Chapter 18: Flower of Evil (Thanks to the adorable Lulu's Silver League!)

To survive in "Perfect Life," Han Fei repeatedly studied the Refrigerator Body Case and the "Human-body Puzzle" Case, trying to analyze from the perspective of the killer, often staring at photos on the wall late into the night.

As one vibrant life after another vanished before his eyes, the thought alone would wrench Han Fei's heart.

Why would anyone commit such cruel and horrifying acts?

Focusing deeply, Han Fei used the photos related to the cases to piece together an image of the killer in his own "Brain Sea."

Their minds were twisted, their emotions warped; they were driven by hatred to achieve their goals through extreme actions.

Unlike the hysterical perception of criminals seen by ordinary people, the killers had meticulous logic; each crime was premeditated, not a mere moment of insanity.

Their expressions must have been manic, their actions logical; their brains were lacking many things. One could not see love or compassion in them; such selfish indifference and hatred were etched deep into their bones.

The puzzle composed of bodies gradually became clearer, a vague figure silently emerged.

He was introverted, selfish, and cold; he had delicate feelings but could not communicate with the outside world. His personality was intelligent but harbored anomalies. He lived his life behind a mask until his prey walked into the deserted corridor.

In that moment, he dropped all pretense and then revealed a smile.

That smile was like a rose blooming above a graveyard; its roots delved deep into the bones beneath. The more splendidly and beautifully it bloomed, the more cruel and filthy the heart within.

Seeing the smile that Han Fei raised his head to reveal, Zhan Lele clutched at Director Jiang's arm, and both of them took a step back in unison.

No one called cut; no one spoke. As Han Fei moved forward, Zhan Lele and Director Jiang retreated again until they reached the staircase banister.

Feeling her legs turn to jelly, Zhan Lele wanted to hide behind Director Jiang. It was then that Director Jiang finally reacted—he drew a sharp breath and nodded sincerely, "Good! Good! Han Fei, how about you play the antagonist in this drama? You're just perfect for it, a natural fit. From your gaze to your expression, there's not a hint of madness, but anyone who sees you would probably be afraid."

Zhan Lele turned pale; she walked out from behind Director Jiang. In terms of acting, she was getting completely schooled by Han Fei.

Compared to Han Fei's performance, Zhan Lele's earlier acting seemed as erratic as a shamanic dance, awkward enough to make one want to curl their toes in embarrassment.

Though Zhan Lele now wished she could disappear into a crack in the floor, she had to step forward for the sake of her role. The company had arranged everything, and if she lost the part due to her own failings, it would be hard to explain upon her return.

She opened her mouth, but Zhan Lele, who was usually so articulate, suddenly found that she seemed unable to say anything. The gap in their acting abilities had become so large that anyone with eyes could see it.

"The director must be joking; my personality really isn't suited to playing a villain." The villain's role required more screen time, and because the script called for nighttime shooting in the residential area, Han Fei's focus was still on games, and survival was his top priority.

After speaking to the director, he turned to look at Zhan Lele, his expression very gentle: "You're likely better at variety shows, so that style might be hard to switch out of right away. I'm quite familiar with the "Human-body Puzzle" case from ten years ago. Later, I can share some information related to it with you; it should help you better shape the antagonist role."

Han Fei tactfully made his comment with high emotional intelligence. Although everyone could see that Zhan Lele's acting was poor, Han Fei did not mock her. He subtly made it clear that he had no intention of stealing the role, and he also expressed his willingness to help her perform well.

By this time, Zhan Lele's drunkenness had completely worn off, and he looked at Han Fei as if he were surrounded by a holy light, "Have I encountered an angel? A breath of fresh air in the entertainment industry!"

There was no greed for roles and no self-centeredness. Despite his terrifyingly good acting skills, he was still humble and willing to help others—what colleague wouldn't like that?

Seeing Han Fei at this moment, the staff on set were all very puzzled. Such a good person—why would his previous company be so blind as to fire him?

Han Fei didn't waste any time; he clearly stated several areas Zhan Lele needed to improve, based on his own experience.

Performing a villain doesn't necessarily need to be neurotic; too much force could easily backfire, and Director Jiang very much agreed with what Han Fei had said.

After exchanging ideas for a while, Zhan Lele's performance, although still far from Han Fei's, was at least not so awkward anymore.

Silently standing by the side, Han Fei was now just a minor supporting character. He knew that if he were to play the villain, the effect would be better, but it wasn't time to step into the spotlight yet.

Through the window across the hallway, Han Fei looked at the old street opposite where his former company's drama "Urban Secret Love" was being filmed. He heard from the crew that the second male lead was the person who had snatched his role at the company.

If it had been the Han Fei of the past, even if he knew these things, he would have been powerless to change them; individuals rarely stood a chance against companies in these times.

But after encountering the "Healing-type Game," Han Fei changed his former views. Skirting the line between life and death had gradually made his heart stronger.

"There's nothing impossible in this world."

Turning to look at Zhan Lele, who was performing earnestly, Han Fei's expression remained calm. He could see the limitations in the other's acting—compared to him, Zhan Lele's skills were far behind.

Some people's acting is a talent; for others, it is honed through extensive practice. But Han Fei's acting was a gift bestowed upon him by life and death.

A one-shot scene, no NG. Perform poorly, and it's instant death on the spot.

Zhan Lele's first scene didn't pass until the afternoon. For the second scene, Han Fei supported with his acting, and with Director Jiang deliberately focusing the camera on him, Zhan Lele didn't have many shots, so they passed after only two takes.

As dusk fell, Han Fei, having completed all of Wei Youfu's scenes, prepared to leave.

At that moment, a decent sedan pulled up to the curb, and an exhausted Zhan Lele stepped out with his agent.

"Director Jiang is known in the industry for his temperamental nature. Thank you very much for helping Lele out today." The agent held out a gift box to Han Fei, "I still don't know how to address you, Teacher?"

"I'm Han Fei."

"Teacher Han, we hope you will continue to help Lele in the future. Our company values him greatly. After your guidance today, he has made rapid progress," the agent was genuinely acknowledging the improvement in Zhan Lele's acting, which is why he had come over.

"I didn't give any guidance, just mutual help," Han Fei didn't accept the gift box, simply waving his hands, his mind still pondering who the murderer in the refrigerator body case was.

"Teacher Han, I really want to thank you today. I drank too much last night, and I promise this won't happen again." Zhan Lele was a bit younger than Han Fei, with a bubbly personality. Indeed, he was probably more suited for variety shows than acting, and maybe even a career as a comedian wouldn't be so bad—but of course, that was something Han Fei would never say out loud.