Chapter 214 He who smuggled himself across the border, he who died…

Early morning, closed every Monday.

Outside the country's first film and television museum, a large group of seasoned film enthusiasts who had traveled from other places gathered.

Given the unusual circumstances, museum staff contacted the director. Initially, the director was pleased, but after hearing the details, he flew into a rage: "What do you take this place for? How could I make such a mistake? I still need to prepare to welcome the Golden Lion Award winners; I need to get rid of them."

The staff member covered the phone, while the fans gathered nearby gave him unfriendly looks. He hesitated and said, "Why don't we let them see him? They'll give up after that. I'm worried someone might submit a story to the newspaper and it will affect us. Besides, they're so persistent today; what if the Golden Lion Awards people come and cause trouble tomorrow?"

The curator said, "They dare!"

A staff member said, "The area across the street is a residential area for celebrity villas; celebrities occasionally come here for a stroll..."

The curator paused for a few seconds, then said in a low voice, "Hurry up, don't take up too much time. More importantly, don't let them call the police."

After hanging up the phone, the staff member opened the door and said with a polite smile, "Our curator heard that you all came all this way to see a human figure, and told me not to rest and to open the door so you could take a look. It can't possibly be made from a real person; that's just hearsay."

His words carried a hint of complaint, but the twenty-odd fans who rushed over didn't mind and eagerly squeezed in.

The leader was called Old Deng; he was short and stout, wearing thick glasses. The staff had seen him before; he'd been lingering in the venue yesterday, refusing to leave. Apparently, he was planning to cause trouble.

Old Deng, in his forties, didn't have a proper job, occasionally writing film reviews and doing bit parts to earn some money. He hurriedly walked to the horror movie theater from yesterday and immediately saw the mannequin he had seen was still there.

"Look, doesn't he look like Chen Bufan, who went missing before? He's the one who played Zhuge Liang in 'The Legend of Zhuge Liang,' and the lead actor in 'The Flying White Dragon,' which won an award more than 20 years ago?"

The crowd gathered around for a closer look, and the mannequin resembled a mummified corpse. It had undergone special treatment, was dressed in an old uniform from the Republican era, and had a felt hat askew on its head.

Its skin is bronze, and its cheeks are sunken. Upon closer inspection, the skin is covered with a fine, cracked network, like the fissures in porcelain. So much so that at first glance, it looks like a cheap, old plaster cast of a human body.

Lifting the collar reveals that it is cleverly fixed to a rusty metal frame behind the mannequin, which is struggling to maintain the mannequin's slightly stiff posture.

The skin tissue, after prolonged and extreme dehydration, tightly wraps around the bones, clearly revealing the sharp lines of the jaw and collarbone.

From three steps away, this "human model" appears to have an indescribable fragility, which makes people uncomfortable, yet it also has the feel of a carved wooden sculpture.

While the staff were maintaining order, some daring individuals lifted their felt hats to cover their faces.

Its face was breathtaking; the soft tissue and skin had shrunk, but the facial features had been perfectly preserved. Everyone present could recognize that this once handsome face still possessed the shape of its brow bones, the high bridge of its nose, and even the thickness of its lips.

However, its expression froze for a moment; its mouth was slightly open, as if a cry of alarm had been choked in its throat. Its eye sockets were sunken, like cheap plastic balls; the remaining eye tissue had hardened and become cloudy, yet it conveyed a silent accusation to those present.

"It's really, it must be a real person!"

"It absolutely cannot be fake."

It stood before everyone like a soul being punished, its toes raised, its back and soft tissue suspended from a metal frame.

Old Deng sniffed and once again smelled the mixture of dust and bitter almonds from last night.

A strong light shone on the "human model," casting a distorted and enormous shadow on the wall behind it.

Some young movie fans couldn't stand the strange atmosphere and vomited into a trash can. Others, fans of Chen Bufan, covered their mouths, trembling and shedding silent tears.

Everyone understood that they were no longer facing a "model that might resemble Chen Bufan." Perhaps Old Deng had truly discovered Chen Bufan, who had been missing for nearly twenty years.

"Who did this?" The scene was silent until suddenly a voice angrily shouted, "Who is so heartless and inhuman!"

