[Did you notice? Did you notice! Every time Brother Gu and Senior Brother are together, he acts like a kid! Awsl!] (TN: awsl=“ah, I’m dying”)

The corners of Luo Yu’s mouth lifted high as he read these comments. In the past, he might have tried to deny it out of embarrassment, but now he felt a bold, open happiness.

He glanced at Gu Xiaowei, moved closer to him, and held up his phone, “Teacher Gu, the vast majority of netizens are suggesting that we should be locked together for life!”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Gu Xiaowei, unhurriedly swallowing his food, responded, “Aren’t we already locked together?”

Yan Jun, who was sitting with his back to Luo Yu, turned around with an exasperated expression and said, “Can you guys take it down a notch? I’ve barely had a bite of this beef stew, and I’m already stuffed from your dog food!”

“But seriously, Teacher Gu and Teacher Luo are a perfect match. Just put you two in the same frame, and there’s drama!” a camera assistant added.

“By the way, in tonight’s episode, is Bai Ying really getting killed off? Isn’t there any suspense or ambiguity?” another crew member asked.

Luo Yu shook his head, “No spoilers. Watch tonight, and you’ll find out.”

He looked at Gu Xiaowei, about to say something when Gu Xiaowei lowered his voice and said, “I won’t watch tonight’s two episodes with you.”

“Huh? Why…” Luo Yu started to speak, but upon seeing Gu Xiaowei’s expression, he understood.

Bai Ying’s death was going to hurt not only the audience but also Yan Ye.

Looking back at that scene, Gu Xiaowei might recall the heartbreak of looking across the street at Bai Ying, lifeless.

It was a pain that felt like being suspended in mid-air, torn apart from hope to despair.

Suddenly, Luo Yu felt that the beef stew didn’t taste as good.

Gu Xiaowei’s voice sounded beside him, “Eat your meal.”

“En?”

“This time, Wen Yuchi will stay with Lu Pingfeng until the end, right?”

Luo Yu looked into Gu Xiaowei’s eyes, realizing just how gentle he truly was.

“Yes, thinking like that makes it less painful. I won’t unlock with you either.”

After saying this, Luo Yu gave Gu Xiaowei a light pat on the shoulder before continuing to eat. Suddenly, the beef stew tasted good again.

Next to him, Gu Xiaowei remained expressionless for a while, his chopsticks wandering back and forth in the now-empty compartment, making Luo Yu feel a little exasperated.

“Do you really like stir-fried eggs and mushrooms that much? Here, take mine.”

With that, Luo Yu transferred an entire portion of stir-fried eggs and mushrooms over to Gu Xiaowei.

Gu Xiaowei’s chopsticks hesitated for a moment, but then he replied, “Thank you,” and put a piece into his mouth.

Even Xiao Qin, watching, nearly dropped her piece of beef in surprise.

Just after finishing his meal, Luo Yu received a call from Sister Cui.

“Hello, Sister Cui. What’s up?”

“Well, just now the editor-in-chief of ALPHA called personally. They’re very interested in doing a feature with you and Teacher Gu. I told them you’re both filming right now. Whether or not Gu Xiaowei would agree, there’s no way you can just leave halfway through the movie to shoot a magazine feature, right?”

“Yeah, exactly,” Luo Yu nodded in agreement, not particularly interested in fashion shoots himself.

“So they said they’d wait until after you wrap this movie. The fan demand online is too strong.”

“Shooting pictures… I don’t have that kind of on-camera charm. Let’s just forget it.” Luo Yu scratched his nose.

Sister Cui, however, patiently persuaded him, “You know, after tonight’s episode airs, fans are bound to shed rivers of tears. The impact of Bai Ying’s storyline will last until the end. Even if you’re not driven by personal gain, I hope you can capitalize on the role’s popularity. Bai Ying’s character is your first big comeback. ALPHA’s sales are solid, and their editor-in-chief personally invited you. If you prove you can sell a magazine, it’ll be a concrete achievement to show to other producers. Great scripts and teams don’t just fall into your lap; you need the numbers to back you up.”

Understanding her logic, Luo Yu nodded.

“Ask for Teacher Gu’s opinion. The editor said if they couldn’t convince him, they’d rely on you.”

“I… don’t think I have that kind of influence.”

“Really? If you don’t, why does Teacher Gu keep taking photos with you? Or shooting a vlog for ‘Counterattack’’s official promotions? Just yesterday, Meng Yu and I posted those pictures of you two as the vlog teaser. Meng Yu even said he’s never seen Gu Xiaowei so ‘attached’ to anyone.”

Luo Yu’s neck and ears turned red, though he responded calmly, “Sister Cui, this isn’t ‘attached,’ this is a kindred spirit connection!”

“Haha, just as long as it’s not a fishy collusion, villains sharing vile habits together!”

