Qiao Shu ran out of the hospital, feeling like something terrifying was chasing him.
“Qiao Qiao, over here!” Lu Yue stood by the car, waving to catch his attention. She worried that he might not find the car.
Qiao Shu, still catching his breath, sat in the car.
Concerned, Lu Yue asked, “Qiao Qiao, what happened? You’re running like this, and your face is so red. Did something happen at the hospital?”
She handed him a wet wipe to clean his face.
The awkward scene replayed as Qiao Shu’s face reddened even more. He took the wipe and awkwardly replied, “Sister Yue, I’m fine. I just felt like running suddenly.”
Lu Yue sighed, “You…”
Qiao Shu smiled, trying to appease her.
Having fallen onto a seriously ill patient, especially in that particular position, with his face buried in an embarrassing spot, Qiao Shu couldn’t stop blushing. Alongside the embarrassment, he felt a hint of worry.
It wasn’t until he arrived at the film set that he managed to suppress the redness in his face.
After getting out of the car, Qiao Shu said, “Sister Yue, put your things back in the hotel. I’ll go inform the director that I’m safe. Later, I’ll return with Yu Yu.”
During his hospital stay, both Director Zhu and the props team had called several times to check on him. Now that he was discharged, it was only natural to report his safety to the film crew.
Lu Yue: “Okay, I’ll come over after putting away my things.”
When Qiao Shu entered, they were filming a scene between Jiang Jiayu and Chu Chisheng, the renowned actor.
He silently stood in a corner, observing.
“Cut!”
Director Zhu halted the scene. “Great job, everyone. Take a break, and we’ll shoot another angle later.”
Jiang Jiayu smiled at Chu Chisheng and headed toward the rest area.
“Yu Yu,” Qiao Shu called.
Jiang Jiayu looked up and broke into a smile. “Qiao Qiao, you’re back!”
“Yep.” Qiao Shu opened his arms and gave Jiang Jiayu a bear hug.
After releasing him, Jiang Jiayu inspected the still-healing bump on Qiao Shu’s head. “Be careful in the next few days. After we finish filming, I’ll bring you some stewed pig brain soup.”
Qiao Shu chuckled. “Pig brain soup—our Yu Yu really understands me and is so considerate.”
Jiang Jiayu smirked. “Hmph.”
After a brief chat, Qiao Shu said, “I’ll go greet Director Zhu. You rest up.”
Jiang Jiayu: “Okay.”
Director Zhu was repeatedly reviewing the footage just captured when a shadow fell across his path. He looked up and saw Qiao Shu’s face, illuminated by the sunlight.
“Director Zhu,” Qiao Shu greeted.
Director Zhu hesitated for a moment, recognizing Qiao Shu. “You’re back?”
Qiao Shu nodded obediently. “I’ve mostly recovered and can resume work. I apologize for delaying the production.”
Director Zhu waved it off. “It’s not your fault. Since you’re back, come to the set tomorrow. Rest today.”
He motioned for Qiao Shu to sit down.
Qiao Shu settled on a small stool.
Director Zhu sighed. “This situation should have been handled better, but…” His voice lowered. “Qiao Shu, you know how sometimes we’re powerless due to our position. Some matters can only be gently set aside; we can’t delve too deeply. It wouldn’t benefit either of us.”
“I understand,” Qiao Shu replied.
Jiang Jiayu had informed Qiao Shu over the phone. The troublemaker Zhou Tongtong had influential backers, and Director Zhu initially wanted to take her straight to the police station. However, someone intervened, and Zhou Tongtong was ultimately removed from the set.
Director Zhu patted Qiao Shu’s shoulder. “You’ve been through a lot. The production team will compensate you later.”
Qiao Shu quickly waved it off. “No need, really. I’m fine now.”
Director Zhu insisted, “We insist. Don’t worry; with Chu Chisheng, our renowned actor, on the team, we have plenty of resources.”
He emphasized, “Focus on your acting. Once you make a name for yourself, these incidents will become less frequent.”
Qiao Shu was left speechless.
Then he sincerely smiled and said, “Thank you, Director Zhu.”
Director Zhu replied, “Good child.”
In the novel, Director Zhu is kind and considerate, especially toward newcomers. The original host couldn’t return to the set due to injuries, but after receiving compensation, Director Zhu also arranged a decent supporting role audition for the original host.
Unfortunately, it didn’t go well in the end.
Qiao Shu returned to Jiang Jiayu’s side and sat down.
Jiang Jiayu asked, “What did Director Zhu say?”
Qiao Shu answered, “He asked me to rest today and return to the set for filming tomorrow.”
Jiang Jiayu happily exclaimed, “Director Zhu is truly considerate.”
Meanwhile, Director Zhu held a megaphone and called out, “Chu Chisheng, Jiang Jiayu, get ready.”
Jiang Jiayu quickly stood up. “Qiao Qiao, I’m off. You rest up.”
Qiao Shu chuckled, “Do you think I’m a pig? I’ve rested enough these days. Go ahead; I’ll wait for you!”
Director Zhu was urging them, so Jiang Jiayu reluctantly said, “Alright.”
This is a suspenseful drama titled “Daybreak,” and it consists of only 20 episodes.
Jiang Jiayu plays the son of the antagonist boss—a pitiable character torn between darkness and light. Although his screen time is limited, his interactions with Chu Chisheng drive the plot forward in every scene.
