513 Scapegoat
“Han Fei, we are still live, pay attention.” Director Zhang nudged Han Fei. He saw the pictures that Han Fei sent earlier. They were all crime scene pictures.
“Okay.”
“I know you are preparing for our next script but don’t push yourself too much. You need to learn to relax.” Director Zhang looked at Han Fei with admiration. Someone like Bai Cha was unprofessional compared to Han Fei. He was still doing homework at an award ceremony. Han Fei knew Director Zhang had misunderstood him but Han Fei merely smiled.
The movie festival continued. Thriller Novelist won a surprising best plot award. Director Zhang also won the best director award as he wished. He proved to everyone again after 3 years that he still had the touch. Eventually, the festival reached its climax. The competition for the best male actor was very tough. All 6 nominees had popularity and capability. Before the award was announced, no one could predict who the winner would be. Bai Xian gripped his chair tightly. He had been nominated for 5 years but had lost every time. He said that he didn’t care but he yearned for that validation.
When the best male actor and female actor were announced, the livestream reached new popularity, it broke new records. After the last reviewer cast his vote, the result appeared on the screen. The best male actor this year was not Xu Zheng or Bai Xuan, but a veteran A-list actor. Of the 18 reviewers, 8 chose him; 4 chose Xu Zheng and Bai Xian only got 1 vote.
“At least last year I had 3 votes…” When the result was announced, Bai Xian leaned against the back of his chair. His breath left his body and he clapped along mechanically. Director Zhang consoled Bai Xian but Bai Xian only shook his head. “Yet another year where everyone else wins but me.” Bai Xian tried to joke along with the others but it was clear that his mood was affected. To be honest, when he shot Thriller Novelist with Han Fei, he already predicted this result. As the main lead, he would be led away by Han Fei and that was something that couldn’t be done by the main lead.
After the two big awards were announced, the movie festival was coming to an end. There were smaller awards and some performances.
When the sky was dark, Han Fei received Li Xue’s call. Using the excuse of the police calling him, Han Fei sneaked out of the hall. “The air outside is fresher.”
After finding a quiet place, Han Fei accepted the call, “Can I meet the family?”
“We really want to help you but the families of the victims from those two cases are dead.”
“Dead? When?”
“A few years after the cases. They were under great pressure and couldn’t escape from grief. The parents of the female victim in the first case died at the hospital after their mental health deteriorated. The wife of the male victim in the second case went insane. It was her neighbor who found her body.” Li Xue didn’t hide anything from Han Fei. “Why are you suddenly so interested in plastic surgery cases?”
“I have a scary suspicion but before I gather enough evidence, I can’t say.” The plastic surgery hospital was related to Immortal Pharma. Han Fei didn’t dare to say anything since Immortal Pharma was a big company. He had to be careful.
“You are sounding more and more like a PI. Han Fei, after the Butterfly is captured, you should go back to being an actor. It’s too dangerous for you to go around pursuing criminals. You should focus your talent on acting.” Li Xue persuaded Han Fei. She was worried that Han Fei would sink into this pool of depravity but she had no idea Han Fei was already in hell.
“I will be careful.” Han Fei received the notes from Li Xue and he studied the cases. The victims had different causes of death but they had a similarity in their crime scenes. There were always glass shards. For some, the glass cup broke; others the windows or mirrors.
“Every victim is found close to a reflective surface. Is the killer really the faceless woman?” The Butterfly never killed with his own hands but used psychology to push his victims to death. But the 3 Pure Hatreds at the hospital were different. They had different killing methods.
“Han Fei, how about a cigarette?” While Han Fei was considering the problem, Bai Xian’s voice came from behind. Bai Xian walked over holding a pack of cigarettes.
“Thank you but I don’t smoke.”
“Then why did you come to the smoking zone?” Bai Xian pointed at the sign beside them as he pulled out a cigarette. “I notice that you don’t smoke or drink, you don’t have a girlfriend either, so what do you do for entertainment?”
“I play games.” Han Fei put away his phone. “I train my acting through gaming.”
Bai Xian’s ears perked up hearing this. “Acting can be trained through gaming?”
“It is a channel to vent the pent-up emotions.” Han Fei didn’t lie. If a person had to act to survive, then most people would do their best to be the best actor.
“You’re making me interested.” Bai Xian was intrigued and then he sighed. “This year’s festival is a huge blow to me. The year before the last, I had 2 votes, and last year I had 3 but this year, I only have 1.”
“Brother Bai, it’s not that the reviewers didn’t approve of you but the choices are too hard. All the nominees are amazing this year.”
“I’m not a good enough actor. You can use hard work to become a good actor but to be a masterful actor, you need talent.” Bai Xian sighed.
“Brother Bai, you are the kind of actor who is talented and hardworking! If you ask me, you are missing an opportunity.” Han Fei said seriously, “Do you play Perfect Life?”
“I do. It’s very tiring at work so I normally spend my nights sleeping inside the gaming hub and unwinding in the game.” Bai Xian seemed to realize something. “You’re not telling me that the game can help train one’s acting?”
“Yes, it helped me a lot.”
“For real? Then we should play together! What’s your in-game Id? I’ll add you as a friend!” Bai Xian held the cigarette but he didn’t light it.
