"Cut!"
The director said and stood up pushing the headphones back and hanging them around his neck.
"I proudly announce now that it's a wrap. Congratulations everyone. Thank you for your hard work!" The director said and clapped.
Cheers and claps could be heard from everyone. But the main actor excused himself and left without a word.
On seeing that the main actor had left, the co-actor stood up and clapped getting everyone's attention.
"Attention everyone, please. I have a very important announcement to make. It is related to our main actor, Wu Xie. So I had to wait till he left." He said and everyone gathered around him and took a seat.
"Cheng Yi, what's the matter? What happened to Wu Xie?" The director asked and Cheng Yi took a deep breath before saying....
"Wu Xie he, some of his family members were in an accident this morning, badly injured and taken into ICU and... somebody even died." Cheng Yi words were like a cold slap in everyone's face.
Silence fell in the room and nobody uttered a word. All were speechless and shocked. The director walked up to Cheng Yi and asked.
"Cheng Yi, if I find out that this is a false news, I will drop you from the series and get another actor in your place. You get it?" He warned and Cheng Yi clicked his tongue.
"Why would I lie about it? He threatened me not to tell this to anyone. I happened to over hear him in the washroom this morning and he saw me unfortunately. That is why I held myself back till now. Now that he's left, if I tell you all, and you tell him, I don't mind, because now it's all over the news. See." Cheng Yi said and passed his phone to the director.
Everybody quickly checked their phones and gasps could be heard. Soon the place was flooded with reporters and press asking for Wu Xie. But Wu Xie was very sharp and he knew if he left a second late, he would be trapped.
"I didn't lie to anyone." Cheng Yi said and the director patted his shoulder.
"Director, director," a young girl in her early 20s came running.
"Mengmeng, why are you running? How many times do I have to tell you people not to run on the set." The director scolded the girl, but she waved her hand and said,
"Director, police are here asking for Wu Xie, and the reporters are out too. There's a big crowd out. It's being said that Wu Xie he..." and Mengmeng stopped.
"Director, there's a news update and it says Wu Xie might be involved in a murder and currently is a suspect." Said one of the staff and everyone went still again with wide eyes.
"What do we do, Director?" Cheng Yi and Mengmeng both asked at the same time.
The director scratched his forehead wondering what exactly was happening. He opened his mouth to say something but gulped back the words when he saw the Cheif of Violent Crimes Department, Zhang Qiling stand in front of him.
"Director Ding, long time no see. How are you? And where is your actor?" Zhang Qiling asked but he seemed a bit confused, so he turned to his assistant, Fatty.
"Fatty, what's that guy's name again?" And Fatty replied, "Wu Xie, his name is Wu Xie, Xiao Ge." And as if struck with a 1000 bolt electricity, Zhang Qiling went into shock.
He held his head and started groaning. Fatty saw this and immediately held Xiao Ge's hand.
"Xiao Ge, Xiao Ge, what happened? Somebody get some water please. I have told you to eat food on time. Now see, you're low on glucose again." Fatty faked his words and laugh.
Fatty had been with Xiao Ge ever since he had remembered his past and right now he knew exactly what was happening. It wasn't a normal headache or low glucose. It was Xiao Ge's memories coming back one by one. And everytime any memory was unlocked, they would experience a terrible headache like feeling. But they would be all okay in an instant.
Fatty passed the water to Xiao Ge and then looked at Director Ding who looked worried.
"Director Ding, where is Wu Xie?" He asked and Cheng Yi raised his hand.
"Hi, my name is Cheng Yi and this morning, I heard Wu Xie speak to someone on call. It seemed like someone on call said that his family members were in an accident badly injured and one even died. He threatened me not to tell anyone. And as soon as the director yelled 'cut' for the last scene, he quietly left." And Fatty turned to the other officers.
"No need to talk. We know what to do. We will go the hospital. And some of us will check the footage for car number. Fatty, you take Boss back to the station. We will keep you updated on anything we find." Said one of the officers and all left except for one who was driving Fatty and Xiao Ge's car.
Once in car, Zhang Qiling looked at Fatty and said, "Fatty, I remember him. I remember Wu Xie, he was and is my only connection to this world, my soulmate, my love." Amd Fatty smiled back.
"And the soul of our group, the Iron Triangle." Zhang Qiling nodded.
Zhang Qiling rolled the window down and let the air hit his face. He closed his eyes, threw his head back on the seat and said,
"Wu Xie, wait for me!"
Wu Xie's POV:
I was already at the shoot when I got my cousin Xie Yu Chen's call. My parents were in an accident. And along with them was my uncle Wu San Xing. I was more close with him than my parents. I couldn't think of anything. Someone had died as well.
Unfortunately, Cheng Yi had heard me speaking on call in the washroom. Cheng Yi had a crush on a girl whom I knew as well. She was my classmate in school and Cheng Yi was a year behind us. I threatened him with her name.
As soon as the director announced that it was a wrap, I excused myself and left. I knew the paparazzi and the media would start flooding at my set as soon they get the wind of it.
Me graduating from my Theatre and Film major had been the talk of the town for weeks. Not to mention, the accident involved the Legendary Third Son of Master Wu- A legend in the history of Finding Ancient Artifacts and it's Restoration. Both Father and Son were named Living Legends. Therefore, I left as soon as I could.
Instead of taking my own Maserati or the company car, I called for taxi and left in it. I told Xie Yu Chen to meet me at the back of the hospital gate, from where we could go inside safely without attracting any attention.
