Chapter 37: Does Pink Eye Count as a Work-Related Injury?

On the set of "Love Bible," Shen Xiaohai watched the yawning trio, his mind uncontrollably conjuring up all sorts of scenarios. What exactly had the three of them been up to after he got drunk last night?

Ji Yu was eating a steamed bun while rubbing his waist, feeling sore all over. He had been kicked by Le Jiatong the night before for snatching her skewers, and his waist still ached.

Shen Xiaohai thought, "!!!" Is he showing off?

After finishing his bun, Ji Yu ran over and said with a smile, "Big brother, are we going singing again tonight? You got drunk too fast yesterday and didn't get to sing properly. Let's keep it going tonight."

"Not going!" Shen Xiaohai said with a dark face.

"How about we split the bill tonight?"

Shen Xiaohai said frantically, "I wouldn't pay a single cent to go singing with you!!!"

Who would dare pick a song once you open your mouth? The memory of being ignored while singing last night was still fresh in Shen Xiaohai's mind! A man can endure much, but this was beyond his limits! I, Shen Xiaohai, will never go singing with you, Ji Yu, in this lifetime!

Ji Yu sighed. It seemed there would be no singing tonight. He couldn't afford to treat everyone by himself, and even splitting it with Fan Bingbing and Le Jiatong would cost several hundred yuan. He had to be thrifty; he was only paid five thousand yuan for filming this "Saving the Dusty Wind." He was dirt poor.

The pay in the entertainment industry was low these days; that was just the general environment. For an unknown actor, getting five thousand was decent, and that was only thanks to Old Cai's connections. Ji Yu still had to split that five thousand with his agency, meaning his take-home pay was only twenty-five hundred—pitifully low. Fortunately, it was a fifty-fifty split; if it had been twenty-eight or ten-ninety, Ji Yu would only be walking away with a few hundred or a thousand yuan after ten days of hard work. It was barely better than working in a factory.

When would actors' pay ever go up? Why weren't the coal mine bosses stepping up? Come to the entertainment industry!

Ji Yu, feeling melancholy, prepared to eat another bun, but when he looked down, the one in his hand had become three. Le Jiatong and Fan Bingbing stood before him and said, "A reward for you."

"I thank you so much." Ji Yu picked up a bun and was about to bite into it when he realized two of them were just empty skins!

"You're just feeding me bun skins!"

"It suits you perfectly—no guts, right?"

"......"

Seeing Ji Yu's dark expression, Le Jiatong burst into laughter and dragged Fan Bingbing away. Who would dare lay a hand on you? You chase people down just for taking a skewer. If you tried to grab my big meat skewer, I’d definitely stick my waist out and deliver it!

Ji Yu snorted and stuffed both bun skins into his mouth at once. After eating, he went to get his makeup done. In the dressing room, Ji Yu took a nap while they were attaching his headpiece.

He hadn't slept well the past two days and was exhausted. Anyone who didn't know better would think he’d had a wild night. That was exactly what Shen Xiaohai thought, and he was dying to ask Ji Yu if it was a one-on-one or a one-on-two situation last night. How could he be this tired!

While Ji Yu was napping, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He took it out and saw it was a call from Jiang Qingqing. Don't tell me she wants the car back? Did she return from Beijing?

"Qing, what's up?" Ji Yu asked with a yawn.

Shen Xiaohai, who was getting his makeup done, immediately pricked up his ears. "Qing?" Jiang Qingqing? He knew Ji Yu had just wrapped up filming "Detective Ke Lan" and had been the subject of rumors with her. Oh, wow, calling each other so intimately—was their relationship that close?

On the other end of the line, Jiang Qingqing heard how Ji Yu addressed her and couldn't help but snap at him. "I'm not coming to Shanghai anytime soon. You just make sure you keep the car well-maintained."

"Don't worry, I'm taking great care of it. It's got plenty of power! I'll make sure you're satisfied when you get back."

