Echoes [Infinite]

Xin Xin awakens in a dark, unfamiliar dormitory with fragmented memories that do not belong to him. He realizes he has transmigrated into the body of Qiao Wenguang, a twenty-year-old waiter at a restaurant called Little Cloud House. Qiao Wenguang is a gaming addict who has already spent his wages on in-game purchases and owes money on credit. Before Xin Xin can process his situation, a system interface appears in his mind, presenting a mission. The objective is to investigate the mysterious deaths of three employees at Little Cloud House: front-of-house supervisor Cao Yanan, waiter Xiang Chen, and chef Zhao Hongwei. The mission has a strict seven-day deadline, ending on July 7th at 7 PM. If Xin Xin fails to provide the correct answer or answer at all, he will be forced to work for the restaurant owner, Mr. Qin, for the rest of his life. The mission reward is vague, stating that the mission itself is the reward, with an additional prize available only if he survives.

On his first night, Xin Xin is terrified by a mysterious figure who enters his dorm, watches him sleep, and then forces him to switch beds. The figure, who turns out to be He Xinchuan, a muscular chef, tells Xin Xin to move to the top bunk. Xin Xin initially perceives He Xinchuan as a bully, but later learns that the bottom bunk he originally occupied was previously slept in by the deceased chef Zhao Hongwei. No one else wanted to sleep there, implying a supernatural danger associated with that specific bed. The next day, Xin Xin is punished by Mr. Qin for being late and is assigned to move heavy goods in the hot sun. While working in the cold storage room, he encounters a spectral figure that resembles a former colleague. The figure stands at the doorway but cannot enter the cold room, asking Xin Xin if his new bed is comfortable. Xin Xin realizes the entity is a ghost trying to lure him into a trap, likely to freeze him to death. In a moment of panic, he charges out of the cold room and crashes into He Xinchuan, who had been searching for him.

He Xinchuan reveals that Xin Xin had been standing still in the cold room for hours, frozen in fear, rather than being trapped by a ghost. However, He Xinchuan acknowledges the presence of supernatural entities by insisting Xin Xin sleep on the top bunk and offering to accompany him. As they walk back to the dorms, Xin Xin clings to He Xinchuan for protection, referring to him as "Bro" and later "Uncle" after He Xinchuan claims to be fifty years old. He Xinchuan is stoic and rude but ultimately helpful, carrying the heavy boxes Xin Xin cannot manage and walking him through the dark stairwells. In the communal bathroom, He Xinchuan reveals that Zhao Hongwei froze to death in the cold room, confirming the nature of the danger Xin Xin faced.

That night, Xin Xin sleeps on the top bunk while He Xinchuan occupies the bottom bunk, which was previously Zhao Hongwei’s. Xin Xin is plagued by mosquitoes and fear, eventually climbing down to sleep in He Xinchuan’s bed after the ghostly presence seems to linger. He Xinchuan allows this, tucking in the mosquito net and providing a fan. Later, when Xin Xin needs to use the bathroom, he is terrified to go alone in the dark. He Xinchuan accompanies him, and in the bathroom, the ghost of Zhao Hongwei appears, transforming into a mockery of He Xinchuan before revealing his true, cold form. Zhao Hongwei threatens Xin Xin, mocking his weakness and predicting an early death. Xin Xin, despite his terror, attempts to negotiate with the ghost, offering to be his adoptive father and burn paper money for him, displaying a mix of cowardice and desperate wit. The story follows Xin Xin as he navigates this haunted workplace, relying on the physically imposing but emotionally distant He Xinchuan to survive the supernatural threats while unraveling the mystery of the three deaths before the deadline expires.