Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Ge's haunted house is struggling financially, with low visitor numbers and negative reviews.
• Two employees resign, leaving Chen Ge short-staffed.
• The park manager warns Chen Ge about his overdue bills and gives him a few more weeks to improve.
• Chen Ge finds an old, mysterious phone in the attic that suddenly turns on, displaying a Haunted House app.
• The app claims Chen Ge is the new owner and gives him a cryptic message about suicide.

Character Developments

• Chen Ge is determined to keep his parents' haunted house running despite financial struggles.
• Xu Wan, a part-time actor, stands up for herself when harassed by tourists.
• Uncle Xu, the park manager, shows sympathy for Chen Ge's situation but warns him about the bills.

Significant Themes

• Perseverance in the face of adversity (Chen Ge's determination to keep the haunted house open).
• The struggle between tradition and modernity (the haunted house's struggle to attract visitors in a changing world).

Character Interactions

• Chen Ge interacts with Xu Wan, showing support for her after she's harassed.
• Chen Ge and Uncle Xu discuss the haunted house's financial situation, with Uncle Xu offering a brief extension.
• Chen Ge has a one-sided conversation with the app on the mysterious phone, expressing confusion and determination.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Ge discovers a mobile app on a phone left by his parents, featuring a game that mirrors his real-life haunted house.
• The game requires completing daily tasks to unlock horror scenes, attract more visitors, and expand the haunted house.
• Chen Ge attempts the Normal difficulty task: repairing all mannequin props before midnight.
• He completes the task and receives a reward: the original version of the banned song "Gloomy Sunday."
• At midnight, new daily tasks appear. Chen Ge considers attempting the Nightmare difficulty task to reveal whether ghosts exist.

Character Developments

• Chen Ge demonstrates decisiveness and determination in tackling the daily tasks.
• He shows resourcefulness and adaptability in completing the Normal difficulty task despite the tight deadline.
• Chen Ge's curiosity and courage grow as he contemplates attempting the Nightmare difficulty task.

Significant Themes

• The blurring line between reality and the game world.
• The consequences of curiosity and exploration.
• The struggle to keep the haunted house afloat financially and operationally.

Character Interactions

• Chen Ge interacts with the game app, which mirrors his real-life haunted house and presents daily tasks that he must complete in reality.
• He has no human interaction in this chapter, as he works alone to complete the task.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Ge accepts a Nightmare-level mission, which requires him to stand in front of a mirror in his haunted house's restroom, eyes closed, for half an hour without opening his eyes, no matter what happens.
• He prepares by setting up a camera to record the event and chooses the first-floor restroom for its confinement and heavy yin energy.
• As he begins the game, he experiences an unsettling feeling and notices something amiss in his reflection.

Character Developments

• Chen Ge demonstrates courage, curiosity, and determination in facing the unknown and accepting the Nightmare-level mission.
• He shows analytical skills and understanding of horror psychology, using these insights to prepare for the game.

Significant Themes

• The game explores themes of fear, uncertainty, and the unknown, as Chen Ge faces an eerie challenge in his own haunted house.
• It also touches on the power of suggestion and the mind's ability to create fear, as Chen Ge struggles to keep his eyes closed despite the strange occurrences.

Character Interactions

• Chen Ge interacts with himself through his reflection in the mirror, with the game blurring the line between reality and illusion.
• He also interacts with the unknown entity or entities that may be present in the restroom, although these interactions are implied rather than explicit.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Ge spends half an hour in the bathroom, facing a mirror, as part of a game.
• The environment becomes increasingly eerie, with strange sounds and a temperature drop.
• A worn-out doll, Chen Ge's first creation, appears in front of the mirror.
• Chen Ge finds a video recording of his time in the bathroom, showing his reflection behaving strangely.
• The mirror shatters, and the doll prevents something from coming out.

Character Developments

• Chen Ge demonstrates remarkable psychological resilience and calmness under pressure.
• He shows curiosity and determination to uncover the truth about his parents' disappearance.

Significant Themes

• The struggle between the living and the dead, or the conscious and the unconscious mind.
• The power of the past and childhood memories.
• The importance of caution and preparation in facing the unknown.

Character Interactions

• Chen Ge interacts with his past self (reflection) and the doll, which seems to protect him.
• He communicates with the unknown entity behind the mirror through his reflection.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Ge completes a Nightmare-difficulty mission, discovering that rewards can directly transform his body.
• He uploads a video of his mirror game experience to paranormal forums and a short-video platform, gaining significant attention.
• The next morning, Chen Ge finds scratch marks on the bathroom door and opens the Haunted House to find a queue of visitors.

