Chapter 013: Baiting the Hook.
Perhaps for emphasis, the last line of the post was written in bold red letters, which invigorated Chi Shen upon seeing them.
He pondered, rubbing his weary forehead, "I hope I won't jinx the company and make it go bankrupt as soon as I join, right?"
His shadow replied, "No chance."
Chi Shen sighed, "I hope everyone working there is among the living."
Shadow: "Mhm."
In that deadly game, Chi Shen had work experience. He had undertaken a myriad of jobs, diverse and sundry.
For instance, he's been a delivery guy for brain flower takeout, a midnight taxi driver, a clerk at a prosthetics store, and even rolled dumplings in a breakfast joint. He's sold meat at the market and moonlighted as a ritual master for both joyous and somber occasions—
Wherever he worked, every single business failed. Even that particular instance was nowhere to be found afterward.
Such experiences cast a massive shadow over Chi Shen's employment history, making him somewhat apprehensive that any company he joins might meet the same fate.
Only when he reached Tengfei Tower, took the elevator up to the 14th floor, and noticed that all those frequenting Ledao Culture were very much alive, did he feel a bit reassured.
Of course, only slightly.
After all, to his discerning eyes, the company didn't seem like one that belonged in the realm of the living.
Before stepping into Ledao Culture's entrance, from Chi Shen's perspective, the doorway emanated a chilling, ghostly aura as if the gate to a haunted dimension had opened, beckoning him.
The receptionist at Ledao Culture, a young woman, appeared pallid, with dark circles under her eyes, exuding an air of exhaustion. Beside the reception desk, a dark figure with glaring eyes was crouching, poking its head out and staring intently at the entrance.
Chi Shen paused for a moment at the door, whispering, "Don't come out."
Ji Xingchen remained silent. Chi Shen felt a tug at his shirt hem, understanding the unspoken message.
After explaining his purpose to the receptionist, her raspy voice directed him onward. She then looked down, seemingly burdened by something. Yet all that lay on her desk was a stack of blank papers.
Slowly, Chi Shen made his way to the interview room. Ledao Culture clearly seemed to be a newly established company with fresh décor. The plants around the corner were vibrant, but if not for the shadows lurking behind them, Chi Shen would have considered it a prime working environment.
The only visible part of these shadows were eyes that tracked his movements, the body resembling smudged pencil marks, jittering restlessly.
On his short walk from the entrance to the interview room, Chi Shen had already spotted three ghosts.
...Will this company really stay afloat?
Only Chi Shen was there for the interview that day. Before he could knock, the HR representative promptly opened the door, warmly ushered him in, and kindly offered him some hot water.
Upon entering, Chi Shen immediately scanned the room, spotting another ghost lurking within the ventilation duct, its overly white eyes peeking through the vent, observing the occupants.
"You're Chi Shen, correct?" The recruiter, a man in his early thirties with a genial smile, inquired, "Could you start with a brief introduction?"
Chi Shen confidently recited the introduction Ji Xingchen had coached him on. It was clear that the HR rep was impressed, his smile brightening a notch.
"I noticed on your resume you have experience as a software engineer with a major firm, but you're applying for a content strategist role. Actually, we're in need of software engineers right now, so why—"
Someone beside the recruiter nudged him. Clearing his throat, he asked, "Could you share why you're interested in transitioning to content strategy? Software development seems like a more natural fit for you."
Chi Shen calmly replied, "It's a passion."
The man's interest piqued, "Care to elaborate?"
"I have a passion for the supernatural," Chi Shen suddenly whispered, casting an even eerier atmosphere over the already chilly room. He seemed unfazed by this and continued, "I relish delving into the mysteries of ghosts and spirits. Horror novels are my favorites, and I often spend entire days on paranormal forums. I've played numerous horror games, including those created by Mr. Li. I genuinely appreciate the concepts he tries to convey and adore the oppressive ambience of this company. I believe I belong here; this place needs me."
At first, it sounded reasonable, but as he went on, something felt off.
The man in charge of hiring felt a cold sweat forming on his forehead. He tried to ignore the eerie vibe and responded, "I'd still hope you'd reconsider..."
"No need." Chi Shen interrupted firmly, revealing his trump card, "I aspire to be someone with a full head of hair till the age of sixty."
Applying for a content strategist position was the result of Chi Shen's careful contemplation. He believed that as someone who has experienced centuries' worth of genuine horror games, crafting dialogues and designing bosses for one would be a breeze.
A walk in the park.
An effortless task. Truly, a job that perfectly aligns with his experience and expertise!
The man seemed to ponder for a moment before replying, "Regarding the planning position, our chief strategist, Mr. Li, will be here shortly to discuss it with you."
