Chapter 112: The End of the Film

Ah Cheung urged the taxi driver, played by Wong Ka-kui, but upon reaching their destination, he refused her request. Her entire psyche collapsed, and in that same instant, the tension that had gripped the audience was released.

Alan Tam and the police officer played by Wong Kit became her final targets. At this point, anyone who stood in her way became a victim of her onslaught. Her slaughter, her madness—all of it was merely a desperate bid to carve out a tiny sanctuary for herself in this city.

The film ended with a shot of Ah Cheung moving into her new home, listening to news reports about soaring property prices, her face lit with a smile as she gazed up at the nearby Wireless Building. Whether she was right or wrong, no one cared to dwell on it anymore. Some were stirred to fervor by the thrill of the carnage, while others fell into deep contemplation; the frenzied housing market and the frenzied city were guiding the lives of frenzied people.

Regardless of whether they liked the film or not, as applause erupted in the theater, Yan Xu knew the box office would not be low. He had already noted the expressions of his friends in the industry and the journalists in the rows behind him. He did not expect his film to be universally loved; to have a portion of the audience appreciate it was already a success. The pensive looks on the faces of the critics and reporters showed that they had moved past the superficial bloodshed to see the essence, the indictment, and the mournful cry within.

***

As the film concluded, Yan Xu did not stay to accept the congratulations of the crowd. Instead, he slipped away quietly to the backstage lounge.

For reasons he couldn't explain, he didn't feel a sense of relief after the screening. His mind felt like a tangled mess. This was likely his final film at Baizhan. A small company that once only produced B-grade erotic films had grown to its current scale—this was the path Yan Xu had walked every step of the way. To leave it so suddenly left him with a lingering sense of reluctance.

Just as Yan Xu was feeling restless, the lounge door suddenly opened. The light from the hallway spilled into the dark room, making him squint.

"Congratulations. The film was a great success." A petite, delicate figure stood at the door. As she entered, the faint fragrance she wore drifted into the air and reached Yan Xu.

"How did you know I was here?" Yan Xu watched as Barbara Yung walked into the room and closed the door behind her. Although the lights were off, the glow from the windows made it bright enough to vaguely make out her features.

"I saw you come in."

"Why did you rush over here? With so many media outlets outside, aren't you afraid we'll be tomorrow's headlines?"

"I’m not that foolish. No one saw me. Besides, I've been in the headlines for days already; a few more won't make a difference." Barbara smiled slightly. Her recent return had been just as Yan Xu expected, with reporters hounding her every step of the way.

As she spoke, she sat down beside him, her delicate scent enveloping him. The thin, nude-colored stockings beneath her beige skirt caught the light from outside, looking strikingly pale.

"Your film is very successful. Aside from being a bit bloody, the content is excellent. The plot is tight, keeping the mystery hidden until the very end, and it taps right into the current surge in housing prices. It's guaranteed to be a box-office hit."

"Thank you for your kind words. But at this point, the results don't matter much. I’ve already submitted my work."

"Then why are you hiding in here, brooding? Is it still about Baizhan?"

"Yeah." Yan Xu nodded slightly. "If nothing goes wrong, this will be my last film here. When I joined, it was the smallest of film companies, only capable of making midnight-run movies. Now, it has a name in the industry. I watched it grow bit by bit. It’s the lifeblood of mine, Brother Keung, and many others. It’s hard not to feel sad leaving it like this."

"Many things in life must be faced. Look at me—I’ve been through much more than you, and I’m still doing just fine."

Yan Xu looked at her smiling face. She was so optimistic, yet she had no idea that in another world, she had long since been crushed by such experiences.

"I know you're a strong woman, but I could have sworn I saw someone cover their eyes while watching the movie." Yan Xu teased. Even though he sat in the front row, he had kept an eye on the audience to gauge their reaction, and he hadn't missed Barbara's little gestures.

"I wasn't scared." Barbara glared at him, putting on a brave face. In truth, the violent scenes in the film had truly unnerved her; she felt like she might have an accident just sitting at home.

"You weren't scared?" Yan Xu feigned disappointment. "If you were, I was planning to go keep you company tonight. I don't usually offer to warm the bed for just anyone."

"Get lost!" Barbara pushed his arm. "I just realized you're really lecherous."

"If you don't let me stay with you, you'd better watch out for someone knocking on your door tonight. Don't you dare open it." Yan Xu lowered his voice, making it sound eerie and terrifying.

"What are you saying?" In the dark room, having just finished a horror movie, his low voice truly sent a chill down her spine.

"Ah, I'm coming to find you tonight. Open the door for me!" Yan Xu switched to a sharp, high-pitched tone, finding it amusing to tease her.

"Stop it! Stop scaring me!" Barbara, who wasn't actually that brave, threw herself at him, reaching out to cover his mouth.

"Alright, alright, enough joking." Yan Xu fended off her hands, and the two wrestled playfully in the dark room.

"By the way, I heard young Mr. Chow has been chasing you quite intensely lately." Once they grew tired and settled back into their seats, Yan Xu asked with a gossip-filled grin. The news of Barbara's breakup with Ah Yip had faded, replaced by rumors that the playboy Chow Si-lung was pursuing her.

"That's not true. We're just ordinary friends. We've only gone out a few times," Barbara replied.

"I heard it wasn't that simple. He sends you flowers every day, doesn't he? That's not how ordinary friends behave," Yan Xu laughed.

"What he does is his business. I don't have any other thoughts right now. It would be unrealistic for me to accept another relationship so soon. I just want to focus on my acting." A flash of loneliness crossed her eyes. She had been hurt too deeply by her past relationships, and it seemed she wouldn't be trying again anytime soon.