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.

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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.

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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.

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[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!”

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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.

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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.”

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“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.”

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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!]

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“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.

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Luckily, his agent noticed and quickly called for a break, pulling He Mu aside backstage, warning him not to lose his temper in front of the live audience. “Luo Yu is trending. Talking about his strengths will actually boost your visibility. You’ve been losing popularity lately, and your appearance fees are dropping. Can’t you feel the company’s shifting focus?”

He Mu felt a pang of shock and choked out, “Are you saying… Chairman Ou didn’t approve the additional marketing budget?”

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

“Exactly. Every idol has a lifecycle, and to those higher up, you may be in a decline phase. So seize any chance for exposure, rather than counting on the company to buy you trending topics or resources. Understand?”

His agent’s gaze was ice-cold, piercing He Mu’s pride. Tears welled in his eyes.

“Take out your acting skills. Think of how Luo Yu performed face-to-face with you in ‘Burn, Little Cosmos’, without showing a hint of resentment or hostility. He stayed calm and effortlessly overshadowed you.”

Despite his resentment and stubbornness, He Mu knew his options were dwindling.

He took a deep breath, returned to the show set with a smile, and praised Luo Yu’s qualities, like his athleticism, build, and horseback riding skills—skills evident in the show, but they still made a good impression when highlighted by He Mu. The audience and guests were all pleased.

After struggling through the recording, the impact of Bai Ying’s trending continued to resonate.

He Mu checked his fan group, hoping for some sympathy, but found them urging restraint, advising not to provoke Luo Yu’s fans. Luo Yu’s fanbase was incredibly disciplined: they avoided direct insults, rarely swore, and didn’t attack other celebrities. When Luo Yu was criticized, they responded with clear evidence, reasoning calmly. Even the rare heated comments were quickly managed by other fans.

This courteous approach endeared them to neutral viewers, leaving He Mu’s fans with no way to rally against Luo Yu and risked seeming envious. With no extra funds from the company, He Mu’s agent dared not buy trolls to attack Luo Yu, fearing backlash from a misstep.

Seeing his fans’ excitement from his van window, He Mu regained some pride and decided to roll down the window to greet them.

Predictably, their cheers brought him a bit of long-lost joy.

But just then, someone shouted, “Look—is that Luo Yu?”

“Ahhh—Luo Yu? Where is he?”

“Did Luo Yu come?”

For a moment, He Mu was stunned. Luo Yu came? Where?

Then he realized—they’d mistaken him for Luo Yu because of his plastic surgery.

Feeling deeply humiliated, He Mu quickly rolled up the window, put on his sunglasses, and shouted, “Drive! Drive!”

He truly couldn’t bear hearing Luo Yu’s name anymore.

The gossip pages quickly picked up #HeMuMistakenForLuoYu#, fueling widespread interest. Because these two looked alike, after years of Luo Yu quietly carrying the “He Mu dupe” label, it was time to set things straight.

Cui Zhuxin, having borne this frustration for years, felt it was only fair to stand up for Luo Yu. Rather than hiring marketers, she simply posted a nine-picture collage on Luo Yu’s Weibo, showing photos from his childhood, junior high, high school, university, and early career, all of which proved his natural features. Her caption read: [Grateful for everyone who’s been by my side through the years.]

Luo Yu’s fans understood immediately: he was naturally handsome, handsome since childhood.

Digging into He Mu’s pre-idol competition show photos, netizens saw that while he had always been cute, his current refined look came after altering his eyes, nose, and chin to resemble Luo Yu. He had the look but not the spirit.

Previously, trolls claiming Luo Yu was a “dupe” of He Mu were shut down quickly; even casual fans called them out.

He Mu, panicked at the sight of these comparison posts, urgently contacted his agent to file complaints to quash the narrative.

That night, Luo Yu, hugging his knees, watched the latest episode side by side with Gu Xiaowei. He glanced at Gu Xiaowei and noticed something different about him.

In the past, Gu Xiaowei would always comment on each other’s acting, but tonight, his silence felt uncharacteristic to Luo Yu.

