545 The Perfect Cover
“The model’s name is Love?” Han Fei glanced at the model’s electric saw. With his years of being chased in the cryptic world, he recognized that it was not a prop at first glance. “What a sharp love.”
Lee Guo Er glanced at Han Fei. Everyone was focused on the model’s figure and face. OnlyHan Fei focused on her saw. With her understanding of Fu Yi, she immediately grasped something. The smile on her face turned sweeter. “Leader, I’ve thought of a new en. Wouldould you like to hear it?”
“Xiao Lee, everyone should learn from you and your work ethic. But don’t overwork yourself.” Han Fei pulled his eyes back from the model and met Lee Guo Er’s dangerous smile. He quickly turned back to the office. They returned to the office together. Lee Guo Er got to work immediately. She put on her glasses and drew the new ending. Her sweet appearance was a contrast against her crazy eyes.
‘I need to be careful. Now, both the zombies and Love want to crack open my skull.’ Han Fei selected his plants. Before the wave of zombies arrived, footsteps came from the corridor. His colleagues moved away from the conference room to go towards his office. Han Fei minimized the game and pulled up his work schedule. He frowned deeply as if he was pondering something significant.
“Fu Yi, you’re here too?” Zhao Qian knocked on the door. She and Octopus stood at the door. “Immortal is going to shoot its promo video today. We’ve rented the venue for the whole day. You should get the video of your game shot too. A horror dating sim, that’s quite interesting.”
“Fu Yi, you owe me a big one. If we didn’t hire Love, you wouldn’t have a chance to make a promo video with your eroge game.” Octopus sneered at Fu Yi. Octopus mobilized many resources to get the famous model but, the model agreed to help Fu Yi shoot his promo for free. Octopus looked at Han Fei with envy, but he was surprised to see Han Fei look back at him with resentment.
“Such an ingrate.” Octopus averted Han Fei’s gaze.
“Collect your files and come with us. Love is very interested in your game. She promised to shoot the promo for free.” Zhao Qian left without giving Han Fei the chance to say no.
“Leader, let me come with you.” As if afraid that another woman would kill Han Fei, Lee Guo Er quickly volunteered. “Immortal is the company S grade project, our game is at most B grade project. Normally speaking, we wouldn’t have the chance to work with a top model. We mustn’t lose this chance.”
With his team members looking at him, Han Fei nodded. “Fine, I’ll go.”
“I’ve prepared everything. We only need to shoot the cover.” Lee Guo Er took out her painted cover. A man who looked 80 percent like Han Fei was pinned to the dining table. His clothes were tattered. He was wounded and blindfolded. Around him sat seven women with different weapons, expressions, and personalities.
“Are you sure we’re going with this cover?” Han Fei’s lips twitched. Even as a professional actor, he hadn’t attempted something this exciting before.
“Horror, love, romance, food, everything you want is in this cover.” Lee Guo Er placed the painted cover in her file. She was like Han Fei’s best assistant.
“Okay then.” Han Fei switched off his game and went down with Lee Guo Er.
A crew bus parked outside the company building. Zhao Qian led the crew personally. She valued this promo chance. Han Fei and Lee Guo Er were the last to arrive.
“Is anyone sitting here?” Octopus moved to Love’s side and pointed at the empty seat beside her. “I wish to discuss with you more about the game’s background and action details.”
“I’m sorry, but this seat is taken.” Love’s voice was special. It was quite neutral. It was hoarse but strangely alluring. Octopus’ eyes wandered over Love’s revealing costume, and he grinned salaciously. Then he spotted the empty seat beside Zhao Qian. Since Zhao Qian was the company manager, the normal workers would be too pressured to sit beside her.
Octopus walked towards Zhao Qian. Before he arrived, Zhao Qian saw Han Fei ascend the bus with Lee Guo Er. Her eyes flashed with annoyance. Zhao Qian stood up to pull Lee Guo Er over to sit beside her. She asked her about work.
The engine started, but Han Fei and Octopus were still standing. There were supposed to be enough seats, but Zhao Qian suddenly said Han Fei was tagging along.
“The two of you just find a seat to squeeze together. Don’t stand on the isle.” The driver urged. Han Fei sighed. He slowly moved towards Love. It was the only empty seat left.