Character Developments

• Chen Ge shows resilience and determination in facing the unknown and terrifying aspects of his new reality.
• He demonstrates strategic thinking by using the video to promote the House of Horrors.
• Xu Wan exhibits enthusiasm and excitement about the potential success of the Haunted House.

Significant Themes

• The power of fear and its impact on people.
• The potential dangers and rewards of exploring the unknown.
• The importance of adaptability and resourcefulness in facing challenges.

Character Interactions

• Chen Ge and Xu Wan interact briefly, with Xu Wan expressing her excitement about the Haunted House's growing popularity.
• Chen Ge's video attracts a mix of reactions from online users, ranging from curiosity and admiration to anger and fear.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Ge decides to use the Carousel scenario for the day.
• He applies makeup to Xu Wan using the Corpse Makeup skill, transforming her appearance significantly.
• The House of Horrors opens with a large crowd of angry but curious tourists due to Chen Ge's viral prank video.

Character Developments

• Chen Ge: Demonstrates unexpected makeup skills and knowledge, hinting at the influence of the mobile game on his reality.
• Xu Wan: Experiences a significant transformation in appearance, feeling both amazed and unsettled by her reflection.

Significant Themes

• The influence of the mobile game on Chen Ge's reality and skills.
• The power of makeup to transform appearance and evoke emotions.
• The impact of Chen Ge's viral prank on the tourists' perception of the House of Horrors.

Character Interactions

• Chen Ge and Xu Wan: Their interaction in the dressing room is tense yet intimate, with Chen Ge focusing intently on applying makeup while Xu Wan feels embarrassed and slightly afraid.
• Chen Ge and the tourists: The tourists are initially angry and threatening, but Chen Ge manages to turn their mood around by offering half-price tickets, showing his quick thinking and persuasiveness.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Ge opens his haunted house, but no tourists initially enter due to fear.
• A young man, He Shan, claims to have seen real corpses and isn't afraid, attracting a tall, composed woman, Gao Ruxue, who is a forensic pathologist.
• Chen Ge shares the backstory of the haunted house and its location on a former mass grave and abandoned hospital site.
• He Shan and Gao Ruxue enter the haunted house for the 'Ghost Marriage' experience.

Character Developments

• Chen Ge: Demonstrates his commitment to creating an immersive experience and ensuring the safety of his customers.
• He Shan: Proves to be a coward despite his initial bravado, hiding behind Gao Ruxue.
• Gao Ruxue: Shows no fear or hesitation upon entering the haunted house, displaying her composed and fearless nature.

Significant Themes

• Fear and courage: Explored through He Shan's initial boasting and later cowardice, and Gao Ruxue's fearlessness.
• The power of backstory: Chen Ge uses the haunted house's history to enhance immersion and anticipation.

Character Interactions

• Chen Ge and He Shan: Chen Ge tries to scare He Shan, while He Shan attempts to maintain his facade of bravery.
• He Shan and Gao Ruxue: He Shan relies on Gao Ruxue for support, highlighting their senior-junior relationship and his cowardice.
• Chen Ge and Gao Ruxue: They have minimal interaction, but Chen Ge is impressed by her composure.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Gao Ruxue and He Shan explore a Haunted House, with Gao being calm and curious, while He Shan is frightened.
• They enter the West Wing Room, finding signs of struggle and a paper-mache doll of a girl.
• They proceed to the main room, discovering a red coffin with paper dolls kneeling around it.

Character Developments

• Gao Ruxue: Initially calm and analytical, she begins to feel unease and acknowledges her fear, showing a crack in her psychological defenses.
• He Shan: Starts as timid and fearful, but gains confidence after Gao's explanation of the Haunted House's psychological tactics.

Significant Themes

• Fear and its psychological origins.
• The power of suggestion and imagination in creating fear.
• The unknown as a source of terror.

Character Interactions

• Gao Ruxue and He Shan: Gao, as the senior, tries to reassure He Shan and analyze the Haunted House's tactics. He Shan, initially fearful, gains confidence through her explanations.
• Gao Ruxue's internal dialogue: She acknowledges her fear and tries to understand its source, showing a rare moment of self-doubt.

Notable Details

• The Haunted House's design is meticulous, with hidden details and Easter eggs.
• The background music, "Gloomy Sunday," subtly influences the characters' emotions.
• The Haunted House uses negative psychological suggestions and the unknown to create fear.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The medical students, He Shan and Gao Ruxue, enter a room filled with eerie Paper Figures.
• They attempt to open a Red Coffin, triggering a loud bang and the appearance of a woman's face at the door.
• He Shan panics and runs into the West Wing Room, while Gao Ruxue is trapped in the main room.
• Gao Ruxue finds the West Wing Room empty, with only two Bronze Mirrors facing each other.

