WeChat remained as silent as if there were no signal. Diao Zhiyu pretended not to notice, stubbornly refusing to reveal the name or location of the escape room, only specifying to meet at a subway station on Line 4.
The area happened to be densely packed with escape rooms. Hu Xiu studied them for a long time but couldn’t figure out which one Diao Zhiyu had chosen, only learning that the location would be revealed when they met.
Hu Xiu had specifically researched the types of escape rooms. Chase-based rooms involved sudden jump scares and being relentlessly pursued by Non-Player Characters—definitely not an option. Immersive role-playing probably wouldn’t interest Diao Zhiyu. Mechanical puzzle-solving, while slightly challenging, didn’t scare her; at most, it was at the level of civil service exam questions. As long as there were no sudden horror elements, she could handle it just fine.
Standing at the entrance of THRILLER, Hu Xiu closed her eyes in despair.
It never crossed her mind that Diao Zhiyu was curious about Shanghai’s famous horror escape room. She had seen it on Douyin before—a place where even seasoned players would turn into novices, and beginners would be scared out of their wits. Bringing her here seemed like Diao Zhiyu’s way of ensuring she wouldn’t see tomorrow’s sunrise.
“Are you kidding me?”
“What’s there to be afraid of? I’m a Non-Player Character myself.”
“That’s not the point—it’s THRILLER.” Hu Xiu’s jaw practically hit the floor. “Consider us officially broken up after today.”
As expected, Zhao Xiaorou brought a companion for the double date—a Boy Toy adored by hundreds of thousands of fans. On Douyin filters, he had a small face with sharp features and often posted suggestive content:
Muscular, dressed in a Santa outfit, cooking shirtless, low-rise pants showcasing his v-line—essentially, he never seemed to wear clothes properly.
In real life, he indeed looked like a younger brother, with pitifully pleading eyes. Inside the escape room, he was clearly the type who would hide behind Zhao Xiaorou for protection.
Zhao Xiaorou stood nearby, licking a lollipop, looking utterly unimpressed and not particularly excited about the prospect of physical contact.
When asked why she wasn’t interested, Zhao Xiaorou smacked her lips and said, “Too skinny, looks weak. I asked him on WeChat if I could take advantage of him—if not, I wouldn’t have bothered meeting. He said yes, but he’s so scrawny. Those little muscles look even less impressive than mine. I can only comfort myself by thinking, ‘At least tender chicken doesn’t get stuck in your teeth.’”
What else could it be? Even though Li Ai was lame, he was genuinely built with chest and back muscles. After being used to masculine men, seeing this boy who started whining to the staff during the pre-game briefing made Zhao Xiaorou roll her eyes so hard they nearly reached the back of her head. “Damn it, yin overwhelms yang!”
When the boy turned around, Zhao Xiaorou instantly switched to a sweet smile and patted him. “Are we going in? You’ll protect me later, right?”
THRILLER was a famous American horror-themed prison break escape room in Shanghai, designed for four to eight players. The four Non-Player Characters were the warden, a prison bully, an undercover killer, and a former forensic doctor plotting the escape.
The backstory was that due to a political coup, everyone in the prison was slated for assassination. The four players had to follow the former forensic doctor to escape within an hour and a half. Before entering, they changed into prisoner uniforms and took photos with their information cards. Standing in front of the height marker, Diao Zhiyu laughed, “You’re actually 165 cm tall?”
He stood proudly in front of the 184 cm mark, his smirk in the photo both roguish and mischievous.The four of them were blindfolded and locked in four separate cells. Diao Zhiyu whispered in Hu Xiu's ear, "First, find a way to escape your cell. Call for me immediately once you're out—I'll protect you."
Though it sounded incredibly considerate, Hu Xiu felt tears welling up. Blindfolded and handcuffed, with eerie background music sending chills up her spine, she thought, "Protection? The moment I take off this blindfold, I'll be dead before even getting started."
Sure enough, as soon as the instruction to remove the blindfold was given, Hu Xiu raised her hands only to be struck on the forehead by the handcuffs. Just her luck. The gray concrete walls were draped with cobwebs, a chilling draft seeped from outside the door, and an actor brandishing a baton stood menacingly at the entrance.
All four actors were foreigners, each towering at over 190 cm tall, their muscles bulging with veins. They shouted lines in English, while scrolling subtitles translated their words high on the gray walls.
The American horror atmosphere was impeccably crafted—it felt like stepping onto the set of American Horror Story and Prison Break combined.
