Top Dupe CH 091 I Won't Unlock With You Part 2

Lu Pingfeng sighed, "Then you have a new suspect—the collector, Zhuang Jie. He owns the second Song of the Evening. Due to the accident with the first painting, Zhuang Jie is very cautious with the second, and it has not been publicly displayed since."

"You mean that if the killer replicated this bloodstain, it must be someone who has seen the second Song of the Evening. Besides you and Ai Lin, only Zhuang Jie has seen it."

"Yes," Lu Pingfeng nodded.

Captain Zhao’s tension eased; they finally had a lead in the dead-end case.

"Tell me, Lu Pingfeng, is there nothing that worries you? Ai Lin was our main suspect, but if not for that bloodstain, the case would have circled back to you. Death always surrounds you. Doesn’t a lack of answers disturb your peace?"

Lu Pingfeng looked up at the wall, "Then I’ll seek peace in painting."

Captain Zhao followed Lu Pingfeng's gaze. Though he lacked any art appreciation skills, he was still captivated by the colors and lines filling the wall.

"Why paint it on the wall?" Captain Zhao asked, puzzled.

Lu Pingfeng smiled, looking at the wall with an expression Captain Zhao had never seen—like reverence for a deity held dear in his heart, or a longing for something dreamlike.

"So that the next time I sleepwalk with a knife, I won’t slash it by mistake."

The wall was filled with bright, vibrant colors, with no shadow, like a phoenix reborn from flames or the explosion of some powerful force, filling the universe.

Amid the vibrant and exploding lines and colors, one can faintly see a person, but it's impossible to make out who they are.

This, in turn, fills one with endless imagination.

Sitting in front of the screen, Luo Yu felt an inexplicable excitement rising in his heart. Standing in front of that painting, Lu Pingfeng suddenly became an ordinary person, full of human emotions and desires. Though ordinary, he evoked a longing, and the paintbrush in his hand truly became a creator on par with the gods.

Sheng Yunlan picked up the megaphone and said, “Not bad!”

Luo Yu couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement in his heart, as if a small volcano had been suppressed, always wanting to erupt.

—Because that painting on the wall seemed to be the one that Gu Xiaowei had left unfinished on the windowsill in his room.

After waiting for the reshoot to end, Luo Yu quickly walked towards the studio and pushed open the door.

Even though he was mentally prepared, the moment he saw the colors on the wall, he couldn’t help but exclaim in awe.

Luo Yu stepped forward, and Gu Xiaowei stood in front of the wall, lowering his head as he helped the crew clean up the props.

“Um… this painting on the wall… whose work is it?” Luo Yu asked.

A passing staff member smiled and said, “This is Teacher Gu’s painting. We enlarged the proportions and restored it on the wall! He’s really multi-talented!”

Luo Yu tilted his head back, staring intently at the wall, as if trying to find Gu Xiaowei’s hidden thoughts in the colors and lines.

When Gu Xiaowei lifted his eyes and made eye contact with him, all the colors behind him surged forward, covering everything, creating a world just for him.

“It’s beautiful.”

So many words, but all that came out was those two words.

“So, you like it?” Gu Xiaowei asked softly.

“Yes,” Luo Yu nodded.

Gu Xiaowei glanced back and said, “It’s still only half-finished. I hope you still like it when it’s completed.”

“I… should like it even more than now.”

Luo Yu felt a sense of anticipation rise in his heart.

Many thoughts couldn’t be described by words, but the painting could express them.

The last scene before wrapping up in the afternoon was Captain Zhao taking his team to investigate the home of Zhuang Jie, the collector of the painting Song of the Evening.

An old man, frail and sitting in a wheelchair, was pushed out by Qin Lin. He was Zhuang Jie.

Zhuang Jie weakly asked, “I heard Captain Zhao is looking for me about that painting Song of the Evening. Please, come with me.”

Captain Zhao had thought that he had finally found an important clue, but he didn’t expect… such an old man in a wheelchair couldn’t possibly have committed such a complex murder. Therefore, the people around him became major suspects.

Zhuang Jie opened his collection room, where many pieces were displayed. The Song of the Evening hung in the center. Just as Lu Pingfeng had said, there was a bloodstain on the drooping rose.

“Has anyone else seen this painting, besides you? Or borrowed it for an exhibition?” Captain Zhao asked.

