Han Fei was averse to joining an entertainment agency and CEO Lee believed that it was because Han Fei’s former agency didn’t treat him well. It was why he had invited Director Zhang, one was for the cooperation, the other was for Han Fei. He wanted to build a relationship with Han Fei through collaboration. If the movie was popular, then he’d sign Han Fei.
Before the party started, Han Fei was very detached but since Xia Yilan sat down beside him, Han Fei opened up. CEO Lee noticed this and he kept giving Xia Yulan signals. Xia Yilan was not a good actor but she was very clever and was good at social events. She sensed that Han Fei care about her a lot. At the movie premiere, Han Fei actively came to talk to her and this made her feel that Han Fei was very willing to communicate with her.
She was very happy and felt quite proud. ‘Every man is the same, no matter how frosty they are, their hearts will tickle when they encounter beautiful things.’ Xia Yilan chatted with Han Fei with great passion. Due to his professionalism, after knowing the movie was related to plastic surgery, he asked Xia Yilan many questions about plastic surgery. To preserve a good image in Han Fei’s mind, Xia Yilan answered every question that she knew.
She wanted to pull Han Fei over but all Han Fei wanted to do was to push her down the abyss. With another woman’s face, she was acting every day.
The booth was a microcosm of real society. CEO Lee, Director Zhang and the guests sat at the main table, the other actors sat at the side tables. They looked about as young as Han Fei but they were just there for the numbers. Their gazes that shot at Han Fei and Xia Yilan were filled with envy.
Music, singing, and alcohol, everyone was laughing, discussing different things. Only Han Fei was intensely focused. He talked to Xia Yilan about plastic surgery and the tragedies that had happened because of it. Xia Yilan was very happy. She assumed that no one knew about her past so she revealed a lot of info to Han Fei. Xia Yilan even assumed that Han Fei had fallen for her. After all, this man was famed for his reticence but he had been clumsily starting conversation with her around a movie that hadn’t even started. If that was not affection, what was?
There were younger female artists in the booth but Han Fei didn’t even glance at them. That confirmed Xia Yilan’s thought. She nudged closer to Han Fei as if she was drunk. Han Fei moved backward and his nose twitched. Xia Yilan was charmed by this act of shyness. She was about to say something when the door of the booth opened.
A muscular man about 1.8 meters tall stood at the door. He was in branded casual wear. His muscles were well-defined. A blanket lay across the man’s left shoulder and a pair of sunglasses hung from his shirt pocket. He was quite arrogant. “CEO Lee, why didn’t you call me along when you’re having such a great party?” The man’s voice was so loud that it overwhelmed the music. When he walked in, the younger artists from Star Entertainment became honest and the people stopped singing.
“Ol’ Wu? I knew you were in the middle of a shoot so I didn’t disturb you because I was worried that you’d be too tired.” CEO Lee stood up and made the introduction. “Director Zhang, this is Wei Wu, our company’s most experienced action star. He is our top-ranking actor too. He doesn’t use stunt double even for the most dangerous shoot.”
“I’ve heard about him, perhaps we can collaborate in the future.” Director Zhang wasn’t impressed by Wei Wu. He knew a lot of action stars and due to the pressure from new technology, all action stars had to say that they didn’t use stunt doubles.
“Nice to meet you, Director Zhang.” Wei Wu greeted Director Zhang and then glanced at Han Fei and Xia Yilan who sat together. Wei Wu licked his teeth and then sat down beside Xia Yilan. He tried to talk to Xia Yilan but she was all focused on Han Fei. Han Fei couldn’t care less about the atmosphere in the booth. All he wanted to do was to destroy the plastic surgery hospital so he had been talking to Xia Yilan about plastic surgeries.
After being ignored multiple times, Wei Wu’s hands that held the wineglass pulsed with veins. He suddenly filled up the two glasses with white wine. Then he shoved one to Han Fei, interrupting his conversation with Xia Yilan, “Brother, I heard that you jumped down from the 4th floor in Thriller Novelist and fell right on the safety net?”
Han Fei didn’t think that was anything to gloat about so he just nodded.
“Even action stars like us don’t dare to attempt things like that. You’re just a horror movie actor and you dared to do that?” Wei Wu’s tone was dripping with suspicion. He smiled as he placed the full wineglass before Han Fei. “Come, how about a toast?’
Han Fei glanced at the glass and shook his head. He still had to play the game that night, he needed a clear mind. “I have something else to do later, I can’t drink.”
Wei Wu didn’t expect a clean rejection. After all, Han Fei was just a newbie. Including Thriller Novelist, he only had two projects under his name.
“If it’s driving, the restaurant will find a driver for you.” Wei Wu tried to keep his voice even and he added jokingly, “This is just a glass of wine, you aren’t going to give me face?” Wei Wu was an action star but he was extremely narrow-minded. At Star Entertainment, he was the biggest artist, he had all the company resources but suddenly the management wanted to pull in a new artist and decided to pour all the resources into the new artist instead. This angered Wei Wu.
The singing had stopped and the young artists all glanced at the main table. The atmosphere was awkward.
CEO Lee didn’t expect this. Director Zhang also shot Bai Xian a glance hoping he could help Han Fei. Before Bai Xian could speak, Han Fei said directly, “Do I know you? Why should I give you face?” Han Fei just gained Xia Yilan’s trust, he was about to get more valuable information when he was interrupted by this man. He was annoyed.