After letting her guard down for just a few seconds, chaos erupted. The guards whipped out batons and beat the prisoners, the sound of flesh striking flesh unnervingly real. The prisoners hurled a stream of profanities without pause, and the warden fired a distant gunshot.
Blood began pooling on the floor. Before Hu Xiu could figure out where the fake blood was hidden, she was dragged away.
The concrete floor was stained with grimy bloodstains everywhere. In the distance, a few other rooms were visible but too dark to make out clearly.
The NPC vanished outside the cell. Then, Zhao Xiaorou's voice piped up from nearby, "Should we try to escape now while we have the chance?"
"How?"
"Look for the keys..." Diao Zhiyu's voice replied.
Scanning the four walls, Hu Xiu saw that aside from the bed, the concrete cell contained only a toilet and a small box.
The box displayed a 4x4 grid pattern puzzle. After studying it intently for a few seconds, Hu Xiu solved the code and opened it to find a handgun.
She hid the gun in her pocket, fighting to stay focused despite the distracting sound effects. Lifting the toilet lid and then the tank cover, she retrieved a key and unlocked her handcuffs.
Under the bed, another key was taped in place. But before Hu Xiu could grab it, footsteps echoed outside. Zhao Xiaorou shrieked in panic, "Shit, someone's coming! Play dead!"
Lying on the cold concrete bed, Hu Xiu shivered. Aside from the footsteps, the four cells fell into tense silence.
She thought to herself, This Escape Room scenario is genuinely nerve-wracking—there's no time to hesitate. And this hard bunk is really as uncomfortable as it gets.
Commotion erupted outside again. Four NPCs were conversing loudly in English. Whether the other three understood them or not, Hu Xiu caught every word: to cover up the murder of a political figure in the prison, the administration planned to stage "accidents" and eliminate all prisoners in this block. Gas would be released in an hour, and all four of them were slated to die.
Twenty minutes had already passed while solving puzzles. Escaping their cells quickly was now critical.
Once the warden and guards left, Hu Xiu found her key and escaped first, unsurprised to find Diao Zhiyu waiting outside.
Zhao Xiaorou only managed to remove her handcuffs after getting out, having locked them onto the cell bars earlier. "What were those foreigners saying just now?"
"If we don't escape within an hour, we're dead," Hu Xiu translated bluntly.
The three of them waited another ten minutes for the clumsy Boy Toy to emerge. Diao Zhiyu returned from scouting the area and reported, "We need to follow the ventilation ducts past the guarded zone to the laundry room. There should be secret intel and a map left there for us.""The warden will sound the alarm as soon as he discovers we've escaped. We need to get to the laundry room within ten minutes to retrieve the intel, then make it back to the vent to check the map. If we're still in the laundry room by then, we'll likely get caught."
"That sounds terrifying?" The Boy Toy looked oddly excited. "I like it..."
The fearlessness of the post-00s generation was truly beyond comprehension.
The four of them climbed a ladder into the ventilation shaft, where strong winds made it hard to keep their eyes open, carrying a damp, dusty smell.
Hu Xiu crawled behind Diao Zhiyu, her oversized prison uniform slowing her movements.
Before they could exit the vent, a piercing alarm blared. The four huddled together in the cramped space as Diao Zhiyu declared, "They won't get here that fast. Let's grab the map first."
He jumped down from the vent immediately after speaking. As Hu Xiu turned to descend the ladder, Diao Zhiyu pulled her down after just two steps. "No time. Stick with me—we need that map now."
The laundry room appeared cleaner than the cells, though water stains dotted the tiles and clothes lay scattered everywhere.
Strobing red lights from the alarm flooded the room. Hu Xiu's hands trembled as she frantically searched through the garments.
Diao Zhiyu retrieved a gun hidden inside a washing machine drum, tucking it into his pocket before asking Hu Xiu, "Found the intel?"
While she checked pockets, footsteps echoed. Hu Xiu shook violently until Diao Zhiyu dragged her to a corner behind washing machines, covering them both with laundry.
One of her shoes remained visible, but there was no time to adjust. Diao Zhiyu held her firmly—her head pressed against his chest, his arm securing her in place.
A new NPC arrived, speaking with a deep voice. Something thudded in the room as he ran past, then an officer burst in and fired a shot. Hu Xiu jolted in fright, but Diao Zhiyu murmured softly, "Don't be afraid, they'll leave soon."
