The Hand of Confession – Chapter 235

Volume 8: The Days of the Ghost Marriage

Cheng Rui

The Second Yun Shengjin

Cheng Rui’s gaze shifted to the end of the small alley as he said vaguely, “You’ll understand in a moment.”

After that, there was no other explanation.

Zhai Yiqiao was extremely uneasy. She looked around. Most of the people were lifeless, like corpses on the verge of decay. She could see no vitality in their faces, no hope…

Their ages varied greatly, and they weren’t glamorous, beautiful, or handsome like celebrities. A variety show would obviously never invite such people as guests.

After a while, another man walked out from the shadows. Shen Maomao frowned and studied him carefully for a couple of seconds before looking down and then back up at Lou Jingmo, speaking with some uncertainty. “This person… why does he look so familiar?”

“I didn’t expect him to still be alive.” A mocking curve touched the corner of Lou Jingmo’s lips. “His name is Yun Shengjin. A hypocrite. Have you forgotten?”

Shen Maomao: “!!” The memories of the first two worlds instantly flooded back. She remembered now. Yun Shengjin was that b#stard who survived by selling out newcomers at critical moments, using them to test the taboos of ghosts and monsters!

“Didn’t he also have a wife… called… what was her name again?”

Lou Jingmo thought for a moment before saying, “I’ve forgotten, too.”

Shen Maomao lamented, “This is truly a star-crossed fate. The game is so big, why do we always run into him?”

Lou Jingmo smiled. “Running into us is his bad luck.”

The two of them hadn’t disguised themselves as they had in the second instance, so Yun Shengjin recognized them at first glance. But he didn’t speak, nor did he come over to reminisce. He just stood where he was with his eyes downcast, showing no intention of swindling the newcomers.

It wasn’t long before everyone arrived. There were a total of 12 people in this instance—six men and six women. The men’s and women’s clothing were respectively uniform. Shen Maomao made a blind guess that their identities were likely servants of that so-called Shao Manor.

Among the twelve people were three newcomers. One was Zhai Yiqiao, who had arrived first. The other two were men: one in his twenties who introduced himself as Tang Lusen¹, and another in his forties named Jiang You².

Shen Maomao didn’t spot Yun Shengjin’s wife among these people. She didn’t know if she hadn’t entered with him or if she had put on some other disguise.

After everyone had gathered, an old man whose clothing clearly indicated a higher status than theirs suddenly appeared before them, startling the three newcomers.

The old man’s face was expressionless, and his voice was raspy as he addressed the crowd. “From now on, you are servants of the Shao Manor. The Young Master is getting married soon, so the manor will be busy. Don’t let me catch you slacking off! This is a post that countless people would beg for. If you don’t want to do it, there are plenty of others who would be happy to take your place.”

No one responded to him, but he didn’t seem to care. Like a freshly reanimated corpse, he turned stiffly and started walking toward the main gate of the Shao Manor.

The players behind him hurriedly followed.

As they drew closer and closer to the manor gates, the guide NPC’s movements became more and more fluid. By the time he stood before two guards, his actions were indistinguishable from those of a living person.

The two guards consciously bowed to him in salute. “Steward Shao.”

To have the surname Shao in the Shao Manor, this steward’s status was likely not too low.

Steward Shao gave a faint nod, his demeanor full of airs. Without even raising his head, he led them inside.

Upon entering the main gate, the first thing they saw was a stone screen wall carved with peonies. After rounding the screen wall, they had truly arrived in the courtyard of the Shao Manor.

Behind the stone wall was a vast pond, over which stretched a stone bridge with nine bends and eighteen turns, along with several uniquely and exquisitely crafted octagonal pavilions. In the very center of the pond was a rockery. The mountain was lush with trees and plants, and koi fish poked their heads out of the water. It was indeed a scene teeming with life and vitality.

They just didn’t know how many hidden dangers lurked beneath such scenery.

Steward Shao led them left and right, finally arriving at a remote little corner. There were many other servants here dressed just like them, each one hurrying along, looking extremely busy.

“You there…” Steward Shao beckoned. “Bi Chun³! Come over and take these people away. I have other business to attend to. You can arrange things for them yourself!”

A girl wiping her hands came forward and answered sweetly, “I know, Steward Shao! You go on and attend to your business! Leave them to me, I guarantee they’ll be settled in properly!”

Steward Shao stroked his beard. “Mm, go on, then. I’ll be leaving.”

Bi Chun watched Steward Shao depart before turning to look at the twelve people present. The smile on her delicate little face was gone. She just jutted her chin toward a small building to the side and said, “You’ll be staying there. Men on the left, women on the right. You can go and put away your luggage first. I’ll go ask the steward matron for instructions and then come back to give you your assignments.”

The players hadn’t brought any luggage, but since Bi Chun had said so, they naturally wouldn’t object. They all nodded and went into the rooms to choose their spots.

The servants’ quarters were naturally not very good. They didn’t have beds, but a large communal sleeping platform of the kind Shen Maomao had seen in the dormitory of her first construction site world, where one’s head had to face the door. On the platform were six bundles of bedding tied up with hemp rope, which perfectly covered the entire surface, as if they had been prepared for them long ago.

