Top Dupe CH 079 Don’t Fuss

Nie Yangchen's gaze darkened, his jaw clenched tightly; he had to gain his own voice. 

Breaking free from the constraints of popularity and speaking through ability was one thing, but freeing himself from Ou Juntao's control was another. Otherwise, he would forever be a puppet on Ou Juntao's strings.

Today’s filming was still intense. The crew planned to use all the locations the resort could provide because the villas here had excellent lighting, creating very textured visuals. 

The villa's third floor, originally Lu Pingfeng’s bedroom and a huge terrace, had been transformed by the crew in just one day into the murder scene of the film's second victim. 

Transparent sunlight fell onto the terrace, where a young girl in a white tulle dress and a rose crown bent backward as if dancing. The sunlight coated her upturned eyelashes with a faint golden hue, while countless swords pierced her body, splattering the fabric of her dress with glaring red, like flowers blooming from hell. 

The girl's expression was one of pain, her large eyes wide open. Even before her death, she had struggled with all her might, but fate showed her no mercy. 

The first scene of the day featured Wen Yuchi, played by Luo Yu, following his mentor to the scene for evidence collection and a preliminary autopsy. 

Ye Shengyi had done Luo Yu's makeup in a very everyday style. He wore a casual shirt and, donning a hairnet and shoe covers, approached the entrance of the terrace. 

His mentor had already entered the scene with a box in hand. 

Unrelated staff members cleared out; they had to finish this scene quickly. Otherwise, the actress playing the corpse would have a very hard time. Additionally, if they had to reshoot, all the props on the actress would need to be readjusted, and she had to maintain a bent posture the entire time. 

Thus, every actor, including extras, was extremely focused. 

As the cue was called, the camera moved in, giving Wen Yuchi a close-up. 

His face bore a calm and objective expression as he pulled on gloves from the toolbox, slightly adjusting the fingertips afterward. His fingers were long, and the action of flicking the edges of the gloves had a cold sensuality to it. 

“Professor, I’m here,” Wen Yuchi said, bending over as he approached with the box. 

To avoid disturbing the bloodstains at the scene, they laid down a board on the floor. Wen Yuchi carefully stepped on it, inching closer to the beautiful corpse. 

At that moment, a gust of wind blew, lifting the victim’s tulle dress, intertwining the red madness with the white purity, creating a depth and indulgence in the sunlight. 

As the tulle fell, Wen Yuchi's brow and eyes became visible. 

He bent over, wearing a hairnet and mask, only his warm and bright eyes showing, like fireflies flying into the morning light on a dark night. 

This moment of tenderness seemed like fate’s final compensation to the victim. 

Following the protocol, Wen Yuchi completed the initial evidence collection. 

He and his mentor recorded the angles of each sword strike, estimating the resulting damage. 

Detective Zhao Sicheng of the criminal police team approached the officer collecting evidence, saying, “We’ve confirmed the victim’s name is Xie Yan, a freshman at the Academy of Fine Arts.” 

Wen Yuchi lifted his eyes, looking into the victim’s eyes as if engaging in a silent conversation. “She studies fine arts? I think her posture looks more like that of a dance student.” 

Zhao Sicheng glanced at the information he had and replied, “She indeed studied dance, and because of that, she was a model for our great painter Lu Pingfeng half a year ago. Lu Pingfeng used her as a prototype for a painting titled ‘Sunset and Thorns.’ This painting sold for forty-six million at a Christie’s auction three months after it was completed.” 

Wen Yuchi furrowed his brow. “I thought a painter's works… only become valuable after they pass away.” 

Wen Yuchi lowered his eyes, taking pictures of the victim's face. Suddenly, he remembered something and turned to Zhao Sicheng, asking, “What’s that painting ‘Sunset and Thorns’ like?” 

Zhao Sicheng searched online for a long time before finally finding a not-very-clear photo. He held it up against the victim for comparison, revealing a look of surprise. 

“This can’t just be called imitation; it’s exactly the same.” 

“Is it?” Luo Yu stood up and walked over to Detective Zhao. 

