163 What's Next?

 

Taking in Han Fei who stood before him, Jiang Yi’s heart filled with emotions. For most actors, when they reached a certain level of fame, they would try their best to turn that into money, by taking sponsorship, advertisement. They’d actively go searching for a director with better resources, to join a bigger crew. However Jiang Yi did not feel such an intention from Han Fei. After a project was completed, no matter how famous it got, the man’s first concern was to work on the next project.

“Director Jiang, perhaps we can turn more similar cases into a series. Human jigsaw puzzle case will be our first, we can consider working on a story inspired by Yi Ming Private Academy’s ghost stories next. All the films will be connected by the Butterfly. We’ll work on it part by part.” Han Fei shared his own plan. “With the experience from adapting the human jigsaw case into Twin Flowers, the succeeding adaptations will be a lot easier. Furthermore, with the result from Twin Flowers, I believe Sister Long will be willing to support us, after all, I don’t think anyone will purposely go against money.”

“Han Fei, you didn’t just reject Director Zhang because you wish to adapt these cases, did you?” Jiang Yi admired Han Fei but the director wished for the man to have a bigger stage to shine.

“No, I was not lying when I said that I could not leave Xin Lu.” Han Fei did not continue this topic but instead he pulled the balding scriptwriter over, “Guys, I hope we can familiarize ourselves with old cases that happened at Yi Ming Private Academy. We should start on them as early as we can.” The balding writer initially had many issues with Han Fei but the latter’s deeds convinced him that Han Fei only had professional concerns, so he had no problems with the actor now.

Since they did not get to gather in a relaxed environment often, the crew chatted and enjoyed themselves. Han Fei did not rain on their parade by rambling on about work. He too joined in their celebration and stayed until 11 pm.

When he reached home, Han Fei splashed himself on his face with cold water to clear his mind. “The money from the movie should come soon, I’ll use the money to buy an actual gaming hub. That should enable me to stay in the game longer without hurting my posture.” The gaming hub designed by Deep Space Tech and Immortal Pharma had many functions, it was good for health as well. However, it also came with a preposterous price tag.

Han Fei sat on his bed at around 11.30 pm. He connected all the wires. When he was ready to enter the game, his phone suddenly vibrated. “Jin Jun? How can I help you?”

“Congratulations on the premiere! Brother, you’ve blasted right through the stratosphere,” Jin Jun sounded very excited. Even as a senior paparazzi, Han Fei’s career trajectory was something he had not encountered before.

“Thank you, is there anything else?” Han Fei was about to hop into the game.

“My people just got another call. Wu Wu Entertainment is doubling their offer just to get some dirt on you. They’ve approached other paparazzi as well.” Jin Jun chuckled bitterly, “As I’ve said, they’ll be kicking themselves if your movie gets famous. But now, from what I hear, your former agency is not only kicking themselves, they’re crazily mad. The movie, Secret Urban Romance, that they’ve invested in has 13 times your budget just on promotions and advertisements alone. But even so, their result is so much worse than yours. I doubt any of them will be able to sleep tonight with the ball of rage burning inside them.”

“Let them rage.” Han Fei said calmly. “Just keep them dangling for now. After a while, I will leak some ‘news’ to you, I won’t make life hard for your people.” Han Fei managed to survive for so long in the cryptic world because he had a quick mind. He already had a plan forming. He’d leak false news and allow Wu Wu Entertainment to make a big deal out of it. After they helped him get people talking, he’d come out with a counter-attack.

“Wu Wu Entertainment is considered a rather famous company within the industry but you are still alone. For the sake of security, I think you should join a company.” Jin Jun really cared about Han Fei to say these things.

“That’s not within my plan for now. Alright, if there’s nothing else, I’m going to hang up now, okay?”

“You have to be careful, Wu Wu Entertainment has poured a lot of investment into Secret Urban Romance but everything that they should have gotten was taken away by Twin Flowers. They will do everything within their power to knock you down! To be perfect honestly, this industry is much dirtier than it appears. No one other than the paparazzi knows better.” Jin Jun reminded Han Fei again.

“I’ll be careful.”

After Han Fei hung up, he just sat back down when his phone vibrated again. This time, the caller was Huang Yin. “Brother Huang? How can I help you?”

“I just watched your new movie! It’s so good! Is the story inside it real? You were helping the police with the human jigsaw case, weren’t you?!” Huang Yin was as excited as ever.

“Yes, the plot is adapted from the actual case.”

“To have helped the police with such a dangerous case, brother, I knew I was right to place my trust in you!” Huang Yin guffawed heartily, “I never believed in destiny, but now I realized everything happens for a reason.”

“What reason?”

“Do you still remember the cryptic world that I told you about in Perfect Life? The hidden map that I’ve found?” Huang Yin lowered his voice like they were discussing something highly confidential.

“I do.”

“Brother, I’ve decided to share my biggest secret with you.” Huang Yin took a deep breath. “The passage that goes to the hidden map is right at my house’s toilet. If you’re free tonight, we can go explore it together.”

“Tonight?”

“Yes! That hidden map is a nightmare, it is filled with ghosts, monsters and murderers. I really don’t have the guts to return there on my own so I wish for you to join my group!” Huang Yin said seriously.

“Brother Huang, I am so sorry but tonight is my crew’s celebratory party, so I won’t be in game. But if there’s a chance in the future, I’ll definitely party up with you.” Han Fei was already trapped inside a hidden map, he couldn’t leave it even if he wanted too. But he could summon Huang Yin into Yi Ming Private Academy so they could have a reunion there.

“Understood, you deserve the break. Enjoy yourself, we’ll schedule this another time.”

“Thank you, Brother Huang.”

“By the way, I heard that in another half a month, Perfect Life will end its 6th CB, we’ll have to try to enter the hidden map again before the OB begins.” Huang Yin dropped another news for Han Fei.

“The game will enter OB in another half a month?” Han Fei’s eyes slowly narrowed. After the photon computer took over the management, the era of Han Fei would truly begin. If he survived, he’d live to welcome a new world. After finishing the chat with Huang Yin, Han Fei glanced at the time and put on the gaming helmet. Blood soaked everything. When the familiar chill curled around his heart, Han Fei opened his eyes.

In the darkened corridor, there was still a light echo of strange footsteps. This was the 3rd floor hostel corridor. Sneaking into the bathroom, Han Fei took out the red uniform from his inventory and called Xu Qin’s name. Hearing Han Fei’s voice, Xu Qin’s black shadow poked its head out from the corner. While Han Fei was offline, it must have consumed something else because it had grown bigger. It was now a large anaconda.

“Don’t just eat. I don’t see you charging ahead in battles.” Han Fei chided the shadow as he rubbed its head. He sighed, “You’re best at eating, there’s no doubt about that.” The giant snake snuggled up to Han Fei and it was lazy to move. It allowed Han Fei to mold its head into different shapes. After having the shadow trail around him, Han Fei led it downstairs.

“I wonder what has happened to Zhang Guanxing, I hope he’s fine.” Han Fei did not need to walk so far down the stairs to smell the blood in the air. He looked around and realized there were more blood stains on the walls and steps.

“When I first arrived here, the interior at least still looks rather normal. The hostel manager and Ma Manjiang’s sons still possess the appearance of normal humans. There were also lights in the corridors.

“On the second day, the lights in the corridors went out. The hostel manager and the kids have all gone missing, all that remains were only ghosts and Zhang Guanxing who accidentally stumbled his way into this place.

“Now, on the 3rd day, something has changed in the hostel again. It feels even more dangerous than before."