Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• The tourists split up after entering the Haunted House, with Dou Menglu running into Chen Ge.
• Dou Menglu hides in Restroom 304 after encountering a terrifying figure and calls for help, but ends up talking to an unfamiliar voice.
• Chen Ge finds Dou Menglu in the restroom and helps her, then retrieves the other tourists: Wang Hailong, Xia Meili, and Pei Hu.

Character Developments

• Dou Menglu: Initially confident and sexy, she becomes terrified and disheveled after encountering a horrifying figure.
• Wang Hailong: Faints due to fear when he encounters the Pen Spirit.
• Xia Meili: No significant development in this chapter.
• Pei Hu: Despite being the most timid, he remains relatively calm and clear-headed throughout the experience.

Significant Themes

• Fear and its impact on individuals.
• The power of foresight, as demonstrated by the Pen Spirit.

Character Interactions

• Chen Ge interacts with each tourist, helping them and providing reassurance.
• Dou Menglu and an unknown person have a brief, unsettling phone conversation.
• Pei Hu guides Chen Ge to the final scare point.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Ge enters the Muyang Middle School scenario to rescue Wang Wenlong.
• He discovers that the Withered Well contains Fan Yu's parents, who are lingering obsessions, not malicious ghosts.
• Chen Ge successfully rescues Wang Wenlong and the others, and they exit the scenario.
• Outside the Haunted House, the tourists are shocked by the state of the survivors.
• Chen Ge explains and promotes the grading of horror scenarios to the tourists.

Character Developments

• Wang Wenlong is severely traumatized by his experience in the scenario and has difficulty walking afterward.
• Chen Ge demonstrates his commitment to protecting tourists and ensuring a safe experience, despite the extreme terror of his scenarios.

Significant Themes

• The importance of following rules and guidelines for a safe and enjoyable experience in the Haunted House.
• The different levels of fear tolerance among individuals.
• The revitalization of the Haunted House's appeal through the grading system.

Character Interactions

• Chen Ge helps Wang Wenlong and the others out of the scenario, showing concern for their well-being.
• A muscular man with a wolf head tattoo confronts Chen Ge about the state of his friends but is ignored by Wang Wenlong.
• Chen Ge addresses the tourists, explaining the grading system and the importance of following the rules.

Summary of Chapter 3: Who Speaks First

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Ge introduces a grading system for horror scenarios to protect tourists from excessive fright.
• Wang Hailong and his friends, who previously fainted in the haunted house, are now conscious but shaken.
• Chen Ge installs surveillance cameras in the underground parking lot due to unease about the new scenario.
• The Wang brothers approach Chen Ge, revealing their younger brother's sudden mutism and a chilling encounter in the haunted house.

Character Developments

• Chen Ge demonstrates his commitment to safety and customer satisfaction by implementing the grading system.
• Wang Hailong and his friends show remorse for their earlier recklessness and seek Chen Ge's understanding.
• The Wang brothers' younger brother, Wang Shenglong, is introduced, revealing his sudden mutism and a terrifying encounter.

Significant Themes

• The importance of safety and responsibility in the entertainment industry.
• The consequences of underestimating the power of fear and the supernatural.
• The theme of family and the impact of a family member's sudden illness or misfortune.

Character Interactions

• Chen Ge and Uncle Xu discuss the grading system and the installation of surveillance cameras.
• Chen Ge interacts with the Wang brothers, who share their younger brother's terrifying experience in the haunted house.
• Chen Ge shows understanding and empathy towards the Wang brothers, acknowledging their concern for their younger brother.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wang Hailong shares his brother's drawing, depicting a monster standing on a child's shoulders, which resembles a scene from Chen Ge's Haunted House.
• Chen Ge learns that Wang Shenglong, Hailong's brother, was first treated at Han Jiang's Third Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center, with his ward referred to as the 'Third Ward.'
• Chen Ge offers to help Wang Hailong and Wang Wenlong visit Wang Shenglong that night, playing the card of knowing Dr. Gao, a renowned psychiatrist.