Zhuang Jie glanced at Qin Lin, who answered on his behalf, “Since the previous Song of the Evening was burned, this one has never left this collection room.”

“This painting is suspected in a murder case, and we need to take it with us temporarily. Here are the relevant documents for you to look over,” Captain Zhao said, handing him the papers. “Also, we need a list of people who have seen this painting, even if they’re just the most ordinary cleaning staff. Please list their names.”

Zhuang Jie sighed and instructed Qin Lin to place the painting in the special safe and hand it over to Captain Zhao.

Once this scene was filmed, and the shots and segments were confirmed to be sufficient for editing, Director Sheng generously announced the end of the day’s shoot.

Everyone cheered, packing up the set.

As Luo Yu was leaving the villa, he overheard the lighting crew and the set team discussing the drama "Counterattack," with an excited atmosphere. This TV series had clearly become the crew’s favorite pastime and spiritual support.

“Oh no, what should I do? I want to watch tonight’s two episodes, but I’m too scared to!”

“Why? Are you afraid Bai Ying will really die?”

“Can it be a fake death?”

“Didn’t people online analyze that he might have faked his death using the injury, becoming a protected witness for the police?”

“Really? Did you ask Teacher Gu or Teacher Luo?”

“I didn’t ask! It’s useless to ask! Those two keep their mouths shut! Even Teacher Luo, who seems so gentle, won’t spoil anything!”

Luo Yu smiled faintly, getting into the van.

It wasn’t just the crew; Luo Yu also unintentionally overheard Sheng Yunlan talking to Gu Xiaowei.

“Um… are tonight’s two episodes still the ones you and Xiao Luo are in?” Sheng Yunlan’s voice was unexpectedly humble.

If the two episodes were still theirs, it would mean Bai Ying was still alive. Director Sheng’s delicate little thoughts were all on spoiling the plot.

Luo Yu stopped in his tracks, wanting to hear how Gu Xiaowei would answer. He could still avoid spoilers with others, but with Director Sheng, Luo Yu wanted to see where Gu Xiaowei’s limit was.

"Bai Ying will always be in Yan Ye's world."

“I’m asking about the scenes with you and Luo Yu!” Sheng Yunlan was anxious, surprisingly so.

“Me and Luo Yu? We’ll always keep performing.”

After saying this, Gu Xiaowei quickly moved away, trying to distance himself from Sheng Yunlan.

As he passed Luo Yu, he brushed his arm and gently pulled him closer.

“You’re good. Seeing me troubled by Director Sheng, and you don’t say a word,” Gu Xiaowei’s voice was low.

Luo Yu chuckled softly. “If I speak, I’d really spoil it! But you just said we’ll keep performing. How long is ‘always’?”

“Barely until the end of time.”

This answer made Luo Yu feel good.

When they returned to the villa, Xiao Qin and Ye Shengyi had already prepared several packs of tissues, and the usual TV drama snacks—duck neck and cola—were also ready.

“I have a feeling I’m going to cry to death tonight!” Xiao Qin opened a pack of tissues.

“I also have a feeling tonight the fans of 'Counterattack' won’t be able to sleep!” Ye Shengyi raised his hand.

Brother Yan sighed. “I feel more sympathy for Screenwriter Hua. His pursuit of a bittersweet aesthetic… I’m afraid he won’t be able to handle the audience’s tears!”

Luo Yu followed Gu Xiaowei upstairs. It seemed like Gu Xiaowei wasn’t in the mood to watch TV.

“If you want to watch, I’ll go for a walk,” Gu Xiaowei said.

“I’m not desperate to watch either.”

In fact, Luo Yu didn’t want to see Bai Ying and Yan Ye parting ways.

While filming, it just felt like a scene, but now he had a different mindset.

“How about we do something else?”

“What?” Gu Xiaowei asked.

Luo Yu went to the easel by the windowsill. “Is this painting finished? The movie will end with this painting.”

“Not yet.”

“Then can I stay with you and help finish it?” Luo Yu tentatively asked.

Maybe for Gu Xiaowei, painting was a good way to calm his mind.

But maybe, for him, painting was something private he wanted to finish alone. Everything depended on Gu Xiaowei’s attitude toward Luo Yu.

“You’ll find it boring to watch me paint,” Gu Xiaowei said.