The said Mr. Li, also known as Li Xue, was the game developer Chi Shen had mentioned earlier and whose horror game he had played the previous night.
Before the sentence was finished, there was a knock on the door. A weary-looking young man stood at the entrance. Chi Shen recognized him as Li Xue. Li's shirt collar seemed a bit tight today, making him visibly uncomfortable. Adjusting his collar, he entered the room with heavy, fatigued steps.
Once seated opposite Chi Shen, Li Xue adjusted his collar again and stretched his neck before finally turning his gaze to Chi Shen.
Chi Shen was watching him closely.
To the average person, Li Xue might have appeared merely overworked and exhausted, but through Chi Shen's eyes, the situation was entirely different.
A gaunt woman in a floral dress loomed behind Li Xue, her skeletal arms wrapped around his neck, her head hanging over his chest, her long hair swaying with every move he made.
Beside Li Xue, a little girl, missing her lower half, tugged at the hem of his shirt and the skirt of the gaunt woman, eyeing Chi Shen with curiosity.
That wasn't all. The Buddhist prayer beads around Li Xue's wrist emitted a faint golden glow, offering him protection. Yet, from a pocket of his shirt, a hand reached out, suppressing the radiance of the beads.
All these spirits and objects coexisted on Li Xue in a bizarre harmony, counteracting each other. Perhaps it's this equilibrium that allows Li Xue to live a normal life despite being haunted by countless entities.
"Have you ever had children?" Chi Shen inquired before Li Xue could speak.
Caught off guard, Li Xue hesitated briefly, seemingly puzzled by the question but eventually responded, "No, I've never been married."
Chi Shen nodded, appearing slightly uneasy, but proceeded to say, "I truly admire the horror game you've crafted..."
As he spoke, his gaze occasionally flitted to Li Xù's shoulder. His pupils quivered as if he had seen something profoundly unsettling—
The ghostly woman on Li Xù's shoulder slowly raised her head, her gaze piercing into Chi Shen. Her withered and wrinkled lips parted, revealing a chilling smile.
Silently, her mouth moved: You. See. Me. Now.
"Chi Shen? Chi Shen?"
The man who had interviewed him earlier called out several times. Chi Shen seemed to snap back to reality, turning to the man with a forced, pale smile, "What did you just say?"
Li Xù looked at him quizzically, "You can start work tomorrow. Try your hand at copywriting planning for a while. If it doesn't work out, we can discuss other roles."
"Alright, I understand," Chi Shen replied. Even though he appeared focused, his gaze seemed distant, as if he was recovering from a shock. "I'll be here tomorrow."
Watching Chi Shen leave the interview room, the man inquired, "What's up with him?"
For some reason, Li Xù felt an unexpected ease in breathing. He exhaled deeply, his expression filled with concern, "I hope he lasts. We're really short-staffed right now."
Leaving Yue Dao Culture, Chi Shen didn't rush back to the Bai family mansion. He wanted to give others a chance.
It had been a while since he'd enjoyed the pleasures of the living. Chi Shen decided to dine out and later caught a movie. During this time, he didn't converse with his shadow, and Ji Xing Chen remained absent.
It was 10 pm by the time Chi Shen boarded the last bus back to the Bai mansion.
Arriving at his stop, he didn't head home immediately. Instead, he sat on a bench at the rural bus station, a place deserted save for the dim glow of a single streetlight.
Like a traveler cast out of his home, Chi Shen sat dejectedly, seemingly pondering where to spend the night.
A shadowy figure approached the station—a woman dressed in a floral dress. Her skin was dried and shriveled. No one could be that emaciated unless they weren't human.
"Found you," her voice rasped, as if sandpaper were grinding. Speaking seemed laborious, yet she sounded elated.
Chi Shen's shoulders began to tremble subtly. It looked as if he was terrified, feigning ignorance and not daring to lift his head.
She extended her hand, her chapped fingers reaching for the handsome man's neck on the bench. Her wheezy, raspy laughter echoed around the station, "Nowhere to go? Come with me. Let me drain your blood, and you'll become as cold as me. Then, you won't feel fear anymore."
Suddenly, she halted.
The handsome man on the bench looked up. There wasn't a trace of fear on his face. He was even... laughing!
He was trying so hard to hold back his laughter that his shoulders shook!
The floral-dress woman sensed something was off and promptly took a step back.
A pale hand extended from the handsome man's shadow, grasping her ankle.
"Do you know why I didn't go home?"
Chi Shen tilted his head and smiled warmly at the woman in the floral dress, saying, "Because I was afraid you couldn't enter."