On the other hand, Qiao Shu portrays a rookie police officer who often shadows the team leader, played by Chu Chisheng. While he has more visible appearances, most of his role falls into the background.
Jiang Jiayu truly possesses talent and works hard. His role presents some challenges for a newcomer, but when Jiang Jiayu stands before the camera, it’s hard to find any flaws despite not delivering a perfect performance.
The next day, Qiao Shu resumed filming. With his formal training, portraying a greenhorn police officer came naturally to him, and occasionally, Director Zhu even praised his efforts.
After finishing their meal that day, Jiang Jiayu packed up his lunchbox and turned to Qiao Shu. “Qiao Qiao, I have a fight scene with Chu Chisheng today. I need to rehearse with him. Would you like to join us?”
Qiao Shu hesitated.
Then he remembered how the original host, in the novel, had manipulated Jiang Jiayu to spend more time with Chu Chisheng. The excuse was that learning from Chu Chisheng’s acting would be beneficial. In reality, it was an opportunity to get closer to Chu Chisheng.
However, Chu Chisheng saw through the original host’s intentions and always regarded him with disdain, as if observing a clown.
Thinking of this, along with the novel’s scene where Jiang Jiayu and Chu Chisheng accidentally fell together and bumped lips, Qiao Shu quickly shook his head.
“No, no.”
He couldn’t jeopardize the development of the main couple!
Jiang Jiayu looked puzzled. “What’s wrong?”
The previous Qiao Qiao always accompanied him.
Qiao Shu: “…”
Silly child, why do you always bring along that bright and shiny light bulb?
Qiao Shu bent over, clutching his stomach. “My stomach hurts; I need to use the restroom.”
He ran out, turning back to instruct, “Yu Yu, go quickly. Don’t keep Senior Chu waiting for long.”
Qiao Shu dashed away.
Initially, he had planned to take a quick stroll outside and then return to the rest area. However, unexpectedly, after running for a while, Qiao Shu truly needed to use the restroom.
“Well, this trip wasn’t in vain.”
He headed toward the restroom.
Inside the men’s restroom, he randomly chose a stall and began to squat.
“Have you heard about the Gu family’s news?” a rough voice said.
“Of course, it’s been all over recently. How could anyone not have heard?” replied another man with a softer voice.
The rough-voiced man sighed, “Who would have thought that someone like him would end up in such a miserable state? I’m telling you, Gu Chenyan’s recent car accident isn’t ordinary.”
The coarse-voiced man continued, “The wealthy families are full of drama. We ordinary folks are better off. Shortly after the incident, his nephew started seizing power—no sense of compassion whatsoever. When we commoners face trouble, relatives come to help.”
“Earning so much money, yet unable to enjoy it. He’ll probably spend the rest of his life in the hospital.”
The softer-voiced man chimed in, “Indeed. Riches without the ability to savor them. We ordinary folks have it better.”
Meanwhile, Qiao Shu, still squatting in the stall, thought to himself, “…” The name Gu Chenyan sounded oddly familiar.
Qiao Shu pondered for a moment.
Then his eyes widened: “!!!”
Wasn’t this the unseen fiancé from the novel?
In the book, around this time, the original host also discovered that he had an unseen fiancé, the head of the Gu family—a top-tier magnate in Haicheng—Gu Chenyan.
When Gu Chenyan’s assistant approached the original host, he was initially excited. Climbing up with Gu Chenyan, he could have anything he wanted: lucrative acting roles, elevated status, and even those who once looked down on him were now trying to please him.
However, his excitement was short-lived. He learned that Gu Chenyan had been disfigured and hospitalized due to a car accident. He might even be paralyzed for life, and the Gu family’s power had been usurped.
Excitement turned to avoidance.
The original host disdainfully rejected the planned meeting with Gu Chenyan. He privately cursed him for not showing up earlier, only seeking him out when he was already ruined!
In the end, instead of facing the original host directly, Gu Chenyan sent a lawyer. The original host signed a contract and received fifty million in return.
But later, he regretted it.
Because not long after, Gu Chenyan regained control of the Gu Group through forceful means.
That’s when everyone discovered that Gu Chenyan had been cooperating with his nephew to expose the unruly elements within the corporation.
As for his nephew, he disappeared mysteriously, and rumors suggested he might have been eliminated.
The original host attempted to find Gu Chenyan, but he remained elusive.
Outside, the two individuals chatted about some high-society gossip before leaving. Qiao Shu stood up, pulled on his pants, and the motion-sensing flush system behind him activated.
According to the timeline in the book, Gu Chenyan’s assistant should be approaching him soon.
He must decline this marriage proposal!
Although Gu Chenyan was wealthy and influential, the book depicted him as quite ruthless.
Qiao Shu considered himself an ordinary person who, despite liking money, couldn’t handle someone as ruthless as Gu Chenyan.
Moreover, the book portrayed Gu Chenyan as being quite old.
Qiao Shu pouted. He didn’t want to be the tender young grass nibbled by an old bull.
Most importantly, refusing the marriage would earn him fifty million.
Fifty million!!!
Qiao Shu’s eyes sparkled. What a windfall!
As he bent down to fasten his buttons, his eyes, still gleaming from the thought of the fifty million, suddenly met the toilet bowl.
“!!!”
When Qiao Shu emerged from the stall, having squatted up and down many times, he was close to tears.
Qiao Shu: QAQ
Once he had that fifty million, the first thing he’d do was convert this toilet’s flush system to manual!
⌈Weekend chapter: 0⌋
