American variety show world begins with subduing Jason

"Hello, Mrs. Sarah, I'm so sorry, I drove around on the country roads for a while before finding this place. I'm Marlo, the one who contacted you last time, and this time the lessee."

Professor Marlow extended his hand apologetically, holding two banknotes in his palm.

"We have quite a lot of stuff. Could you and this gentleman help us out? Give us those big boxes, and you can take the rest."

This gesture, ostensibly to ask for the luggage but actually to slip a tip as a gesture of appeasement, was quite appropriate.

But to Professor Marlowe's surprise, Mrs. Sarah merely shook his hand slightly and did not take the banknotes. She frowned and said:

“I’m sorry, Mr. Maro, we absolutely will not stay here after sunset. Dinner has been prepared and is in the dining room.”

She raised her arm and pointed to the cars parked nearby, "The other guests have arrived. Please have them relay the important information to us. We'd like to excuse ourselves..."

Before Mrs. Sarah could finish speaking, the old gentleman's eyes lit up, he forced a smile, stepped forward, grabbed the banknotes, and interrupted:

"Okay, but let's make it clear first, we can only stay for a short while, let's go upstairs!"

Mrs. Sarah raised her eyebrows, tightened her lips, and first gave the old man a somewhat annoyed glare before reluctantly saying:

"Then please hurry, we have to leave in ten minutes... no, in five minutes."

As she spoke, she took a suitcase that her assistant had carried down and walked into the entryway on her own.

A reader actually tipped me 100 Qidian coins! I'm so ashamed to accept such a reward, given how slow and poor my writing is.

〒_〒

Chapter 67 Meeting

Presumably, as legend has it, the wealthy textile merchant Hugh Corrian intended to build this estate into a family heirloom, hence the house was constructed with exquisite materials and solid workmanship.

Whether it's the marble tiles of various colors on the ground or the sculptures of different sizes and materials scattered around, they are still basically intact despite the passage of time. Only their colors are slightly dull, making it almost impossible to realize that this is actually an old house that has been vacant for a hundred years.

Only the faint, almost imperceptible, musty smell of oxidized wood and textiles in the air tells the story of the vicissitudes of history here.

As Zhu Mingyao passed the landing of the double-staircase in the lobby, he seemingly casually glanced at the portrait oil painting hanging on the wall in the center, whose features were already blurred.

He then lowered his eyelids and followed the crowd up as if nothing had happened.

Although Mrs. Sarah, who was leading the way, had a cold face, she still dutifully explained the various things to pay attention to when checking in.

“My husband York and I come here at seven o’clock every morning, make breakfast at seven-forty, and then start cleaning. We have lunch at noon, and you can choose to eat in the dining room or the living room. We leave here before five o’clock in the evening and return to town. Dinner will be prepared in advance and placed in the dining room.”

She slammed open the old-fashioned carved wooden door of the guest room, put down her suitcase, and continued speaking:

"The nearest house is nine kilometers away, so no one will come even if something happens, therefore..."

She paused slightly, looking at the group with a subtle expression.

"Be careful, lock the door, and if anything happens, just stay awake until dawn."

Although Professor Marlowe felt that Sarah the housekeeper was making a mountain out of a molehill, he was relieved to think that these locals had grown up with the legends of the haunted manor and politely nodded in agreement.

"Hey! Are you the organizers of the experiment?" A blond young man poked his head out from the next room.

"Hello, my name is Luke, and I'm a volunteer for this psychological experiment." A blond young man wearing a blue sweater walked out of the room and greeted everyone cheerfully.

Before Professor Marlow and the young man could exchange more than a few words, Mrs. Sarah glanced impatiently at the clock in the corridor, her face darkening slightly as she said:

"Excuse me, gentlemen, please continue your conversation. We must be leaving now."

As a housekeeper, such behavior was rather impolite, but since none of the people present were there specifically for a vacation, they didn't dwell on her somewhat perfunctory service.

They casually said goodbye without much thought, then watched Mrs. Sarah and her husband, Old York, turn and leave before continuing their conversation.

Seeing this, Zhu Mingyao's eyes darted around twice, he took two inconspicuous steps back, quietly went downstairs, and followed him.

……

"You're so embarrassing!"

Mrs. Sarah stood at the entrance and complained angrily.

"Go get the car, I don't want to stay here for another minute."

The elderly woman who looked like the cleaner, who was also her husband York, shrank back and didn't dare to argue loudly, only muttering to herself as she walked towards her car.

"...Isn't that all to get more of our retirement money? If it weren't for that, who would come here?"

Besides, it's only a little later, nothing will happen. Over the years, at most, someone has just broken their leg from being so scared..."

Looks like he's henpecked...

Zhu Mingyao, who was following behind, happened to see this scene. He approached and politely asked in a low voice:

"My dear lady, judging from what your husband said, there seems to be something 'special' here, isn't there?"

"No one has died, so don't worry!" the old woman replied curtly. She looked back and, seeing that the boy was quite young, softened her tone as much as possible.

"Isn't this what you big city folks come here for? You come here to follow the legends, then get scared and scream, and then leave with a look of excitement on your faces."

"I really don't understand why you young people like seeking thrills so much?"

"Looks like quite a few people have been here and given it 'good reviews,' right?" Zhu Mingyao made a small face and smiled as he pulled out a twenty-gold coin from his pocket and handed it over.

"I've heard that the fresh apple juice produced here is quite good. Madam, could you please take some with you for breakfast tomorrow? Thank you for your help."

Mrs. Sarah hesitated for a moment, then took the money and said:

"Not many people come here. After all, this place is too remote, and it has only been open for two years. Locals used to not come near here. Only people like you... come here to have some fun."

