Chapter 13.1 – Past

T/N

Since this was a long chapter, I’ve split it up into two parts so I can update faster! Let me know in the comments if you’d rather wait for it to be one long chapter. 

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Cloud Cafe.

Luo Cheng lightly clenched her fists and was sitting nervously opposite Director Gong Hanrou.

She wanted to come to interview for the abducted female college student part in the film, so she deliberately didn’t wear too much makeup. She just put on some sunscreen, had her hair up in a neat high ponytail, and wore simple and plain clothes.

But the twenty-year-old girl was pampered and raised by her family, and she never suffered a bit. Even if she doesn’t wear makeup anymore, she still has the unique brilliance of this age.

Playing a role in a youth campus, urban idol, and other themes is fine, but those types of roles are undoubtedly different from playing the role in the documentary.

Gong Hanrou came here to sit for a while only because of the invitation of the son of an old friend.

“That’s it.” The middle-aged female assistant in professional attire was very polite and returned the file to Luo Cheng, “Little sister, I’m sorry…”

Seeing that the other party was about to decline, Luo Cheng said anxiously, “Please wait a moment!”

The assistant stopped talking, and her eyes fell on her suspiciously.

“Can you give me a chance?” Luo Cheng clenched the corner of her clothes, “I really like this story.”

Luo Cheng summoned up her courage, “I can sign an agreement… I told Brother Chenbai. ”

While speaking, Luo Cheng couldn’t help turning her head back quietly, and glanced at Ren Chenbai who was not far away.

She really couldn’t help feeling wronged right now.

Luo Cheng originally thought that it was just her father adjusting the family’s company, and if she helped her second brother drive away those who were in the way, there would be no more troubles and twists and turns.

But who knew that things would not be as simple and smooth as imagined.

Jian Huaiyi has always been working as Luo Jun’s deputy, and Huaisheng Entertainment was the first company he would officially be managing. He’s been so busy with work every day that he wasn’t able to see anyone lately. Because of this, the team and resources that he promised to equip Luo Cheng have been delayed again and again.

The people of Huaisheng Entertainment are also strange, those department managers were extremely indifferent to her and never arranged things that Boss Jian didn’t order. Although his attitude was not wrong, it had a sense of politeness and alienation that even outsiders could see.

Even Brother Chenbai, who had promised to help her, was busy. She didn’t know what he was up to these days. When he came, he just bowed his head to drink coffee and send messages, he didn’t even bother to say a word other than a greeting to Teacher Gong.

Luo Cheng lowered her head. Biting her lower lip, she had no choice but to continue talking, “I heard that Teacher Gong’s crew has a kind of agreement…”

The assistant guessed what she wanted to say, “You want to talk about the exemption agreement with the group?”

Luo Cheng nodded quickly, “Yes, that’s it.”

As a director, Gong Hanrou has always been known for her documentaries, and the most important thing about documentaries is authenticity and restoration.

Of course, what has happened can no longer be recorded by the camera, and the events can only be re-interpreted by actors. To find the most appropriate state, some actors must immerse themselves in their roles throughout the whole process. They would usually do it in a semi-immerse manner, as if they were witnessing or even experiencing all of the tragic or cruel truths to understand their role better.

There used to be an actor who couldn’t act after the filming ended for a long time, so there was a lot of turmoil, and they even went to court. After that, there was an extra agreement that must be accepted by both parties in advance.

“I fully accept that I will be responsible for whatever goes wrong.”

Luo Cheng hurriedly assured, “I’m ready for it.”

The assistant didn’t answer right away, but looked back at Gong Hanrou first before retracting her gaze to look at Luo Cheng again.

“Okay.” The assistant nodded, “What preparations have you made?”

Luo Cheng froze, and her heart then flushed with surprise in a hidden way.

She quickly seized the opportunity and said in one breath, “I read a lot of materials, and consulted the school’s acting teacher. After studying and understanding, I have a full understanding of the nature of this crime—”

The content was interrupted hastily by an exclamation.

Luo Cheng pushed down on the table violently in a panic. She got so frightened that she automatically backed away in fright, and accidentally knocked over the coffee on the table.

…

The assistant lowered her sleeves to cover the hideous scars on her arms.

She seemed to be used to this kind of thing. She calmly nodded to the waiter to apologize and asked someone to help clean up the mess in front of her.

Luo Cheng’s mind went blank for a long while before finally realizing what had happened, and said in a low voice, “I’m sorry…”

The assistant didn’t respond to her words, but instead said, “You are well protected by your family.”

“Okay.” Gong Hanrou spoke at this moment, gently waving her hands, “It’s almost time.”

As a director who is already a master level, her rhythm of speaking has a unique crispness. If it weren’t for her short gray hair, she would hardly be able to tell that she was over the age of sixty.

While the assistant was talking with Luo Cheng, Gong Hanrou had been quietly listening in, looking thoughtfully at Ren Chenbai from time to time.

The Ren family used to invest in the film and television industry for a period of time. Gong Hanrou and Ren Chenbai’s mother met at an awards show and hit it off right away. They got along so well that they later became pen pals.

Although they rarely met, they only communicated in the professional field. Since the two had similar temperaments and shared common interests, they always had a very good relationship.

Ren Chenbai’s mother passed away too quickly. It took only half a year from diagnosis to death, and no one around her had time to prepare.

After that, Ren Chenbai seldom took the initiative to contact her, except for greetings during the New Year and holidays.

Of course Gong Hanrou could understand this emotion. She also didn’t know how to comfort this friend’s only son, and the relationship between the two families unknowingly weakened like this. Later, Ren Chenbai accepted the agreement between his mother and Director Gong to continue to provide documentary materials, and then some exchanges were resumed.

