Afterlife Department

Was Huo Ling killed because of his zero acting skill? Yi Bing thought before he shook his head. No one would be this petty. Furthermore, Huo Ling is from the Jackson family. No one would offend Huo Ling just because he has zero acting skill.

But, it is a fact that Huo Ling was killed.

"Film Emperor Lei!" Huo Ling's agent cried when he saw Lei Shan's car arrived.

Everyone immediately turned and saw Lei Shan immediately went out of his car. Although they wanted to approach Lei Shan, but it is inappropriate right now because someone died, and it is Huo Ling – Lei Shan's friend.

They parted for Lei Shan to pass and saw Lei Shan ran towards the car. However, the policemen immediately blocked him.

"State your name and your relationship to the victim." Jiang Xinduo said.

The crowd behind them gasped. "Can't he recognize he's the film emperor?!" they exclaimed as they looked at Jiang Xinduo.

Jiang Xinduo frowned in displeasure, but it is their protocol. "State your name and your relationship to the victim." He repeated.

Lei Shan naturally complied. "Lei Shan. I'm his friend." He answered.

"Xiao Jiang. Let him in." Gu Xingfeng said after he took a look at the car and the corpse.

"Yes." Jiang Xinduo answered and let Lei Shan pass by through the police line.

"Film Emperor Lei…" Huo Ling's agent called as he held back his tears.

"It'll be fine." Lei Shan told the agent before he faced Gu Xingfeng.

"One is the person the victim's with, while the other is the person he last called." Gu Xingfeng said as he pointed the two with his pencil.

"Yes." Lei Shan nodded. "I called xiao Ling two times. The second call, he answered and I told him we're waiting for him." he explained. "By 'we', I mean our parents." He added.

Gu Xingfeng's brows raised. "Is it an appointment for marriage?" he asked, his eyes filled with curiosity.

Lei Shan smiled. "Xiao Ling is a younger brother to me. Aunt Marie and my mother are best of friends." He said. However, that didn't answer Gu Xingfeng's question. It wasn't a 'yes', since both Lei Shan and Huo Ling's fathers, who are alive, weren't present judging from Lei Shan's answer. However, that doesn't mean it was a 'no', either.

Gu Xingfeng nodded in appreciation of Lei Shan's attitude. "We can invite the film emperor to our humble precinct, right?"

Lei Shan nodded. "Of course." He answered. He looked at Huo Ling's charred car and corpse and a pain filled his eyes. Xiao Ling… he thought as his eyes were filled with tears.

Gu Xingfeng looked at Lei Shan and know that his pained expression is sincere. However, that gaze… he and Jiang Xinduo looked at each other. "That includes you." He told Huo Ling's agent.

"Yes, yes. Of course!" the agent cried.

Since Huo Ling can't be saved, the medic had also checked the agent's body and saw he suffered injuries from the impact of the explosion. Fortunately, it wasn't severe.

"Ge…" Huo Ling muttered as he stared at Lei Shan. I'm sorry I died. He thought and lowered his head.

Yi Bing naturally heard Huo Ling's address to Lei Shan. It's a normal address, but the affection in his voice isn't. Huo Ling is more affectionate to Lei Shan than he should.

His eyes narrowed as he looked at Lei Shan who went with the police together with the agent.

"I want to follow them." Huo Ling spoke. "Can I?" he asked and looked at Yi Bing.

… what's with this feeling of irritation? Yi Bing hid his frown. "Yes." he answered.

"Thank you." Huo Ling politely said and watched as the police cars left, leaving one police car in the scene.

"… you're welcome." Yi Bing said when he felt the distance from Huo Ling's tone. Huo Ling, in this world, is an indifferent person. He's indifferent, aside from that Lei Shan.

A vein popped in Yi Bing's head because of the thought. Why do I feel like I'm beating myself up? He thought as he looked at Huo Ling who was still staring at the direction where the police cars left.

"Hm?" Huo Ling must have felt his gaze since he turned to him. "When are we leaving?" he asked. It was the same question like earlier, but this time he's referring to following Lei Shan and the others.

