“I saw that you were under a lot of pressure, so I bought a secondhand gaming helmet. It’s for an Iyashikei game. The boss said this could help one relax and heal mental wounds.” Liu Yi said proudly, but then she noticed Gao Ming had a strange expression. He was not happy and looked quite awkward.
“What’s wrong?” Liu Yi knelt beside the helmet. Gao Ming’s reaction was different from the videos he saw online. Whenever a girlfriend bought their boyfriend a game, their boyfriends would be so happy.
“What’s the name of this game?” Gao Ming studied the clean gaming helmet.
“I think it’s called lay flat and earn money simulator. It’s set inside a supermarket.” Liu Yi was not certain. The gaming helmet didn’t have any labels. It came with free cables and a converter. The box only had the shop address and contact number.
“Let’s eat first. There are so many virtual games these days.” Gao Ming placed the helmet beside the dresser. He didn’t pick a random spot. Ever since he joined that haunted chatroom, he could see an extra figure at night. The person was always standing there. He might be able to trap the ghost in the game.
Gao Ming came back from the kitchen with the dishes when he saw Liu Yi sneakily take out bottles of wine from the shopping bag. She planned to make Gao Ming go drunk and do something to him. Gao Ming didn’t stop her from mixing the alcohol. He even praised her.
After dinner, the buzzed Liu Yi started to grouse about work. Gao Ming nodded along. Then, they chatted about the developers who abandoned their housing project. Liu Yi gripped her fists. If she had the chance, she would take revenge on them. When Gao Ming was with Liu Yi, he felt relaxed. He didn’t need to think about those scary things. He just needed to stay at home quietly.
“You should go shower and rest.” Gao Ming looked at Liu Yi, who had collapsed on the couch. She really couldn’t handle her alcohol. After cleaning up the kitchen, Gao Ming carried Liu Yi to the bed. He took the living room couch. He glanced at the gaming helmet in the corner. “It should be a coincidence, right?”
Gao Ming wandered off to bed. Gao Ming believed he saw someone put on the helmet, enter a supermarket, and become an employee.
The sun shone into the room. Liu Yi turned off the alarm in a hurry. As she yelled that she was late, she ran into the bathroom. Fa Cai bounced after her like she was playing with him.
“I’m slowly getting used to this.” Lying on the couch, Gao Ming allowed the sun to shine on his face. He didn’t find it blinding. If anything, he appreciated all these.
Not long after Liu Yi left for work, Gao Ming received a message from Bai Feng. The woman had messaged Tang Qing to book the level five test. A car would go to fetch Bai Feng at her home that noon. The location of the level five lab was a secret. Every test procedure was different.
Gao Ming departed to stay with Bai Feng. He took everything he needed and put other stuff to confuse others should his bag be checked. Gao Ming reached Bai Feng’s home at 9 am. Once he entered, he smelled the fragrance of cooking.
Bai Feng looked so homely in her apron. Her eyes were not as sharp. She was like a normal mother. “I don’t know if I can return this time. I’ve made many dishes. Come eat with me.”
Bai Feng treated Gao Ming as her child. The food she made was Bai Xiao and Bai Qiao’s favourites.
“It’ll be fine.” Gao Ming became a good listener. Bai Feng was unusually chatty. She shared her past with Gao Ming. People became chattier when they feared they wouldn’t have the chance to share their stories in the future. At noon, a normal-looking van parked outside Bai Feng’s home. She got a notice from Tang Qing.
“They are here.” Bai Feng cleaned the late plate and wiped down the stove. She removed her apron and walked out with Gao Ming. Two workers in a moving company uniform stood beside the van. One of them verified Bai Feng’s identity. Then, he looked at Gao Ming in confusion.
“He is my assistant. Didn’t Tang Qing tell me that I can select three assistants to help me?” Bai Feng said.
The man nodded and glanced at Gao Ming’s black band. While no one was around, he opened the backdoor and signalled Bai Feng and Gao Ming to get in the car. They didn’t converse at all. They wore sunglasses, masks and caps to conceal their appearances.
The car door closed. The cabin was dark. Gao Ming felt someone put a helmet on his head. He tried to call for Bai Feng, but no one answered. However, he felt a warm palm grab his arm. After the light was removed, every second felt extended. After a long time, Gao Ming heard the door open. He was led down the car. The hand that held him didn’t let go. They should still be linked.
There was no movement that could give him any tips. About ten minutes later, Gao Ming caught a faint scent of medicine in the air. It was a very special scent. It was not cloying. In fact, it helped one relax. He believed he had smelled this at the hospital.
“Is it that doctor? Xuan Wen?”
There were more noises around him. Gao Ming was led around for a bit when a pair of hands grabbed his helmet.
“You shouldn’t have come back.”
The familiar voice said. Gao Ming just wanted to turn around when he was hit by vertigo. As the door closed, the helmet fell off on its own. Pairs of eyes lit up in the dark.
There were other people standing in the room besides Gao Ming and Bai Feng. They wore black bands. They should be there for the test too.
“There are quite a few of us.” Once Gao Ming spoke, people looked at him. Bai Feng guarded Gao Ming behind her.
The room was silent. No one came to help them.
The testers looked around the room. Eventually, all of them gathered before an altar.
The altar was different from the others Gao Ming had encountered. There were no figurines or plaques. Instead, a paper doll sat formally inside.