Chapter 56

"Actor's physical training?"

Lixue heard a new term and found herself becoming increasingly curious about Han Fei.

Clearly, his dream was to become a comedian, but he had found clues to a serial murder case while acting in a thriller.

He looked gentle and even somewhat frail, yet his physical and mental strength was extremely strong, as if he had undergone hellish training.

Lixue worked in criminal investigation and had seen all kinds of strange people, but someone like Han Fei was the first she had encountered.

"I taught you these things, don't use them casually, and never target vital areas. If you encounter danger, your first choice should still be to call the police." Seeing Han Fei still practicing hard, as if he were really preparing to apply them in practice, Lixue quickly reminded him.

"Okay."

"You don't need to be too nervous; the police have already increased the security around the area." Watching Han Fei repeatedly train with seriousness, Lixue didn't interrupt: "I'll leave now. When there's new progress on the case, I'll inform you immediately."

"Alright." Han Fei continued to practice, determined to make these techniques a part of his instinct. Only then could he better survive in that perilous and dark world.

By noon, Han Fei casually made some food at home. Even while eating, he would have a book on the table beside him.

He used all the time he used to spend on short videos and normal games to study criminal investigation, counter-surveillance, and anti-tracking. To survive, he had become an extremely studious person.

Immersed in the ocean of knowledge, Han Fei felt an unprecedented sense of fulfillment. This joy was different from fleeting excitement; it was lasting and goal-oriented.

"You need to quietly work hard and then surprise all those who want to kill you."

Around three in the afternoon, Han Fei received a call from Jiang Yi, who wanted to have a serious talk with him.

To be honest, for a director to treat an 18th-tier actor like this was already a sign of great importance.

By four o'clock, Han Fei arrived at the shooting location of "The Flower of Evil" on North Street. The victims' families were still gathered outside the apartment building, but this time they were not as impulsive. They held banners and silently protested, while others were filming the scene.

"Old man, the investigation of the Human Jigsaw case has been restarted. It shouldn't take long to get results. You're old, and standing like this for so long will be too much for your body." Han Fei had been taken care of by Wei Youfu in the game, so in real life, he wanted to take care of Wei Youfu's old father.

These two actually had similar personalities; they were both stubborn and kind-hearted.

"I understand your concern, but this is the only thing I can do for Youfu now." The old man's hand gripped Han Fei's shoulder, his somewhat cloudy eyes filled with complex emotions. He seemed to want to say more but ultimately just sighed: "Thank you, young man. I really liked your portrayal of Youfu."

Han Fei had once shielded the victims' families from a bucket of blood, and some of them now considered him one of their own.

"The murderer will definitely be brought to justice. I promise you that." Han Fei was just an actor, and to passersby, he had nothing to do with the case. But for some reason, the victims' families found his words strangely convincing.

They looked at Han Fei with softer eyes, as if they could see the victims in him.

Entering the shooting location, a production assistant led Han Fei to a room on the second floor.

As soon as the door opened, a thick cloud of smoke wafted out.

Jiang Yi and a few other middle-aged men were sitting together, with several versions of the script on the table between them.

"Xiao Han, the screenwriter and I have been working on the script all night. Since you have a good relationship with the victims' families, I want you to help convince them about the controversial parts." The ashtray was full of cigarette butts, and the two screenwriters had almost pulled out all their hair from the repeated revisions, which was indeed a very troublesome task.

"Convince them?"

"This is the greatest respect I can show to the victims' families. If they still disagree, I have no choice but to force the shooting." Jiang Yi had his own difficulties: "I'm the director, but the movie isn't decided by me alone."

Han Fei picked up the script on the table and started reading. The beginning was great, and the investigation process was mostly realistic, but it became increasingly absurd as he read on.

"The victims' families won't agree to this script, and I can't use it to convince them." Han Fei threw the script on the table: "The complexity of the Human Jigsaw case far exceeds your imagination. Instead of making it up, you should study the case more thoroughly."

"How do you know we haven't studied it? It's easy to talk when you're not the one doing the work." The middle-aged screenwriter with a receding hairline stubbed out his cigarette: "Director Jiang, I've revised the script so many times, I've done my best. Our contract doesn't require the script to be approved by the victims' families."

"That's right, just shoot it as it is. What are we making a movie for? To solve the case? To gain influence? Don't be ridiculous, let's make money first." The other screenwriter also stood up, ready to leave.

"Director Jiang, screenwriters, I know it's not easy for you to keep revising the script, and I know you've made a lot of concessions. If it were another production team, they probably wouldn't care about the victims' families at all. You've done a good job." Han Fei opened the window of the small room to let the wind disperse the thick smoke: "But why can't you wait a little longer? The real ending of this case is coming soon."

"Why should we wait for the real ending? Will the real ending be what the audience wants to see? Do you know what the market is? Do you know the positioning and target audience of our film?" The balding screenwriter picked up his coat and headed for the door, ready to push Han Fei aside.

"I don't know what the market is, but I know that debts must be repaid, and murderers must pay with their lives." Han Fei stood at the door, his gaze sweeping over the screenwriter's neck and ribs.

That cold look made the screenwriter hesitate, and he awkwardly brushed the dust off his shoulder.

"Director Jiang, if you think the movie is just a tool to make money, then it doesn't matter how you shoot it, but I won't participate in such a movie." Han Fei said clearly: "Many people think I'm an extra, a bit player, a nobody, but I consider myself an actor. I'm now participating in a movie that absolutely cannot fail."

After saying that, Han Fei left the small room. Director Jiang watched Han Fei's back and took out his phone.

His gaze lingered between the producer and the lead actor, Ah Cheng, for a long time. In the end, he didn't call Ah Cheng to return and shoot according to the original script; instead, he called the producer.

"Dragon Sister, can you give me a few more days?"

"More time? How much time have I already given you? Now the lead actor is on strike, the victims' families are causing trouble, and negative news keeps spreading online. It's very difficult for me too!"

"Three days, just three more days! I've found a new lead actor. In terms of character and acting, he far surpasses Ah Cheng. Most importantly, he has a real detective's aura! He's simply the perfect lead in my mind!"