The iQIYI Cryptic Complaint: A Haunting Confession

In the shadowed corners of the bustling city of Shanghai, nestled within the labyrinthine alleys of a quaint neighborhood, there was an old, decrepit house that was whispered about in hushed tones. Its windows, long boarded up, stared like the hollow eyes of a haunted soul. It was there, in the heart of this urban jungle, that a cryptic complaint was posted on the popular streaming service iQIYI.

The complaint was simple yet enigmatic: "They said you could see me if you look in the mirror. I am everywhere, and I am everywhere. Do not look in the mirror."

The poster, a nameless figure with a profile picture that was a mere pixelated blur, vanished as quickly as the complaint had appeared. Yet, the words lingered, casting a shadow over the community. Curiosity turned to intrigue, and soon, a group of friends, each with their own dark secrets, decided to explore the origins of this eerie message.

Among them was Xiao Li, a tech-savvy young man with a penchant for the supernatural, and his girlfriend, Mei, a curious historian who was fascinated by urban legends. They were joined by their friends, a pair of siblings, Xiao Han and Xiao Mei, who were intrigued by the mystery and their sister’s interest in it.

The group decided to visit the old house, a place they had only seen from afar, its ominous presence a silent sentinel. They found the door locked, but Xiao Li’s technical prowess allowed them to bypass the ancient lock. As they stepped inside, the air was thick with dust and the scent of decay, as if the house had been abandoned for an eternity.

The interior was a labyrinth of decaying furniture and peeling wallpaper. The group moved cautiously, their flashlights casting eerie shadows on the walls. They had barely ventured far when Xiao Mei, who had been lagging behind, let out a gasp.

In the dim light, they saw it—a mirror, hanging on the wall. Its surface was cracked and its frame rotten, but it was still intact. The group approached, each taking a step back, their breaths heavy with anticipation. Xiao Mei, with her inquisitive nature, was the first to reach out.

"Look," she whispered, her voice trembling. "There’s something... someone behind you."

Xiao Li turned, and his eyes widened in shock. The reflection of the group was there, but behind them was an empty space. Then, as if by magic, the space began to fill with a hazy figure. It was a man, or at least that’s what it looked like, with eyes that seemed to pierce through the very soul.

The figure spoke, his voice echoing through the house like a whisper on the wind. "I am everywhere, and I am everywhere. You have entered my domain, and now you will not leave."

Xiao Han, who had been filming the event, looked at the footage and saw a ghostly apparition that seemed to be watching them. His heart raced, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that they had made a grave mistake.

As the group tried to flee, they found themselves trapped. The doors and windows had inexplicably sealed themselves shut. The ghostly figure moved with them, always one step behind, never closer, but always present.

Xiao Li, desperate for a solution, turned back to the mirror. He saw his reflection, and with a mixture of fear and determination, he spoke. "I don’t believe you can exist in the mirror. I won’t let you!"

The words seemed to resonate with the figure, and for a moment, there was silence. Then, the mirror began to glow, and the ghostly figure was pulled into the surface. It fought, its form distorting and writhing, but it was no match for the ancient mirror.

Finally, the figure was trapped, and the mirror’s glow faded. The group stumbled out of the house, the air outside a stark contrast to the oppressive atmosphere inside. They looked at each other, their eyes wide with relief.

But as they began to walk away, the figure appeared behind them once more, this time in the flesh. It was a man, Xiao Li’s father, a man who had disappeared years ago. His eyes were wild, and his mouth twisted in a grotesque grin.

"Hello, my children," he said, his voice filled with malice. "I have been waiting for you."

Xiao Li and Mei’s world shattered as they realized the truth behind the haunting confession. The figure was not just a ghost; it was their father, a man who had been lost to them for so long. And now, he was here, a vengeful specter who had been watching them, waiting for his moment to strike.

As the group struggled to escape, the house seemed to close in around them, the walls closing in, the air suffocating. The ghostly figure, now free, moved with terrifying speed, its eyes never leaving its targets.

In the end, it was Xiao Han who made a last-ditch effort to save his friends. He charged at the ghost, and in a struggle that seemed to last an eternity, he managed to push the specter into the mirror. The figure fought, but this time, the mirror was no longer a vessel for his spirit.

With a final, desperate effort, Xiao Han pushed the ghost into the mirror, and it vanished. The mirror shattered, its fragments falling to the floor, and the group, exhausted and traumatized, stumbled out of the house, never to look back.

But the story didn’t end there. The mirror’s shards, each with a piece of the ghostly figure, were scattered. And wherever they fell, whispers of a haunting confession would echo, a reminder that some secrets are better left buried.