Gu Xiaowei sat with one leg crossed, the other knee bent, holding it with one arm, his chin resting on his knee. His whole demeanor was gloomy, his gaze on the screen, but his mind seemed elsewhere.

“Aren’t you going to say how I did in these two episodes?” Luo Yu stretched out his arm, gently poking Gu Xiaowei on the shoulder.

Gu Xiaowei didn’t answer directly but thought for a moment before speaking. “Do you know what I was thinking in that last scene, when I was sent to buy candy at the convenience store?”

“What were you thinking?”

“I thought that when I returned with the candy, you’d be smiling at me under the bright streetlights. But deep down, as I read the script, I knew that once I walked out of that store, I’d realize there would be no more Bai Ying in my life.”

Gu Xiaowei’s voice was calm throughout, yet it made Luo Yu’s heart ache.

“I was watching you from the car too. Watching you walk out from hell to the world of mortals, with all that human warmth around you. When I was a kid, I’d see this phrase in dramas and novels, that the protagonist is someone’s light—it always felt exaggerated and funny. But as I watched you from the car, I thought—there’s Gu Xiaowei; he’s really so bright.” Luo Yu tilted his face, his gaze falling on Gu Xiaowei.

I’m not talking about Yan Ye, I’m talking about Gu Xiaowei. Just Gu Xiaowei, do you understand?

“You’re not going to exit the stage early like Bai Ying, right?” Gu Xiaowei asked.

Luo Yu sensed a kind of attachment, rare for Gu Xiaowei to so openly show reluctance to part towards anyone or anything.

This special feeling gave Luo Yu an unparalleled sense of satisfaction.

He wanted Gu Xiaowei to long for him more, to depend on him more, so much that no one else could replace him.

“Absolutely not,” Luo Yu said.

“Tomorrow night, Bai Ying’s character will be saying goodbye to the audience. Have you thought about what you’ll say on Weibo?” Gu Xiaowei asked.

“I have. Have you prepared yourself to say goodbye to Bai Ying?” Luo Yu lifted his chin and asked with a smile.

“Yeah.” Gu Xiaowei nodded.

“So what are you planning to say?” Luo Yu moved a little closer to him.

“You’ll know when the time comes.” Gu Xiaowei lowered his eyes; his eyelashes were long, casting a gentle atmosphere.

“Still keeping secrets from me?”

“I’m going to sleep. We have scenes to shoot tomorrow.”

With that, Gu Xiaowei lifted the duvet and lay down.

Luo Yu glanced over at him. Gu Xiaowei had his back to him, only the back of his head visible, with soft black hair spilling onto the pillow.

This guy, after watching this episode, his mood was clearly back to the farewell scene between Bai Ying and Yan Ye.

Luo Yu reached out, initially wanting to touch his hair to comfort him, but some emotions must be walked through on one’s own. He lifted the duvet on the other side, turned off the bedside lamp with a click, and lay down.

After a few seconds, Gu Xiaowei turned his head and asked, “Aren’t you going back to your own room?”

Luo Yu closed his eyes; unless Gu Xiaowei explicitly kicked him out, he planned to sleep here, and he could find plenty of reasons to justify it.

“Did you forget? I had a nightmare last night. After watching the scene of myself gravely injured tonight, who knows if I’ll be haunted again. If you hear me, you can wake me up.”

Luo Yu waited a few seconds, and Gu Xiaowei didn’t react—he must have agreed.

As long as he wasn’t troubled, he was someone who fell asleep quickly. As he was drifting off, he felt Gu Xiaowei turn and gently pull up his duvet.

“Gu Xiaowei.”

“What?”

“That painting you put by the window—haven’t you finished it yet?” Luo Yu asked.

“Not yet.”

“What are you painting?”

“You’ll know when it’s done.”

Luo Yu felt a bit miffed. “Why do you have so many secrets?”

“You don’t have secrets?” Gu Xiaowei countered.

“I do.”

“What secrets?”

“It’s a secret, so why would I tell you?”

With that, Luo Yu turned away, hugging the duvet.

I like you, and I want to be with you in this life—is that a secret?

