Why Did the Top Alpha Suddenly Stop Acting Out? - Chapter 31

Ye Shuyi’s expression remained calm as she lifted her gaze to meet hers, showing no signs of forced composure. “There’s nothing to be afraid of. I know they’re all just people in costumes.”

After three years of dating, Yi Qian genuinely didn’t know whether Ye Shuyi was afraid of supernatural-related things. In those three years, they had never encountered anything of the sort.

But at this moment, she was certain her partner was terrified of these things, absolutely terrified.

With a meaningful glance, Yi Qian teased, her voice laced with amusement, “Manager Ye, it’s a shame you didn’t become an actress.”

“No need,” Ye Shuyi replied seriously. “I wouldn’t want to steal your spotlight.”

Yi Qian: This stubbornness…

Fine then.

In the blink of an eye, Yi Qian’s composed demeanor vanished. She blinked rapidly twice, pressing her elbows tightly against her sides as she sidled up to Ye Shuyi, shrinking herself as much as possible. In a hushed whisper, she murmured, “Good thing you’re not scared. I’m terrified of this stuff. Please protect your artist well, she still has filming tomorrow.”

Ye Shuyi turned slightly to look at her, her expression unreadable. “Are you serious?”

Yi Qian slowly raised her eyes, her light-colored irises shimmering with feigned shock. “Wait, were you lying earlier? You’re scared too?” Her eyelids drooped, brows furrowing as she muttered, “If that’s the case, our team is doomed. What if we faint in there and get devoured by those hungry ghosts?”

Ye Shuyi: “They’re just people in costumes.”

“So, are you scared or not?” Yi Qian pressed.

“No,” Ye Shuyi said, turning her face away.

Yi Qian clung to her arm like a lifeline, nestling close as she whispered, “Good. Then I’m entrusting myself to you. Protect me well.”

Ye Shuyi: “…”

[Ahhhhh!!! Yi-Shu closeness! Yi Ye shippers, it’s our lucky day, our CP is feeding us!!!]

[Do they even know they’re live right now? [Eating melon][Grinning]]

[Yi Qian & Ye Shuyi: Nope, we’re in our own CP bubble.]

[More closeness! We love to see it!!!]

Director Lu watched the barrage of comments with satisfaction. Standing up with a megaphone, he called out, “Everyone, gather over here for a moment.”

Cai Yunyoo, still immersed in the haunted house atmosphere, jumped at the sudden shout and instinctively bear-hugged Long Xiaoqin beside her.

Long Xiaoqin chuckled at her adorable reaction, patting her arm reassuringly. “Don’t be scared.”

Once the guests assembled at the ticket booth, Director Lu held up three white envelopes. “As you’ve probably guessed, there are three haunted house themes: Abandoned School, Abandoned Laboratory, and Abandoned Hospital. Each team will draw one. Let’s decide the selection order with rock-paper-scissors.”

He Tongmin keenly caught onto something. “Selection order? Are the difficulty levels different for each theme?”

Director Lu wagged a finger. “As far as I know… probably not.”

Huang Xin stared at him and cut straight to the point. “Director, have you never gone in yourself? Or… are you too scared to enter?”

A second of silence passed, then two, then three… The guests’ sharp gazes were all fixed on Director Lu, especially those who were clearly terrified of this segment.

Director Lu sighed and shrugged slightly. “Alright, I’ll come clean, I’m actually scared too.”

He said it with absolute conviction.

Cai Yunyoo snorted and retorted, “How shameless of you to shout through the megaphone earlier.”

She had intended to retaliate for being frightened by Director Lu earlier, only to find her punch landing on cotton.

Director Lu smiled cheerfully. “Thank you for the compliment.”

Cai Yunyoo: “……”

The other guests: “……”

“The reason we’re letting everyone choose themes in order is that each theme offers a different experience. Some guests might prefer certain themes, and the tasks will vary accordingly. Of course, the clues to clear each stage are equally accessible. Once you complete the tasks based on the clues, you can exit the haunted house with ease.”

“The fastest team will receive a reward, which we’ll reveal during the next recording.”

Cai Yunyoo held back repeatedly but finally interjected after Director Lu finished speaking: “There are tasks too? Director, you can’t treat our lives as expendable just because we might die of fright.” Her tone softened, bordering on tears. “Can I opt out? I don’t want any rewards, I just want to keep my precious, hard-earned, one-and-only life.”

Director Lu: “……” She really knows how to mock herself.

Showing no mercy, he delivered the harshest words with the sunniest smile: “The production team guarantees every guest’s safety, you have nothing to worry about.”

Cai Yunyoo’s expression instantly shifted to one of resentment. “Director, do you even have a heart?”

Director Lu placed a hand over his left chest, still smiling. “Of course, warm and beating.”

The other guests: “……”

[The dynamic on this show feels so relaxed air it soon!!!]

[Youyou is adorable~]

Director Lu glanced at Ye Shuyi’s position and suddenly proposed, “How about this? I’ll offer a compromise. If more than half the guests don’t want to participate, we’ll cancel this segment and replace it.”

“Raise your hand if you’re scared, let me see who’s unwilling.”

Cai Yunyoo immediately shot her hand up, even bouncing slightly as she eagerly looked around to see who else joined her.

Only He Tong, standing at the far edge of the group, raised his hand.

The outcome wasn’t ideal.

Ye Shuyi turned to Yi Qian, who was glued to her side, and asked, “Aren’t you raising your hand? This way, you won’t have to be scared.”

