Mudborn (泥娃娃)

Damn!

Your company really knows how to find good locations!

This is so cool.

Chang, you used to work in places like this all the time.

Don't you get scared?

Of course. I'm scared of your boss if I mess up the scan.

For a freelancer like me, not getting paid is scarier than ghosts.

It's done. Let's move on to the next spot.

Careful, coming through with the scanner.

Chang, have you read the file about this house?

They say the owner was possessed. He killed his family with a knife.

- There was blood everywhere. - And the missing body?

Wasn't she some kind of artist?

She was his wife.

That was her studio.

She made clay dolls in there.

- Chang, don't go in there. - It's fine.

Why don't we burn some incense and pray first?

Are you scared of ghosts?

Well, I'm scared of my wife.

Today's our 10th wedding anniversary. Let's finish the scan and call it a day.

Bring me the scanner, and don't drop it.

Chang.

Chang.

What are you doing?

It's a very nice piece. Here, hold it for me.

I found it in the kiln.

Hold it properly. I'll scan it with my app.

Put it back.

- What did you do? - I'm going back.

Ah-Yi!

Ah-Yi!

Ah-Yi, hang in there. I'll go get help. Hang on.

Ah-Yi.

Ah-Yi.

Ah-Yi, you…

You're bleeding a lot.

I'll go get help.

Stay here.

Come here, Daddy's got you. Daddy will rock you.

MOTHER'S DAY

This solvent stinks a bit.

Bear with me, little Pinny. Mommy doesn't like the smell either.

Daddy, put on your slippers.

It's like walking into a minefield when I come here.

- You're up early. - Yeah.

You managed to soothe it so quickly today.

I held it and rocked it, sang a song and it just…

I caught you again.

If our baby cries, will you just remove the batteries?

- Can I? - You could try.

Aren't you supposed to be resting? Why did you take on a new project?

This piece just needs cleaning.

I thought I'd earn a bit extra so you don't have to work overtime.

VR VIRTUAL REALITY

I'm optimistic my idea will be a hit.

Once my boss has approved it, I'll get a promotion and a bonus.

No need for daycare then.

We'll send her to the most expensive preschool.

I'm off.

You forgot something.

Today… two o'clock.

Don't forget.

REJECTED

UNCLEAR BUSINESS MODEL

EXECUTION POSTPONED

- Hsiao-Chao! - Sorry.

Hsu-Chuan, what should we do? We still don't have the data.

- No sign of Ah-Yi either. - Found it?

Call the person who did the scan.

I'm not sure who Ah-Yi hired for that job.

The demo is ready.

Boss…

But, boss, if you could give us another 30 minutes…

Yes, thank you, boss. See you then.

- Where's Ah-Yi? - I don't know.

- Hsu-Chuan… - I'm calling him.

We have a VR meeting later. What's with those copies?

I only have…

Ah-Yi!

Hey!

Are you trying to give me a heart attack?

Did you bring the scan data?

Hsu-Chuan.

Come on, give me a hand.

This VR game is based on an old murder case.

The Hsu family mystery.

For some unknown reason,

Hsu brutally killed his entire family with a knife.

Then he committed suicide by slitting his throat in a bizarre way.

Several days after the incident,

the neighbor noticed the smell and called the cops.

The strangest part of the case is that his wife's body...

Stop.

Didn't we agree we would view the demo today?

Yes.

Damn, is the AC broken?

- Hsiao-Chao. - Set the temperature to the lowest.

Mr. Chen, the wife I mentioned was the famous clay sculptor Liu Hsin.

Run, quickly!

She's coming!

This is how a player feels

when they're being chased by the scary characters we design.

Run, quickly…

Run, quickly…

Run, quickly!

Okay.

Take him to the hospital first.

How should I know if it's food poisoning?

Head back to the office once he's admitted.

I know we're short-staffed.

I'll handle it.

Hey, Mr. Chen approved the project.

- I need your help with this. - I…

You saw what happened to Ah-Yi.

- Well, I… - I'll get you a bonus.

You'll be a dad soon. You could use the extra money.

My Best Partner proposal…

- I've told you. It's not commercially... - I know.

Just tell me why and I'll revise it.

That's my only condition.

Package for Mr. Chang Hsu-Chuan!

Honey.

Honey, honey, honey.

I'm so sorry.

I was so busy at work, I forgot your checkup.

I'm sorry. I'm just dumb and careless.

So to make it up to you,

I strapped Pinny to my belly when I went to the toilet,

then I bought dinner, and drove back.

Guess what I got for dinner.

Your favorite.

Sashimi.

I got salmon, marlin, and bluefin tuna.

Pregnant women can't eat raw food.

I had no choice, my boss asked me to help him…

He said he'd give me a raise.

That restoration project in Rome…

- I didn't take it. - What?

Why?

You're a rising star in the restoration field, Ms. Hsu Mu-Hua.

I've thought it over.

I want to be present as little Pinny grows up.

Her first smile, her first rollover.

I want to be there for her.

I know.

That's why I've applied for parental leave.

Then I'll be able to keep you company.

Chang Hsu-Chuan.

Yes, my dear wife.

It's not about keeping us company. It's about being together.

As a family.

Yeah.

Keeping you company means being together, right?

It's not the same.

How's it not the same?

Here, your fully-cooked sashimi is ready.

Try it.

Careful, it's hot.

I believe soil is nature's most mysterious material.

"Ashes to ashes, dust to dust." That's what people say.

But their thoughts and desires linger in the soil forever.

So, every piece of land has a soul of its own.

When I look for those souls, I hear them calling back to me.

ACCLAIMED CLAY SCULPTOR LIU HSIN

GO TO THE LIVING ROOM.

Mu-Hua.

Chang Hsu-Chuan!

You scared me and the baby.

Why did you set this up?

I just wanted to try it out.

You said we should be together.

Now I can turn it on anytime to see you two.

Listen to me, little Pinny, when you grow up,

you must stay away from perverts like your daddy.

I'll get back to work.

Okay, I won't bother you again.

And quit peeking.

AUTO TRACKING

You explore some religious taboos in your work.

You even use graveyard soil in your creations.

- Any thoughts on that? - We all have our own beliefs and values.

Time turns taboos into traditions.

And it turns traditions into taboos too.

But in the end, art is eternal.

You're working late today.

Try to get some sleep, okay?

Honey.

I made you a late-night snack.

Do you want it now?

Honey?

Honey.

Honey.

I'm sorry.

- You okay? - You scared little Pinny.

Sorry.

Here…

Are you all right?

I just fell asleep.

It's that the project you're working on?