There might be an even bigger secret, like the fact that I was reborn. But maybe you wouldn’t care.

The next morning, because Luo Yu had slept with Gu Xiaowei, he hadn’t set an alarm.

After Gu Xiaowei finished washing up, he sat on the bed and patted Luo Yu’s shoulder. “Senior Brother, time to get up.”

“En…” Luo Yu waved off Gu Xiaowei’s hand. He was actually awake but wanted to see how Gu Xiaowei would handle getting a lazy person up.

“Senior Brother, if you’re late for the shoot, Director Sheng will give you a big latecomer’s ‘gift’ package.” Gu Xiaowei patted Luo Yu’s head gently.

That was gentler than a shoulder pat, and Luo Yu couldn’t resist that.

“What kind of ‘gift package’…” Luo Yu’s voice was nasally.

Gu Xiaowei leaned a little lower, his other hand propped on Luo Yu’s pillow. “He’ll put your name on the latecomers’ chalkboard for the whole crew to see, shout through a megaphone how many minutes you were late, and make you sit next to him in silence so you worry about what you did wrong, for the rest of the day.”

The first two weren’t too bad—Luo Yu had thick skin. But the last one… sitting on a stool all day would lead to back pain, and Director Sheng’s psychological torment wasn’t something everyone could endure; anyone with a shred of conscience would feel guilty. Luo Yu kept asking himself, am I a person with conscience?

In the few seconds Luo Yu hesitated, Gu Xiaowei suddenly pinched his nose. When Luo Yu opened his eyes, he saw the smile in Gu Xiaowei’s gaze. Seeing that this early in the morning was slightly too seductive.

Luo Yu thought, not good! Mornings are the most dangerous time!

He quickly pushed Gu Xiaowei away, threw off the duvet to avoid giving him a clearer look, and bolted back to his room.

Gu Xiaowei still sat on the bed, his arm suspended mid-air, reaching out to someone who wasn’t there. He looked down, picked up Luo Yu’s slippers, and went to his door.

“You’re not even wearing your slippers?” Gu Xiaowei knocked on the door, calling out.

Inside, Luo Yu was leaning against the door, feeling a surge of embarrassment, his face practically turning beet red.

“Are you planning to wash up without slippers?” Gu Xiaowei asked again.

With each knock, Luo Yu’s heart would skip a beat. “Just… just leave them outside! I’ll be out soon.”

Bro, stop torturing me!

Gu Xiaowei furrowed his brows, lifted his hand halfway, then stopped.

He bent down and placed the slippers outside.

Hearing silence outside, Luo Yu tilted his head back and exhaled a long breath.

“Senior Brother, hurry up with it, or else Ye Shengyi will finish off all the breakfast.”

Gu Xiaowei’s voice suddenly came through again, and Luo Yu felt as if he’d reached his limit.

So, this guy figured it out!

It wasn’t surprising he did. Back in the dorm days, waking up to see each other like this wasn’t unusual; it was always, “Haha, buddy’s in good health, huh?” It’s just that in front of Gu Xiaowei, he felt more self-conscious.

“Keep your observations to yourself if you have character!” Luo Yu said indignantly.

“Oh, I’ll remember that.”

As Gu Xiaowei turned away, there was a thump from the other side of the door—a protest from Luo Yu.

Smiling slightly, Gu Xiaowei returned to his room.

As he straightened the bed, his hand touched the spot where Luo Yu had slept. It was warm, still holding traces of that person’s warmth.

Gu Xiaowei gently rested his forehead on the pillow’s indentation.

Luo Yu wolfed down his breakfast and made it to the set just in time to avoid Director Sheng Yunlan’s “latecomer’s gift package.”

Ye Shengyi skillfully applied makeup for Luo Yu, and several staff members passing by gave him extra glances, some even chatting about the storyline.

“A lot of people in the crew are following ‘Counterattack’. Your fan base is also skyrocketing.” Ye Shengyi lowered his head, brushing Luo Yu’s eyebrows.

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

“That’s the halo of Bai Ying’s character bringing fans my way. If the next project isn’t stellar, this popularity will quickly fade.”

