I Rely on My Versatility to Reach the Top of the Entertainment Industry [Ancient Times to Modern] - Chapter 12

The filming resumed, and this time there were no repeated NG situations.

After smoothly completing the final main storyline shot, Guo Lin praised, “Jiang Wenwen is in great form! Especially the look in her eyes when she fell to the ground—absolutely stunning!”

A bright smile spread across Jiang Wenwen’s lovely face. “It’s all thanks to the story Jing Yi told me. It helped me understand Shui’er’s state of mind.”

“Hahaha, you really should thank Jing Yi properly,” Guo Lin said bluntly. “After all, he did save your life, right?”

Jiang Wenwen nodded repeatedly.

Guo Lin continued, “Next, we’ll just be shooting some scattered supplementary shots. Oh, and we need to take a few more promotional photos. I think we can skip the original character stills since we’ve added the role of Master Liao Chen. What do you think, Film Emperor Lu?”

“I’ll follow the director’s lead,” Lu Yuzhi replied with a smile.

As the work entered its final stages, everyone was in high spirits.

After another busy afternoon, they wrapped up and returned to the hotel. There, Jing Yi received a call from Yuan Hui, who informed him that all the medicinal herbs had been gathered and asked what to do next.

Jing Yi discussed the matter with Yuan Hui and then used the navigation app on his phone to walk to the agreed-upon location.

The herbs needed to be processed, and both the measurements and the heat control required his personal attention. If any step went wrong, the efficacy of the medicine could be greatly reduced. Processing the herbs required firewood and earthenware pots, all of which Yuan Hui had prepared in advance.

As Jing Yi entered the kitchen and closed the door, Yuan Hui sighed outside.

She had done everything she could; now, it was up to Zhang Qiang’s fate. If Jing Yi succeeded in saving Zhang Qiang, she had a gift prepared for him. If he failed, she wouldn’t present the gift, but she wouldn’t hold it against Jing Yi either.

Time passed minute by minute. When the kitchen door finally opened, Yuan Hui checked the time and was startled to realize an entire night had gone by.

Jing Yi held a jade box in his hands and said calmly, “It’s done, Benefactor Yuan Hui. Let’s go.”

The car stopped at the hospital entrance, and Jing Yi entered the ward once again. The acupuncture needles had already been sterilized and were ready for use.

“Can I… watch this time?” Yuan Hui asked nervously.

The surveillance in the ward had been turned off, and she would delete the hallway footage later.

Jing Yi did not refuse Yuan Hui’s request but set a condition: “This humble monk requires your assistance. Moreover, while this humble monk performs the acupuncture treatment, please do not make any sound.”

Yuan Hui nodded.

Jing Yi forcibly pried open Zhang Qiang’s jaw, placed a pill the size of a sugar ball into his mouth, and skillfully made him swallow it. He then instructed Yuan Hui to turn off the life-support equipment connected to Zhang Qiang.

Once everything was ready, Jing Yi took out the silver needles.

After Zhang Qiang recovered from his illness, he had indulged in overeating and resumed his promiscuous lifestyle. His body, already weak internally despite a strong exterior, had completely broken down, leading to a state of soul separation. In modern terms, this condition is known as a vegetative state.

The treatment involved the “Nine Needles for Reviving Yang” technique, supplemented by the Great Return Elixir to replenish qi and stabilize the spirit.

Yuan Hui forced herself to remain calm as she watched.

Jing Yi inserted the silver needles into various points on Zhang Qiang’s body at strange angles. When he placed his hand on Zhang Qiang’s head, steam inexplicably rose from the needles.

Yuan Hui desperately wanted to ask what Jing Yi was doing, but remembering his instructions, she restrained herself.

It was impossible to tell how much time had passed when Yuan Hui noticed beads of sweat forming on Jing Yi’s forehead and neck. She picked up a nearby medical cotton cloth, intending to wipe his sweat.

