552 Han Fei's Theme Song
Han Fei wanted to hide, but it was already too late. The doctor appeared without warning. The doctor panicked because he didn’t expect someone to be outside.
“I came to visit a friend today. I am lost because I’m not familiar with this place.” Han Fei explained. He saw immediately that something was wrong with the doctor but he didn’t expose him. He used his acting to help the doctor.
“Oh. You got the wrong turn. The exit is behind you.” The edge of the doctor’s mask was soaked in sweat. His pupils trembled.
“Thank you.” Han Fei smiled. “Doctor, your sleeves are ruffled.”
The doctor couldn’t smooth down his clothes because he held the bloody bandages. Han Fei moved forward to help. “Doctors would wear cleaning gloves when disposing of medical wastes. But doctor, you seem to be wearing surgical gloves, the kind used during surgery. Of course, I’m not a doctor, so what do I know?” As Han Fei helped the doctor, he touched the man. No information came, so the doctor was not a player. From what Shen Luo said, not all doctors were evil. Some of them wanted to escape too. “Thank you for the guidance. Hopefully, we can meet again.”
The doctor’s heart raced. Blood bloomed on his mask as if his face was wounded. Han Fei saw this but didn’t point it out. He turned back to Building One. Han Fei returned after the doctor left. He eased open the ward door and looked in. A ‘patient’ lay on the white bed. The person was covered under a thick blanket. The body was freshly bandaged.
‘The bandages are new. Could the patient be the doctor, and the doctor I saw was the patient?’ Han Fei entered the room and found a patient’s list. The list contained the names of most of the patients in Building Two. Strangely enough, the list didn’t have the patients’ history of plastic surgery but it did have every patient’s mental and physical deformity.
‘These patients are imperfect. Hmm… Why are all of them marked?’ Han Fei felt like Perfection Plastic Surgery Hospital was like a lab. The rich people in Building One were the investors who enjoyed the benefits of the results. The patients in the other buildings were the experiment participants.
‘The plastic surgery hospital is just a shell.’ Han Fei was confused about one thing. Fu Sheng’s schooling memory was so different from his adult memory. How did a student who could see ghosts suddenly become a character who changed the world? This was a mystery. ‘Fu Sheng and Fu Tian were obsessed with Perfection after they grew up. Could it be related to this hospital?’ Han Fei realized that was highly possible. Han Fei knew parts of Fu Sheng’s actual memory thanks to Happiness Neighbourhood’s Manager Mission. After Fu Yi died, Fu Sheng was trapped at home as a patient. Fu Yi’s wife found him many doctors and those doctors might include some from the plastic surgery hospital. ‘Du Zhu is related to Perfection Plastic Surgery Hospital. Du Zhu sees Fu Yi’s family as toys. She wouldn’t allow Fu Sheng to have actual treatment. With her intervention, Fu Sheng’s conditions would only worsen.’ Only people with the most profound despair could possess the black box. The black box had chosen Fu Sheng, so he must have experienced hell.
‘The human world wounded him, but… Regardless, he still chose to destroy the cryptic world in the end.’ Han Fei initially thought Fu Sheng chose destruction because it was an easier path than salvation. But as Han Fei got to know Fu Sheng, he realized there was a deeper reason. ‘It must have been difficult for him to make that decision too.’
Han Fei knew Fu Sheng’s final ending. His three children were heavily injured, and he was crushed until he only had fragments of memory left. ‘Compared to Fu Tian, Fu Sheng has done more.’
Han Fei wanted to stay further, but footsteps came from the corridor. Han Fei left to avoid misunderstanding. ‘There are five buildings here. Other than the biggest Building One, all the other buildings feel suspicious.’
Han Fei reunited with his team members.
“Leader, how did the meeting go?” Lee Guo Er’s eyes scanned Han Fei’s clothes.
Han Fei waved at the others and ignored Lee Guo Er. “It didn’t go well. The client refused to help us and might even make things more difficult for us.”
“But why? Leader, what have you told the client? I am sure the game will sell well once it’s released! Who would go against money?!” Brother Fake Plant was anxious. For a game designer like him, the bonus from the sale was his actual income.
Han Fei was prepared for the worst. “Our game development is rather simple, and it doesn’t require much programming. We’ll focus on the plot and artistic effect. We can subcontract some parts, but we need to finish the game as soon as possible.” Han Fei had to finish his last game to complete the mission. He had no choice. “I have offended the company’s management and the investor. Even after I leave the company, you all have to help me finish this game.”
“Don’t worry. Leader, I have some friends who are game programmers.” Brother Fake Plant offered.
They were all frowning. Only Lee Guo Er was in a good mood. “Leader, no matter what, we will finish this game.” Lee Guo Er approached Han Fei. She couldn’t smell strange perfume on him. Her eyes behind the glasses moved about, and the hatred in her eyes lowered further.
