After Entering a Romance Reality Show Disguised as a Man to Win Over All the Female Leads - Chapter 3

Rong Yu thought it over and decided to test Mu Shuiqing during the upcoming program mission.

Host Zhang Yongan then proceeded to have the remaining male guests draw for their first-round female partners. Once the drawing was complete, the pairings were: Mu Shuiqing & Rong Yu, Lin Mengxing & Qin Wenhan, He Jiao & Sheng Ming, and He Huaiting & Seven.

The host clapped his eyes. “Since we are filming at the entrance of the theme park, I’m sure our viewers have already guessed today’s mission. That’s right! Our task for today is—Braving the Haunted House!”

Zhang Yongan continued his enthusiastic speech: “As the largest haunted house in the country, the ‘Horror Club’ utilizes the most advanced holographic projection technology and the largest collection of horror props to give players a truly immersive experience. In such a heart-pounding and stimulating environment, how will our four pairs cooperate? Will they strike sparks of love?”

As he spoke, he led the staff and guests toward the haunted house. The live-stream cameras followed, slowly splitting into five distinct feeds.

“From now on,” Zhang Yongan announced to the camera, “our stream will be divided into four separate couple cams and one main group cam. Viewers, choose your favorite couple’s perspective and send gifts to vote them to the top of the rankings!”

The chat exploded:

【Seven! I’m here for Seven!】

【The Overbearing CEO Qin Wenhan and the kitty-like Lin Mengxing? That’s a good pair.】

【He Jiao, the heiress, and Professor Sheng Ming… they look like they should be on ‘The Brain’ instead. I want to see how intellectuals react to a haunted house, hehehe.】

【I still want to watch Rong Yu and Mu Shuiqing, haha!】

【+1, I feel like they’re both going to be scared to death.】

【How can Rong Yu look so ‘puppy-like’ while being so pretty and handsome at the same time? Is that even legal?】

【Rong Yu and Mu Shuiqing… I suddenly see the chemistry. They’re the ‘Adorable Doll Duo,’ LMAO.】

【Should we assign these two babies a guardian? They’re the youngest this season, both 19. I’m a bit worried about two kids going into such a scary place.】

The “Horror Club” lived up to its reputation. It was less than a hundred meters from the park entrance. Led by the crew, the group gathered in front of the dark, dilapidated castle-like structure. A barrier was set up with a sign: [Private Filming Today. No Entry for General Public.] The manager of the haunted house opened the iron gates and led them toward the main door.

It was a weathered wooden door adorned with skulls, demonic faces, and severed limbs, drenched in faux blood. Accompanied by the faint sound of whistling wind and sobbing echoing from within, a sense of eerie dread washed over everyone. Standing at the threshold, Rong Yu could feel the cold gale blowing out from the darkness.

This haunted house was truly massive. Rong Yu hadn’t felt the scale when she wrote it into her novel, but standing before the pitch-black castle now, she felt like a mere speck. It was large enough to be genuinely intimidating. Even the host, Zhang Yongan, swallowed hard and nervously loosened his collar.

The audience was also getting cold feet:

【Holy crap, Horror Club? I’ve been to this park six or seven times and never dared to go in.】

【AHHH, even the front gate is terrifying!】

Rong Yu blinked slowly, scanning the castle from top to bottom. Beside her, Lin Mengxing suddenly spoke up: “Don’t we need to wear some equipment?”

Reminded, Zhang Yongan snapped out of his daze. “Right, right! All our guests need to wear pulse oximeters.” He laughed nervously. “This place is so scary I almost forgot the important stuff.”

Rong Yu glanced at Lin Mengxing. The girl, with her half-up “cat ear” hair, was smiling at the camera as if she had just made a casual observation.

How does she know the setting? Rong Yu wondered. Is she Lian Langsheng’s consciousness? Did she read the original novel?

She recalled Lin Mengxing giving her the sticker and felt it didn’t quite fit. Lian Langsheng was mature and steady; she didn’t seem like the type to put stickers on the back of her neck… right? And she still hadn’t figured out the source of that intense lily scent.

As Rong Yu pondered, staff members brought out eight palm-sized portable pulse oximeters and strapped them to everyone’s wrists.

“Our ambulance is right at the door,” Zhang Yongan continued his explanation. “This device records your heart rate every second. If anyone’s physical reaction exceeds the safety range, medical personnel will rescue you immediately.”

“Furthermore, as a mission, this will be scored. The pair with the lowest heart rate data throughout the haunted house wins. The winning couple gets a mysterious reward~”

The chat immediately began predicting:

【Seven and He Huaiting are a lock for the win. Seven is a racer and Huaiting is a martial artist; their hearts must be made of steel. This is basically cheating!】

【CEO Qin and Lin Mengxing should be fine too. Business wars require a strong heart.】

【Sheng Ming and He Jiao look vulnerable… a professor and a gentle beauty? They might not make it through…】

【The ones you should really worry about are Rong Yu and Mu Shuiqing. Rong Yu is like a little lamb and Mu Shuiqing is a ‘good girl.’ I’m afraid they won’t even make it past the front door.】

The “Heat” of the stream broke 170,000, with total comments reaching 600,000. Everyone wanted to see beautiful people trembling in fear.

“Alright!” Host Zhang clapped. “Let’s begin! According to our draw, the first group to enter is—Qin Wenhan and Lin Mengxing.”

Rong Yu once again heard someone whisper the exact same words as Zhang Yongan. She looked over; it was Lin Mengxing again.

