577 Theme Restaurant
The struggling Qiao Liang, the well-intentioned Ruan Guangjian, and the fans who were watching on fervently came to the theme restaurant in the Thriller Hostel.
Ruan Guangjian gave a reason that was difficult for Qiao Liang to refuse, but he still failed to make up his mind to challenge the 'Ultimate Horror'. Getting the admission ticket alone made him very desperate.
On one side was filled with thirst for knowledge; the other side was filled with thirst for survival. Qiao Liang fell into a battle between heaven and man.
Therefore, everyone came first for lunch. They were all hungry especially after they were shocked at the Haunted House Nightmare.
However, Qiao Liang instinctively felt that something was wrong when he came to the entrance of the theme restaurant.
"Wait, where is the maid cafe? Why are we here?"
He had seen a healing maid cafe on the map of Thriller Hostel in between Ultimate Horror and Haunted House Nightmare. It was said that lovely young ladies would be there to serve you warm, hot drinks to comfort the frightened people.
However, for some reason, the fans actually walked to this 'lunatic asylum theme restaurant'.
Qiao Liang felt something was wrong when he saw this sign with white letters and red background.
"The maid cafe is only to drink coffee. There is nothing much to eat there. That is why we are here to eat. Come on!"
Everyone brought Qiao Liang in with malicious intent. Ruan Guangjian followed behind, smiling silently.
There was an iron prison door stained with bloody handprints under the dim light with a huge red button on it. Reaching out and pressing it, the iron prison door would automatically open before one could enter the theme restaurant.
Qiao Liang almost sucked in cold air.
What the f*ck was with this theme restaurant? This was just another haunted house project, right!?
The lights inside were obviously much brighter than ordinary haunted houses, but the dark iron fence, the thick chain on the door, the surrounding arrangement, the bottle of bright red liquid that looked like plasma on the counter…
It seemed to remind them of the scene in the horror film.
Of course, strictly speaking, it could not be regarded as a prison theme, but a prison and hospital theme. Its setting was more biased towards the mental hospital in general movies and games.
There was a huge difference in the positioning of the two.
Many restaurants in China had prison themes as well, but they had all failed. There were two reasons: the first was the wrong location, and the second was the overall direction.
In real life, most people were not interested in horror themes. Who would go if a prison-themed restaurant was opened on the streets?
However, if there was a prison-themed restaurant in a haunted house, then it would be fitting because those who came to a haunted house were generally young people who had strong psychological endurance to accept it all.
Another point was that it might be prison-themed, but it was different from prisons.
The failed prison-themed restaurants in China were all built strictly in accordance with actual prisons and even made military green quilts. The upper and lower bunks, tables and chairs, and iron fences were all made of stainless steel. It felt like a very modern and real prison.
That 100% recreated the experience of having a prison meal which was neither horrible nor comfortable, simply disgusting.
However, the setting at this theme restaurant was completely different from the real prison. Its poisoning was closer to the mental hospital in horror movies and games. The layout was in the western style of the last century and felt more like a separate kind of horror and curiosity of a real prison image.
Eating inside would not feel as though one was in jail, but more like participating in the recording of a horror game. This sense of separation from reality made the players not resist from the bottom of their hearts and to reject this arrangement.
On the contrary—after accepting this style, one would feel happy.
Of course, different people accepted this style differently. For example, Qiao Liang was very resistant to it.
"I understand everyone's curiosity very well, but… we just came out of the haunted house! Isn't it good for us to find a cozy restaurant with a comfortable dining environment?"
However, Qiao Liang's words hung in midair.
That was because he saw a hot girl in nurse uniform walking towards him with a string of black handcuffs on her left arm.
The nurse uniform on the girl was the kind that frequently appeared in horror games and movies. It was in western style and even seemed to be stained with blood. It was red and white and yet body-hugging. It made Qiao Liang want to move his eyes downwards uncontrollably.
Without knowing what had happened, he stretched his hand out and let the girl handcuff himself.
After being handcuffed, Qiao Liang realized that the handcuffs were made of plastic. It was no wonder that the girl could have a few handles on her arm.
The shape of the handcuffs was not the shiny, stainless steel kind, but they were very suitable for the scene.
Moreover, this was just a toy that could be opened at will.
After handcuffing everyone, the nurse led everyone inside, according to prison cells looking for an empty table.
A fan asked with a smile. "Old Qiao, what did you just say? Change the venue?"
