The silent dark curtain slowly unfolds—
Hu Ying lost his parents since he was a child, and his relatives adopted him as helpless. They gave him a shelter from the wind and rain, but never gave him the care a child deserves.
The only one who truly loves him is his sister, Hu Yao, who is three years older. However, Hu Yao himself is a sick seedling, and hospitalization is commonplace, especially in winter when the temperature is greatly reduced. In Hu Ying's memory, the family has never spent the Spring Festival peacefully, because every year on the 20th of the twelfth lunar month, Hu Yao must be admitted to the hospital due to severe illness caused by a small cold and a small fever.
Hu Ying hardly ever had a good meal when he was a child. But he doesn't blame his adoptive parents, let alone Hu Yao. The poor's children have long been in charge of the family, and he knows that the family's money is used to treat his sister's illness. As long as his sister gets better, even if he is allowed to drink porridge every day, he is happy.
When Hu Yao is in good condition, he occasionally takes Huying out to play. Children from other families can run wild all over the city, they can only go to small parks, small squares, and food streets not far from their homes.
Hu's parents never gave Huying pocket money, but Hu Yao saved some money. Whenever she goes out, she doesn't buy anything for herself, but buys it all for Huying.
At the seafood wonton shop in the food street, Hu Yao buys a big bowl of wontons every time, three or two, with seaweed, shrimp skin, and two fried eggs.
"Sister, you eat too." Hu Ying handed the spoon to Hu Yao.
Hu Yao shook her head with a smile, "I can't eat outside, have you forgotten?"
Hu Ying nodded and started eating.
He knew that it wasn't that Hu Yao couldn't eat outside food, but he didn't have that much money, and Hu Yao wanted to buy him other things.
He is good at running and long jumping, and he has to apply for many events in every sports meeting, but he only has a pair of white net shoes that cost 5 yuan. Hu Yao saved money for a year and secretly took him to buy a pair of sneakers for 80 yuan.
Back then, 80 yuan was not a small sum of money.
In winter, what he originally wore inside was the autumn clothes and long pants that Hu Yao had eliminated. After saving after saving, Hu Yao finally collected enough money to buy him new autumn clothes and pants.
When the Hu family's parents knew, they scolded Hu Yao and scolded Hu Ying as a burden. Hu Yao protected Hu Ying, "My younger brother has grown up. If his classmates know that he is wearing my long johns, he will be laughed at."
During the Spring Festival that year, Hu Yao fell ill and was almost unable to save her.
Hu Ying waited anxiously outside the ward, daring not to leave, nor to close her eyes, for fear that if she fell asleep, her sister would be gone when she woke up.
On the 14th day of the first lunar month, the Chinese New Year was almost over, and Hu Yao finally turned the corner. The parents were exhausted both physically and mentally, so they both went home to rest, only Hu Ying remained in the hospital.
He didn't want to leave Hu Yao for a moment.
"Xiaoying." Hu Yao was extremely pale, like a jade that could be broken at any time. She stroked Hu Ying's hair lightly and pulled out a faint smile, "I'll come back again."
"Sister!" Hu Ying lay on the bedside and cried bitterly, "Sister, I will make a lot of money in the future to treat you! Wait for me, I will make you healthy!"
"Thank you." Hu Yao smiled gently, "but Xiao Ying doesn't have to work so hard, my sister wants to see you happy."
"But I want you to be healthy!" Hu Ying said stubbornly.
Happiness and health are not a pair of antonyms, but in a special family, the two seem to be a contradiction that cannot have both.
After entering puberty, Huying's facial features grew, and the body also developed, becoming the recognized "school grass" in the school.
Hu Yao seemed to be getting better in those two years. Hu Ying said, "Sister, how about me going to the entertainment industry?"
"The entertainment industry?" Hu Yao was very worried, "Don't you say that the entertainment industry is a big dye tank? Xiao Ying, let's forget it, your grades are also good, study hard, and get into a good university in the future."
"But being a star makes the most money." Hu Ying said, "When I study for college, when will I have the money to treat you?"
Hu Yao sighed, "don't worry about me..."
"If I don't worry about you, who else can I worry about?" Hu Ying frowned, "Sister, you are the most important person to me, and I look forward to you getting better every day."
Hu Yao failed to stop Hu Ying, and soon Hu Ying left the campus and signed into Fangchi Entertainment.
The entertainment industry does make money fast, but it is only the people on the top of the pyramid who can make big money.
