Afterlife Department

Chapter 163 – Reason

Huo Ling's death created waves. However, it was because he's a prince instead of an small artist. After all, he had just debuted so he has no fans yet as an artist. But, he's more well-known as a prince. And, this was the first time they had heard of a prince being an artist. Such a comfortable life of a prince, why mix with the muddy waters of showbiz? Or, was there a conspiracy in the royal family? Is the royal family the same as the imperial family filled with intrigues and hidden daggers?

As for the reactions of the netizens, Gu Xingfeng doesn't care about it. He already has a headache called the royal family. "So?" he said when Su Heng didn't answer.

"That… I don't know." Su Heng finally answered.

"Your hesitation says otherwise." Gu Xingfeng said..

Su Heng bit his lip. "… I feel that it's because of the Film Emperor." He answered. He's referring to Lei Shan.

Gu Xingfeng's brows raised, though he expected this. "How can you say so?" he asked.

"They are too close."

"Wasn't it know that the Lei family is close to the royal family?" he asked when he remembered the gossips of the crowd in the parking lot of the Tianxing Entertainment.

Su Heng shook his head. "I heard, but I don't know much about it." he sighed. What he sees is what he believes.

"Then… tell me about Lei Shan's relationship with Huo Ling." Gu Xingfeng tapped the pencil on the table.

"When Huo Ling was assigned to me, I heard it was the Film Emperor's suggestion." Su Heng said as is brows furrowed. He was puzzled why would he be chosen to take care of the prince.

Gu Xingfeng could guess, though. Su Heng's thoughts can be seen from his expressions. In short, he's transparent. "Then?" he's asking for him to continue.

"That was proven when I heard them talking to each other on the phone." Su Heng said. "And, it's the Film Emperor who's sending messages and calling Huo Ling." He said before he paused. "Is he pursuing Huo Ling?" he asked. He remembered what Gu Xingfeng said earlier about appointment for marriage.

It's what Gu Xingfeng had thought, too. Him saying it earlier wasn't without a reason. He can clearly see Lei Shan's shock, sadness and pain when he arrived. However, there was another to his expression.

A sense of loss. Not of family, but of more intimate. Gu Xingfeng had encountered many kind of people. He can see Huo Ling's importance to Lei Shan. It was of a lover's.

So they are lovers? He thought as he tried to recall more. He felt like there's something else, or that he had missed something… "Who knows?" he just said. "How about the Tianxing Entertainment?" he asked.

Su Heng shook his head. "Like Huo Ling, I am a new agent." He answered. That must be why he was assigned to a small artist.

"Then, that idol drama?" Gu Xingfeng asked again. After Su Heng told him the gossips in the set, he dismissed him. He tapped his pencil on the table before he went to the second interrogation room.

He nodded at the police officer guarding the door before he went inside. Only to hear Lei Shan speak.

"Xiao Ling isn't my lover, but he's closer to that." Lei Shan said. "He is my confidant." He said.

"What kind of confidant?" Jiang Xinduo asked.

Yi Bing, who was silently listening on the side together with Huo Ling, perked his ears up. They're not lovers? What kind of confidant could they be to each other? He glanced at Huo Ling who was just staring at Lei Shan.

"That kind were we see in each other the person our soul is seeking for, yet the other isn't them…" Lei Shan said as he lowered his gaze. "But, we could feel they're close… we're spiritually dependent to each other." He explained.

As expected, Jiang Xinduo and Gu Xingfeng didn't understand Lei Shan's answer and just gave him a puzzled look, thinking Lei Shan was bluffing them. However, Yi Bing… he slowly turned to Huo Ling, only to see Huo Ling's dejected look.

"Ge…" Huo Ling sighed in pity as he hugged his knees and buried his head in it.

The Lei family is business partners with the Huo family – his grandfather's family, and also with the Jackson family – his father's family. It's such a coincidence his father's surname is the same as the royal family.

