“Lily’s my little sweetheart, and you’re my big one. We’re one happy family now.”

I gave him my best smile. “Actually, um, honey, you’ve got a great body, but… why do you look kinda short? Don’t worry though. Now that I’m here, I’ll cook for you both every day. Soon, you and our daughter will be tall and strong!”

The live chat went absolutely wild.

【What the hell is she saying? How does she dare talk like that to the Headless Boss?】

【Finally! The infamous Headless Boss. He’s supposed to be the strongest one in the Happy Home scenario. The top player last time died fighting him.】

【Wait… why does the Boss look like he’s blushing? No way, did she just fluster him?】

【You’re down bad, man.】

Everyone in the stream was waiting for him to snap my neck like he’d done to every other player before.

But instead, he calmly lifted the severed head he’d been holding and placed it back onto his neck. Then he leaned in, his cold, dangerous aura fading a little, his voice suddenly carrying a hint of… wounded pride.

“Short? I’m six-foot-one. Why don’t you take a closer look?”

Even ghosts, it seems, care about their height.

“Nina,” he said suddenly, my name rolling off his tongue in a deep, velvety tone that made my heart race.

I grabbed his tie and yanked him down until he was practically on top of me, murmuring dramatically, “Can’t see. Come closer.”

His handsome face came into sharp focus, and I couldn’t help grinning inside.

Thank God this game only tracks Fear Value, not heart rate. Otherwise, I’d be dead already.

When he stayed silent, I panicked, thinking I’d made him mad. My eyes sparkled as I rushed to flatter him.

“Wow! You’re six-one, I’m five-five—that’s the perfect height difference! We’re meant to be!”

The man in the tailored suit turned bright red and was just about to respond when Lily, freshly reassembled, charged in. She kicked him so hard he flew into the ceiling and got stuck there.

Then she turned to me with her big, teary eyes, pressed her face against mine, and whispered softly, “Mommy… Lily hungry. Food.”

Seriously, who could resist that?

I immediately dug through the fridge, squinted, and happily set about cooking for the little girl…and my husband.

I’m not bragging about my cooking, but those two practically licked the bowls clean.

When I went to shower, I heard them in the next room, talking quietly.

“Lily, maybe we should keep her. She cooks pretty well.”

“But Dad, when those two get back tomorrow and find out we won’t eat their food, they’ll freak out.”

“Call that food? If they complain, I’ll kill them.”

“Okay, I’ll keep watch.”

After my shower I took the master bedroom like it was mine. I poked my head out from under the covers and watched the dark shape sitting motionless on the sofa.

I softened my voice and started showing off my homemaking.

“Babe, why don’t you finish showering your body in the bathroom and I’ll wash your hair in the kitchen? It’ll be faster that way.”

Chat exploded: 【What kind of suggestion is that?】

Even crazier, the headless boss actually agreed to my plan.

In the end, we split up to do our own thing.

I was in the kitchen washing his hair, humming a tune as I washed.

The live chat was horrified by the scene.

【Seriously, they’re made for each other. Only a complete lunatic would act this calm while washing a ghost’s head.】

They didn’t understand that, for someone as nearsighted as me, it just felt like washing a large, fuzzy, black watermelon.

Then the “watermelon” spoke. “You seem to be in a good mood.”

“Of course,” I said honestly. “I think I’m getting along really well with you and your daughter. I’m sure I’ll clear this scenario with no problem.”

The watermelon grinned, his sharp, handsome features twisting in a strange smile. “You will, Nina.”

I gazed back at him gently, though to be fair, I couldn’t actually see him clearly. “By the way, I never asked your name.”

The “watermelon,” or rather the headless boss, suddenly lifted off my hands. His head flew across the room and attached seamlessly to the body that had just stepped out of the shower, turning back into that tall, handsome six-foot-one man again.

He seemed to remember something unpleasant, his voice rough and low. “I don’t really have one. But… if you must call me something, call me John Doe.”

With that, he turned and left, muttering that he’d sleep in the guest room.

What a stingy husband.

Couldn’t he at least let me fall asleep on his abs?

Scratching my head, I couldn’t think of a name right away, so I went back to bed to keep brainstorming.

Just as I was thinking, a pair of dark eyes appeared under my blanket, a pale little face glowing faintly in the dark.

For a second, it looked straight out of ‘The Grudge.’

Luckily, my poor eyesight softened the scare, it just looked like a blurry white blob.

“Mommy, ignore that headless old monster. Tonight, Lily wants to sleep with Mommy.”