“There’s no need, I’ll call you when the time is right.” Han Fei smiled and signaled for the man to calm down.
“Don’t forget about it!”
“I won’t.” Han Fei was surprised that Bai Xian agreed so easily.
“Good, that’s my brother. Come, I’ll drive you home.” Bai Xian put the cigarette away. He was not a smoker normally, he was just feeling down that day. They notified Director Zhang and left the venue. When Bai Xian went to grab his car, Han Fei’s phone vibrated again. When he saw the caller Id, his eyes narrowed. The caller was Ugly Scar. CEO Lee had once invited this man to Bai Xiang Ge restaurant, he was the one who told them about the perfect woman. Han Fei had a deep impression of Ugly Scar but he was too busy recently to contact the man. Han Fei accepted the call. Before he said anything, an eerie voice came from the phone. “Didn’t I say we would talk about things the day after that meeting?”
“But you didn’t call me.” Han Fei found a quiet spot. “But I can understand your difficulty. Over the past few days, I was researching cases related to plastic surgeries. There are many unanswered questions. I was also just notified that not only the victims but the victims’ families have died.”
When he heard that, Ugly Scar laughed madly, “Looks like I’ve found the right person. We better meet soon, I feel like I don’t have much time left, that thing has found me.”
“Found you? Where are you now? I’ll go meet you immediately.”
“Xin Lu’s northern countryside. I’ll tell you the details when you arrive.” Just as Ugly Scar hung up, Bai Xian arrived. “Get in, I’ll drive you home.”
“Brother Bai, you better go home first, I have something to do in the northern countryside.” Han Fei glanced at his phone. It was 7.50 pm, if everything went smoothly, he should be able to reach home before midnight.
“You have something to do again?” Bai Xian shivered but he still told Han Fei. “Taxis can’t come into the venue because of the festival. I’ll drive you. We’ll get this wrapped up and we can get into the game together at night.”
“Okay, but this time, you should stay inside the car.” Han Fei hopped into Bai Xian’s car. The virtual screens along the way broadcasted the livestream from the movie festival. Han Fei’s surprise win was one of the hottest topics. He stood firm among the C-list actors. Many media reporters and commentators were talking about Han Fei. The reporters at the venue wanted to interview Han Fei but the man was already gone.
Bai Xian’s car moved from the noisiest intelligent city to the most deserted countryside. It felt very surreal. They arrived after 40 minutes of driving. Han Fei received another call from Ugly Scar. With his direction, they arrived at a neighborhood. The young people had migrated to the city and not many people stayed in the countryside. After dark, most buildings were dark. The tall apartments were now empty boxes, they looked like rectangular urns. Bai Xian’s luxury car didn’t fit in. Because the road condition was bad, he didn’t dare to drive too fast.
“We’re here. This is the place.” Han Fei exited the car and entered the residential building with his phone. The building had no light at all, it looked abandoned. He pushed open the door that led underground. Han Fei went down the stairs. There was light at the end of the steps. Han Fei called Ugly Scar again. This time, the ringing came from the basement. With a high alert, Han Fei moved towards the source of the ringing. He sidestepped the trash and entered the basement.
“You’re here.” The chill voice rang out behind Han Fei. The man who was covered under a black robe looked at Han Fei carefully. “Put all reflective items here. Your phone, belt, shoes, and buttons.”
Han Fei obliged. After ensuring there was nothing reflective on Han Fei, Ugly Scar led Han Fei to another room at the end of the basement. This room’s wall, ceiling, and floor were painted black. Every object inside the room had no reflective surfaces.
“Sit beside the fire, it’s warmer that way.” The place had no light but only a small fireplace. Even his phone was the kind used by the blind. It didn’t even have a screen. The man tossed some firewood into the fireplace and sat down before Han Fei. “Do you mind if I remove my hat? I hope you’re not scared by my appearance.”
“I don’t mind. I’ve seen worse on dead bodies.”
“This is the first time I’ve heard such an honest answer.” Ugly Scar removed his robe and closed the door. After he looked around and found no reflective surface, he sighed in relief.
“The reason you do all these is to avoid the faceless woman who will only appear in mirrors?” When Han Fei mentioned the faceless woman, Ugly Scar tensed.
He looked around nervously and nodded. “I expect nothing less from you. You know about the faceless woman already.”
“What do you want to tell me? Or how do you want me to help you?”
“All these years, I have been hiding underground. I don’t go out that much but she still found me.” Ugly Scar used an iron rod to nudge the firewood. There were several burning white shoes inside the fireplace. “I have a lot of money. If you do me a favor, I will give you all my money.”
Han Fei stared at the man, waiting for him to continue.
“The favor is simple. When the faceless woman appears tonight, you need to stay in the same room with me. If I die, then you need to use your influence with the police to help me investigate what the faceless woman is and help me avenge me and my wife.” Ugly Scar said slowly, he had prepared this for a long time.
“You are lying.” Han Fei said directly, “You want me to be your scapegoat. When the faceless woman arrives, you’ll sacrifice me to her and you’ll move to your next hiding space.”
Ugly Scar’s face trembled but he soon calmed down. “At least one thing I told you is true. The faceless woman will come to find me tonight.”