"Ahem, ahem." Qiao Liang gave a dry cough in a low voice. "No way, I have already been handcuffed."
Ruan Guangjian suddenly stopped as he walked. He looked at one of the prison cells through the iron fence. "Hello, everyone, what a coincidence!"
Lin Wan, Ye Zhizhou, Chen Kangtuo, Hao Qiong, and the rest who were here for a meal were also surprised. "Big Boss Ruan? So coincidental, you're here, too?"
Ruan Guangjian smiled. "How can I not support the haunted house that Boss Pei opened?"
"Do you want to join us? We can just add more chairs." Lin Wan suggested.
Ruan Guangjian looked around and found that this room was big enough to include Teacher Qiao and the rest.
His mind had some quick thought and started scheming.
Ruan Guangjian leaned in closer to the iron fence and said in a low voice. "Everyone, cooperate with me later… let Teacher Qiao…"
The nurse in front, who was walking halfway the group of 'prisoners', stopped and waited because she suddenly realized they were one person short.
The others did not ask. Ruan Guangjian rejoined them after a minute.
"Let's join that table. I know them."
Everyone was shocked and instinctively wanted to reject since they were all Big Boss Ruan's friends whom they didn't know.
"They are the developers of the Be Quiet and Thriller Hostel project." Ruan Guangjian added.
Qiao Liang was taken aback but agreed readily. "Sure!"
Everyone came to the room where Lin Wan and the others were in and found their seats. Qiao Liang and the fans were very surprised after they introduced each other. They were almost half the important people in Tengda Games!
The producer of Be Quiet, chief designer, artist, person-in-charge of the Thriller Hostel… they were all here!
Qiao Liang originally had a great prejudice against the designer of Thriller Hostel. He cursed the designer several times when he was in the Haunted House Nightmare. However, he became full of smiles and gave the Thriller Hostel high praises seeing Chen Kangtuo.
He fully depicted what double-faced meant.
After commercial pleasantries were exchanged, the nurse started to bring all sorts of delicacies to the table.
No orders were accepted here. The waiter would decide the menu according to the customers' taboos. All items on the menu were very strange; for example, drinks that looked like blood bags.
Ruan Guangjian looked at Lin Wan after taking some small bites. Lin Wan gave everyone a look.
Everyone immediately understood.
Lin Wan smiled and addressed everyone. "Has everyone experienced the Ultimate Horror?"
Qiao Liang and the fans exchanged glances without a word.
Ruan Guangjian nodded. "Yes, I went. It was great! Have you tried it as well?"
Lin Wan took the piece of cake that looked like raw steak. She ate and replied. "Of course, we have all experienced it. However, we saved our progress at the last point because we are staff. The honor of completing the Thriller Hostel first has to be reserved for a true… hardcore player."
She did not look at Qiao Liang, but the pause in her sentence seemed to be hinting at something.
Qiao Liang had an incredulous look on his face. "Did… all of you… pass?"
Saving at the last point was no different from passing the game. Qiao Liang's fans obviously did not buy it as well.
Forget about the others, Lin Wan passed it even though she was a girl?
Lin Wan guessed what Qiao Liang was thinking seeing his expression so she smiled slightly and took a bag of plasma from the side to drink from it. "Are you thinking that I'm exaggerating?"
"Then… do you know about 'Smog Mountain' State Mental Hospital?"
"We specially went to 'Smog Mountain' State Mental Hospital for five whole days to obtain materials for Be Quiet."
Qiao Liang and the fans did not stand in awe because they were directly shocked.
'Smog Mountain' State Mental Hospital was touted to be the scariest haunted house on earth! This group of people actually played there for five entire days to collect the materials?
Were they humans?
They finally understood why these people could clear the stages so calmly. The Ultimate Horror would be a walk in the park even if it was on the same level as 'Smog Mountain' State Mental Hospital!
Qiao Liang suddenly felt very ashamed. He looked at the weak lady who could stay in 'Smog Mountain' State Mental Hospital for five whole days because of work!
Yet, he himself had no courage to even step into the Ultimate Horror…
How embarrassing! It was so embarrassing!
Ruan Guangjian chose the perfect time to ask. "Then, is there any difference between Thriller Hostel and 'Smog Mountain' State Mental Hospital?
"Both are outstanding, but I think the details of Thriller Hostel were done much better. It is easier to persevere. That's all because Chen Kangtuo managed everything well," Lin Wan said after some thought.
"No, this credit belongs to Boss Pei." Chen Kangtuo refuted by shaking his head.
