Chapter 133: Director Lin Has Been Injured...

Lu Ran did not comment much on the ranking results; after all, in his view, every performance in the debut show had its merits, and it was simply a matter of individual audience preference.

"Now, let us announce the theme for the next round of competition." Lu Ran opened the purple envelope in his hand and said formally, "Please display our theme requirements on the big screen!"

The big screen instantly projected four characters: "Opposites Attract."

"Very well, the theme for the next episode requires our contestants to collaborate with a close friend for their stage performance. Take note: it must be a friend of the opposite sex," Lu Ran reminded them.

All five nodded, pretending to be lost in thought as if they were completely unaware.

"I must remind everyone that starting from the next round, we will be moving into an elimination format. New 'challenger' stars will also be joining us. The contestant at the bottom of the vote count will leave our stage, though we will still have a revival round later on." After Lu Ran circled the stage and laid out the rules for the new format, the day's recording concluded, leaving time for the audience to watch behind-the-scenes footage.

After the cameras were cleared, Xiao Yu and Mei Ning rushed onto the stage to accompany their boss back to the dressing room to change. Xiao Yu was particularly proactive, terrified that Medusa would strike with her evil hands again; last time it was a fall that resulted in a limp, and who knew what kind of trouble she might cause this time.

Liu Niwen linked arms with Chen Yu, whispering complaints to her as they prepared to walk back to the public lounge together.

Chu Chuo was just about to stand up when he noticed Ye Linyun sitting where she was, arms folded, looking like she was waiting for a show. Her assistant, Xiao Zhu, hesitated, not daring to step forward.

What was this woman up to now? He followed Ye Linyun’s gaze and saw Lin Zhiwei chatting with the stage assistant, Xin Xin, by the edge of the stage. Chu Chuo’s eyes locked onto that direction, and a flicker of suspicion arose in his heart.

"Brother Chu, let's go," Qin Meng whispered a reminder.

Chu Chuo pressed his lips together, saying nothing. Qin Meng looked toward Lin Zhi in the distance and then back at Chu Chuo. Although he didn’t know why Chu Chuo was lingering, he didn’t dare to urge him further.

"Director Lin, thank you for the medicated plaster you sent me last time. I tried it, and it was incredibly effective; the pain has been gone for the past two days." Xin Xin was full of gratitude. After the debut show, Ye Linyun had feigned a fall to get close to the men, and after being helped up by the crowd, she had taken her anger out on Xin Xin. Once everyone left, she had not only slapped her but shoved her to the ground; she happened to land on some silk stage props and slipped, spraining her ankle.

It was Director Lin who was so thoughtful, having Xiao Yu send over the plaster. Director Lin was bursting with "boyfriend energy"—if only he were a bit more handsome, Xin Xin thought, unable to help but swoon.

"Watch out!" Lin Zhiwei suddenly shouted. Then, a series of "clattering and crunching" sounds of metal breaking echoed through the hall.

Before Xin Xin could process what was happening, she felt the world go dark as she was pulled into the arms of the man beside her. Everyone on stage gasped; some timid girls even screamed. After the sound of a tearing curtain and a heavy crash, their vision was blocked by the falling backdrop. Even Chen Yu and Liu Niwen, who were halfway out, turned back to see what was happening.

When Xin Xin regained her senses, she saw blood seeping from Director Lin’s arm, the crimson liquid welling up and soaking through his black casual jacket.

She looked up and realized that the steel pipe securing the stage curtain had suddenly snapped and fallen. The broken segment of the pipe had formed a sharp angle, easily capable of causing serious injury. If they had been a step slower, the consequences would have been unthinkable.

"Director Lin, are you... are you okay?" Xin Xin covered her mouth, her voice trembling with panic.

Lin Zhiwei clutched her arm, tugging at the corner of her mouth, her voice calm. "I'm fine."

"Ah, why did the curtain slip?"
"What happened?"
"Everyone, come over and help! Someone is injured!"

The scene descended into chaos. Without a second thought, Chu Chuo leapt off the stage. Everything had happened so fast that everyone was stunned, including him.

The backdrop had slid down in an instant, obscuring everyone's view; for a moment, no one could tell what had happened.

He pulled back the curtain and saw Lin Zhiwei, frowning and clutching her arm with a grave expression, and Xin Xin, who was terrified out of her wits.

