Female Stunt Double in the Entertainment Industry [Ancient Transmigration to Modern Times] - Chapter 5

Chen Qing was about to fall awkwardly to the ground, especially in front of Tuoba Yan, whom she despised. She couldn’t help but feel utterly frustrated. I shouldn’t have listened to Fu Shuya and come to see this arrogant woman, she thought. Now I’m speechless, humiliated, and about to make a fool of myself.

Instinctively, Chen Qing closed her eyes and raised her arms to shield her head.

She braced herself for the bone-jarring impact of the cold, hard marble floor, but instead, she landed on something warm and soft.

It was Tuoba Yan.

At the critical moment, Tuoba Yan had lunged forward to catch Chen Qing, but in doing so, she aggravated the cut on her wrist. Bright red blood quickly soaked through the layers of gauze, dripping from her pale fingertips. Despite the pain that whitened her face, Tuoba Yan forced a weak smile, offering Chen Qing a smile that was far from beautiful.

Chen Qing froze in shock. Fu Shuya and Fang Qinying screamed in terror. Tuoba Yan struggled to her feet, pulling up the still-stunned Chen Qing.

Nurse Qiao, on duty at the nearby nurse’s station, rushed over. Fu Shuya and the nurse quickly helped Tuoba Yan up, while Fang Qinying supported Chen Qing. Together, they escorted both women back to their hospital rooms.

Nurse Qiao, a distant cousin of Qiao Chunyi’s mother, had always cared for Tuoba Yan, doting on the obedient and well-behaved girl. Seeing her covered in blood now, Nurse Qiao felt both heartache and panic. She swiftly unwrapped the bandages, revealing Tuoba Yan’s wound: a mangled mess of flesh. Nurse Qiao gasped, immediately opening the emergency medical kit and dabbing the wound with alcohol-soaked cotton.

Chen Qing and the others stared dumbly at Tuoba Yan’s injury: a long, gaping gash where skin and muscle had been torn apart. The delicate stitches had loosened, compromising the gradually healing wound and reopening the muscle tissue. How excruciating must it be for alcohol-soaked cotton to touch that raw flesh?

Yet Tuoba Yan acted as if nothing were wrong, even joking, “Scared you?”

Sweat beaded on her nose, and the color that had finally returned to her face over the past few days had drained away. Chen Qing bit her lip, tears welling in her beautiful almond-shaped eyes as she asked Tuoba Yan, “Why?”

Fang Qinying and Fu Shuya were equally baffled. Why had Tuoba Yan thrown herself in front of Chen Qing without a second thought?

Nurse Qiao, her face grim, reinforced the stitches. Tuoba Yan waved Chen Qing over, unconcerned. “Chen Qing, come here.”

Chen Qing stood up and slowly walked over to Tuoba Yan. Tuoba Yan reached out, pinched Chen Qing’s chin, and turned her delicate face from side to side, examining it. Then she smiled and said, “Good thing your face wasn’t hurt. Be more careful in the future. A girl’s face is precious.”

As soon as Qiao Chunyi returned, her cousin, Nurse Qiao, stopped her, practically fuming. “Chunyi, you need to have a serious talk with Yanyan. She’s being so reckless! Her hand was almost healed, but she insisted on playing the hero and protecting that classmate of hers. Honestly, acting so rashly will only lead to trouble sooner or later.”

Qiao Chunyi was completely bewildered. The bloodstains near the hospital room door had been cleaned up, and the bedsheets and clothes had been changed. But Tuoba Yan’s pale face and the tighter bandage around her wrist were impossible to miss. Qiao Chunyi was so shocked she nearly dropped the lunchbox in her hand. “Yanyan, what happened?”

Nurse Qiao, still seething after scolding Tuoba Yan, stepped in to explain. “It’s all because of Yanyan’s classmate. She wasn’t paying attention and nearly tripped. Yanyan tried to catch her, but they both fell, tearing open her wound. She needed three more stitches.”

Tuoba Yan grinned ingratiatingly, knowing her mother, Qiao Chunyi, was utterly defenseless against her daughter’s smiles. Qiao Chunyi ruffled her hair roughly. “You silly girl! Don’t ever do that again.”

Qiao Chunyi had brought her three-delicacy wontons. The moment she lifted the lid, the fragrant, steaming aroma filled the air, making Tuoba Yan’s mouth water. She sat eagerly on the bed, her eyes fixed on the bowl. Qiao Chunyi handed her a spoon. “Careful, dear. Eat slowly.”

Tuoba Yan still observed traditional etiquette, offering the first bite to her mother. Qiao Chunyi forced a stern expression, took two wontons with the spoon, and then Tuoba Yan happily began eating.

