Chapter 77: Plot Progressing
The premiere performance of Voice of the Dead drew significant attention from several key members of the production team.
When Lu Xu woke up, he saw Shao Yao flooding the group chat with various memes of dancing and bouncing characters.
Lu Xu: “…”
It felt like witnessing someone transition from being introverted to extroverted in real-time.
However, according to Shao Yao himself, he was only this lively in Voice of the Dead group chat.
Director Xu Yan seemed rather tense, while scriptwriter Zhao Jincheng remained calm. As Zhao Jincheng put it, the show had already aired, and the audience had already seen it—what was the point of being nervous? They couldn’t change the numbers anyway.
“It won’t do badly. Don’t worry.”
Lu Xu himself had a considerable following. The first two episodes of Voice of the Dead were tightly paced, with suspense perfectly set up. Xu Yan had put meticulous effort into the editing, eliminating any elements that might disrupt the show’s “flow.”
In Zhao Jincheng’s opinion, Voice of the Dead was not going to flop.
Even if it didn’t become a breakout hit, it would at least garner a steady base of viewers.
The premiere data wouldn’t be available for another half an hour, so Zhao Jincheng decided to check out the audience reviews of Voice of the Dead instead.
As the screenwriter, he cared more about the script’s reputation.
[Watching Voice of the Dead late at night is honestly a bit scary… My mom came out to use the bathroom, and it startled me so badly that I froze and couldn’t move.]
[Jiang Lin concluded that it was a single person who committed the crime, but the Criminal Investigation Team gave a different answer. I’m really curious—how exactly did the killer pull it off?]
[Curiosity about the method of the crime +1. Why can’t Voice of the Dead air 10 episodes a day?]
[This kind of detective drama is perfect for binge-watching, okay? Plus, it has supernatural and horror elements—it’s amazing.]
Zhao Jincheng scrolled through the discussions and found that the majority of viewers were focused on the plot. Even when the audience mentioned Shao Yao and Lu Xu’s performances in the show, it was always tied to the storyline. The main focus remained on Jiang Lin and Su Yang’s roles in solving the case.
Zhao Jincheng quietly let out a sigh of relief.
Since Voice of the Dead had only aired two episodes, the fact that the audience was eager to follow the plot was a positive sign.
He picked up a pen and wrote down the score 9,000 on a piece of paper.
Even if it didn’t surpass 10,000, with Lu Xu’s current influence, breaking 9,000 shouldn’t be difficult.
On several rating platforms, Voice of the Dead had received a rating of 9.5, which was comparable to the opening score of The Path of Bones.
[The numbers are out!]
Xu Yan posted in the group chat. Zhao Jincheng immediately searched for the results, but before he could find them, Xu Yan followed up with a long string of ellipses: “……”
Zhao Jincheng: “?”
His internet connection was acting up, so he didn’t get the update immediately.
“……” What did that even mean? Was it good or bad?
[It’s much better than I expected]
Zhao Jincheng: “……”
So what was the point of those ellipses?
Just then, his internet finally stabilized. The moment the page refreshed, Zhao Jincheng saw that Voice of the Dead was currently ranked first on the trending list.
It was also the only show that day to surpass 10,000 in popularity score.
[So strong] Zhao Jincheng messaged Xu Yan. [I mean Lu Xu, not you.]
Xu Yan: “…I’m the director, thank you.”
The initial popularity score of a show heavily depended on the actors, with quality becoming the deciding factor afterward. Of course, some poorly produced shows were so bad they turned viewers away within the first two episodes, leaving no room for future expectations.
Zhao Jincheng was certain that if Voice of the Dead had cast different leads, breaking the 10,000 threshold would have been nearly impossible.
…
When Voice of the Dead premiered with a popularity score of over 11,000, many within the industry fell silent.
Although they were reluctant to admit it, at the moment they saw the show’s popularity score, there was an undeniable sense that Lu Xu had “arrived.”
He now possessed the star power of a leading actor.
Especially considering that Voice of the Dead did not boast an exceptional cast nor was its genre currently trending. Whether competitors liked it or not, part of the credit for the impressive premiere numbers undoubtedly belonged to Lu Xu.
