Chapter 20: Kid

Xu Qing and Li Erpeng were both wearing their costume from the set.

They looked like they had rushed over in a hurry.

His own acting was good, and theirs wasn’t bad either—for a moment, it was impossible to tell who was sincere and who was just putting on a show.

But everyone helps carry a palanquin.

Li Luo didn’t bother trying to sort it all out—he just played along and performed the scene well.

“Little Luo.”

The central figure made his grand entrance; Zhang Zhongzhi stepped forward slowly and pulled a thick envelope from his pocket: “Your act of saving someone was incredibly brave. Rest well in the hospital and don’t worry about a thing.”

“Here’s five thousand yuan—a reward from the production team for your selfless act.”

As he spoke, Zhang Zhongzhi’s face was filled with gratitude.

He had no acting in him at all.

If Xu Qing had fallen onto that broken bamboo stake, the medical bills alone wouldn’t be the only problem—production delays or replacing the female lead would bring direct financial losses to the crew.

At that point,

it wouldn’t be settled with just a few thousand or ten thousand yuan.

If he weren’t afraid the amount looked too extravagant, he’d have stuffed tens of thousands into the envelope to properly reward the kid.

“No.”

Li Luo gripped the envelope tightly, unable to push it forward any further: “I can’t take this money. Anyone else would have made the same choice—I just happened to be closer to Sister Qing.”

What a generous gesture!

Especially now, when the average monthly salary for ordinary people is only a few hundred yuan—many can’t even earn five thousand in a year.

Even if your heart ached for it, you still had to refuse a few times.

That’s just how social customs work~

After three polite refusals in front of the reporters, Li Luo reluctantly accepted the envelope. He held his breath hard again, a faint blush rising on his face.

To others, he looked like a brave, kind, and slightly shy teenager.

Inside the hospital room.

Almost everyone nodded in admiration.

“Damn.”

Only Wang Weiguo, who knew his true nature, muttered to himself: “If I had this kind of acting skill, why would I still be a producer!”

After a few more words of concern, Zhang Zhongzhi introduced the glasses-wearing man holding the camera.

He was a reporter from Xinlang’s entertainment section.

Thanks to the generous transportation fee, the interview went smoothly—no tricky questions at all; the reporter even gently guided Li Luo, who had little interview experience.

After taking a group photo inside the room,

the interview finally came to an end.

During this time, his acting nearly cracked—not because of anything else, but because Xu Qing, standing in the corner of the room, kept staring at him with her big, watery eyes, blinking softly, making his heart itch.

Even as he left, he turned back for one last reluctant glance.

Inside the room, he was soon alone.

Li Luo happily pulled out the envelope and counted the money, then remembered something and quickly fished out his Nokia 3310.

Before the news broke, he had to notify his family.

On the phone, he spoke loudly and confidently: “This is just part of the production’s publicity—don’t worry about anything you see; it’s just drama outside the drama!”

After a long, chatty conversation,

he pulled the blanket over himself and fell fast asleep on the hospital bed.

Half-asleep, he heard faint rustling sounds.

“Put it here.”

“Can you manage alone?”

“I’m not some delicate lady who can’t even lift a spoon. Go on, go!”

“You’re sure you’re not?”

Teasing voices rose, followed by a few quiet exchanges, then the door closed.

Light footsteps drew nearer, stopping right beside the bed; a soft breath reached his ears. His sharp sixth sense told him someone was watching him.

His eyelashes fluttered, and Li Luo suddenly opened his eyes.

“Ah!”

“Who are you?”

Two startled cries rang out in quick succession.

The visitor wore a large pair of sunglasses and a fisherman’s hat, looking mysterious—and it startled him.

“Sister Qing?”

Li Luo scratched his head, puzzled at the woman who’d also been startled: “Why are you dressed like this? What are you doing?”

Though she wore a blue windbreaker,

it couldn’t hide her graceful figure.

If Xu Qing had looked like a girl of eighteen or nineteen on set, now she resembled a charming young wife.

Lively and fresh, yet with the fullness of maturity.

“You scared me to death.”

She took off her sunglasses and hat, then smiled as she tidied her messy hair: “I was afraid someone would recognize me. I thought you must be hungry, so I brought you something to eat.”

After this accident, filming couldn’t continue.

But back at the hotel, she couldn’t sleep—every time she closed her eyes, all she saw was Li Luo saving her.

After tossing and turning for hours,

she grabbed her assistant, bought some food, and headed straight to the hospital.

Li Luo squinted out the window and realized night had fallen.

The streetlights glowed a dim yellow.

“Sister Qing, you’re too kind.” He sat up with one hand, rubbing his face: “Anyone else would’ve done the same thing, so don’t feel like you owe me anything.”

“You’re right.”

Clumsily opening the thermos box, Xu Qing carefully placed it beside the bed: “Drink it quickly—it’ll get cold!”

A thin layer of oil shimmered on the chicken soup.

Wisps of steam rose, drifting past her focused, earnest face.

He’d say his piece.

She’d do her thing.

Breathing in the rich aroma, Li Luo swallowed hard. He gave up speaking and reached for the box.

Half-asleep, he’d forgotten his arm was injured.

The movement tugged at the wound.

The anesthetic had worn off—a sharp pain made his eyebrows twitch, and he sucked in a sharp breath.

“Don’t move.”

Xu Qing quickly grabbed a spoon, scooped up a portion of soup, and blew on it gently: “Just sit still.”

Looking at the spoon held to his lips,

Li Luo looked embarrassed.

“Please.”

She flashed him a sultry glance, smiling: “You saved my life—what’s wrong with me feeding you a little soup? Don’t overthink it, kid. Just drink up!”

When she put it like that,

it would be unseemly for him to hesitate!

As for the term “kid,” Li Luo couldn’t really get angry.

After all, she was over ten years older than him.

Facing that exquisite face, he sipped the soup slowly, one mouthful after another, until sweat soaked his body.

Honestly, this girl was terrible at serving others.

After finishing the food,

his hospital gown was splattered with soup.

“Sorry.”

Seeing his soaked clothes, Xu Qing felt embarrassed: “I’m not good at this.”

“It’s fine.” He grabbed some tissues, wiped his mouth, and slipped on his slippers: “I was going to shower anyway—just need to change clothes.”

A beautiful girl feeding him?

What more could he ask for?

“Let me help you!” She immediately set down the box and stood up.

“Huh?”

Li Luo froze.

“Can you take off your shirt yourself?”

Xu Qing took charge without hesitation, turning him around with a gentle push: “Don’t be shy—you’re my little brother now. If anything happens, just say my name.”

"I can't say for sure elsewhere, but in this circle, I still have some clout."

Li Luo let out a silent laugh.

He thought she was going to help him bathe!

He was secretly surprised—he’d heard of the Princess of Beijing’s circle; from her tone, was she planning to protect him from now on?

Amid his scattered thoughts, he cooperated as she removed his hospital gown.

His upper body revealed strong, muscular definition.

Holding the striped gown, Xu Qing stared blankly at Li Luo’s back—he had quite refined features, which was why she’d kept calling him a kid, but now, stripped down, he was unexpectedly powerful.

Broad, well-defined latissimus dorsi muscles.

Glistening sweat coated his back, the scent of male pheromones hitting her face.

Unconsciously.

She licked her lips, her fingertips trembling as they reached forward to touch.