Popularity is fleeting, and tastes shift every year or two. Ultimately, it’s the roles that matter.

“Well, um… Ai Cheng added me on WeChat last night.”

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“Then let me talk about Senior Brother,” Gu Xiaowei lowered his gaze, glancing at the porcelain cup by his hand. “The character of Yan Ye is the opposite of my own personality. I tend to be somewhat obsessive and serious, maybe even a bit boring, which doesn’t make me a popular person in real life.”

“Don’t say that; Brother Cheng still likes you. Give him a solid ‘bro’ certification sometime,” Luo Yu teased, prompting laughter from the others.

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

Gu Xiaowei shot Luo Yu a glance, smiled faintly, and continued, “But Yan Ye is different. He’s adaptable, never fixates on problems. To complete his undercover mission, he’s able to shift from being a disciplined, principled cop to someone flexible, unruly, even unconcerned with rules, fixated only on earning Bai Ying’s approval. For him, boundaries aren’t just words on paper or a list of rules to recite; they’re a moral line in his heart that judges right from wrong.”

Luo Yu listened intently, curious to understand how his portrayal of Bai Ying might have impacted Gu Xiaowei.

“At first, I hadn’t quite adapted to the shift, nor did I grasp the feeling of… offering the kingdom to win someone’s heart,” Gu Xiaowei confessed.

Hearing the phrase “offering the kingdom” made Luo Yu feel a bit embarrassed, as if he were the legendary Bao Si, and Gu Xiaowei was King You of Zhou lighting the warning beacons for his amusement. But deep down, an indescribable thrill arose.

Gu Xiaowei’s voice was smooth, drawing people into his thoughts. “But when I saw your portrayal of Bai Ying in the audition tape, I suddenly understood what Yan Ye wanted—absolute trust from Bai Ying. Bai Ying’s love and hate are too clear, too intense, a bias Yan Ye could never find in his cold, black-and-white world. Once he gains Bai Ying’s trust, Bai Ying will offer his wealth, connections, power, even his life, all in unwavering loyalty. This absolute devotion holds a fatal allure for Yan Ye.”

Gu Xiaowei looked at Luo Yu, his eyes calm yet stirring a power capable of turning Luo Yu’s world upside down.

It felt as though he wasn’t talking about Yan Ye desiring Bai Ying’s trust, but rather Gu Xiaowei longing for Luo Yu’s devotion.

“In the dark world of the drama, everyone else is chasing personal gains; only Bai Ying values trust above all. From the first moment Yan Ye sees Bai Ying, he knows others would betray him for their benefit, but Bai Ying would break the world to stand by him.”

Luo Yu raised his porcelain cup and smiled, “So really, Bai Ying is the one offering everything to win the other’s favor.”

“To Bai Ying,” Gu Xiaowei lifted his cup.

“To Yan Ye.”

They exchanged smiles, in complete understanding.

That evening, the drama’s episode aired with a scene where Bai Ying single-handedly fought the assassin Ah Bao. The clean, no-nonsense combat had the audience thrilled.

As Bai Ying’s knee strike flowed into a sweeping move, his fierce gaze held the screen. If not for the lack of a replay feature on TV, fans would have replayed that scene endlessly.

Once the episode streamed online an hour later, comments exploded. Many analyzed Bai Ying’s moves, noticing that most shots were wide-angle rather than close-ups, proving Luo Yu hadn’t used a stunt double. His actions were sharp and powerful, and fans were impressed with Luo Yu’s combat skills.

Especially the scene where Bai Ying kicked Ah Bao onto the beam, snapping his spine. It brought viewers an unmatched thrill.

[OMG, I could watch this fight a million times!]

[Luo Yu did it himself; I analyzed every frame. He didn’t use a double! Absolute legend!]

[So strong! This is a man worth Yan Ye’s loyalty!]

[He could just rely on his looks, but he’s all about skill! Luo Yu is a hidden gem!]

[If he starts doing action films, I’d book every seat!]

The fight sequence, though short, left the audience’s nerves on edge, lingering long after the scene ended.

