Brother Dao Took the Entertainment Industry by Storm, Fans Beg Me Not to Kill Anymore

Chapter 389: Filming the Ace Detective Short

A few days after reading the script, Xiao He arrived at the location agreed upon by the program team for filming.

This shoot wasnʼt at any film and television city but directly at a studio near the city center.

When Xiao He and his group arrived, the studio was already bustling with activity. Under the dark, high ceiling of the outer studio, the first thing Xiao He spotted was the ”corpse” prop lying on the dissection table.

Many staff members were bustling around, busy with their respective tasks. Even when they saw Xiao He, most just nodded with a smile and didnʼt stop what they were doing.

Actually, the filming crew here was quite different from the main production team of ”Ace Reasoning.” To be precise, this short film shoot was more like an outsourced team, primarily responsible for promotional filming.

However, perhaps to avoid being outdone by competitors, the director in charge of this short film was a somewhat well-known micro-film director, one whose previous works had won international awards. His directing skills were naturally not weak.

But seeing the director in person, Xiao He was still a bit surprised.

It was a female director.

Of course, this wasnʼt to say female directors were bad, but they were indeed relatively rare in the industry. Xiao He had basically encountered very few female directors.

Upon seeing Xiao He, the short film director, Qu Hua, immediately brightened up.
”Hello, Teacher Xiao!”

Qu Hua looked to be in her thirties, with an ordinary appearance and wearing thick black-rimmed glasses. Her overall impression was that of an unmemorable, average person.

Xiao He amiably extended his hand. ”Hello, Director Qu!”

”Teacher Xiao, have you read the script?”

”I have.” Xiao He paused, then continued, ”But there are some details I might not fully understand.”

After all, it was a censored version meant to hide the truth of the case. Even after carefully reading the script, Xiao He still had questions about certain plot points, which was actually quite normal.

”Thatʼs fine.” Qu Hua waved her hand casually. ”Teacher Xiao just needs to remember the character setting. The rest isnʼt a problem.”

Stream-of-consciousness mainly emphasizes being profound.

What if the actor doesnʼt understand?

Just watch it!

”Uh, alright then.”

Xiao He originally wanted to discuss it with her, but with Director Qu putting it that way, he could only go change his clothes first.

By the time Xiao He finished changing, the set was almost ready. The number of staff moving around the center of the set had noticeably decreased, with only a few scattered individuals still arranging tools beside the dissection table and pulling over a medium-sized whiteboard.

Curious, Xiao He went up to take a look and discovered it was a spider-web-like interpersonal relationship chart.

A → (Secretly in love with) B

B → (University classmate of) C

C → (Ex of) A

...

Perhaps because the participating guests hadnʼt drawn their character roles yet, these roles temporarily had no names and were all represented by letters. Xiao He guessed that after the initial filming was done, the post-production team would later insert the names of the programʼs participating guests into the corresponding character relationships.

As for Xiao He... his role was simpler. The character he was playing was called ”The Murderer.”

Yes, temporarily without a name.

He wondered who would successfully draw the ”Murderer” role once the short film aired and the first episode was broadcast...

”Teacher Xiao, do you think you can start filming now?”

Just as Xiao He was focusing on the whiteboard, other staff members came over to inquire.

”Oh, yes, I can.”

Xiao He immediately collected his thoughts and turned to walk over to the dissection table.

There were two dissection tables on set. One had a mannequin lying on it, and the other had an actor playing the victim. Xiao He merely walked over, glanced at the tools on the workbench, and almost imperceptibly frowned.

”Will all these scenes and props need to be filmed later?”

Xiao He asked.

”Ah, yes.”

The staff member looked puzzled. ”Teacher Xiao, is something wrong?”

”...Nothing much. Itʼs just that most of these tools seem like operating room tools, which deviates a bit from what a medical examiner would use.”

Of course, in many cases, medical examiner tools and operating room doctor tools do have many similarities and overlap. But from a professional perspective, the discrepancies are glaring.

Hearing Xiao Heʼs words, the staff member was stunned for a moment, then asked in surprise, ”Teacher Xiao is also quite knowledgeable about these things?”

”Ahem, ahem—”

Xiao He recalled his skill [Anatomy Art] and couldnʼt help coughing.

He silently thought to himself, ”What a coincidence! When it comes to forensic medicine, Iʼm practically a professional now!”

But out loud, Xiao He just said casually, ”Not that knowledgeable. Iʼve just read some related books and watched some videos.”

”Oh, I see!”

The staff memberʼs face immediately showed an expression of sudden understanding, and he couldnʼt help but praise, ”Teacher Xiao, for just one role, you seriously analyze the character setting and study relevant knowledge. Such dedication is truly admirable!”

Xiao He was caught off guard by the praise. ”Uh, itʼs not that exaggerated.”

The skill was practically picked up for free and hadnʼt been of much use. Pointing this out suddenly felt like showing off.

He immediately reflected on himself and changed the subject. ”Letʼs start filming first!”

”Okay, okay!”

Seeing Xiao Heʼs face suddenly turn cold, the staff member inwardly marveled at how quickly Xiao He got into character. He immediately turned and walked toward the area behind the camera.

Xiao He, meanwhile, walked to the workbench. He first glanced sideways at the actor lying on the table, then raised his hand and swept it over the tool bench, beginning to carefully select the props for the next scene.

-

For some reason, the actor on the dissection table shivered inexplicably.

Originally playing dead, he couldnʼt help but open his eyes to look at the actor beside him.

—Due to artistic creation and for aesthetic filming purposes, the young man wasnʼt wearing the full, formal medical examiner suit. A simple blue protective gown, mask, and gloves were his only protection for this job. The blade in the young manʼs hand faintly gleamed with a cold light under the studio lamps. Through the white mask, he could see the young manʼs icy, emotionless gaze fixed on him.

At that moment, his already somewhat chilled body felt tightly wrapped in a cold air. Even his breathing seemed to freeze for a few seconds.

Who... who was this?

Where did the production team find this real criminal?

Help! Someone help!

The actorʼs body went limp with fear.

In his panicked thoughts, he even forgot that the person before him was Xiao He, the actor their production team had booked long ago.

His mind was completely muddled by that one look from Xiao He. He didnʼt even hear the director shouting ”Cut!” from afar.

”Holy sh—”

He wanted to cry out loudly but was stopped by the look in the other personʼs eyes.

”Quiet.”

The young man walked over unhurriedly and forcefully covered his mouth.

Whether there was really anesthetic on that handkerchief or his brain was starved of blood due to extreme terror, his head actually began to feel dizzy, and the whole world seemed to spin.

At this moment, all thoughts of acting, filming, and fake character settings completely vanished.

His eyes, filled with nothing but terror, could only reflect the young manʼs cold and grim face.

And the icy scalpel was already pressed against his neck. His breath seemed to be completely stolen away.

—What does he want to do? Kill me? Or...

Dissect me alive?

What kind of devil is this?!

Finally, his eyes rolled back, and he completely lost consciousness.