The three delicacies in the wontons referred to fresh fish, lean pork, and deveined shrimp, all finely minced into a filling. This mixture was wrapped in delicate, resilient wrappers made from dough kneaded with egg white, boiled until tender, and then served in a clear chicken broth. The result was a bowl of wontons that was both visually appealing and utterly delicious.

These wontons had become Tuoba Yan’s recent favorite. Though Qiao Chunyi could be rather brash and oblivious at times, she had a knack for noticing her daughter’s preferences.

Watching Tuoba Yan’s face light up as she scooped up the wontons with her spoon, Qiao Chunyi suddenly sighed. “Silly girl, what are you always so happy about?”

Tuoba Yan blinked. “Huh?” She felt like she was being unfairly targeted, even while lying in bed.

Qiao Chunyi didn’t want to spoil her daughter’s meal, so she shook her head, signaling her to continue eating. After Tuoba Yan finished her wontons, shamelessly slurping up every last drop of broth, Qiao Chunyi finally spoke:

“Yanyan, your classmate came by today. You must know about the suspension of your studies, right?”

Tuoba Yan had previously insisted on dropping out of school to become a star. Helpless, Qiao Chunyi hadn’t processed the withdrawal, instead managing to arrange a year’s suspension. Though Tuoba Yan had become more rational and levelheaded after her suicide attempt, Qiao Chunyi still hesitated to bring it up, fearing she might revert to her old demands.

Tuoba Yan set down her spoon and nodded. “I know.”

“What are your thoughts?” Qiao Chunyi asked cautiously.

What were Tuoba Yan’s thoughts? She absolutely had to go back to school!

******

In her previous life, she had been raised as a boy from childhood. Since the age of three, her grandfather had personally tutored her, instilling in her a burning ambition to follow in his footsteps and achieve the “Three Firsts” in the imperial examinations. She yearned to ride through the streets in crimson robes, then rise through the ranks of officialdom, earning titles of nobility and bringing glory to her ancestors.

But fate had other plans. When Hunnic cavalry suddenly attacked Shengzhou, her grandfather refused to surrender, his defiant words, “How dare these barbarian tribes invade the Celestial Empire!” enraging the Hunnic chieftain. He was pierced by a thousand arrows, dying a gruesome death within the city walls.

Who could have imagined that Tuoba Yan, the young master of the Tuoba Family renowned for his prodigious talent, was actually a girl? Disguised in women’s clothing by her maidservant and hidden on a farm, she had narrowly escaped the Huns’ extermination campaign.

Burning with hatred, she abandoned her studies to join the army, vowing to avenge her grandfather by taking the Hun chieftain’s head.

Reincarnated in the modern era after her death, Tuoba Yan felt this was perhaps heaven’s compensation for her past life.

Tuoba Yan and Qiao Chunyi sat together, discussing her plans in detail.

First and foremost was her recovery. She assured her mother she wouldn’t do anything foolish again, putting Qiao Chunyi’s mind at ease. Having withdrawn from school in April, Fu Shuya and others had told her she could re-enroll when the next cohort of sophomores advanced to their junior year, allowing her to continue her studies and take the college entrance exams.

It was now August, meaning there was over a year until the next school year began. Aware of her family’s financial constraints, Tuoba Yan planned to move back home once she stabilized, ending her hospital stay. This would allow Qiao Chunyi to return to work and enable her to contribute with light household chores. Of course, she would also need to catch up on her studies, given her impending return to school.

Tuoba Yan’s words warmed Qiao Chunyi’s heart. Overjoyed, she repeatedly praised her daughter for growing up and becoming so sensible, tears welling up again.

Tuoba Yan was telling the truth, though she withheld a part of it from Qiao Chunyi.

She also wanted to find work to ease the family’s financial burden.

Qiao Chunyi clasped Tuoba Yan’s hand, her heart brimming with joy. “It’s just a shame this wrist will likely be scarred,” she said, her voice tinged with regret. But sensing she might be touching a sore spot, she quickly changed the subject.

Scars…

Tuoba Yan hadn’t given them a second thought. But Qiao Chunyi seemed to care deeply.

During her years on the battlefield, Tuoba Yan had accumulated numerous scars. Several military advisors in her retinue were skilled in medicine, and she had learned much from them, becoming a passable physician herself. One advisor had even passed down a scar-removing formula.

Later, when Tuoba Yan married into the imperial court, she noticed the Emperor’s aversion to the faint scars on her body. She began brewing medicinal decoctions based on the formula and personally prepared Scar-Eliminating Ointment to apply to the scars. The results were remarkable. Combined with medicinal baths and massages, her skin soon regained its youthful radiance.

Looking back now, she realized that the intimate moments and passionate affection during their honeymoon had been nothing more than infatuation with her youthful beauty.

Since her mother cared about the scar, Tuoba Yan didn’t mind putting in the effort to remove it.

Support Female Stunt Double in the Entertainment Industry [Ancient Transmigration to Modern Times]