Nightmare Apostle

Chapter 138: Chapter 131: Smile

"Second floor!"

A group of people quickly ran back, rushed into the classroom, and saw Luo Zhaoqing lying on the ground, clutching his right leg, his face twisted in pain. Director Ding was scolding Pei Qiuyu, and nearby, desks and chairs were overturned on the floor.

"What happened?" Song Yan asked.

"Just now, Director Ding wanted to add a scene. The teacher was standing on stacked desks and chairs to clean the dust off the top of the blackboard, with Pei Qiuyu holding them steady. Then somehow, the person suddenly fell down," Yu Mi explained softly.

Song Yan stepped forward to check on Luo Zhaoqing’s injuries. After a long moment, he let out a sigh of relief, "The bone isn’t injured, but walking might be difficult for some time."

After hearing that Luo Zhaoqing was not seriously hurt, Yang Xiao noticed Principal Wu frowning slightly. He stepped forward and offered a feigned comforting word, "It’s good that no one is hurt, all is well. Teacher Meng, go get some herbal medicine for bruises from the infirmary."

At this, the middle-aged male teacher left, and after Principal Wu gave some comforting words, he turned to Director Ding with a fabricated depth, "You see, Director Ding, the desks and chairs here are too old. Why don’t we change locations for filming? Let’s rent a house outside, have it well arranged, and I’ll handle the location."

Director Ding outright refused, "Principal Wu, our scene is set in a school environment. No arrangement could substitute the authenticity of filming on location. Besides, if these desks and chairs are indeed too old, please trouble yourself to find some students to lend us some new ones."

"Most of this was arranged by Ms. Shengnan, the investor. I’m just a runner doing the legwork. How about... I give Ms. Shengnan a call, and you talk to her?" As he spoke, Director Ding took out a cell phone—still the old-fashioned kind with buttons—and was about to dial.

Seeing this, Principal Wu quickly softened his approach, smiling and laughing obsequiously, "No need to trouble yourself, I’ll handle this. Please, hurry with your work as we close at 6 p.m."

After Principal Wu finished speaking, he left with another female teacher, mentioning that Teacher Meng would later bring the herbal medicine for treating bruises.

Once Principal Wu was gone, Director Ding snorted coldly, a look of disdain on his face.

Yang Xiao realized that Director Ding’s reliance was on this Ms. Shengnan. As soon as her name came up, Principal Wu would back down. It seemed that either Ms. Shengnan held a position of great power, or... or Principal Wu was in her grasp.

But for now, Yang Xiao was more inclined to think the latter.

This mysterious Ms. Shengnan, being the investor behind the scene, held Principal Wu tightly in her grip. It was unclear what sort of person she was behind the scenes.

"Luo Zhaoqing’s worried voice broke the silence, "Director Ding, my leg is injured, I might not be able to film."

"Even if you can’t film, you must still stay with the crew. You all signed an agreement before coming," Director Ding glared at him and retorted irritably.

Filming usually strives for an auspicious start, and now, someone had been hurt during a rehearsal. This was not a good omen; a larger film crew would have called a halt to production and sought someone to conduct a ritual to avert disaster. ƒгeewёbnovel.com

Before long, the male teacher returned with a white-haired old man, presumably the school doctor, who after a brief examination of the injury, applied the herbal medicine and wrapped it with gauze, advising Luo Zhaoqing not to engage in vigorous activities.

After these matters were taken care of, the sun was already slanting westward, and the golden sunset light streamed into the classroom, creating a gorgeously atmospheric mood.

"This backdrop is good, everyone take your places. Female students, girls, sit back down!"

Director Ding’s eyes lit up, then he called over Yang Xiao and two others for direct instruction, "This scene is all about a reveal. The actors’ internal grasp of the characters, particularly the contemplation of their personalities, and the breadth of the actors’ range pose a tremendous challenge. Coming up, I need you to quickly master the portrayal of both positive and negative aspects of a character."

"You three will take turns going on stage. First, complete a teaching scene, answering the students’ questions, then step down from the podium. While the students are looking down at their books, move to the back of the classroom, behind these female students, then reveal your true self."

"You are a pervert, inexplicably attracted to these female students, but your subconscious tells you that you are a teacher, a gardener nurturing flowers, and you must resist your filthy desires."

"You struggle, are conflicted, in agony, but eventually, the boundaries in your mind are breached, evil thoughts consume the last pure land in your heart, and you turn into a demon, waiting for school to end, for night to fall because you know, then these children will be walking home alone—and that will be your best opportunity, the night becomes your hunting ground."

