T/N: I hate horror, but I don’t particularly find this scary or thrilling. Or maybe I’m just stressed trying to make it scary that the content didn’t bother me. Anyway, I will keep the warning just in case.
When Feng Tianming first listened to Jiang Tingyuan’s recommendation, he was quite serious. After all, as a director daring enough to choose a horror movie despite the unknown risks, he was not only a true warrior but also a gem within the industry. Learning more about it wouldn’t hurt.
However, as he continued listening, Feng Tianming felt something was off, though he couldn’t pinpoint what exactly. His expression shifted from initial enthusiasm to utter confusion, and by the time Jiang Tingyuan finished his final sentence, a massive question mark had burst through Feng Tianming’s forehead.
Feng Tianming: “???”
Isn’t he just a director? But after hearing you talk, why does it feel so off? It’s almost like you’re introducing your boyfriend? Telling me to appreciate his work only and have no other thoughts? Is this guy your boyfriend? Your words are so bizarre!
Jiang Tingyuan clearly didn’t catch on to Feng Tianming’s confusion. After finishing his sentence, he nodded slightly at Feng Tianming, then turned and pulled Ye Zhou back into the line.
Feng Tianming’s mind swirled with unanswered questions, yet he couldn’t muster the courage to voice any. Just as he gathered the nerve to inquire further, the speakers announced the entrance for the ‘Thriller Circus.’
Conveniently, the ticket queue had reached them. Feng Tianming begrudgingly swallowed his doubts, obediently retrieved his ticket from the machine, and prepared to queue for entry.
Regardless of the movie everyone else came for, he was here specifically for the ‘Thriller Circus.’ Why should he care about the others’ choices?
Xiao Ming’s grandfather lived to be one hundred and eight because he minded his own business.
With this thought, Feng Tianming suppressed his curiosity and bought popcorn and drinks at the counter. When he was ready, he carried his popcorn, got his ticket checked, and found his way to the theater and his seat. Just as he set the popcorn down, he saw two familiar figures approaching.
Feng Tianming squinted and, well, wasn’t this a coincidence? These were the same two guys he met at the cinema entrance earlier, one of whom was a die-hard fan of the director!
Jiang “Director Ye’s Die-Hard Fan” Tingyuan also noticed Feng Tianming. Scanning Feng Tianming’s seat and glancing at his own ticket, he raised an eyebrow meaningfully.
Meanwhile, Ye Zhou was engrossed in eating popcorn—this cinema’s popcorn tasted good. It was perfectly crispy and sweet, with a delightful milky aroma bursting on the tongue, blending harmoniously with the caramel sweetness. It was simply too delicious.
Cradling the popcorn bucket in one hand, his other hand entwined with Mr. Jiang’s, he struggled to feed himself, all his attention was on the bucket of popcorn while being led by Jiang Tingyuan.
Once they reached their seats, a cheerful male voice greeted them from nearby:
“Hey, what a coincidence! We’re in the same theater and seated next to each other!”
Although their earlier exchange left him bewildered, Feng Tianming, a horror movie enthusiast, remained friendly towards fellow enthusiasts and greeted them cheerfully.
Ye Zhou raised his head and upon seeing Feng Tianming, a mouthful of popcorn got stuck in his throat, unable to spit it out or swallow. His naturally fair complexion flushed crimson, uncertain whether from choking or remembering what Mr. Jiang had said to the young man earlier.
Noticing Ye Zhou’s reaction, Jiang Tingyuan swiftly opened a bottle of water, handing it to him while gently patting his back to help him catch his breath.
After finally recovering, the redness on Ye Zhou’s face intensified instead of subsiding after swallowing the popcorn.
Feng Tianming noticed Ye Zhou’s complexion and quickly asked, “Are you okay? Do you need to step outside for some air?”
“I’m fine, I’m fine,” Ye Zhou replied while frantically gesturing to Mr. Jiang, lightly nudging his arm on his back.
Receiving the silent plea, a mischievous glint flashed across Jiang Tingyuan’s narrowed eyes. He smoothly took over the conversation, addressing Feng Tianming with a calm tone, “The air conditioning in the cinema isn’t working properly, it’s quite hot.”
As if mocking him, a cinema staff in uniform entered just then and called out from the stairs, “Is the temperature okay? If anyone feels uncomfortable during the screening, please find me at the door.”
Feng Tianming glanced at Jiang Tingyuan, his expression slightly bewildered, “Ah, this…”
Without missing a beat, Jiang Tingyuan turned to the cinema staff member and said, “The air conditioning isn’t cooling well.”
The staff member paused briefly, quickly recovering with an apologetic smile, “Understood, sir. I’ll go report this to our team right away.”
Soon after she left, as the movie’s opening credits appeared, the cinema’s lights gradually dimmed.
Ye Zhou’s heart, previously lodged in his throat, finally settled with the encroaching darkness. Before he could catch his breath, the hand resting on the armrest was enveloped by a slightly cool, larger hand.
Without the scrutiny of onlookers this time, Ye Zhou felt less ill at ease, playfully scratching Jiang Tingyuan’s palm in retaliation, eliciting muffled laughter that Jiang Tingyuan evidently struggled to suppress.
