Top Dupe CH 094 Deadly Duo Part 1

Luo Yu pointed to himself, "Me? Do I, as Wen Yuchi, look like a rabbit? How do I look like a rabbit?"  

On the other side, Gu Xiaowei coolly replied, "After working overtime, your red eyes kind of do."  

"Just you wait. When the movie's done, I'll send you a rabbit that’ll come over to poop in your house with red eyes!"

At that moment, Huang Ling was nervously clutching his phone, wondering if Luo Yu’s performance was just acting or if he was intimidating him. If... if he sold these photos to the gossip rags now, they'd definitely be published soon. But if Luo Yu found out, he could identify the photographer and make things tough during filming. It might be better to wait a bit before releasing them.  

Putting his phone back in his pocket, Huang Ling looked up and found Gu Xiaowei staring at him. In Gu Xiaowei’s gaze as Lu Pingfeng, there was a chilling, ruthless intent that felt like an invisible rope tightening around his throat, suspending him in the air. He wanted to look away but found his neck immobilized, as if Gu Xiaowei completely controlled him.  

Then, Luo Yu sidled up to Gu Xiaowei, whispering, "What are you staring at? Watch out, or people might think you have a crush on him!"  

"Then why don’t you think I have a crush on you, since I've stared at you for so long?" Gu Xiaowei shot him a glance.  

Man, I wish! But saying it so bluntly in front of the director? How can I dare think that?  

"I’m staring at you too—come on, let's mutually crush on each other, get our fans excited." Luo Yu moved closer. Gu Xiaowei raised his hand, about to pull Luo Yu into his arms again, but Luo Yu quickly dodged.  

"Don’t even think about it. If you mess up my eyebrow makeup, Xiao Ye’s gonna freak out." Luo Yu backed away with his hands in his pockets, his carefree manner keeping Gu Xiaowei’s gaze on him.  

Out of Gu Xiaowei’s sight, Huang Ling finally let out a breath, feeling anxious again. Why had Gu Xiaowei looked at him like that? Did he know about the photos? Luo Yu must have told him!  

A megaphone sounded, making Huang Ling flinch.  

"Next scene ready! Lu Pingfeng, Wen Yuchi, and Zhuang He!"  

Huang Ling swallowed hard. In the next scene, he would face Gu Xiaowei and Luo Yu… both pretty intimidating people. What should he do?  

"Zhuang He! What are you doing, standing around? Get over here before it gets dark!"  

Huang Ling jogged over, his heart sinking with each step toward Gu Xiaowei and Luo Yu.  

"‘Beast and Rose,’ day x, scene x! Begin!"  

When Wen Yuchi restrained Zhuang He with a dagger, Lu Pingfeng arrived, took out a climbing rope from Zhuang He's bag, and tied him up, hanging him from a tree.  

Zhuang He, panicked, begged, "Please don't kill me! I only acted out of desperation!"  

Lu Pingfeng tilted his head, gazing at Zhuang He with a cold, mocking tone, "He looks just like a mouse my neighbor hung when I was a kid, swaying from the branch."  

With a frigid expression, Lu Pingfeng showed a complete lack of humanity. Hanging high up, Zhuang He’s panic intensified, his struggles growing more frantic. Wen Yuchi, meanwhile, took it in stride, giving Lu Pingfeng a nudge, "How'd you survive? I heard nonstop gunfire—was his aim that bad, or was there something wrong with the sights?"  

Lu Pingfeng spread his arms, looking at Wen Yuchi.  

"Hey, where’s your vest?" Wen Yuchi asked, frowning.  

"I gave it to a big, fat rabbit," Lu Pingfeng replied.  

"You’re lucky, running into a rabbit out here," Wen Yuchi said, addressing Zhuang He, "Now, what’s your name? How are you related to Zhuang Jie? Who else is on this island? What weapons do they have?"  

Zhuang He, frightened, answered, "Don't kill me! I'm Zhuang He, and Zhuang Jie is my uncle... I was brought to the island for survival with these supplies. I don't know if anyone else is here..."  