Her heart hammered wildly. They'd been this close outside the game before, but now, pressed against Diao Zhiyu's chest muscles, she could clearly hear his powerful heartbeat drumming against her ear.
Fear wasn't the dominant emotion—instead, bizarre thoughts surfaced, making her teeth chatter with exhilaration and... an irregular pulse.
After retrieving the intel and being hauled back into the vent by Diao Zhiyu, Hu Xiu understood: the suspension bridge effect.
The setting was larger than expected. Beyond the laundry room lay a cafeteria, workshop, officers' quarters, and an execution chamber...
The final challenge required retrieving a key from the officers' quarters to escape.
Gunshots echoed outside the vent. When they peered out, complete darkness greeted them. Diao Zhiyu produced their only flashlight. "We're going back down through the vent. Stay together—no one gets separated."
The Boy Toy stumbled during the descent, while Zhao Xiaorou's legs gave out, leaving her clinging to him in the faint light. Diao Zhiyu kept a firm grip on Hu Xiu, eventually pulling her fully into his embrace. Hu Xiu thought, They weren't kidding about Escape Rooms being physical contact hotspots. Outside the game, he'd deny any accidental touch, but now he's initiating proximity—what a sly move.
When her foot slipped, his hold tightened. Hu Xiu's fear... blossomed into delight—
She'd never believed those claims about Escape Rooms being modern matchmaking venues, but now she was living proof!There was a large lock puzzle between the cafeteria and the workroom. Suddenly, someone tapped Hu Xiu from behind. When she turned around, she felt a wave of heat as an NPC approached with a flashlight illuminating their face, looking fierce and menacing.
Hu Xiu screamed and bolted far away, her soul practically leaving her body. Solving puzzles? Survival was more important!
Realizing she was running further away from the escape route, Hu Xiu heard footsteps closing in. Terrified, she slipped and fell, tears streaming down her face. "This Escape Room—I quit, I quit! Just catch me and I'll surrender. Can't the poison gas just eliminate me already?"
Someone bent down and scooped her up—it was Diao Zhiyu. "It's me. You're going the wrong way."
"But that face-to-face..."
"Even though it's immersive, they're all just actors playing roles. The control room probably noticed you're the most timid and deliberately sent an NPC to scare you. You just need to scream a little for show, not actually run away."
"But..."
"If you get lost, you'll never get out. Going in the wrong direction is pointless."
This sudden philosophical insight. Hu Xiu let Diao Zhiyu lead her by the hand through the darkness. Not being able to see anything kept her heart in her throat.
Yet the warmth from his palm reminded her of the roses Qin Xiaoyi had scattered during their first meeting, giving her the illusion of having someone to rely on.
Following behind him, Hu Xiu grew increasingly impulsive, her confession nearly bursting forth.
The alarm continued blaring, with shouts and curses echoing behind them. Suddenly, Hu Xiu blurted out, "Qin Xiaoyi, I like—"
Before she could finish, an officer grabbed her from behind, spewing vulgarities. Hu Xiu was furious. "I'm in the middle of a confession! Can't you tell the time and place?"
Rage swelling in her chest, she shook off Diao Zhiyu's hand, pulled out her gun, and yelled, "Back off!"
She even pulled the trigger. In the darkness, she didn't know who she hit, but there was definitely a sound of someone falling.
Zhao Xiaorou shouted from afar, "Hu Xiu, what are you doing? Are you acting with them? Hurry up!"
The person beside her was still there but frozen in place. Hu Xiu suddenly realized—could it be? Did he freeze upon hearing the confession?
Diao Zhiyu chuckled. "Impressive. You're truly impressive."
He then pulled Hu Xiu forward. Ahead, the faint glow of flashlights belonged to Zhao Xiaorou and the Boy Toy.
The Boy Toy asked anxiously, "Did you get any items to bribe the bully ahead? We're blocked, and time is running out."
Diao Zhiyu pointed to his pocket. "I have information here to exchange for the key."
The bully waited in the darkness, cigarette in mouth, its ember flickering. He impatiently glanced at the information and handed the key to Zhao Xiaorou.
By this point, Hu Xiu's fear had mostly subsided. She just wanted to escape successfully within the limited time left.
Perhaps it was because Diao Zhiyu was by her side.
The final office wasn't too dark—screens cast a dim gray light. The inner torture chamber had mechanisms, with a guillotine and chainsaw hanging from the ceiling, likely for interrogation purposes.
