They were filming in a closed room where the temperature was several degrees higher than outside, and they were still wearing fully covering historical costumes.
Ji Zhixian noticed that Tang Feifei looked pale these days and her spirit was not very good. So he found the director, hoping to shoot his solo scenes separately later.
Just then, Tang Feifei overheard their conversation and walked out directly, looking at him coldly: “What exactly are you trying to do?”
“I want to speed up the shooting process,” Ji Zhixian said stiffly, unable to express that he was worried about her health.
“If you’re so eager to end this, you shouldn’t have accepted this role in the first place,” Tang Feifei looked up at him, her gaze as cold as a winter night. “This is being irresponsible to the crew!”
Ji Zhixian was stimulated by her icy gaze and was even less willing to reveal the truth: “Is it responsible to make all staff members grind through a scene with us?”
“This is everyone’s job,” Tang Feifei said, feeling uncomfortable and unable to stand steadily, leaning on a nearby table.
Ji Zhixian’s heart tightened, and his tone was not good: “Work is important, but you also need to take care of your health.”
“If everyone falls ill, who will continue filming?”
Ji Zhixian stared closely at Tang Feifei, worried in his heart but maintaining his usual proud tone, “Please understand the key point.”
“The one who needs to understand the key point is you!” Tang Feifei raised her voice, her expression stern, “If we can’t overcome even this small difficulty, how can we call ourselves actors?”
She got off the bed, wanting to test the severity of her ankle sprain. But as soon as she stood up, the swollen area throbbed painfully. She swayed, and Ji Zhixian, who was about to leave, turned back and accurately supported her.
“Don’t push yourself.”
Lin Xiaoman’s eyes sparkled, and she smiled at him: “It’s just a minor injury.”
Ji Zhixian was stunned; she had already left his embrace and stood up.
During previous filming, Lin Xiaoman had encountered some accidents. Once, she was seriously injured and hospitalized for several months but returned to the set after a splint. Compared to that time, the current situation was nothing.
She endured the pain and walked a few steps on the ground, but the piercing pain made her involuntarily furrow her brow. However, when she turned to look at Ji Zhixian, she still wore a smile.
“I’m going to stand at the pinnacle of the entertainment industry. I can’t be tripped up by such a small matter.”
Although wearing a patient’s gown and pale-faced, she spoke with radiant spirit, as if standing under the spotlight.
Ji Zhixian looked at her deeply, without refuting.
However, despite Lin Xiaoman’s casual words, when she returned to the radio station, she was drenched in sweat, her complexion even paler and weaker than before leaving the hospital.
Wei Qinghuan saw her state and with a stern face, only allowed her to sit and watch, forbidding her from moving a step.
Lin Xiaoman refused to listen, so Wei Qinghuan rolled up her sleeves and threatened: “Don’t provoke me. I’m the national high school women’s judo champion!”
Lin Xiaoman felt warmth in her heart and didn’t argue, obediently resting on the side and offering suggestions.
Wei Qinghuan was impressive. After practicing all night, she not only improved her performance but could also guide everyone in her place without problem.
After a day of training, the team members who saw the recording video all breathed a sigh of relief.
“But…” a teammate looked worriedly at Lin Xiaoman’s severely swollen ankle, “How will you go on stage tomorrow?”
Their dance was a team competition, and Lin Xiaoman must participate. Although they could assign her simpler moves, with her current injury, walking was difficult, let alone dancing?
“It’s fine,” Lin Xiaoman smiled and comforted, “I’ll be better after a night’s sleep.”
“Tell the program team that we’ll do your part,” Wei Qinghuan didn’t believe her. How could an ankle swollen like a steamed bun be okay?
Their dance would be scored by the judges, with the average score determining their ranking. The goal was to cultivate team spirit, as they would ultimately debut as a team. So losing one member would be fatal for the others.
Lin Xiaoman understood this and absolutely wouldn’t agree: “I won’t let my injury drag down your scores.”
“Without you, our dance wouldn’t be what it is now,” the others said.
“Don’t worry.”
Lin Xiaoman smiled slightly. Even with an injury, not everything was terrible. At least she discovered everyone still cared about her. However, she still shook her head and refused: “This would be too unfair to everyone. Not protecting myself during the competition is my problem and shouldn’t be something you bear the consequences for.”
“Xiaoman—”
Wei Qinghuan wanted to say more, but Lin Xiaoman interrupted her: “Don’t worry, I’ll find a way.”
She spoke with such confidence that it made people believe in her impossible strength. Except for Wei Qinghuan, the others nodded excitedly.
Lin Xiaoman looked expectantly at Wei Qinghuan, who still looked worried. Unable to withstand her gaze, Wei Qinghuan finally nodded.
The “Creating Idols” program aimed to achieve high ratings by choosing to broadcast the final episode live. Four teams would perform based on previously drawn songs and be scored by judges. Individual performances would combine with audience votes and previous scores to determine rankings. The top ten could form a group and debut.
Lin Xiaoman’s group’s performance was scheduled last, a request made by Wei Qinghuan. After the incident with Zhang Jiajia, the public sympathized with Lin Xiaoman. So the program team was happy to show the program’s human side and, after consulting with other groups, agreed to Wei Qinghuan’s request.
At this moment, Lin Xiaoman sat in the competition seat, sweat continuously dripping from her forehead.
“Can you really hold on?” Wei Qinghuan’s attention was entirely on her, paying no mind to the stage performances. Even when cameras scanned over, her face remained turned towards Lin Xiaoman.
“I’m fine,” Lin Xiaoman helped turn her head towards the camera, “Come on, smile.”
Netizens who knew about Lin Xiaoman’s injury saw this scene and began flooding the comments:
— Our Xiaoman is truly the team’s darling, all members are looking at her…
— Haha, our camera-savvy Xiaoman is still reminding Qinghuan about the camera, still doing her job today.
— Their picture together is so loving, I want to pinch Qinghuan’s cheeks…
— She seems seriously injured, so pale, I feel so sorry for her.
— Feeling sorry +1
— Feeling sorry +2
…
In the director’s room, the director, seeing this, would always cut to a shot of Xiaoman whenever changing cameras.
Lin Xiaoman was already in so much pain that her expression was out of control, but as soon as she saw the camera, she had to grit her teeth and force a smile. After several rounds, she was drenched in cold sweat.
“This is simply inhumane!” Wei Qinghuan felt sorry for her and went directly to confront the production team.
“Don’t worry, it’s okay,” she whispered in her ear, “I have a secret weapon.”
★ Chapter Fourteen: Champion
“What is it?”
Wei Qinghuan looked at her in surprise, waiting for her to finish speaking, just as staff members came to urge them to prepare.
Rushing to the backstage, everyone was busy changing costumes. Lin Xiaoman had an extra person helping her, which made things faster. While waiting for the team to go out, she took out a spray from her bag.
“Use this when it becomes unbearable.”
It was something Ji Zhixian had given her that day.
A pain-relief spray that could temporarily relieve pain, but because the perception of pain was less obvious, it might cause more serious consequences.