Character Developments

• Wang Hailong: Becomes more desperate to find answers about his brother's condition, leading him to seek help from Chen Ge.
• Chen Ge: Shows empathy and willingness to help Wang Hailong, despite his initial reluctance due to the potential closure of his Haunted House.

Significant Themes

• Fear of the unknown: Wang Hailong's fear of the monster in his brother's drawing and his uncertainty about his brother's condition.
• The power of imagination: Chen Ge's use of 4D technology to create realistic experiences in his Haunted House, blurring the line between imagination and reality.

Character Interactions

• Wang Hailong and Chen Ge: Wang Hailong persists in questioning Chen Ge about the monster in his brother's drawing, while Chen Ge tries to redirect him towards professional help.
• Wang Hailong and Wang Wenlong: The brothers share their concerns and fears about Wang Shenglong's condition, with Wang Wenlong supporting his older brother's decision to seek help from Chen Ge.
• Chen Ge and the Longhu Workshop: Chen Ge receives a business card from Wang Hailong, hinting at the brothers' underworld connections.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Ge learns that Wang Hailong and his brother are going to Haiming Apartment, where Chen Ge had previously encountered a monster.
• Chen Ge realizes that Wang Haiming and Wang Shenglong might both have monsters from the Third Ward inside them, with the one in Wang Shenglong potentially being a Specter.
• Dr. Gao tells Chen Ge that Men Nan has three personalities, one of which is a child-like personality that amplifies Men Nan's talent for personality psychology.
• Chen Ge and Dr. Gao decide to go to Haiming Apartment together to investigate Wang Shenglong's condition.

Character Developments

• Chen Ge becomes more determined to help Wang Shenglong, given the potential danger and the possibility of encountering a Specter.
• Dr. Gao shows appreciation for Chen Ge's dedication to helping patients, considering him a rare psychology enthusiast who acts practically for patients' sake.

Significant Themes

• The theme of psychological trauma and its effects on the mind continues, with Men Nan's three personalities and Wang Shenglong's possible monster highlighting the complexity of mental illnesses.
• The theme of courage and determination is emphasized as Chen Ge decides to face the potential danger at Haiming Apartment to help Wang Shenglong.

Character Interactions

• Chen Ge interacts with the Wang brothers, learning about their plan to visit Haiming Apartment.
• Chen Ge calls Dr. Gao to discuss Men Nan's condition and ends up inviting Dr. Gao to join him at Haiming Apartment.
• Dr. Gao expresses his admiration for Chen Ge's dedication to helping patients, leading to a mutual understanding between them.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Ge names the White Cat 'White Tiger' and buries its kittens, which helps the cat accept its loss.
• Chen Ge installs surveillance cameras in the Muyang Middle School scenario.
• Chen Ge, Dr. Gao, and Wang Hailong visit Wang Shenglong, who is suffering from a mysterious illness, at Haiming Apartment.

Character Developments

• Chen Ge demonstrates empathy and understanding towards the White Cat, showing his compassionate side.
• Wang Shenglong is revealed to be a patient with a mysterious illness that affects his speech and mobility.

Significant Themes

• The acceptance of loss and change, as seen through the White Cat's reaction to the burial of its kittens.
• The struggle between the desire for thrills and the fear of the unknown, as seen in the tourists' reaction to the new two-star scenario.

Character Interactions

• Chen Ge and the White Cat begin to build a bond, with the cat showing less hostility towards him.
• Dr. Gao and Wang Hailong form a connection due to their shared profession and experiences.
• Wang Shenglong's father shows deep concern and love for his son, despite the latter's condition.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wang Shenglong's father observes Dr. Gao and Chen Ge interacting with his son, hoping they can help him.
• Dr. Gao and Chen Ge enter Wang Shenglong's room; Wang Shenglong reacts negatively to Chen Ge's presence.
• Dr. Gao converses with Wang Shenglong, learning about his past and current state, while Chen Ge listens.
• Dr. Gao discusses Wang Shenglong's condition with his family, emphasizing the need to address his physical health first.
• Chen Ge tries to engage Wang Shenglong about his experiences in the Third Ward, but Wang Shenglong reacts aggressively.