Ye Zhou’s heart nearly exploded at Jiang Tingyuan’s reaction. This Mr. Jiang, who used to be so aloof, unwilling to even spare him a glance, maintained the same expression year-round. But ever since they confirmed their relationship… it was as if he had become a different person!
Damn it, Mr. Jiang, how could you be so unexpected? You’re in a relationship, fine, but why does being in a relationship shatter your persona so completely?
He never anticipated that this was the real Mr. Jiang!!
Faced with this side of Mr. Jiang, Ye Zhou couldn’t muster any resistance, left with no choice but to raise his hand and surrender.
Just as Ye Zhou was about to erupt in embarrassment, the opening credits concluded, and a deafening sound suddenly echoed through the quiet cinema.
Immediately after, the silhouette of a massive beast appeared at the center of the screen, with the words “Thriller Circus” scrawled in crooked red lettering beside it.
Ye Zhou never downplayed the horrific and gory nature of this film, even emphasizing this aspect repeatedly in promotional materials. Since the implementation of the rating system, audiences had to verify their identity information before purchasing tickets and were informed by staff of viewing precautions.
There were two rounds of advisories – the first during ticket purchase, and the second upon entry.
With such stringent screening, it essentially guaranteed that ninety percent of those entering the cinema could accept the film’s horror level. As for the remaining ten percent who stumbled in carelessly or with morbid curiosity…
They could only pray for their own good luck.
Initially, Feng Tianming didn’t have high expectations for this film. However, the moment the opening credits rolled, his eyes were instantly captivated.
True horror and terror stem not from the known, but the unknown. Even from this seemingly simple opening sequence, one could discern the director’s mastery in deploying horror elements with great skill.
“Looks like he really does have some skills,” Feng Tianming muttered silently, popping a handful of popcorn into his mouth. “If they can maintain this level of quality from the opening, then the film’s overall quality will be impressive.”
“Of course, some editing is inevitable. As long as it doesn’t disrupt the narrative flow, a few cuts here and there are acceptable.”
As Feng Tianming spoke, he shoved another handful of popcorn into his mouth. But this time, before he could swallow, the visuals on screen left him stunned.
Intense panting and frantic footsteps blended together, growing louder as if coming from nearby.
On the dark screen, several people were desperately running as if something was chasing them. When the last person ran out of sight, the camera didn’t follow but instead panned slowly in the opposite direction.
The audience instinctively held their breath, pulled along with the camera’s movements into the darkness.
They wanted to know what was in there, or… what was chasing the people, making them so panic-stricken that they couldn’t even fight back, only run.
But they were left disappointed. There was only endless darkness, punctuated by the echoing thuds of something heavy hitting the ground. As the dull thuds grew closer and the audience’s heartbeat rose to their throats, the screen went black again.
A few seconds later, the camera started shaking, showing what looked like the area outside a circus tent. Inside a large iron cage, which should have contained animals, there was a woman.
Crimson blood coated the area around the cage – some darkened from drying, others seemingly fresh, as if still retaining its owner’s body heat.
The cage door hung wide open, almost as if making sure the woman couldn’t miss it.
The woman inside the cage trembled as she opened her eyes. As soon as she took in her surroundings, she instinctively tried to scream. After a few cries, her voice abruptly cut off as if choked. Her whole body shook violently, as if she had seen something frightening.
Feng Tianming’s hand, holding the popcorn bucket, froze. He didn’t care about eating anymore; his entire focus was on the movie, desperate to know what was happening.
Not far from the woman, scrawled haphazardly in blood on the tent were two words: “Run quickly.”
Run? Why run, where to run? What had happened around them, whose blood was that—animal’s or… human’s?
The woman sat dazed in the cage, her legs too weak to stand.
At that moment, hurried footsteps approached, and several figures rushed toward the woman’s cage. She clearly saw they were human.
“Where are you going? Help me! Save me!”
The woman hysterically screamed for help, but received only the same two words she had seen scrawled on the wall before, shouted hoarsely, “Run quickly!”
In the end, it was too late.
The woman watched the retreating figures grow distant, then heard a disturbance behind her. As she turned to look, her expression twisted in sheer terror at whatever she witnessed.
When she came to from her faint, the woman found herself standing on a high platform about ten meters above the ground, with several scorching fire rings nearby.
Amidst cheers from below, she was unexpectedly whipped from behind, forcing her to instinctively leap towards the nearest ring of fire.
The sickening sizzle of flesh meeting flames echoed as her skin made contact. Overwhelmed by agony, she tumbled headfirst from the towering height.
Her head struck the ground first, neck grotesquely twisted, eyes frozen wide open.
The woman’s death was met with raucous cheers and applause from the audience.
Feng Tianming locked eyes with the woman on screen, a chill running down his spine as he jumped, spilling soda down his pants from gripping the cup too tightly.
“This…this actually passed censorship?”
I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. Please consider supporting the author directly.
You can also follow me on Ko-fi to get the latest updates on my translation progress and new projects. I appreciate your love and feedback.