Perhaps because the boy was quite polite, she stared at the old Honda her husband had driven over and said a few more words:

"Close the doors and windows when you go to sleep at night, wear earmuffs, and don't worry about anything else. It's just some noise. It's been like this for decades. Don't panic and hurt yourself, and nothing will happen."

After saying that, Mrs. Sarah opened the car door and got in. At her repeated urging, the car hurriedly drove off, as if something was chasing after it, leaving only a trail of dust behind.

Watching the housekeeper and his wife hurry away, Zhu Mingyao scratched his chin, a thoughtful look on his face.

He strolled to the gate, carefully closing the iron gate, leaving it slightly ajar. He turned back, squinting, watching the dappled sunlight cast on the windows of the manor buildings. He silently murmured to himself:

"Never hurt anyone? That's interesting."

……

The boy returned to the house and slowly walked around the hall.

There are sculptures of all kinds everywhere here: alabaster, bronze, marble, freestanding sculptures, reliefs, on wall decorations, on pillars, on stair railings, plants, animals, and of course, people, but the most numerous are children.

Zhu Mingyao touched and tapped around, looking just like an ordinary, curious young man.

He lowered his head, his fingers gently brushing over the bronze griffin lying on the stone platform in front of him. He bent his middle finger and flicked it slightly, listening to the hollow echo, and nodded to himself.

Turning around, Zhu Mingyao's gaze swept around the room inch by inch, finally settling on a wall in the hall.

Two decorative false doors, each about three meters high, are embedded in the wall. The doors appear to be made of black basalt and are decorated with reliefs depicting a group of undead skeletons struggling in hell.

The carving lines are smooth and the figures are vivid. Judging from Zhu Mingyao's limited appreciation of art, although there is still some trace of craftsmanship, it is still above average.

He looked at it for a while with his eyelids slightly lowered, seemingly a little disappointed, and then looked away.

Just then, a lively voice came from the second floor, accompanied by footsteps that were sometimes light and sometimes heavy, as people came down the stairs.

The one leading the way was not Professor Marlowe, but a young woman with black hair, red lips, almond eyes, and peach-blossom cheeks.

She wore a pair of sparkling silver dangling earrings, her fitted magenta velvet coat accentuated her graceful curves, and her black high-heeled leather boots clicked crisply on the stone bricks, making her look fashionable and glamorous.

“Oh, and there’s another one… young friend. Are you also a volunteer participating in the experiment?” The woman raised an eyebrow, extended her hand familiarly, and smiled, revealing her teeth.

Looking at the radiant young woman who bore a striking resemblance to the movie star from his past life, Zhu Mingyao smiled slightly, extended his hand, and gently shook it, speaking before Professor Maro could say anything:

"You're far from it, beautiful lady. I'm just a junior intern who came here to do odd jobs for Professor Maro through a friend's introduction. I'm just helping out in this experiment."

The young woman clapped her fair and slender hands and tilted her head playfully.

"Alright, handsome young intern, and everyone else, stop standing there!"

I can already smell the aroma of dinner. Anna and I have been playing in this big house all afternoon and we're starving. Let's eat and chat!

Everyone nodded happily and walked towards the dining table on one side of the hall.

New author, new book, please add to your favorites and follow! Thank you all for your support!

Chapter 68 The Tragic Filial Daughter by the Bedside of a Long-Term Sick Person

"...There's no way around it, that's just how it is. Although I can't sleep all night, at the same time, inspiration flows out of my mind like a spring as soon as night falls, and the inspiration becomes stronger as the night goes on."

At midnight, I felt like Claude Monet, and at 3 a.m., I felt like Leonardo da Vinci! All the designs and paintings I've been able to create these past few years are thanks to this 'ability,' haha, it's a trade-off, you know.

The woman in purple, Seona, sat at the dining table, laughing heartily as she said that during the introductions, everyone learned that she was a well-known fashion designer and artist.

The blond youth, Luke, frowned with a bitter expression. "I'm not as optimistic as you. Three in the morning is hell for me. You wouldn't like those late-night soap operas and pretentious psychic shows."

I quit my job because I simply couldn't concentrate during the day; I'd easily lose focus. If this psychological experiment still couldn't cure my insomnia, I'd distance myself from people and move to the Montana wilderness to become a survivalist!

His somewhat exaggerated tone and troubled expression, combined with his humor, elicited a good-natured burst of laughter from everyone.

Suddenly, a faint voice rang out.

"Insomnia at three in the morning is hardly hell. You're troubled by it because you haven't seen real hell, but I..."

...He has been living in hell for 14 years.

The laughter stopped abruptly as everyone turned to look at the woman in white at the end of the table, Anna, the last of the three experimental volunteers.

She was calmly wiping the tableware in her hands with a tissue, seemingly oblivious to everyone around her, and said:

"When I was 20 years old, my mother fell ill and became paralyzed on one side of her body. I had to take care of all her daily life."

I gave up everything – studying, working, dating, getting married, living – and stayed in that house, enduring the same old supermarket discounted potatoes and cheap oatmeal every day, and of course, the sound of my cane banging on the wall every night until dawn.

That was her favorite form of entertainment when she felt irritable.

...Like this, bang! bang! bang!

Anna clenched her fist and tapped it lightly on the dining table. Fine veins bulged on her slightly pale skin, and she trembled slightly.

"So that's why you signed up for this insomnia study? After the experiment, I can give you some psychological counseling. Your problem should be less severe than theirs."

Seeing that the atmosphere was getting a bit awkward, Professor Marlowe smiled and changed the subject.

Anna touched the old-fashioned silver necklace on her chest and said with a faint self-deprecating smile:

"Thank you for your concern, but I signed up for the experiment mainly for the decent pay."