Character Developments

• Wang Shenglong: Shows fear and aggression towards Chen Ge, hinting at a dark past involving the Third Ward.
• Dr. Gao: Demonstrates excellent communication skills and empathy, helping Wang Shenglong open up about his experiences.
• Chen Ge: Persistent in helping Wang Shenglong, despite the latter's hostility; senses something unusual about Wang Shenglong's smell.

Significant Themes

• The struggle between the desire for help and the fear of revisiting painful memories.
• The importance of addressing both physical and mental health issues.
• The theme of monsters, with Wang Shenglong suggesting that they are all monsters in some way.

Character Interactions

• Dr. Gao and Wang Shenglong: A harmonious conversation, with Dr. Gao skillfully drawing out Wang Shenglong's past experiences.
• Chen Ge and Wang Shenglong: Tense and hostile, with Wang Shenglong reacting aggressively to Chen Ge's questions about the Third Ward.
• Dr. Gao and Wang Shenglong's family: Collaborative, with Dr. Gao providing guidance and the family expressing their concerns and hopes for Wang Shenglong's recovery.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Ge and Dr. Gao visit Wang Shenglong's home for treatment.
• Wang Shenglong secretly draws a monster on his shoulder, hinting at his internal struggle.
• Chen Ge discovers a photo of Men Nan and his mother in Room 304.
• Liu Dao informs Chen Ge that Qin Guang will livestream from Muyang Middle School the next night.

Character Developments

• Wang Shenglong: Reveals his inner turmoil through his drawings, suggesting he's acting against his will due to the monster on his shoulder.
• Chen Ge: Realizes the importance of Wang Shenglong's drawings and decides to investigate further.
• Dr. Gao: Shows professionalism in noticing Wang Shenglong's abnormal behavior and understanding the complexities of patient-family relationships.

Significant Themes

• The struggle between one's true self and external influences (represented by the monster on Wang Shenglong's shoulder).
• The importance of family and their role in supporting patients with mental health issues.
• The dangers of imitation and the consequences of following others too closely (as seen in Qin Guang's actions).

Character Interactions

• Chen Ge and Dr. Gao: Work together to uncover Wang Shenglong's secret and help Men Nan.
• Wang Shenglong and his family: Their dynamic is revealed to be caring and supportive, despite Wang Shenglong's hidden struggles.
• Chen Ge and Qin Guang: Their indirect interaction highlights the risks of imitation and the potential dangers of Qin Guang's actions.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Ge advises Liu Dao to warn Qin Guang about plagiarizing his ideas, which could lead to serious consequences.
• Chen Ge discovers the White Cat and Xiao Xiao in the staff lounge, indicating they've started to coexist.
• Chen Ge completes two out of three daily tasks issued by the Black Phone: updating the haunted house's information and drafting new safety protocols. However, the task to inspect safety hazards is not marked as complete.

Character Developments

• Chen Ge shows concern for Qin Guang's safety and the lives involved in his livestreams, despite their competitive relationship.
• The White Cat and Xiao Xiao begin to tolerate each other, suggesting a change in their dynamic.
• Chen Ge demonstrates his dedication to maintaining the safety of the haunted house and its visitors.

Significant Themes

• Competition and rivalry (Chen Ge vs. Qin Guang)
• Coexistence and tolerance (White Cat and Xiao Xiao)
• Responsibility and safety (Chen Ge's commitment to the haunted house)

Character Interactions

• Chen Ge interacts with Liu Dao over the phone, discussing Qin Guang's plagiarism and their upcoming collaboration.
• Chen Ge discovers the White Cat and Xiao Xiao together in the staff lounge, indicating a shift in their relationship.
• Chen Ge interacts with the Black Phone, completing tasks and trying to understand the unmarked safety hazard.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Ge prepares for his livestream trial mission into the Third Ward, listing necessary items.
• Dr. Gao calls Chen Ge at 2 AM, revealing Wang Shenglong's past and the Third Ward's history.
• Dr. Gao shares details about the nine patients in the Third Ward, including Wang Shenglong, a woman with Dorian Gray Syndrome, and an empty Room 3.