Yi Qian shook her head. “It’s fine. As long as you’re with me, I’m not afraid.”

Ye Shuyi: “……” But I am…

Her hands clenched and unclenched at her sides. Just as she was about to raise her hand regardless, Director Lu cut in first: “In that case, you can’t call me heartless anymore.”

“Each pair will play rock-paper-scissors to decide. Come on, let’s make this quick.”

Ye Shuyi closed her eyes briefly. It seemed there was no escaping this haunted house…

After several rounds, Yi Qian won first, followed by Huang Xin, then Long Xiaoqin.

Yi Qian returned to Ye Shuyi’s side. “Do you want to draw the theme, or should I?”

Ye Shuyi stared at the three white envelopes in Director Lu’s hands, an inexplicable chill running down her spine. “You do it,” she declined.

Yi Qian nodded and walked over, casually picking an envelope.

The theme was an abandoned hospital.

Once each group of guests had confirmed their theme, they headed to the entrance of their respective building.

Ye Shuyi stood at the entrance as a gust of wind blew out from inside, sending chills down her spine. She silently repeated to herself: It’s all just actors, nothing scary at all.

Yi Qian walked over and grabbed her arm, declaring shamelessly, “I’m scared. You can’t let go of me.”

Ye Shuyi double-checked, “You’re really scared?”

Yi Qian took a step back, hiding behind her with a timid posture, and confirmed, “Really. I’m terrified of ghosts. When I was a kid, my parents made me watch horror movies to toughen me up. I only saw a little bit, but I had nightmares all night and woke up crying for my mom. It was awful.”

“Why didn’t you mention this before?” Ye Shuyi countered. Back when they were dating, this person had practically recited every detail about their ancestors to her.

Yi Qian’s lips curled slightly, but she quickly pressed them together to suppress the smile. She continued pretending to be frightened, ignoring the implication in Ye Shuyi’s words, and earnestly explained, “Not many celebrities share these things with their managers, right? Besides, Manager Ye hasn’t been my manager for long.”

Ye Shuyi stiffened for a moment before quickly adapting to the situation. Calmly, she replied in a professional tone, “You should definitely tell me these things. That way, when I’m selecting scripts or other projects for you, I can avoid triggering content. Even if something unexpected happens, we’ll have a strategy.”

Yi Qian nodded obediently. “Sure. As long as you ask, I’ll tell you everything.”

[I think I just heard something scandalous, but I have no proof. Tsk.]

[Same. The atmosphere suddenly got weird, but then Yi Qian spoke and it felt normal again. Hmm… Suddenly, having an idol who’s too good at acting doesn’t seem like a good thing.]

[I suspect they’re exchanging coded messages behind our backs, but I have no evidence.]

[They’re going in! I still think Sister Ye is the one who’s scared. Yi Qian is definitely faking it! I want to see how she’s going to act!]

[LOL]

The two entered the haunted house one after the other, with Yi Qian still gripping Ye Shuyi’s wrist. The moment they stepped inside, the door behind them slammed shut with a bang from a sinister gust of wind.

Ye Shuyi shuddered and whipped her head around in alarm.

Yi Qian lightly tapped her arm in reassurance. “It’s just the wind.”

Whoosh~

As if to prove her point, another gust of wind swept through, rustling the tattered curtains on the windows.

This time, Ye Shuyi didn’t turn to look, she only glanced out of the corner of her eye. Taking a deep breath, she pressed forward.

The moment she stepped onto the first stair, the lights in the house abruptly went out. Then, the candle sconces on the walls lit up one by one with eerie green “ghost flames.” The flickering green light cast swaying silhouettes on the walls, as if beckoning the visitors in welcome.

But Ye Shuyi only felt her scalp prickle.

She stifled a scream, squeezing her eyes shut the moment the first green flame ignited. In her mind, she chanted: Prosperity, democracy, civility, harmony…

After steeling herself, she slowly cracked one eye open then, as if suddenly realizing something, she reached out to grab.

The moment she grabbed Yi Qian’s arm, she silently let out a sigh of relief in her heart.

Yi Qian raised her hand to cover the back of Ye Shuyi’s hand, giving it a gentle pat as she whispered, “I’m here.”

“Mhm,” Ye Shuyi responded softly.

When they reached the spacious hall, the faint green flames allowed them to barely make out the space ahead. The open area was littered with numerous skulls, their eye sockets pitch black, as if deliberately arranged in the center of the hall to await incoming “patients.” Ye Shuyi swallowed hard and averted her gaze upward, where IV tubes filled with red liquid hung from the beams. A single drop of crimson liquid fell from the tube’s opening.

The drip echoed loudly in the vast, silent space.

Before she could look away, a figure suddenly leaped down from the beams, a deathly pale face painted with an exaggerated grinning mouth, screeching in a shrill voice, “Welcome!”

Ye Shuyi instantly raised her hand to cover her mouth, stifling a scream in her throat as she quickly turned her gaze away.

But the moment she shifted her eyes, she was met with another face dripping with black liquid. Tattered long robes dragged along the ground as if the figure had no feet, swiftly floating toward her while muttering, “Patient, if you’re sick, you must be treated properly, don’t delay~ I don’t want you joining me in the underworld, ah, ah, ah!”

In an instant, eerie, chilling noises filled the entire building.

Under the relentless assault of these “evil spirits,” Ye Shuyi could no longer maintain her composure. She turned and buried her face in Yi Qian’s embrace, tightly covering her ears with both hands.

Support