Chapter 11: Surprise

“Are you okay?” Ding Sishu landed in front of Nian Qiao.

The crew had finally registered that Nian Qiao was injured.

Ding Sishu reached out to support Nian Qiao’s arm. A crew member had already taken her other arm.

The area was in chaos, voices overlapping. “Nian Qiao’s hurt!”

“Get a doctor!”

“Get her to the lounge first…”

In the end, it was the director who stabilized the situation. They’d just finished an explosion scene and the site was a mess. The director pushed through to Nian Qiao only to find her bodyguard already inspecting the injury.

The bodyguard moved fast — riip, she tore open the leg of Nian Qiao’s pants.

“How is she?”

Ding Sishu tore a strip of fabric and made a quick field dressing. She pressed along Nian Qiao’s bones, then turned to the director. “The bone’s not injured.”

“I’m fine, everyone. No need to worry.” Nian Qiao’s face was still pale. “Just a scraped knee.”

“Alright, I’ll have Little Qian take you to the hospital.”

Nian Qiao shook her head. “No need. There’s a first-aid kit in the lounge. I’ll just apply some medicine.”

A thin sheen of sweat covered Ding Sishu’s forehead — she clearly hadn’t expected Nian Qiao to get hurt. After a few steps of support, she naturally scooped Nian Qiao up into her arms.

Ding Sishu moved fast, so fast the crew behind had to jog. Nian Qiao raised a hand, lightly wrapping it around Ding Sishu’s neck.

The moment she did, Ding Sishu looked down.

Nian Qiao was watching her, a hint of amusement in her eyes. Meeting that smile, Ding Sishu’s ears turned pink.

She looked at Nian Qiao’s knee. Everything below it was gone, torn off by her. She hadn’t thought much about it in the moment. Now, thinking back — it had been a little too smooth.

It felt… satisfying. “Th-That… I just wanted to check your…”

Stop smiling. Stop blinking. Ding Sishu’s tongue was tying itself in knots. Nian Qiao was both smiling and blinking, and Ding Sishu was starting to think Nian Qiao must have lost a dangerous amount of blood.

“I know.” The smile curved again.

Wahh. No amount of inner bullet comments could withstand a single smile from Nian Qiao.

Soon, the doctor arrived. Taking out the medical kit, he crouched down and found Nian Qiao’s wound had already been mostly cleaned.

“Doctor, I did some basic cleaning.” Ding Sishu said.

“Good.” The doctor applied fresh medicine and lightly bandaged Nian Qiao.

“Miss Nian, is anything else bothering you?” The doctor asked Nian Qiao.

Nian Qiao shook her head. “I still have some tinnitus. Probably an aftereffect of the explosion.”

At Nian Qiao’s words, the doctor examined her. “Miss Nian, be careful over the next few days. Don’t let the wound touch water.”

The doctor rattled off dietary restrictions, then: “Miss Nian, I’ll be right next door. If anything feels off, you can send…”

The doctor looked at Ding Sishu. Ding Sishu quickly answered: “I’m Ding. I’m Miss Nian’s bodyguard.”

“Good. You can send Little Ding to get me at any time.” The doctor said.

Ding Sishu walked the doctor to the door, and he complimented her technique. “Young lady, very professional.”

The door wasn’t far from the bed. Nian Qiao looked over to see Ding Sishu showing off those little white teeth again. “I learned a bit.”

“Scared me half to death!” Tiantian wasn’t on set often. The moment he heard Nian Qiao was hurt, he rushed over. Two thick arms clutching his heart, he looked at Ding Sishu. “I heard you were the first to notice?”

“I heard you charged into the trench and rescued Nian Qiao!” Her cousin had also heard about it — exaggerations spread fast, and the version her cousin got had already evolved somewhat.

“Sis, that’s not—”

“Shushu, you can’t let the Ding family line end with you!” Her cousin said.

“It’s not that serious.”

Her cousin paused. “Missing an arm or a leg is also unacceptable. If you end up missing some part, my parents will kill me.”

Ding Sishu had to explain the whole story, in full detail.

Her cousin listened, then paused thoughtfully. “Looks like you’re pretty deeply in love with Nian Qiao.”

???

“Sigh, Sis understands. Sis has been through that age too.”

??? What do you understand?! Under her cousin’s consoling gaze, Ding Sishu fell into confusion. Which word out of her mouth just now had indicated she was “deeply in love” with Nian Qiao?!

Nian Qiao rested for half a day, then returned to work.

Watching Nian Qiao limp around, Ding Sishu — not a Qiao fan — felt genuinely moved.

The forum comment was right: her acting might be average, but she was dedicated.

The problem was, her acting and her dedication were severely disproportionate. Watching her perform scenes with the male lead, Ding Sishu finally understood. Nian Qiao was dragging the whole production down!

She remembered a savage netizen comment: Nian Qiao’s original intention was the most well-preserved thing about her as a star. “I’ll keep being beautiful. I can’t hear what you’re saying.”

“Miss Nian, are you sure you don’t want to rest a little longer?” After the scene, Jin Yang spoke to Nian Qiao.