Character Developments

• Chen Ge demonstrates increased caution and preparation for the upcoming trial mission.
• Wang Shenglong's past is revealed, showing his aggressive behavior and involvement in a homicide at the Third Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center.

Significant Themes

• The theme of danger and isolation is reinforced with the revelation of the Third Ward's history and its patients.
• The concept of curiosity and the desire for knowledge is highlighted as Chen Ge presses Dr. Gao for more information.

Character Interactions

• Chen Ge interacts with Dr. Gao over the phone, with Dr. Gao sharing crucial information about the Third Ward and its patients.
• Chen Ge's determination to explore the Third Ward is strengthened by the new information, hinting at potential interactions with the patients within.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Ge learns about nine patients from the Third Ward, each with unique mental disorders.
• Patient in Room 10, with Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, is considered the most dangerous.
• Chen Ge plans to livestream in the Third Ward and prepares by buying a pig-slaughtering knife for protection.

Character Developments

• Chen Ge demonstrates curiosity and bravery in exploring the Third Ward despite the dangers.
• Dr. Gao shows concern for Chen Ge's safety and provides information about the patients.

Significant Themes

• The exploration of mental illness and its various manifestations.
• The theme of curiosity and its consequences, as Chen Ge delves into the unknown despite warnings.

Character Interactions

• Chen Ge interacts with Dr. Gao over the phone, discussing the patients and their conditions.
• Chen Ge communicates with a pork seller to purchase a knife for protection, highlighting his determination to proceed with the livestream.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Ge tries to buy a slaughtering knife from a butcher but is refused.
• He meets a young man who sells him an old, unlucky slaughtering knife.
• Chen Ge draws two items from the Horror Roulette: White Valentine Candy and Crying Cassette.

Character Developments

• Chen Ge shows determination in his mission and curiosity about the items he draws.
• The young man is rebellious and seems to have a troubled family life.

Significant Themes

• Luck and fate, as seen in the roulette draws and the unlucky knife.
• The consequences of violence and harshness, as seen in the butcher's family.

Character Interactions

• Chen Ge interacts with the butcher and the young man, showing empathy and understanding.
• The butcher and the young man have a tense interaction, showing their strained relationship.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Ge finds a cassette tape in his backpack, likely containing a ghost.
• He prepares for the Third Ward trial mission, gathering tools, salt, and even the Pen Spirit.
• The Pen Spirit predicts a dangerous encounter with no hope of survival, but also hints at a possible turning point.
• Chen Ge accepts the Third Ward trial mission and is picked up by Liu Dao to go to the Third Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center.

Character Developments

• Chen Ge shows determination and thorough preparation for the upcoming mission.
• The Pen Spirit, though reluctant, is included in Chen Ge's plans.

Significant Themes

• Preparation and determination in facing danger.
• The uncertain nature of predictions and their potential turning points.

Character Interactions

• Chen Ge interacts with Liu Dao, who shows support and provides transportation to the mission location.
• Chen Ge communicates with the Pen Spirit, trying to gain insights into the upcoming mission.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liu Dao drives Chen Ge to the Third Hospital's location, which is isolated and surrounded by woods.
• They meet the studio team: Zhang Ping and Sister Li, who are skeptical about Chen Ge's abilities.
• Chen Ge is briefed about the hospital's history and strange occurrences.
• He prepares for the livestream, bringing unusual items like a rooster, a ragdoll, and a white cat.