“I can assure you, Teacher Gu smells good,” Luo Yu said, bantering with Sister Cui.

Just then, Gu Xiaowei came over, “What’s going on?”

Luo Yu quickly hung up the phone, “Oh, nothing. Just the editor of ALPHA calling Sister Cui, hoping you and I can make some time after the filming for a feature.”

“Sure. As long as our schedules match up,” Gu Xiaowei replied.

“What? Did you just say ‘sure’?”

“Or should I have said ‘not sure’?” Gu tilted his face slightly, his smile looking… somewhat mischievous.

Just as Luo Yu leaned closer to examine that smile, Gu Xiaowei had already hidden it away.

“But you refused before.”

“That was because they wanted to come during filming. Director Sheng wouldn’t be happy about actors taking on extra work during shoots.”

“So after filming, it’s okay?”

“En, it’d be a good promo for the movie.”

With that, Gu Xiaowei started packing up his lunch box.

The film crew staff quickly came over, “Teacher Gu, please go rest, we’ll handle things here.”

“Alright, thank you.” Gu Xiaowei reached out a hand to Luo Yu, “Are you not taking a nap this afternoon?”

“Nap! Nap! Nap! Coming!” 

Luo Yu hurried forward, thinking he might be able to grab Gu Xiaowei’s hand, but unexpectedly, Gu Xiaowei just turned away.

Damn you, Gu Xiaowei!

So, Luo Yu got into his own van first and shut the door before Gu Xiaowei could get in.

Just as he was about to roll up the window, Gu Xiaowei’s hand reached in from outside, grabbing Luo Yu’s hand with his long arm, “I lent my van to Xiao Qin for a nap.”

“I know.” Luo Yu squinted and smiled, “You can still sleep on a table.”

Just then, Driver Jiang came back and remotely unlocked the van with a click, “Oh, Teacher Gu’s here for a nap?”

“Yes, thank you, Driver Jiang.” With that, Gu Xiaowei pulled the door open with a whoosh.

Luo Yu, occupying the seat by the window, crossed his arms and pretended to sleep with his eyes closed.

In the next moment, Gu Xiaowei lifted Luo Yu up and moved him over to make room.

“What the heck! Gu Xiaowei, I’m telling you…”

If you dare lift me like that again, I don’t care how skilled you are in combat, I’ll just go for it!

“What?” Gu Xiaowei lowered his head, but Luo Yu clearly saw him smiling.

“You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”

“On purpose for what?” Gu Xiaowei sat beside Luo Yu, rolled up the window, and closed his eyes.

Luo Yu felt like Gu Xiaowei had been doing it on purpose from the moment he reached out his hand.

But he had no reason to be mad—have you ever seen two bros holding hands for a nap? If Cheng Fei was asked, he’d probably say it gave him goosebumps.

Luo Yu turned his face away and tried to grab some sleep.

After half an hour, Ye Shengyi tapped on the van door, calling out, “Gentlemen, the afternoon scene is about to start! Time to get up for makeup!”

Luo Yu was actually awake but responded with a couple of faint “mhm”s, refusing to fully wake up.

Gu Xiaowei sat up first, patting his shoulder, “Wake up.”

After Gu Xiaowei got out of the van, Luo Yu finally stepped out, looking sleepy.

Gu Xiaowei turned around to see Luo Yu yawning and about to stumble. He quickly stepped forward to support him, but Luo Yu grabbed the roof of the van and pulled himself back.

Gu Xiaowei’s hand hung in midair.

Luo Yu laughed, “Hahaha, I don’t need your help.”

With that, he jumped down with energy and walked past Gu Xiaowei.

Gu Xiaowei watched Luo Yu’s back, frowning, realizing that when he had invited Luo Yu for a nap, he’d reached out his hand, only to withdraw it when Luo Yu got closer.

“Ah…” Gu Xiaowei lowered his head, remembering that he’d seen a staff member behind Luo Yu about to call his name, thinking the director was looking for him, so he withdrew his hand.

It wasn’t to avoid suspicion, nor to mess with Luo Yu.

But then, Gu Xiaowei smiled, his grin growing wider.

He lingered by the van door until Driver Jiang reminded him, “Teacher Gu, aren’t you going to get your makeup touched up?”

“I’m going.” Gu Xiaowei quickly followed Luo Yu.

The first scene of the afternoon was Captain Zhao sending someone to find Lu Pingfeng’s agent, only to discover that his agent, Ai Lin, was already dead in her house.

The crime scene was set in a second-floor villa. The crew had slightly modified a guest room on the second floor to create the script’s atmosphere.

The space fell silent as Sheng Yunlan sat by the monitor, watching the screen intently.

Wen Yuchi, carrying a toolbox, followed the old forensic doctor into the room, immediately smelling the strong scent of blood.

The other officers covered their noses and stepped back in unison, leaving space for the two forensic doctors.

