Horror Game Designer

Chapter 85: Liu Yi

Gao Ming carefully stowed away the black and white photograph that depicted the large dog, turning his attention towards Wei Dayou. Wei appeared lost in thought, his mind seemingly elsewhere. Gao Ming broke the silence with a question that had been troubling him. “Why did the dog chose to expel Dayou specifically? Did the dog recognize that he is a friend of mine?”

Wei Dayou seemed to snap back to reality after a long pause. The sight of Gao Ming brought a flood of emotions, and tears streamed down his face. It was a striking sight, seeing this tall, muscular man, well over 1.8 meters in height, crying like a child wronged.

“I was calling out for you in desperation,” Wei Dayou confessed, wiping away his tears. “It felt like an eternity trapped in that silent, pitch-black void. I was terrified that if you tried to rescue me, you’d end up trapped as well. You’re the only one I can rely on.”

Gao Ming reflected on how jarring and distressing it must be for someone accustomed to sight to suddenly experience blindness. “I’m so sorry you had to go through that,” he said, offering support to Wei, who was still struggling to adjust to his surroundings. “But we can’t just head home now. More precisely, you can’t go back the way things are.”

Wei Dayou asked in puzzlement, “What’s wrong?”

“The investigator who accompanied you is now under my control. If you return alone, Situ An will surely suspect something,” Gao Ming explained pragmatically. “I eliminated Qing Ge, disrupting Situ An’s network within the Investigation Bureau, and I also took care of his most trusted doctor.”

“That’s good riddance! That Qing Ge is truly inhumane, having the living pave the road for him!” Wei Dayou exclaimed, anger flaring at the mention of Qing Ge. He recalled the harrowing experience of being coerced at knifepoint by Qing Ge, forced into a cellar to face what seemed like certain death.

“Now, the issue is whether you can convincingly lie to Situ An while he investigates the matter here,” Gao Ming said, initially having hoped that Wei Dayou could keep an eye on Situ An. Unfortunately, Wei’s performance had been too convincing, leading to his capture by Qing Ge.

Noticing Wei Dayou’s apprehensive expression, Gao Ming suggested he calm down. “Let’s take a practice test and see how well you can hide the truth. I’ll ask you some questions, and you try to deceive me.”

To Gao Ming’s surprise, Wei Dayou, with his broad shoulders and honest face, turned out to be adept at fabricating stories.

“I’m still nervous,” Wei Dayou admitted, pacing nervously. “Perhaps it’s best I avoid this. I don’t trust myself to pull it off.”

“That’s okay. It’s better than having Situ An torture you for information,” Gao Ming reassured him, clapping him on the shoulder. “But don’t worry, Situ An’s days are numbered. Soon, you’ll be hailed as a hero for exposing his true nature.”

They left the temporary shelter on foot, the heavy rain erasing any traces of their presence. The secrets they harbored would remain hidden, like the forgotten recesses of that dark cellar.

After a lengthy detour, they returned to the old city district by car. Gao Ming made sure to erase any records of their journey before they disembarked.

Approaching Li Jing Apartments, Gao Ming sensed something amiss. Police cars and cordon tape were visible from a distance, likely due to the mysterious disappearance of all the residents in Building 2.

“We should head to Minlong Street first,” Gao Ming decided, guiding Wei into the dense, maze-like slum of Lishan. There, in a cluster of dilapidated buildings, they located An An’s former residence.

Holding the dark obituary photo, Gao Ming reached into the void and made contact with the large dog in the picture. In moments, shadows swirled, and the dog emerged from the photo, its black fur giving it an almost lion-like appearance.

“Is this the new home you’ve chosen for me?” the dog inquired.

“Yes, Minlong Street is just the beginning of establishing my base,” Gao Ming explained, gesturing towards the deserted buildings. “Release them all.”

“People who have dwelled in the shadow world for an extended period carry its aura with them. Don’t be mistaken; they are now denizens of that realm. If they return to our world, those around them will also be endangered,” the dog cautioned Gao Ming.

“I understand,” Gao Ming acknowledged.