“Can I sit here?”
“Of course.” Love caressed her nails which were painted red like blood. “Your eyes are still as brilliant as ever.”
“There might be some misunderstandings between us.”
“Every beautiful encounter starts with a misunderstanding.” Love focused on Han Fei as if she was trying to brand his face into her mind.
“No, this is a real misunderstanding.” Han Fei had read through Fu Yi and Love’s chat record. The most recent two weeks of chat records were standard, but the previous chat records had all been erased. Han Fei had no idea what Love chatted with Fu Yi, but he had a feeling these were unsavory topics, or else Fu Yi wouldn’t need to delete everything.
While Han Fei pondered this thing, Love kept staring at him. It caused Han Fei to be anxious. Seeing how Han Fei didn’t recognize her, Love’s gaze changed. A thin blood vein popped in her eyes. “Fu Yi, do you really think avoidance can solve everything?”
Han Fei really had no idea what the history between Love and Fu Yi was, so he could only whisper back, “We’ll talk about this in private.” Han Fei then ignored Love. He turned his head forward and saw the dumbfounded Octopus standing there.
“Why are you standing there? Find a place to sit.”
Octopus’ fists gripped. He invited the model. He booked the bus. It felt like he had done everything, but Han Fei had swooped in to steal everything from him.
“Leader Zhang, come sit with us.” The cameramen said and offered a seat.
“This is not going to be a long ride. The hotel is not far from here. It’ll take at most 40 minutes.” The driver started the engine once Octopus sat down.
“Hotel? The venue is a hotel?” Han Fei was confused. Immortal was a game set in the future. It didn’t have anything to do with a hotel.
“Immortal describes a horrible future. Immortals live in the intelligent city, while the rebels and refugees live in ruins outside the city. Starry Art Hotel was abandoned five years ago. It was once luxurious and royal but now it’s a total ruin. It fits our requirements.” A worker explained. “The hotel used to be our city’s landmark. However, no one dares to stay there anymore after that incident.”
“What incident?”
“It’s nothing good. You don’t need to know.” The worker stopped talking, so Han Fei took out Fu Yi’s phone to do his own research. He keyed in Starry Art Hotel, and the search results came back immediately.
“The descend of the demon or mental chaos? Twenty-one lives encased in cement to build Satan’s hotel. The hotel boss is still at large.”
“Starry Art Hotel near Perfection Plastic Surgery Hospital provides accommodation, dining and so on for the ‘rich people’ coming for plastic surgery. No one knew this building closest to Perfection hides so many ugly secrets.”
“The case remains unsolved. The hotel staff died from a mysterious death. The guard died from being scared. Their dying messages mention the dead looking for their faces.”
“Is it a plastic surgery hospital or a murder hospital? What is the connection between Perfection Plastic Surgery Hospital and Starry Art Hotel?”
“Dark attraction, 500 per night.”
Han Fei was reminded of many things. There was also a hotel near the hospital built by Immortal Pharma. Everything here matched Fu Sheng’s schooling day memory. Han Fei was curious. Why would Fu Sheng have such a deep impression of the hospital and what happened to him there?
Since they didn’t depart during active hours, the bus only took half an hour to arrive. This place was far from the city center, and it showed.
“I can’t go further because the road ahead is too narrow for the bus to make a u-turn. You guys can cover the rest on foot. The hotel is just around the fork.” The drive braked. He rolled down the car window and lit a cigarette to chase away the chill.
“Okay. Grab your stuff. We’ll meet under the pine on the left.” Octopus clapped. He was the first to leave.
To escape Love, Han Fei quickly got down from the bus. He found a quiet corner and studied his surroundings.
Starry Art Hotel was only one street away from Perfection Plastic Surgery Hospital. It didn’t seem like people came here because the police cordon tape was still on the hotel entrance. The sensor on the glass doors was broken. Someone used paint to write, ‘Return my family’s lives.’ Looking through the glass door, the place was cluttered. The floor was damaged, and there was no intact furniture.