Chapter 013: Baiting the Hook.
Perhaps for emphasis, the last line of the post was written in bold red letters, which invigorated Chi Shen upon seeing them.
He pondered, rubbing his weary forehead, "I hope I won't jinx the company and make it go bankrupt as soon as I join, right?"
His shadow replied, "No chance."
Chi Shen sighed, "I hope everyone working there is among the living."
Shadow: "Mhm."
In that deadly game, Chi Shen had work experience. He had undertaken a myriad of jobs, diverse and sundry.
For instance, he's been a delivery guy for brain flower takeout, a midnight taxi driver, a clerk at a prosthetics store, and even rolled dumplings in a breakfast joint. He's sold meat at the market and moonlighted as a ritual master for both joyous and somber occasions—
Wherever he worked, every single business failed. Even that particular instance was nowhere to be found afterward.
Such experiences cast a massive shadow over Chi Shen's employment history, making him somewhat apprehensive that any company he joins might meet the same fate.
Only when he reached Tengfei Tower, took the elevator up to the 14th floor, and noticed that all those frequenting Ledao Culture were very much alive, did he feel a bit reassured.
Of course, only slightly.
After all, to his discerning eyes, the company didn't seem like one that belonged in the realm of the living.
Before stepping into Ledao Culture's entrance, from Chi Shen's perspective, the doorway emanated a chilling, ghostly aura as if the gate to a haunted dimension had opened, beckoning him.
The receptionist at Ledao Culture, a young woman, appeared pallid, with dark circles under her eyes, exuding an air of exhaustion. Beside the reception desk, a dark figure with glaring eyes was crouching, poking its head out and staring intently at the entrance.
Chi Shen paused for a moment at the door, whispering, "Don't come out."
Ji Xingchen remained silent. Chi Shen felt a tug at his shirt hem, understanding the unspoken message.
After explaining his purpose to the receptionist, her raspy voice directed him onward. She then looked down, seemingly burdened by something. Yet all that lay on her desk was a stack of blank papers.
Slowly, Chi Shen made his way to the interview room. Ledao Culture clearly seemed to be a newly established company with fresh décor. The plants around the corner were vibrant, but if not for the shadows lurking behind them, Chi Shen would have considered it a prime working environment.
The only visible part of these shadows were eyes that tracked his movements, the body resembling smudged pencil marks, jittering restlessly.
On his short walk from the entrance to the interview room, Chi Shen had already spotted three ghosts.
...Will this company really stay afloat?
Only Chi Shen was there for the interview that day. Before he could knock, the HR representative promptly opened the door, warmly ushered him in, and kindly offered him some hot water.
Upon entering, Chi Shen immediately scanned the room, spotting another ghost lurking within the ventilation duct, its overly white eyes peeking through the vent, observing the occupants.
"You're Chi Shen, correct?" The recruiter, a man in his early thirties with a genial smile, inquired, "Could you start with a brief introduction?"
Chi Shen confidently recited the introduction Ji Xingchen had coached him on. It was clear that the HR rep was impressed, his smile brightening a notch.
"I noticed on your resume you have experience as a software engineer with a major firm, but you're applying for a content strategist role. Actually, we're in need of software engineers right now, so why—"
Someone beside the recruiter nudged him. Clearing his throat, he asked, "Could you share why you're interested in transitioning to content strategy? Software development seems like a more natural fit for you."
Chi Shen calmly replied, "It's a passion."
The man's interest piqued, "Care to elaborate?"
"I have a passion for the supernatural," Chi Shen suddenly whispered, casting an even eerier atmosphere over the already chilly room. He seemed unfazed by this and continued, "I relish delving into the mysteries of ghosts and spirits. Horror novels are my favorites, and I often spend entire days on paranormal forums. I've played numerous horror games, including those created by Mr. Li. I genuinely appreciate the concepts he tries to convey and adore the oppressive ambience of this company. I believe I belong here; this place needs me."
At first, it sounded reasonable, but as he went on, something felt off.
The man in charge of hiring felt a cold sweat forming on his forehead. He tried to ignore the eerie vibe and responded, "I'd still hope you'd reconsider..."
"No need." Chi Shen interrupted firmly, revealing his trump card, "I aspire to be someone with a full head of hair till the age of sixty."
Applying for a content strategist position was the result of Chi Shen's careful contemplation. He believed that as someone who has experienced centuries' worth of genuine horror games, crafting dialogues and designing bosses for one would be a breeze.
A walk in the park.
An effortless task. Truly, a job that perfectly aligns with his experience and expertise!
The man seemed to ponder for a moment before replying, "Regarding the planning position, our chief strategist, Mr. Li, will be here shortly to discuss it with you."