Wen Yuchi idly played with the dagger near Zhuang He’s shoelaces, which reminded Zhuang He of the brutal ambush, goosebumps rising.  

"I didn't introduce myself yet, did I? I'm a forensic doctor. The reason this painter of death and I get along so well is our shared interests." Wen Yuchi draped an arm around Lu Pingfeng’s shoulder with a friendly air.  

"You... you mean to...?"  

"I want to open you up and see how muscles and blood vessels respond in a live human."  

Zhuang He shuddered, feeling terrified at Wen Yuchi's smile. Worse, Lu Pingfeng, watching him, looked as if he was observing a lifeless object.  

"Dr. Wen, how many punches would it take to rupture an adult's internal organs?" Lu Pingfeng asked.  

"Not sure. Curious?" Wen Yuchi replied, tapping his face with the knife, smiling.  

"Yeah. My neighbor killed that mouse one punch at a time, and when I saw it the next day, its bones were crushed. But people are sturdier than mice."  

"Oh, if you want to see, then try it. When he starts bleeding, I’ll dissect him to check his organs." Wen Yuchi said expectantly, and Zhuang He realized he meant less than the mouse to them.  

Lu Pingfeng pulled Wen Yuchi back, saying, "Stay back, so he doesn’t bleed on you."  

Wen Yuchi obediently stepped back, eyes wide in anticipation like a devil in a handsome disguise.  

Lu Pingfeng's face contorted fearsomely as he threw a punch at Zhuang He's stomach, the force causing the vein to pop terrifyingly on his temple.  

There was no sign of slowing down. Suspended mid-air, Zhuang He could even feel the force of the fist cutting through the wind.  

"Ahhh—"  

Zhuang He's piercing scream echoed through the mountains.  

The surrounding crew all craned their necks in alarm.  

"Holy crap—" The assistant director was so shocked his hat nearly fell off. Taking a punch like that, the actor playing Zhuang He, Huang Ling, might end up in the hospital!

"Cut!" Director Sheng Yunlan shouted. Hanging in the air, Huang Ling was terrified, feeling as if his soul had left his body.  

Luo Yu hugged Gu Xiaowei from behind, feeling the tension in his muscles. He had no doubt Gu Xiaowei really intended to hit Huang Ling.  

In the end, Gu Xiaowei's fist never landed on Huang Ling. Instead, he stopped mid-stride, just half a step forward.  

He turned his head slightly to glance at Luo Yu, who was holding him back. Placing his palm over Luo Yu's hand, he tightened his grip.  

"I didn't hit him."  

Luo Yu let out a sigh of relief, trying to loosen his hold, but Gu Xiaowei kept his grip firm. "I thought for a moment... you'd fully channel Lu Pingfeng and actually send him to the afterlife!"  

"Heh..." Gu Xiaowei tilted his head up, casting a cold smirk toward Huang Ling.

“So… it was all acting… you really scared us to death! Look, even Luo Yu was frightened by Gu Xiaowei!” The assistant director wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

Yan Jun, watching the scene, patted his chest, “Whoa, scared the life out of me!”

Nie Yangchen, however, knew that if Luo Yu hadn’t rushed forward, Gu Xiaowei’s punch would most likely have landed on Huang Ling.

For Gu Xiaowei to bring that level of anger into his role, Huang Ling must have done something to provoke Luo Yu.

“There are always some who are not afraid of death,” Nie Yangchen remarked coldly.

Sheng Yunlan didn’t comment or call for a retake; instead, he focused on replaying the scene on the screen.

When Luo Yu had rushed forward to hold Gu Xiaowei, Sheng Yunlan carefully played back that moment repeatedly, as if confirming something.

After a full ten minutes, Huang Ling was left hanging awkwardly, feeling miserable. When he looked down and saw the duo of Gu Xiaowei and Luo Yu, he was genuinely terrified.

However, since the director hadn’t said anything, no one would let him down.

Luo Yu crouched on the ground, resting his chin on his hand, and gave Gu Xiaowei a look, suggesting, “Why don’t we go see what scene has the director thinking for so long?”