Luo Yu’s fan base grew by hundreds of thousands overnight.

Even in the pre-show popularity polls, Luo Yu suddenly matched Gu Xiaowei!

Taking advantage of the hype, Meng Yu and Cui Zhuxin posted some vlog photos from earlier that day on Weibo.

One was of the two on bicycles beneath a rose trellis, with Gu Xiaowei’s hand above Luo Yu’s head, scattering rose petals.

[Is this really Teacher Gu? How did he pull off something so childish yet romantic?]

[Teacher Gu has never done idol dramas, right? But this is pure rom-com sweetness! I’m in love!]

[I can’t bear anyone else under Brother Gu’s petals, but for Luo Yu, I’ll make an exception!]

Another shot showed Gu Xiaowei lifting Luo Yu in a reed field, both of them leaning precariously, as if they’d tumble into the reeds together.

[Is that a smile from Brother Gu? Never seen him smile so tenderly! Clearly, the Senior Brother is special!]

[Yan Ye lifted Bai Ying in the show; Gu is lifting his senior brother in the reeds!]

[Lock these two in every film and drama till I’m in the ground!]

[Forget wandering in the woods; these two are tumbling through the reeds!]

Meng Yu captioned his post, “Clocking in with Bai Ying at Rose Valley Resort. See you tomorrow at noon on the official ‘Counterattack’ vlog.”

Cui Zhuxin’s caption read, “Clocking in with Yan Ye at Rose Valley Resort. See you tomorrow at noon on the official ‘Counterattack’ vlog.”

Bai Ying and Yan Ye fans practically turned into screaming chickens, and the comments flooded to over ten thousand within an hour, with “Counterattack”’s official account gaining tens of thousands of followers within minutes.

Jiang Yinchuan nearly choked on his tea when he saw their posts.

“Luo Yu, I could understand, but now even Gu Xiaowei is pulling these moves? Building up all this hype, how are we going to untangle them later?”

On second thought, what’s the point of untangling them? They’ll be together for “Beast and Rose” too.

And not just “Beast and Rose”, but the fencing part of that Olympics mini-series, too. Those two will be together for quite a while.

Jiang Yinchuan rubbed his chin, suddenly suspecting they might never need to untangle; together, they were ratings gold.

In the first episode aired tonight, the more audiences loved Bai Ying, the more worried they were for the next.

The second episode ended right at the scene where Bai Ying pulled over, sending Yan Ye into a convenience store.

Bai Ying sat alone in the car, face pale, sweat beading on his forehead and neck. Shakily, he undid the seatbelt that had held him so tightly, and exhaled deeply.

Luo Yu’s expression carried a haunting intensity, enveloping viewers in a gut-wrenching ache.

He’d looked so thrilled moments ago, talking to Yan Ye as if he’d survived a close call, but now every bit of him was fading away.

Strands of hair clung to his cheek, a fragile and broken aura piercing through, yet even within that frailty lay a resilient strength, refusing to bow.

The screen froze on his smile toward Yan Ye through the convenience store window.

A smile that held exhaustion, relief.

A calm resolve and a blessing.

The audience went wild, igniting frantic online discussions—did Bai Ying really die?

Fans of Bai Ying were distraught and loudly wailing; they were so enthralled by this character that they flooded the official account, begging not to let Bai Ying die. Everyone shared ideas:

Things like, “Make Bai Ying a state witness and put him under protection,” “Give Bai Ying an open ending,” and “Bai Ying knows so many of Bai Zhongxing’s secrets, they need his testimony to convict Bai Zhongxing”…

Some impassioned fans even declared that if the writer dared to kill off Bai Ying, they’d start mailing razor blades and boycott Hua Xingyun’s work forever.

The hashtag #BaiYing# quickly climbed the trending list, reaching the top spot after tonight’s second episode aired. The whole internet was buzzing over whether Bai Ying would live or die. The character created by Luo Yu had become the top “strong, beautiful, and tragic” figure in the last five years.

Following close behind were hashtags like #BaiYingFightScenes# and #GuXiaoweiAndLuoYuVlog#, turning tonight into a “Counterattack Night.” Even viewers who usually didn’t follow dramas found their curiosity piqued.

