Original subtitles

[Love Between Lines]

[Episode 3]

Welcome to our park's gathering.

We've had several new stores open recently.

It's a good chance for you all to get to know each other.

What took you so long?

Hello everyone.

I'm Xiaorou's husband.

Just call me Guangming.

Mr. Ming.

No, no, no.

I work in software development.

Come, have a seat.

Have a seat.

Scoot in a little.

Did you order enough food?

Is everyone here?

Well,

the owner of ME Club, Mr. Gong, is busy.

He said some staff would come instead.

Your wife's shop is just across the street.

You should know that.

Right?

Those NPCs at their shop

are quite famous online.

NPCs?

Will Qin Xiaoyi come?

Qin Xiaoyi?

Oh, right.

Is he the one who plays General Qin?

He should be coming.

He's really popular lately.

Is that so?

Then let's organize a game next time.

Sounds good.

I'm going outside to make a call.

Come on, Mr. Ming.

Let's have a drink.

[Educational Background] [Work Experience] [Main Responsibilities]

[Resume]

Writing a resume is about organizing yourself.

This chicken soup for the soul is really good.

I get you.

I feel like my previous experience isn't relevant,

but if I don't include it, it would be a waste.

This person really understands me.

Why not join the group chat party

and ask everyone for some advice?

That's an idea.

When you're stuck, take a break

and have something sweet.

This one makes the most sense.

Zhao,

I was just about to call you.

Are you at the café?

Star Club 888.

What?

I'm at Room 888 in Star Club.

Qin Xiaoyi will be here soon.

You should come over.

Haven't you been checking his sessions

at the murder mystery game place every day

just for him?

Come over and ask him yourself.

Set up another game

directly with him.

Wait for me.

Xiu!

Over here!

Li Yue.

Li Yue.

Let me introduce you.

This is Li Yue,

a junior in the Drama Academy's Acting Department.

And this is my bestie, Hu Xiu.

Hello.

Your name's pretty interesting.

I heard you also like coming to

our murder mystery games.

Don't just stand there.

Have a seat.

Yes, have a seat.

Then you'll be our VIP from now on.

My win rate hasn't been great lately.

Come help me when you're free.

I'll try my best.

Can I add you on WeChat?

Li Yue,

let's exchange WeChat too.

Sure.

I heard your murder mystery games are really fun.

If Li Yue is here,

then...

Today's latest murder mystery game

should be Group A with Qin Xiaoyi.

Xiu.

Where are you going?

I have something to do.

I'll be going now.

Zhao,

I think you

have a serious case of face-blindness.

Bye.

I can still make it, right?

Alright.

Excuse me.

You're late.

There are no choices left.

The character doesn't matter. The outcome does.

Okay.

This way, please.

You are Wu Jin, the investigation expert sent by Side S.

[Wu Jin, Investigation Expert]

Your mission is to find the old mayor,

get the command token,

and help the new mayor you support take office.

Remember,

your choices determine your fate.

Find the old mayor?

In previous games,

the old mayor was always assassinated.

How come this time...

If finding the command token and the old mayor is the only way

to make the new city lord take office,

Qin Xiaoyi

must also be investigating with all his efforts.

There must be clues

in his office.

The police are also

investigating the old mayor's disappearance.

There's been no progress so far.

Keep watching.

Any leads on that key?

He's really in this game?

We caught a suspicious person at the café.

She said the key was deposited at the Central Hotel.

Bai Luoyu?

She usually only trades information for money

and doesn't get involved in anything in Rongcheng.

No wonder we missed her.

Do we need to...

Who's there?

How can I help...

Give me the key to the old mayor's residence.

I never saw this house before

in this game.

Never mind.

I'll go in and take a look.

Ten years ago,

the whole family committed suicide here.

This place is eerily strange.

I think this is a haunted house.

No way.

The old mayor's command token?

Hurry, hurry.

Don't mess with me.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

I'll just take the token and leave.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

Don't come over.

Are you okay?

Get up.

My legs are shaking.

Sorry about that.

It's a new haunted house setting.

Did it scare you?

There...

There's a...

♪ I moved closer to you, and you moved closer to me ♪

♪ The motionless night began to shimmer ♪

♪ The fireworks bear witness, as if ♪

What is this?

♪ they're waiting for the words we want to say ♪

♪ I moved closer to you, and you moved closer to me ♪

Spring in Rongcheng.

♪ It felt as if two lonely islands had finally ♪

♪ Getting closer and slipped into the flow of time together ♪

Do you think it's romantic, having petals

fall from the sky like this?

The game is designed this way.

It has nothing to do with me.

I can walk by myself.

I was just sitting too long

and my legs went numb.

I'll take it slow.

If you're in a hurry,

you can go ahead.

