Chapter 27: Extra Pay! (Please Collect and Recommend)

At night, in the wilderness beyond the city outskirts

Xie Ruolin held a briefcase and flashlight, waiting for the buyer to arrive.

At that moment, a car pulled up and stopped; a man in a suit, limping on his left leg, staggered out and walked toward Xie Ruolin.

"Mr. Xie?"

"That's me. Where's my goods?"

"Over here."

The two walked to the edge of a dirt pit; Xie Ruolin lifted the straw mat covering it—and found nothing inside.

The limping suit man sneered, slowly stepping back, while the driver in the car pulled out a pistol and aimed it at Xie Ruolin.

But just then, Xie Ruolin's expression changed drastically; he whipped his arm, hurling the flashlight like a throwing knife, knocking the pistol from the driver's hand.

Simultaneously, he pushed off with his foot and closed the distance in a swift arrow-step toward the limping suit man.

The limping suit man's face darkened instantly; he swung his flashlight hard at Xie Ruolin's crown.

But Xie Ruolin raised his hand to block it, twisted the wrist, locked the elbow, and disarmed him.

At the same time, he flipped his wrist, trapped the elbow, and kicked the man's good knee from behind.

Then he wrapped both arms around and clamped the limping suit man's throat tightly.

Instantly, the limping suit man's face flushed crimson, his eyes bulging as if he would be strangled in the next second.

In just a few seconds, the three fought with deadly intensity, each move aimed straight at vital points.

"Looks like you didn't come here to do business," Xie Ruolin sneered triumphantly:

"But it doesn't matter—I know a bit of martial arts too…"

Before he finished speaking, the limping suit man suddenly stopped limping; he stomped hard on Xie Ruolin's left foot.

Then, as Xie Ruolin winced and loosened his grip, the man spun and drove a knife deep into Xie Ruolin's chest.

"You—you—you…" Xie Ruolin clutched his chest in shock.

The limping suit man kicked out, striking Xie Ruolin's chest and sending him tumbling into the pit.

The driver, rushing over, raised his pistol and fired two shots—"Bang! Bang!"

"That was close. Almost failed."

"The intel didn't say this guy was so strong."

Both men spoke with trembling relief, grabbing shovels and beginning to bury the pit with dirt.

"Cut! Perfect!" Director Jiang shouted through his megaphone:

"Congratulations, Qi Hui—you've wrapped!"

"This kid's amazing," Feng Enhe exclaimed. "He even understands martial arts choreography?"

Sun Honglei nudged Teacher Zu Feng: "Teacher Zu, does the Beijing Film Academy's Acting Department teach this stuff now?"

"Teach? Pfft," Teacher Zu Feng's face darkened. "I don't even know how to do any of that."

Then he rubbed his chin and added: "This kid really knows a lot—he even fishes better than Teacher Feng."

"No need to mention that," Feng Enhe growled.

It's just one fish. Why can't you let it go?

Beside them, Yao Chen stood with arms crossed, watching Qi Hui with calm eyes.

What good is knowing all this? What matters most for an actor is whether they're popular or not.

If you're not popular, no one even looks at you.

This is just side arts, nothing more.

…

Qi Hui rolled out of the pit, brushed the dirt off his body, and rubbed his chest: "That kick didn't hold back—it really hurt."

"Hahaha… forgive me," Wang Xiaoyi said awkwardly. "I'm not a professional action actor—I didn't pull the punch."

"That's a wrap!" Jiang Wei shouted, signaling the crew to pack up, then rushed over to Qi Hui: "Qi Hui, that scene was excellent."

"Xie Ruolin is alive!"

"Director, you flatter me," Qi Hui replied humbly.

"We've still got one or two fight scenes and explosion scenes left—how about you direct them too?" Jiang Wei rubbed his hands, grinning.

Those who can should do more!

Hearing this, Qi Hui's eyes flashed, then his eyebrows lifted: "Director, I'm just an actor—isn't this inappropriate?"

Jiang Wei hurried to say: "No, no, it's perfect—you've got real director talent."

"Still no," Qi Hui refused quickly. "Just the other day you said I was born to be an actor—now what's changed?"

"Both, both," Jiang Wei pressed. "You've talent for acting and directing."