Huying's appearance condition is outstanding, what is missing is an opportunity. However, when he first entered the society, when he was in his teens, he didn't know much about people's hearts. The contract was signed by Fangchi. After a few months in the company, he gradually learned that Fangchi had no resources and contacts, and was good at giving young people. People just draw cakes.
Without a job, Huying became anxious.
Some male and female artists who signed with him were "sent" to the "gold master" by the agent, and Hu Ying instinctively felt disgusted. But after a long time, seeing those people get resources through "sleeping with", my heart is a little shaken.
His goal has always been clear. He entered this circle to make money. If it has been like this, what will he use to treat Hu Yao? In case Hu Yao fell ill one day and needed hundreds of thousands, millions, where would he find so much money
When he was the most shaken, the agent introduced another "gold master", and he had already agreed, but the paparazzi suddenly exposed the fact that a well-known male star in the circle was fostered that day.
Hu Yao also saw the news and hurriedly called him. He seemed to have a few common conversations, but when it came to the last topic, it turned to the male star. He heard Hu Yao say in his usual gentle tone: "Xiaoying, please don't. When you do that, you have to love yourself."
After hanging up the phone, Hu Ying struggled all night, and finally told his agent that he would not go.
The "gold master" is not a very important character, but Hu Ying went back on his word and offended the agent. The agent no longer mentioned the "gold master" and threw Hu Ying to Man Lin, who was less well-connected at the time. .
The bottom-level artists can only rely on themselves to take over. Since Huying gave up the shortcut of relying on the "gold master", it has started to add various groups. Wherever group performances and tricks are needed, they recommend themselves. Wherever there are commercial activities, they also take the initiative to contact them.
Chi Yan's situation is similar to his.
Over the past few years, although Huying has some savings, it is still far from enough. The entertainment industry is updated too frequently, and "little fresh meat" is constantly emerging. Once, when he was shaving in front of the mirror, he suddenly found , I am not young anymore.
Continue to waste time, he will not be better than he is now, he will only be kicked out by those children under 20 years old.
"Xiao Ying, don't do that kind of thing, you have to cherish yourself."
Hu Yao's words were still in his ears, but he couldn't help thinking about the worst outcome.
Over the past few years, he has cherished himself, but what happened
In this circle, there are too many people with outstanding appearance, and people like him who have no backers have no future at all.
The razor fell into the pool, and Hu Ying stared at the person in the mirror for a long time, and finally turned and left without a word.
He began to consciously look for the "gold master", but maybe there was a "bad deed" of releasing pigeons in his early years, Fang Chi never considered him when he sent people to the "gold master".
Just when he was eager to change the status quo, Hu Yao's condition suddenly worsened.
The Hu family's parents have taken care of Hu Yao for more than 20 years, and they are already tired and numb. As the saying goes, "there is no filial son in front of the bed for a long time", this sentence may also be changed to "there is no loving mother in front of the bed for a long time". As early as more than two years ago, when Hu Yao entered the intensive care unit again, Hu Ying heard Hu's parents say in private - Forget it, let her go.
"I'll pay for it!" Hu Ying looked at his adoptive parents indifferently, "My sister took care of me since I was a child, and I will be responsible for her medical treatment and medication in the future!"
When Hu Yao was discharged from the hospital that time, all his savings had been spent, so he asked Chi Yan to borrow a sum of money to make up the shortfall. After that, he worked hard, paid back the money owed to Chi Yan, and gradually gained savings.
But now, his savings are not enough for Hu Yao to be admitted to the hospital again, and Chi Yan can't come up with more money.
Without money, Hu Yao could only wait to die.
what to do
Hu Ying was furious, hating himself for not making plans earlier, and hating himself for being so expensive. Now if there is a "gold master" who likes him and is willing to give him money, he can do even the most humble thing!
Fang Chi's most frequent contact with the "gold masters" was his former agent. He decided to go to that agent and ask him to give him another chance.
But just as he was leaving the apartment, an inconspicuous black car stopped in front of him, and a man in Zhou Zheng's suit got down from the back seat with a smile and asked him if he was interested in meeting President Yang of Fengtu Group.
At that time, he still didn't know who Mr. Yang was, but the name of Fengtu Group was very familiar.
In the entertainment industry, he knew too well how those high-ranking rich people approached the "little lover". After a little thought, he realized that he might have been spotted by some gentleman.