Shadows enveloped the area, transforming An An’s apartment block into the dog’s new domain. Villagers, students from Hande Private School, and members of the Investigation Bureau materialized within the building.

“Using your power on so many people must be taxing,” Gao Ming observed, understanding the dog’s capabilities. He brought the still-shaken Wei forward. “In the future, he can assist you, helping these people adapt to life in the shadow world.”

“Assist me?” The voice within the dog conveyed its hesitation. Trust was not easily given, especially to Wei Dayou, and if there were another option, the dog wouldn’t trust Gao Ming either.

“Play the roles of good cop and bad cop. First, create the illusion that Wei Dayou is saving everyone. Then, let him handle tasks that you can’t do yourself.” Gao Ming outlined his plan and stroked the dog’s fur, “Being the monster within the shadow, or being a revered god is now at your whim.”

After his “Bamboo Mother” passed away from the fire, the blind man never received the respect he deserved. Gao Ming saw an opportunity to rectify this by helping him earn the admiration and understanding of others.

Touched, the blind man inside the dog found it hard to resist Gao Ming’s proposal.

“Dayou, thank you for your efforts. I’ll take care of the real-world issues as soon as I can,” Gao Ming promised.

“It’s fine,” Wei Dayou replied, still donning his Investigation Bureau uniform. “It’s just surreal to me. A game designer like you now acting as a human resources director.”

After introducing Wei Dayou to the blind man, Gao Ming left the shadow world to its new inhabitants.

“Eliminating Doctor Lu and Qing Ge meant lopping off Situ An’s arms, but he’ll be on alert now. I wonder what his next move will be?”

Gao Ming evaded the police blockade and snuck into Li Jing Apartments. Among the officers, he spotted familiar faces. Qin Tian, scarred but determined, was busy coordinating efforts with the rookie investigator Zhu Miao Miao.

“Was Qin Tian supposed to be the one leading this investigation?” Gao Ming pondered, reflecting on the complexity of the situation and his own past.

“It’s no wonder that people drink Granny Meng’s soup (memory soup) after death. Clinging to memories makes it hard to move forward.”

Upon reaching the building, Wan Qiu, sensing his approach, opened the door. The sight of the light-filled home brought a sense of warmth to Gao Ming.

“I’m back,” he announced, shedding his raincoat, and was greeted by the appetizing aroma of food. “This smells amazing, but surely it’s not your cooking.”

Wan Qiu, slightly offended, replied, “Someone’s been looking for you. She’s been here for hours.”

“A visitor for me?” Gao Ming, still in his wet clothes, walked towards the kitchen and found a woman cooking skillfully. She wore an apron over her suit, her hair tied back in a practical ponytail.

The woman, noticing Gao Ming’s arrival, casually remarked, “Your little brother seemed hungry, so I decided to cook something. But I don’t recall you mentioning having a brother back in school.”

“Liu Yi?” Gao Ming recognized her instantly, a former high school classmate. “How did you find out where I live?”

“Change out of those wet clothes first. We’ll talk over dinner,” Liu Yi suggested, her demeanor efficient and no-nonsense.

After changing, Gao Ming joined Liu Yi at the dinner table, where she had already served the meal. “I’ve already tidied up the kitchen, I didn’t expect you two men to clean the house so neatly,” she says.

“It’s been a long time,” Gao Ming replied back with a smile and began filling the bowls with rice. “You were the top student in our class, the brightest of us all. Last I heard, you were at the biggest law firm in Hanhai.”

“I interned there briefly, then resigned,” Liu Yi shared, her eyes sparkling with clarity and purpose. “Now, I’m a lawyer for the deaf and mute.” She demonstrated her proficiency in sign language. “I even learned three different sign languages for this role.”

“Still the righteous Liu Yi, always standing up for others,” Gao Ming reminisced, feeling a mix of nostalgia and admiration. “You’re doing amazing work.”

“Let’s not dwell on that,” Liu Yi shifted the topic. “I actually came here because of something else. I was on the same bus as you during the Ghost Festival.”

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