Character Developments

• He Shan: Shows cowardice and prioritizes his own safety over Gao Ruxue's.
• Gao Ruxue: Demonstrates bravery and analytical thinking, trying to find He Shan and solve the Haunted House's puzzles.

Significant Themes

• Fear and courage: He Shan's fear leads him to act irrationally, while Gao Ruxue faces her fears to find her friend.
• Psychological manipulation: The Haunted House's design plays on the students' fears and insecurities.

Character Interactions

• He Shan and Gao Ruxue: Their dynamic changes as He Shan's cowardice causes Gao Ruxue to take the lead in their escape.
• Gao Ruxue and the vengeful spirit: Though not directly interacting, Gao Ruxue's determination to find He Shan puts her on a collision course with the spirit.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Gao Ruxue enters the Ghost Marriage scene and encounters a frightening figure in the Bronze Mirror.
• She becomes trapped in the curtains, hears footsteps, and sees a woman in a wedding dress and corpse makeup behind her.
• Gao Ruxue screams and faints. He Shan, another tourist, also faints in the same scene.
• Chen Ge finds He Shan unconscious and brings him out. Gao Ruxue is helped out by Xu Wan.
• He Shan regains consciousness and recounts his experience with the Bronze Mirror.

Character Developments

• Gao Ruxue, initially confident and unafraid, is terrified by the Ghost Marriage scene and faints.
• He Shan, despite his initial bravado, also faints due to fear.
• Chen Ge demonstrates concern for the tourists' safety and takes immediate action when he learns of their fainting.

Significant Themes

• Fear and its psychological effects
• The power of suggestion and imagination in creating fear
• The contrast between confidence and actual fear

Character Interactions

• Gao Ruxue interacts with the ghostly figure in the mirror and the woman in the wedding dress.
• He Shan interacts with the ghostly figure in the Bronze Mirror.
• Chen Ge interacts with both Gao Ruxue and He Shan, assisting them after they faint.
• Uncle Xu interacts with Chen Ge and He Shan, showing concern for the tourist's well-being.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Ge's Haunted House gains unexpected popularity after two forensic science students, He Shan and Gao Ruxue, have extreme reactions to his attractions.
• He Shan reveals that the thing inside the mirror from the previous night's game might still be in the Haunted House.
• A crowd gathers outside the Haunted House, with some wanting to visit and others expressing fear.
• A middle-aged man and a young man buy tickets and post about their visit on social media to avoid being called cowards, leading to a surge in ticket sales.

Character Developments

• Chen Ge: Starts to understand the importance of balancing fear and entertainment in his Haunted House to attract and retain visitors.
• He Shan: Shows bravery by returning to the Haunted House despite his previous experience.
• Gao Ruxue: Struggles to accept her fear and seeks an explanation for her experience in the West Wing.
• The middle-aged man and the young man: Display cunning and social media savviness to save face and encourage others to visit the Haunted House.

Significant Themes

• The power of social media and peer pressure in influencing behavior and decisions.
• The importance of balancing fear and entertainment in creating an appealing Haunted House experience.
• The struggle to accept and overcome personal fears.

Character Interactions

• Chen Ge interacts with the crowd outside the Haunted House, trying to reassure them while also promoting his attraction.
• He Shan and Gao Ruxue interact with Chen Ge, seeking explanations for their experiences and expressing their concerns.
• The middle-aged man and the young man interact with each other and the crowd, using social media to save face and encourage others to visit the Haunted House.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Gao Ruxue, a student from the forensic college, visits the Haunted House and discusses the unique makeup and illusions with Chen Ge.
• Chen Ge discovers through surveillance footage that He Shan was controlled by a mirror monster before fainting.
• Chen Ge decides to temporarily cover all mirrors in the Haunted House and accepts a new trial mission from the Black Phone.

Character Developments

• Chen Ge: Shows determination to protect his Haunted House and its visitors from the mirror monster, accepting a new mission to gain rewards that might help.
• Gao Ruxue: Reveals her lack of social skills and preference for understanding the dead over the living.

Significant Themes

• The duality of reality and its reflection (mirrors).
• The consequences of accepting and completing missions from the Black Phone.
• The struggle between Chen Ge's desire to protect and his need to develop his Haunted House.