On the wall in front of them, Lu Pingfeng’s agent Ai Lin hung, her head drooping, dressed in a white dress. Blood was smeared on the surrounding walls, yet her white dress was spotless.

Wen Yuchi walked in front, laying down stepping boards as he moved, with the old forensic doctor following behind.

When Wen Yuchi reached the wall, he set down his toolbox, pulled out a camera, and began taking pictures of the corpse.

Frowning as he looked at the camera screen, he muttered, “This looks like a painting.”

The old forensic doctor adjusted his reading glasses, “She was the agent of that famous painter, but I don’t know which of his works it resembles.”

Wen Yuchi sighed, “It always feels like the only way to prevent these cases is to convince that painter to stop painting. His fans are just too fanatical.”

Just as Wen Yuchi climbed a ladder to get a better look at Ai Lin’s face, the captain’s call came through.

“Does the body have any other distinguishing features besides being hung on the wall?”

Wen Yuchi lifted her chin and looked, “There’s a bloodstain on the left side from the wing of her nose to the earlobe.”

“I see,” Captain Zhao responded.

Wen Yuchi paused, then whispered, “Another lead we barely found, only to hit a dead end.”

“But she must have known or been involved in something to end up dead,” Captain Zhao said.

Wen Yuchi looked up at Ai Lin’s body, and the camera angle slowly shifted, with the entire frame rotating lightly, plunging back into darkness.

Once the scene was over, with no reshoots needed, the crew quickly rearranged the set for the next scene, where Captain Zhao, following Ai Lin’s death, visits Lu Pingfeng again.

Lu Pingfeng’s studio had been prepared, as usual, with limited space, so anyone not essential was asked to leave.

Even Luo Yu could only sit by Sheng Yunlan and watch the performance on the monitor.

Captain Zhao and his officers arrived at Lu Pingfeng’s studio.

At that moment, he was perched on a step ladder, holding a palette in his left hand and a brush in his right, applying strokes on the wall.

“Ai Lin is dead,” Captain Zhao said coldly.

“Oh? Is that so.” Lu Pingfeng turned, looking down at Captain Zhao from above, his expression detached, like a god in a painting, with no surprise, as if his connection to his agent was negligible.

He methodically put away his brushes and climbed down, “How did she die?”

“Like your painting Song of the Evening,” Captain Zhao said coolly.

“Song of the Evening? That’s very interesting,” Lu Pingfeng’s brows knitted.

“Interesting? That’s the first time I’ve heard that. Do you think death is something interesting?”

“No, I mean it’s interesting that her death scene imitates Song of the Evening…”

“Don’t play games. What’s distinctive about Song of the Evening?”

“There are two versions of the Song of the Evening. The first was displayed in many exhibitions and printed in numerous art books for the public. But it was accidentally burned in transit four years ago, leaving only a third of it left. The collector sought me out and paid double for a new one.” Lu Pingfeng explained.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Captain Zhao squinted, “How does the first version differ from the second?”

Lu Pingfeng gestured to his cheek, a chilling smile flickering on his cool face, “The petals of the white rose in the painting have a bloodstain.”

Captain Zhao’s pupils dilated, recalling Wen Yuchi’s report, “Ai Lin has a bloodstain on her face, from her left nostril to her earlobe.”

If you would like to show some ♡  then please consider supporting this translator! ლ(⌒εー)ლ

“But occasionally, my brush turns into a knife, and all my paints turn red. Following my daytime routine, I blend the colors, painting in my dream world, but in reality, I slash my canvas to pieces, leaving the studio splattered with what looks like fresh blood. It resembles a crime scene.”

Lu Pingfeng chuckled self-deprecatingly. “Since there was no body, and the red didn’t smell like blood, I asked the cleaning lady to take care of it.”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Captain Zhao was shocked—this guy’s brush was replaced by a knife, his paints switched. Either Lu Pingfeng was doing it himself, or someone else with access was responsible!

“You’re amazing at keeping things to yourself! You should have mentioned this sooner!”

Lu Pingfeng shrugged. “While my mental issues are the selling point for my art, I don’t exactly enjoy being called ‘crazy.’”

“You have cameras at home. If someone’s been coming and going to change your art supplies, you’d be able to tell,” Wen Yuchi frowned.

At this, Captain Zhao stopped in his tracks and said quietly to Wen Yuchi, “No… he might not know. When we reviewed the footage, we noticed a blind spot. Someone familiar with it could complete the entire swap unnoticed.”

Hearing this, Wen Yuchi’s smile lifted slightly, as though he’d thought of something amusing. Under the villa’s cold lights, he seemed vibrant. “Mr. Lu, I suspect you’re not telling us about your sleepwalking because you’re insecure.”

“Insecure?”

“You think that if you speak up, people will think you have multiple personalities. You’re afraid you might do something dangerous in your unconscious state. You’re not even sure if you’ve actually harmed someone or if you’re the one changing the tools.”