Old Deng pulled out his mobile phone to call the police. What they were facing was not just a murder case, but one of appalling heinous nature. The perpetrator had meticulously preserved the victim's body, strangling it and leaving it standing there silently for years, unable to reveal its cold and terrifying secrets.

The staff member, in his twenties, sported an artist's mustache. He glanced at the "human figures" he saw every day and said dismissively, "Our models are all imported. It's understandable that they resemble some of the celebrities, since many of them are made to look like popular stars. But they all cost a lot of money."

“But you can’t be that much like Chen Bufan.” A tall, thin man who came with Lao Deng said, “You’re still young, you don’t know the influence Chen Bufan had in our generation. We all grew up watching his movies, and he influenced our values.”

The man with the mustache smiled and said, "Our venue is absolutely professional, and we frequently host big-name celebrities from the film and television industry. Why don't we hear them say that?"

Old Deng said unhappily, "Don't think I don't know. There aren't many people in the horror museum, and it's placed in an inconspicuous corner. Celebrities are usually surrounded by fans coming and going, so who would care about this? No way, I have to call the police."

"Yes, we must call the police."

"I think it's true too. Chen Bufan has been missing for so many years, so it turns out... sob sob..."

The man with the mustache was running out of patience. He kept trying to persuade them: "It's probably just a resemblance. There are too many people in this world who look alike. Besides, it might not even be a real corpse. Why are you making such a big deal out of such a small matter?"

Old Deng pushed him aside and said, "You guys stay here and don't let anyone move it. I'm making a call right now."

He nearly knocked over the man with the mustache, and angrily said, "I wasn't planning on opening the door for you, but after I did, you didn't even know how to be grateful and continued to cause trouble. Let me tell you, there are reporters waiting outside, preparing for tomorrow's Golden Lion Awards reception ceremony. If you damage the reputation of this institution, be careful, we'll sue you until you have to sell your house and land!"

"Unbelievable! They actually dare to threaten people!" The two or three old men who came with him ignored the mustachioed man's attempts to stop them and ran outside: "Are there any reporters? Come and take pictures, we've found Chen Bufan!"

Several reporters who were being greeted by staff at the film and television museum were taking photos of the venue when they heard the name "Chen Bufan" and paused for a few seconds. A few seconds later, they rushed towards the horror movie theater.

"Chen Bufan!"

"Is it the missing Chen Bufan?"

"He's here? Don't try to take this headline from me, it's mine!"

"Oh dear, how could he have died so tragically? Are you sure it's true? I think it is." A reporter surrounded "Chen Bufan" taking pictures, and after taking his fill, he exclaimed, "He must have been murdered."

"You're really good at talking nonsense. If you weren't framed, did you think you'd hang yourself up to dry in the sun?" Old Deng hung up the phone and shouted, "I have good news for everyone. The Liancheng Public Security Bureau has transferred the case to the Liancheng Major Crimes Unit. They'll be here soon!"

"What? The Major Crimes Unit is coming? We're doomed, all doomed! You, you just wait." No one could stop him with his mustache. The flashing lights hurt his eyes. He quickly walked out of the venue, ready to call his superior.

One moviegoer with some legal knowledge whispered, "It's been twenty years since he disappeared. The statute of limitations is about to expire, right? We need to solve the case quickly."

......

Liancheng Criminal Investigation Team, Cherokee roars to the scene.

Tian Yongfeng, who was leaning over the corridor railing looking down, chewed some bubble gum he had taken from the food cabinet in the fourth team and said, "Why are those two together again?"

Xiao Min stirred the black sesame paste that she was having for breakfast and said without even looking at it, "Director Gu is on vacation and has volunteered to return to the Fourth Team to do unpaid work. Director Liu has tacitly approved of this."

Tian Yongfeng blew a bubble and whispered, "Old Gu is still hoping to return to the criminal investigation front? I think he'll be fine as the director of logistics until retirement."

Xiao Min looked at him in disbelief, shook her head, and left.

Tian Yongfeng had bubble gum all over his mouth. Picking it off his lips, he stood behind Xiao Min and asked, "What's wrong? Did I say something wrong?"

Regardless of his thoughts, Chen Zhenzhu sat comfortably in the passenger seat of the Cherokee on her way to the police call.

As the distance between the forensic vehicles behind them grew further and further, Chen Zhenzhu saw Rong Chengcheng following behind with a miserable expression in her rearview mirror, and she felt a surge of joy.