Character Developments

• Chen Ge: He remains calm and collected, showing no signs of nervousness about his first solo livestream. His unique perspective on horror and suspense is hinted at.
• Liu Dao: He believes in Chen Ge's potential and is willing to invest in him despite the risks.
• Zhang Ping & Sister Li: They are initially skeptical of Chen Ge's abilities and worry about the potential backlash from Qin Guang, a rival streamer.

Significant Themes

• Belief and Trust: Liu Dao believes in Chen Ge's unique charm and potential, while Zhang Ping and Sister Li are initially skeptical.
• Preparation vs. Improv: Chen Ge is encouraged to improvise during the livestream, relying on his understanding of the hospital's history rather than a script.

Character Interactions

• Liu Dao & Chen Ge: Liu Dao shows faith in Chen Ge, while Chen Ge appreciates Liu Dao's support and understanding of his approach to horror.
• Zhang Ping & Sister Li vs. Chen Ge: The duo is initially wary of Chen Ge's abilities and worried about the potential consequences of supporting him. They size him up and express their concerns to Liu Dao.
• Chen Ge & The Studio Team: Chen Ge remains unfazed by their skepticism and prepares for the livestream with determination.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Ge and Liu Dao's team visit the psychiatric hospital during the day.
• Chen Ge decides to stream inside the hospital at night.
• Chen Ge discovers strange sentences with names written on the hospital walls.
• Chen Ge enters the Third Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center.

Character Developments

• Chen Ge shows determination and courage, willing to explore the dangerous hospital for his stream.
• Liu Dao exhibits concern for Chen Ge's safety, providing him with information and advice.
• White Cat, Chen Ge's cat, displays sensitivity to unclean things, reacting hostilely to the hospital's environment.

Significant Themes

• Mental Illness and Fear: The hospital setting and the strange sentences on the walls evoke fear and unease, reflecting the theme of mental illness and its associated fears.
• Courage and Determination: Chen Ge's decision to enter the hospital despite the dangers highlights his courage and determination.

Character Interactions

• Chen Ge and Liu Dao interact, with Liu Dao providing information and Chen Ge showing appreciation for his help.
• Chen Ge and White Cat interact, with Chen Ge showing concern for White Cat's safety and White Cat reacting to the hospital's environment.
• Chen Ge interacts with his audience through his stream, responding to their comments and sharing his thoughts and feelings.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Ge enters the Third Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center, exploring the First Ward.
• He discovers an iron gate forced open and a strange stench reminiscent of Wang Shenglong.
• Inside the First Ward, he finds insect carcasses, narrow patient rooms, and a nurse's station with two iron cages, one containing a fresh, unplucked duck.

Character Developments

• Chen Ge shows increased caution and analytical skills, noticing details and deducing that someone else might be present in the hospital.
• The White Cat exhibits unusual behavior, jumping onto Chen Ge's shoulder, possibly sensing something amiss.

Significant Themes

• Isolation and despair, as evident in the cramped living conditions of the patients.
• The unknown and the uncanny, with the discovery of the iron cages and the fresh duck adding to the mystery and unease.

Character Interactions

• Chen Ge interacts with his viewers through his livestream, trying to engage them while also seeking their input and support.
• The White Cat interacts with Chen Ge, showing a level of trust or dependence by jumping onto his shoulder.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Ge finds a freshly killed duck in an iron cage, with signs of human-like struggle and two bowls, one with water and one with rat poison, outside the cage.
• He discovers bloodstains and claw marks on the wall, leading to the second floor.
• The iron gate of the First Ward is found locked, with a new lock and brace.
• Chen Ge finds hair taped under the counter in the nurse station and hears White Cat hissing at something unseen.

Character Developments

• Chen Ge becomes more cautious and aware of the danger posed by living people in the abandoned psychiatric hospital.
• He decides to continue the live stream despite being trapped, determined to complete his trial mission.

Significant Themes

• The danger and unpredictability of the abandoned psychiatric hospital, now including living people.
• Chen Ge's determination and resilience in facing challenges and completing his mission.