Wen Yuchi tilted his head, smiling.

That vivid expression made Lu Pingfeng subconsciously step forward.

“You read Dr. Kong’s case file on the wife-murder incident years ago, didn’t you?”

“Yes, I read it. The way you returned his medicine to him—I thought you didn’t believe in his words. But it turns out, deep down, you’re scared of becoming the split personality described in his file. Even if you weren’t at the time, you fear you could be.”

Lu Pingfeng stepped closer again. According to Wen Yuchi’s analysis, Lu Pingfeng’s so-called “mental illness” might have just been Dr. Kong’s suggestion repeated until he came to believe it himself.

“Do you think Dr. Kong’s diagnosis was accurate?”

“Ha… I’m no psychiatrist. I wouldn’t know, and I don’t care. You think his diagnosis from years ago can predict who you are today?”

“Then what’s Dr. Wen’s view on my sleepwalking?” Lu Pingfeng asked.

In those dark eyes, there seemed to be a spark of something different.

“Why haven’t you ever considered that someone close to you is the one switching out your tools? They know how to enter your home, understand the blind spot in the cameras, can switch out your tools, know Dr. Kong’s diagnosis, and are aware of when you’re likely to sleepwalk so they can prepare a knife for you in advance.”

Not only Lu Pingfeng, but even Captain Zhao sensed a subtle sense of contradiction.

It was as if someone were orchestrating everything to make them doubt Lu Pingfeng’s sanity in connection with the murders.

“Aha, judging by your expression, I guess you already have a suspect. Whether this person is someone you know well or a figure in your imagination, I suggest you be honest with us.”

With that, Wen Yuchi raised his gloved hand, holding a test tube in his left and a cotton swab in his right. “Mr. Lu, open your mouth, please.”

Captain Zhao came to his senses. “You… you’re doubting Lu Pingfeng’s sleepwalking…”

“Yes. We’ll collect saliva, and we’ll also need samples of hair and blood.”

Lu Pingfeng stared at Wen Yuchi. “What exactly are you suspecting?”

“I suspect your sleepwalking might be drug-related. I’ll leave the rest of the samples to the professionals. I’m not the best with drawing blood,” Wen Yuchi said, packing up the samples he’d gathered and opening his hands in a gesture of frankness.

“Mr. Lu, besides us and yourself, who else knows about your sleepwalking?” Wen Yuchi asked.

“My agent and Uncle He, who has always looked after me,” Lu Pingfeng replied.

“When did your sleepwalking start? Do you do the same thing every time?” Wen Yuchi continued.

“I’ve had episodes of sleepwalking since I was a child, and usually, it’s just painting. Ever since moving into this villa, it’s always the same thing.”

“Then do you take the same route every time you sleepwalk?”

Lu Pingfeng glanced at Captain Zhao, smiling. “Didn’t you review the footage? You might be better suited to answer—do I follow the same route every time I sleepwalk?”

Captain Zhao frowned. “Yes, it’s the same.”

At first, Captain Zhao didn’t pay much attention to the sleepwalking routes. Lu Pingfeng’s daily life was very routine, so it wasn’t surprising that this routine was reflected in his sleepwalking.  

However, when Wen Yuchi singled it out for analysis, Captain Zhao realized that if someone figured out the pattern of Lu Pingfeng’s sleepwalking, they could use surveillance footage to portray a horrifying side of him.  

Captain Zhao seemed to realize something and was about to make a call, but Wen Yuchi stopped him.  

“Wait a minute, I’m not done talking—back then, the little medicine bottle you gave to Dr. Kong, you took those pills yourself, didn’t you?” Wen Yuchi looked into Lu Pingfeng’s eyes and asked seriously.  

After a long pause, Lu Pingfeng replied, “Yes, I did. If you’re going to ask what happened after I took them—I started exhibiting symptoms of sleepwalking.”  

Wen Yuchi looked at Captain Zhao and raised his eyebrows. “So? Not bad, right? Our forensic team’s onto something, huh? Now we have a link between Mr. Lu’s sleepwalking and the murder case, don’t we?”  

Not only did Captain Zhao realize the connection, but Lu Pingfeng did as well.  

“So you’re saying that someone around me knows that I experience sleepwalking as a side effect after taking psychotropic drugs. So every time they plan a murder, they make me take those pills, sneak into my home, switch my paintbrushes and paints, and create the illusion of me holding a knife in my sleep, releasing my suppressed murderous desires… and then… diverting the police’s attention onto me?”  

“I think you already have a suspicion about who this person might be, don’t you?” Wen Yuchi slowly took a small metal flask from his pocket, unscrewed the lid, and took a big sip of sugary water.  

It was sickeningly sweet.  

But also quite satisfying.  

Captain Zhao couldn’t wait any longer. “Mr. Lu, who is the person you’re suspecting?”  

