There was no time to wash up. Shen Mo rose and hurried downstairs, where he met Su Man, Zhu Shu, Pan Xiaoxin, and Cheng Weicai — all of whom had also heard the music.

“What’s making that sound?”

“Not sure, it seems to be coming from downstairs.”

Everyone exchanged a few quick words and went down together, where they found Yan Qingwen, Lu Ang, and Li Li. The three of them were either leaning against a table or lying against the wall, all of them looking like they had just lazily woken up.

Shen Mo was stunned.

These three had been on the final watch of the night — yet judging by their current state, they had all fallen asleep?!

Soldiers trained in special forces should never be this lacking in vigilance. There was only one answer: some force had caused all three of them to fall asleep without any awareness of it!

Just like him last night!

The thought made his chest tighten.

This was a deeply unsettling feeling. In a house this size, ten people, and not a single one had been awake — they couldn’t afford to take that lightly.

An expression of shock had also crossed Yan Qingwen’s face, as though he too had recognized something was wrong with himself.

“What’s going on?” He scanned his surroundings, and his gaze followed the sound toward the door. “What’s that noise?”

The music seemed to be coming from outside.

“I don’t know — we just heard it too.” Zhu Shu stood halfway up the stairs, eyeing the door with uncertainty. “The sound isn’t even that loud, and yet… Shu Man and I woke up to it almost at the same time.”

Lu Ang frowned. “Why would music suddenly appear out of nowhere? Where is it coming from?”

He moved to the window, trying to see what was outside the door through the glass — but within the limited field of view, he spotted nothing suspicious.

Everyone stared at one another with uneasy, uncertain eyes.

The music was beautiful and melodious, light and cheerful — “Für Elise,” the most familiar of all music-box tunes. Yet in this moment and place, it felt entirely out of place, as eerie and unsettling as a song to summon souls.

Yan Qingwen was thinking through who should be sent to open the door.

Shen Mo, remembering that Bai Youwei was alone in the bedroom, felt uneasy and went back up, carrying her out and setting her in the wheelchair at the top of the stairs.

Bai Youwei’s mood was never pleasant in the early morning.

She looked around at the group and asked, her expression irritated: “Why is everyone just standing there? Go open the door.”

Lu Ang thought it over, and relying on his height and build, strode forward with imposing confidence to open the door.

Halfway there, Yan Qingwen stopped him.

Yan Qingwen handed Lu Ang a piece of firewood to serve as a makeshift weapon.

The others, seeing this, instinctively held their breath and tensed up, watching that door with rigid expressions.

Lu Ang gripped the rough piece of firewood and fixed his eyes on the door, advancing one step at a time.

Slowly…

Steadily…

Closer and closer…

The music continued to play.

He swallowed nervously, just about to reach out and open the door.

Bai Youwei lost patience and called out, brow furrowed: “It’s deafening! Who’s out there?!”

—

Lu Ang nearly stumbled!

And right at that moment, the music stopped!

A childlike and familiar voice rang out from beyond the door:

“Aha~ Hello everyone! I’m the inspector for this game! It looks like everyone is up already — may I come in now?”

The crowd: “……”

What on earth was this?! They could ring the doorbell?!

And the one outside had actually responded!!

Bai Youwei rolled her eyes. “Can’t you just come in yourself? Do you need us to formally invite you?”

The voice outside was unhurried and unruffled — even carrying a hint of cheerful amusement:

“Ehe~ Due to the special nature of this game, no one may enter without the permission of the Doll House’s owner — not even the inspector~”

Bai Youwei: “Ha, then stay outside forever.”

“That won’t work either~ If I don’t come in, I can’t start the game. If the game doesn’t start, it can’t end. And if the game doesn’t end, you can’t leave — do you really want to stay in the Doll House forever?”

—