“Kiddo, one can’t get too proud from a little result. I can see that Director Zhang admires you a lot. He talks about your stunt scene whenever he meets someone new. Jumping from the 4th floor into the safety net sounds impressive to an outsider but I came from a stunt double background.” Wei Wu was already angry, what Han Fei did only angered him further. “You were lucky to get the chance to work with Director Zhang but it is rather disgusting that you think that luck means you are a good actor.”
After Wei Wu was done, Han Fei glanced at his watch, it was time for him to go home. “Some people will blame others’ real effort on good luck to make themselves feel better.” Han Fei buttoned his jacket. “I can’t jump down a building to prove myself now so how about this.” He extended his hand to Wei Wu, “It was impolite of me to reject your toast so we shall shake on peace. We can use this opportunity to compare our grip. You can use all your strength until your anger dissipates.”
Wei Wu looked disdainfully at Han Fei’s hand. “You are an action actor and I’m just a horror actor, you’re not afraid, are you?” Han Fei had an innocent smile on his face. He would show this smile in the cryptic world before he killed a spirit.
“You two need to calm down, it’s just a glass of wine. I’ll drink it for him.” Bai Xian picked up Han Fei’s glass. He was the most nervous there because he had seen Han Fei in action. He was not worried about Han Fei being bullied, but he was worried that Han Fei might bully Wei Wu.
“The youngsters need to be taught a lesson to go far.” Wei Wu said and then gripped Han Fei’s hand. His arm bulged with veins as he tried to break Han Fei’s bones. He gritted his teeth and used all of his energy. He looked at Han Fei with glee but Han Fei was only smiling innocently. His brows barely twitched. The glee in his eyes slowly turned to anxiety. Wei Wu had used all of his power. He wanted to pull his hand back but he realized he couldn’t move his hand at all.
“I hope you can forgive me for my impunity earlier.” Han Fei’s fingers tightened and Wei Wu’s hand changed shape immediately. The sound of bones breaking was clear in the booth.
“Fuck! Let go!” The pain was intense. Wei Wu’s other hand swung at Han Fei’s head. Han Fei kicked at the man’s knee and the tall man half-knelt to the ground. “You’re an action actor and I’m just a comedy actor. Why won’t you forgive me?” Wei Wu gritted his teeth in anger. He was not satisfied. He believed that Han Fei wouldn’t dare to do anything to him before so many people. He wanted to threaten Han Fei when Han Fei leaned in to whisper, “Do you want to lose your other leg too?”
Wei Wu looked up and saw a ball of darkness behind Han Fei. It caused him to feel suffocated.
“Looks like I have to admit that I am getting old. The youngsters these days are very impressive.” Wei Wu lowered his head and forced out this statement.
“I still have something else to do. I’ll be leaving.” Han Fei finally let go. “We’ll fight again next time.”
“Let me recover first.” Wei Wu’s expression was normal but he was still half-kneeling on the ground.
Han Fei walked out of the booth, Bai Xian moved to follow him. “Han Fei, you don’t need to use force to solve every problem. We can rely on a more civil method.”
“I know but I have something important to do tonight so I don’t have time to waste on him.” Han Fei really thought Bai Xian was a good man. He was a senior actor but he was still so humble.
“What are you doing tonight? Is there another case?” Bai Xian couldn’t believe he was asking a fellow actor these questions.
“I can’t tell you the details.” Han Fei reached the entrance. “Since we’re here, Brother Bai, do you mind driving me home?”
Bai Xian shivered and he reached for his phone. “Damn, I forgot my wallet back at the booth.” Bai Xian then turned and hurried away. Han Fei looked at Bai Xian’s pant pocket. It looked like his wallet was already there.
Han Fei knew Bai Xian was afraid but with practice comes perfect. “Brother Huang resisted it at first too but later it not only healed his internal trauma, but he also became the top player. Such is human nature, if they are willing to change, they will improve… provided that they didn’t die first.”
Han Fei walked to a deserted corner and called Huang Yin. The dial tone came through and then Huang Yin picked up. “Brother Huang, did any players die unnaturally in Perfect Life recently? A few people have arrived at my place yesterday night.”
“I was about to tell you that.” The sound of machine running came from Huang Yin’s end. Soon Han Fei received a video file. “After hanging up, watch the video. The video will auto-delete after 10 minutes.”
“Did something happen?”
“Your world of darkness seems to be calling after the normal players. Yesterday night, 2 teams of players from Absolute Truth went into the maze at Lost Theme Park at 4.44 am and they haven’t been seen since.”
“Lost Theme Park?
“It’s the place Perfect Life built for players who prefer thrillers and scares. It combines many scary, absurd, and gory things. One needs to provide id, health checks, and has more than 10 San Value to enter the park. One also needs to be older than 18.” Huang Yin described and it reminded Han Fei of the theme park next to the plastic surgery hospital.
“They were lost inside the maze?”
“The maze is the park’s most unique feature. One has to satisfy greater requirements just to enter it. The players who are missing are all more than Level 10. They are already the top players at this moment. I have included their info in the file I just sent you.” Huang Yin had many identities in Perfect Life. He had already infiltrated many organizations.
“They are all more than Level 10?” Han Fei nodded. “Good, at least normal spirits wouldn’t be able to harm them.”
“Brother, why would you say that?”
“When I was level 10, I was already a building manager. Plus there are so many of them together, they should be fine.”