“My agent—Ai Lin.” After saying the name, Lu Pingfeng relaxed completely. “Perfume. I recall that before every sleepwalking episode, I would smell a unique fragrance on her. Then she would take me to see a psychologist, give me hypnotherapy, analyze all my dark psychological aspects… and prescribe medication to make me sleep even deeper.”  

“Haha,” Wen Yuchi chuckled coldly.  

“The motive behind that agent’s actions—she’s been striving to mold you, Mr. Lu, into the image of a ‘painter of death,’ hasn’t she? Sleepwalking, dissociation, staged murder scenes inspired by your art… if it really came to be believed that you were the killer behind these cases…” Captain Zhao shuddered.  

“The value of my artwork would be imbued with an air of mystery, and its price would double again… And due to my mental condition, I would be deemed legally incapable of full criminal responsibility. This way, my agent Ai Lin could become my legal guardian and the guardian of my assets.” Lu Pingfeng replied.  

“Damn! That’s deeply disturbing.”  

Captain Zhao immediately called his team to search for Ai Lin and ensure she was detained.  

Wen Yuchi walked up to Lu Pingfeng, and with his approach, it was as though a warm, bright light was illuminating the dark chasms behind him.  

Wen Yuchi leaned close to Lu Pingfeng’s ear with a smile. “Now, are you feeling more relaxed?”  

Lu Pingfeng lifted his hand, but before he could touch Wen Yuchi, the latter had already straightened up and walked past him.  

In the silent gap of about ten seconds, Lu Pingfeng’s expression slowly turned wistful, making him look touching and somehow invoking pity.  

Meanwhile, Wen Yuchi, with one hand holding the flask in his pocket, brushed past him.  

“Cut!” Sheng Yunlan’s voice rang out, not too loud and not too soft, and all the actors on set let out a sigh of relief.  

Luo Yu turned around and stared at Gu Xiaowei in amazement. Just as he had said, Gu Xiaowei would draw him into the scene; once he was in character, the lines would come naturally.  

Gu Xiaowei walked over, wrapping an arm around his shoulder, and gave it a light pat. “Come on, let’s go see the playback with the director.”  

After a few steps, Gu Xiaowei let go.  

Luo Yu touched his shoulder, chuckling softly to himself.  

He liked these moments of unintentional closeness from Gu Xiaowei.  

The two of them sat on either side of the director, watching the screen playback.  

“That expression Wen Yuchi made when he opened the flask for a sip of sugary water was great; we’ll do a close-up on that.”  

“Okay.” Luo Yu nodded.  

“And Lu Pingfeng’s desolate gaze at the end was also good; it captured his longing and expectation towards Wen Yuchi. Let’s do another take for the eye contact, and we’ll get a close-up.”  

“Understood,” Gu Xiaowei responded.  

Behind them, Yan Jun was chatting with the veteran actor who played Uncle He.  

“Look at them, don’t they look like a dad watching TV with his two clueless sons?” Yan Jun joked.  

The veteran actor was also a joker. “Are these two clueless sons? They look more like a son and a daughter-in-law.”  

“Who’s the son? Who’s the daughter-in-law?” Yan Jun tilted his head, smiling mischievously.  

At that moment, Luo Yu and Gu Xiaowei both stood up and turned to look at Yan Jun.  

“You’re the clueless one!” Luo Yu shouted.  

Gu Xiaowei didn’t say anything, only shot Yan Jun a sharp glare.  

The veteran actor leaned towards Yan Jun and whispered, “See? The way they act in sync—what do they look like?”  

Yan Jun covered his face, avoiding Gu Xiaowei’s gaze, and muttered to himself—they looked like a couple.  

After finishing the close-up shots, the morning’s scenes wrapped up, and the crew broke for lunch.  

As soon as Luo Yu smelled the aroma of food, he guessed they’d have braised beef with potatoes and stir-fried green beans today. Rolling up his sleeves, he dashed over to the food truck before Ye Shengyi could bring it to him.  

At the resort, lunch was delivered by an electric cart used for tours, and a group of staff was busy unloading the lunch boxes.  

“Mine, mine, ours—” Ye Shengyi, with his purple hair, pushed his way in.  

“Hey, why are you in such a hurry, Xiao Yezi! No need to fight; Teacher Luo’s meals are always sent over!”  

“You don’t get it! Food tastes better when you fight for it!”  

Just then, the crowd in front of the cart parted.  

“Teacher Gu… why are you here too?”  

“Hungry.”  

Gu Xiaowei, expressionless, bent down to grab two lunch boxes, each topped with two round soup bowls. He turned and headed toward the eagerly awaiting Luo Yu.  

Once he walked away, the other staff crowded around the cart again.  

“Strange, lunch wasn’t delayed today! Why did Teacher Gu come in person?”  

