39: Haunted by a ghost?

At 7:40 PM, dozens of diners had already gathered next to the public restroom, some sitting, some standing, their faces filled with anticipation.

Qi Yuan and the others looked at each other, their eyes showing worry.

People were still continuously coming from around the corner ahead, chatting and laughing with friends along the way, looking truly radiant and carefree.

Qi Yuan shook his head, wondering if the little boss really wasn't going to set up his stall. Would these diners, who had come early to grab a spot, still be smiling?

No, no, stop, don't think about such terrifying things!

Just thinking about possibly never eating that delicious stinky tofu again made Qi Yuan feel like his future life would be bleak.

Time slowly passed.

Suddenly, an unknown diner shouted, "It's seven o'clock!"

The open space in front of the public restroom, already packed with people, instantly fell silent for a moment.

Then, a cheer like a rising tide echoed through the air.

But after a few minutes, the diners at the very front, seeing that the little boss's cart had not appeared, thought it might be blocked by the people behind them and quickly shouted loudly:

"People in the back, move aside quickly, don't block the little boss's cart."

And the people in the middle of the line, hearing this, also quickly relayed the message backward.

Hearing the people in front shouting, those at the end of the line looked at each other in confusion.

They hadn't seen the little boss's cart? What were they shouting about?

Wait!

Something's not right!

Some diners reacted, their faces showing surprise.

That's right, it's already past 7:10 PM, why haven't they seen the little boss appear on his bike yet?!

Could he not be setting up his stall today?

No, it can't be... Maybe he's just stuck in traffic or got delayed by something.

Some diners clutched their chests, suppressing their pounding hearts, and forced smiles as they speculated with those next to them.

Yes, even in the past few days, the little boss had appeared on time.

Can't he be a little late today?

Wait a little longer!

They absolutely had to eat stinky tofu tonight!

Some diners' faces showed a determined expression.

Qi Yuan and the others, in the middle of the line, saw this and simultaneously showed bitter expressions.

Especially Qi Yuan, to verify whether Lu Chuan was really not setting up his stall, he had even skipped evening self-study and rushed here early to queue.

Yet, it was already past seven, and Lu Chuan still hadn't appeared.

Could it really be as Li An said, that Lu Chuan wasn't setting up his stall anymore?!

---

Achoo!

The night wind brought a chill.

Lu Chuan couldn't help but sneeze, then looked up in confusion, and the next second, continued to look down and binge-watch his drama.

---

It was eight o'clock.

The little boss still hadn't set up his stall, so it seemed he wasn't coming today.

Most of the diners left, their faces ashen.

Only a few loyal diners still firmly believed that the little boss was just a little late.

For that incredibly delicious stinky tofu, what was another hour's wait?

Some even looked at the departing people with a sneer, believing they weren't true gourmands.

As for Qi Yuan and the others, they had already left in despair half an hour ago.

---

"It's eight o'clock now."

From setting up the stall at six to now, not a single item had been sold.

Lu Chuan finally couldn't take it anymore.

"System, you keep backstabbing me, what good does it do you?"

Good question, but shouldn't the host ask himself if he seized the opportunity?

"Huh? What do you mean?"

Lu Chuan scratched his head in confusion.

But after waiting for a while and realizing the System hadn't spoken again, he could only sullenly pick up his phone again.

However, after watching a drama for a while, the anxiety of potentially failing the mission eventually took over.

He frowned in thought, wondering what the System's words meant.

What did "seize the opportunity" mean?

Did it refer to the two people who had just entered the Haunted House?

But weren't they just two lunatics?

Exploring a Haunted House late at night, even though the System said there were no ghosts, humans aren't only afraid of ghosts.

This Haunted House had been abandoned for so many years, who knew what it had become inside.

If something scared them badly, would the money they earned as streamers be enough for medical expenses?

Lu Chuan couldn't understand and could only shake his head.

Perhaps the opportunity the System spoke of didn't refer to them.

---

"Ba... Ba Ge, something's not right here!"

Xiao Hu walked through the abandoned Haunted House, using the flashlight's beam to look at the surroundings.

It was very desolate, yet it exuded an indescribable sense of eeriness.

It was as if he were walking in a medieval vampire castle, being spied upon by mysterious creatures hidden in the shadows.

With every step, hearing the crunching sound of his feet on sand and broken glass, goosebumps rose all over his body.

"Yes, yes, something's not quite right, huh!"

Baba Le swallowed, but seeing the enthusiastic discussions from the viewers in the live stream, and occasional gifts being sent, his desire for money eventually outweighed his fear.

He turned, forced a smile, and shouted into the camera:

"Tonight, we're going to explore this Haunted House, and take our family members to uncover its secrets, sealed away for many years."

"Family members who like the live stream, click the free heart button!"

"Big brothers with money to spare, please send the streamer some small gifts, your gifts are the streamer's motivation!"

Just then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a sudden look of terror on Xiao Hu's face.

Baba Le's scalp instantly tingled, and a bad premonition swept over him.

No... it can't be, you brat, are you doing this again?

Wait, why did I say "again"?

In terror, Baba Le trembled as he turned around, looking behind him.

He found that nothing had happened behind him, which immediately made him furious.

He turned to scold Xiao Hu.

But Xiao Hu was already pointing at him, screaming:

"Ba Ge, it... it's on your forehead!!!!!"

These words instantly made Baba Le's face turn pale, and only then did he realize his head felt a little heavy.

"Ah!!!!!!!!!!!!"

A soaring, melodious tenor voice, full of twists and turns, completely echoed within the Haunted House.

"He... help!"

Baba Le's snot and tears flowed out as he lunged towards Xiao Hu.

"Don't come near me!!!!"

In a moment of crisis, he no longer cared that the other person was his boss.

Xiao Hu cried out "Mama" and rushed towards the Haunted House's entrance they had come through.

Baba Le, close behind him, also scrambled and stumbled, desperately chasing after him.

The two ran out of the main door and still wouldn't stop, continuing to charge forward with their heads down, until they saw the small pushcart and the young man engrossed in his drama.

Only then did they seem to have found a savior, the look of terror on their faces eased somewhat, and their pounding hearts finally settled back into their chests.

"Help, help, it's really haunted!"

Xiao Hu rushed to the stall in a panic, and only when he was completely enveloped by the warm, soft light did he finally relax.

He looked at Baba Le, who was chasing closely behind and seemed to be possessed by a ghost, and stammered as he shouted to Lu Chuan:

"Little boss, it's bad, my boss is possessed by a ghost!!!!"