42: Chapter 42: Are You Worthy to Be the Protagonist?
42: Chapter 42: Are You Worthy to Be the Protagonist?
Han Fei’s voice was very soft, and Director Jiang didn’t hear him clearly, but right now, he was not in the mood to care about what Han Fei was saying.
The victims’ families rushed into the film set, stopping the movie shoot, which could bring significant negative impact to the film if not handled well.
“Everyone, please calm down!
The police have already begun reinvestigating the Human-body Puzzle case!
It probably won’t take long to catch the real culprit!”
Jiang Yi shouted loudly, hoping to calm everyone down, but the inner fury of the victims’ families had already been ignited.
“Every day we force ourselves not to think about those painful things, and your movie, once out, is like laying all of our suffering out in the sun,” a middle-aged woman in her forties angrily pointed at the crew while scolding them, “But we agreed to the filming of the movie because you said it could increase visibility and rally more attention to the cause.
So, despite our own anguish, we were willing to hand over our most desperate memories to you!
But what have you done?!”
She held up her tablet, turned the volume up to the max, and played a video on repeat.
In it, Acheng, playing a young police officer with melodramatic lines, was making crude deductions and even managed to find love while chasing the murderer.
In the final part of the clip, the female lead gave her life to buy the male lead a chance, and the young officer managed to pull off an incredible counter-kill, followed by some cringeworthy crying scenes.
“Is this the answer you’re giving us, the victims’ families?
You’re simply insulting the pain we’ve endured for a decade!” The middle-aged woman’s voice was loud, and towards the end, she broke down in tears.
“I’m very sorry for betraying everyone’s trust.
As the director, I must apologize to everyone, and I will do my utmost to make changes.
However, I also hope everyone can understand a little the perspective of us filmmakers.
It is very difficult to completely replicate reality in a drama, and a certain percentage of the leading man and lady’s roles are required, which is a demand of the investors,” Jiang Yi said.
This drama was mainly invested in by two film and television companies, one of which Acheng belonged to, Hanguang Film and Television, and the other was Youlong Culture behind the female lead, with Youlong Culture holding the largest share.
They mainly wanted to promote their company’s actress.
“I don’t care how you film it, but when the murderer hasn’t been caught, why would you fabricate such an ending?”
“We’ve already been very compassionate in agreeing to help you amplify the case’s impact, if you continue to cause trouble, we will call the police!”
“Still have the face to call the police?
You’re committing fraud!”
“Speak properly, don’t make false accusations!”
The emotions of the victims’ families were becoming more and more agitated, each sticking to their points, and they had begun to push and shove each other.
Not getting the response they wanted, the victims held up banners preventing the continuation of the shoot, with Acheng at the forefront, also full of anger because the victims’ families were demanding reshoots of his scenes.
It wasn’t clear who started it, but in the midst of their arguing, Wei Youfu’s father was pushed down.
The set was already very crowded and filled with a lot of filming equipment.
When the old man fell, the emotions of the victims’ families completely exploded, and they also pushed down Acheng, who was standing at the front.
Acheng, usually appearing as an idol, sat on the ground, his makeup smeared, and shoeprints were stamped onto his clothes: “Damn it, nothing goes right; you all just wait!”
“You still have the nerve to speak?
Solving a case while falling in love, your portrayal of a police officer is an insult!
I feel sick just looking at you!”
“Ten years of chasing a murderer, I don’t know how you can still joke and smile with such a serious and painful matter; is this your ‘Acting’?”
Angered by the harsh truths coming from the victims’ families, Acheng burst out, “A bunch of hooligans, your family members truly deserved to be…”
Acheng, in his impulsiveness, had blurted out those words, but he realized halfway and dared not continue, yet the victims’ families had heard him.
The scar in his heart was torn open, and the middle-aged woman closest to Acheng grabbed his hair with red eyes, too distressed to speak.
“Let go!” Acheng was very strong; he shook off the middle-aged woman and was just about to get up, but someone kicked him again.
No longer able to suppress the fire within, he grabbed the prop bucket filled with artificial blood plasma next to him, and without looking, hurled it behind him with all his might.
The bucket, full of blood plasma, smashed harshly onto someone’s back, and just hearing the sound made it feel painful.
The now empty bucket rolled down the corridor, and both sides fell silent, turning their gaze to the center of the crowd.
Han Fei, drenched in blood plasma, stood in front of the middle-aged woman, the thick fluid sliding down his face, his eyes startling everyone.
A hoarse voice rose in the hallway; Han Fei, stepping in the plasma on the floor, walked up to Acheng: “They’re right, you really don’t deserve to play a cop.
Your acting, in my eyes, is like trash.”
The direct words, the indisputable tone, Han Fei’s face smeared with blood, looked straight at Acheng.
In that moment, Acheng realized he was actually scared, so frightened that he couldn’t even utter a complete sentence.
“To crack this case, many people have bet their lives.
Your performance is simply an insult to their hard work.”
Han Fei himself danced on the edge of a knife every night, a mere misstep from death; he knew all too well the case’s cruelty and gore, which couldn’t simply be summed up by the words “Human-body Puzzle”.
Ignoring the frightened Acheng, Han Fei turned to look at the family members of the victims.
He knew their names and had seen them in photos.
“Child, are you hurt on your back?” the middle-aged woman rushed over anxiously.
If Han Fei hadn’t shielded her, that bucket full of blood plasma would have smashed directly onto her.
“You’re Gu Ye’s sister, Gu Yu, right?” Han Fei’s expression slightly softened.
“I know every one of you, and I understand your pain,” Han Fei slowed his speech: “I hope everyone can listen to me for a moment.
Just now, Director Jiang said the police have started re-investigating the Human-body Puzzle case, and it won’t be long before the murderer is caught.
This isn’t to comfort you, it’s the truth.”
It’s been ten years, and it’s always the same story every year.”
“I can assure everyone that this time the real culprit will be caught!” Han Fei wiped the blood plasma off his face: “If the drama continues with its senseless fabrication before the real murderer is caught, then I will join you in protest!”
Looking at the family members of the victims, what came to his mind were the ghosts in the Haunted House 1044.
This time, he wasn’t acting, but he was speaking his heartfelt words: “Trust me, I will give everyone an answer.”