The said Mr. Li, also known as Li Xue, was the game developer Chi Shen had mentioned earlier and whose horror game he had played the previous night.
Before the sentence was finished, there was a knock on the door. A weary-looking young man stood at the entrance. Chi Shen recognized him as Li Xue. Li's shirt collar seemed a bit tight today, making him visibly uncomfortable. Adjusting his collar, he entered the room with heavy, fatigued steps.
Once seated opposite Chi Shen, Li Xue adjusted his collar again and stretched his neck before finally turning his gaze to Chi Shen.
Chi Shen was watching him closely.
To the average person, Li Xue might have appeared merely overworked and exhausted, but through Chi Shen's eyes, the situation was entirely different.
A gaunt woman in a floral dress loomed behind Li Xue, her skeletal arms wrapped around his neck, her head hanging over his chest, her long hair swaying with every move he made.
Beside Li Xue, a little girl, missing her lower half, tugged at the hem of his shirt and the skirt of the gaunt woman, eyeing Chi Shen with curiosity.
That wasn't all. The Buddhist prayer beads around Li Xue's wrist emitted a faint golden glow, offering him protection. Yet, from a pocket of his shirt, a hand reached out, suppressing the radiance of the beads.
All these spirits and objects coexisted on Li Xue in a bizarre harmony, counteracting each other. Perhaps it's this equilibrium that allows Li Xue to live a normal life despite being haunted by countless entities.
"Have you ever had children?" Chi Shen inquired before Li Xue could speak.
Caught off guard, Li Xue hesitated briefly, seemingly puzzled by the question but eventually responded, "No, I've never been married."
Chi Shen nodded, appearing slightly uneasy, but proceeded to say, "I truly admire the horror game you've crafted..."
As he spoke, his gaze occasionally flitted to Li Xù's shoulder. His pupils quivered as if he had seen something profoundly unsettling—
The ghostly woman on Li Xù's shoulder slowly raised her head, her gaze piercing into Chi Shen. Her withered and wrinkled lips parted, revealing a chilling smile.
Silently, her mouth moved: You. See. Me. Now.
"Chi Shen? Chi Shen?"
The man who had interviewed him earlier called out several times. Chi Shen seemed to snap back to reality, turning to the man with a forced, pale smile, "What did you just say?"
Li Xù looked at him quizzically, "You can start work tomorrow. Try your hand at copywriting planning for a while. If it doesn't work out, we can discuss other roles."
"Alright, I understand," Chi Shen replied. Even though he appeared focused, his gaze seemed distant, as if he was recovering from a shock. "I'll be here tomorrow."
Watching Chi Shen leave the interview room, the man inquired, "What's up with him?"
For some reason, Li Xù felt an unexpected ease in breathing. He exhaled deeply, his expression filled with concern, "I hope he lasts. We're really short-staffed right now."
Leaving Yue Dao Culture, Chi Shen didn't rush back to the Bai family mansion. He wanted to give others a chance.
It had been a while since he'd enjoyed the pleasures of the living. Chi Shen decided to dine out and later caught a movie. During this time, he didn't converse with his shadow, and Ji Xing Chen remained absent.
It was 10 pm by the time Chi Shen boarded the last bus back to the Bai mansion.
Arriving at his stop, he didn't head home immediately. Instead, he sat on a bench at the rural bus station, a place deserted save for the dim glow of a single streetlight.
Like a traveler cast out of his home, Chi Shen sat dejectedly, seemingly pondering where to spend the night.
A shadowy figure approached the station—a woman dressed in a floral dress. Her skin was dried and shriveled. No one could be that emaciated unless they weren't human.
"Found you," her voice rasped, as if sandpaper were grinding. Speaking seemed laborious, yet she sounded elated.
Chi Shen's shoulders began to tremble subtly. It looked as if he was terrified, feigning ignorance and not daring to lift his head.
She extended her hand, her chapped fingers reaching for the handsome man's neck on the bench. Her wheezy, raspy laughter echoed around the station, "Nowhere to go? Come with me. Let me drain your blood, and you'll become as cold as me. Then, you won't feel fear anymore."
Suddenly, she halted.
The handsome man on the bench looked up. There wasn't a trace of fear on his face. He was even... laughing!
He was trying so hard to hold back his laughter that his shoulders shook!
The floral-dress woman sensed something was off and promptly took a step back.
A pale hand extended from the handsome man's shadow, grasping her ankle.
"Do you know why I didn't go home?"
Chi Shen tilted his head and smiled warmly at the woman in the floral dress, saying, "Because I was afraid you couldn't enter."