"Captain Chen, when we get there, stop grinning like that and tone it down." Gu Yanzheng turned the steering wheel and headed towards the city center square.

"Understood, Director Gu." Shen Zhenzhu had regained her composure and said seriously, "I have already asked Brother Xizi to retrieve the missing person report for 'Chen Bufan'."

Gu Yanzheng said, "Are all missing persons cases now connected to a national network?"

Shen Zhenzhu nodded: "Last year, the focus was mainly on missing women and children, the vast majority of whom were involved in human trafficking. This year, we started to gradually record missing male cases, recording them year by year. Our brother units in various places have been busy all year and have finally recorded them all."

Gu Yanzheng said, "That's good, it will be much easier to check in the future."

As they were talking, Zhou Chuanxi called: "Sister Pearl, I checked the missing persons reports from previous years, and there's no record of Chen Bufan. That means no one reported him missing. Also, Chen Bufan is an orphan; he has no parents, and his household registration only lists him."

"Okay, I understand."

Upon arriving at the film and television museum parking lot, Chen Zhenzhu hung up the phone and frowned.

Old Deng waited outside, like a raccoon waving its paws. Wearing thick glasses, he squinted at Chen Zhenzhu and said, "Hello, Captain Chen, I'm the one who called the police."

When Shen Zhenzhu saw him, she understood why she had waited a night to call the police. He was severely nearsighted and really needed someone else to help him take a look.

"This way, please." Without much small talk, they shook hands, and Old Deng hurriedly led the way. Even though it was the dead of winter and they hadn't even entered the house yet, a thin layer of sweat had already formed on his forehead.

The arrival of Shen Zhenzhu drove the reporters taking photos at the scene even more wild. If Gu Yanzheng hadn't stopped them, they would have wanted to photograph Shen Zhenzhu handling the case and make headlines alongside "Chen Bufan." Two industry giants—their sales figures would be absolutely formidable.

With just one glance, Chen Zhenzhu knew that this "human model" must be made from a real human body through a complex process.

"It's true." Gu Yanzheng turned his head and whispered in Shen Zhenzhu's ear, "The abdomen is sunken, which means it must have undergone extremely professional repair. The internal organs and easily decaying organs such as the brain have been removed. This smell inside the body, perhaps it was filled with—"

“Mineral salts are used to absorb moisture, and the copper color on the skin may be due to the application of a certain type of natural resin-based coating to isolate the air and inhibit bacteria.”

Chen Zhenzhu crossed the cordon, sniffed the air around "Chen Bufan", and said with a straight face: "It was not a hasty hiding. The murderer's methods were professional and systematic. He has a lot of professional knowledge and a calm mind. He spent a certain amount of time doing preservation treatment."

Upon learning that it was indeed "Chen Bufan's" corpse, Lao Deng and the others turned pale.

A friend pressed down hard on Lao Deng's shoulder and whispered, "You've done a great thing. Chen Bufan's fans will thank you for saving his body."

“We just don’t know where his soul is imprisoned, or what he suffered in his life.” Old Deng murmured, “It’s terrifying, more terrifying than any foreign movie I’ve ever seen.”

"Chen Bufan, you were a great actor in life, and you even refused to be ordinary in death. Those who slandered and cursed you behind your back, saying you betrayed us and fled to capitalist countries, what will they say when they learn of your current fate?"

Rong Chengcheng parked the car and, together with Lu Xiaobao, rushed to the scene with their forensic kits. Seeing Gu Yanzheng calmly handling the scene, Rong Chengcheng couldn't help but say, "It's rare to work with Captain Gu. I didn't expect Captain Gu to be as decisive and efficient as the rumors say."

Gu Yanzheng also politely replied, "Everyone says that a genius has joined the forensic team, and it is my honor to work with you."

Chen Zhenzhu stood next to Chen Bufan's corpse, beckoned, and said, "We're all family, so let's not play these games. Hurry up and take the body back."

Gu Yanzheng directed the officers to set up a cordon and conduct on-site questioning and investigation. Rong Chengcheng then entered to check the condition of "Chen Bufan's" mummified body. After finding it could be moved, he took photos and secured it.