“Maybe he skipped breakfast?”  

Gu Xiaowei glanced at Luo Yu as he passed, giving him a look, and Luo Yu immediately followed, leaving Ye Shengyi to continue scrambling for food behind them.  

The noon sun was quite strong, so Gu Xiaowei brought the lunch boxes to the third-floor balcony of the villa, where a canopy shaded them from the sunlight.  

Several staff members were already having lunch there, and they quickly made room when they saw Gu Xiaowei and Luo Yu approaching.  

“No need! Stay where you are; we have a folding table!” Luo Yu called out.  

Soon after, Brother Yan brought a folding table, which they set up to hold their lunch boxes.  

Xiao Qin was absorbed in watching a video while nibbling on her chopsticks.  

“Found another handsome guy to like?” Luo Yu teased.  

“I’m watching the ‘Counterattack’ official vlog of you two! It’s only been ten minutes, and it’s already gone viral!” Qin said excitedly.  

Yan Jun, carrying his lunch, chimed in, “Yeah! Fans are saying this is the ideal ending for ‘Counterattack.’ Your vlog feels like a wedding video!”  

“Uh… cough, cough…” Luo Yu nearly choked.  

He pulled out his phone, opened the official page, and saw that the fans’ comments were incredibly enthusiastic.  

[Finally, we see Teacher Gu throwing flower petals! So sweet!]  

[Got hit with a wave of PDA! Yan Ye and Bai Ying, may you never part!]

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

[What were you two doing in that reed field? Spill it!]

[I really want to see them work together again!]

[Gu Xiaowei praised Luo Yu like he was confessing his love!]

[Ha, so cute! Teacher Gu even complained about his senior brother’s compliments for lacking genuine emotion!]

If you would like to show some ♡  then please consider supporting this translator! ლ(⌒εー)ლ

“Ai Cheng? Does she want to ask you to go back?”  

Previously, Ye Shengyi had little standing in Ai Cheng’s team. His makeup artist duties often extended to those of a personal assistant, so it wasn’t surprising that he didn’t have Ai Cheng’s WeChat.  

But suddenly last night, Ai Cheng added Xiao Yezi on WeChat, igniting Luo Yu’s sense of crisis. Could it be that Ai Cheng had finally realized what she’d overlooked and wanted to pry Xiao Yezi away from him?  

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

“No, no! I’m happy with you every day! Why would I go to her? It’s just she and her friends want your autographed photo!” Ye Shengyi quickly explained.  

“Oh—” Luo Yu finally relaxed. “That’s fine. But I don’t have any photos with me.”  

“That’s what I told Ai Cheng too. But who’d have thought she’d send me a box of postcards by courier? They’re some company-authorized fan merch, about dozens of them…”  

“Dozens? Does Ai Cheng have that many friends?” Luo Yu was surprised.  

“As far as I know, she does. She’s got connections everywhere—girl groups, models, fashion designers.” Ye Shengyi chuckled. “But it’s okay if you don’t sign them. It’s not like you and she are that close.”  

“Ai Cheng’s your idol, right? To help you show off, I’ll sign a few extra ones.” Luo Yu gave him an OK gesture.  

“It’s your ‘paw’ that’s really important! Besides, from what I heard from Ai Cheng, quite a few female stars are now charmed by your Bai Ying character. There’s even talk that you’re set to star in a historical drama produced by Producer Han, and a lot of A-list actresses have been reaching out to him, hoping to be cast as the female lead.”  

Ye Shengyi’s face shone with pride.  

Luo Yu found his enthusiasm amusing.  

“Really? Am I that popular?”  

Though Luo Yu said it, he didn’t actually believe it. Bai Ying was popular, but still just a supporting role.  

From nearby, Gu Xiaowei’s voice sounded, cool as ever. “How about I build you a tower, and you can throw silk balls to choose the female lead?”  

Luo Yu’s mood lifted inexplicably. Gu Xiaowei was jealous! As if Luo Yu could ever compete with Gu Xiaowei in popularity. And yet, here was Gu Xiaowei, mentioning a tower and silk balls… clearly, he cared quite a bit about Luo Yu’s growing female fanbase.  

This line of thinking left Luo Yu in high spirits. With a big grin, he replied, “Sure! I’ll even allow Teacher Gu to join in on the silk ball-catching.”  

Everyone around burst out laughing.  

Gu Xiaowei didn’t respond, turning his attention back to the script instead.  

Watching him, Luo Yu was reminded of a kid sulking in silence—just a bit endearing.  

Only, what’s bugging you, Classmate Gu? If you’re really upset about my popularity, why not say so out loud?  

As Luo Yu walked past him, he playfully flicked the back of Gu Xiaowei’s head. “Petty brat!”  

The first scene today involved Wen Yuchi, following Captain Zhao, conducting a second search of Lu Pingfeng’s villa, where a breakthrough occurs thanks to Wen Yuchi’s keen instincts.  

