Pure Darkness

Chapter 36

And, so, we finally found out who Ke Qian was, and why no one at Yue Ying Animation Studio would talk about it. However, this was just the tip of the iceberg. . .what does Ke Qian have to do with the murder? Meanwhile, there was not the slightest peek at Fu Ziyu and Han Yumeng – Ding Mo leaving us to boil in suspense. . .

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Wen Xiaohua's memory began two years ago.

The first time he reported to work at the Yue Ying Animation Society, he saw a very handsome boy sitting at the table, cutting the stage decorations out of colored paper.

At that moment, Wen Xiaohua was still a little nervous, so she said, “Hai, how are you? I am Wen Xiaohua, I registered a few days ago. ”

Ke Qian looked up, immediately put down the items in his hands, and said, “Hai, Xiaohua! Welcome aboard! Glad you could join our animation community.”

He was very polite, and his smile was very warm and gentle. Wen Xiaohua had never met anyone so courteous to others.

Then, he realized that Ke Qian had always been polite to everyone.

Although he was senior in the animation society, he was not at all like Rong Xiaofeng and Jiang Xueran, who tended to air. He is always attentive to the needs of others, and cares deeply for everyone. Whenever there was work to be done, he was always the first to get off work, without complaining.

He consistently strives to please everyone, hoping that they will like him in return.

Maybe he was born that way. However, for whatever reason, over time, even the honest and sincere Wen Xiaohua felt a little annoyed. He started to give whatever he could not finish to Ke Qian. Although he had benefited from this, he had not thought too much about thanking Ke Qian. Sometimes, he couldn't even be bothered to apologize.

It was not that Ke Qian was unaffected by everyone's attitude towards him. Many times, Wen Xiaohua could see her loneliness. He was always very careful and guarded, yet he seemed to be unable to win anyone's chest friendship.

Perhaps human nature is fundamentally despicable. He was despicable, and as such, they were also despicable. Wen Xiaohua heard, vaguely, that Ke Qian was an orphan. He was very young when his parents died, and was raised by his paternal grandfather. Perhaps, then, how did this handsome yet loner boy gradually develop such a character?

Ever since Ke Qian's university graduation the previous year, everyone had noticed that his weak and humble character had become increasingly clear.

It's because he didn't go to work. It's not that he can't find a job, he's not even looking for a job. She takes refuge in the studio all day, fully engrossed in anime, and cosplay.

Everyone admits that he is the best cosplayer they have ever seen. But, ‘playtime’ like this will not spend food on the table. Seeing it degenerate to such an extent, everyone considered it even more disgusting, even though they were in the same society.

One time, Wen Xiaohua advised him out of worry. “Ah Qian, I think it is better for you to find a job. This is not the right way to do something.” He doesn't have much money, but he will use whatever award money he receives and his living expenses allowance to buy expensive and beautiful items to support ‘his playing time’, he said, while eating instant noodles every day.

What did Ke Qian say back then?

He fiddled with the plants on the door, and looked at Wen Xiaohua with a smile. His smiling face was as peaceful as the moon on a cool and sunny night as he said, “All will be well, Wenhua. Nowadays, prize money for cosplay competitions and events is on the rise. If we work hard, we will be able to get a decent life. This is my dream and my passion, and I want to make a living from it. If people follow conventions* blindly and go to work, become slaves to their mortgage or car, does that mean I can't pursue my dreams? If it's something to like, does it matter if one has to be poor for a while?”

*T/N (xun gui dao ju) – light up. to follow the compass and go with the square set; ara. to follow the inflexible rules, to act according to the convention.

At that moment, Wen Xiaohua was somewhat moved when she heard those words. However, while repeating it to Jiang Xueran later on, Jiang Xueran simply laughed contemptuously and said, “Crazy. Don't you think Ke Qian's a little crazy? Totally unrealistic. He had already borrowed money from Lu Ji last month. Careful, maybe you this month.”

Wen Xiaohua felt that Jiang Xueran's comments were reasonable, so he further underestimated Ke Qian.

However, what Ke Qian said continued to reappear in his mind many times –

If people follow conventions blindly, does that mean I can't pursue my dreams?

Does it really matter if one has to be poor for a while?

Right, does that matter?

But even Ke Qian would never have imagined that it would be an unexpected windfall that would lead him down the road to death.

The sun shines brightly, as if able to illuminate and dispel all darkness and confusion in the world. Several police cars were parked on an empty patch of land not far from the animation park. It was overgrown with weeds, and inundated with black water. Smelly air.

Xu Sheng and Wen Xiaohua cried until their eyes were red and swollen. In the end, they were just children who had just graduated from university.

They identified the place.

It was a big tree. Under the tree, there must have been signs of the earth that had just changed. The workers started digging. Bo Jinyan and the others stood on the outskirts.

However, the people who were the most agitated were Xu Sheng and Wen Xiaohua. They were very curious as to whether the person buried there had actually disappeared.

“Why did this happen?” An Yan asked. “Because Ke Qian treated them so well, how could they all look down on him?”

“She likes ya-man too much,” replied Fang Qing. “She cares too much about what others think, but, on the contrary, they think very little of her.”

This seems to make sense. Jian Yao and An Yan both nodded.

Bo Jinyan snorted and said, “They have no kindness, and ignore the good intentions of others. It wasn't his fault, but their fault.” ‘They’ naturally refers to other members of the animation community.

“But isn't this what happens to most people?” Jian Yao retorted.

“Although most people are like this, it is still wrong,” Bo Jinyan said flatly.

Everyone is silent.

After a while, Fang Qing exclaimed, “There are no great evils, only minor evils and occasional kindness in the ups and downs of everyday life. I guess it's just human nature. ”

*T/N (sui bo zhu liu) – lights up. drift with the waves and go with the current

Bo Jinyan glanced at him and commented, “Sometimes, you are very deep.”

Fang Qing laughed. “Thank you for the compliment.”

As the digging tool deepened, the surface of the soil was dug up, and the hidden clues gradually revealed.

A corner of clothing, dark brown where fresh blood has dried up; a shoe, its original color is impossible to see; a portion of the earth is upside down to expose the nail. . .

The faces of Bo Jinyan and the others became grim.

Wen Xiaohua and Xu Sheng had pale faces. Wen Xiaohua's tears fell in large droplets, and Xu Sheng covered his face with his hands.

Yeah, it's still terrible to go back to that night.

A few days earlier, they had suddenly received a call from Ke Qian, who sounded very excited. “Our studio does not need to disperse! I have some money! A lot of money! This is our venture capital fund!”

Hearing the word ‘uang’, everyone's hearts soared.

For the first time, on Ke Qian's call to gather, everyone gathered.

“2 million! We got 2 million!” Ke Qian perched on the bench, smiling widely, yet also carefully.

“Where does the money come from?” Jiang Xueran asked with a smile.

Ke Qian looked at the expression on her face and replied, “I. . . in advance, I sent our studio information and performance videos to many investors. I also write a very detailed investment feasibility report. Finally, I got a reply. An angel investor gave us 2 million. This money will be our starting capital, and we can use it as needed. As long as we officially set up the studio and win more awards, who knows, he can even invest more money and help make Yue Ying Animation Studio become the most influential animation company in China!”