"Be careful, the skin tissue is easy to tear." Shen Zhenzhu stepped aside and, seeing Gu Yanzheng chatting with Lao Deng, walked towards the staff member, the one with the mustache.

"In all honesty, this is absolutely a misunderstanding." After being scolded by the curator, the man with the mustache reluctantly relayed the curator's message: "This used to be a natural history museum, and we also stored some imported human specimens. Someone must have been careless during the relocation and put them here. It's also our fault for being negligent; no one noticed them as we walked around."

Chen Zhenzhu opened her notebook and asked, "How long has it been here? Is its origin clear?"

The man with the mustache hesitated before saying, "I really don't remember how long it was there. If I had known, I would have moved it."

He turned to call out to the other staff members, one of whom, an older woman with her hair up in a uniform, came over and said, “I used to work at the Natural History Museum, where there were several imported human specimens, all of which had customs numbers and human donation certificates.”

The man with the mustache quickly said, "That's right, Captain Chen. Look, there are numbers on the bottom of the metal rack. They all came from legitimate channels. How could someone have killed Chen Bufan and left him here?"

"The psychology of criminals is not something ordinary people can understand. They usually have distorted, vengeful, and antisocial personalities. If you can empathize with them, you might become one of them," Shen Zhenzhu said calmly.

The man with the mustache retorted indifferently to her, then turned to the woman who was more than ten years older and said, "Why don't you bring the documents over here for Captain Chen to review?"

His arrogant demeanor made the staff member frown, and things didn't go as he expected. He wasn't even the venue manager yet, and he was already bossing everyone around.

Shen Zhenzhu said politely, "Big sister, please help us with the work. The cause of Comrade Chen Bufan's death must be found out so that we can give the movie fans present an answer."

The staff member finally relented: "Then please wait a bit. The documents used to be piled up in the warehouse, and I still have work to do—"

The man with the mustache urged, "Put everything else down and I'll find someone else to do it. Hurry up and find the materials. Solve the case as soon as possible; a celebrity is coming tomorrow."

"Alright then."

After they left together, Shen Zhenzhu stood next to the mummified corpse, looking down to observe Rong Chengcheng and Lu Xiaobao's work.

Just then, a mobile phone call came in. Shen Zhenzhu received a call from Xiaobai: "Sister Zhenzhu, the people from Wu Family Village are not cooperating. They say the assailant is not here. There are also people leading the trouble."

Shen Zhenzhu asked, "Are there many troublemakers?"

Xiao Bai's voice on the other end was relatively calm: "Not many, five or six."

Shen Zhenzhu said, "We'll handle it the same way as last time. Those who don't cooperate will be taken away. We'll also inform the onlookers that harboring criminals is a crime. We welcome any tips and will offer a reward of ten to fifty yuan."

Xiao Bai whispered, "Isn't the bonus too small?"

Shen Zhenzhu said, "It's just a matter of a word or two. Too much talk makes it easy to lie. You and Brother Qi be careful."

Xiao Bai said, "Brother Aye will be here soon, don't worry."

After hanging up the phone, Chen Zhenzhu re-observed "Chen Bufan".

Rong Chengcheng tried to remove the metal frame here and put it into the forensic van, but the skin tissue tightly wrapped the metal. He could only say, "We need to notify the fleet to send a larger Iveco van."

Taking advantage of the brief moment of respite, the Pearl of Desire slowly unfolded its Heavenly Eye—

Spring of 1973.

Lukou is 40 kilometers away from Liancheng city. Film projectionists travel in old buses through rural markets, showing revolutionary model operas to the villagers.

When they arrived at the market entrance, the movie speakers broke down, so they temporarily asked the two male and female leads who were visiting military exercises in Lukou to come and provide voiceovers.

Their arrival brought cheers and joy to the people who had come from far and wide. The two lead actors were a handsome man and a beautiful woman. The actress was named Gong Qi, and the actor was named Chen Bufan.

After the dubbing session ended, the villagers eagerly shook hands with them.

Late at night, the two were finally able to rest in the workers', peasants' and soldiers' dormitory.

"It's all your fault for making me shake hands with those peasants. Their barbs are pricking my hands and hurting me." While everyone else was asleep, Gong Qi pried open Chen Bufan's door and sweetly stretched out her hand, saying, "Why don't you just let them find two people to do the voice acting? Why did you agree to this for me?"