The Lei and the Huo families are big families, and his father's family business is no joke either in America. With just the Huo family, it is enough for people to cry. The Jackson family isn't any simple either, since there's a rumor they are involved in underworld. It must be one reason the royal family permitted Marie's marriage with Gerald Jackson.

Because their families are business partners, Marie – her Chinese given name is Meiying, became close to Lei Shan's mother and later on became best friends. Naturally, their children also became friends. Since Huo Ling is younger than Lei Shan, and both were only child, they acted as siblings. Lei Shan is very protective of Huo Ling. Kale, who's also an only child, is younger than Lei Shan but older than Huo Ling, wanted to bond with them, too, but he always has classes from the royal family. Since Huo Ling wasn't restricted by the royal family because he only has one-fourth of royal blood, he grew up in China.

Having grown up together made Lei Shan and Huo Ling closer. When they became young adults, naturally, they have felt romance. However, even if they have seen the shadow of their 'lover' on each other, but a shadow is just a shadow. Added to the fact they don't understand what that meant… they didn't dare enter a romantic relationship. And, they treated each other as siblings.

With him gone now, Lei Shan cannot meet that person he is looking for. But, Huo Ling realized something from his death. It's when he died he finally felt that person's presence… it's unexpectedly the grim reaper named Yi Bing whom he met the moment he opened his eyes when he died.

How can this be? He thought as he peeked at Yi Bing. They have to die in order to see the person their soul is seeking for? Yet, for some reason, he felt this is rational since the person they are looking for isn't a person, but a grim reaper. Should I tell Shan-ge? He thought as he looked at Lei Shan while contemplating with his decision.

This was misunderstood by Yi Bing who was secretly observing Huo Ling. "…" did I mistake Lei Shan's answer? He thought as he glanced at Lei Shan. From Lei Shan's words, it seemed like, Huo Ling is looking for him?

"What does that mean… ehem." Jiang Xinduo coughed as he decided to drop the topic. Lei Shan's answer is too difficult to understand. He decided to just label Lei Shan and Huo Ling's relationship as 'confidants', dropping the 'spiritual'.

When he looked at Gu Xingfeng and saw him nodded his head, he resumed interrogating Lei Shan while Gu Xingfeng sat on the back, just beside where Yi Bing and Huo Ling sitting.

"The victim's reason of entering the entertainment world… was it you?" Jiang Xinduo asked.

This is an important question. Huo Ling died in the Tianxing Entertainment's parking lot. With his identity as a prince, he will naturally receive deferential treatment from the people around him. For example, allocating him with best resources. Thus, he will invoke jealousy and envy. And these two are good reasons to kill someone.

The entertainment world is a dog eat dog world. Those who are powerful will receive the best, and those who are poor and weak got the short end of the stick. That's why many artists do the unspoken rule just to make their road to the top smoother than the others.

And, if it's Lei Shan who thrown Huo Ling to the pack of wolves in this treacherous forest called showbiz…

Lei Shan nodded before he shook his head. "No." he answered. "It wasn't because of me why he entered the showbiz. However – " he said. " – I am indeed the one who made him enter this world." He sighed in regret. He indirectly killed Huo Ling.

"Ge…" Huo Ling muttered when he saw the guilt in Lei Shan's face.

"Why?" Jiang Xinduo asked. "Why would he want to be an artist?" this is the most important question.

You're already a prince. Your life is definitely wealthy. Why would you choose to be a commoner who lives in a competitive world of vanity and glamor?

"Why he…" Lei Shan said before he fell silent.

"Can't say?" Gu Xingfeng spoke. Lei Shan didn't answer. "Then, let me guess?" Gu Xingfeng asked. When Lei Shan didn't answer, he opened his mouth to speak. However, before he could, there was a knock on the door.

"Chief." The police officer guarding the door spoke. "The victim's mother and the suspect's mother have arrived." He said.