Who is Helping Me Win by Lying Down [Transmigration] - Chapter 61

Chapter 61

The production team, being fiercely criticized by the audience, was scratching their heads in frustration backstage.

The assistant said, Director, this isn’t looking good!

The director grimaced, You don’t say.

Listening to the screams from the screen, the assistant was internally screaming too: The first level was estimated to take an hour and a half, but it’s only been forty minutes and they’ve already cleared it—and that includes the time they spent chatting outside. The live broadcast duration is completely insufficient now. What should we do?

The director raised his hand to cover his face.

He never expected that, even without letting this group rehearse, they would breeze through it so easily.

Director?

The director sighed, Enough said. We can only take it one step at a time now. Fortunately, even if Chen Shu is clever, he won’t be able to speed up the next level. A difference of a few dozen minutes is still acceptable.

The assistant had no choice but to step back.

The director turned his attention back to the monitor.

On screen, Xue Yifan’s fear had subsided by half over time.

He leaned against the door, hand pressed to his chest as he caught his breath.

He felt his image had completely crumbled in the less-than-an-hour they’d been playing, so he gave up all restraint without a care.

This game isn’t for humans. Hurry up and turn me into a ghost too!

Su Yue circled around him: You say that so convincingly. Who knows if you might be the killer, deliberately saying this to mess with everyone’s judgment.

…Having the reasoning logic previously used against Chen Shu rebound back on himself, Xue Yifan looked indignant but had no retort.

Alright, stop messing around, Gu Hongye said. Chen Shu mentioned earlier that it’s best for everyone to stick together. That way, we have the highest chance of identifying the killer. If you go off alone, be careful you don’t really get mercilessly killed by the killer.

Xue Yifan’s bravery ended there.

He stood by the door for a while, thinking it over, then reluctantly shuffled step by step behind Chen Shu.

Class president, I believe in you. You can’t kill me.

Su Yue said, Weren’t you just begging for death earlier?

Xue Yifan said righteously, Let bygones be bygones.

There’s writing on the back of this paper. Jiang Yan was squatting beside the doll collapsed at the doorway. He lifted the note pasted on the doll’s face and read, Not everyone is qualified to live until midnight. One by one, I only give you two hours of respite, until tonight when none shall survive.

This was explaining the game rules to the players and reiterating them for the audience. All six quickly understood.

So the killer will come to kill every two hours, Duan Xu said.

Gu Hongye exclaimed in surprise, None shall survive? Then the killer will die too?

Jiang Yan said, This shows the killer also feels guilt over Mi Shi’s suicide and wants to use death to atone for the mistake made back then.

Gu Hongye raised her hand: We’ve already cleared one Escape Room, and the killer could strike at any moment. Shouldn’t we discuss this issue? The enemy is in the dark, and we’re in the light!

Xue Yifan said, I agree.

Chen Shu had no objections either.

With unanimous approval, Gu Hongye instinctively took charge: Then let’s start with the bootlicker. Tell us your thoughts.

Hearing this name, Su Yue couldn’t help but burst out laughing again.

Duan Xu could only pretend not to hear and said, The person who feels guilty toward Mi Shi—first is the class monitor suspected by her ex-boyfriend, because the monitor visited her grave, indicating he’s still haunted by what happened back then. However, we only found the key to this place thanks to the monitor, so I don’t think it’s him. I’m more suspicious of the Coward.

Su Yue’s laughter cut off abruptly: Brown-noser, don’t use this as an excuse for personal revenge!

Actually, I also suspect the Coward, Jiang Yan said. The reason is obvious to everyone—the Coward and Mi Shi were close friends back then. It’d be normal for her to feel guilty.

Xue Yifan added fuel to the fire: Especially since she was originally persuaded by us not to report us to the police. She might have grown angrier over time, eventually developing a desire to kill us to avenge Mi Shi.

Everyone looked at Su Yue.

Su Yue found herself unable to defend against the accusations.

Here, she was indeed the most suspicious potential killer.

After all, among the six people present, the other five were all implicated in driving Mi Shi to suicide—only she had done nothing wrong before Mi Shi’s death.

It’s not me! she could only say weakly. How could it be me? If I wanted revenge for Mi Shi, I’d just go to the police! Why go through all this trouble?

Gu Hongye shook her head: That’s not a strong enough reason.

Su Yue opened her mouth, instinctively looking at Chen Shu: Class Monitor, you have to stand up for me!

Chen Shu only said, With the information we currently have, we can’t confirm who the killer is. For focused discussion, we should first lay out all the information we know, then compare it with what we’ve learned from the Escape Room. Through this information, we can then target specific evidence.

They needed to identify the killer first to ensure they wouldn’t be misled about the escape route and waste effort.