Probably because he heard Gong Hanrou’s words “It’s almost time”, Ren Chenbai finally put away his phone and got up, walking towards them.

Luo Cheng could see that her hope was slim, so she pursed her lips and looked at him, her eyes red with grievance.

However, Ren Chenbai just walked up to Gong Hanrou, “Aunt Gong.”

Hearing what he called her, Gong Hanrou was reminded of the past. Her expression softened as she stopped and nodded at him.

She also had something to ask Ren Chenbai, and signaled the assistant to wait aside first, “It’s been so many years, is it still inconvenient to tell who ‘Huo Miao’ is?”

After Gong Hanrou asked this question, she shook her head and laughed helplessly, “Forget it, just pretend I didn’t ask.”

This kind of subject matter is too sensitive, and the wounds of any victim will always be difficult to heal.

Some people choose to face this matter head-on, some gradually accepted it, and some choose to avoid and forget it. Neither of these choices can be commented on by outsiders.

Ren Chenbai’s mother told her the story in the letter, but never mentioned the boy’s identity. Gong Hanrou did have some vague guesses, but he also cooperated with the point-to-point, and never asked her friend to verify it.

Later, after the accident, there was no longer a chance to verify it.

Out of respect for her old friend, Gong Hanrou decided not to ask again, “He’s doing well now, right?”

Ren Chenbai smiled, “What if he isn’t?”

Gong Hanrou was startled, then dumbfoundedly said, “Xiao Chen, are you joking with me?”

Ren Chenbai didn’t say yes or no, the smile in his eyes fading after a while. After a moment of silence, he took out an envelope and handed it to the assistant.

This is an appointment with Gong Hanrou’s studio. Although the real identity of the protagonist is hidden, the relevant materials will be sorted out and used as a reference for the documentary.

The documentary will be telling the story until it is up to speed with reality. Since “Flame”1 will be formally set up for filming soon, this is probably the last set of materials they will be provided.

“Teacher Gong.” Ren Chenbai asked, “Is it necessary for the documentary to be completely true?”

Gong Hanrou was still puzzled, and couldn’t help laughing, “Of course. It must be true and detailed, otherwise why else is it called a documentary?

“That being said, there is indeed a detail that has not been provided.”

Ren Chenbai seemed to be waiting for these words and nodded, “He later killed his adoptive mother.”

After the words fell, the air seemed to follow the silence.

It was the assistant behind Gong Hanrou who reacted the most. She knitted her brows and took a step forward, “How is that possible?! He wouldn’t be that kind of person—”

Gong Hanrou raised her hand to stop the assistant from continuing.

“Her name is Zhao Lan, and she is the female college student in your mother’s story.”

Gong Hanrou briefly introduced to Ren Chenbai, “Now she is my assistant.”

Ren Chenbai was listening to their chat nearby, and already had a guess, nodded, “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“What you said just now.” Gong Hanrou motioned for them to sit down first, “Is there any evidence? What does the police say?”

Ren Chenbai spread his hands.

He had never mentioned this matter to anyone, but now that he said it, he realized that the hatred and contempt that seemed to have been buried deep in his body was now seeping out cold air.

No wonder Luo Zhi was afraid of him and tried every means to escape.

Luo Zhi’s disappearance in the past few days, the accidental destruction of his mother’s belongings, Luo Cheng’s stupidity and cold bloodedness… the same irritability accumulated in Ren Chenbai’s heart, and finally completely aroused the colder old hatred that had never faded away.

Monsters who are inherently despicable and only selfish and greedy have always been the most sensitive to this kind of threatening hostility.

Otherwise, he would not have escaped from the place where he was trafficked alive.

The thorn in the bottom of his heart was aroused by that word, Ren Chenbai’s eyes showed some sarcasm, but he kept his expression calm.

… Luo Zhi was really good at escaping.

“No, they couldn’t find any evidence.”

Ren Chenbai said, “His adoptive mother fell ill in the middle of the night. He was frightened and he couldn’t find the medicine in time… When he came back the next day, it was already too late.

Ren Chenbai had bitten out the word “frightened”, but other than that it seemed like he didn’t have any special emotion.

But among the people present, even Luo Cheng, who had only seen the outline of the plot and had no idea what they were talking about, knew very well what the boy did when he was trafficked.

A seven-year-old boy managed to find an opportunity on the way of being sold to let go of his sister who was kidnapped together with him.

After being beaten so many times that he almost couldn’t survive, he still had the guts to make a plan to escape.

Together with an unarmed female college student, the two dared to start a fight in the village, took advantage of the chaos and escaped to report to the police.

—

T/N

Not only do we get a hint about LZ’s past, but we also get to meet the OG!LZPC featuring the Huaisheng Entertainment Group! (❛ ֊ ❛)

And lemme just say something: nothing is as it seems.

…

Welcome to Kiwi’s Corner of Mini-Theatre!

Luo Family: Let us remove that tumor for you. We know how terrible it must have been for you, to have to work for that person.

LZ: (◕‿◕✿)

LZ: Σ(°ロ°)

HS Entertainment: Don’t bring me into your disgusting self-directed play.

Also HS Entertainment: You mess with him, you mess with me. (凸ಠ益ಠ)凸

…

RCB: Only monsters can escape from being trafficked and feel threatened.

Kiwi: Come here sweetie~ Let me beat you! ୧((#Φ益Φ#))୨

…

1

To help to distinguish the documentary from the person’s name “Huo Miao”, I used the English word instead