So it was Lily.

I had no idea when she’d crawled into my bed.

I pinched her soft cheeks and pulled her into my arms, speaking gently. “You shouldn’t call your dad a monster, sweetheart. That might hurt his feelings.”

Lily blinked at me, confused. She opened her mouth, revealing a row of bloody gums with no teeth. “Heehee… But I’m a little monster too. They call me a little slut and a brat.”

I sighed and tried to steer her thinking back on track. “Who said that? That’s not right. If Mommy ever meets them, I’ll scold them and hit them for you. But, Lily, you can’t say things like that about yourself, okay? It would make Mommy sad.”

I kept mumbling to her softly, not even sure when I drifted off.

What I didn’t know was that after I fell asleep, Lily lay quietly beside me, watching my face. Her dress turned red, then white, then red again.

Finally, she whispered, “Mommy would be sad. I can’t make Mommy sad.”

The live chat went wild:

【Holy crap, I’ve never seen the Blood Dress Girl’s aura fluctuate like that! Her dress actually stayed white at the end!】

【Unbelievable. This new player just changed her entire attribute set. She’s got some serious skills.】

The next morning, I woke to the sound of that eerie mechanical voice again:

【Initial players: 30 | Current survivors: 15】

Half-asleep, I grabbed my phone and saw the player chat blowing up. Another five people had died overnight. Three of them were killed by the entities.

No one knew what those two had gone through, but their Fear Values shot straight to 100 and that was the end of them.

Just then, I got a private message from Elaine.

【Nina, are you okay? I was dealing with the entity on the second floor all night and didn’t have time to warn you. You need to focus on bonding with your “family” during the first three days. I watched the top player’s previous livestream, and this is everything I know. Consider it compensation for not telling you the room rules earlier, that’s how you ended up on the 30th floor.】

Elaine also shared tips in the group chat, patiently answering questions from the other new players. Jethro popped in once in a while just to complain.

【Why are you helping them? You’re too soft. Helping these newbies won’t do us any good.】

Elaine replied calmly: 【We’re all stuck here together. There’s no need to be selfish.】

Because of that, every surviving player felt deeply grateful toward her.

These two veteran players were… interesting, to say the least.

I smiled slightly, pressed my face close to the screen, and typed back.

【I’m fine, but thanks for checking on me.】

The Headless Boss was in front of me, holding his own head in one hand and Lily still in her white dress in the other, using them like dumbbells.

When he noticed me clutching my phone, he frowned slightly, as if realizing something.

“Don’t get too close to—”

Before he could finish, he suddenly clutched his chest and collapsed.

Lily’s little face scrunched up in worry as she hurried to hold him, and I rushed over too, catching his body before it hit the floor.

The game’s rules clearly prevented NPCs from revealing any direct information about how to clear the scenario.

Then came the sound of footsteps outside the door—‘thump, thump, thump’—each one heavy enough to rattle my eardrums.

Lily leapt into my arms, trying to shove the fallen boss aside with her tiny body.

“Mommy, don’t be scared. Grandpa and Grandma are back.”

The boss, clearly unwilling to lose his spot, didn’t move an inch. After a moment’s hesitation, he grabbed my hand and blushed as he muttered, “Don’t be afraid.”

What a shy and awkward boss.

Don’t be afraid? Please, I couldn’t even see clearly. As far as I was concerned, everyone was just a regular person.

Honestly, I was even excited. New NPCs meant new storylines, new chances to survive. Maybe they were just a nice, healthy old couple.

As the key turned in the lock, the livestream chat lit up again, arguing furiously:

【We’re finally gonna meet the Grandpa and Grandma! Let’s see if they can handle this crazy Nina.】

【What’s wrong with you people? If she clears the game, it’ll help future players too!】

The lock clicked, and the door creaked open.

Two figures entered. Elderly, slightly hunched, each carrying a large burlap sack slung over their backs.

When the old woman saw the Headless Boss lying on the floor, she screamed and rushed forward, shoving me aside. Her voice shrieked with rage.

“You wicked, heartless woman! How dare you hurt my son? I’ll make you pay with your life!”

Black mist swirled around me like a curse.

When she came closer, I finally got a good look at her. The old woman was so thin she was practically a skeleton, her clothes barely hanging off her bones.

Her scalp was bare, not a single hair left. Her features looked melted together, her mouth the only thing still moving.

The skin on her exposed arms was completely charred, black like burnt wood.

If it weren’t for her voice, I wouldn’t even have realized she was a woman.