Shen Xiaohai couldn't help but curl his lip. Listen to that—what kind of suggestive language is that! "Well-maintained," "plenty of power!" Bah! He was rubbing his waist this morning! But this kid sure is living the good life! Why can't I be like that?

Shen Xiaohai couldn't take it anymore and urged his makeup artist to hurry up. Ji Yu chatted a bit more with Jiang Qingqing and then hung up. The car could still be driven for a while longer. Eventually, he would have to get his own.

Ji Yu's makeup today was quite sloppy; they were filming the scene where he gets thrown into prison by the villain. Shen Xiaohai feeling slighted off-camera and Ji Yu being slighted on-camera—wasn't that a kind of balance?

On the street set, Shen Xiaohai couldn't help but feel happy at the thought of beating Ji Yu up shortly. That’ll teach him to bully honest people! And for tricking him into paying for his meal last night! I’m going to beat him to a pulp today!

The scene was quickly set up. Fan Bingbing sat in her sedan chair, itching to snack on sunflower seeds. It was warm in the sedan, and she could watch two men fight over her. This was going to be a comfortable scene to film.

Once the set was ready and Director Zhang shouted "Action," Shen Xiaohai immediately got into character, his eyes filled with hatred toward Ji Yu. "Brothers! Get him all together and beat him to death! I'll pay for the damages if anything happens!"

Ji Yu, a weak scholar, was no match for them. He was kicked down with one blow, and a crowd swarmed him, kicking him from all sides. "Ouch, ouch, ouch~~" As Ji Yu groaned, a song popped into his head. *Ouch~ ouch~ ouch~~ Tell me, should we be together~~*

Sitting in the sedan, Fan Bingbing lifted the curtain and looked at the kicked-around Ji Yu with teary eyes. "No! Stop it, please!" Behind the crowd, Le Jiatong also stumbled over, watching Ji Yu get beaten with a face full of tears.

Shen Xiaohai felt incredibly satisfied and snuck in a kick. Although the director hadn't arranged for him to use his feet, he hadn't said he couldn't, either! He wouldn't feel relieved without getting that kick in!

Shen Xiaohai retracted his foot, feeling refreshed. But when he saw Fan Bingbing’s teary eyes and noticed Le Jiatong looking the same way out of the corner of his eye, his sense of triumph vanished. Why was he so happy? The one lying on the ground was the real winner in life.

The shot was soon finished, and Ji Yu sat up, looking disheveled. "Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey. Who actually kicked me just now?" Ji Yu was numb; everyone was supposed to be fake-kicking, so why did someone actually kick him? Good thing I'm a martial arts expert with high damage resistance!

Shen Xiaohai whistled and looked up at the sky. Fan Bingbing and Le Jiatong, who had been watching from the periphery, had seen it clearly—it was him. Seeing Ji Yu rubbing his waist and cursing, both women ran over. It was their idea to scam Shen Xiaohai last night, and it had implicated Ji Yu. They were still in character, with tears on their faces, looking as if their hearts were breaking.

Ji Yu immediately felt his waist stop aching and his legs stop feeling sore, but he had to keep up the act. "It hurts so much. I think my waist got hit. Bingbing, could you check if it's swollen?" Ji Yu stuck his butt out and looked at Le Jiatong, saying, "Jiatong, I also got stepped on. My hand hurts so much."

The men on set saw two great beauties surrounding Ji Yu and turned green with envy. Shen Xiaohai wanted to give Ji Yu's butt another kick. I didn't even use any force, okay! What are you acting for! And those two silly girls—can't they see he's faking it!

Shen Xiaohai desperately wanted to admit he was the one who kicked him and tell Fan Bingbing and Le Jiatong that he hadn't used any strength at all! These two women were busy rubbing his waist and arm—could they really not tell he was faking?

Shen Xiaohai threw his sleeves in a huff and walked away. I can't film this! This show is impossible to film! Does "green-eyed monster syndrome" count as a work-related injury? The production crew better pay up!