[It’s just the premiere. No need to hype it up, okay? Didn’t The Empress have even better premiere numbers than Voice of the Dead?]
[+1, +1. We get it, Lu Xu’s desperate to climb the ladder, using that ‘loaning fanbase’ trick again.]
[So the popularity score of Voice of the Dead is only at 11,000? You’d think it was 17,000 with the way people are talking.]
The production team of Voice of the Dead didn’t bother responding to these sarcastic comments. Zhao Jincheng, in particular, remained confident because the story had just begun.
Starting from Episode 3, Jiang Lin and Su Yang began delving deeper into the case.
S City, a metropolis with a population of over ten million, was full of towering skyscrapers and glamorous sights. Yet, hidden within the city were areas where ordinary people gathered, along with shadowy corners that often went unnoticed by most.
On the map, the highlighted area seemed small, but covering it on foot proved to be a considerable journey.
Su Yang, following the leads provided by Jiang Lin, eventually narrowed their search to an urban village near the coast.
Driving the car, Su Yang took the wheel while Jiang Lin sat in the passenger seat. As they passed certain streets, Jiang Lin would roll down the window and listen carefully for a moment. During these sequences, the audience would hear a dense, rhythmic drumming sound in the background.
Each time they passed through a specific area, Jiang Lin would share a piece of information. The production team wasn’t trying to keep viewers in the dark; however, Jiang Lin’s insights were rarely the final answers. Viewers were encouraged to analyze the information themselves while watching the show.
[Jiang Lin really feels like one of those case-solving NPCs.]
[…Does the sound of shattering glass have some special meaning? I completely don’t get it.]
[Ah! Jiang Lin and Su Yang just exchanged a look. That bicycle bell ringing was so eerie! I feel like I’m vaguely grasping the logic of the case, but I still can’t figure it out!]
The car continued to move forward at a slow pace. The highlighted area on the map grew increasingly smaller, while Jiang Lin kept his eyes closed in deep thought.
By the time this episode of Voice of the Dead aired, most viewers no longer associated Jiang Lin with the other characters Lu Xu had played. After all, Jiang Lin didn’t fit the traditional image of a “handsome guy.” However, in this particular scene, with his eyes closed and his expression unusually serious rather than laid-back, many viewers couldn’t help but think, “This guy is actually kind of attractive.”
At a certain moment, Jiang Lin opened his eyes and said, “This is the place.”
Su Yang nodded.
The two got out of the car and stepped into a narrow alleyway.
Su Yang maintained a close distance behind Jiang Lin at all times.
It was clearly afternoon, yet whether it was due to the increasingly fast tempo of the background music or the chaotic drumbeats creating a sense of unease, the alley seemed to grow darker and more oppressive, as though sunlight hadn’t reached it in years.
Their footsteps landed lightly on the stone pavement, Jiang Lin’s unhurried pace oddly reminiscent of that plea for mercy he once heard.
Perhaps it had been in a similar alley.
At some point, the noisy bustle of the outside world seemed to transform into a death knell.
Su Yang took charge of asking questions, while Jiang Lin focused on lowering the suspect’s guard—his demeanor made him appear more approachable than Su Yang.
The questions were carefully chosen, and even when they touched on unpleasant topics, the timing and location were intentionally vague.
Gradually, the image of a young woman living alone in a house emerged.
Another figure emerged in the investigation—someone who appeared suddenly one day, unrelated to the daily routines of the urban village, and then vanished just as abruptly.
The two detectives were now closing in on the killer.
Having already uncovered the identity of the victim, Jiang Lin could deduce additional details from the voice of the dead. For example, the sound of the perpetrator’s footsteps scraping against the ground suggested that his left foot lacked flexibility.
The suspect was present in the area during the morning. While the exact time couldn’t yet be pinpointed, details like whom the victim interacted with that day or whether she left her home would likely still be remembered by the uncles and aunties who had lived in the urban village all their lives.
Even though the surveillance cameras in the village didn’t cover every corner, the timeframe of the crime had been clearly established.
Finding a man who rode a specific brand of bicycle, walked with a slight limp in his left foot, had strong upper body strength, and appeared to be carrying something heavy was far easier than searching for a needle in a haystack.
By the time the killer fled to another city and began planning his next crime, the S City Criminal Investigation Team had already set up an inescapable trap.
