Chapter 194: There’s a Fox Here (Entertainment Circle) Part 7
Yu Shuangjiang’s guess was correct. For privacy, the company had admitted her to a high-security private hospital.
After their top actress left, Yu Shuangjiang was Yiwen Entertainment’s biggest star, with numerous contracts and a newly completed drama in post-production, which, if she didn’t wake up, would become her swan song.
The most worried about her condition were her parents, followed by Yiwen Entertainment.
They had gone to great lengths to suppress the news, spending a fortune to prevent any leaks or rumors.
So far, the lack of any news about Yu Shuangjiang was good news.
Someone was managing her social media accounts, and thanks to her habit of staying out of the public eye after finishing filming, only occasionally appearing at the theater, maintaining a positive image wasn’t difficult.
The only problem now was when she would wake up.
Yu Shuangjiang’s initial excitement faded as she smelled the hospital’s antiseptic scent, her ears drooping.
Even if I’m back at the hospital, it’s useless if I can’t return to my body.
The private hospital was quiet, the footsteps of passing nurses and the rattling of medical carts clearly audible.
Xiao Li, representing the company, followed the nurse’s directions, registered at the front desk, and entered the elevator.
Tao Ning, carrying the fruit basket, followed closely.
Xiao Li, holding the flowers, pressed the elevator button, saying gratefully, “Thank you, Tao Laoshi, this basket is heavy, I can carry it myself.”
Tao Ning dodged her hand, shaking her head: “It wouldn’t look good if I didn’t do anything, and it’s not heavy.”
Xiao Li could only retract her hand, clutching the bouquet.
She glanced at Tao Ning, she had heard Tao Ning was pampered and had high standards, how could she say such a large fruit basket wasn’t heavy…
But the effortless way she carried it, not even a single vein bulging on the back of her hand, told Xiao Li that she wasn’t exaggerating.
Yiwen Entertainment had kept Yu Shuangjiang’s accident a secret, and Qingying Entertainment shouldn’t have known, but coincidentally, they had contacted Yu Shuangjiang for a new project after she finished filming.
Unable to hide it any longer, and trusting their former collaborator, Yiwen had to reveal the truth.
The executives at Qingying, shocked, abandoned the project, sending someone to visit her instead.
The elevator ascended, and they soon reached their destination.
This floor was even quieter, and a few people chatting in the corridor looked over.
Xiao Li, often sent on errands, was a smooth talker.
But recognizing the people in the corridor, she froze.
No one had told her the CEO and several executives of Yiwen Entertainment would be here. She could exchange pleasantries with Yu Shuangjiang’s manager, but not with the CEO.
Tao Ning, of course, recognized them, a flicker of surprise in her eyes.
She knew Yiwen valued Yu Shuangjiang, but she hadn’t expected them to be this concerned, the executives all gathered here.
Since they had been seen, retreating would only appear cowardly, so Tao Ning adjusted her smile and walked forward.
Xiao Li, clutching the bouquet, hurried after her, the rustling of the wrapping paper loud in the quiet corridor.
Tao Ning began with a simple introduction: “We heard about Miss Yu’s accident and are very sorry that we can’t collaborate again, so we came to visit, this small gift is a token of our concern. CEO Chu, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“You’re too kind, your presence is enough,” CEO Chu, a woman in her forties, replied, shaking Tao Ning’s hand.
The others, realizing it was Tao Ning from Qingying, also greeted her.
They hadn’t expected Qingying to send Tao Ning, a gesture of support during a difficult time, and CEO Chu, worried about Yu Shuangjiang, was touched.
The rumors didn’t matter to them, in this industry, there were no permanent friends or enemies.
They shook hands, breaking the ice.
Yu Shuangjiang’s manager said, “This fruit basket is heavy, let me help you.”
“Sure,” Tao Ning handed it over casually.
“I’ll take it.” Yu Shuangjiang’s assistant reached out instinctively, seeing how easily Tao Ning carried it, not using much force, and her hand was pulled down by the weight.
“…?”
She looked at the heavy basket in disbelief, wondering how much fruit was inside.
Xiao Li, listening to their polite exchanges, clutched the bouquet, quiet as a mouse.
The manager said, “Thank you for visiting Shuangjiang, give me the flowers.”
Xiao Li handed over the bouquet.
Even the most eloquent person would become timid in their presence, their aura, even when not deliberately exerted, still imposing.
Wait, didn’t Tao Laoshi bring a cat? It hasn’t made a sound, is it alright?
Xiao Li glanced at Tao Ning’s bag, which was quiet and still.
She was worried, and taking advantage of Tao Ning’s back being turned, she discreetly tiptoed and peeked inside.
She couldn’t see anything.
Yu Shuangjiang was fine, she was just being quiet, not wanting to be noticed.
Now that she was here, she was hesitant, afraid of facing her manager and the others.
Everything had been going so well, how did it end up like this?
Tao Ning, however, noticed Xiao Li’s actions and subtly shifted, exposing her, and Xiao Li quickly lowered her heels.