To get out, you must go through the garden.

Those things will definitely appear again.

You know how it feels

to encounter them.

Are you sure

you can do it alone?

Of course.

Who said she could do it alone?

You're just too slow.

Look, I've already passed you.

Ms. Wu,

you're doing this on purpose, aren't you?

They're all here.

Pretend you don't see them and go straight through.

Where's your gun?

Why?

I want to see the petals falling again.

Who just criticized this design?

Th-th-this one.

Fireflies!

Th-that one is big.

Shoot that one.

There's another one.

That one. That one.

Why did you stop?

I'm tired.

I thought

General Qin was supposed to be amazing

with weapons.

But your stamina is quite limited.

And these effects—

they have no originality at all.

Ms. Wu,

reverse psychology doesn't work on me.

I'll play by myself.

Ms. Wu, don't you have your own weapon?

Why take someone else's?

I...

Why are you being so stingy?

Just let me play with it for a while.

No.

We're already out.

Yes.

I kicked the door open.

That passage is unusable now.

Close it off.

Don't let anyone go through there anymore.

Well...

What happened?

Nothing.

General Qin, you reminded me.

I'm also armed.

Now,

answer my questions honestly.

Why did you suddenly appear at the old mayor's residence?

Didn't you just hear?

The control center alerted me

that a player was in trouble at the haunted house,

so I went to check.

If you want to leave now,

you can get a refund.

The Military Affairs Office...

is quite far from here, isn't it?

Why were you the farthest away,

yet arrived the quickest?

Because when I received the message,

I was already here.

I heard from Bai Luoyu

that a female player took the key.

Although I didn't know who took it,

the only thing I was certain of

was that person

would definitely go there.

What exactly is it

that's worth such a risk, Ms. Wu?

Haven't you already figured it out?

Without this command token,

you absolutely cannot become the mayor.

Since you saved me just now,

I'll use this token

to make a deal with you.

I'm listening.

I want to know

who Jiang Yi is.

So Jiang Yi works for Feng Youjin?

Ning Zechen found out

that Jiang Yi was once the Feng family's butler.

It's almost dawn.

We're running out of time.

Let's go check upstairs.

Ms. Sun,

it's been a pleasure working with you.

Be careful.

What's that sound?

This way,

please.

It's been a pleasure.

They're gone.

Since the mayor has been hidden away,

it must be somewhere secret.

Look.

These four rooms are all the same size,

but when we checked earlier,

[Partial View of the Rongcheng Finance Department]

these two were clearly smaller than the others.

There's a hidden room here.

Let's go check again.

35.

What?

The previous room had 56 floor tiles,

but this room only has 35.

If there's a secret room,

there must be a secret door.

Why aren't you helping?

I don't know these things.

Otherwise, I would have noticed

the difference in room sizes.

Yeah, all you do is talk.

Lightweight materials?

A movable wall?

This designer was really thorough.

Old mayor?

Go untie him.

It's in the back.

Thank goodness we found you before dawn.

Almost done.

Done.

Ms. Wu,

thank you for saving me.

Qin Xiaoyi, you bastard!

Y-you're so devious!

Let me go!

You flatter me.

Saving me in that haunted house

was also part of your plan, wasn't it?

I already told you

to quit the game and that we'd give you a refund,

but you refused.

I'd rather lose than run away.

Don't worry.

You can't run away.

Because...

a fox can't be the winner here.

Goodbye, Ms. Wu.

Qin Xiaoyi...

Qin Xiaoyi!

Qin Xiaoyi, let's talk this...

Qin Xiaoyi!

Congratulations.

He really lives up to his name.

Great. That's awesome.

Impressive.

The new version's virtual atmosphere is amazing.

I like the thrill.

Otherwise, it would get boring.

I was wrong, sir.

It would never get boring.

What's up? Something's wrong?

I think

the randomly triggered horror missions

aren't very appropriate.

We should assign them to players with higher tolerance first.

Well...

thanks for your help with that last session.

That girl has played several times.

I thought she was a veteran player.

Here's the thing.

This is the first run of the new version.

Did you inform

all players about the horror segments

before they entered?

She came late

and was in a hurry,

so I just...

Alright.

Well...

I'll adjust the trigger mode

for the horror missions.

Let's pause them for now.

I'll go back and give the team more training.

I'm leaving.

Use mine.

My ride will be here soon.

Thanks.

So annoying.

School starts tomorrow.

I haven't even finished my lab report yet.

What have you been doing this entire vacation?

Playing murder mystery games.

It's really addictive.

If someone could write my report for me,

I'll immediately support them as mayor.

Life isn't a murder mystery game.

Don't get too caught up in it.

The ride is here.

Let's go.