But as she approached, Jing Yi, with his eyes closed, raised his other hand in a clear gesture of refusal.

Yuan Hui withdrew her hand and set down the cotton cloth.

From start to finish, Jing Yi’s eyes had remained closed, so how had he known she was approaching?

The questions kept piling up, and Yuan Hui frowned anxiously as she waited.

Finally, Jing Yi opened his eyes.

He withdrew the needles in sequence, his breathing unsteady.

Jing Yi wasn’t sure about the state of medical knowledge in this world, but in his own, saving lives often required a physician to possess inner energy. Only by combining inner energy, medicinal pills, and acupuncture could a critically ill patient’s life be successfully saved.

If inner energy was overused or something went wrong during the process, both the physician and the patient could die.

This was also why Jing Yi had stopped Yuan Hui from wiping his sweat.

“Water, water…” Zhang Qiang on the bed suddenly murmured.

Yuan Hui covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face.

She hurriedly poured water and was about to feed it to Zhang Qiang when Jing Yi quickly stopped her: “Only moisten his lips with a cloth. He shouldn’t consume water or food yet. Wait until tomorrow.”

Yuan Hui nodded and complied.

Jing Yi took a deep breath and sat cross-legged on the spot to regulate his breathing.

Yuan Hui didn’t disturb him, staying by Zhang Qiang’s bedside and occasionally moistening his lips.

When Jing Yi opened his eyes again, Yuan Hui said, “You saved my husband’s life. I, Yuan Hui, always repay kindness and seek revenge. I’ve prepared some information for you, which I believe will help with your current situation.”

Jing Yi tilted his head.

Seeing Jing Yi’s confused expression, as if he didn’t understand what she was saying, Yuan Hui smiled. “It’s about you and Dream Entertainment. I’ve looked into you—it seems you’ve signed many unfair contracts with them.”

“Our family owns public hospitals of all sizes across the country. I doubt you’d question the authenticity of the information I’ve obtained. With this, whether you take Dream Chaser to court or break ties and leave the company, I guarantee the higher-ups won’t dare lay a finger on you.”

Only when he heard the word “contracts” did Jing Yi understand.

The original owner had signed contracts with Dream Entertainment, often with two copies for each matter.

One copy might be problematic, but the other was legally binding, which was why the original owner was trapped by the company.

If the company said he couldn’t promote himself on social media without permission, he wouldn’t even post a single punctuation mark.

“Thank you, benefactor… However, if the information you’ve provided also violates the law, this humble monk cannot use it.”

Yuan Hui’s eyes widened, her tear-streaked face showing astonishment. “The contracts Dream Chaser signed with you were illegal to begin with. Why are you still concerned about this when you have a chance to break free?”

“My elders taught me to remain true to my heart, act with integrity, and reap righteous outcomes.” Jing Yi pressed his palms together in a bow. “Since Benefactor Zhang Qiang has awakened, this humble monk will not impose further. I take my leave.”

He stood up and left.

The surprise in Yuan Hui’s eyes lingered for a long time.

By the time Jing Yi left the hospital, the sky had not yet brightened.

He took out his phone and opened the ride-hailing app, only to notice the exorbitant prices. Jing Yi gave up, put his phone away, pulled down his hat, and walked slowly along the sidewalk.

In the early morning, the streets were empty except for sanitation workers sweeping the ground.

Jing Yi bowed to a worker in gratitude and continued his leisurely pace.

As he walked, the sound of a WeChat call suddenly rang from his phone.

Jing Yi answered and heard Lu Yuzhi’s distinct, mellow voice.

“Jing Yi, turn left.”

After doing so, Jing Yi froze for a moment.

A black car slowly pulled up beside him, and the window rolled down.

Lu Yuzhi looked at the fully geared young man outside the window and said with a smile, “Get in?”

Jing Yi smiled gratefully and got into the car.

Lu Yuzhi opened a bottle of mineral water and handed it to Jing Yi.