The painting used some bright tones but emanated a sense of despair, as if the beautiful things in the world were polluted and destroyed. 

The woman in the painting was only in a bent-over position, her face unrecognizable, but one could faintly see her fear and cries for help. 

“I don’t understand why some people like to collect such paintings. Don’t you think staring at them for too long could make you mentally unwell?” Zhao Sicheng asked. 

“Because those who truly have dark hearts can feel vitality in such images. Look at the muscles in the woman’s legs and arms in this painting; she is clearly exerting herself. She is struggling to rise up from the suffocating thorns.” 

“Perhaps you forensic experts see it differently than we ordinary people. I feel the despair of the image; you see the struggle of the body.” 

“And the unwillingness of the soul to fall.” Wen Yuchi looked at the victim. “Though we haven’t started the formal autopsy, both my mentor and I believe the murderer avoided all the vital areas that could cause immediate death, allowing her to experience pain and the arrival of death. Until the final strike, which pierced multiple organs, causing massive bleeding.” 

Zhao Sicheng gritted his teeth. “What a beast.” 

Wen Yuchi's brows knitted together, his gaze seeming to pierce through that poor girl into the depths of hell. “Maybe a group of beasts.” 

At this moment, Gu Xiaowei and Nie Yangchen sat on either side of Director Sheng, watching Wen Yuchi in the monitor. 

His clear features seemed to be soaked in bright red blood, extending a powerful beauty, like a pure rose amidst decaying grass and mud, out of place yet piercing deep into the soul. 

This scene concluded smoothly, and Luo Yu walked over to help the actress playing the victim sit up. 

The actress revealed a shy expression, relieved that she could get up without having to maintain the bent posture the entire time. She hadn’t expected someone would notice the props making it difficult for her to get up and come over to help her. 

“Thank you, Teacher Luo.” 

“Not at all; you’ve worked hard too. When I took pictures for evidence, your expression didn’t change even once; you didn’t even blink. If you had moved a bit, we would have had to reshoot. We should thank your endurance,” Luo Yu said. 

The actor playing Zhao Sicheng, Yan Jun, also came over to thank her. “You contributed the most to our successful take! Tell the director to give you an extra chicken leg for lunch.” 

The actress laughed, “I have to maintain my figure; the chicken leg is for Teacher Luo. I watched ‘Counterattack’ yesterday, and Bai Ying is just too charming. Everyone says they watched ‘Counterattack’ once for Teacher Gu, twice for Teacher Luo, and three times for the two of you.” 

Mentioning ‘Counterattack’ opened Yan Jun's floodgates. “You don’t know; my wife got obsessed with you after watching ‘Counterattack’ yesterday. In the middle of the night, she messaged me on WeChat, asking if Bai Ying is a complete villain and if he’s really beyond redemption.” 

Luo Yu chuckled. “Haha, no spoilers! Otherwise, Director Lin and Screenwriter Hua will come for my life with a giant knife!” 

Yan Jun glanced over at Director Sheng, tilting his chin. “Let’s go check how that take we just filmed turned out.” 

So the two of them walked towards Director Sheng together. 

Seeing Luo Yu and the others arrive, Nie Yangchen stood up, but Gu Xiaowei remained seated, seemingly wanting to watch the director’s playback. 

Yan Jun sat down, and since Gu Xiaowei wouldn’t give up his spot, Luo Yu had to stand behind him, resting his hands on Gu Xiaowei's shoulders as he leaned in to watch. 

The director happened to replay the scene where the corpse's tulle dress was blown up by the wind and then fell down, and Luo Yu’s eyes appeared on the screen. 

Time seemed as if it froze for him at that moment, and withered life gained a fleeting vitality from that glance. 

Just as Gu Xiaowei instinctively leaned forward to catch that image, Luo Yu suddenly leaned down, wrapping his arms around Gu Xiaowei's shoulders. 

He was half-embraced by Luo Yu, and Luo Yu’s complaining voice sounded in his ear. “Are you a little tyrant? Hogging this chair and not letting anyone else sit! When it’s your turn to act, I’ll block the view so you have to stand and watch the playback!” 

