A Thousand Ways to Kill Your Enemy

The protagonist, Zhao Qingzhi, becomes obsessed while writing his suspense novel, A Thousand Ways to Kill Your Enemy, bringing disaster upon himself. In the end, he sees himself clearly and finds his true self. The author tells this story by weaving reality and fiction together, letting readers search for the truth amid the blurred lines.

A man dies of hydrogen sulfide poisoning in the bathroom of his home in Shuicheng. Was it an accident or murder? Officer Zheng of the criminal investigation team begins an investigation.

Forty-year-old Zhao Qingzhi is struggling financially, and his work is going nowhere. Fascinated by perfect crimes, he hopes to earn extra money by writing suspense novels and help support his family.

Recently, Zhao Qingzhi began working on a suspense novel based on a perfect murder method he had devised, A Thousand Ways to Kill Your Enemy. He writes and submits the novel while asking his younger sister, Zhao Qingzhi, for feedback and help polishing the prose.

Zhao Qingzhi appears at the crime scene and seems to be a suspect.

His submissions are rejected, and life hits him with one crushing disappointment after another.

After investigating, the police determine that the death was an accident.

Then, out of the blue, Mr. Qiao, the agent of famous Chinese director Bi Chenggong, approaches him. Director Bi is very interested in his novel and is likely to buy the film adaptation rights. After enduring so many disappointments, Zhao Qingzhi bursts into tears of joy.

However, Zhao Qingzhi lacks imagination and doesn’t know how to write a murder scene. He decides to “pretend to kill someone” using his perfect murder method, then write the process of “pretending to kill” into his novel.

Unexpectedly, another person is found dead inside a locked room in an apartment building in Shuicheng. The building where the victim lived is the same one Zhao Qingzhi “tested” his method in, and the death occurred on the very night of his “test.” Could this be another accident? Officer Zheng of the criminal investigation team quickly launches an investigation.

As it turns out, Zhao Qingzhi never had a perfect murder method at all. He made everything up to create a selling point for his novel and attract attention.

Meanwhile, eight people become entangled because of the novel: Zhao Qingzhi’s sister and accomplice, Zhao Qingzhi; his friend Li Youyi, the murderer; Li Youyi’s brother Li Weiyi, the murderer; Zhao Qingzhi’s friend Wang Henjiang, the murderer; his “benefactor” Mr. Qiao; director Bi Chenggong, the mastermind; and the police officers Zheng Guo and Captain Zheng.