Gu Xiaowei nodded, grabbed Luo Yu, and was about to head toward the director, but Sheng Yunlan coughed into the megaphone.

Everyone drinking water, scrolling through their phones, or chatting all stopped and looked toward the director.

“Let’s continue from Lu Pingfeng’s line, ‘I didn’t hit him,’” the director announced.

Everyone exchanged looks.

“Wasn’t that line not part of the script? Just Gu Xiaowei saying it to Luo Yu?”

“I get it now; that’s the effect the director wants. Didn’t you hear how pitifully Zhuang He screamed just now?”

“The most important part was when Wen Yuchi rushed to hug Lu Pingfeng, and Lu Pingfeng looked back and said, ‘I didn’t hit him’—it had a comforting effect. It shows… that Wen Yuchi is different from everyone else in the world to Lu Pingfeng!”

Hearing the director’s instructions, Gu Xiaowei and Luo Yu prepared to continue acting.

However, the lines had changed, and the two discussed how to transition.

Watching the two talking, Huang Ling, hanging in midair, became anxious, “Could… could someone let me down to go to the bathroom? I really need to go!”

“Hold on, it’ll be over soon.” Luo Yu smiled politely and gently at Huang Ling.

But Huang Ling felt a shiver, “D-Director… I want to come down…”

Gu Xiaowei raised his hand and said, “Director, we’ve discussed it and are ready to continue!”

Sheng Yunlan, once fully absorbed, rarely stopped. He spoke through the megaphone, “Zhuang He, hang on a little longer. We’ll be done soon.”

With that, everyone took their positions, the camera zoomed in, and all unnecessary personnel left the shooting area.

Huang Ling, with tears in his eyes, could only continue hanging.

Everything resumed from the moment Wen Yuchi hugged Lu Pingfeng.

“I didn’t hit him,” Lu Pingfeng said, looking back at Wen Yuchi.

“Normally, you could’ve hit him anytime you want, but I thought it over—if you really hit him too hard, there’d be no one left to answer our questions. He screamed so loudly just now; his associates on the island must have heard it. If it were me, I’d assume he’s been dealt with and wouldn’t waste any effort rescuing him.” Wen Yuchi glanced at Zhuang He, tapping his dagger on his foot. “Did you really think we wouldn’t understand the rules of the island?”

Zhuang He trembled, “You… you knew?”

“Isn’t it just an inheritance battle royale? Only one out of many survives. Or… if you kill me, you could leave the island. But think carefully—if you kill for the inheritance, are you sure it’ll still be valid when you’re the last one standing?” Wen Yuchi reminded him.

“The others told you to come alone, meaning they don’t see you as a partner but as a sacrificial pawn,” Lu Pingfeng glanced at him.

Zhuang He had always suspected as much, but held onto a sliver of hope, “I’ll tell you! I’ll tell you now! On the island, there’s Zhuang Jie’s adopted daughter, Zhuang Feifei, his nephew Ding Bing, and his nephew Zhuang Chao! And also his secretary, Qin Lin!”

Wen Yuchi paused, “What? Qin Lin too? Isn’t he just a secretary? Why would he have inheritance rights?”

“He’s cared for my uncle’s art collections for years… In my uncle’s eyes, he’s more useful than any of us!”

Lu Pingfeng chuckled, “Is that why he’s been thrown onto a deserted island for a death game?”

Zhuang He was stunned for a moment. It did seem to make sense. Qin Lin had followed Zhuang Jie for so many years, working diligently—if not with merit, then certainly with toil. If Zhuang Jie truly wanted to grant him inheritance rights, wouldn't it have been simpler to just hand him a painting directly?

“So… is Qin Lin here to kill me too?” Wen Yuchi asked amusedly.

Zhuang He shook his head, “No, Qin Lin wants everyone to join forces, find you both, and negotiate to get the antidote from you!”

“Even if we hand over the antidote, it’s useless. There are at least five of you and only two antidotes. Who gets saved?” Wen Yuchi chuckled, “The best way to avoid you all fighting each other is to kill me…”

After saying this, Wen Yuchi froze, glancing at Lu Pingfeng, suddenly realizing something.