Character Interactions

• Chen Ge receives a call from Liu Dao, who advises him to interact more with viewers.
• White Cat behaves protectively towards Chen Ge, hissing at an unseen threat.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Ge hears a noise and investigates, finding no one but discovering hair nailed to a board in the nurse station, belonging to four different people.
• He finds a message written on the board: Everything you have done to me, I will return to you.
• The White Cat alerts Chen Ge to a presence above him, and he sees a distorted face at the third-floor window.
• Chen Ge enters the Second Ward, finding it better maintained than the First Ward but with strange, gloomy rooms. He discovers a Small Assembly Hall with a boarded-up window and an enlarged Black and White Photo of a fierce-looking Female Nurse.

Character Developments

• Chen Ge demonstrates courage and caution, using the White Cat's reactions to gauge danger levels and investigating the hospital despite the risks.
• The White Cat continues to show sensitivity to supernatural presences, alerting Chen Ge to the person above him.

Significant Themes

• The theme of resentment and revenge is reinforced as Chen Ge finds the message on the board and the photo in the assembly hall.
• The theme of the unknown and hidden danger is present, as Chen Ge encounters the distorted face and explores the eerie Second Ward.

Character Interactions

• Chen Ge interacts with the White Cat, trusting its instincts and following its lead.
• Chen Ge encounters the unknown presence, which he believes to be human but with a distorted face.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Ge discovers a locked corridor between the Second and Third Wards, with a foul odor emanating from the Third Ward.
• He finds a locked room on the third floor of the Second Ward, which turns out to be a laundry room filled with dirty clothes and bedsheets.
• Hidden beneath the bedding, he finds three iron cages containing living people: a young woman, an old man, and a middle-aged man.

Character Developments

• Chen Ge demonstrates his cautious and analytical nature, carefully observing and considering the situation before acting.
• The young woman in the cage shows signs of distress and instability, while the old man and middle-aged man appear resigned and fearful.

Significant Themes

• Isolation and Imprisonment: The three individuals are locked in cages, symbolizing their isolation and imprisonment, both physically and mentally.
• Uncertainty and Danger: The situation is uncertain, and the danger is not immediately clear, reflecting the theme of not knowing who to trust in a dangerous environment.

Character Interactions

• Chen Ge interacts cautiously with the three individuals, not approaching them rashly due to the potential danger.
• The three individuals show no signs of interaction with each other, each seemingly lost in their own world.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Ge finds three people (an Old Man, a woman, and a Middle-aged Man) imprisoned in cages in the abandoned mental hospital.
• The Old Man has two plastic bowls in his cage, one of which is filled with water and the other possibly containing rat poison.
• Chen Ge suspects that the Middle-aged Man might be the killer or at least knows the killer.

Character Developments

• The Old Man is revealed to be a complex character who imprisoned his mentally ill son in a cage and offered him a choice between life and death through two bowls of water.
• The Middle-aged Man shows a deep-seated disgust towards Chen Ge and is initially reluctant to speak but eventually reveals the Old Man's story. He seems to have an unusual fixation on the woman being noisy.
• The woman is terrified of the living and has an innate fear of Chen Ge, making it difficult for him to communicate with her.

Significant Themes

• The theme of mental illness and its impact on both the patient and their families is explored through the Old Man and his son.
• The theme of choice and its consequences is highlighted through the Old Man's decision to offer his son a choice between life and death.
• The theme of communication and its barriers is shown through the Middle-aged Man's initial reluctance to speak and the woman's fear of interaction.

Character Interactions

• Chen Ge interacts with the three prisoners, trying to extract information from them. He has a tense exchange with the Middle-aged Man, who seems to find Chen Ge repulsive.
• The Old Man, the woman, and the Middle-aged Man do not interact with each other, suggesting they might be isolated for a reason.
• The dynamic between the Old Man and his son is revealed through the Middle-aged Man's story, showing a complex father-son relationship.