The man smiled decently, "Mr. Yang learned that you need help recently. Coincidentally, one of Mr. Yang's strengths is his willingness to help others."
The words have already been said, and it is impossible for Hu Ying to understand. He just wondered, why did this President Yang appear so timely
But he didn't have time to think carefully, let alone investigate, Hu Yao was at stake, and only money could save Hu Yao.
He got into the car and was taken to a private villa on the outskirts of the city, where he met He Yang for the first time.
Compared to the secretary in a suit and leather shoes, He Yang in a loose sweater and slacks looked casual.
But Hu Ying sensed a hint of danger.
He had met many people, bad and vicious, but none of them gave him a similar sense of danger.
For a moment, he felt that a demon was watching him.
"Mr. He." He resisted the indescribable fear and stood vigilantly in front of He Yang.
"I heard that you occasionally go to 'Storm'?" He Yang said, "Do you like to play horror games?"
Hu Ying was very surprised. He did go to several "storms" because of too much pressure, but why would He Yang ask such a question
"Would you like to join my game?" He Yang approached step by step, "Join, I will immediately let your sister enjoy the services of the best medical team. If you win the game, I will give you whatever resources you want."
The best medical team—for this condition alone, Huying couldn't say no.
"I'm participating!" He suppressed his unease and fear, his voice almost trembling, "As long as you can save my sister, I will do whatever you want me to do!"
He Yang half-squinted his eyes, and a smile appeared at the end of his eyes.
Hu Ying always remembered this smile, which was gloomy and bewitching, leading him to doom.
"Mr. He, what game are you talking about?" he asked.
"Don't worry." He Yang waved, "Go back to accompany your sister first, she needs you more than me now. When she gets better, you can come to me again."
When being sent away from the manor, Hu Ying felt like a dream.
My sister is saved, but what about him
He was not so simple as to think that He Yang was a philanthropist. He knew very well that the "game" He Yang was referring to was definitely not the secret room game he knew. He was using his future life to extend his sister's life.
But he has no other choice.
He entered the entertainment industry in order to make money. So many years have passed. Without a backer, he is still a nameless person. If he doesn't change the status quo, his sister will only have a dead end. If the change is slow, her sister will still not survive.
He could only fight for himself.
All the affection he felt in his life came from his sister, and he couldn't just watch her leave him in pain!
After more than a month of treatment, Hu Yao's condition stabilized and she was able to be discharged from the hospital.
On the day of returning home, Hu Yao asked, "Xiaoying, where did you get so much money?"
"I have a job." Hu Ying coaxed: "Sister, I will be busy in a while, and I may not be able to see you often. Take care of yourself and wait for me to come back."
Hu Yao believed it, and there was a soft light in her eyes, "What kind of work is it? Are you filming?"
"Yeah!" Hu Ying said, "But I can't tell you for now, maybe you can see me on TV next year."
He Yang's secretary was like a precise mechanical clock. Not long after Hu Ying settled Hu Yao, he appeared in front of Hu Ying again, "Yang is always invited."
Hu Ying came to He Yang's manor for the second time. In the garden, he actually saw Sheng Zhi, a young artist who was also in the 180th line with him.
A year ago, they also ran a dragon trick in the same ancient puppet drama. Sheng Zhi gave him a good impression. He was delayed by the protagonist and didn't even catch up with the meal. Sheng Zhi also helped him get a copy. Box lunch.
Although he never saw each other again, and the crew meeting was not their turn, he always remembered this cute-looking big boy.
He didn't understand why Sheng Zhi was here too.
I don't even understand why Sheng Zhi, who was originally sunny and cheerful, had a sad face at this time, as if he had suffered a great disaster.
"Okay, everyone is here." He Yang said, "Zhou Shan, tell them the rules of the game."
Zhou Shan is the secretary.
Hu Ying looked at him suspiciously, listening to him say a series of sentences and nouns, there was a sudden "buzz" in his mind, and he stood still as if he was insane.
All the words he knew, but he didn't seem to understand a word.
The surroundings were quiet for a moment, and suddenly, Sheng Zhi knelt on the ground, crying and trying to grab He Yang's trousers, but was kicked away by He Yang half-lightly.
"Mr. He, please let me go, I didn't know it was this kind of game!" Sheng Zhi couldn't help kowtow, so embarrassed that he had no dignity.
"But when you accepted my help, you already promised that no matter what kind of game you are, you will participate." He Yang smiled and raised Sheng Zhi's chin with his toes.
