The next morning, Jiang Ruan was awakened by the alarm clock. She had filming scheduled in the morning and couldn't be late.
With her mind foggy, she quickly came to her senses, and her whole body ached terribly.
Jiang Ruan rubbed her waist, her gaze falling on the man sleeping soundly beside her, unable to help but curse inwardly.
In the bathroom, seeing that there wasn't a single spot on her body that didn't hurt except her neck, Jiang Ruan felt like throwing him out.
That lousy man, thankfully this time she's filming a non-modern drama.
Otherwise, she'd definitely be doomed.
Jiang Ruan hurriedly washed up, changed clothes, and left.
The sound of the door closing was heard, and the man on the bed instantly opened his eyes.
Bao Ye stared at the ceiling, his dark eyes without a trace of red blood, having awakened refreshed.
He had awoken when the alarm rang.
He just didn't open his eyes.
Wanting to see if she'd do anything while he slept, but she didn't.
She didn't even acknowledge him.
After washing up, she just left directly.
Bao Ye frowned, feeling somewhat neglected, but it quickly disappeared.
Picking up the phone beside him, he turned on the screen, looking at the time, his Adam's apple rolling heavily.
Nine o'clock.
He had slept for six and a half hours last night.
This amount of sleep was something he hadn't had this entire month.
Indeed, as long as she's around, he can have a good sleep.
Thinking this, Bao Ye dialed a number.
His voice was cool and cold, filled with a bloodthirsty momentum: "Find out who hit Jiang Ruan."
Someone immediately responded: "Yes."
Hanging up the phone, Bao Ye got out of bed.
Meanwhile.
When Jiang Ruan arrived at the set, Sister Qin had just arrived, seeing the dark circles under her eyes, Sister Qin frowned: "Didn't sleep well last night? Why are the dark circles so heavy?"
Jiang Ruan: "..."
She pouted: "Insomnia."
Insomnia my foot.
She was tormented by that lousy man until dawn.
No wonder she had dark circles.
Sister Qin: "Come on, later let the makeup artist apply more concealer for you. How did you end up insomniac like this?"
Jiang Ruan grinned and said: "I don't know."
"Perhaps it was the fatigue from shooting yesterday."
Sister Qin nodded: "Indeed, we filmed all day yesterday."
"How about this, later I'll hire a masseur for you, wait in your hotel room, and give you a good relaxation in the evening."
Jiang Ruan, already weak in the legs, stumbled slightly upon hearing this, almost falling: "Ah!"
"Careful!" Sister Qin exclaimed, quickly supporting her.
"Are you alright, be careful."
"Did you sprain your ankle?"
Sister Qin looked at her nervously; she was about to shoot, and a sprained ankle would be detrimental to her at this point.
"I'm fine," Jiang Ruan responded awkwardly: "Just didn't watch where I was going."
Sister Qin finally relaxed with this: "My dear, you have to be cautious, getting injured at this stage would really affect your progress, you know?"
"I know, Sister Qin."
Jiang Ruan obediently replied.
She was just startled.
A masseur would wait for her in the hotel room?
Jiang Ruan could barely imagine it, given a living person was lying on her bed right now.
The person being Bao Ye.
Jiang Ruan broke out in a cold sweat, if discovered, she'd certainly be doomed.
Sister Qin said: "About the masseur, let's settle this..."
"Sister Qin!" Jiang Ruan interrupted her quickly without hesitation, saying: "No need for a masseur, I need to study the script at night, and I won't be in the mood after the massage."
Sister Qin frowned: "That's no good, you film all day, study scripts at night, how can your body take it."
"It's fine." Jiang Ruan smiled sweetly: "Young people should work hard, really no need for a masseur, now is not the time to slack off, we must be fully dedicated, I'm relying on this drama to win an award."
"Once this drama wraps up, I'll invite you to the most expensive spa in Beijing!"
Jiang Ruan declared with an inspiring face.
She was full of fighting spirit, like she was on a stimulant.
Her attitude infected Sister Qin as well.
Looking at Jiang Ruan, Sister Qin's eyes shone.
Sister Qin held Jiang Ruan's shoulders: "Alright then, I won't get you a masseur, but do take care of yourself, okay?"
"After all, health is the bedrock of progress."
Jiang Ruan nodded seriously.
Sister Qin went to find the director to talk.
Seeing her back, Jiang Ruan finally let out a sigh of relief, raising a hand to wipe her forehead; she was sweating.
If Sister Qin really hired a masseur.
To her room.
While Bao Ye hadn't left yet.
Jiang Ruan could barely imagine.
A disastrous scene.
But surely he must have left by now?
Jiang Ruan thought, given his busy work schedule, leaving early and returning late, this place is two hours away from Beijing.
He must have left by now.
There were six scenes today.
Jiang Ruan and the whole crew filmed from morning until the sun set in the afternoon.
The last scene was with Li Xin.
It was unclear if Li Xin did it on purpose or if there was an issue, the previous scenes all passed in one go.
But for this one, Li Xin kept having various issues, either forgetting lines or other things.
Causing Jiang Ruan and the crew to reshoot multiple times, it took three tries to get it right.
In this scene, Jiang Ruan's character Shangguan Ruo was punished by Chen Fei to kneel, and it was on a gravel road.
Though there was padding underneath.
Kneeling still hurt.