Yan Jun waved to Luo Yu, calling him over to rehearse lines.  

After running through the script together, Yan Jun said in a low voice, “My wife’s a fan of yours now. Can you give me an autographed photo to take home?”  

“Brother Yan, you’re really big-hearted! Your wife’s my fan, and you’re not even coming after me!”  

“Oh, if I came after you, Teacher Gu would come after me. I wouldn’t stand a chance against him,” Yan Jun joked.  

Luo Yu glanced back at Gu Xiaowei, who was sitting beside Director Sheng, listening intently to the director’s directions.  

Sensing Luo Yu’s gaze, Gu Xiaowei looked over. Luo Yu gave him a bright smile.  

“His smile is very attractive, right?” Sheng Yunlan’s voice piped up.  

“Hmm?” Gu Xiaowei turned back to the director.  

“I haven’t even finished discussing the scene, and you’re just watching him smile?” There was an uncharacteristic hint of annoyance in Sheng Yunlan’s tone.  

Gu Xiaowei pulled himself together. “Apologies, please continue.”  

With all the preparations complete, the crew called the actors into position, while everyone else moved outside the camera’s frame.  

The clapperboard snapped, marking the start of this pivotal scene.  

Wen Yuchi, holding a toolbox, wore a serious expression as he followed Captain Zhao into Lu Pingfeng’s villa for the second time, presenting the necessary documents.  

Lu Pingfeng appeared and, after only a glance at Wen Yuchi, realized the latter was in work mode. He simply said, “Please, Captain Zhao, make yourself at home,” before turning and walking back into his studio.  

One of the officers following Captain Zhao spoke up, “This Lu Pingfeng—he’s already a murder suspect, yet he doesn’t seem to care about anything.”  

“Either he’s sure he didn’t kill anyone, so he’s not worried about us collecting evidence, or he’s confident that his crime is flawless and that no one can expose him,” Wen Yuchi replied calmly.  

Captain Zhao glanced at Wen Yuchi with a curious look. “You obviously don’t consider him a suspect. Even when he came to chat with you that night during the storm, you were perfectly calm. The young forensics experts these days, I tell you.”  

Wen Yuchi replied indifferently, “I already filed a report with all the specifics of our conversation, including the pastries he brought that I ate without issue.”  

Captain Zhao threw an arm over Wen Yuchi’s shoulder, his attitude softening. “No need to be so touchy! I’m just curious. You’ve got a good eye for detail and logic. I’m always careful when dealing with someone like Lu Pingfeng, but you don’t seem to mind him at all. Tell me what you’re thinking!”  

A small smirk appeared on Wen Yuchi’s face, like a mischievous kid who’d succeeded in his prank. He’d been waiting for Captain Zhao to ask for his analysis.  

“Well, let’s talk about Xie Yun, the college student who died so beautifully at the crime scene. The autopsy showed that in a short time, she was stabbed multiple times, leading to massive internal bleeding. But the depth and angle of each wound differed, leading us to suspect there was more than one attacker.”  

Captain Zhao squinted. “You forensic guys and your theories. Couldn’t just one person do it, if they were quick enough?”  

“Is that what the profile from headquarters suggests too?” Wen Yuchi gave a sly smile. “My mentor and I ran some blood flow analysis. One person couldn’t do it alone. Compared to Lu Pingfeng’s painting, Xie Yun’s death had a sense of ritual—like a hellish feast where demons revel in their dominance over life.”  

At that moment, the studio door opened, and Lu Pingfeng stood at the threshold, arms crossed, watching Wen Yuchi with a gentle smile but an icy, statue-like aura.  

“How do you know, Dr. Wen, that I’m not one of those demons?”  

Captain Zhao turned, slapping his forehead. He’d been careless, discussing the case within earshot of a suspect.  

Though Lu Pingfeng had already closed his studio door, he somehow still heard them—did he have superhuman hearing?  

Wen Yuchi laughed aloud, meeting Lu Pingfeng’s gaze openly. “I can tell from your paintings—you depict death, admire it, but you don’t create it. There’s no struggle between life and death in your work, only death itself. Whether it’s a redback spider or a butterfly specimen, it’s all post-mortem. So, no, you’re not one of those demons.”  

A genuine warmth appeared in Lu Pingfeng’s smile.  

Though not an art critic or collector, Wen Yuchi had understood Lu Pingfeng’s world after just a few glances at his work.  

“With Captain Zhao here, I still need to give you a warning.” Wen Yuchi’s expression grew serious, his gaze cold as though looking at a body on the slab.  

“A warning?” Lu Pingfeng stepped closer with a curious smile.  

“Yes, a warning—I’ll tolerate you entering my space uninvited and standing by my sofa in silence, but next time you lay hands on my throat, I swear I’ll use a scalpel…”  

“To slit my throat or pierce my heart?” Lu Pingfeng asked, still smiling.  