Yeah,

we always have to return to reality.

Are you home now?

Just letting you know,

the club has sent an apology message

to that female player who got scared

and gave her some free game vouchers.

Got it.

By the way,

I heard from the receptionist

that she had specifically asked about your sessions before.

What a coincidence, right?

Anything else?

Nope.

Get some rest then.

Take care.

Thank you.

Your stomach hurts?

Did you forget to eat again?

Seems like I got too busy last night and forgot.

You need a healthy stomach to work well, Ms. Hu.

Things aren't going smoothly?

I've asked a friend in headhunting to keep an eye out.

He told me to tweak my resume a bit,

lean more toward architectural design.

The most impressive part of my resume right now

is just my relevant college major.

And I didn't pursue further education.

Since graduating,

I've been running this café.

I've never worked elsewhere.

I can't give you any great advice.

But...

I think your resume...

might be a bit too plain.

In the architecture industry,

everything is already quite dull.

There's no need for fancy stuff.

But doesn't your industry

have plenty of fancy things?

That D something—

isn't it quite fancy?

Dynamism?

They're really excellent.

That popular café on Jianguo West Road

and that super photogenic Galaxy Bookstore?

Both of them were designed by them.

How do you know so much about them?

After all, it's the top architectural studio

in the industry these past two years.

They have so many awards.

It's hard not to know about them.

I should get back to job hunting.

Forget about dreams.

My wallet is empty.

Xiu.

Maybe you should consider other income sources.

Isn't that attic at your place empty?

Rent it out.

Cai.

Hu?

You stayed up late again last night, didn't you?

Look at those dark circles under your eyes.

Job hunting is exhausting.

What?

I said

working is exhausting.

Your job is much better, Cai.

Nonsense.

Wait.

You...

I got it fir-

Pretending not to know me again?

Thanks.

Why are you following me?

What do you want?

Who's following you?

Ms. Hu, you're back?

Excuse me, let me through.

It's over here.

Still pretending not to know me?

Who's taking this too seriously?

Signing the contract?

Mom,

why are you trying to rent out the house again?

This house can't be rented.

I don't agree.

Please help me ask around again.

Please do me a favor.

Thank you.

There aren't many houses for rent here,

but I asked my colleagues to keep an eye out.

Once there's news,

I'll let you know immediately.

Nonsense!

How dare you trick my mom into renting out the house?

How dare you offend me, Chen Dabao?

Let's see who still dares to rent to him.

Borrowing my pot again?

Dazhong, lend me two cucumbers.

As you know,

most of the residents here are elderly,

and they've lived here

for most of their lives.

They don't like moving around.

Money isn't an issue.

I understand.

I've tried offering higher rent.

It's just that

the news about you renting Granny Chen's house has spread.

That Chen Dabao has been going around saying

that anyone who rents to you

will be in trouble with him.

Nobody wants to mess with him.

Why don't you try another place?

No.

I'm staying in the lane.

Have you asked about that attic?

You mean Ms. Hu's?

Her rental listing says

"no agents,"

so I can't really ask.

Of course,

you could talk to her yourself.

Got it.

Thanks.

It's all set.

Mr. Zhao

has invested in quite a few

large-scale VR experience centers.

He introduced me to a German company,

saying that a technician named Felix

is really skilled.

If we give him the new scenario, it'll be no problem at all.

That's good.

By the way,

I also told Mr. Zhao

that in the future,

we could invest in some VR projects together.

Xiao,

thanks for bringing me here.

Otherwise, I wouldn't even have a connection with him.

A huge favor like this can't be thanked enough.

I'll repay you someday.

Don't wait for someday.

Repay it now.

Almost there.

Okay.

Done.

Thank you.

Why did you buy such a big cabinet?

To rent this place out quickly.

Ms. Wu,

are you interested in the executive GM assistant position?

You should post your rental listing online

more often.

I did.

I post it every day.

Plenty of people contacted me,

but...

half are agents,

and the other half just asked for basic information

with no follow-up.

So I thought I'd try to spruce this place up

as soon as possible.

Where should this box be placed?

It's full of your college stuff.

Put it in the living room.

Okay, I'll carry it down for you.

Zhao.

Do you think I should replace this bed too?

I broke it before and my dad fixed it.

It looks fine to me.

Don't replace it.

What if you keep replacing things

but don't rent it out eventually?

Bah!

I definitely can rent it out.

It'll be rented by tomorrow.

Fine, it'll definitely be rented out by tomorrow.

Zhao.

[Hello, I'd like to come see the house.]

Hello.

Hi. I'm here to see the house.

Do you mind having a male tenant?

I don't smoke, drink, or keep pets.

And I won't bring random people home.

I don't mind.

This is a two-floor apartment.

