“Sister Jiaojiao, you’re truly amazing!” On the way back to the hotel, Chen Lingxuan kept gazing at Li Jiao with starry eyes. “Did you go to Shaolin Temple as a child? How many years did it take to reach your current level?”
“What, do you want to learn too?” Li Jiao leaned her spear aside, removed her wrist guards, and hid her clenched fists inside her sleeves.
“Yes! I’ve always admired those who know kung fu since I was little! Unfortunately, my mother wouldn’t let me learn, saying I couldn’t handle the hardship…” Chen Lingxuan pouted as she spoke.
“To reach Teacher Li’s level indeed requires enduring much suffering.” Jing Shaoyin, who had been resting with his eyes closed, suddenly spoke up.
“Ah…” Chen Lingxuan suddenly remembered. “Speaking of which, hasn’t Teacher Jing also learned martial arts? I’ve seen your drama before – the scene where you used water sleeves to twirl the candlestick!”
“I rewatched that scene several times back then and immediately followed you on Weibo overnight.”
“It’s different. What I do is dance, while Teacher Li practices martial arts. I couldn’t possibly spin in mid-air like that.” Jing Shaoyin said while looking at Li Jiao with a slight smile.
“Just trivial skills, nothing remarkable.” Li Jiao appeared unaffected by praise on the surface, but inwardly she was immensely pleased, practically floating with pride.
She never expected that in modern times, she would not only receive admiration from young gentlemen but also such worship from young ladies.
“Then I wonder if Teacher Li might have time to guide me in these ‘trivial skills’?” Jing Shaoyin leaned forward slightly. “I used to think my skills were sufficiently advanced, but after seeing you today, I realize they pale in comparison.”
Hearing the request, Li Jiao turned around just in time to see him somewhat sheepishly rubbing his neck.
“Alright then.” She reluctantly agreed.
As they spoke, the car smoothly pulled up at the hotel entrance.
Although the three maintained cheerful conversation throughout the journey, appearing full of energy, they were actually barely keeping up their spirits.
Thus, upon reaching their destination, they immediately returned to their respective rooms to shower and “play dead.”
After they left, as staff members were preparing to put away the props, someone suddenly noticed some crimson stains on the spear handle that looked like blood.
But they didn’t think much of it, assuming the props team had accidentally gotten paint on it.
“Sister Xuan… I’m truly sorry… I didn’t expect things to turn out this way…” Facing Zhang Xuan’s direct questioning, Lu Chexi’s face alternated between pale and flushed, but he still lowered his head, pretending to be innocent.
“I just wanted to complete the task faster, but ended up overcomplicating things…”
He’s still so good at manipulating his fans.
Lu Chexi, really, he makes me cry (with frustration).
Seeing him acting like this again, Tina desperately wanted to punch him.
But having witnessed his team’s ability to twist facts before, she suppressed her itching fists to avoid being “cyberbullied.”
“Brother Lu probably meant well but messed up. Sister Xuan, don’t be angry. Although we agreed to take turns with solo performances, many hands make light work. Brother Lu might have thought a duet would work better than a solo.”
“None of us are attention-seekers. Whatever we do is surely for the team’s benefit, right?”
Tina said while looking at Lu Chexi.
If we’re playing the innocent act, who can’t do that?
“…Of course…” Lu Chexi maintained a smile while speaking through gritted teeth.
“Better be.” Whether Zhang Xuan caught the underlying meaning or not, she coldly spat out those words.
“Alright everyone, we’re all tired today and mistakes are inevitable. Let’s head back and rest now, we’ll continue working hard tomorrow.” Zhou Wenyuan, who had been silent until now, finally stepped in to mediate.
“See you tomorrow then~”
“Mm, see you tomorrow.” Li Jiao bid farewell to Chen Lingxuan with her usual expression.
However, the moment the other’s figure disappeared around the corridor corner, she swiftly turned around, closed her door, and immediately locked it.
“Ouch ouch ouch ouch ouch! Damn it, how can it hurt this much!”
Pressing her back against the door, Li Jiao extended the hands she had been hiding all this time, trembling as she cursed angrily.
They were covered in blisters.
She never expected her current body to be so delicate and tender. Without the protection of the calluses developed from practicing martial arts since childhood, just wielding a spear for one afternoon had rubbed her hands raw.
Fortunately, she was truly resilient, enduring the pain of blistered hands to perfectly complete the performance.
Otherwise, if this had been exposed on camera, it would have damaged her heroic and mighty image.
Li Jiao thought with relief.
But how should she treat these injuries?
Should she just pop them all?
So Mo Mo, who was lying in bed, suddenly received a WeChat message.
Dear BOSS: Buy me some gauze, alcohol, and needles.
Little Bubble: ? Jiaojiao, what happened?! [Stunned] You’re not injured, are you? QAQ?
Dear BOSS: What nonsense are you talking? How could I possibly be injured? Just preparing these for someone else.
Little Bubble: Oh oh, I’ll go buy them right away.
Mo Mo put away her phone, somewhat puzzled about when Li Jiao had become so considerate and thoughtful.
“Thanks.” Li Jiao extended two fingers to pinch the plastic bag Mo Mo handed her.
“Sister Jiaojiao.”.. are you really okay?” Whether it was the dim hotel lighting or not, Mo Mo felt Li Jiao’s complexion didn’t look quite right.
“Just tired.” Li Jiao said while yawning. “I need to rest.”
“Ah… okay, then… good night?” Mo Mo glanced at the time – it was only 7 PM…
“Bye.” The door closed mercilessly.
“President Song, the meeting in Country F is scheduled three days from now. Do we really need to rush over overnight today?” Jiang Chen, who had been suddenly notified about working overtime and traveling, asked hopefully.
“Ten times the salary.” Song Li Sheng tossed out these words without looking back, his long legs stepping steadily into the Maybach.
“I think it’s absolutely necessary!” Jiang Chen quickly opened the passenger door.
Song Li Sheng was already accustomed to Jiang Chen’s habit of answering his own questions.
“Let’s go.” He lowered his head, looking at his phone where the chat interface with Li Jiao still showed their last “good night” exchange. Feeling somewhat disappointed, his voice deepened slightly.
As the driver stepped on the gas, Jiang Chen secretly glanced at his boss through the rearview mirror and sighed once again:
Love really does make people lose their minds.