Character Interactions

• Chen Ge and Gao Ruxue: They discuss the Haunted House's illusions, with Chen Ge brushing off further discussion about the Corpse Makeup and Gloomy Sunday.
• Chen Ge and Xu Wan: Chen Ge warns Xu Wan about mirrors and helps her rearrange props in the Ghost Marriage scene.
• Chen Ge and the mirror monster: Chen Ge interacts with the mirror, trying to understand the creature within and decides to cover it.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Ge draws a rare item, the 'Cursed Love Letter,' from his phone, which is connected to a vengeful spirit.
• He receives a love letter woven from human hair, indicating the presence of a vengeful spirit.
• Chen Ge discovers he has two shadows, suggesting a vengeful spirit is attached to him.
• He learns about a trial mission at Ping An Apartment, where he must spend the night and find the hidden killer.

Character Developments

• Chen Ge becomes more paranoid and anxious due to the vengeful spirit and the trial mission.
• Xu Wan shows concern for Chen Ge's well-being and offers to help him.

Significant Themes

• Fear of the unknown and the supernatural.
• The consequences of curiosity and obsession.
• The struggle between human resilience and supernatural threats.

Character Interactions

• Chen Ge and Xu Wan's relationship deepens as they work together at the haunted house.
• Chen Ge receives messages from He Shan, warning him about potential trouble from upperclassmen at his school.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Ge prepares to stay in Ping An Apartment to complete the mission on the Black Phone.
• He discovers a missing person notice for Zhang Qing at the apartment entrance.
• Inside the apartment, Chen Ge meets two residents: a woman who refuses to open her door and a limping man who is the apparent landlord.
• A haggard middle-aged man, Wang Qi, enters the apartment, distributing missing person notices. He is shoved by the limping man and called a lunatic.

Character Developments

• Chen Ge shows determination and caution in preparing for the mission.
• The limping man is introduced as the landlord, displaying a rude and dismissive attitude towards Wang Qi.
• Wang Qi is revealed to be searching for his missing girlfriend, Zhang Qing, and is treated harshly by the limping man.

Significant Themes

• The theme of the supernatural and the unknown is reinforced as Chen Ge enters the haunted apartment.
• The theme of desperation and obsession is shown through Wang Qi's relentless search for his girlfriend.
• The theme of isolation and loneliness is evident in the dilapidated apartment and its inhabitants.

Character Interactions

• Chen Ge interacts with the limping man, who seems suspicious and unwelcoming.
• Chen Ge witnesses the limping man's rude behavior towards Wang Qi, hinting at potential tension and conflict between them.
• Chen Ge's brief encounter with Wang Qi raises questions about the latter's mental state and the true nature of his relationship with Zhang Qing.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Ge meets Wang Qi, the Lame Man, who appears exhausted and frail.
• Chen Ge rents Room 208 on the second floor of Ping An Apartment for 50 yuan per night.
• He hears a gurgling sound from the Lame Man's room and asks for water, but the Lame Man refuses.
• Chen Ge suspects the first and third floors are uninhabitable and wonders about the old man living with the Lame Man.
• He hears a commotion in the Lame Man's room and decides to investigate the other floors.
• The Lame Man catches Chen Ge at his door, claiming to have brought him water.

Character Developments

• Chen Ge: Becomes more suspicious and cautious, considering the Lame Man might be a murderous maniac.
• Wang Qi (The Lame Man): Reveals hostility and irritability, hinting at a troubled past.

Significant Themes

• Suspicion and paranoia: Chen Ge grows increasingly suspicious of the Lame Man and the apartment's secrets.
• Isolation: The apartment's remote location and the Lame Man's reclusive behavior contribute to a sense of isolation.
• Fear of the unknown: Chen Ge's uncertainty about the apartment's history and the Lame Man's true nature fuels his anxiety.

Character Interactions

• Chen Ge and Wang Qi: Their interactions are tense and guarded, with Chen Ge growing more wary of the Lame Man's behavior.
• Chen Ge and the Old Man: Chen Ge hears the old man's gurgling sounds but hasn't interacted with him directly.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Ge enters Ping An Apartment and meets four residents: a suspicious landlord, a mysterious woman, an irritable old man, and Wang Qi, who is posting Missing Person Notices.
• Chen Ge follows Wang Qi and learns about his fiancée's disappearance, which is connected to the apartment building.
• Wang Qi shows Chen Ge a text message from his missing fiancée, sent at 2 AM the previous day, containing only "Save me". The message disappears when he falls asleep.

Character Developments

• Chen Ge: He becomes more determined to uncover the truth about the apartment building and Wang Qi's fiancée, despite his fear of spirits.
• Wang Qi: He reveals his desperation and obsession with finding his fiancée, showing signs of sleep deprivation and emotional strain.

