But he had thought everything too simply.
Initially, relying on his outstanding looks and the connections he had built with his savings, he managed to land a few small roles, gaining a little traction.
He signed with a management company, got a manager and an assistant, and worked diligently to hone his acting skills. Even when playing a minor role, he would prepare thoroughly and approach every filming with seriousness.
It was not only a passion but also a genuine desire to succeed through this path, to make his words carry weight, and to have his voice heard.
However, as his attention grew and fame followed, he was met with veiled and overt propositions for unspoken rules. Naturally, he refused, and was subsequently shelved by the company.
In this industry, heat and traffic were paramount. Most fans were young girls who could switch their "husbands" with every new drama. Without projects or screen time, being forgotten was only a matter of time.
Three years later, apart from the few dozen fans who deeply adored him, he was utterly forgotten.
The management company had also given up on him. His apartment became progressively worse, yielding to newcomers with the potential to become stars. His assistant was gone, and when he occasionally got a minor role, he had to rely on himself for everything.
Despite all this, Zhu Chongyan did not give up.
Until his manager handed him over to a wealthy, portly old man in the industry known for his male orientation and peculiar preferences.
If she hadn't arrived, Zhu Chongyan would truly have been sent to that man's room. In his struggle, he would have accidentally killed the man, and subsequently lived a life on the run, evading capture.
Then, six years ago, the incident resurfaced. His identity was exposed, leading to widespread humiliation for his sister and himself, which suffocated him. He rapidly turned into a twisted individual.
This was also a world influenced by collective karma.
It was just that no particularly severe异形 (yìxíng) monsters had appeared, nor had they been noticed by ordinary people. The few weaker ones that occasionally surfaced were dealt with by special departments.
Until he himself became an 异形 (yìxíng) monster.
Upon his appearance, he killed many people, then gathered a large number of 异形 (yìxíng) monsters, becoming their king. Leading them against humanity, within a few years, this world transformed from a stable and prosperous modern society into an apocalypse...
Zhu Yu suddenly realized a problem.
When she arrived in this world, Zhu Chongyan was already on her bed. Subsequently, the two of them engaged in unspeakable acts, and it had been that way ever since.
She hadn't done anything. How had Zhu Chongyan avoided being sent to that man's room?
While pondering this, she locked her car and walked into the police station.
The people at the police station, upon seeing her arrival, assumed she was there to submit evidence or clues.
"Is that person's body still here? I'd like to see it."
After reporting to her superiors, the officer led her to the morgue.
The body had already undergone dissection and freezing. Although it was still a dark, charred appearance, some unburnt tissues were visible.
Zhu Yu reached out to touch it.
The officer quickly stopped her. "Miss Gu, what are you doing?"
"Taking something."
As she spoke, she swiftly removed some items from the body. While the officer stared in astonishment, she produced a small brocade pouch and placed them inside.
"Thank you. I have other matters to attend to, so I won't disturb your work."
The officer: "..."
"Miss Gu, what exactly are you trying to do? Didn't you say you didn't know her?"
"I truly don't know her." Zhu Yu found their questions baffling. "Besides, haven't you investigated her identity yet? Have you found any prior contact between us?"
The officer was instantly speechless. "No, we haven't."
"Then that settles it. I'm leaving now. Goodbye."
As Zhu Yu exited, she encountered a middle-aged couple.
They looked emaciated and disheveled, burdened with heavy luggage, speaking to a police officer with bloodshot eyes.
"Comrade, what happened to our daughter? She was fine, how could she be gone?"
"She called us last week, saying she wanted to study hard and earn money to build us a house..."
The woman, whose hair had already turned grey, spoke with a sob. Unable to form a complete sentence, she was overcome with tears.
The middle-aged man also wore a look of grief and disbelief. His shoulders seemed to be deeply weighed down, either by the luggage or this devastating news. As Zhu Yu passed them, she inexplicably felt a sense of empathy, a pang of sadness.
But she walked out with a composed expression.
Getting into her car, she used the items she had obtained to fashion a tracker and drove in the direction it indicated.
—
Hospital.
These past few days had been busy. It was a season for frequent car accidents, and several had occurred consecutively, keeping the hospital doctors extremely occupied.
In an intensive care unit, a young boy, severely injured in a car accident, lay on the hospital bed. His face was burned beyond recognition and was now wrapped like a mummy.
Outside the door, his family was communicating with the doctor.
"The patient's burns cover over 75% of his body. Although the deep tissues and internal organs were not severely damaged, care must still be taken. After his body recovers, we can consider skin grafting. However, even with grafting, he will not be able to fully return to his original state. We hope the family can be prepared."
The elegant noblewoman was weeping uncontrollably. The man beside her frowned, unsure of what to say.
Doctors were not divine beings. With burns that severe, complete recovery was impossible.
"We understand. Thank you, Doctor."
"You're welcome. This is our duty. You can see him in about two hours, but you cannot stay long to avoid bacterial infection."
"Alright. Thank you."
The doctor nodded and left.
The woman's emotions erupted again. The suppressed sobs of a moment ago now broke free entirely. The thought of her son's appearance was unbearable.
"Ahhh!! How could this happen! Who harmed my son! You must avenge our son! Avenge him!"
The man, with red eyes, held the woman and nodded resolutely. "I will. I will never let the perpetrator go."
Once the woman calmed down slightly, he walked a short distance away and made a phone call.
Soon after, two police officers in uniform arrived at the hospital.
"Mr. Yang, we apologize. The precinct has been very busy lately, so we arrived a bit late. How is the child?"
The man surnamed Yang, with reddened eyes, replied, "Severe burns. He's in the ICU right now."
The officers wore sympathetic expressions and offered him some words of comfort.
The man quickly regained his composure and inquired about the car accident.
The officers' faces darkened, and one said with difficulty, "Mr. Yang, the perpetrator who caused your son's car accident is dead."