Su Yang participated in the takedown operation, while Jiang Lin was responsible for identifying the suspect.
This was only the first case, and the audience was just starting to become familiar with Jiang Lin and Su Yang. They knew Su Yang was a cold-faced, stoic “cool guy,” and when it came to physical strength, he was leagues ahead of Jiang Lin—
A thousand times stronger, to be exact!
Su Yang’s ferocity during the arrest, the power behind his punches… Viewers couldn’t help but think it would be worth showing Jiang Lin this side of his partner.
# Does Jiang Lin Know You’re Like This? #
[Wow, Shao Yao’s fight scenes are so impressive!]
[Whoa, he’s really giving it his all! The cool guy got injured!]
Su Yang remained silent throughout the operation, but at that moment, the audience finally understood his inner anger. They saw why he partnered with Jiang Lin—because more than anyone else, Su Yang believed in justice. He couldn’t tolerate lives being taken by these ruthless criminals.
And Jiang Lin was the one who could help Su Yang catch the killer.
The arrested perpetrator wore a look of utter despair—an expression that mingled fury at being caught with pain from the beating he’d endured. When Su Yang returned to the car, Jiang Lin’s first question was: “Why didn’t you hit him a few more times?”
“Don’t go for the face next time,” he added.
The audience: “…”
These two were clearly birds of a feather.
Still, most viewers felt that compared to the suffering inflicted on the victim, the punches the killer received were far too lenient.
[Wow, that was amazing!]
[Jiang Lin is incredible! The information he provided matched perfectly with the killer’s movements. He and Su Yang are the ultimate brains-and-brawn duo—quiet until they strike, and then they leave you stunned!]
[I’ve decided to rewatch these two episodes. I think I missed some details.]
[The way they unraveled the truth bit by bit was so terrifying. Most people wouldn’t be able to extract that much information!]
[Absolutely chilling!]
By just the fourth episode, the killer in the first case had already been apprehended, and the number of discussions surrounding Voice of the Dead skyrocketed.
In the first two episodes, the case remained unresolved, leaving plenty of unanswered questions. Even fans who wanted to recommend the show struggled to explain its appeal. They could only say, “The protagonist can hear the voices of the dead,” to which the curious would inevitably ask, “And then what?”
And then—there was no “then.”
But with the conclusion of the first story arc, everything changed.
The case was particularly intricate—without the supernatural elements, it would have taken far longer to solve. The pacing was brisk and efficient, with no unnecessary filler. It felt as though the audience had been guided out of a dense fog, following a single thread that ultimately led to the truth.
Even if viewers couldn’t fully grasp the details at first, as long as they followed the logic laid out in the script, they would eventually be able to unravel the entire case.
During this broadcast slot, Voice of the Dead was already the most anticipated drama.
Many in the industry were waiting to see the show fail, hoping it would follow the same path as The Watchers and The Empress, which had started strong but quickly lost momentum.
However, after the first case concluded, the trending topics featured not criticisms but a post from a well-known film and television blogger: “Breaking Down the First Case in Voice of the Dead: Hidden Details You May Have Missed.”
In just four episodes—less than three hours of screen time—this blogger identified over 30 subtle details.
[In my opinion,] they wrote, [these are all foreshadowing elements and clues. Every seemingly insignificant sound in the series serves a purpose, and recurring items, such as the bicycle bell, tie directly to later plot developments.]
Another blogger analyzed Jiang Lin and Su Yang’s method of narrowing down the search area:
[This is a standard approach used in criminal investigations…]
Yet another focused on the understated teamwork between Jiang Lin and Su Yang in advancing the case:
[Examining their dynamic reveals the crucial role of their synergy in solving crimes.]
Of course, for many viewers, this last topic didn’t need much analysis—they’d already dissected it repeatedly in their minds.
Still, the bloggers’ interpretations provided a more structured perspective, especially on how the duo’s partnership directly influenced the investigation’s progression.
Whether it was bloggers or ordinary viewers sharing their insights, one thing became clear: Voice of the Dead had successfully captured the audience’s attention with its first case.
The next morning, the updated popularity score for the show were released: 13,000+.
That was a full 2,000 points higher than its premiere rating!