Shi Xinxin didn't pay much attention to it, wondering why the wall had silently lowered.
"Do you have enough clues on your side?"
The light was so dim that Shi Xinxin couldn't even make out Sheng Chenjin's expression. She only knew that Yun Rou seemed to be in a good mood.
"Yeah, almost."
Sheng Chenjin said awkwardly, his tone stiff.
As expected, he was met with Shi Xinxin's strange gaze.
"Alright, then we're almost done too. Let's go check on the others."
Shi Xinxin prepared to leave, but Yun Rou raised her hand to stop her.
"Don't rush. Since our two rooms are connected, logically, the other two rooms should be connected to ours too."
"There's only one mechanism per room."
Shi Xinxin, upon hearing Yun Rou's words, also pondered for a moment, finding it quite reasonable. She then began to meticulously inspect the walls of the room.
Finally, she moved the bookshelf aside and found a small photo frame behind it.
Gently rotating its position, the wall slowly descended.
The space opposite them gradually appeared in their sight.
Looking at the dense shapes of lungs on the ceiling, they could all guess that this was the room for the respiratory system.
"Bai Bin, why are you alone?"
Xiao Jue looked at Bai Bin, who was pacing and exploring the room alone, and scanned the surroundings curiously, not seeing Ye Xun.
"She's feeling a bit unwell and probably can't handle this environment. We rang the bell and the staff in black took her away."
Bai Bin explained to them, his face full of worry.
"Mm, then she should be safe for now."
Xiao Jue nodded, feeling that Bai Bin's action was right.
"I've collected some clues, though I don't know if they're useful."
Bai Bin raised what he was holding and looked at the descending wall, a flicker of interest in his eyes.
He also began to examine his own walls.
With more people, there was more strength. Soon, the four rooms were connected.
The group gathered the clues they had collected and proceeded to analyze and screen them.
Finally, a few useful pieces of information remained.
At this moment, the broadcast crackled to life.
"Congratulations to the guests for collecting useful information. It is now twelve noon. Please meet the staff in black through the passage for lunch in the cafeteria."
"Please deposit the collected information into the mailbox in the lobby."
"Take a short break and prepare for the next round of elimination."
Following the broadcast's instructions, they found the mailbox in the lobby and consolidated all the collected information, putting it into an envelope.
However, the doctor never reappeared from beginning to end.
The group didn't pay much attention to it.
The staff in black led them out of the abandoned hospital and into a temporary plastic tent.
When they arrived, they saw Ye Xun, pale-faced, sitting to the side.
And the smiling director, along with a stout middle-aged man they had never met before.
The man had a face resembling the Maitreya Buddha, looking at them kindly and benevolently, his eyes full of compassion.
However, Shi Xinxin frowned suspiciously. Just a middle-aged man, yet his demeanor was that of someone who had attained enlightenment after transcending the mortal world?
She didn't understand.
"Dear guests, you've worked hard. This is your mealtime. During this period, you can communicate freely, relax, and rest. The next round of the escape room will begin punctually at two o'clock this afternoon!"
Fang Qi announced as usual with his megaphone. The middle-aged man remained silent the entire time.
However, Fang Dao's every move suggested that this man was closely related to this escape room.
The group inquired about Ye Xun's condition, comforting her and assuring her that she wasn't holding them back.
Seeing this warm and friendly scene, the middle-aged man smiled kindly.
He finally spoke his first words.
"Youth is truly wonderful. Look how united and loving these young people are."
He took a sip of tea with a smile and turned his gaze to Fang Dao.
Fang Dao smiled, feeling pleased, completely unaware of the emotion in the middle-aged man's tone.
There was a faint envy and a desire to destroy.
He hid it well, and the fleeting expression in his eyes went unnoticed by everyone.
Everything proceeded as usual.
"This escape room is too taxing on the brain. I feel like the crew's boxed meals are even tastier than those in hotels!"
Xiao Jue sat opposite Shi Xinxin, wolfing down the boxed meal in his hands.
Sheng Chenjin sat to Shi Xinxin's left, and Yun Rou to her right.
She was awkwardly sandwiched between the two of them.
If it weren't for the boxed meal accompanying her, she felt she could have endured the awkwardness for the entire afternoon.
She couldn't quite describe the feeling.
Seeking help online, Yin Xue, please arrive on the battlefield quickly?
[Hahaha, Sister Xinxin is too pathetic.]
[Look at her pitiful, innocent, and helpless eyes. Yin Xue, hurry and save her!]
[Look at these two sitting next to her, vying for attention but not daring to say a word. They look so timid.]
[I'm really curious, what will be the format of this afternoon's elimination?]
[To the user above, I'm not hiding anything from you. I've already imagined countless scenarios.]
[I have material for my dreams during the lunch break.]
The comment section was harmonious. Fang Dao, seeing the rapidly increasing popularity and buzz, was beaming with joy.
If he had a tail, it could surely stir up a tsunami in the ocean.
"Director Fang, your guests are quite something. At this unpopular time of day, the popularity is only increasing, not decreasing."
The man again smiled at Fang Dao. Fang Dao, suddenly being addressed, felt a momentary fear.
Fang Dao felt as if he were being stared at by a venomous snake, its coils wrapping around his limbs, climbing up his neck, and its cold hiss echoing in his ears.
But in the next instant, the man returned to his gentle and amiable demeanor.
He even thought he might be hallucinating due to overwork.
Fang Qi shook his head, trying to clear the strange thoughts from his mind.
"They are indeed good. However, it's uncertain whether the viewership ratings in the afternoon can be maintained."
Fang Qi, adhering to the principle of humility, gave a professional response.
Unbeknownst to him, another thought suddenly arose in the middle-aged man's mind.
He observed the guests' every move with a kind gaze.
It was as if an elder was watching his cheerful and lively grandchildren.
The group felt the gazes upon them but didn't pay much attention, assuming it was the casual scrutiny of ordinary staff.
Sheng Chenjin sensed something was amiss and looked up at the middle-aged man, his gaze cold and devoid of much emotion.
When the man saw Sheng Chenjin turn and stare at him, he paused, then slowly smiled and raised his teacup towards him.
Sheng Chenjin nodded slightly and continued to think of ways to get closer to Shi Xinxin.
The moment Sheng Chenjin turned away, the smile vanished from the middle-aged man's face, and calculation flickered in his eyes.