Chapter 23.2

The next day, Zhu Xinyue wrapped up filming.

After the director shouted “Cut”, Zhu Xinyue finished filming all her scenes in “Peach Blossom Spring”.

This scene involved the Second Elder showing off his martial arts skills of controlling the weather, a scene that only the two of them had together.

Just after finishing her scenes, Zhu Xinyue saw Ji Qingyuan holding a bouquet of flowers and handing it to her, praising her with a smile, “Well done.”

Ji Qingyuan was still in his costume, and his next scene would be with the female lead.

Zhu Xinyue smiled softly. She also felt she had done well.

“Xiao Zhu.” Liang Yuyu walked up to her, took a bouquet of lilies from the assistant, and handed it to Zhu Xinyue, “You are a very hard-working actor. I hope you will not forget your original intention and have a bright future.”

Zhu Xinyue didn’t expect Liang Yuyu to also give her flowers. She thanked him repeatedly, “Thank you, Teacher Liang.”

Liang Yuyu admired her. This girl was not at all delicate. Her fight scenes were sharp, and she didn’t complain when injured. He could see her progress and her effort. She was truly an admirable actress.

From her, he saw himself when he first entered the industry.

Ji Qingyuan’s gaze swept between Liang Yuyu and Zhu Xinyue.

They had many scenes together. Liang Yuyu and Zhu Xinyue often stayed together, one teaching and one learning. There were also rumors on set, though they didn’t reach their ears directly, Ji Qingyuan heard about them. He made sure to nip the rumors in the bud. He felt that a senior like Liang Yuyu should pay attention to his words and deeds and not let a naive newcomer like Zhu Xinyue get caught up in gossip.

So, when Zhu Xinyue went to change costumes and remove makeup, Ji Qingyuan hooked his arm around Liang Yuyu’s shoulder, avoiding the crowd, and went to a secluded place to talk.

“Ayue and I have been in the same class since kindergarten. I can see what it looks like when she likes someone. She has nothing but respect and admiration for Teacher Liang. I want to ask, what does Teacher Liang mean to Ayue?” Ji Qingyuan was thinking that with Liang Yuyu’s qualifications, if he didn’t have any thoughts, the rumor would never have spread.

Ji Qingyuan and Liang Yuyu had worked together several times, and they exchanged personal contact information with each other, so their relationship was pretty good. His tone was half serious and half joking, so Liang Yuyu would not feel offended.

“Xiao Zhu is a good girl.” Liang Yuyu smiled and said, not hiding his appreciation for Zhu Xinyue, “You are now at the peak of your career. Hype CP will only do harm to your career.”

Ji Qingyuan realized that Liang Yuyu was deliberately trying to hype up a CP with Zhu Xinyue. No wonder their scenes were so ambiguous. Even passing crew members would nod in acknowledgment.

Given Liang Yuyu’s reputation and acting skills in the industry, creating buzz with Zhu Xinyue was actually not a bad thing for her career. As for Liang Yuyu, who was lukewarm about the whole thing, it was just adding a feather to his cap.

“Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime. I’ve been down the road of fame or obscurity in acting, it’s not easy. If possible, I hope hard-working actors like her can avoid some detours.”

“If helping her by creating this buzz with me can make her journey smoother, why not?” Liang Yuyu thought that since the girl called him “Teacher Liang,” why not go the extra mile to help?

Ji Qingyuan fell silent. No wonder Liang Yuyu had such a good reputation in the industry. He really did mentor his juniors.

Liang Yuyu understood this kind of twists and turns, he just disdained to use them on himself. However, he was willing to help a group of newcomers who had just debuted.

“Thank you, Teacher Liang,” Ji Qingyuan admitted with a pinch of his nose.

After Ji Qingyuan left, Liang Yuyu brushed off the leaves on his clothes and was about to leave when he bumped into Jiang Rui, whose eyes were slightly red.

“Senior…” Jiang Rui had been hiding in the shadows just now and had heard everything. She had liked Liang Yuyu for over ten years.

When she was in junior high, he was the most outstanding senior in the high school department. At the school assembly, everyone said he was the child star, so dazzling, so approachable. But the person on screen was different from him in reality. In reality, he was the gentle senior who helped junior sisters move lab equipment and the strong senior who stopped campus violence…

She had liked him all this time, even when she entered the entertainment industry, it was because of Liang Yuyu.