Director Ding’s enthusiasm was palpable, leaving Yang Xiao and the others stunned by his vivid description. Unfortunately for Lu Ji, he was the one Director Ding selected to go first.

For the first half, Lu Ji did okay, managing to portray the image of a normal teacher. He put down the book in his hand, stepped down from the lectern, and walked up behind the female students. But when it came to playing the pervert later on, it was unbearable to watch. He licked his lips, his eyes firmly fixed on the silhouette of the female students. Then with a strange smile on his face, he walked up and reached out trying to grab Xiang Xiaolin’s clothes.

"Stop!" Director Ding came over and scolded him fiercely, "What are you doing, Lu Ji? I told you to wait until after school, when night falls, to make your move. Who does that in broad daylight in the classroom, and in front of so many students? I asked you to play a pervert, not an idiot!"

Already annoyed, Lu Ji retorted without good grace, "Director, I’ve never played a pervert before, how would I know how a pervert thinks?"

"Chu Xi, show him how it’s done!"

Having seen Chu Xi’s acting before, Director Ding still had some confidence in him, but he knew that such a rapid switch of character traits was highly demanding on an actor’s skills.

Yang Xiao had no trouble completing the first half of the scene, discussing problems at the lectern and interacting with the students. Smiling, the golden sunset bathed his delicate face in light, a touch shy, slightly bashful.

Coming from the big city and stepping into rural life for the first time, he was captivated by the simple local customs and moved by the children’s eager gazes seeking knowledge. In this moment, Yang Xiao was an angel on earth, hoping to use his own power to change these children’s lives, to let them glimpse the outside world and see broader, better vistas.

Upon a cue from Director Ding, Yang Xiao announced there were 10 minutes left until the end of school, instructing everyone to turn to page 27 and solve one last problem.

As he started to stroll down from the lectern, the familiar smile still on his face, as if ready to enlighten and solve doubts for his students at any moment.

The setting sun dipped, and the golden light split the classroom in two; the front was bathed in light, while the back half, with curtains drawn, was shrouded in a hazy darkness. A clear line of demarcation formed between light and shadow.

All the students were engrossed in solving problems, none noticing that their beloved teacher had just stopped right at that dividing line.

After a moment, Yang Xiao lifted his left foot and stepped into the darkness. It was then, as light and shadow shifted, brightness faded into gloom, that the smile on Yang Xiao’s face grew more and more grotesque, his mouth stretching uncontrollably into a grin as he turned around, his originally refined features warping in the darkness.

His gaze lingered on the female students’ bare arms, their slender, pale necks, the youthful bodies twisting into tempting curves.

Twisted desires were brewing; scraps of conscience were being torn apart bit by bit. His fingers clutched the book tighter, even leaving scratch marks on the pages.

He was restraining himself, trying hard to hold back, but it was all destined to be in vain.

With oppressive breathing and chilling looks, he hid in the darkness, where only the gloom provided him a sense of security. He could hardly wait; veins bulging, his blood boiling throughout his body.

This was not just twisted desire; it was more like an unquenchable urge to destroy, to tear apart all the beauty he was destined not to possess. The flowers he had nurtured himself had to be ended by his own hands!

Closing his eyes, he imagined their painful struggles, their despairing gazes, their heart-wrenching screams. Yang Xiao’s chest heaved violently, the sensation of an unparalleled satisfaction flooding through him.

Why had he come here?

Was it to teach and educate?

No, no, his targets were these students, these children in the countryside, far from their parents, whose homes had only elderly grandparents too weak to care, those barely considered by anyone else.

To say he was bashful rather masked the fact that he was weak, cowardly; instead of saying he had delicate feelings, it would be more accurate to describe him as selfish and devious. His high IQ was undeniable, but his soul had been riddled with scars for a long time. He was like a rag doll, living behind a mask for years, concealing a ragged, unsightly body and an even filthier soul within.

And soon, in just 10 minutes! He only had to wait 10 minutes more before he could tear off the mask, shed all pretense, and declare his return to the world with the most brutish manner possible, venting his anger, his terror!

From the moment he stepped foot into the dark, the classroom fell silent. Including Director Ding, everyone was overcome by Yang Xiao’s performance. It didn’t seem like acting at all. How could a student fresh out of film school delve so deeply into a character? It all felt too natural, too fluid; Yang Xiao seemed to be playing himself.

A few female students, not understanding, felt an eerie chill behind them.

In the darkness, Yang Xiao slowly lifted his head, looking at the silhouettes of the female students in the sunset, a smile creeping across his face.