han Fei.