Chapter 17

Every time he logged out of the game, Han Fei would feel a deep sense of appreciation for being alive.

He did not rest for long, turned on the bedside lamp, and turned his head to look at the wall covered with crime scene photos.

"Why did the seven victims of the human puzzle case appear in that state? Were they all trapped in that room?"

Generally, any house where unnatural deaths occurred could be called a haunted house, and the house Han Fei lived in seemed to have seven victims, making it a haunted house among haunted houses.

"Now that Wei Youfu and Ah Mei have regained some consciousness, my next task is to help the other victims regain their sanity."

Han Fei knew that the greatest wish of those victims was to catch the murderer, but the problem was that he was just a minor comedy actor, and even if he did encounter the murderer, it was uncertain who would catch whom.

"Let's take it slow and steady; after all, life is precious." Han Fei took out his phone and started to take notes: "The old building where I live in the game is very dangerous. Currently, I know that each floor has four rooms. I live on the fourth floor. From the reaction of the neighbors on the sixth floor, it seems that the residents of the building know that I live in a haunted house and are afraid to come in."

"From this perspective, the monster in my room must be quite dangerous, as many residents are afraid of it."

"Looking at it another way, the most dangerous place is also the safest. As long as I don't do anything reckless, the haunted house can actually protect me from being killed by other neighbors."

"Another point to note is the child on the third floor. The haunted house is so terrifying, and there are no talismans on the door. The room on the third floor is definitely a big problem. The child trapped inside might be just as dangerous as the monster made up of the seven victims."

Thinking about this, Han Fei felt a headache: "Who tore off the talismans on the door of the third floor? I logged out of the game on the third floor this time. Based on previous experience, I will appear on the third floor again when I log back in. If that child is guarding the body, won't I be in trouble?"

The situation was too critical at the time, and Han Fei reacted very quickly. If he had been any slower, the child would have climbed onto him.

"The key is that he moves so fast; I can't even run away." Han Fei was now worried about being dragged into the room on the third floor: "If I get the chance, I'll try to lure him into the haunted house on the fourth floor."

At 4 a.m., Han Fei turned on his computer, held his phone, and carefully compared the crime scene photos on the wall, drawing clues and character relationships.

...

Sunlight shone on his face, and Han Fei didn't know when he had fallen asleep. He woke up groggily, looked at the clock on the wall, and immediately jumped out of bed.

"I slept until nine. Director Jiang is probably waiting anxiously."

After a quick wash, Han Fei hurriedly left home and rushed to the old city's North Street.

Despite his efforts, he was still a bit late, and the crew had already started working.

"Sorry, I'm late."

Han Fei quickly apologized, but the crew members didn't seem to mind: "The first scene is between the antagonist and the first victim. The male actor playing the antagonist hasn't arrived yet, so there's no rush."

The assistant director, who had been scared by Han Fei's acting last time, walked over and handed him a cup of coffee: "Just wait. The big antagonist is often late."

Han Fei sensed there was more to what he was saying: "May I ask who is playing the antagonist in this drama?"

He was playing the second victim, and the other was playing the killer. Understanding the other's background would help him perform better.

"You should have heard of him. His name is Zhan Lele. He has appeared in many variety shows, but he doesn't have any solid works yet. He can barely be considered a fifth-tier artist. This time, his company wants to use our drama to prove his acting skills." The assistant director chatted with Han Fei.

"Has he never acted before?" Han Fei put down his coffee: "The antagonist is crucial to a drama."

"In my view, Zhan Lele himself is a topic. His first attempt at an antagonist role is a good promotional point. Besides, he graduated from a film and television academy and has some foundation." As the assistant director was speaking, there was a commotion outside the apartment, followed by footsteps.

"I shot a variety show all night last night, and my body is a bit exhausted." A young man in his early twenties entered the set with his male agent. He smelled strongly of perfume and alcohol.

"Go get your makeup done." Director Jiang didn't even look up, seemingly too lazy to say more.

After all the crew members were in place, Zhan Lele, who had just finished his makeup, arrived late.

"Your lines are few. The first scene is in the hallway. You play the killer who secretly targets Ah Mei, then follows her into the hallway. I need you to create a sense of being always in her shadow."

"I understand, I get it." Zhan Lele nodded confidently.

The actress playing Ah Mei was young and inexperienced, and Zhan Lele's following did not create any sense of oppression. It felt more like a drunk pervert was following her rather than a deranged killer.

Even Han Fei couldn't bear to watch such acting, let alone the strict Director Jiang.

The first scene in the hallway was shot over and over again, more than ten times. Zhan Lele went up and down the stairs, and he was exhausted, eventually sitting on the stairs and refusing to move.

"Director, I have my own style. I want to shape the character according to my ideas."

"Is the character you're shaping just a small thug?" Director Jiang was somewhat dissatisfied: "You have some acting skills, but since you want to challenge the antagonist role, you need to immerse yourself in the character. You are a killer who has murdered seven people, and your heart harbors a hell!"

"But this is just a scene of going up the stairs. My inner hell is always suppressed, and I'm waiting for the final explosion!" Zhan Lele was quite straightforward.

"Can you show me an explosion now?"

After Director Jiang spoke, everyone looked at Zhan Lele. The young actor gathered his strength and then suddenly waved the prop knife wildly, screaming hysterically.

"Cut! Cut! Cut!"

Director Jiang covered his face: "Ask anyone on the set if your performance as a deranged killer scared them or gave them a sense of oppression?"

Director Jiang grabbed the assistant director and asked in front of Zhan Lele: "Were you afraid of his performance just now?"

"Not at all."

"What about you?"

"A bit funny."

He asked a few people, and the first two were completely calm, while the last one was amused.

"Every glance and every movement is acting. The actor who played the victim in the audition yesterday scared the assistant director. You're making the killer look like a drunk thug. Have you even read the script?"

Zhan Lele seemed to have indeed not read the script, but he still insisted: "I don't believe anyone playing a victim can scare the crew."

As they argued, somehow the topic turned to Han Fei. Director Jiang directly called him over: "Have you read our script?"

"Yes."

"Can you act out the killer?"

"Me? I'm actually a comedy actor."

"Don't be modest. Come on, give him a demonstration." Director Jiang seemed to have a lot of confidence in Han Fei.

Han Fei didn't want to stand out, but he had no choice now.

Lowering his head, he visualized the face of the neighbor on the sixth floor at the beginning, holding a sharp knife, leaning out of the stairs, standing in the dark, and watching a living being approach.

His face was filled with a desire for blood and flesh, harboring an uncontrollable urge to destroy. He was clearly suppressing his inner impulses, eager to stab the knife into the other person's body.

His suppressed breathing and chilling gaze followed the person into the dark hallway, and now no one would stop him.

Slowly raising his head, Han Fei stared at Zhan Lele's neck, and his cracked lips gradually formed a smile.