Significant Themes

• Despair and Obsession: Wang Qi's inability to accept his fiancée's disappearance leads him to a state of despair and obsession, affecting his mental state.
• The Unknown: The apartment building's dark history and the mysterious disappearances heighten the theme of the unknown and its potential dangers.

Character Interactions

• Chen Ge and Wang Qi: They bond over their shared experiences with missing loved ones, leading to an exchange of information and a sense of camaraderie.
• Wang Qi and the Landlord: Wang Qi's presence in the apartment building seems to be a source of irritation for the landlord, suggesting a history of tension between them.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wang Qi, a man searching for his missing fiancée, urges Chen Ge to leave Ping An Apartment.
• Chen Ge encounters a tall, thin man who warns him not to trust Wang Qi.
• Chen Ge discovers the third floor of the apartment building is not renovated and sees a mysterious figure.
• Chen Ge learns about the past of Fu'an Apartment and the unsolved murder of a family of four.

Character Developments

• Chen Ge becomes more suspicious of Wang Qi and starts to investigate the apartment building's past.
• The tall, thin man is introduced as a tenant who seems more normal than others but still has secrets.

Significant Themes

• The theme of truth and deception is emphasized, as Chen Ge tries to discern who is telling the truth about the apartment building's history.
• The theme of the past haunting the present is reinforced with the discovery of the unsolved murder case from five years ago.

Character Interactions

• Chen Ge interacts with Wang Qi, the tall, thin man, and the landlord, each encounter revealing more about the apartment building's strange atmosphere.
• Chen Ge's interactions with the tenants highlight the isolation and tension among the residents.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Ge discovers discrepancies between the apartment's owner and the landlord.
• He suspects the landlord is abusing the elderly tenant next door.
• The landlord suddenly turns off the TV and goes to bed early, making Chen Ge suspicious.
• Chen Ge contacts He Shan, a coroner, for help in analyzing the situation.

Character Developments

• Chen Ge demonstrates his analytical skills and determination to uncover the truth.
• He Shan shows eagerness to help Chen Ge, indicating a possible alliance.

Significant Themes

• Trust and deception: Chen Ge suspects the landlord of deceiving him and abusing the elderly tenant.
• Investigation and deduction: Chen Ge uses his reasoning skills to piece together clues and form theories.

Character Interactions

• Chen Ge eavesdrops on the landlord's apartment, trying to gather more information.
• Chen Ge communicates with He Shan via short-video messages, seeking his expertise.
• An unknown studio manager attempts to recruit Chen Ge, highlighting the competitive nature of the streaming platform.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Ge decides to livestream his experience in the haunted house to ensure safety, attract attention, and build his House of Horrors' reputation.
• He starts the livestream, titled "Spending the Night in a Haunted House! Personal Investigation! Uncovering the Unknown Side of This World for You!"
• Viewers start joining the stream, initially skeptical of Chen Ge's claims about the haunted house.

Character Developments

• Chen Ge demonstrates his determination and resourcefulness in using the livestream to his advantage, showing no signs of fear despite the dangerous situation.
• He Shan, Chen Ge's internet friend, shows concern for Chen Ge's safety and offers support.

Significant Themes

• The power of truth and personal experience in attracting attention and building a following.
• The contrast between the mundane world (He Shan's dorm room) and the supernatural world (Chen Ge's haunted house experience).
• The exploration of the unknown and the paranormal.

Character Interactions

• Chen Ge interacts with He Shan via phone call, updating him on the situation and seeking advice.
• Chen Ge engages with his livestream viewers, trying to convince them of the reality of his experience despite their initial skepticism.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Ge discovers he has a talent for storytelling and reconstructs the Massacre Case from years ago.
• He livestreams from a suspected murder house, Ping An Apartment, in Hanjiang City.
• He encounters six tenants with peculiar behaviors and appearances.
• Chen Ge finds evidence of a past fire in his room and suspects the killer might still be among the tenants.
• He decides to explore the third floor, which retains its original state from five years ago, to find clues.

Character Developments

• Chen Ge demonstrates his analytical skills and bravery by livestreaming from the suspected murder house and investigating on his own.
• The tenants of Ping An Apartment are portrayed as suspicious and abnormal.

Significant Themes

• The theme of truth vs. lies is explored through Chen Ge's deductions and the viewers' skepticism.
• The fear of the unknown and the unknown past is emphasized as Chen Ge investigates the third floor.

Character Interactions

• Chen Ge interacts with his livestream viewers, who provide comments and theories about the case.
• He suspects the tenants of Ping An Apartment, especially the Landlord, the Tattooed Man, the Short Fat Man, the woman on the first floor, and Wang Qi.
• The viewers suspect the Old Man in the wheelchair and the woman on the first floor.