“Your lips are all dry—why haven’t you had any water?”

“Hmm, I was planning to drink when I got back to the hotel.”

So frugal?

Lu Yuzhi recalled the previous incident where Jing Yi couldn’t even open the lid of a takeout coffee. A flicker of heartache passed through his amber eyes before vanishing instantly. He asked softly, “Is it personal matters again? That’s why you look so tired?”

Jing Yi blinked at Lu Yuzhi and said, “This humble monk believes this humble monk is still quite energetic.”

Lu Yuzhi was speechless.

Someone with dry lips and bloodshot eyes claiming to be energetic—wasn’t that a case of protesting too much?

“It’s true,” Jing Yi turned his head. “Although I am a bit tired, this humble monk can still manage.”

When traveling abroad, he often walked through the night or stayed up all night helping others with his shishu. There had even been times when he went without sleep for three nights straight. This time, it was only one night—it was nothing.

Jing Yi carefully twisted the cap back onto the water bottle, glanced over himself but couldn’t find a pocket large enough to hold it, so he cradled the bottle in his arms.

Lu Yuzhi watched Jing Yi without saying another word.

He didn’t know what to say and felt that if he opened his mouth, it might come out as criticism.

But what was there to criticize Jing Yi for? These were Jing Yi’s personal matters. Unless Jing Yi brought it up, he had no reason or right to cross that line.

After thinking it over, Lu Yuzhi finally instructed the assistant in the front, “Drive a bit slower.”

The assistant nodded.

It was still a half-hour drive to the film studio from here.

As the car swayed gently, Jing Yi, who had been keeping his eyes open and staring at the front seat, found his eyelids growing heavier with each sway.

Eventually, he closed his eyes and his head tilted to the right.

Lu Yuzhi, who had been sitting some distance away from Jing Yi, saw that he was about to bump against the window and quickly moved to pull him back.

His arm, separated by two thin layers of clothing, felt Jing Yi’s waist, and Lu Yuzhi’s heartbeat quickened for a moment.

When he met a pair of dazed eyes in the crook of his arm, the quickened heartbeat lingered.

Fortunately, perhaps due to exhaustion, Jing Yi closed his eyes again shortly after.

This time, Jing Yi’s head tilted in the direction of Lu Yuzhi’s shoulder.

Lu Yuzhi adjusted his posture accordingly and whispered to the assistant, “Take a few detours. Call Director Guo.”

The assistant nodded in agreement and, while making the call, kept glancing at the two in the rearview mirror, his feelings mixed.

He had been with Lu Yuzhi since his debut and had seen him look after well-behaved juniors. But none had been cared for to this extent—deliberately calling the director to delay their arrival just so the junior could sleep a little longer.

This was highly unusual.

The assistant kept his thoughts to himself and didn’t ask.

He would just observe. He had already given his reminder; beyond that, he couldn’t interfere.

The black commercial vehicle circled the city several times before slowly heading toward the correct route to the film studio.

Jing Yi opened his eyes several times before finally waking up completely.

Perhaps the expenditure of internal energy had been a bit excessive—once he relaxed, he had fallen into a deep sleep.

“My apologies, this humble monk actually fell asleep,” he said to Lu Yuzhi, expressing his sincere regret.

Lu Yuzhi smiled. “It’s fine. You look much better now.”

“Where are we? I still want to go back to the hotel to buy breakfast for Xue An.” After saying this, Jing Yi took out his phone from his pocket.

Seeing the time above, he froze.

It was clearly just past 5 o’clock when he got in the car, how could it already be 10 o’clock now?

Five hours…

Jing Yi looked at Lu Yuzhi again, his eyes filled with inquiry: “Why has the car been driving for five hours?”

Lu Yuzhi remained unperturbed: “I took care of some matters along the way. You were sleeping too deeply to notice.”

“Oh!” Jing Yi nodded and didn’t ask further.