279. You Were Pretending Just Now, Weren't You?

When Bai Qiquan saw the images appearing on the big screen in the screening room, he gasped in shock.

Because this is a scene from "The Crying"!

In an instant, the cold and eerie feeling of the hospital, the air mixed with disinfectant, and the faint cries of a baby surrounded Bai Qiquan.

They're back, they're all back. On this day, Bai Qiquan finally recalled the fear of being dominated by the Nanhua Private Renji Hospital, and the humiliation of not daring to even walk the night road back to his dormitory.

However, since he had seen the movie several times, he was still somewhat patient.

Even the scariest scenes aren't scary if you've watched them several times and can recite the rest of the story with your eyes closed!

The unknown is the most terrifying thing!

For horror works where the route is already known, it's just a different map and a chaotic free-for-all.

Just like some of the games Bai Qiquan plays, some games provide players with small maps and large maps, afraid that players will get lost. But some games don't even have small maps, let alone large maps. Players have no sense of security when walking on the road, not knowing whether they will suddenly walk into a dead end, fall off a cliff, run into a group of monsters, or be hit by a train on the tracks.

Bai Qiquan now is like a veteran player who has struggled thousands of times in those games that hide the malice of the creators. Everyone on this street has killed me, and I am already very familiar with the routines of short films.

He subconsciously glanced around.

The other interviewees all had ashen faces, their eyes fixed on the screen, unable to look away. Fear emanated from their pupils. They gripped the handrails tightly, stomped their legs on the ground, and were tense all over, like dead grasshoppers.

"So this is the expression I make when I watch movies."

Bai Qiquan seemed to understand something. He rubbed the armrest with his hand and was surprised to find that the once brand-new armrest already had deep fingerprints.

During this period, countless interviewees have sat here, feeling the fear of being dominated by Lu Ban's horror movies, leaving this mark.

Thinking about this, Bai Qiquan suddenly felt quite excited.

So this is the mentality of horror movie creators?

Realizing something, Bai Qiquan suddenly looked at Lu Ban sitting in front of him.

By the light of the movie, Bai Qiquan see Lu Ban quietly watching them from a dark corner, like a calm and insightful assassin observing his target.

Lu Ban's gaze alone sent a chill down Bai Qiquan, and he quickly turned his eyes away to continue looking at the screen.

In comparison, the movie clips didn't seem so scary.

After the ten-minute screening ended, the theater was completely silent.

Bai Qiquan saw that the people around him were trembling, their eyes were bloodshot, like corporate slaves who hadn't slept well for a long time, or like security guards on night duty at a crematorium.

He thought for a moment, then pretended to be scared.

He saw Lu Ban stand up, walk up to the group, and glance at them.

"It seems no one is qualified."

He muttered something to himself and then waved his hand.

"Can you still stand up?"

The group of people stood up shakily and walked out of the screening room under Lu Ban's guidance.

There seemed to be no more interviews after them, and the office was empty.

Bai Qiquan pretended to be terrified, trying hard to recall how he reacted when he was frightened by a movie before.

Although he came for an interview, it now seems that staying here might be more terrifying.

The group walked to the stairwell and went downstairs one by one. When they reached Bai Qiquan, Lu Ban suddenly called out to him.

"Please wait a moment."

Bai Qiquan froze instantly, his heart pounding faster than when watching a horror movie.

"I-What's the matter?"

He turned his head and gave a forced smile.

"You weren't scared just now, were you?"

Lu Ban said in a deep voice.

"!"

Bai Qiquan's ahoge (cowlick) stood on end. He was truly terrified. His eyes widened as he stared at Lu Ban, not daring to utter a sound.

Lu Ban approached step by step, and Bai Qiquan grew increasingly uneasy upon hearing his footsteps.

Should I admit it? Or deny it?

What is he going to do?

"I haven't completely deleted all the pornographic videos from my computer's hard drive. If they find out, wouldn't I be socially dead?"

Countless thoughts flashed through Bai Qiquan's mind when he saw Lu Ban come up to him and pat him on the shoulder.

"You passed the interview."

So you passed the interview?

Bai Qiquan and his girlfriend Pang Zhen were having dinner in the school cafeteria.

"Yes, and then he let me stay in the office for an afternoon. I took the high-speed train back this morning, packed my things, and can go there for my internship. I can start working as soon as I get my graduation certificate."

Bai Qiquan rummaged through the rice bowl on his plate and casually remarked.

"So what did you do this afternoon? Did you see his new movie?"

Pang Zhen seemed more interested in Lu Ban's new movie than her boyfriend finding a job.

"How could that be? I just sat at my desk all afternoon. Well, it's actually a bit strange."

Bai Qiquan said as he recalled.

"Even though it was just the two of us in the office, his eyes would always dart to the workstation next to me, as if someone was there. Sometimes Director Lu would also talk to himself as if he were talking to someone, which was quite strange."

"Was this some kind of second-round interview test, like when the boss comes to sweep the floor to test you? What did you say?"

Pang Zhen leaned closer and asked.

"How could that be? He works there himself. He only showed me the contract and some other things that I don't understand."

Bai Qiquan scooped up the last bit of rice with a spoon, put it in his mouth, and chewed while reminiscing.

"What is that?"

"I don't really remember, but there were pictures of wolf packs and some people in armor, shadows and stuff. I don't really know what the significance of those pictures is."

Bai Qiquan put down his plate and spoon.

"What about the salary?"

Pang Zhen asked again.

"The salary is very high! I checked, and they've given me the salary of a seasoned veteran who's been working for several years during my internship."

Bai Qiquan was quite satisfied with his salary. His classmates who graduated in the same year worked hard on film crews and only earned a few thousand yuan a month. He earned over 20,000 yuan right after graduation. Moreover, Lu Ban said that food and accommodation would be provided. It couldn't be better.

If you save money and live frugally, you can afford the down payment for a house in Jiangcheng in just five or six years!

Thinking about it this way, I suddenly felt sad again.

"I'm so envious."

Pang Zhen couldn't help but say.

"Why don't you go for an interview too?"

Bai Qiquan said casually.

"I'm not going. Who wants to work with those weirdos who like to make disgusting movies? Uh, I'm not talking about you."

"No, Director Lu may seem strange, but he's actually a good person. He even messaged me today saying he's found me a dorm room and told me to check it out when I have time."

Bai Qiquan opened WeChat and showed his girlfriend the dormitory photos that Lu Ban had sent him that day.

Pang Zhen took the phone and saw that it was in a rather quiet neighborhood. The house was also fully furnished, with two bedrooms and a living room, and it was very spacious.

However, upon closer inspection of the photo, she felt that something was amiss.

"Look, why is there someone hiding behind the curtains here?"

She pointed to a photo of the living room window, to the curtains that were drawn back together.

Bai Qiquan examined it carefully, turning it over and over, before realizing that there really seemed to be something on it.

It was a human face.