Initially, Luo Yu thought these trending tags were bought by the media team at Xinghan Films, but Sister Cui informed him that this drama had so many organic fans, and Bai Ying’s role was sparking an incredible amount of real-time discussion online. Li Qian did invest in some marketing; however, it was minimal—just enough to guide fans toward trending topics, barely worth mentioning. Now, their PR team was just monitoring the public mood; there was no need to stir up topics, as the fans were already intensely engaged.

On several streaming platforms, subscription rates multiplied in recent days, with viewers eager to catch replays online after the TV broadcast.

Hearing Li Qian’s words, Luo Yu still hadn’t realized he was a hit, only feeling relieved that he hadn’t let Director Lin or Screenwriter Hua down after they modified the script for him.

For the first time, Hua Xingyun’s inbox was overrun by drama fans—not just begging, but also threatening, using all sorts of coercion to try and keep Bai Ying alive.

But Hua Xingyun was helpless; it wasn’t his decision for Bai Ying to die—it was Director Lin’s idea!

Worried, Hua Xingyun called Director Lin, saying, “Director Lin, I’m really concerned! The audience loves Bai Ying so much. They’re all saying they’ll never watch my dramas again if I kill him off! What should I do? Will I lose my job?”

Lin Yue, overwhelmed by the unexpectedly high ratings for “Counterattack”, was busy handling the surge of projects now wanting him as a director.

“You won’t, you won’t. Believe me, for your next drama, if you cast Luo Yu again, viewers will just call you a scriptwriting genius. Just try not to kill off his character again.”

Lin Yue was the kind of director who moved on emotionally after completing a project. But in recent days, watching “Counterattack”, he found himself drawn back into the intense emotions through the performances of Gu Xiaowei and Luo Yu.

Hua Xingyun scratched his head and laughed, “Suddenly, I think Sheng Yunlan is extremely lucky. His film ‘Beast and Rose’ delves deep into human nature; even if it wins an international film award, I wouldn’t be surprised. But domestic audiences… with short videos taking over, it’s hard for them to appreciate complex plots. I was worried about his box office. But now, with Gu Xiaowei and Luo Yu, their chemistry brings any scene to life.”

Lin Yue nodded with a smile, “Yeah, it’s hard to imagine any other actors pulling off the same chemistry. Without that dynamic, it just wouldn’t be as compelling.”

Meanwhile, He Mu finally wrapped up recording a singer selection show. Stepping out of the TV building and into the van, he was greeted by a crowd of fans holding banners, shouting his name.

He Mu was long used to this and kept his head down, scrolling on his phone.

Opening Weibo, the first thing he saw was “Bai Ying,” and he practically tossed his phone aside. But he couldn’t resist picking it up again, curious about the audience’s opinion on Bai Ying. Was the trending topic positive or negative?

It turned out that any hashtag related to Luo Yu was better left unopened for He Mu’s peace of mind. The entire internet was genuinely praising Bai Ying, raving about Luo Yu’s acting. Every comment was rich in detail and engagement—clearly, not a bought trend.

Luo Yu… was genuinely famous.

Famous without needing to buy numbers.

Just one supporting role, and he was famous.

During the recording, he’d heard people talking about “Counterattack”, excitedly discussing Gu Xiaowei and Luo Yu’s scenes together. Even the program’s guests were buzzing. He Mu realized that all the black marks he’d tried to create for Luo Yu were overshadowed by the aura of Bai Ying.

The worst part was, he couldn’t even join in when others discussed Luo Yu, leaving him feeling isolated.

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

Adding to his frustration, the show’s producers kept bringing up “Counterattack” to capitalize on its popularity, even asking He Mu about working with Luo Yu on “Burn, Little Cosmos”. The audience, many of whom were Luo Yu fans, lit up at the mention.

Among the guests was Ai Cheng, who openly admitted to being a Luo Yu fan, eagerly asking He Mu to share stories about Luo Yu.

This was one of the most awkward moments of He Mu’s life. He barely restrained himself from storming off set.

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