With the prop cards that gave her special powers in hand, Jian Jing did not feel relieved.
She dozed off for a while on the bed and had a strange dream. In the dream, Xie Wei was practicing his acting alone in an empty room, tirelessly repeating yesterday's audition scene over and over again.
There was no dialogue, no sound. She was the only audience, quietly watching him immerse himself in it.
And then, the dream ended.
Jian Jing splashed some cold water on her face. The icy cold water hitting her face stung. But the confusion and heat from the dream gradually disappeared, and she regained her sobriety.
It was then that Kang Mu Cheng called.
He asked, "Did something happen?"
"Shao Meng is dead," Jian Jing said. "You already knew?"
Kang Mu Cheng said, "I only heard that Tao Tao was sent to a mental hospital. But at the latest by tomorrow, those who should know will know."
Jian Jing uttered an "Oh", though she wasn't actually that concerned.
"Do you want me to come get you?" he asked. "Or will you come back with them?"
She evasively said, "I have some things to take care of. I'll go back by myself."
Kang Mu Cheng was much less worried about her now. After a couple words of caution he hung up.
Jian Jing thought for a long time before going downstairs to find Xie Wei.
Xie Wei was in the kitchen.
He was making breakfast.
The landlady, in her forties, was swooning over him like a fangirl, exclaiming repeatedly, "Mr. Xie is so amazing! To be able to make such delicious food out of such ordinary ingredients, it's just unbelievable!"
Jian Jing: "..." Why do I suddenly understand Japanese?
"Good morning," Xie Wei turned and smiled. Bathed in the morning sunlight, the gloom that had surrounded him seemed to have lifted quite a bit. "Would you like to eat together?"
Jian Jing looked over the menu - scones, pineapple buns, potato pancakes, fruit yogurt with oatmeal. Quite substantial. She readily agreed, "Thank you."
The beaming landlady carried her scone away, leaving the dining area to them.
Xie Wei chose a window seat, warm spring sunlight shining down on him, driving away the chill. Though there was no reason for it, he truly felt the empty space in his chest fill up again.
The invisible pressure that had weighed down his chest, making it hard to breathe, was gone. "What nice weather," he remarked.
Jian Jing spooned some yogurt and asked, "You're in a good mood?"
"My illness seems much better," Xie Wei breathed out lightly, his breath long and smooth, no longer short and hoarse. "My body is better, everything is better."
Jian Jing was silent. She didn't believe in ghosts and gods, but the existence of the system and rebirth itself was already contrary to reason, not to mention the system had clearly pointed out that special tasks contained paranormal circumstances.
So although she didn't really believe in ghosts and gods, she still had some belief in the idea of borrowing fortune.
The man before her was so outstanding, he should have been the most dazzling existence on the screen, yet everything had been taken from him by two greedy people.
Ten years of obscurity, ten years of decline.
How many ten years are there in a lifetime?
She knew she shouldn't, but emotions can't be controlled by reason. Her heart inexplicably swelled with some pity.
But after a moment, she clamped down on it.
"When are you planning on leaving?" she began probing.
Xie Wei couldn't help laughing across from her. After ten years of hard work, he had spent endless effort studying acting, from clothing and makeup to facial expressions and gestures, all of which he practiced in front of a mirror one by one.
Only this way could he know how to use the most minute facial muscles to express the most painful emotions.
Jian Jing's expressions were subtle, but she didn't know how to conceal the look in her eyes.
He could read her mind.
She must have heard of "borrowing fortune", but unlike Zhang Xi who was set on befriending him and relying on his fame, there was no fiery desire to connect with him in her eyes, only pity and sympathy.
Of course, many people sympathized with him, like Director Huang and Screenwriter Xu.
But she was restraining herself, reining in her pity for him. Her gaze was calm and clear, as if ready to judge him at any time. Yet mixed in was a barely discernible struggle.
It seemed she was unwilling to do this, but had to because of her principles.
Such subtle, contradictory emotions gathered at the corners of her eyes and lips, somehow stirring up curiosity and tenderness in Xie Wei's heart.
As an aesthetic man, of course he didn't like seeing a pretty girl in distress. But he also keenly perceived that it all started from him.
The smile dissipated like smoke, leaving only silence.
Jian Jing took a deep breath and pressed, "It's not convenient to answer?"
"If there's nothing else going on, I'll probably leave today or tomorrow," Xie Wei said placidly. "When are you going back, Miss Jian?"
Jian Jing said, "After I get to the bottom of this."
Xie Wei unconsciously frowned. "Is Shao Meng that important?"
"It's not Shao Meng that's important, it's the truth." Jian Jing looked straight into his eyes.
Xie Wei was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Miss Jian, you're a good girl, but sometimes the truth is not as beautiful as you imagine."
"I know things are not simply black and white in this world." Jian Jing remained calm. "But the law is the bottom line."
Xie Wei countered, "What if the law cannot uphold justice?"
She was rendered speechless.
"I know what you want to say - an eye for an eye is wrong," Xie Wei cradled the steaming hot tea in his hands, his tone indifferent. "We all understand that principle."
Heat rose up and Jian Jing's cheeks flushed for no reason.