Yi Bing, a cool-headed person… ehem, grim reaper, for the first time felt a bubbling anger in his chest. "… in a minute." He coldly answered. Treating me coldly but passionate towards that Lei Shan? Then, I'll treat you coldly, too! He thought and secretly frowned. He opened his communicator to send a message to Di San.

0001: my assignment is attracted to another grim reaper's assignment. Shall I stop this? It might affect the other grim reaper's task. 

3257: since when have you cared about Qi Shan? And… you sound like a husband that has been cheated. You should start wearing green now, or change your necktie to green. 

3257: P.S.: the stink of your vinegar can be smelled here. 

Yi Bing slapped the holographic screen close and glared at Huo Ling who was sitting on the roadside. Damn it! Am I that obvious?! He thought. I am pissed! And I don't know why!

The grasses near his feet were frozen as he emitted a cold aura. Even San Di, who can't see me, can guess I am mad. Yet why is this soul cannot see it? He thought as he retracted the anger in his gaze.

Huo Ling… is it possible I started to feel affection towards you?

S City Police Station.

"Huo Ling, as a small and new artist, only has an agent. He doesn't have an assistant nor a manager. His agent can do their tasks." Jiang Xinduo reported after a police officer handed him a folder. "The only people Huo Ling made contact with in Tianxing Entertainment are his agent – Su Heng, the director of an idol drama where he first participated, and the CEO of Tianxing Entertainment." He said.

"Invite those two." Gu Xingfeng said.

"Yes." Jiang Xinduo answered. "As for Lei Shan, and the Jackson family…" he said.

"No need to call them. They'll send themselves to our doorstep." Gu Xingfeng said as he twirled the pencil in his hand and knocked once on the door of the interrogation room.

The door opened and Su Heng was startled. "I – I…" he stammered.

"No need to be frightened. We are policemen, not police dogs. Naturally, we don't bite." Gu Xingfeng said and nodded at Jiang Xinduo.

Jiang Xinduo walked past and went to the next door.

"That – that… I – " Su Heng said.

"Relax. We only want to talk to you, not torture you." Gu Xingfeng said as he walked to the chair across the table in front of Su Heng.

However, Gu Xingfeng's words frightened Su Heng more. Or, was it his intention? Frightening the other until he is about to lose his wits, making the other be aware what might happen if he lied to them. And this is effective for the timid Su Heng… or, is he really timid, or just faking it?

Whatever the truth is, one shouldn't lay their cards on the table to win, and be patient when waiting for the fish to take the bait before reeling it in.

"Shall we start?" Gu Xingfeng asked. Seeing Su Heng obediently nodded, he smiled. "Tell me everything you know about Huo Ling." He told him.

"H-Huo Ling… he is one fourth Chinese." Su Heng started. "His father is American, Gerald Jackson. He is a businessman. Meanwhile his mother is half-Chinese and half-British, Marie. She came from the royal family, and is the aunt of Kale Gabriel Jackson– the crown prince." He said. "His English name was given to him by his mother, Marie." The Jackson they were referring to, it is, obviously, on Marie's side.

Marie Jackson's father is Chinese, surnamed Huo. It is her mother who is from the royal family – the Jackson family. Like her mother, she's a princess who fell in love with a commoner. However, the royal family was lenient. After all, they are a family and, it was the male who matters the most in the family, since they are the ones carrying their surname.

Gu Xingfeng helplessly sighed. A prince, even just of one-fourth blood, but he's still a member of the royal family, died in their land. As the ones responsible of this case, Gu Xingfeng could already feel the pressure. However, the Tianxing Entertainment would have it harder, since Huo Ling died in their premises. Added to the fact that there's only Huo Ling and Gabriel the current princes in the royal family…

Oh, god… he placed a palm on his face. "Continue." He told Su Heng.

"Yes." Su Heng nodded. "Huo Ling is a newly-signed artist of Tianxing Entertainment, and he was assigned to me." he said.

Gu Xingfeng raised his face. "Huo Ling is a prince. Even if he wouldn't work… he doesn't even need to do housework. So, why would he be an artist?" he asked.