usatvline Chapter 123 The Eternal Basement
Chapter 123 The Eternal Basement
Ning Xinian looked at herself in the mirror.
There were no wounds on his neck, everything seemed normal, but just three days ago... while participating in a challenge program at home, he knew very well that he was dead.
In that program, he needed to complete a high-altitude project while wearing a safety rope. Ning Xinian was not afraid of heights, and although the others were shouting and yelling, everyone actually knew that there was no great danger.
Ning Xinian thought so too.
Looking at the facility dozens of meters above the ground, he felt a vague unease, which he ultimately attributed to the human instinctive fear of heights.
As he fastened his safety rope and prepared to jump, a wire suddenly appeared in his line of sight—
Just like the terrifying scenes he had imagined countless times when he was a child.
His neck was severed by the wire.
Everything happened too fast. Ning Xinian knew he was dead. He didn't know that the dead could still have thoughts and could see the movements of the living above.
They didn't seem to have noticed the commotion below. Perhaps someone with good eyesight had sensed something was wrong, but out of fear, they said nothing.
They finally saw Ning Xinian, headless, hanging upside down on the safety rope.
"It's so noisy," Ning Xinian thought. He guessed that he had become a ghost, which was why he could see other people's reactions.
He looked down at the people who were terrified by his death, feeling little emotion. Even the fact that he was dead only made him feel... a little surprised.
Ning Xinian, now a ghost, thought about many things. He looked at the world again and discovered that he could see even more things after becoming a ghost.
For example, the dark, deathly aura that keeps appearing on the ground, and the blurry ghostly figures behind some variety show guests.
For a moment, he even had a mischievous thought. He was curious about how his teammates and Song Baiyuan would react when they found out about this. They would definitely be shocked.
Song Baiyuan would probably find his death troublesome, for the group, the company, and his family.
He has to worry about how to explain this to his fans and his family.
What about Yan Xun?
His relationship with me was always ordinary. We wouldn't have exchanged contact information if it weren't for recording a program. I guess if he knew about my death, he would just pretend to mourn and it wouldn't leave any trace in his heart.
Ning Xinian thought a lot, but unfortunately these were just the wild thoughts of a dead man.
Until a voice appeared in his head.
The voice told him that it could help him rise from the dead and even grant most of his wishes.
"What is the price?" Ning Xinian asked.
“You need to believe in me,” the voice said.
Ning Xinian had never had any faith. He looked up at the sky, trying to find the direction of the sound... but he saw that the sky had become covered with countless eyes, a scene that could drive someone with trypophobia crazy.
These eyes, with their double pupils, intensified the fear.
Although the voice did not speak, Ning Xinian knew that these eyes were the mysterious voice.
He nodded, half believing and half doubting.
Then I asked myself what I had to give up.
His eyes simply told him, "It's not a difficult thing."
Ning Xinian didn't believe it, and in the end, he had no choice but to compromise and accept a reward.
"I will borrow your body when needed."
The eyes promised, and as he spoke these words, the countless eyes in the sky blinked together.
This sight made Ning Xinian feel even more disgusted...
The promise of resurrection was too tempting, and he finally nodded hesitantly.
He then inquired about the name of the eyes and how to address this mysterious entity.
His eyes spoke to him.
"My name is Jia Ye."
His tone was humble, not like some aloof, unknown figure, but more like an enthusiastic salesperson.
If Ning Xinian had known a little about these beings before, he would probably know that it's best not to pay attention to anything that's overly enthusiastic or attentive. But he's an atheist, so he agreed to the deal.
And then...
Ning Xinian blinked again and found himself on the high platform. He did not jump down.
He went to look for the wire that had killed him, but this time the wire was nowhere to be found.
It was as if everything was a dream of his.
Jia Ye never appeared again. If Yan Xun hadn't mentioned the name again, Ning Xinian might have truly forgotten that he had once made a deal with a mysterious being.
What made him even more uneasy and unbearable was...
He even suspected that the wire was also intentionally designed—
The production team said that they had had the safety officer check the premises several times before filming, and that there would be absolutely no safety incidents.
If there really was such a wire, they should have noticed it.
……
Yan Xun looked into the bathroom; Ning Xinian had been inside for quite some time.
It took so long that he suspected the other person had fainted in the bathroom.
He Jingtang, who was next to him, said that they wanted to play a dating game instead of a scary one.
"You have quite a wide range of interests," Yan Xun commented.
He Jingtang took it as him praising himself and found a dating game.
The protagonist is a college student who seems a bit aloof. Because of his poor family background, he has to work odd jobs everywhere.
"Let me see, there are a few potential romance options."
He Jingtang looked at the game's description: "A neighbor older sister with no blood relation raises the protagonist."
"I like the melancholic, beautiful girl who follows the protagonist around."
"A red-haired beauty with a warm personality who takes special care of the protagonist."
"A cold and beautiful girl who doesn't like the protagonist, but secretly pays attention to him."
"The protagonist's junior, a beautiful girl who obeys the protagonist's every word."
"...Does this game planner only know the three words 'beautiful girl'?" Yan Xun questioned He Jingtang's taste in game collecting.
"I don't know, let's try it out first," He Jingtang said.
Since dating games can't be played by two people together, He Jingtang said to Yan Xun, "You play, and I'll give directions."
Yan Xun: "..." But still following He Jingtang's instructions, he manipulated the protagonist to win over the beautiful girl beside him.
They decided to temporarily pursue the gloomy, beautiful girl who was inseparable from the protagonist.
Soon, the character on the screen presented a branching option.
[Hey A, do you like me?]
【like】
【dislike】
“Of course, we’ll choose the one we like!” He Jingtang said from the side.
Yan Xun saved the file first, and then selected "like".
The character on the screen suddenly gave a bitter smile, "Liar! You clearly don't like me. I hate liars the most!"
After saying that, he pulled out a fruit knife and stabbed the protagonist.
Yan Xun: "..."
He Jingtang: "..."
Seeing the bad ending screen that the two of them had created, Yan Xun chose the branch option again: "I don't like it".
So you don't like me? I clearly like you so much, how could you not like me??
The characters on the screen smiled.
It's okay, you'll come to like me.
Then the screen went black, and then the protagonist was locked in the basement forever.
The two of them chose the Bad Ending (BE) option again.
Just as the two in the living room were questioning their existence, Ning Xinian, who had fainted in the bathroom due to Yan Xun's concern, finally left the bathroom.
His gaze lingered for a moment on the ending CG of "BE - The Eternal Basement" on the screen before turning to Yan Xun sitting on the sofa.
He took a deep breath and smiled slightly.
Ning Xinian walked to the sofa, stood behind Yan Xun, and bent down to look at the game screen.
"Yan Xun".
"I want to play this game too."
Can you teach me how to play?