He said, "I don't mean to blame you, Miss Jian. You believe in the law, uphold justice. It seems you've never suffered the bitterness of having nowhere to turn to for help, nowhere to lodge your complaints. You're fortunate, that's a good thing."
Jian Jing pressed her lips together, wanting to refute but then gave up.
"I've been ill for some time. I'm better now, but sometimes I still have hallucinations," Xie Wei also found it strange that he was telling her this. He had never spoken of it with anyone before, but saying it now didn't feel out of place. "Several times when I saw you, I saw feathers too."
Jian Jing: "?"
"Angel feathers," Xie Wei smiled. "Very beautiful, light and soft, like an oil painting."
After a long silence, Jian Jing finally said, "Thank you."
"What are you thanking me for, just a sick man's delusions," he propped up his forehead. His features were sharply defined, his gaze languid and confused, more like a carefully retouched poster. "I haven't read your books, what was that demon hunter character you mentioned like?"
Jian Jing said, "He's a good person, but there is a monster living inside him."
"Oh I see," Xie Wei seemed to think of something and laughed. "Then I don't want to play him."
"Why not?" The words were out before Jian Jing realized she shouldn't have asked. The flow of their conversation had been completely led away by him. Strangely though, the transfer of control happened naturally, not deliberately on his part.
It was as if he was inherently charismatic, destined to be the center of any discussion.
Xie Wei said, "I'm an actor. Roles with high contrast are more challenging."
Jian Jing struggled to steer the conversation back. "So you admit you're very similar to the Hunter?"
"There is a monster inside everyone's heart," Xie Wei said casually. "What does being alike matter?"
Jian Jing said, "Not everyone kills people."
Xie Wei: "Who did I kill?"
"Shao Meng," Jian Jing started strategizing, revealing a weakness, "Unfortunately I don't have evidence."
Xie Wei was still meticulous. "Why do you think it was me?"
"I deduced it," Jian Jing carefully laid the groundwork. This was her one chance. "The day before we came, you went to see Shao Meng. He didn't know you were here too and was frightened, guilty and afraid, but he didn't dare refuse to see you because he wanted to find out how much you knew."
This was based on clues she had pieced together, not necessarily accurate, and didn't need to be too accurate.
Xie Wei said, "I did chat with him, just some reminiscing."
"Yes, reminiscing," Jian Jing closed in. "But not only reminiscing. At that time, you made a move on Shao Meng."
Xie Wei smiled and gently said, "I didn't hit him."
"You know what I mean," Jian Jing's heart pounded heavily as she slowly enunciated, "You poisoned him, didn't you?"
Xie Wei shook his head. "I didn't poison him."
"If not poisoning, then what?" She swiftly followed up.
[System: Use 'Prop Card - One Answer']
[System: Preset question 'If not poisoning, then what?', Designated person: Xie Wei]
[System: Special prop card in use]
Xie Wei said, "I didn't do anything."
At the same time as his words sounded, so did the voice in his heart: "It was an amoeba."
[System: Card used up, card collected back]
Jian Jing lightly exhaled.
The gamble paid off.
She didn't directly ask him what he did, but made up a story about "poisoning", just so that he would refute her claim in his heart afterwards, thus divulging the truth.
"No, you did something." Once in deduction mode, Jian Jing's thoughts became more agile.
Scenes of the death flashed through her mind, and she finally pieced together what had happened.
"There were many things in Shao Meng's bathroom, toiletries, skincare products, and also a nasal rinse bottle and a bottle of saline. His assistant said he had allergic rhinitis and needed to rinse his nasal cavity regularly."
Xie Wei's expression subtly changed.
"You didn't drink any water with him, nor eat anything. You only borrowed his bathroom." Jian Jing said, "The ingredients of the other things were too complex to tamper with easily, so you added something to the nasal rinse bottle."
She recalled the meningitis cases she'd read about yesterday. Most meningitis cases were caused by viral infections, but a few rare ones were reported in the news.
That was Naegleria fowleri amoebic meningitis.
Extremely, extremely rare, with very few documented cases, but a very high fatality rate.
"Naegleria fowleri, also called the brain-eating amoeba, thrives in warm water." As Jian Jing recalled more, she grew more alarmed, "Like for example, hot springs."
Xie Wei didn't say anything.
The prop card had expired, no one could hear his thoughts now.
"You wanted him to contract meningitis and die, so you could disguise it as a hot spring accident." She said, "But you didn't expect that in his panic, he would be scared to death by hallucinations, causing much more trouble."
Xie Wei finally spoke, "Whether you believe it or not, I didn't hope for his death, I didn't even think I would succeed. I just wanted to do something... you understand?"
Jian Jing said, "I believe you."
"Tao Tao... wasn't me either." He said.
For no reason, Jian Jing said, "I believe you."
Xie Wei smiled.
The sun shone on him, for the first time warming into his marrow, dispelling all the chill. Slowly, another wave of heat surged into his heart, thawing his frozen heart.
His chest started beating again, his blood flowing once more.
A trace of faint remorse floated up, encountering another indescribable urge.
Thus, he felt an unbelievable impulse. One he'd never considered, never anticipated, but still blurted out loud and clear.
"The evidence is under the sea hibiscus in the backyard. If you find it, I'll tell you."