Uh, Xue Yifan said, Is that really necessary…

I think it is! Our lives are at stake, friends! We can’t keep hiding things anymore. I’ll go first! Su Yue hurriedly said. I did consider avenging Mi Shi. To be honest, I came here specifically for that purpose. If not for this accident, I’d be at the police station right now.

After speaking, she pulled a letter from her pocket. This is the suicide note Mi Shi left me back then.

Xue Yifan fumed: Well! You traitor!

Su Yue put her hands on her hips: You’re the scumbags! The law will punish you!

In that case… Jiang Yan glanced at Xue Yifan. Then I’ll report too—the ex-boyfriend actually had a crush on Mi Shi back then. Because she repeatedly rejected his confessions, his love turned to hatred, and he formed a clique to isolate and bully Mi Shi.

Gu Hongye was furious: What! You scumbag! You have me, the class belle, and you’re still not satisfied? You actually wanted to two-time!

Xue Yifan gasped sharply: Well, P.E. Representative, you’re no longer my brother!

Fine by me, Su Yue waved dismissively, focusing on only one thing. Oh, I get it! You saw the letter behind the cabinet and were afraid everyone would pinpoint you as the killer, so you’ve been trying to pin the killer label on someone else! You had feelings for Mi Shi—you’re the most suspicious!

See! Xue Yifan became agitated too. This is exactly why I was afraid of such rash conclusions! Love isn’t a crime!

Su Yue spat at him: Love isn’t a crime, but you are. You scumbag.

… Xue Yifan was left speechless.

Gu Hongye proceeded to introduce her own background.

Back then, under the influence of her ex-boyfriend’s whispers, she had used her social connections to help him isolate Mi Shi. After Mi Shi’s suicide, she did break up with her ex-boyfriend out of guilt, but she neither had a crush on Mi Shi nor was she Mi Shi’s friend, so she truly had no standing to seek revenge for her.

Ah, I was just too naive, Gu Hongye said affectedly, smoothing her hair.

Xue Yifan sneered at her: Cut the crap. You drove someone to suicide and still call that naive? That’s pure malice!

Gu Hongye bowed her head in remorse: Yes, yes, I regret it now.

Duan Xu continued with his introduction: I isolated Mi Shi because before she was bullied, I was the one being isolated by everyone. I didn’t want to be treated as invisible anymore, so I took this opportunity to try to fit in with the group.

Su Yue asked: But I remember after Mi Shi’s suicide, you weren’t isolated anymore. So why did you still suck up to the ex-boyfriend and the class athletic committee member?

Duan Xu was too ashamed to show his face: To be honest, I did feel somewhat guilty about Mi Shi’s suicide, but more than that, I felt secretly pleased. Because after she died, it felt like the whole class shared some kind of common secret and bond. Especially with the ex-boyfriend and the athletic committee member – they were the main instigators and also the most popular people in class. By joining them, I would never be invisible again.

Tsk tsk tsk, Su Yue said. You’re one scheming brown-noser.

Duan Xu shrugged.

The remaining Chen Shu and Jiang Yan each introduced their backgrounds.

Chen Shu’s current persona was that of a poor class monitor who had been corrupted by the ex-boyfriend’s money and forced to stand by indifferently. After learning about Mi Shi’s suicide by jumping, he felt extremely guilty and often imagined what might have happened if he had responded to Mi Shi’s cries for help. Because of this, he would visit Mi Shi’s grave every year.

Jiang Yan was the chuunibyou athletic committee member who would do anything for his bros. Being close with the ex-boyfriend, he helped bully Mi Shi. After learning that Mi Shi had reported them to the homeroom teacher, he once dragged Mi Shi by her hair in front of all the teachers and students on their floor, locking her in the equipment room and taking pleasure in hearing her cry and beg for mercy.

After hearing this, Su Yue stamped her foot in anger: You two are absolutely despicable Masters of scum!

Jiang Yan nodded, quite agreeing with her assessment: Indeed, too scummy.

Gu Hongye summarized: Looking at it now, the most suspicious are the class monitor, the coward, and the ex-boyfriend. You all have motives or indirect evidence.

Jiang Yan said: Agreed.

Duan Xu said: I still don’t think it’s the class monitor.

Xue Yifan, now one of the suspects, stuck to his viewpoint: Maybe the class monitor is using this tactic to gain our trust so he can kill us more easily.

As he spoke, he glanced at Chen Shu.

Chen Shu said: I didn’t suspect you originally, but since you keep trying to frame me, I need to reconsider your suspicion.

Don’t say that! Xue Yifan’s eyes lit up. Class Monitor, you’re the smartest one here. Quick, tell us why you don’t suspect me!

Gu Hongye was also puzzled: Yes, why don’t you suspect him? I actually think he’s the most suspicious person right now.

The only concrete information the killer had revealed so far was liking Mi Shi plus being willing to do anything to get her attention. Xue Yifan matched this description perfectly. Most importantly, to cover this up, he had been steering the group to suspect Chen Shu and Su Yue.