“We’ve already notified the admin here. We can use this place until sundown. But we cannot go beyond the fourth floor.” Octopus took out his phone to talk to someone. Moments later, a young man in a simple uniform walked out of the security booth. He opened the side door for them.
“This is Wu San, one of our local police officers. If you need help inside the hotel, come to find him.”
Wu San then walked towards the rest of the crew. “I am responsible for watching over this building. You can call me Xiao San.” The young man smiled as he scanned the crowd. His smile froze when he saw someone. He studied the man repeatedly. His eyes were filled with shock, and he uttered, “Han Fei? The actor?”
Han Fei was also staring at Wu San. He could sense that Wu San was different from the normal citizens of the altar world. ‘He’s another player? He’s quite clever to join the police force.’
They were astute enough not to expose the other.
“We have a promo to shoot, so let’s not waste time.” Octopus led the way into the hotel. He communicated with the shooting crew to set up the background.
“Where’s the model? And we need a prop manager. You guys help Fu Yi and his team first.” Setting up the scene and cameras needed time, so Zhao Qian had Love, the Prop Manager, and some cameramen to help Han Fei. “Immortal will take about an hour to set up so your team can go first.”
“CEO Zhao, our request is straightforward.” Lee Guo Er took out her drawing. “A big dining table, various murder weapons, and seven models with different personalities.”
“Seven models? Then we will take the pictures first. I’ll key in the models in post.” Zhao Qian waved over Wu San. “Officer Wu, do you know if there are a big dining table and different weapons at this place?”
“I’m just a normal officer. Please call me Xiao San.” Wu San smiled shyly. “There is a large circular dining table on the second-floor ballroom that can fit twenty-five people.”
“25? That’s too large. Is there one smaller?”
“There is another in the first-floor basement, and there are weapons around, but…” Wu San hesitated, “We suspect the killer has used that table before. It comes with some torture devices and detaining ropes.”
“That’s the one!” Lee Guo Er, Love, and Zhao Qian said in unison. Wu San was startled.
“Okay, I’ll bring you there.” Wu San took out the key. When he passed Han Fei, he looked at Han Fei with confusion. He didn’t understand why Han Fei would appear with three beauties with wildly different personalities. Normally speaking, the first problem a player needed to solve in a hidden map was survival. They would find a career that could protect them before exploring. Wu San was curious about what Han Fei’s profession was.
The door to the basement opened. A moldy smell lingered in the air. The place was humid. It was very uncomfortable.
“This is the place.” Wu San led them to the deepest room. The room was luxuriously decorated. There were real-leather sofa and arts everywhere. However, in the middle of this room was a large dining table painted red by blood. The dining table was custom-made. Ten chairs were placed around the table. There were utensils and torture devices scattered around.
“It’s just like how I imagined it.” Lee Guo Er caressed the red surface, and her eyes glinted. Her eyes glowed dangerously under her glasses. “Leader, quick! You need to lie down!”
Staring at the ten chairs, Han Fei had a bad feeling. He could see ten feminine figures seated on them.
“Where’s the prop manager? Get Fu Yi into the costume.” Zhao Qian knocked on the table. She was delighted with the room and its atmosphere too.
Han Fei removed his suit and put on the white shirt. The white shirt formed a bright contrast to the red of the table. It was impactful, coupled with Han Fei’s handsome face.
“In the concept art, he is captured, food to be served. He looks too clean.” Love walked over, holding the saw with one hand. She grabbed Han Fei’s shirt and tore it apart. The buttons rolled on the table. Han Fei was stunned.
“Come, close your eyes. We’ll shackle your arms and calves. You only need to lie here.” The Prop manager had Han Fei climb onto the table. “Have you acted before? Try to look scared. Then add in a little helplessness and struggle! Perfect!”
Seeing Han Fei, who lay on the dining table, Wu San’s eyes widened. He knew Han Fei was an actor, but he was surprised that Han Fei was still an actor inside the game.
‘What is going on?’
Suddenly the sound of saw grinding filled up the room. Love with a devilish figure and an angelic face walked towards the dining table. Her eyes were bloodshot as she bit on her lips. Han Fei was reflected in her pupils. “Who would have thought the coldest love will have the hottest ending?”
Love suddenly rushed forward and raised the electric saw.
