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墨書 Inktalez
The glowing puzzle piece resembled a watching eye, standing out starkly in the darkness.
"This is impossible!" Zhou Huifang's voice trembled with fear. "It's only the twelfth; how could this..."
Suddenly, the lights flickered back on.
I hurried to the desk and picked up the newly appeared puzzle piece.
It no longer glowed, but on its back was a line of text: "Want to know the truth? Come to Old Theater at eight tonight."
"This handwriting..." Zhou Huifang leaned in for a closer look. "It's not Zhou Yu's."
I frowned, pondering. "The fire you mentioned, it happened at Old Theater?"
"Yes," Zhou Huifang nodded. "Since that fire, the theater has been abandoned."
I took out my phone and searched for news about Old Theater.
The headline read: "Fire Last Year Claims One Life and Injures Many; Old Theater Set for Demolition."
"Who was the deceased?" I asked.
Zhou Huifang's expression shifted slightly. "It was... it was the makeup artist Li Mei. She was trapped in the Dressing Room at the time..."
I noticed her right hand unconsciously brushing against her neck as she spoke.
My intuition told me that this detail was significant.
"What was the relationship between Zhou Yu and Li Mei?"
"They..." Zhou Huifang hesitated for a moment. "They were very close. Li Mei was ten years older than Zhou Yu; she was like an older sister to her."
I opened my computer and began searching for information on Li Mei.
The makeup artist had previously worked for several theater troupes, specializing in special effects makeup and mask-making.
"I have something I must tell you," Zhou Huifang suddenly said.
"On the day of the fire, Zhou Yu was supposed to be in the Dressing Room. It was Li Mei who insisted she go to the rehearsal hall..."
At that moment, my phone buzzed with a new message: "Everyone wears a mask; do you really know your clients?"
I looked thoughtfully at Zhou Huifang.
Her makeup was so meticulously applied that it seemed almost unnatural, especially around her neck, which appeared deliberately covered by a high collar as if hiding something.
"Ms. Zhou, can you tell me how you got that scar on your neck?"
Her hand shot up to cover her neck. "This... this is just an accident."
"Was it a burn or a scald?" I pressed on.
Zhou Huifang's expression twisted in an instant. "Who exactly are you?"
Just then, the office door swung open.
Xiao Wang walked in holding a package. "Miss Lin, I just received a delivery."
I took the package and opened it to find an exquisite mask, crafted with remarkable detail.
On the back of the mask was inscribed a small line: "The truth is like this mask; it will always reveal its flaws."
"This is Li Mei's handiwork," Zhou Huifang gasped. "It's her signature mark!"
I handed the mask back to her. "Are you sure Li Mei is dead?"
"I..." Zhou Huifang's hands began to tremble.
Suddenly, the mask slipped from her hand and fell to the ground, shattering into two pieces.
In the crack, a photograph emerged, showing Zhou Yu alongside an unfamiliar woman.
The back of the photo read: "A person can wear many faces, but the truth is only one."
At the moment Zhou Huifang saw the photograph, her face turned pale.
She stood up to leave, but I stopped her.
"Before you go, could you explain why you resemble this 'deceased' Li Mei in the photo?"
"Sit down." I pointed to the chair.
"Since you are unwilling to explain, let me piece together this story."
Zhou Huifang stiffly sat back down in her chair, remaining silent.
I noticed her fingers nervously twisting the silk scarf.
"There are many details that don't add up." I picked up the puzzle on the table.
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