There are three reasons, Chen Shu said. First, he was one of the most popular people in the class back then, repeatedly confessed to Mi Shi, which contradicts the style of whoever designed this escape room.

Gu Hongye stroked her chin: That seems quite logical.

Chen Shu had previously mentioned the psychology of the killer—they don’t want to be exposed but secretly crave discovery.

Xue Yifan was already as exposed as one could possibly be.

Su Yue couldn’t wait to hear Chen Shu’s next point: What’s the second reason?

Second, if the ex-boyfriend were the killer, he would at least be familiar with this place and mentally prepared before each incident. But judging by his behavior from the moment he entered the escape room until now, Chen Shu paused, it’s likely his first time.

Xue Yifan: …

Wasn’t this blatantly looking down on his courage?!

Gu Hongye initially thought fear could be faked.

But recalling Xue Yifan’s reactions along the way, she found it hard to say that out loud.

That kind of terrified howling would be difficult to fake convincingly.

The bullet screen comments erupted with laughter.

Hahahaha Xue Yifan’s expression is killing me!

Hahahaha Xue Yifan definitely never imagined that before the first season even ends, his memes would be all over the country!!

Joke around all you want, but don’t mess with the killer—Xue Yifan, remember that?!

Chen Shu’s logic is so sharp! Even with my god’s-eye view I’m terrified, yet he stays calm and analyzes everything so clearly—I’m totally in love!!

Doesn’t anyone else think Chen Shu is suspicious? The way he analyzes things, he’s the only one who’s calm from start to finish—could the killer be him??

I don’t care! Even if Chen Shu is the killer, he’s my safe zone!! Holding tight to Chen Shu!!!

The guests remained unaware of the discussions in the bullet screen comments.

Duan Xu followed up: And the third reason, what is it?

Chen Shu said: The killer can lie.

Gu Hongye immediately caught on: You mean, on the surface only three of you have motives, but actually there’s a fourth person who deliberately hid information unfavorable to themselves?

Chen Shu nodded: Mm.

Su Yue scratched her head in confusion and said bluntly: Class president, just tell us who you suspect the most right now?

Chen Shu glanced past Duan Xu and looked at Jiang Yan: The brown-noser and the P.E. monitor.

These were two completely unexpected answers.

Neither of them had apparent motives.

Xue Yifan couldn’t help asking: Why?

Chen Shu said: Their reasons for bullying Mi Shi don’t match the actual intensity of their bullying.

Gu Hongye had another moment of realization: Now that you mention it, it’s true! The P.E. monitor bullied Mi Shi more viciously than the ex-boyfriend, and the brown-noser only did it to fit in—he could’ve just gone through the motions.

Xue Yifan asked: What about the class belle? She even incited her friends to bully.

Chen Shu said: She mostly engaged in isolation.

Xue Yifan thought for a moment and nodded: True.

After a few more minutes of discussion, Gu Hongye clapped her hands: Alright, now everyone has a general idea. Let’s continue searching for clues and evidence!

The suggestion was unanimously approved.

So everyone promptly gathered behind Chen Shu.

One clutching the back of his shirt, one tugging his sleeve, one gripping the fabric on his back…

Duan Xu also walked slightly behind Chen Shu: I never expected that despite trying so hard to defend you, I’d end up a suspect myself. Chen Shu replied: In games, everyone is equal.

Xue Yifan clapped vigorously. Well said!

The moment his words faded—

Snap!

A light overhead flickered on instantly.

Ah—!! Xue Yifan leaped in place, his clapping hands flailing wildly in the air as if seized by a fit. A second later, regaining his senses, he quietly grabbed hold of Chen Shu’s sleeve, embarrassed by his earlier reaction.

As the light came on,

a door on the left side of the corridor came into view of the six people.

Then, a soft girl’s laughter echoed once more.

Her voice rolled through the hallway, seeming to approach from afar before abruptly halting right in front of them.

Just as Xue Yifan let out a sigh of relief,

a screeching noise—like nails scraping a blackboard—pierced the air!

The girl’s voice flickered in and out:

Let’s~ start~ roll~ call~

Class monitor… Class monitor… Xue Yifan’s breathing grew rapid again. What roll call? Who’s being called? How are we doing this?

Chen Shu replied honestly, I’m not sure either.

Su Yue swallowed hard.

With only one door in front of them, she recalled their earlier discovery in the office and instinctively shifted her flashlight beam toward it.

She asked, Could there be words on the door too?

Under the light, characters indeed appeared.

Jiang Yan read them aloud: Husband leads, wife follows.

As his voice trailed off,

Creak—

A door on the left side of the corridor made a sound, swinging open on its own, slowly revealing a narrow gap.

Inside, a faint, bloody glow seeped out.

The silvery laughter drifted once more, light and melodious.

This time, it came from beyond the door.

Come play hide-and-seek with me~

Author’s note: ??