Shen Maomao snatched a spot against the wall and had Lou Jingmo sleep next to her. In her experience, the danger and safety levels of the two ends were directly proportional, so she didn’t feel at ease with Lou Jingmo on the outside.

The other three women were a step too late and could only turn to fight for the spots on the other side.

Zhai Yiqiao didn’t understand. She only felt that the corner spot must be very good to have caused such a scramble, so she also joined the fight, but she was ultimately one step behind.

This silent battle quickly came to an end. The ones who had to sleep with their heads facing the door were Zhai Yiqiao and another pretty woman with a tear-shaped mole under her eye.

After the spots were divided, the women began to make their beds. Zhai Yiqiao copied their actions and made her own bed, but she was still completely bewildered even after she finished.

Seeing her confused look reminded Shen Maomao of her former self, so she took the initiative to strike up a conversation, asking, “What kind of trouble did you get into?”

Zhai Yiqiao: “???”

Lou Jingmo laughed out loud without holding back. “Is that any way to ask someone a question?”

Shen Maomao coughed drily and rephrased, “Let me put it another way. Have you ever done anything bad?”

“Bad…” Zhai Yiqiao shifted her gaze away uncomfortably. “What counts as bad? Does being jealous of a classmate for getting first place on an exam and cursing her behind her back count? Does wasting food count? Does not giving up my seat to an old lady on the bus count?”

These were good questions because Shen Maomao also didn’t know the game creator’s definition of good and bad.

Just then, Lou Jingmo suddenly said, “Debauchery, larceny, murder, arson, hit-and-runs, framing the loyal, breaking the law… what do you think you’ve done?”

Zhai Yiqiao’s big eyes darted around nimbly in their sockets as she said, “Heaven is my witness! I have never done anything that breaks the law!”

As she spoke, she sat on the edge of the communal platform, her left leg shaking nonstop. It was obvious she was hiding something.

Lou Jingmo shook her head. “Forget it. Let’s go. Let’s go see the men’s side.”

The other three women had even less intention of talking to the newcomer. Hearing her say this, they immediately got up and walked outside.

Zhai Yiqiao panicked a little and quickly called out to them, “Wait! Are the questions you asked me related to why I’m here? What will happen if I don’t answer? This is my privacy, you don’t need to ask so clearly, do you?”

Shen Maomao sighed and said, “Suit yourself. Someone should explain it to you in a bit. Just listen.”

She saw her own confused and terrified self from her first time in the game in Zhai Yiqiao, but Zhai Yiqiao was not her, after all. After just a few sentences, she lost the impulse to be a Good Samaritan.

—I should just obediently hug this great thigh. I haven’t even graduated from being a baby myself, yet I’m already thinking of letting others hug my thigh. In the end, won’t I just be adding to Lou Jingmo’s burden?

Zhai Yiqiao had no idea what she had just missed. She only felt like an outlier among them, tolerated by no one and unable to integrate into the small circle her roommates had already formed—they seemed to have consciously excluded her, which made her feel a little flustered.

The other servants in the courtyard had disappeared. Perhaps this was the time the instance had set aside for the players to exchange initial information.

The moment she stepped out of the room, the first thing Shen Maomao saw was Yun Shengjin leaning against a vermilion pillar.

Compared to the first instance, Yun Shengjin had changed a lot.

Unlike his polished and highly deceptive appearance in the first world, he now had a layer of dark stubble on his chin, as if he hadn’t had a proper shave in a long time. Moreover, his complexion was extremely pale, looking even whiter than the clouds in the sky, as if he had suffered a major illness and had yet to recover.

Lou Jingmo whispered to her, “His wife has most likely met with misfortune.”

“Eh?” Shen Maomao raised an eyebrow. “You can tell even that?”

Lou Jingmo nodded. “I can’t see any vitality in his face. It’s highly likely he doesn’t want to live anymore.”

Shen Maomao said, “Yun Shengjin’s character is terrible, but his attitude toward love is quite serious.”

Lou Jingmo sneered, “This is what you call serious? If you died, I’d immediately hire a professional mourning troupe for you, so you could experience what true seriousness is.”

Shen Maomao: “?? Can you wish me something good for once??”

The twelve people gathered at the door and exchanged names.

After the names were said, it was time to educate the newcomers.

Shen Maomao glanced at Yun Shengjin.

Yun Shengjin was calmly leaning against that pillar, not having moved for a long time, seemingly completely uninterested in anything happening around him.

In the end, the task of explaining the game’s main situation fell to Cheng Rui.

The stories that had been passed around among the players until they were worn out were narrated by Cheng Rui in a gentle tone. These tales that Shen Maomao had heard before seemed to gain vitality from his lips, becoming even more vivid.

From the basic rules of the 《Confession Game》 to its connection with reality, Cheng Rui was like the gentlest of guides. He explained the general situation in a specific and meticulous manner, coaxing the two young newcomers into switching sides on the spot. They swarmed around Cheng Rui, asking one question after another, to the point that even Shen Maomao, who was just listening in, found it a bit annoying. Yet, not a trace of impatience showed on his face.

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The author has something to say:

That’s right, it’s Yun Shengjin!

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