Sheng Zhi trembled, "Mr. He, please let me live, I don't even dare to kill animals, how can I kill people?"
kill!
The shadow of the lake was agitated.
Those incomprehensible words finally hit his nerves, and he began to digest word by word.
Yes, kill.
The game He Yang mentioned was a killing game, and he and Sheng Zhi were the pawns in this game.
They will be thrown into a place like a deserted village, in which either you will die or I will die.
He finally understood why He Yang was so interested in him going to the "Storm" secret room club. It turned out that what He Yang was looking for was someone who was familiar with secret room games.
He Yang asked them to fight each other and dedicate a visual feast.
Hu Ying suddenly felt absurd. Before, because he didn't have a job, he participated in a real werewolf killing on impulse. At that time, he was holding an inflatable mace, and he "killed" a civilian girl under the moonlight. The next day Voted out by everyone. Now, if he wants to survive, he must participate in He Yang's game and kill Sheng Zhi who once worked with him.
A month ago, he had no choice, Hu Yao was terminally ill, only by agreeing to He Yang, Hu Yao could have a chance of life - he thought, Sheng Zhi should be the same.
A month later, he still had no choice. How could an ordinary person like him be able to touch the behemoth of Fengtu Group? If he participates in the game, he may die in the game. If he does not participate in the game, Zhou Shan can now deal with him silently.
After struggling at the bottom for more than 20 years, he knew too well what the fate of the ants was.
Sheng Zhi was still crying bitterly, and Hu Ying forced himself to calm down. At this point, the only thing he could do was to accept the reality and fight for a way out for himself and his sister.
"Mr. He." He stared into He Yang's eyes, "If I win, can you abide by the agreement and make me popular?"
Sheng Zhi was surprised: "Hu Ying?"
He Yang smiled, "I have always been generous to winners."
The game is scheduled to take place a week later, in a village outside the country.
During the week, Hu Ying peeked into a world that was too dark for him to imagine.
Among the celebrities, He Yang is not the only one who is keen to watch real people fight. They have long formed an extremely small circle, and only the bloody and cruel visual impact can satisfy them.
This seems to be the continuation of the "gladiators" of the ancient West and the "fighting crickets" of the ancient East in modern society.
People are not people, people are just worms that can be crushed to death with one foot!
He Yang is not the first time to find someone to participate in the game. As early as before he returned to China, He Yang was a frequent visitor in the circle. In some countries, this kind of game is even protected by law. As long as you can give money, you can buy it. to legitimate participants.
However, He Yang has only recently started to reach out to artists.
Hu Ying asked Zhou Shan, and Zhou Shan told him that because Mr. He felt that amateurs looked too bad, although the cruelty of the game was up to the standard, there was no sense of beauty at all.
Hu Ying smiled bitterly. It turned out that she and Sheng Zhi were chosen because of their difficulties and their faces that were better than those of ordinary people.
Seeing that he is very "positive" about the game, Zhou Shan also invited him to watch the game videos of the "seniors".
The videos, without exception, are extremely brutal and bloody images. He forced himself not to blink and let those images burn into his pupils deeply.
Then tell yourself - survive.
Before the game started, Sheng Zhi had already collapsed. So Hu Ying actually won very easily.
Like Sheng Zhi, Hu Ying has never killed an animal. When he inserted the knife into Sheng Zhi's throat, he felt the world spinning and it was hard to breathe, as if he was the one who took his life.
Sheng Zhi's blood spurted his face, Sheng Zhi's hand held his arm in vain, he knew that at the last moment of his life, Sheng Zhi was still saying: "Please, let me go..."
He cried in his heart, but let you go, it was me who died.
Sheng Zhi gradually stopped moving, the light in his eyes went out, but the blood hole in his neck still spewed blood from time to time.
The image of the lake knelt beside Sheng Zhi as if dead, thinking, sight, breathing... everything seemed to be still.
He knew that he had become a murderer.
Due to Sheng Zhi's "cowardice", this game is more than beautiful, but not cruel enough. He Yang was not very satisfied, but he was very "generous" and did not blame Hu Ying.
"What resources do you want?" He Yang asked in a good mood.
""Red Dust and Jianghu"." Hu Ying said dully: "Then make me popular."
"How red is it?"
"famous."
He Yang did what he said. After returning to China, Hu Ying had the resources, money, status, and reputation that he had exchanged for Sheng Zhi's life.