Jiang Rui was angry and anxious to hear that Liang Yuyu was willing to create a buzz with an unknown person like Zhu Xinyue, but she also admitted she was jealous. But at the same time, she hated that Liang Yuyu didn’t cherish his own feathers.

“I like you, and have liked you for fifteen years.” Jiang Rui choked and shed tears in front of Liang Yuyu.

Liang Yuyu was stunned, at a loss for words.

He… never had many fans, just zombie fans bought by the company on Weibo. In such a situation, he rarely felt unsettled.

From afar, Zhu Xinyue finished changing clothes and came out. She saw Liang Yuyu and Jiang Rui in a secluded corner, not knowing what they were up to. She was about to greet them when she saw Jiang Rui suddenly hug Liang Yuyu, and then Liang Yuyu pushed Jiang Rui away.

Liang Yuyu seemed apologetic, reaching out to Jiang Rui, but Jiang Rui slapped his hand away and turned to leave.

“Huh? Wasn’t Jiang Rui supposed to be the female lead in the novel? Why is she hugging Liang Yuyu? System! Say something!”

The system received the host’s signal and suddenly said, “It’s today.”

“What do you mean ‘today’?”

“Ji Qingyuan had an accident on set today. You need to be prepared to rescue him. Once you get through this, you’ll successfully protect Ji Qingyuan’s career, and your eyesight will also recover by half,” the system said.

To this day, Zhu Xinyue still has to wear contact lenses.

The next scene was a group scene.

Zhu Xinyue kept an eye on Ji Qingyuan. He seemed to notice something wrong with Jiang Rui, lightly patting her shoulder blades and asking her quietly.

Liang Yuyu, standing beside them, looked pale, whether it was because of makeup or something else. Liang Yuyu didn’t touch Jiang Rui but instead seemed to avoid her, stepping aside a few steps to keep his distance.

Watching their actions, Zhu Xinyue moved aside for the props team, and her phone buzzed in her pocket.

[Big Boss: Still on set?]

Zhu Xinyue looked over to Ji Qingyuan’s direction and scanned around.

There shouldn’t be any safety hazards right now, so it shouldn’t happen at this time. She replied to the message on her phone.

[Zhu Xinyue: Yes, I will take a flight back to Tianze City tomorrow.]

[Big Boss: I’m passing by your area on a business trip. Do you want to have dinner with me tonight? ]

Zhu Xinyue wondered, Is he really just passing by?

She raised the corners of her lips and replied to the message.

[Zhu Xinyue: Sure!]

[Big Boss: I’ll come pick you up.]

Zhu Xinyue put away her phone and watched the people on set acting.

Liang Yuyu, who usually nailed his scenes in one take, seemed off today. He paused twice while delivering lines to Jiang Rui, and Jiang Rui’s performance was also off, staring at Ji Qingyuan when delivering lines instead of at her co-star, Second Elder.

The director kept shouting “Cut”.

In this scene, Jiang Rui was injured, and Ji Qingyuan supported her while she spoke to Liang Yuyu. Jiang Rui and Liang Yuyu were always at odds, so Ji Qingyuan couldn’t continue acting.

“Let’s take a break first.” the director went over to explain the scene to them again.

Zhu Xinyue stood by with her arms crossed.

The cameramen for the behind-the-scenes footage came over with a camera and gave her a shot while joking with the crew, “Qingyu, you haven’t finished your scenes yet after wrapping up?”

Thinking she was watching Liang Yuyu act, always guarding the Second Elder as a personal bodyguard.

Zhu Xinyue bared her teeth and claws at the camera, and joked with the staff: “Even if I turn into a ghost, I will protect the order on the set!”

Her expression was cute and lively, making the crew burst into laughter.

The camera then turned to the director and others discussing the scene.

Zhu Xinyue’s phone vibrated in her pocket. She guessed it was a message from Ji Linyu. Before taking out her phone from her pocket, she saw a large chandelier, connected to countless iron chains and burning candles, swaying in the sky above the director and others.

Was it because of the wind?

It swayed for a while and seemed fine. But Zhu Xinyue didn’t think so.