Jiang Ruan was already sore from yesterday, exhausted from a whole day of filming today.
Now, she had to repeat kneeling three times.
And kneel throughout till the end.
By the time they finally wrapped up, her knees hurt so much she couldn't stand up without Sister Qin's support.
Jiang Ruan gritted her teeth, saying that Li Xin wasn't deliberate, though she didn't believe it at all.
She lifted her skirt, revealing two bruised knees, shockingly visible.
Sister Qin jumped in surprise: "How did it swell like this? She's taking vengeance!"
"I can't let her get away with this, I'm going after her!"
Sister Qin finished speaking, intending to leave, but Jiang Ruan quickly stopped her: "Don't go."
Jiang Ruan's eyes were calm, her tone indifferent: "We'll have time in the future."
One day, Li Xin will fall into her hands.
Sister Qin was about to say something.
Behind them came Li Xin's smug laughter: "Oh dear, Sister Jiang Ruan, I'm really sorry, it's all because I'm so dumb, can't even remember my lines."
"Making you kneel for so long, you won't blame me, will you?"
Jiang Ruan turned her head and saw Li Xin walking over with her assistant.
She was still wearing her costume.
Not even trying to hide the smugness on her face.
Clearly just here to enjoy the show.
Seeing the two about to clash again, the crew all looked on, silently watching the drama unfold.
But Jiang Ruan wouldn't let her just watch the show.
"Of course not, Sister Li Xin."
Jiang Ruan's red lips curved, her slender hands crossed over her abdomen, the pure white beaded embroidered dress made her look gentle and elegant, exuding the charm of a noble lady from ancient times.
As if she walked straight out of a painting.
Her soft gaze fell on Li Xin: "After all, everyone in the crew knows how dumb you are, how could I blame you?"
"Besides, people's intelligence differs. Those of us who memorize lines thoroughly should naturally be more understanding towards those who forget them."
"Don't you agree, Sister Li Xin?"
Jiang Ruan's tone was gentle, her white clothes made her seem ethereal, yet lively.
But anyone with sharp ears could hear how she emphasized the last four words deliberately.
It was obvious her words were a biting sarcasm towards Li Xin.
Not far away, someone couldn't hold back a laugh: "Pfft."
Jiang Ruan's counterattack truly had skill.
Moreover, her words were indeed correct.
No one in the crew liked Li Xin now. Initially, when Li Peng was around, she flaunted herself as the assistant director's second lead and looked down on everyone.
Now that Li Peng's out, she has no backing, and naturally, people aren't afraid of her anymore.
Besides, today she made the whole crew reshoot a scene three times because of her.
Such a disgrace for an actress who can't remember her script.
The Director's face turned dark at the time.
Hearing this, Li Xin turned angrily, glaring directly: "What are you laughing at."
Her anger was fueled by Jiang Ruan, her breathless outrage couldn't hold back her temper as she started swearing directly: "Stop being so sarcastic, I just hate you, so what."
"Don't think I don't know what kind of person you are, a mere graduate from a second-rate university made it here, who knows how many beds you climbed into..."
Sister Qin's face instantly changed.
She said coldly: "Li Xin, you can eat indiscriminately, but you can't speak carelessly."
Jiang Ruan listened with an unchanged face, but her fingertips quietly clenched.
Her knees were faintly aching, she looked coldly at Li Xin.
"I've seen many like you, pretending to be pure, but who knows how many have kept you..."
Before Li Xin could finish, her agent covered her mouth directly: "Mmm...mmm..."
"Don't say more, my dear, do you still want to stay in showbiz?"
The agent was scared to death.
Did she still think she was Feihong's spoiled princess?
If it were before, she'd have no problems just scolding Jiang Ruan, a mere rising star.
But things were different now.
Li Xin: "Mmm..."
The agent held her tightly.
And apologized to the two.
"I'm sorry, Jiang Ruan, Sister Qin, Li Xin's head isn't clear today, she lost her mind, please don't hold it against her."
"I'll take her away now."
Saying that, she signaled the assistant with her eyes.
The group forcibly pulled Li Xin away.
Li Xin couldn't resist at all.
Watching the group leave, Sister Qin was so angry she couldn't breathe smoothly: "What a brainless idiot, hurry up and blacklist her."
Saying whatever comes to mind without thinking.
This kind of person is highly taboo in the entertainment industry.
"Don't be upset, sweetheart."
"It's not worth it to argue with such people."
Jiang Ruan's lips twitched slightly, her knee pain came through, smilingly she said: "I know, Sister Qin."
It's truly not worth arguing with fools.
But she wouldn't forget this grudge.
"I'll take you back now, I'll bring you medicine later, apply it yourself tonight, hopefully, it'll heal faster."
"Okay."
Sister Qin sighed: "This is how the crew is, actors seem glamorous on the surface, but only they know the suffering. But this matter can't be just let go like this, tomorrow I'll go talk to the Director, if Li Xin keeps acting out like this, then we'll let her film alone."
"At worst, we'll switch to another crew, it's not our loss anyway."
Jiang Ruan knew she was venting for her, and didn't refuse: "Mm."
The two turned to leave.
Little did they know, someone not far away had recorded the whole thing.
Then converted the file and sent it out.
In the makeup room.
Bai Yi walked in with ointment, but found Jiang Ruan wasn't there, and asked the staff: "Where's Jiang Ruan?"