Jin Yang sounded sincere.

Having watched that scene, Ding Sishu believed Jin Yang’s concern came from the bottom of his heart.

“No need.” Nian Qiao said. “We can’t hold up the shooting schedule.”

Once Nian Qiao turned away, Ding Sishu looked at Jin Yang’s face. His expression was complicated.

Ding Sishu nearly died laughing.

She even mentally added some bullet comments for Nian Qiao: that’s what you get for blowing up your girl — take your lesson this time. Ding Sishu was certain the explosives crew would be doubly, triply careful from now on. See the price? Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.

“Thinking about what again?”

At the sound of Nian Qiao’s voice, Ding Sishu’s ears went red. “Nothing.”

Ding Sishu’s rich inner life was, of course, unknown to Nian Qiao.

Meeting Nian Qiao’s gaze, Ding Sishu’s ears burned again. Seriously, Ding Sishu felt like she was developing split personality disorder. Inside, she’d be laughing at Nian Qiao. Face to face, she transformed into an awkward, shy little girl.

What did that come down to? It wasn’t that she was a coward. It was that Nian Qiao was beautiful. Nian Qiao was just too beautiful.

Nian Qiao’s lips curved, and she turned away. Ding Sishu thought she was the one splitting personalities — but Nian Qiao was splitting too. In front of the camera, she was one person. Off camera, she was incredibly lively, teasing Ding Sishu into the ground.

If Nian Qiao could put half her flirting talent into her acting, wouldn’t she already be a movie queen?

Supporting Nian Qiao into the lounge, Ding Sishu obediently sat down to the side. Nian Qiao’s hand rested on the edge of the bed, then she crooked a finger at Ding Sishu.

“Miss Nian…” Ding Sishu walked over slowly.

“Bend down.”

Ding Sishu bent. Nian Qiao leaned in close. Ding Sishu’s ear twitched — Nian Qiao was almost at her collarbone.

“How many have you had?”

“Huh?” Ding Sishu said. “One. I mean— none.”

Nian Qiao said nothing, just sniffed. Her warm breath spilled across Ding Sishu’s neck. Ding Sishu felt weak.

“So young, and such a heavy smoker.”

“No… I mean…”

“Did Tiantian brief you before?”

“He did…” Ding Sishu tucked her head. Nian Qiao’s voice was gentle, but she was inexplicably scared.

Nian Qiao’s hands landed on Ding Sishu’s shoulders. Ding Sishu turned her head to look at her. Their eyes were very close.

“I don’t like the smell of smoke.” Nian Qiao said.

“I’m sorry. Next time—”

“If it’s you… it’s negotiable.”

“Huh?”

“Smoke less.”

“Ah… okay.” Ding Sishu swallowed.

Nian Qiao was so close. Ding Sishu fisted her sleeve secretly. Was Nian Qiao going to kiss her? Was she going to—

A knock came at the door.

Nian Qiao slowly lowered her hands. A smile tugged at her lips. “Go open the door.”

It was Li Ting — and Li Ting’s manager. Li Ting went in; Ding Sishu and the manager stayed outside.

“I heard you charged into the trench and rescued Miss Nian?” After a moment of mutual eye-contact, the manager broke the silence.

“…” How exactly had this story gotten so distorted?

Seeing Li Ting wasn’t shocking. Li Ting had a cameo in October Beacon Fire, and this was him showing up.

Li Ting was one of the hottest male celebrities right now. The moment he entered the set, Ding Sishu heard screaming from the entrance. Aaaah — the shrieks of young men and women. His fans seemed even crazier than Nian Qiao’s.

The manager chatted with Ding Sishu for a bit, occasionally glancing toward the door. It was closed — no way he could see anything.

Ding Sishu wanted to peek too — to check out Nian Qiao’s rumored boyfriend, the one her cousin had confirmed.

“In a hurry?”

“A bit. Tight schedule.” The manager smiled. “We were heading to the airport, but Ting insisted on stopping by.”

“So Brother Ting and Miss Nian have a good relationship.”

The manager smiled without answering — looking almost suggestive. As if to say, “Good relationship? More than good.”

Li Ting came out quickly, looking less happy than when he went in.

Fighting?

Ding Sishu had thought he’d stay longer. But Li Ting was out in no time.

When Ding Sishu went back in, Nian Qiao was already off the bed. Her expression was calm, standing to the side reading her script.

“Miss Nian?”

“What are you doing standing in the doorway? Come in.” Nian Qiao didn’t look up.

“Okay.” Ding Sishu stepped carefully, scanning the floor, terrified of stepping on one of Nian Qiao’s “mines.”

“Are you waiting for me to come to you?” Nian Qiao put down the script.

“No.” Ding Sishu quickly stepped up to Nian Qiao. “Miss Nian, is there anything you need?”

“We were in the middle of something.” Nian Qiao placed her hand on Ding Sishu’s shoulder again.

Ding Sishu looked at Nian Qiao. Then she suddenly noticed something. She straightened up. “It seems…”

“Hm?”

“I seem to be taller!” Ding Sishu’s eyes widened with delight. “I’m taller than you!”