I'm a Professional at Ruining the Mood

"Mm..."

After silently staring at the face inside the Refrigerator for quite a while, Bai Zhi reached out and took out the Poster Flyer with a face printed on it.

"Who the hell was so malicious as to put a Poster Flyer with a face on it inside the Refrigerator...? And how long has this Watermelon been sitting here? The smell of rotten Watermelon is practically like a can of Herring Can left baking in the Sunlight for an entire afternoon during the hottest days of summer..."

Because the power was out, the inside of the Refrigerator was quite a mess. Half of a completely rotten Watermelon lay crookedly inside, with a Poster Flyer printed with a face wrapped around it. At first glance, it looked just like a human face.

"A Supermarket Promotional Flyer from half a year ago... Is this a place that actually exists in the Real World?"

After briefly looking over the flyer, Bai Zhi pondered these matters as he casually folded it up and tossed it toward the Trash Can.

That simple action immediately made Night Owl, who had her eyes squeezed shut beside him, shudder.

"...Are you really that scared?"

Turning to look at the Girl clutching his arm tightly, Bai Zhi's mouth twitched slightly.

"W-Who's scared!? I-I'm just..."

"Oh, then can you let go of my arm? It's really inconvenient for me to move like this."

Bai Zhi cut her off without ceremony.

"..."

"Once, a Senior said something like this."

After waiting for ages without her loosening her grip—in fact, she held on even tighter—Bai Zhi rolled his eyes and aimed the Flashlight in his hand back at the Refrigerator, speaking in an offhand tone.

"No matter what difficulties we encounter, we must not be afraid. Face them with a smile. The best way to eliminate fear is to face fear. Perseverance is victory. Come on, Oli... Hm?"

As if noticing something, Bai Zhi reached out and pulled open the lower compartment. But when he saw what had been placed inside, his expression changed slightly.

Inside the lower compartment of the Refrigerator, a pair of hollow, lifeless eye sockets with the eyeballs gouged out stared straight at him.

—It was a Man's Head that had been placed there.

"W-What is it?"

Apparently sensing that something was wrong as well, Night Owl clung tightly to his arm and asked nervously without daring to open her eyes.

"Oh, nothing. There's just a head in the Refrigerator that someone cut off."

After replying lightly, Bai Zhi pushed the compartment shut again.

"!!!"

"This won't do. I suggest that after this mission, you go home and watch more Horror Movies every day. You'd better build up a tolerance as soon as possible."

Closing the Refrigerator door, Bai Zhi turned to Night Owl with an earnest expression.

"When I used to get bored alone at night, I'd look up a few Horror Movies online. Then, in less than half an hour, I'd feel like the Bed, the Wardrobe, under the pillow, and inside the Quilt were all full of people. I think you should give it a try."

"...I used to practice being brave."

After a moment of silence, Night Owl spoke faintly.

"To build my courage, a month ago, I confidently bought two Horror Movie tickets online and planned to invite someone to see a movie with me."

"And then?"

"When I was standing at the entrance of the Movie Theater, taking deep breaths and making mental Adjustment while feeling completely nervous, that bastard called and said he couldn't come because he wanted to play Games... That night, I fled before even finishing half the movie. I was scared all the way back to the Dormitory."

For some reason, Night Owl's words were filled with gritted-teeth resentment when she spoke of this.

"Mm... I have a question."

Bai Zhi raised a hand.

"Dump him!! What's the point of keeping that bastard who does nothing but hole up in an Internet Cafe playing Games all day!? Save him for setting off Firecrackers during New Year's!?"

"No, I wanted to ask, did you return the door you took to the Movie Theater afterward?"

Bai Zhi looked completely serious.

"???"

"Doors are expensive. I worked as a renovation worker for a while, so I have the most authority on this."

"...Then I wanted to watch Horror Movies in the Dormitory to improve my courage."

The corner of Night Owl's mouth twitched slightly as she pretended not to hear his question.

"To take it step by step, I specifically picked a Horror Movie I'd watched as a child, one that had become my Childhood Trauma. Since I'd seen it in elementary school and knew the plot, I thought it wouldn't be so scary."

"Then why are you still scared to death now?"

"I wasn't finished... After watching that movie, my Childhood Trauma successfully turned into college trauma."

"Hm? I do have a good idea."

As he swept the Flashlight over the other furniture and furnishings in the not particularly large Kitchen, Bai Zhi answered casually.

"Your method and posture for building courage are wrong. For example, when you watch a Horror Movie, why not try playing something festive, like Good Luck Come or Zhu Bajie Carries His Wife?"

"...Uh?"

"Right, I almost forgot about that... Hold this for a moment."

Patting his head, Bai Zhi handed her the Flashlight in his left hand, then pulled out a miraculous artifact that had long dominated public spaces from his Inventory. After turning the volume to maximum, he pressed the play button without hesitation.

"My love is the vast horizon~

Flowers bloom beneath the rolling green hills~

What kind of rhythm is the most, most swaying~

What kind of singing is the most joyful~"

In an instant, lively and impassioned Music Sound filled the entire Kitchen. Stimulated by the music, Night Owl finally opened her eyes, looking utterly dumbfounded.

"What is this...?"

"A Square Dance Auntie's Dedicated Speaker I specifically bought online. The battery lasts long, and it's loud enough!! Well? The moment the music starts, doesn't the whole atmosphere around you immediately feel different?"

Holding up the Square Dance Auntie's Dedicated Speaker, Bai Zhi nodded proudly.

"I loaded more than three hundred songs into it beforehand, all songs brimming with positive energy like this. Want to hear Zhu Bajie Carries His Wife or Good Luck Come?"

"...What exactly did you pack in your Inventory?"

Looking at the speaker in his hand, Night Owl's mouth twitched violently.

"Essential supplies. Don't you all prepare them? It's a pity that a Diesel Generator isn't something I can buy on short notice. Otherwise, I could have this Villa supplied with electricity right now."

Shaking his head, Bai Zhi looked regretful.

"Oh, right, just so you know, I've studied electrical work. I'm quite professional."

Night Owl: "..."