She smiled politely at Yu Shuangjiang’s manager, who looked surprised.
I’m not a pervert trying to peek inside my superior’s bag.
She wasn’t sure if the manager believed her, but she looked away, pretending not to notice.
Tao Ning glanced at the room, noticing a few personal belongings, some clearly not belonging to young people, like a worn, black thermos with the name of a local government agency printed on it.
Yu Shuangjiang’s parents must have visited, but for some reason, they weren’t here now, the open thermos still steaming.
Tao Ning didn’t enter, not wanting to sit and chat with the executives.
She said, “Our company was shocked to hear about this and immediately sent me to visit, please let us know if there’s anything we can do to help.”
“I’m not sure about Miss Yu’s injuries, but I know a few specialists who might be able to help.”
Yu Shuangjiang the cat, hidden in the bag, shifted slightly, finding a more comfortable position.
Such smooth talking, a true screenwriter.
No one knew better than Yu Shuangjiang that Tao Ning had volunteered to come, no one had asked her.
“It’s not that serious, Shuangjiang’s injuries aren’t that bad, just some external injuries,” CEO Chu said, her brows furrowing slightly, “The hospital also conducted a series of tests, confirming there’s no internal damage.”
She hadn’t taken Tao Ning’s offer seriously, but seeing her move, she followed, unknowingly arriving before Yu Shuangjiang’s room.
Tao Ning glanced inside through the observation window.
The warmly lit room was clean and tidy, the curtains drawn, the sunlight streaming in, a figure lying on the bed.
Yu Shuangjiang, who had become famous at nineteen, was undeniably beautiful, her face pale from her injuries, surrounded by medical equipment.
A dramatic scene.
Some people were born to be actors, their every move telling a story.
Just then, CEO Chu said, “But she hasn’t woken up yet, the doctors have tried everything.”
Tao Ning’s gaze lingered on Yu Shuangjiang’s forehead, then she turned to CEO Chu: “How could this be? Her external injuries aren’t that serious, are they?”
CEO Chu shook her head: “Just some scrapes and bruises, nothing serious, they’re almost healed.”
The more she spoke, the more frustrated she became, how could such a thing happen? The police investigation hadn’t revealed anything.
They claimed it was just a simple car accident, a rear-end collision.
The most seriously injured person had a broken leg, and Yu Shuangjiang, thanks to her car’s safety features, had the least severe injuries.
Initially, everyone thought she would wake up soon, the doctors also said so, but days had passed, and she was still unconscious.
CEO Chu, standing beside Tao Ning, didn’t notice the red glint in Tao Ning’s eyes, reflected in the observation window.
Her usually dark pupils constricted, turning into vertical slits, like a predator’s.
Yu Shuangjiang the cat, hidden in the bag, felt a sudden chill, instinctively curling up into a ball.
After the feeling subsided, she looked around nervously, her animal instincts sensing a powerful, dangerous presence.
What was that?!
Something terrifying just passed by, something that could devour me!
Tao Ning’s eyes returned to normal, and she said to CEO Chu, “Life is unpredictable, but I know a few specialists in this area, I can introduce you.”
CEO Chu, intrigued, having exhausted all other options, perhaps Tao Ning had a solution.
Tao Ning continued, “It’s such a pity for a rising star to suffer such a misfortune, I’d like to help if I can.”
Yu Shuangjiang’s soul had been displaced due to the accident, her body in the hospital, both needing to be nurtured, or she would die.
But Tao Ning wouldn’t just visit once, and with Yu Shuangjiang’s current condition, her soul weakened and incomplete, forcing her back would be too risky.
So, she needed an excuse to visit the hospital regularly.
As the one who introduced the specialists, it was perfectly reasonable for her to visit again, out of concern.
So it was decided, and declining CEO Chu’s offer of dinner, Tao Ning left the hospital with Xiao Li.
Yu Shuangjiang the cat, having heard their conversation, was puzzled.
She didn’t understand why Tao Ning was being so kind to her.
A cat being cute was one thing, and Tao Ning, as her rescuer, being kind was normal.
But they had barely interacted, the online rumors of Yu Shuangjiang being so angry she dumped trash in front of Tao Ning’s door hadn’t even happened.
And what did she mean by “rising star”?
After all these years of hard work and awards, was she still considered a newcomer in Tao Ning’s eyes?
Compared to Tao Ning’s achievements and accolades, having only won a television award, perhaps it wasn’t so strange…
No way, Yu Shuangjiang had long since abandoned self-deprecation.
Modesty was one thing, but she wouldn’t belittle herself.
Tao Ning’s words were just polite remarks, not to be taken seriously, but the offer of finding a specialist was worth considering.
Going downstairs, Tao Ning, although surprised by Yu Shuangjiang’s quietness, didn’t show it: “Where do you live? I’ll give you a ride.”
Xiao Li waved her hands repeatedly: “No, thank you, Tao Laoshi, I’m meeting a friend nearby, the subway is faster.”
