At the mention of “Mr. Pei,” everyone present perked up.

Chen Kangtuo fell into reminiscence: “That day, Mr. Pei assigned me a very unreasonable task. He had me repeatedly experience the attractions in Thrillseeker Lodge, thoroughly understanding every detail.”

“For several consecutive days, I would spend seven to eight hours in ‘Ultimate Horror,’ mastering every detail, considering how each area would affect visitors’ experiences.”

“Besides that, Mr. Pei also arranged special props in the Golden Maze to differentiate difficulty levels, allowing visitors to get completely different experiences each time they entered…”

Everyone listened attentively, their faces showing expressions of admiration.

On one hand, they admired Mr. Pei.

They hadn’t expected Mr. Pei could apply game design concepts to haunted houses, bringing such a special visiting experience.

On the other hand, they admired Chen Kangtuo.

He had experienced “Ultimate Horror” for nearly a week? That made him an ultimate tough guy!

Qiao Liang listened intently, not missing any information.

These were all crucial materials!

Why was the Thrillseeker Lodge experience so special? Because Mr. Pei had incorporated game design concepts into it!

Just thinking about it, there was so much content to discuss.

But… the prerequisite for using such material was to have experienced it.

So, it came back to the initial question: should he go experience “Ultimate Horror”?

Qiao Liang still instinctively resisted, but he was wavering like never before.

Because there were too many role models in front of him!

Earlier, when playing with his fans, who weren’t much braver than him, Qiao Liang naturally felt good about himself.

But now, all of Tenda’s employees had completed it. Director Lin, a young woman, had entered Wushan Mental Hospital for research. Chen Kangtuo had practically lived in “Ultimate Horror” to give visitors the best experience.

Meanwhile, Qiao Liang, who always claimed to be a hardcore gamer, didn’t even dare to experience it, and couldn’t even get an entry credential.

It would be too embarrassing to admit!

Qiao Liang could only silently drink his “blood plasma” beverage, saying nothing, his mind in turmoil.

Chen Kangtuo looked at Lin Wan, who looked at Ruan Guangjian.

All three saw the same emotion in each other’s eyes.

He’s still not taking the bait?

Everyone had the same goal: to get Qiao Laoshi to overcome himself, experience “Ultimate Horror,” and then make a video promoting Thrillseeker Lodge.

But they never imagined Qiao Laoshi would be so stubborn, or rather so cowardly, that even after all this, he still wouldn’t commit?

Just as they were at a loss, someone outside the iron bars exclaimed in delight: “Oh, Brother Chen? And these people are…”

Chen Kangtuo looked up, his face lighting up.

Wasn’t this Mr. Li?

This restaurant was owned by Mr. Li, who had come to check on the business on opening day and happened to meet acquaintances.

Chen Kangtuo briefly introduced everyone.

Li Shi was pleased: “All friends of Mr. Pei? Then say no more, this meal is on the house, everyone please eat as much as you like!”

“Since you’re all Mr. Pei’s friends, eat and play to your heart’s content, and welcome to visit Jingzhou often!”

Mr. Li chatted with everyone for a while and had the nurse bring two more dishes, being very hospitable.

Everyone ate and chatted, with no one mentioning “Ultimate Horror” again.

However, five minutes later, Qiao Liang, who had been silently eating, suddenly slammed the table.

“Good, I’ve decided! I’m going to challenge ‘Ultimate Horror’!”

Ruan Guangjian, Lin Wan, Chen Kangtuo, and others all showed surprised expressions.

Huh?

Why did Qiao Laoshi suddenly change his mind?

Wasn’t his survival instinct winning earlier?

Qiao Liang wore a completely resigned expression: “Everyone’s inspiration and encouragement have helped me greatly; obtaining more material is also very important to me.”

“But none of that made me make up my mind.”

“However, Mr. Li’s words suddenly made me realize that I am Mr. Pei’s friend!”

“What Mr. Pei wants to tell me is already placed in Thrillseeker Lodge, in ‘Ultimate Horror.’ If I don’t go see it, how can I call myself Mr. Pei’s friend?”

“So, I must go!”

Looking at Qiao Liang’s resigned expression, everyone couldn’t help but silently sigh.

What ultimately moved Qiao Laoshi was this?

In the critical moment, it still came down to Mr. Pei!

What we couldn’t accomplish with all our effort, Mr. Pei achieved through his charm!

…

Afternoon.

Pei Qian was drinking coffee at Slackin’ Internet Café, enjoying the afternoon sunshine.

The phone on the table was intensely popping up with messages, the vast majority being congratulations from various people.

After all, Thrillseeker Lodge had just opened, and Mr. Pei had extensive connections, so receiving congratulatory messages was reasonable.

These messages had been bombarding him since morning, and Pei Qian, unable to bear it, could only set his phone to silent mode, only picking it up to check occasionally.

After finishing a cup of coffee, Pei Qian picked up his phone and opened the unread messages.

After dismissing a large number of meaningless congratulatory messages, Pei Qian suddenly froze, then entered a state of high alert.

The manager in charge of loss management at Thrillseeker Lodge had sent many messages, and they kept coming!

Logically, it was normal for Thrillseeker Lodge to be crowded on its first day of business.

But the manager shouldn’t have so many things to report, right?

Pei Qian hurriedly opened the chat details to check.