“Don’t fuss.” Gu Xiaowei said softly. 

Luo Yu lowered his head; no one saw the corner of his mouth curl up. “Nuh-uh.” 

Just two syllables, and warm breath brushed against Gu Xiaowei’s neck. His hand resting on his knee tightened and relaxed, his breath still caught in his throat, suspended in between. 

After watching the entire playback, Sheng Yunlan said to Luo Yu and Yan Jun, “Let's film the two parts with dense lines again, and keep one take.”

“Okay.” Luo Yu nodded. Just as he was about to remove his hand from Gu Xiaowei's shoulder, the latter suddenly raised his hand and clasped Luo Yu's wrist.

His palm was very warm, and his fingers didn't apply much pressure, yet they kept Luo Yu in place.

“For the line ‘the soul's unwillingness to fall,’ I think your delivery can be a bit colder. You are a forensic doctor; you don't believe in the existence of souls—when the body perishes, the soul has nothing to cling to,” Gu Xiaowei said.

After he finished, Sheng Yunlan nodded in agreement. “Right, this line is a comment on that painting, not on the deceased. You wouldn’t care much about something that has never had life or thought throughout. Because without life, dissection holds no meaning.”

Luo Yu thought for a moment and nodded, saying, “That makes sense. Thank you for your advice, Teacher Gu!” He whispered the latter part into Gu Xiaowei's ear.

Before Gu Xiaowei could raise his head, Luo Yu had already returned to the terrace.

The staff helped the female actress return to her previous position, and Luo Yu adjusted his emotions before recording two more takes with Yan Jun.

After an unknown amount of time, Gu Xiaowei finally raised his hand and touched his ear.

People came and went around them, the noise of conversations rising and falling, yet no one noticed that Gu Xiaowei's neck and ears had turned red.

After this scene ended, the crew began preparing for the next transition.

Gu Xiaowei sat in the courtyard with the script, and Luo Yu came up behind him, bending down so that his chin was about half a fist away from Gu Xiaowei’s shoulder. Gu Xiaowei kept his eyes lowered and didn’t notice Luo Yu’s shadow on the script.

“Teacher Gu, you’re holding the script upside down.”

Luo Yu's voice broke through the air, brushing against Gu Xiaowei's ear.

Gu Xiaowei instinctively turned his head, but not expecting Luo Yu to be so close, his lips accidentally brushed against Luo Yu's ear.

However, Luo Yu seemed unaffected, remaining still at that angle.

“I never hold my script upside down,” Gu Xiaowei replied.

Luo Yu shrugged and resignedly said, “Alright, alright, the only one who holds the script upside down is me; the only one who is distracted is me. Teacher Gu is always focused.”

Whether Gu Xiaowei had actually been attentive to the script, Luo Yu really didn’t know; the guy hadn’t even changed his expression, while his own ears were now very warm.

“It wasn’t intentional; you got too close,” Gu Xiaowei slowly replied.

Luo Yu laughed, “You didn’t say it just now; now you’re explaining. Was it intentional or not?”

Gu Xiaowei looked up and into Luo Yu’s eyes. “Your ears turned red; that’s why I thought you minded.”

The sunlight was so bright that all those repressed little thoughts seemed ready to spring forth, full of anticipation and anxiety. If only Gu Xiaowei's expression didn’t look so indifferent.

“It’s my ear that made the mistake; I got too close to you. I’ll be careful next time…” Luo Yu apologized without any spirit.

“Next time, be careful, and absolutely don’t change. Right?” 

Luo Yu was momentarily stunned, looking at Gu Xiaowei, who had already lowered his head again, his serious focus on the script was infuriating.

However… several minutes passed, and Gu Xiaowei hadn’t turned to the next page of the script.

Luo Yu suddenly felt a bit regretful, thinking he had been too cautious; he should have pressed his ear closer to see if this guy truly didn’t mind or was just pretending to be serious.

A staff member came to notify them that the next scene was almost ready.