“The company values Immortal and Octopus too much. We have no choice but to rely on ourselves.” Han Fei picked up his slack and showed off his determination. Han Fei focused on his work after leading the group back to the company. He didn’t pay attention before this because he couldn’t less about the game that seemed to be modeled after him. However, things changed after it became a system mission. Han Fei didn’t know much about game design. Most of the time, he used his acting to fool people. However, with the talent of the Art Appraiser and the artistic view cultivated in the cryptic world, he soon created a world filled with dark humor, gore, romance, and horror.
He lived in the cryptic world and could draw direct inspiration for the ten female protagonists. It was an easy job for Han Fei.
“Leader, I’ve contacted my friend. Since we’re making an indie game, they don’t ask for much. It’s even lower than the market price.”
“Okay, I’ll go talk to Zhao Qian later. If the company doesn’t approve the budget, then I’ll pay for it myself.” Han Fei wanted to finish the mission. His spirit inspired his team members. They thought Han Fei was being serious about showing Octopus. How could one not be inspired by a boss like that?
“Leader, I can handle the art stuff, but there is a big problem.” Lee Guo Er liked the way Han Fei was acting. He was reliable, and mature. “What about the theme song and background music? A score is crucial to a game. It helps build the atmosphere and brings the players into the game.”
“That’s a small problem.” Han Fei looked at Lee Guo Er. “No one told you I can sing?” At the hotel, Han Fei inherited Seaglass’ voice and the Voice kissed by the Devil.
“You can sing?” Lee Guo Er nudged her glasses. “Not everyone can handle singing the theme song. I suggest we look for a professional.”
“Leave the music part to me. I’ll show you what the meaning of the devil’s whispers is.” Han Fei assigned the work, and then he grabbed his bag to find Zhao Qian. Han Fei knocked on the door and walked in. He saw Zhao Qian grab a random file and pretend to be busy.
“Sister Qian, my meeting with that client went sour.” Han Fei sat down. “She will not help me. In fact, she will probably do everything she can to chase me out of the company.”
“Huh? So you want me to praise you for offending the company’s client?” Zhao Qian said sternly but the light in her eyes softened.
“I can resign and take the responsibility but my team members are innocent.” Han Fei took out their plan from his bag. “We’ve spent the whole year planning Immortal and Octopus suddenly took over near the year-end. He took over all our hard work too.”
“Grow up. Complaining is not going to solve anything.”
“I know taking back Immortal is impossible so I wish to focus on the dating sim. The year is ending. I want to give my team members a good ending to the year.” Han Fei placed the plan on the table. “I know we don’t have the manpower so we intend to subcontract the programming work. The rudimentary cost is…”
“Fu Yi, the company will not approve of this budget.” Before Han Fei finished, Zhao Qian stopped him. “Just focus on your job and stop making mistakes.”
“I’ve guessed as much.” Han Fei picked up his files and prepared to leave.
“Wait.” Zhao Qian stopped Han Fei. “The number is not that big. I’ll try to see what I can do.”
“Thank you.” Han Fei returned to his desk and started to work on the music and song. He had singing talents and a wealth of ‘life experience’. He had played the role of Spider and was very familiar with the creative process of a writer. Along the way, Han Fei had inadvertently picked up many precious experiences. The songs that he scored were grotesque, absurd, and maddening. However, there was hope in the darkest despair. His melody was like a ray of sunshine as one slipped into eternal darkness.
There was another good news at lunch. After the marketing department released the game’s promo video and concept, it got popular on certain gaming websites. Han Fei took some time to take a look. The promo wasn’t completed. Of the ten seats, seven were covered in question marks. Love with the saw, Zhao Qian with the mature beauty, Lee Guo Er with cuteness and danger were exposed. Lee Guo Er and Zhao Qian’s faces were edited. However, the feelings they exuded were genuine.
There were many 18+ games on the market, but a dating sim that connected mystery, horror, and good creation was rare. The promo got on trending. “Big Sister, come kill me,” even became a meme.
The fact that the story was inspired by a real event also gained a lot of attention. Many players wanted to know who the real main male character was. The fact that it was based on real-life had drawn many eyeballs.
“This is good. This makes it easier for us to trick the investors and sponsors.” That afternoon, Han Fei personally visited Brother Fake Plant’s friends. He ironed out the details and even promised the programmer bonus if the sales were good. Once the man saw the traction the game was gaining online, he agreed without hesitation. After they signed the contract, Han Fei forked out his own money and asked the man to work faster. Brother Fake Plant’s friend didn’t waste time. His studio immediately started working.
Everything was proceeding nicely but Han Fei felt more and more insecure. It felt like something was chasing after him and he needed to finish more missions and rectify more regrets before he was caught up.
Han Fei didn’t return to the company after leaving the programmer’s studio. Instead, he rented a recording studio. Based on his understanding of the game, he created the theme song. No one understood the male character better than Han Fei, after all, he was playing that character. Every lyric that he sang was soaked in regret and blood, pain and self-discrimination. It started with debauchery and enjoyment. Then he was pulled down by desire and swallowed by darkness.
The man who hunted love was finally served on the dining table as food for his lovers.
Extreme desire became extreme despair. Only Han Fei could come up with such an epic song.
“Who would have thought I have the potential to be a singer. I’ve gone through so much that the emotions are flowing out of the song.”