This area has a bedroom, a living room, a kitchen, and a bathroom.

This is the common area.

I can hear you.

The TV, fridge, and microwave

were all bought less than a year ago.

The curtains were replaced earlier this year.

They do look quite new.

This is the master bedroom.

It's where I'm living now.

The attic is a separate space.

It's here.

Doesn't the attic get quite cold in winter?

I...

get allergies easily.

I need to get some sunlight regularly.

This...

There's a small balcony over there.

In winter, sitting in the sun for a bit feels nice.

The walls look a little yellowed.

Well, this house is quite old,

so it's normal.

If it bothers you,

I can hire someone to repaint it.

Okay.

This is the bathroom.

All the drainage and waterproofing systems

are excellent.

In this area,

it's rare to find an attic with its own private bathroom.

True.

It's just that...

it's a bit small.

Small?

And this window

directly faces the lane intersection,

which isn't great.

From a fengshui point of view, it's...

not considered very lucky.

I'm already feeling a bit uncomfortable.

I didn't know you knew these things.

Just a little.

I'll get you some water.

Take your time looking.

Okay, thanks.

She went downstairs.

What else do you want to see? I'll send it to you.

It looks fine.

Stop nitpicking.

Let's just rent it

like we agreed on.

I was nitpicking for a reason.

I just wanted to let her know the attic isn't easy to rent out

so we'd have more leverage when negotiating.

What do you know?

Did you see that?

Just now,

when she said she was going downstairs to get water,

that was obviously an excuse. She couldn't handle it anymore.

It really was an excuse.

She's on the second-floor balcony, making a phone call.

You heard it?

I did.

He seems unreliable.

Talking about bad fengshui and all that. It's too much.

He's so picky.

If he moves in, he'll definitely be trouble.

Should I wait a bit longer?

If I get a female tenant, I'll feel more at ease.

Exactly. Keep waiting.

Consider today as a practice.

I just heard her mention a female tenant.

Could there be someone else coming to see the place?

She went inside.

The water.

Thanks.

I'm sorry.

I thought about it,

and I feel a man and a woman...

Should have some basic boundaries.

Ms. Wu,

I thought about it too.

We're not related or friends.

Even if we live on different floors,

that would still be inconvenient

in many ways.

Right.

So I want to rent the whole place.

Just for 3 months.

What?

Here's the situation.

I was sent to Shanghai on a business trip by my company.

I'll be returning to Guangdong in 3 months.

My mother...

is from Shanghai.

I grew up with my grandfather

in a lane just like this one.

When I was a kid,

he used to take me to the lane entrance to eat those

big pancakes wrapped around fried dough sticks.

But later...

Later, my grandfather passed away.

So we just...

moved away.

I've seen Ms. Hu at the club.

She's quite clever.

The more you talk, the more likely you'll slip up.

So,

since I have this opportunity to come back,

I just

really want to live in a lane for a while

to reminisce about my childhood.

Mr. Gong, stop the drama.

Get to the point.

Shut up.

I didn't say anything.

Well, I totally understand

why you want to live here.

It's just that I have too much stuff.

Moving would be very troublesome.

Ms. Wu,

you didn't get what I meant.

I'll still live on this floor,

and you can lock your bedroom.

I won't touch your things.

But the walls...

I'm not a clean freak.

This bathroom is too small.

You can use...

I'll just use this one.

As long as there's hot water.

This window faces...

It's bad fengshui,

but I'm tough.

Well, in winter...

Ms. Wu,

let me be straightforward.

All those issues I just pointed out...

were just to make sure you don't refuse to rent it to me.

If you let me rent the whole place,

I'll pay 18,000 for rent.

Three months. All at once.

18,000?

I know it's a bit of trouble for you.

How about rounding it up to 20,000?

20,000?

Didn't you say you wouldn't rent it to him?

How did you end up

getting kicked out of your own place?

I've sent out so many resumes,

but everyone who contacted me asked

Since that doesn't work

and I can't get a job,

this is the best option right now.

Besides,

it's 60,000.

The money was deposited

right after I signed the contract.

It was like money falling from the sky.

You won't be staying here during this time?

Why should I stay here?

Right.

You have someone at home now.

Things have changed.

Of course.

What about your place?

My place?

It's just for 3 months anyway.

Xiu.

If you need money, you can tell me.

I can lend you some.

Zhao, I'm not that broke yet.

I'm just planning to start over.

As a new designer,

I don't make much money a month.

So I need to save whatever I can.

I'm already very satisfied

to have such a generous tenant.

As long as you're happy.

I like this place.

The rent was a bit high,

but you can say I've successfully completed my mission.

I got the place sorted

and didn't let you run into that female player.

Call me if you need anything in the future.