Qin Wenhan, standing tall in his suit, maintained his “overbearing CEO” cool despite the clashing medical device on his wrist. Standing next to the kitten-like Lin Mengxing, however, she seemed to command more presence. Before entering, she looked back at the group, her gaze lingering on Rong Yu for two seconds with a raised eyebrow before she turned around.

That look made Rong Yu’s heart skip a beat for some reason.

The moment they pushed open the doors, a three-meter-tall white skeletal ghost in a cloak lunged out from the darkness, accompanied by a piercing shriek from the speakers. It passed right through them and vanished.

The chat was filled with “AHHHH” and even the crew members screamed. Rong Yu, however, was impressed. The holographic tech in her friend’s brain world was incredibly vivid.

Qin Wenhan looked at Lin Mengxing with gentlemanly poise. “If you’re scared, walk behind me.”

The chat swooned:

【Wow, the CEO is so warm.】

【Qin Wenhan is actually pretty charming.】

Lin Mengxing tilted her head and gave an unreadable smile. “Sure.”

As soon as she spoke, she touched the back of her neck and stepped boldly into the house. The screams from inside intensified, but she walked as if she were deaf to them. On the screen, her heart rate stayed at a low 80, while Qin Wenhan was at 96.

Two minutes later, the second group entered: Sheng Ming and He Jiao.

Sheng Ming smiled and reached for He Jiao’s hand. “Come, I’ll lead the way.”

He Jiao pulled away coldly. “Don’t touch me!”

She walked in alone.

The chat was divided. Some called He Jiao “impolite” and “ungrateful” toward the gentle professor, while others defended her, calling Sheng Ming “greasy” and “imposing his will” on someone he just met.

Next were Seven and He Huaiting. Seven, likely annoyed by the earlier comments about his looks, walked in with a cold face. He Huaiting followed, equally icy.

“Ice vs. Ice,” the chat joked. But two steps in, Seven’s agonized scream echoed out: “AHHH! HELP ME!”

His heart rate spiked to 141.

Host Zhang shrugged. “Our little pop star can really hit those dolphin notes.”

Meanwhile, the chat noticed He Huaiting’s heart rate: 59.

【Wait… is my screen broken? 59?!】

【Heart rate of 59 in a haunted house? I thought 80 was crazy!】

Rong Yu wasn’t surprised. She remembered He Huaiting dismembering a giant tentacle monster earlier without blinking.

Finally, it was time for Rong Yu and Mu Shuiqing.

Rong Yu waved to the camera and mouthed: “Don’t worry, I’m not afraid.”

The “mama fans” in the chat went into a frenzy over his “puppy-like” sweetness.

Rong Yu checked her pulse oximeter and then reached for Mu Shuiqing’s wrist to tighten hers. Mu Shuiqing didn’t resist; she stood there blankly, letting Rong Yu handle her. Her docility reminded Rong Yu of Lian Langsheng. Whenever Lian was in a bad mood, she would stand silently by Rong Yu, seeking comfort like a wounded puppy. This similarity made Rong Yu suspect Mu Shuiqing even more.

The two entered the haunted house. They passed the holographic skeleton ghost with zero reaction.

The hallway was pitch-black. Faux blood dripped from the ceiling, and the smell was nauseating. At the end of the hall hung a painting of a pale European woman. Suddenly, a flash of strobe light revealed ghosts in the corners and “DIE” written in blood on the walls. The woman in the painting turned into a skull, and a cloaked figure lunged at Rong Yu before vanishing.

A cold wind brushed Rong Yu’s neck. She turned to find a zombie head with half a face rotted away. It had no eyeballs—just a bleeding socket. Then, a bloodshot eye rolled around inside its throat and stared at her before lunging.

The viewers were terrified.

【OMG their ghosts are way scarier!】

【Is the show bullying them? This is a heart attack waiting to happen!】

The next second, Rong Yu reached out and grabbed the lunging eyeball.

She squeezed it gently, looking impressed. “Wow, it’s actually a physical prop?”

The chat: “…?”

Host Zhang: “.” Is this how you’re supposed to react?

Then, the viewers looked at the heart rates:

【WTF? Look!】

【Rong Yu—heart rate 44?】

【Is Rong Yu even alive? 44 is like an elite athlete at rest!】

【Wait, Mu Shuiqing’s heart rate is changing!】

In the dark, Rong Yu played with the eyeball and then turned the zombie toward Mu Shuiqing. “Rawr! Scared you!”

Mu Shuiqing stood still. Faux blood from the ceiling dripped onto her forehead and slid down her face. In the strobing light, her pale face and crimson eyes looked more terrifying than the zombie itself.

Rong Yu, unfazed, pulled out a tissue and gently wiped the blood from Mu Shuiqing’s face. Mu Shuiqing let her do it, her lips slightly parted. A faint blush began to spread across her snow-white skin.

Only the viewers could see the massive fluctuation in her heart rate:

54—56—65—79—…—123!

The chat went wild:

【LMAO, no reaction to ghosts, but her heart rate triples when Rong Yu touches her face!】

【Shuiqing knows how to fall in love. I ship it!】

【Zombie OS: Am I just a joke to you two? Stop flirting in front of me!】

Rong Yu, however, felt a bit melancholic. Maybe she isn’t Lian Langsheng? Yet, the way she stood there so quietly while being cared for was exactly like Lian Langsheng after getting hurt.