And Sheng Zhi, who died abroad, disappeared like never existed.
He Yang easily wiped out the traces of a person.
Money is transferred into Huying's account like running water. In the past, he was begging for resources, but now others are begging him to appear on shows and receive advertisements. In just a few months, the money he made was enough for Hu Yao to live in the best hospital for a lifetime.
But he could no longer get off He Yang's boat.
He Yang occasionally asked Zhou Shan to pick him up to go to the manor, watch other people's game videos with him, and hired a foreign coach for him to help him improve his physical fitness, endurance, and teach him the most effective way to assassinate.
He Yang seems to have intentionally cultivated him into a killer, and then devoted himself to the next game.
What's the difference between him and those crickets
If there is no case of Chi Yan, maybe in a few months, he will join a new game, be killed, or kill someone else.
Now that he is under the surveillance of the police, He Yang will definitely let someone get rid of him.
Before he died, he wanted to take Hu Yao with him. He was really worried about leaving Hu Yao alone in this world.
Serious crime team, interrogation room.
Hu Ying burst into tears and looked at Ming Shu in a daze, "I killed someone, and I plead guilty. You said you would protect me. But now, you should not protect a murderer. But I beg you, don't let me He Yang went to harm my sister, she is the most innocent."
After listening to Hu Ying's story, even Mingshu couldn't help himself for a moment.
He imagined various relationships between Huying and He Yang, but never thought that Huying was a "cricket" in He Yang's hands.
If what Huying said is true, how big is that "upper circle"? How many people have died in the game
Simply flouting the law and lawless!
Hu Ying shook his head with a wry smile, "You can't move them, at most you can find out who is missing. I can't produce any evidence to support what I just said, I killed Sheng Zhi abroad, as far as I know. , their games are all played abroad! You... you can't move them, and you can't save us!"
"I can't move them?" Mingshu frowned, "Don't underestimate the criminal police. Anyone who commits a crime on this land will not escape the law!"
Hu Ying looked into Mingshu's eyes - such a firm, confident and divine gaze that he had never seen before.
Probably only those who are favored by fate, those who have never experienced a desperate situation, will have such eyes.
Hu Ying bowed his head and smiled bitterly, "I really envy you for being able to say such things. Do you think I'm stupid?"
Mingshu did not answer.
"You must be thinking - is this person a fool? He Yang told him to kill, and he killed. Why didn't he record it? Why didn't he leave evidence? Why didn't he call the police? I'm stupid and don't know how to protect myself with the weapon of law." Hu Ying's eyes were covered with mist, as if he was very excited, but what appeared on the outside was negativity and powerlessness, "But that's He Yang! Behind He Yang is Fengtu. Clique! You all say that in modern society, everyone is equal and there is no class distinction, but this is just 'the emperor's new clothes' - a self-deceiving lie. Do, I have long been dead, how can I sit here and tell 'story' with you?"
Saying that, Hu Ying suddenly shook his head, "Looking back now, I should have died last year. If it was me who died in the game, not Sheng Zhi, then He Yang would not have won the "Red Dust and Rivers and Lakes" for me. ” resource. That character… that character maybe I really snatched from Chi Yan. I don’t know, I don’t know…”
Hu Ying was already in confusion, his hands clenched his head hard, "Chi Yan deserves that role, Chi Yan deserves to become popular. If it was him who became popular, he wouldn't turn into a lunatic and kill those people because of me... Chi Saying he's a good guy, he used to be the best guy in this circle, he shouldn't be like this..."
Fang Yuanhang had to remind, "You calm down."
After a moment of daze, Hu Ying seemed to wake up suddenly, looking at the detective in front of him in fear, "I, what did I just say? Extraordinary! I'm just insane, I can't keep my mouth shut... There has never been any game, I'm just making it up because I'm too stressed, Mr. He, Mr. He said that I need to see a psychiatrist, but I was worried about being photographed by the paparazzi. keep dragging..."
Ming Shu said: "Hu Ying!"
Hu Ying seemed unheard of, "Don't believe a single word of what I said just now! Mr. He never asked me to kill, never! It's me who is sick, and what the sick person says is irrelevant. Mr. He has something for me. Well, the relationship between me and him is really just a foster relationship. This kind of thing in the entertainment industry is too…”
Before he finished speaking, Hu Ying's eyes darkened, and he suddenly fell on the interrogation table.
Volume 5 Fighting Bugs