Luo Yu didn’t take Gu Xiaowei’s words as rejection. He even sensed a slight invitation in them.

“Too bad I can’t paint. If I could finish this painting with you, that’d be great.”

“Sure, I’ll teach you.”

Luo Yu understood—Gu Xiaowei was waiting for him.

“How will you teach me? If I don’t paint well, you won’t be able to fix it in time.”

“Come here.” Gu Xiaowei patted the chair in front of the easel.

Luo Yu sat down, facing the painting as if facing Gu Xiaowei’s state of mind, making his heart race.

Gu Xiaowei sat on the bed behind him, handing Luo Yu the brush and palette. Luo Yu held the palette with his left hand, the brush with his right. As Gu Xiaowei’s breath came closer, Luo Yu’s heart began to stir with anticipation.

Gu Xiaowei’s right hand held Luo Yu’s hand, his fingers almost enveloping Luo Yu’s. The first stroke fell on the canvas.

It wasn’t acting or auditioning, but Luo Yu’s heart was still tightly wound, feeling the warmth of Gu Xiaowei’s palm and the strength of his fingers.

He was almost encircled by Gu Xiaowei. Every time they adjusted the colors, Gu Xiaowei would grasp Luo Yu’s left wrist, reminding him to hold the palette more steadily.

Although Gu Xiaowei didn’t deliberately outline the lines, he used contrasts of light and shadow to present a profile on the canvas.

Luo Yu’s heartbeat grew faster, and his body temperature rose.

He could feel Gu Xiaowei’s breath, but wasn’t sure how close he was. Even in this embrace, Gu Xiaowei maintained some distance, not fully pressing his chest against Luo Yu’s back. This made Luo Yu subconsciously inch back little by little until he could feel the firmness of the other’s chest, and only then did he carefully exhale a breath.

“What are you thinking?” Gu Xiaowei turned his face slightly, and Luo Yu suspected whether his lips were about to brush against his ear. The warm breath made Luo Yu nervous.

“I just wanted to ask, is the side profile that faintly appears in this painting, Wen Yuchi?”  

Luo Yu was asking this question knowingly, but since Gu Xiaowei had suddenly asked what he was thinking, he had just blurted it out.

“En, it’s you.” Gu Xiaowei replied.  

It was just a simple sentence, yet it seemed to lift the valve of Luo Yu’s heart, and even his breath was caught in his throat, unable to be exhaled.

“You’ve drawn me a lot.” 

“Because you’re the one I observe the most.”  

When saying this, Gu Xiaowei seemed to tilt his head slightly, and the strands of hair at his temple brushed against the corner of Luo Yu’s eye, creating a ripple.

Two episodes of a drama passed much faster than Luo Yu had imagined.  

It felt like just the minute before, Gu Xiaowei had been holding his hand and drawing, and the next minute, the voices of Xiao Qin and the others came from downstairs.

“Ahhh! How could my Bai Ying die like this? Bai Ying’s dead, I don't want to watch anymore! But I can’t stop watching! I have to watch Yan Ye avenge Bai Ying!”  

“Bai Ying is not just Yan Ye’s white moonlight anymore! He’s everyone’s white moonlight! My heart feels so suffocated, I can’t sleep!”  

“I can’t stand this, I’m going to leave a message on the official Weibo! I’m going to curse them to death! How could they kill off my Bai Ying?!”  

Not just the people downstairs, but even the discussions online were fervent.

#BaiYingFarewell# became a trending topic, with viewers crying rivers of tears, saying they couldn’t forget Bai Ying sitting in the car, looking at Yan Ye. It was like a moment that would last a thousand years, wishing time could freeze right there.

The online viewership for this episode was reportedly the highest in three years, and the TV ratings also broke records from the past three years.

Passengers on the subway were watching it, office workers eating instant noodles while their tears fell into their bowls, and Ai Cheng and her friends cried so much their makeup was ruined.

Under the official Weibo post for this episode of “Counterattack”, there were over a hundred thousand comments. Some wondered why Bai Ying had to die, while others said Bai Ying’s final scene was "a moment of divine brilliance."

That night clearly became an unforgettable sleepless night for “Counterattack”’s viewers.

According to custom, when Bai Ying was written off, Luo Yu had to post on Weibo to say goodbye to the character. Sister Cui specially handed back the Weibo account to Luo Yu for this task.