The subway station was close to the hospital, and since she insisted, Tao Ning didn’t press further, walking towards the parking garage.
As she searched for her car, she didn’t seem to notice the movements in her bag, Yu Shuangjiang the cat occasionally shifting, then remaining still.
This way, if the cat disappeared, it would take Tao Ning a while to notice.
And by then, Yu Shuangjiang the cat would be back at the hospital.
This was Yu Shuangjiang’s plan, limited by her cat brain, not as quick-witted as her human self.
But her physical abilities had improved, she wasn’t as afraid of heights anymore.
Probably no other cat in the world was like Yu Shuangjiang, even as a cat, she was unique.
Although you’re quite nice, and the beef jerky is delicious, I have to go.
A furry head poked out of the bag, the damp, post-rain air refreshing, surrounded by parked cars.
If she hid under one of them, Tao Ning would never find her.
Seizing the opportunity, Yu Shuangjiang the cat jumped, her paws outstretched, ready to land gracefully.
The joy of flight!
Then she opened her eyes, her face falling.
A hand was supporting her belly, the grip firm but not painful, preventing her escape.
She had been caught mid-jump.
Tao Ning opened the car door, put the cat inside, and bent down, saying, “Don’t worry, I’ll be back.”
She closed the door, leaving Yu Shuangjiang the cat on the passenger seat, her tail twitching furiously.
This annoying woman, always one step ahead.
Did she have some kind of mind-reading ability?
At night, Tao Ning sat on the sofa, working on her laptop.
Yu Shuangjiang the cat sat on the coffee table, munching on watermelon, a refreshing change after days of meat.
Sweet and crunchy.
But she wasn’t appeased by a piece of watermelon, she would still try to escape, this was just practice.
After finishing the watermelon, she meowed loudly.
Tao Ning, deep in thought, instinctively patted her head, her voice gentle: “Only one piece of watermelon today, it’s not good for you to eat too much.”
Yu Shuangjiang the cat immediately turned her head away, dodging her hand.
No watermelon, no petting.
Tao Ning chuckled, retracting her hand, knowing she was still upset about this afternoon.
Screenwriting wasn’t as dramatic as Yu Shuangjiang had imagined, no piles of books, no messy hair, no frantic typing.
Tao Ning typed a few words, paused, then typed a few more.
Her writing wasn’t necessarily inspired, but it was slow and meticulous, like a craftsman carefully polishing a gem.
Then she stopped, her brows furrowing slightly.
Curious, Yu Shuangjiang the cat climbed onto the back of the sofa and peeked at the laptop screen.
It was a movie script, a scene that looked quite interesting, and Yu Shuangjiang, a seasoned actress, had a good eye for such things.
Her eyes lit up, imagining how she would play this role, then Tao Ning deleted the entire scene.
Yu Shuangjiang the cat was stunned, It was so good, why delete it?
Tao Ning, having almost cleared the entire document, started typing again, a new scene, and after reading it, Yu Shuangjiang no longer regretted the deleted part.
Because the new scene was even better, more captivating.
A few minutes later, she yawned, her head resting on Tao Ning’s shoulder, her eyes closing, and she fell asleep.
This wasn’t intentional, she could spend hours studying a script when she was human, but as a kitten, it was too much effort.
She hadn’t even finished reading the next scene before falling asleep.
The warm light of the lamp, the rhythmic tapping of the keyboard, Tao Ning continued writing, her posture unchanged.
In her sleep, Yu Shuangjiang seemed to hear someone whispering in her ear.
A familiar voice, the words fragmented.
Drawn to the familiar voice, she focused on listening, the whispered words as if separated by an invisible barrier.
Muffled and unclear, only a few words audible.
“…worried… will wake up…”
Another voice, filled with concern, replied, “Chu… said… doctor…”
A sigh echoed beside her ear, tugging at her heartstrings, and she felt a pang of sadness, her consciousness returning slightly.
It was her mother’s voice.
Someone lifted her hand from under the covers, the warmth almost bringing tears to her eyes.
She finally heard the words clearly, her mother saying, “Her hand is cold from the IV drip, I’ll warm it up for her.”
Am I back in my body, in the hospital?
This thought filled her with joy, and she tried to open her eyes.
But despite her efforts, she couldn’t, trapped in a dream, unable to wake up.
To her parents, sitting by her bedside, it was just a slight twitch of her eyelids, something they had seen many times, no longer a cause for excitement.
In just two days, they had experienced more disappointment than in their entire lives.
Yu Shuangjiang, however, was struggling to wake up, but her efforts were futile, not only could she not open her eyes, but her consciousness was also fading, sinking into darkness.
Then, she suddenly felt a jolt, regaining control of her body.
She opened her eyes excitedly, hoping to see a white ceiling.
But there was no white ceiling or IV drip, just familiar furniture, and someone sleeping beneath her.
Looking down, she realized she was curled up around Tao Ning’s neck, like a soft scarf.
Yu Shuangjiang: “…”
She had finally woken up before Tao Ning, but in this position.
Was this how I usually slept? she wondered.