Brother Yan came over to touch up Gu Xiaowei’s makeup. Gu Xiaowei set the script aside, closed his eyes, and tilted his head back.

“Teacher Gu’s eyelashes are actually very long and curled upward, just like…” Luo Yu rested his chin on his hand, pondering, as if there were no words to describe the delicate beauty within Gu Xiaowei’s cold exterior.

“Just like the spider lily, beautiful yet unattainable?” Ye Shengyi, who was carrying a makeup kit and was about to help Luo Yu with his makeup, chimed in.

Luo Yu tilted his head and asked, “Have you been reading some old webnovels recently?”

Ye Shengyi scratched his head of purple hair. “I have so little romantic imagination; I use the rest to do your makeup! Brother Luo, adding to your charm is my greatest romance.”

The cameraman and lighting technician standing in the corner of the courtyard couldn’t help but laugh.

Brother Yan also couldn’t contain himself and nearly spilled the eye shadow while touching up Gu Xiaowei, “I remember that the flower ‘spider lily’ has the meaning of ‘the devil’s tenderness’? How does that fit Teacher Gu?”

Ye Shengyi, upon hearing this, also became interested, putting down the script and taking out his phone to look it up. “The spider lily has other interpretations, like ‘omen of death’ and ‘summon of hell.’ Although it doesn’t suit our Teacher Gu, it’s quite fitting for Lu Pingfeng, the death painter.”

Gu Xiaowei's expression darkened.

Yet Luo Yu seemed to understand his mood at that moment; Ye Shengyi's words represented the public's perception of Lu Pingfeng. Even Lu Pingfeng himself might feel similarly.

His existence was solely to describe death.

“Hey, Gu Xiaowei.” Luo Yu softly called out his name.

“Hmm?” Gu Xiaowei opened his eyes and turned his head.

“In Sanskrit, the spider lily is called Manjusaka.”

“I know.”

“In the ‘Lotus Sutra,’ it is one of the four flowers of heaven, also interpreted as one of the auspicious signs from heaven; those who see this flower will have their evils removed.”

Luo Yu’s intention was to convey that while Lu Pingfeng was interpreted by the world in a biased and dark way, he, like the Manjusaka, also had a neglected side of holiness and purity that was often overlooked.

“It’s really just a type of Amaryllidaceae plant. Plants of this nature share the same characteristics—flowers bloom and leaves fall at different times, and flowers and leaves never meet. Perhaps because of this characteristic, along with the vibrant red color being too alluring, people have assigned it many meanings.”

Watching Gu Xiaowei's serious expression, Luo Yu's brows lifted slightly.

He was truly being foolish to think that Gu Xiaowei would be unhappy about being compared to the spider lily.

At that moment, a staff member came to inform them that the next scene was ready.

Gu Xiaowei got up and glanced back at Luo Yu. “For Lu Pingfeng, Wen Yuchi is more like the spider lily—an allure from another world, a tenderness given by fate.”

Luo Yu smiled slightly; he felt that in some respects, he might truly lack the talent compared to Gu Xiaowei.

The two returned to the villa together, preparing for the next scene, which depicted Wen Yuchi following his mentor to perform an autopsy on a deceased female student. At the same time, he discovered that the fingerprints of the female student matched those of the person who had sent dead mice and other macabre gifts to Wen Yuchi. Wen Yuchi lowered his head, looking at the female student, and sighed, saying, “What an unexpected gain.”

Meanwhile, Captain Zhao Sicheng of the criminal police team was once again visiting Lu Pingfeng.

Unlike the last visit, a tower of pastries was placed on the glass coffee table in Lu Pingfeng's villa living room, and the aroma of red velvet cake and chocolate mousse wafted through the air, adding a touch of warmth to the whole space.

Luo Yu didn’t need to appear in this scene for now; he held Gu Xiaowei’s thermos in his left hand and rolled up their scripts in his right, watching from the side.

At some point Nie Yangchen had also come to stand beside him, as if seeing Gu Xiaowei from Luo Yu’s position was different from seeing him from another angle.