The director had already left the spot where they stood with two others to prepare for the reshoot.

Just then, the chandelier suddenly fell!

One thing leads to another. This chandelier was connected to numerous iron chains and burning candles, with various flammable curtains below.

“Get out of the way!”

“Ah!”

The accident happened too fast, and everyone didn’t react in time.

Ji Qingyuan, who was directly below the chandelier, instinctively protected the actress beside him, lowered his head, and was hit on the back by the first falling iron chain after walking two steps and fell to the ground.

Seeing that the remaining iron chains, candles, and oil were about to fall on him and Jiang Rui, a red umbrella suddenly opened in front of them.

Zhu Xinyue held up a heavy prop umbrella to block the falling iron chains and burning candles.

“What are you waiting for? Run!” She shouted angrily at the stunned Jiang Rui, urging her to lead Ji Qingyuan out of the collapsing range of the iron chains.

Jiang Rui realized what was happening, dragged the semi-unconscious Ji Qingyuan to a safe area, and looked back at Zhu Xinyue.

She was in the central area, after saving them, she turned back to rescue other staff members affected by the accident.

Zhu Xinyue held up the umbrella and helped a staff member who was hit on the leg and couldn’t walk.

Her eyes were almost filled with flames, and the smoke stung her eyes.

The burning smell of the curtain was pungent, and the temperature around her was scorching.

Seeing the staff member who had fallen halfway on the road, she knew she had to go back to rescue him.

Not for anything else, she felt that if Ji Linyu were here, he would do the same.

The prop umbrella was heavy and designed for appearance and style, not suitable for long-term use. Besides holding up the iron chain’s impact, Zhu Xinyue’s arm had begun to tremble.

Just when Zhu Xinyue thought she couldn’t hold on any longer, the back of her hand was covered by a warm palm, and the familiar fresh plant scent replaced the unpleasant smoke and fire smell, enveloping her whole body.

The person who came held the umbrella with her in this posture.

Zhu Xinyue looked up, her nose slightly sour.

Ji Linyu looked very embarrassed now. The high nose bridge had a touch of gray and black, and the expensive suit jacket had been burned and torn at some point because of the heat around him, beads of sweat forming on his forehead because of the high temperature.

But he didn’t care.

Ji Linyu took her place, shielding Zhu Xinyue beneath him, and with one hand lifted the injured crew member.

“It’s okay, let’s go.” His tone was calm, carrying a soothing power.

The three of them walked out of the dangerous candlelit area together.

Ji Linyu escorted the injured crew member to the hastily arriving medical team.

Watching their figures disappear, Zhu Xinyue hadn’t even had a chance to breathe a sigh of relief when the system’s electronic voice sounded: “Congratulations on successfully protecting Ji Qingyuan’s career path. Reward distribution in progress.

“Note: During reward distribution, your eyes are in a state of complete blindness.”

Wait…

Zhu Xin Yue thought she had misheard.

The next moment, darkness enveloped her vision, and she couldn’t see anything.

She heard the chaotic sounds around her but felt as if she had been isolated from the world, panicking, her heart pounding wildly, standing still and afraid to move.

Zhu Xin Yue didn’t know who bumped into her, staggering back a step, her back hitting a nearby crate.

She covered her eyes and crouched down.

Sure enough, good things like this were never meant for her.

Everything had to come at a price.

Amidst the noisy voices, a steady and firm footstep approached her, finally disappearing in front of her.

Zhu Xin Yue felt a breeze ruffle her hair, and her scalp was gently tapped.

“You’re amazing.” It was Ji Linyu’s voice, gentle and clear.

Unable to hold back any longer, Zhu Xinyue lifted her head, “looking” at Ji Linyu with her empty, lifeless eyes.

“Ji Linyu…” She called his name.

Sensing something wrong with her eyes, Ji Linyu’s heart raced even more than when he saw her in the midst of the fire.

“What’s wrong?” Ji Linyu enveloped her hand with his large palm, his voice gentle, “It’s okay, I’m here.”

The fear within Zhu Xinyue receded like a tide, replaced by the grievance that she only dared to release in front of him.

Trembling, her voice choked with tears:

“Ji Linyu, I can’t see you.”