“My fellow villagers can only see a movie once every month or two, and I can’t live with myself if I just give them a cheap imitation.” Chen Bufan, with his buzz cut, exudes a free-spirited, wandering air. Although he is an orphan, he has many friends from all over the country and often travels throughout China. Sometimes, he is even invited to perform in plays abroad.

Gong Qi shook off his hand and walked to the bedside to sit down. As soon as she sat down, she saw a Liberation pack on Chen Bufan's desk.

Gong Qi flew into a rage, pointing at the bag and saying, "What's your bag doing here? Is my room empty? Are you trying to run away?"

Chen Bufan quickly stepped forward to cover her mouth: "Grandma, don't talk nonsense."

Gong Qi sneered, "I thought you were a man. They were right. You're completely unreliable. You want to run away at the slightest hint of trouble. Do you want me to bear the consequences alone?"

Chen Bufan closed the door and then ran over to close the window. He wanted to pull Gong Qi's hand to explain, but Gong Qi remembered what her friends had said before she came here, and angrily swept away Chen Bufan's bag.

Personal belongings and books from the bag fell to the ground. Chen Bufan bent down, picked them up haphazardly, and stuffed them back in. He squatted down, took Gong Qi's hand, and whispered, "I heard that the explosion was caused by the video recorder we smuggled from abroad, and that someone in Hongshan County died because of it. But I absolutely never intended to shift the blame onto you. I love you so much, how could I possibly hurt you—"

"You're such a smooth talker!" Gong Qi kicked Chen Bufan and said angrily, "I know Xiao Pan from the Revolutionary Office. She said she saw you go into the Revolutionary Office to see the director, saying you wanted to report someone related to the Hongshan County explosion. Tell me, it was just you and me who smuggled the video cameras. Who do you want to report?"

Chen Bufan was stunned for a moment, then got up from the ground and explained, "Although seven people died, I swear, I didn't go to the Revolutionary Office the day before yesterday."

Gong Qi asked with a stern face, "Then where are you?"

"Anyway, I didn't go." Chen Bufan stammered, unable to finish his sentence. Looking at Gong Qi's increasingly unpleasant expression, he earnestly said, "I am your lover. I would rather betray myself than betray you."

Gong Qi spat, her beautiful face contorted with anger and jealousy: "You went to the Revolutionary Office this morning, and then went to Shell Park with that shameless Gong Li this afternoon, didn't you? You think you can hide it from others and from me? Everyone in the troupe knows she likes you. She's a vixen, a womanizer, thinking she can do whatever she wants just because her family is politically and professionally connected. Bah! Let me tell you, Chen Bufan, I was thinking of giving you one last chance today to see if you'd tell the truth. Now I know, you'd rather run away from me than be a man. I... I'm breaking up with you!"

"Don't go, I don't agree to break up." Chen Bufan gripped Gong Qi's wrist tightly and said affectionately, "I did go out with Gong Li this afternoon, but I had my reasons. I wanted to protect you—"

"You think you can protect me with three wives and four concubines? Do you think I have few suitors? Let me tell you, your competitors are far stronger than you." Gong Qi rushed to the door, opened it, and said, "Leave if you want. No one will miss a traitor!"

"Xiao Qi!" Chen Bufan chased after Gong Qi into the corridor, urgently calling out to her. He circled around to her and said, "You must not turn yourself in, and you must not tell anyone about this. I have a way to handle it."

"Your method is to report me! I know everything." Gong Qi pushed Chen Bufan away and left without looking back.

Chen Bufan shouted again, "Xiao Qi, please give me a chance. Believe me, give me some time, and I can get things sorted out!"

Gong Qi finally stopped, turned around, and said with tears streaming down her face, "Seven people died. I'm really scared."

Chen Bufan rushed over, hugged Gong Qi, kissed her forehead, and said, "Darling, give me a week, and trust me one more time."

Someone downstairs was yelling, "Who's out at night having sex with other men?"

Gong Qi hurriedly pushed Chen Bufan away, quickly wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, and said painfully, "If it can't be resolved in a week, I... I'll go and ask someone else for help."

Thinking that many of Gong Qi's suitors were sons of high-ranking officials who coveted her beauty, Chen Bufan was heartbroken. He looked at Gong Qi with deep affection and said, "Okay, I promise you."