“Lin Wan, Ye Zhizhou, and other Shangyang Games executives have arrived at Thrillseeker Lodge and experienced all three attractions.”

“Lin Wan, Chen Kangtuo, and others ran into Ruan Guangjian and Qiao Liang at the Asylum Theme Restaurant.”

“Ruan Guangjian whispered something to Lin Wan and Chen Kangtuo.”

“Qiao Liang and his fans joined the table, dining together.”

“Qiao Liang seems to have been frightened in ‘Haunted House Nightmare’ and hasn’t completed ‘Ultimate Horror.'”

“Ruan Guangjian, Lin Wan, and others are trying to entice Qiao Liang to experience ‘Ultimate Horror,’ hoping he will promote Thrillseeker Lodge in a new video.”

“Li Shi treating everyone to a free meal seems to be the last straw that broke the camel’s back.”

“Qiao Liang, moved by your friendship, senior, has decided to purchase props at the Golden Maze and challenge ‘Ultimate Horror.'”

“We have reached the gold section of the Golden Maze.”

Obviously, this manager had participated in the meal, had been watching closely, and the last message had just been sent as Pei Qian was checking.

A question mark immediately appeared above Pei Qian’s head.

?

Qiao Laoshi?

Ruan Guangjian?

He wouldn’t have found it strange if either of them appeared at Thrillseeker Lodge, but for both to appear together and dine together was very odd!

Pei Qian didn’t have time to understand whether they had met by chance or had planned to meet. Now there was an urgent matter facing him.

Qiao Liang was going to experience “Ultimate Horror”!

Regarding the second person in his little notebook, Pei Qian was very clear about Qiao Liang’s destructive power.

He wouldn’t be very afraid if others went to play at Thrillseeker Lodge because they didn’t have influence.

But Qiao Liang was a major content creator with millions of followers on the AiLiDao website. If he made another video praising Thrillseeker Lodge, things would get troublesome!

It was precisely for this reason that Pei Qian hadn’t notified him before Thrillseeker Lodge opened.

Although seeing his enemy terrified at Thrillseeker Lodge would bring the joy of revenge, considering the failure experience of “Turn Back to Shore,” Pei Qian felt this revenge had a flavor of killing 800 enemies but losing 1,000 of one’s own.

So, Pei Qian had originally wanted to let bygones be bygones: I won’t notify you, you don’t come to harm me, one of us in Jingzhou, one in the capital, both living in peace.

But he never expected that Qiao Liang, a gaming content creator, would actively come to experience a haunted house!

“No, I must stop him!”

Pei Qian vaguely sensed trouble.

The previous forecast for Thrillseeker Lodge’s development was based on one premise: that the initial heat would naturally subside after a period and couldn’t be sustained.

But if secondary or multiple propagation phenomena occurred during this period, subsequent development would be completely unpredictable!

Pei Qian stood up, preparing to call driver Xiao Sun and personally rush to Thrillseeker Lodge to dissuade Qiao Laoshi.

But five seconds after standing up, Pei Qian sat back down.

He realized he couldn’t show his face!

At Thrillseeker Lodge, too many people knew him now!

If everyone called him “Mr. Pei,” wouldn’t curious Tenda fans take photos?

Wouldn’t his image be exposed then?

Thinking about it, he decided against it. In today’s information society, why personally make the trip for something that could be resolved through messages or calls?

With this in mind, Pei Qian dialed Qiao Liang’s number.

…

Meanwhile, at the Golden Maze, the gold section.

Lin Wan, Chen Kangtuo, and others were there. Li Shi had also come along, planning to check the sales of goods in the Golden Maze.

Everyone had wandered through the Golden Maze for a long time before finally finding the gold section. First-time visitors all marveled, amazed at how Mr. Pei always came up with such ingenious ideas and turned them into reality.

The shopping maze gave everyone a very novel shopping experience. After going through so much trouble to find products, not buying would be a waste!

Ruan Guangjian held a little devil headpiece, reluctant to let it go.

Qiao Liang, after much hesitation, sheepishly picked up the golden lantern.

He had no choice. Although he had to go to “Ultimate Horror” for the sake of his friendship with Mr. Pei, he still had the most basic survival instinct.

The golden lantern could dispel most ghosts in “Ultimate Horror,” essentially representing the easiest mode. Considering his performance in “Haunted House Nightmare,” Qiao Liang dared only choose this difficulty.

At this point, Qiao Liang’s view of Chen Kangtuo changed for the second time.

Initially, when Qiao Liang was terrified in “Haunted House Nightmare,” he cursed the designer a thousand times in his heart.

After meeting and getting to know him, hearing how much Chen Kangtuo had contributed to Thrillseeker Lodge, Qiao Liang felt admiration.

And now, seeing these four props, especially the golden lantern for easy mode, Qiao Liang felt grateful toward Chen Kangtuo.

Whoever can make me suffer less is my family!

The golden lantern was originally from the handicraft section, beautifully designed and well-made, and naturally, the most expensive.

But for Qiao Liang, this price was very acceptable, because he wasn’t just buying a small toy; he was buying a game experience!

It was like the Fire Kirin in “Sea Fortress” – the value was in the added game experience.

Qiao Liang picked up the golden lantern, preparing to pay.

However, at that moment, his phone rang.

“Hm? A call from Mr. Pei??”