As soon as I reached, as decided I founded Xie Yu Chen waiting for me. I got down and the first thing he did was hug me.
"Are you okay?" He asked and I nodded, hugging him back.
"Come, they're waiting for you." He said and I left without any question.
"Wu Xie, Uncle Aunty are badly injured. Wu San Xing managed to jump out, but he was still hurt. The car was on his leg and so he couldn't move." Xie Yu Chen said while walking.
"Xiao Hua, it's too bad, isn't it?" I asked him and he stopped walking.
He looked at me and nodded. I understood. I made up my mind and gathered all the courage I had and started walking again. He stopped me, holding my hand.
"Wu Xie, I'm here with you. Okay?" He asked and I gave him a smile.
************
Meanwhile...
Xiao Ge and Fatty went back to the station and in Xiao Ge's office. Fatty handed him a glass of water and then asked,
"Xiao Ge, do you remember me then??" And Xiao Ge nodded. "Yes, I do remember you now, Fatty." And the mentioned was happy.
Fatty's phone rang. It was one of his colleagues. He received the call in a click.
"Tell me, what happened?" Fatty asked.
"I asked around about the situation. Seems like the one dead is related to the Wu Family but not a family. Wu San Xing and Wu Xie's parents are heavily injured. Xie Yu Chen and his Xie Lian are here. But I haven't seen Wu Xie yet." The person explained.
"But it still doesn't clear Wu Xie of being a murder suspect." Fatty replied and heard a long sigh.
"Fatty, whoever has started this rumor or whatever nonsense that Wu Xie is the suspect, should really be buried alive. Why in the world would Wu Xie try to murder his own parents? Not to mention, the third son of Old Wu is the closest and almost unseparable part of Wu Xie. He will let his parents die, but save his uncle, that's the kind of relation they have. Then did he try to kill his most precious uncle as well?? It's so confusing honestly." The man replied and Fatty had his phone on speaker so Zhang Qiling could listen.
"Look out for Wu Xie and once he's there-" But Zhang Qiling was cut in between by the commotion.
"What's wrong?" Zhang Qiling asked the man who took a long breath before he replied...
"Wu Xie has arrived!"
"Wu Xie has arrived."
Those 4 words were enough to make Zhang Qiling jumped out of his seat and run out of the office. Fatty ran after him as well.
"Xiao Ge, Xiao Ge, stop!!" Fatty yelled and stopped Qiling holding his hand.
Qiling turned around and looked at him. 'You dare stop me? It better be a good reason.' Qiling's eyes screamed anger.
Fatty took a breath and said, "Xiao Ge, Wu Xie is in the hospital now. And guess what, the commotion we heard was the press and the media people. So there's no way he can go out now."
Fatty felt relief after explaining Qiling this. 'Please don't kill me for stopping you.' He mentally begged.
"Okay, then's let's go." And Zhang got in the passenger seat while Fatty was the driver. 'Good for you, Si Fatty.'
The drive to the hospital was a silent one. But even Fatty knew that a little bit of talking was better than a silent treatment.
Zhang Qiling was a man of very few words. 99% of the times, he would just nod or hum or at time only blink. He never spoke much. It was only the 1% which was all related to Wu Xie that he spoke a full sentence.
But the understanding between Fatty and Zhang Qiling was better than everyone and second to only Wu Xie.. They were a part of the Iron Triangle after all. They were brothers.
It was after 30 minutes of driving, that they reached the hospital. As police, they had the sirens on and so many people immediately ran out of their way. Of course they weren't alone. On hearing the siren, the other detectives who were in place quickly went out and stood in line to greet their department head.
Everybody in the town knew how cold and ruthless the Department Head was. And he was rarely seen, as his subordinates made sure to solve the case before it reached to him. Fatty was the only bridge between Zhang Qiling and the rest department.
"Xiao Chen, make sure no media or press people or anyone suspicious enters the hospital. If anyone does or is caught, he/she is to be put in jail and interrogated as a suspect in the case." Fatty told one of the men who was leading the team in investigation.
As soon as the people heard him utter these words, all scattered around like ants. Fatty and Zhang Qiling finally went inside and they found out the room numbers where Wu Xie's parents and Wu San Xing were.
Upon reaching they saw another familiar face, who upon seeing them frowned thinking they were from media as well. Xiao Hua or Xie Yu Chen. But when Fatty introduced themselves and showed their badge, he bowed a little and asked them if anything was found.
While Fatty did all the Q&A with Xiao Hua, Zhang Qiling's eyes searched for one person in particular. And soon that person stepped out of the room.
"Xiao Hua, what's happening?" Wu Xie asked and having heard the voice, both Qiling and Fatty looked at the source of voice with love and longing for their best friend, their brother, Qiling's lover and an angle of their triangle.
"Wu Xie," Zhang Qiling called Wu Xie's name.
Upon hearing his name, Wu Xie felt nostalgic and warmth spread in heart. His heart hurt in pain and tears welled up in his eyes. The voice and the one that called him both felt very familiar yet stranger. Xiao Hua noticing this change quickly went to his cousin's side.
Wu Xie, nor Zhang Qiling, neither left each other's eyes first.
"Wu Xie," Zhang Qiling called again, "We're from the Department of Violent Crimes. You are our primary suspect and you will have to go with us for interrogation. You can get yourself a lawyer if you want one before we talk." And he walked away.
But something stopped him in his tracks. More specifically, someone stopped him. He turned around at the speed of lighting and looked at the person who called him. It was Wu Xie. And like always he called him-
"Xiao Ge?"
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