Gong Qi looked back every few steps as she walked down the stairs back to her dormitory. Her female roommate joked, "You took so long to go to the toilet? Chief Wang's son even brought you some malted milk powder, I'll keep it for you."

"Hey, why did you keep it for me? I don't want it." Gong Qi picked up the malted milk powder and stuffed it into the woman's arms, saying proudly, "I have someone I like, and I don't accept anyone's advances. Since you've accepted it, you should go and marry Chief Wang's son."

"How can you be so unreasonable?"

"If I'm too reasonable, even more people will take advantage of my vulnerability." Gong Qi sat in front of the mirror, combing her hair, and ignored the other person.

Soon, the surroundings returned to the tranquility of night. In the spring night, when all things grow, everything was peaceful and serene.

Chen Bufan returned to his room, sat on the bed with his head in his hands, deep in thought and struggling. In the end, he chose to shoulder his pack, jump out of the second-floor window, and disappear into the faint light of dawn.

Chen Bufan arrived at the hidden smuggling port by following the directions on the map.

On the fishing boat, two people wearing straw hats stood, one holding a long oar, the other holding out his hand: "Money."

The speaker was a woman. She took Chen Bufan's money, stepped aside, and gestured for him to board the boat. Once on board, she forcefully snatched Chen Bufan's briefcase, rummaged through it, and finding no valuables, coldly tossed the briefcase onto the bow of the boat.

"Never mind, I won't take it with me." Chen Bufan uttered his last words, throwing the Liberation Bag onto the dock the moment the small boat left.

"Idiot, you won't need it anyway."

After an unknown amount of time, waves of excruciating pain jolted Chen Bufan awake from his unconsciousness.

He felt his surroundings swaying, and the dizziness made him want to vomit. However, as he reached out to touch his uncomfortable abdomen, he felt it sink in. He suddenly raised his hand and saw that it was covered in blood.

"She's actually awake. Everyone said not to hold back on the anesthetic, she's going to scream again now. Give her another injection of anesthetic."

"What are you afraid of? We're in international waters now, who can stop us? We've sold all the organs we can. This kid's in good shape, he'll fetch a good price."

Chen Bufan was shocked; the excruciating pain made him gasp for breath. Then, he saw a scene that filled him with utter terror—

A gloved man was poking and probing at Chen Bufan's abdomen, the pain of which made Chen Bufan feel like he was dying, and physiological tears kept flowing from the corners of his eyes.

The man took out a bloody object and placed it in the medical kit behind him. He then held the medical kit up to Chen Bufan and said, "Take another look. Your cornea will be gone soon."

"Ah...haha...ah!!" Chen Bufan screamed. Pain, coldness, the passing of life, and dark red organs with a glazed sheen were displayed before him.

How could this be? What's he doing here? He was supposed to be going out to sea...

He wanted to scream, but only a hissing sound came from his trachea. His anger, fear, and will to live were temporarily withdrawn from his consciousness in extreme pain after his body was taken away.

The beautiful face of Gong Qi appeared before Chen Bufan, then flashed back to a man's calm, professional, even twisted, professional demeanor. He felt himself becoming increasingly light, not upward but downward, being pulled by hands into an abyss.

Chen Bufan could no longer move a finger. He could hear voices above him discussing the weather, saying, "Be careful of the portal vein in the left lobe of the liver."

A slippery, heavy writhing sensation appeared in his chest cavity, and a bloody smell surged in his throat. His blood seemed to lose its direction, blindly rushing through his now unfamiliar body.

Then the only eye that could move was held in place by a metal expander, leaving only the halo of the shadowless lamps inside the cabin in his field of vision.

Chen Bufan could hear the metallic sound of instruments rubbing together, smell the rusty odor of disinfectant, and feel the eerie coolness of air passing over his exposed intestines.

His vision then became blurry, and Chen Bufan could only see a trembling blur covering his entire field of vision, with blood mist and ice flowers.

In the chaos, a doctor held a thin slice in front of him, beyond any possible focal length, and he "saw" a sliver of silver light.

"Chen Bufan, I really envy you for having eyes that can make women swoon. Look, I've perfectly peeled them away."

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Author's note: See you tomorrow, there are 100 red envelopes waiting for you! [Let me see]