Chapter 68: Horror Live Stream (V)
The girl in the painting giggled prettily, her eyes curving into crescent moons. Though merely a picture, her movements carried an effortless grace and elegance, radiating a subtle nobility. One could tell at a glance that she had been exceptionally well-educated.
Yet the adjective Liang Xuan had given was... dark.
This word wasn't from the director—he'd only asked Liang Xuan to walk to the bedside table, then instructed her to connect the photo with the family portrait they'd seen earlier. The second half of Liang Xuan's statement had come from her own conclusion.
She had genuinely seen the dark side of this painting.
It was the exact same photograph, the exact same person. Yet Qi An and Liang Xuan had perceived two entirely different aspects of this person.
The director's voice ceased the moment the live stream displayed the photograph.
—A muffled click.
It was the sound of the headset microphone connecting him and Liang Xuan being turned off, reducing the earpiece to dead silence. Qi An's expression flickered with another subtle change.
The sound of the microphone being cut was particularly sudden and swift. In that instant, Qi An caught another man's somewhat anxious voice—so faint that had it not been for his consistently sharp hearing, it would have been completely overlooked.
"Director, Wenshi has a problem..." In the bustling backstage area of the production team, accompanied by hurried footsteps, the anxiety in the man's voice was unmistakable.
This must have been a serious issue. The director instinctively cut the microphone. He didn't want Qi An or Liang Xuan to hear anything more of what followed.
What exactly was happening backstage? Was it related to the abnormality in this photograph?
And who was this "Wenshi" they mentioned?
The black-haired youth's eyes remained as harmless as ever. He simply stood quietly in place, as if puzzled by Liang Xuan's mention of "dark," turning his head to gaze at her with those inky eyes. "Dark... you say?"
【GloatWhileYouCan: Aaah, that young master's voice is so nice, please speak more!
InteriorDesign: Is young master's view the same as mine? Do you also see that super warm and cozy scene?
NoThanks: Can someone explain why we're seeing different things?! Are some people hired by the production team just to lie?
CongratsEarphone: Seriously! Wait, let me take a screenshot!
...
NeverOrganize: No, look at me! You guys hurry and check that mirror!】
Since the director had cut the connection without any warning, the girl who'd been narrating smoothly also stopped speaking as if someone had hit the power button. Fortunately, her persona had always been that of a cold, elegant goddess, so it didn't arouse too much suspicion.
"You don't see it?" Liang Xuan's voice carried no significant波动. The production team had informed all participating guests in advance that there would be horrific events created using holographic technology within. So after seeing the live stream comments, Liang Xuan only expressed brief surprise before recovering her composed demeanor.
"I see a girl with light, elegant makeup." Qi An's gaze passed over Liang Xuan and landed on the live streaming phone in her hand. There was already a slight tremor in his voice. The black-haired youth seemed to shrink back a few steps slowly, as if frightened.
He seemed afraid to look at this photograph any longer, his helpless gaze wandering ceaselessly around the room.
"Something sudden just happened, but it's been resolved now." As silence settled over the room, the director's apologetic voice sounded. "I cut the connection so suddenly because I was worried our voices would affect you both. I sincerely apologize."
The connection was restored.
"This scene just now was something we designed," the director's voice was earnest. "Since it happened so suddenly, I didn't have time to explain to you. This is an extremely important character in this case. You may now search through the drawers and such—there will be some important clues there."
[So it was arranged by the production team.] The system visibly relaxed.
[No.] Remembering the world's background description, Qi An pressed his fingers against his temple. [Be careful later.]
[Something's going to happen?] The system froze.
[Mm.] Glancing around the room, Qi An gave an ambiguous answer to the system.
"Let's search for clues first." Liang Xuan spoke first. "Since this round has four teams competing fairly, I suggest that while searching for clues, we handle things gently, return props to their original positions, and try not to disturb the scene."
Qi An softly acknowledged before following Liang Xuan to slowly pull open the drawer on the other side.
【NeverOrganize: Please, please, go look at that mirror!
LittleUncomfortable: The mirror... what's wrong with it?... Holy shit!】
The mirror's placement was quite secluded, positioned in a corner. Yet its surface faced directly toward the controversial photograph.
Because it was so far away, the mirror occupied only a tiny portion of the frame.
But... the reflection in the mirror was entirely red.
Vaguely, one could make out that the girl in the photograph was wearing a black dress. Whether due to lighting or some other reason, in the center-right area of the mirror, something was gleaming with a silvery light.
Flashing, flickering.
Suddenly, that silvery light grew brighter and brighter, the reflection expanding in size.
Those watching the live stream couldn't help but hold their breath. They watched as something metallic-like protruded from the mirror.
—Creak, creak.
The sound of two things grinding against each other.
Liang Xuan, who had been searching through the drawers, froze mid-motion. She turned her head toward the source of the sound, her pupils contracting.
—A blade had pierced through the mirror's surface.
It was a massive blade, gleaming brilliantly under the lights.
Then, a foot stepped out from within that small mirror. A person emerged from the mirror. It was... the dark aesthetic girl she'd just seen.
The girl raised the large blade high above her head, then charged toward their direction.