Captain Zhao nudged Wen Yuchi with his elbow, signaling that while Lu Pingfeng might be a suspect, they still couldn’t make threats. If he complained, they’d be swamped with paperwork and lose their bonuses!  

Wen Yuchi sighed, with a playful hint of defiance.  

“My scalpel is in the autopsy room, so I’m all bark, no bite.”  

The two locked eyes across the room, and with Wen Yuchi’s playful grin, the tension between them melted, returning to a more harmonious tone.  

The entire villa was silent. Luo Yu slightly tilted his head, watching Gu Xiaowei’s calm expression.  

Until Yan Jun, standing behind Luo Yu, suddenly sneezed.  

“Sorry! Sorry! It was my fault for ruining the mood!” Yan Jun apologized to everyone with his hands clasped together.

“No worries. This scene should be finished, right?” Luo Yu looked toward the director. “Director Sheng, are we good?”

“One more take,” Sheng Yunlan said.

After wrapping up that scene, it was time for the challenging one today: Wen Yuchi analyzing the reason behind Lu Pingfeng’s sleepwalking. This scene would also help Lu Pingfeng to open up and deepen his trust in Wen Yuchi.

Luo Yu, holding the script, sat in a corner of the villa going over his lines, while Gu Xiaowei stood next to him, arms crossed, watching the back of his neck. As Luo Yu recited a line, Gu Xiaowei would respond with the next.

After practicing several times, Luo Yu was about to go over it once more when Gu Xiaowei suddenly squatted down and slipped something into his mouth.

“Mmm…”

A sweet, minty flavor spread through his mouth.

“Your voice is hoarse—stop rehearsing. I’m here,” Gu Xiaowei said.

His nerves eased slightly. Luo Yu touched the back of his head and chuckled, “You’re going to say my lines for me?”

Gu Xiaowei replied, “I can’t say your lines, but I can help you get into character. Once you’re in the role, you won’t need to memorize the lines deliberately—they’ll come naturally.”

“You sure have a lot of confidence in me.”

“Remember when you had that acting showdown with Li Shengyu? You memorized those long procedural lines in less than five minutes. Wen Yuchi’s lines are nothing in comparison,” Gu Xiaowei said, glancing at him. “Relax and enjoy the candy.”

Luo Yu took a deep breath, and the minty coolness seemed to clear his mind. He unconsciously tilted his head, leaning onto Gu Xiaowei’s shoulder, who was still squatting beside him. Gu Xiaowei, who didn’t have a small stool, squatted there without moving as Luo Yu leaned against him.

Luo Yu, with the candy in his mouth, fell asleep, not sure how he suddenly got so sleepy. Staff bustled around them, and Luo Yu drifted off to the scent on Gu Xiaowei.

“Attention, everyone! Next scene starts in five minutes! Actors, please finish your touch-ups!”

Luo Yu woke up with a start, realizing he had fallen asleep on Gu Xiaowei.

“How long was I out? Didn’t your legs go numb?”

He quickly moved to support Gu Xiaowei.

“I’m fine. You only napped for about two or three minutes,” Gu Xiaowei said as he slowly stood up. He then reminded, “Let’s go for touch-ups.”

“Oh, right.”

Watching Gu Xiaowei’s back, Luo Yu still had half a piece of candy in his mouth—sweet and cool, just like Gu Xiaowei himself.

The director confirmed everyone’s positions from the last scene to maintain continuity, and the next scene officially began. The staff took Luo Yu’s script and Gu Xiaowei’s thermos. Luo Yu exhaled, lifted his gaze to Gu Xiaowei, and with one look, he was already in the role of Wen Yuchi.

“Mr. Lu, shouldn’t you explain why—during your sleepwalking—you’re holding a knife and leaving a trail of paint that looks like blood? And every time you sleepwalk, another victim appears, posed to mimic scenes from your paintings. If you’re still planning to keep secrets, you might as well head back to your studio.”

Wen Yuchi gestured toward the studio, his expression hardly polite.

Captain Zhao, surprised, whispered in Wen Yuchi’s ear, “Xiao Wen, you’re being way too blunt. He’s sleepwalking; how could he possibly know what he’d do in his sleep?”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Plus, Lu Pingfeng had a history of psychiatric consultations and lived in a deceased psychiatrist’s old villa. Could he really be expected to know what he did while sleepwalking?

Lu Pingfeng wasn’t bothered by Wen Yuchi’s directness. As he walked toward them, he said, “I do sleepwalk. I also have a habit of painting in my sleep. In my dreams, I walk to my usual painting spot, take up a brush, mix colors, and paint.”

Wen Yuchi frowned and exchanged a glance with Captain Zhao.

If you would like to show some ♡  then please consider supporting this translator! ლ(⌒εー)ლ