In the world of anime with the power to stop time.

Chapter 020: Wolves in Sheep's Clothing

Mirrors could reflect the true nature of those inside the hotel.

This was the conclusion Lin Ye had reached.

Currently, Tanaka Ichiro and Miho Kamimura appeared perfectly normal so normal that there wasn't the slightest hint of anything wrong. But the more normal they seemed, the more Lin Ye suspected something was wrong beneath the surface. The reflections in the TV screen's mirrored surface confirmed his suspicions.

"They can't be taken to be sprayed with water."

If sprayed, the two would most likely reveal their eerie sides.

If that happened, they would risk creating two more hostile entities.

Lin Ye scanned the room one more time, checking the available items, and then exited.

Time resumed once more.

"Brother Lin, come in! Let's all have fun together. It's safe to stay inside the room in this hotel. Don't stay out there; the hallway is dangerous."

Tanaka Ichiro smiled, giving Miho Kamimura a playful slap on the rear, producing a crisp sound.

"No."

The moment Lin Ye refused, the flirtatious expressions on Tanaka Ichiro and Miho Kamimura is faces shifted, as if they had been triggered by something.

"Love hotels are for love, you know!"

"Not loving isn't being a good guest."

The two froze, their eyes fixed on him, their bodies moving step by step toward Lin Ye as if controlled by an unseen force.

"I have Ai-chan," Lin Ye said, waving toward Hoshino Ai.

This made Hoshino Ai gently place the unconscious Kuroda Hikari to the side before quickly walking toward him. As soon as she arrived, Lin Ye pulled her close, wrapping his left arm around her slender waist and holding her in his embrace.

Hoshino Ai was startled but didn't resist or refuse. Lin Ye's masculine scent caused her heartbeat to quicken uncontrollably.

"And there's also Kuroda-san over there. Later, I'll go back to the room and spend time doing things we like together."

The two halted.

"All together," they said.

"I'll try them first, and then I'll come find you two," Lin Ye replied, his eyes never leaving them, observing their reactions.

"Brother Lin, impressive one man with two women."

"Look at that, so strong. That's what a real man looks like! And you? Useless wimp!"

Tanaka Ichiro and Miho Kamimura laughed and teased each other.

"I'll take Ai-chan back now. I'll close the door for you."

Without waiting for their agreement, Lin Ye pulled the door shut. As the bang of the door closing echoed, it created two separate worlds. From the other side, no sound emerged.

"Lin Ye-kun, about Miho-san and Tanaka-san..."

Even Hoshino Ai felt there was something off about them. No matter how open-minded one might be, inviting others to start a party in such a dangerous place was beyond comprehension!

Lin Ye nodded, his gaze meeting her confused eyes.

"Let's head back."

But at that moment,

Ding-dong…

A crisp sound echoed through the dimly lit corridor suffused with a dark red glow.

It came from the direction of the elevator.

Clack...

The elevator opened.

Footsteps sounded the clear, sharp noise of high heels striking the floor.

The next second,

A figure appeared. She wore a black business suit that accentuated her curvaceous figure, her long black hair flowing elegantly, drawing attention.

It was the front desk attendant from the first floor.

She had taken the elevator to the third floor.

Why had she come to the third floor?

Was it time for something? Or had someone broken the rules?

Lin Ye quickly recalled the ten rules.

"Guests..."

Her appearance was stunning, and her voice was sweet.

"Making a loud ruckus late at night and disturbing other guests' rest is not allowed behavior."

"Please return to your rooms immediately."

"If you don't return, I'll receive complaints, complaints, complaints..."

"Deductions, deductions… from my performance evaluation..."

"Not allowed..."

Her previously smooth voice suddenly became stilted, breaking into clack, clack noises, while her once gentle tone grew increasingly eerie.

Hoshino Ai's heart pounded wildly, thump-thump-thump.

Return to the room go back immediately!

Grabbing Lin Ye's hand, she pulled him quickly toward the room.

Thud!

She slammed into the door.

"Wu..."

"The door was open! How did it suddenly close?"

Hoshino Ai exclaimed in surprise.

The door that should have been open was now shut. There was no wind, so why had it closed? And there hadn't been any sound of it closing!

Lin Ye took out the key card. To prevent situations like this where he might get locked out, he always carried it with him when leaving the room.

"Zzzzz…"

The electronic lock emitted a buzzing sound, signaling that the card's authentication had failed.

The door remained locked.

"Wh-why… why won't it open? Why can't we get in?"

Hoshino Ai grew more anxious, her eyes darting toward the elevator to the right. The receptionist from the first floor was approaching, step by step.

"Please… return to your room…"

"Return… to your room…"

She turned her head, and with a chilling "crack," her neck snapped. The sound of bones breaking echoed sharply. "Crack, crack…" In the next moment, her head twisted to an unnatural angle in the opposite direction.

Hoshino Ai glanced at her and immediately noticed the receptionist's face was covered in eerie, grayish-black blotches. Her once-beautiful eyes were now lifeless, emanating a terrifying and sinister aura. Her entire body exuded a black, ghostly mist.

Hoshino Ai almost screamed.

If she hadn't memorized the rules never shout or scream she would have shrieked at that moment.

"Lin... Lin Ye-kun…"

Tears welled in her eyes as she looked at Lin Ye, her body trembling slightly.

Lin Ye glanced at the situation and quickly understood why the key card had failed and why they couldn't enter the room.

The room in front of them wasn't Room 306.

"This isn't Room 306."

"Monster…"

Lin Ye turned toward the sound. A flash of yellow hair disappeared in an instant.

"Clack!"

The door slammed shut with a loud noise.

Taisuke had dashed into a room and locked the door immediately.

"That was… Taisuke-kun,"

Hoshino Ai gritted her teeth in frustration.

Lin Ye-kun had gone out of his way to help him earlier, ensuring he made it safely back to the third floor.

And now, this coward… repaying kindness with betrayal he was a shameless ingrate!

Hoshino Ai suddenly noticed the hallway around her had changed.

"The third floor… has changed. What's happening?"

The previously simple, rectangular layout of the third floor had completely transformed.

Looking down the hallway, it stretched into a distorted, black-and-red corridor. Doors were upside down, and random clutter had appeared as if out of nowhere. The once orderly hallway now felt suffocatingly cramped, filled with grayish dust that hung heavily in the air, casting an oppressive, stifling aura.

The glamorous facade had peeled away, revealing a strange and terrifying reality.

Perhaps this was the true nature of the Lover's Heart Inn.

A bizarre figure of a woman in a suit was slowly approaching them.

"Disturbing… rest…"

"Punishment…"

"Inn…"

"Expulsion…"

The cold, raspy voice, devoid of life, echoed in the hallway.

The danger was closing in.

________________________________________

If you want more chapters, please consider supporting my page on Patreon. with 20 advanced chapters available on Patreon

patreon.com/Leanzin