"Still no…"

"Then what would make you say yes?"

"Extra pay!"

"…Jiang Wei fell silent. He'd thought Qi Hui wasn't interested in money, given how generously he'd spent before.

"Fine, added!" Jiang Wei gritted his teeth. "I'll give you a big red envelope."

Qi Hui chuckled, his gaze playful.

…

A few days later, the crew built three thatched huts.

Two were filled with explosives; one was for dialogue scenes.

Of the two explosive huts, one was for the actual shoot, the other, for testing.

Soon, the crew rigged the wires, and Qi Hui had also set up the gunpowder.

"Director, isn't there any danger?" Yao Chen said, full of disbelief.

She had no trust in Qi Hui.

"Tested three times," Jiang Wei said with a slight frown: "The gunpowder amount won't be a problem."

Speaking, he pointed at the busy Qi Hui: "In a moment, he will run it himself to eliminate all dangers."

"Director Jiang, come check," Qi Hui called out.

"Coming right up," Jiang Wei hurried over.

Although he didn't understand gunpowder, he could use another perspective to find hidden dangers; if he didn't understand something or found something wrong, he would ask directly.

Gunpowder is too dangerous; no amount of caution is excessive.

Seeing this, Yao Chen nodded slightly and said no more.

Soon, Qi Hui's personal test began.

"3, 2, 1, action!" Jiang Wei shouted.

Like a starting gun, Qi Hui burst through the window while staff pulled the wires, carrying Qi Hui flying rapidly.

Boom!

Behind him, a roar erupted, black smoke surged, flames flickered, and the already unstable thatched cottage collapsed instantly.

Qi Hui landed on the straw pile, checked himself, stood up, brushed the dust off his clothes, and gave Jiang Wei a thumbs-up:

"No problem, everything is safe!"

Generally, just some flames and black smoke would suffice, but Director Jiang demanded the entire thatched cottage be blown up, so the amount of gunpowder was slightly larger.

Without Qi Hui, Jiang Wei planned to use technology.

Just add special effects in post-production, but wasn't Qi Hui here?

Practical shooting is far more shocking than special effects, and the result is better.

Directors nowadays still have some aspirations, unlike those shooting trashy films with little fresh meat a few years later.

Witnessing this scene, Yao Chen sighed with slight relief; it seemed there was no problem, safety was guaranteed.

"Very good, actors in position, start filming in three minutes!" Jiang Wei shouted into the megaphone.

Meanwhile, everyone else stayed far away from the set to rule out any accidents.

Qi Hui stood far outside the set, quietly watching everything.

Not long after, the dialogue scenes finished, and the explosion scene officially began filming.

Inside the thatched cottage, Yao Chen, wearing the costume, secured the wires, waiting only for the director's command.

"3, 2, 1, action!" Jiang Wei's voice rang out.

Yao Chen suddenly dove forward, smashing through the paper window.

Staff pulled the wires hard, carrying Yao Chen diving toward the straw pile.

Boom!

An explosion sounded behind, black smoke and flames rising simultaneously.

Perfect, everything proceeded according to plan.

Yao Chen also landed on the straw pile; soft pads lay beneath the straw, so no injury would occur.

Jiang Wei's face showed joy; this sequence of shots was too perfect!

However, Yao Chen on the straw pile suddenly felt a chill on the soles of her feet, followed immediately by pain surging like a tsunami.

"Ah—!"

She clutched her right foot and screamed in agony.

Jiang Wei's heart, which had just settled, suddenly rose again; he immediately shouted: "Quick, the doctor!"

The doctor, who had been ready to handle various emergencies, instantly jolted and ran over quickly.

He gave Yao Chen a painkiller injection, then untied her shoes to look, and his expression immediately changed slightly.

Three thumb-sized ceramic shards were stuck in the soles of her feet, with bright red blood flowing continuously.

"Quick, send to the hospital immediately!" the doctor shouted; a nurse carried Yao Chen onto the ambulance.

Still need to go to the hospital... Jiang Wei shivered; please don't let anyone die!

Nearby, Qi Hui glanced at the bloodstains on the ground, a faint smile appearing on the corner of his mouth.

Flower of evil...