One person needed to distract the sheriff while another lay on the torture bed. The moment someone lay down, the guillotine would start descending. The remaining players had to solve the puzzle and input the answer for the person on the bed, stopping the guillotine immediately.
Originally, an eight-player game might have solved puzzles faster. The challenge was a Huarong Dao puzzle—solving it would reveal numbers.The boy toy was particularly quick-witted at this moment: "I'm familiar with the route we just took—it's a loop. I'll run and distract the sheriff. Bro, you lie down in there. The girls might be scared."
After saying this, he took the flashlight, went out, and shouted: "Hey!"
Diao Zhiyu glanced back at Hu Xiu: "Are you ready?"
His gaze carried an air of impending doom. Hu Xiu felt as if she had become the heroine in a sci-fi movie, bidding farewell to the hero heading into outer space to seek survival. Diao Zhiyu even followed her gaze and improvised a line: "One minute—I believe in you. If it doesn't work out, don't forget our vow."
Zhao Xiaorou crossed her arms: "What vow? Have you two already sworn undying love in such a short time?"
Pushing open the inner door, Diao Zhiyu lay down as the blade began to descend. With every move in Huarong Dao, electronic password sounds echoed—beep, beep—as large and small blocks slid across the screen under Hu Xiu's fingers. Within seconds, her palms were sweating.
The urgency made Zhao Xiaorou flustered: "Should we move this long one to the bottom first?"
"This piece can't be moved—the horizontal one below will block it."
Thirty seconds passed. Alarms and footsteps sounded outside—the sheriff was returning.
Zhao Xiaorou grew anxious: "Hu Xiu, hurry up! They're back..."
Don't panic, don't panic. There must be a way. The middle piece can't be moved, so the priority now is to shift the small pieces to make space for the rectangle.
The counter showed only ten seconds left. Hu Xiu thought to herself, Don't rush, it's possible, it's possible...
Three, two, one...
Just as Hu Xiu finally solved the puzzle, the sheriff dragged the boy toy into the room. Game over—
Diao Zhiyu's blade halted. Had the sheriff arrived just one step later, they would have succeeded in escaping—they were that close.
"The game is over. Please exit the room in an orderly manner through the open passage."
Back in the light, the four main actors and the criminal officer NPC were already waiting outside.
Still covered in dust and fake blood, they applauded the four players. Diao Zhiyu looked at Hu Xiu's frustrated expression and patted her shoulder: "You did great. Even with the delays earlier, we still managed to escape."
"Not really..." Hu Xiu fumed. "Just one second. I think the sheriff did it on purpose."
The game master came out to debrief the four, but Hu Xiu couldn't focus, only watching as the other three gasped at the plot revelations.
Their initial slow pace had caused time pressure later. The reason they still reached the final stage was that players were supposed to give the gun to the killer to shoot the officer, but the killer never received it. Leaving the cafeteria, the killer found the officer already dead.
The officer's actor laughed and pointed at Hu Xiu: "It's ridiculous—I've never seen this before, but it's fun. I like you."
Why else? Her confession had been interrupted, and in anger, she had directly taken down the officer.
Hu Xiu hadn't expected to force the plot forward like this. Diao Zhiyu tilted his head: "How did you manage to use Snowpiercer's tactics here?"
"Because I..." Maybe it was better that her confession went unheard. Thinking this, Hu Xiu stuck out her tongue: "Because I'm clever."Diao Zhiyu simply smiled and shook his head. Once out of character, he turned into a regular gentleman—he probably wouldn’t take the initiative to get close to her again. What a pity!
She had been so unpredictable and unconventional—there definitely wouldn’t be another escape room date. The chance to take advantage had ended too quickly, and Hu Xiu felt even more upset at the thought.
Zhao Xiaorou, who had stepped out the door, quietly leaned close to Hu Xiu’s ear and whispered, “I took plenty of opportunities to cop a feel. I found out that this lean boy toy is actually quite sturdy, not dumb at all, and pretty manly.”
“So?”
“He’s a Gen Z kid. I’m thinking… of giving it a try.”
When Hu Xiu looked up, the boy toy was buying ice cream not far away—he really was an alert and lively young man. Diao Zhiyu stood behind the boy toy, pointing at the menu board and asking Hu Xiu, “Do you want some?”
“Of course…” She thought of the heartbeat she’d heard when he held her tight. Damn it—after going through such thrilling, spine-tingling experiences with him, her heart was beating a little irregularly now.
And what was that vow he had made?
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