Chapter 127: Human little angel

The Second People's Hospital of the North District of Hengdian.

Shen Li wore a hat and mask, accompanied by Xiao Yun and A-Pan, and bought some supplements to visit the actor who was injured yesterday.

Because the play hadn't been broadcast yet, she already had a high popularity, so she was deliberately low-key today, and even the few bodyguards assigned by the company didn't follow.

A-Pan went to the nurse station to inquire and knew the ward where the boy was. And when several people came to the ward door, they discovered that someone had arrived before them.

"Brother Xiao Long?" Xiao Yun was surprised to see the other party.

Xiao Long was talking to the boy. Hearing the sound, he turned his head and looked over, and then showed a surprised expression of "pretending not to know they would come": "Eh? Why are you guys here too?"

"A-Li doesn't have a scene during the day today, so she came to see the injured colleague." Xiao Yun said, her gaze falling on the supplements placed on the bedside table, and she was stunned again, because they were basically the same as what she was carrying, and some brands were even exactly the same.

"Oh." Xiao Long nodded gently, looked at Shen Li subconsciously, and then said: "Anyu is also worried about him, so he specially instructed me to come and see him today."

"Teacher Shen Li..." At this moment, the boy lying on the bed finally recognized Shen Li wearing a mask after the fact, and his emotions were a bit excited, wanting to sit up straight.

Seeing this, Shen Li quickly stepped forward and said: "Don't move around, your foot is still injured."

Looking at his injured foot wrapped in thick gauze, Shen Li couldn't help but worry: "Is there any problem with your foot? Is it serious?"

"Fractured," Xiao Long grabbed the words: "But the doctor said it doesn't matter if you recover slowly. It won't affect normal actions in the future, but you still have to pay attention. You can't try dangerous actions easily again. If the same part is injured twice, it will be more serious."

Shen Li nodded in understanding: "Then take a good rest. Remember to eat the supplements I bought for you."

The boy was very moved, especially since Shen Li was so approachable and gentle. The filming of the crew was tiring and tense. She rarely had a day of leisure, but she would still think of coming to the hospital to visit him in person.

He was just an inconspicuous extra, participated in the filming of dozens of film and television works, but basically didn't show his face much, and the lines he said were also countable. No one had ever noticed him.

"Teacher Shen Li, thank you for making a special trip."

"Call me by my name. I'm not a teacher," Shen Li smiled helplessly.

Although people in the crew often called her teacher for no reason, she still wasn't used to it.

"I've seen you act

Later, through their conversation, Shen Li learned that the young man's name was Tan Yue. He was only twenty years old this year, his hometown was in a rural area in the north, and he had left home at fifteen to work for a living.

He had little education, and since he was a minor at the time, even when he was tricked into a "pyramid scheme," they didn't want to waste food on him and just turned him out.

He traveled all the way south, working as a dishwasher, a car washer, and even learned how to scrub backs in bathhouses, until he came to Hengdian and discovered the profession of an extra. From then on, he started following a "talent scout" to pick up jobs.

But competition among extras was fierce. At first, the money he earned every day was too little, and basically, it all had to be given to the "handler" as a tribute. He managed to scrape by only because he could fill his stomach with the film crew's boxed lunches.

Later on, he slowly discovered that taking "beaten-up roles"—scenes with higher physical difficulty—could earn him one or two times more money, sometimes even more. He begged the "handler" to give him such opportunities, and that was how he slowly saved up some money.

Shen Li listened to his story, her eyes turning red several times. She had long known that the life of an extra was not easy, but what moved her was not just the cruelty of the industry, but even more so his past experiences.

To have been out struggling for a living since fifteen—it was just too bitter.

Seeing this, Brother Brother Xiaolong walked to the windowsill alone and sent a message to Song Anyu, who was in Longcheng: "Shen Li is here."

Song Anyu was attending a brand event and didn't reply immediately. Brother Brother Xiaolong felt conflicted; could he leave now?

"Teacher Shen Li, c-can I take a photo with you?"

Tan Yue hesitated for a long time before finally speaking in a low, embarrassed voice. He had watched several of Shen Li's scenes on set and felt she acted truly well; in his heart, he actually admired her quite a bit.

This opportunity today was rare; if he missed it, he might never have it again.

"Now?"

Shen Li looked at him lying stiffly on the hospital bed and said with a wry smile, "Let's wait until you've recovered to take it. When that time comes, you can come find me on set."

Upon hearing this, Tan Yue lowered his eyes, his expression turning dejected: "I probably can't go back."

Brother Brother Xiaolong walked over at this moment and explained to Shen Li, "Since he was injured, the crew certainly won't ignore it; there will be medical expenses and compensation. But because of this, the crew probably won't use him again."

"Besides, our filming schedule isn't long. With his broken bones and injuries, it'll take a hundred days to heal, so we'll probably be finished filming by the time he recovers."

Shen Li nodded in understanding, feeling that Brother Brother Xiaolong's words seemed both reasonable and unreasonable; in any case, she felt very conflicted inside.

"Then let's take it."

She was, after all, too kind-hearted and couldn't bear to refuse Tan Yue.

But she hadn't forgotten Sister Kuan's words to try not to take photos alone with others, as sometimes "such photos" could be exploited by people with ulterior motives. So, just as Xiaoyun was about to remind her, she took the initiative and said, "Let's all take it together!"

And so, a photo of Tan Yue lying in the hospital bed, with Shen Li, Brother Brother Xiaolong, Xiaoyun, and A'Pan surrounding him, appeared on Tan Yue's own social media account and Moments.

"A'Pan, add him on WeChat," Shen Li said, looking at A'Pan, then turned to Tan Yue: "I'm also new to the industry; this is my first film. If you haven't changed careers after you recover, I'll have A'Pan contact you if there's a suitable opportunity in the future."

Tan Yue was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, and only after a few seconds did he show a look of both surprise and joy: "R-really, Teacher Shen Li?"

"Don't get too excited yet. I'm a newcomer and don't have much say; I might not be able to give you a particularly good opportunity..."

"It doesn't matter. As long as there's an opportunity, I'm willing to take even the smallest role," Tan Yue said, his eyes already red.

Xiaoyun and A'Pan, who were standing to the side, couldn't help but exchange glances, both sighing silently.

Their little A'Li, how could she be so soft-hearted and kind? She was simply a little angel on earth.

Even Brother Brother Xiaolong felt a bit helpless, thinking Shen Li was truly too pure and kind. But in this circle, being pure and kind wasn't necessarily a good thing; one never knew when they might be backstabbed.

He had been in this industry for many years and had seen too many newcomers slowly become polluted, swallowed, and assimilated by the environment.

He didn't know how long her innocence could last.

Happy New Year, my darlings.

I'm giving you five chapters today as compensation.

For those of you who are members, you have two base double monthly tickets today; could you please vote for me?

(End of chapter)