"It's alright, Xin Xin. You go and attend to your work," Lin Zhiwei instructed in a low voice.

"But Director Lin, you're bleeding!" Xin Xin looked at the man's arm, which was nearly stained red, and was on the verge of tears.

"To the hospital, now," Chu Chuo’s eyes were so dark and cold they looked ready to devour someone.

"I'm fine," Lin Zhiwei replied calmly, looking up at the point of the break.

By now, Zhao Lei and Lu Ran, who had been watching the recording logs in the distance, also rushed over. Seeing the accident, Lu Ran hurriedly called the staff to help while asking about Lin Zhiwei's condition. Everyone scrambled to clean up the area.

"Wait," Lin Zhiwei said, clutching her arm. Seeing the staff about to carry away the steel pipe, she crouched down to observe it closely. The steel pipe was of high quality and could never have snapped suddenly on its own.

She wiped the blood off the broken section of the pipe with her sleeve. A clear cut was visible; it had definitely been weakened with a cutting tool before the weight of the curtain was added. At that point, a simple tug on the curtain would have caused the pipe to snap.

"Director Lin, are you okay?"
"Director Lin, are you alright?"

Voices calling her name were everywhere, but Lin Zhiwei ignored them, keeping her head down to check the details, refusing to miss a single thing, even though she already knew whose masterpiece this was.

Her face grew pale from blood loss, and a mixture of sharp pain and numbness began to flood her entire right arm. Slowly, she began to feel dizzy and weak.

Seeing her deathly pale face and hazy expression, Chu Chuo picked her up without a word and headed out, instructing Qin Meng, "Notify Old Zhang!"

"Oh, right!" Qin Meng immediately pulled out his phone to contact the driver. He didn't find Chu Chuo's sudden reaction strange; after all, saving a life was the priority.

Ling Ziheng had heard there was trouble on stage. He didn't even have time to change his clothes, and upon rushing to the front, he collided with Chu Chuo, who was carrying a pale and listless Lin Zhiwei.

Lin Zhiwei's face was as white as paper, her consciousness fading.

Ling Ziheng's expression turned instantly murderous, his aura so chilling that it made people struggle to breathe. He spoke coldly, "No need to trouble yourself, Young Master Chu. I will take care of my own people."

"Ziheng..." Lin Zhiwei called out groggily. She caught a glimpse of the man's familiar silhouette, but her mind was drifting further away.

"Brother Chu, leave her to Film Emperor Ling. If you go to the hospital like this..." Qin Meng whispered a reminder. Chu Chuo’s obsessed fans had been trailing him closely recently. If he went to a major hospital, it would likely be another chaotic disaster. "It might delay Director Lin's treatment!"

Chu Chuo hesitated for a few seconds before handing her over.

Ling Ziheng carried Lin Zhiwei and quickly disappeared from everyone's sight. Xiao Yu and Mei Ning hurried to catch up while contacting the driver.

Chu Chuo’s linen suit was heavily stained with blood. He returned to the stage, but not seeing Ye Linyun, he immediately strode to the dressing room and pushed the door open.

Ye Linyun was in the middle of removing her headpiece and was startled by the sudden intrusion. She complained, "What are you doing? You scared me to death!"

"Was it you?" Chu Chuo’s low voice sounded as if it were being squeezed through his teeth.

Ye Linyun’s eyes rolled, and she gave a coquettish laugh. "Oh, why is Young Master Chu in such a rush?"

Chu Chuo closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and said in a deep voice, "Don't court your own death!"

"Court my own death?" Ye Linyun slammed her earrings onto the table. "It’s all because of him that I lost my endorsements and my movie role. Tell me, shouldn't I hate him?"

"If there is a next time, you will lose everything," Chu Chuo said, then turned and left.

"Who do you think you are? It’s bad enough the boss threatens me, now you're sticking your nose in too," Ye Linyun’s voice trembled, her chest heaving with rage. It was just Lin Zhi, wasn't it? Now even Chu Chuo was standing on his side against her. What were these people so afraid of?

"If you want to go against me, Lin Zhi, I'll make sure you taste the same bitterness I have."

Ye Linyun recalled the man’s blood-soaked right arm she had glimpsed earlier, and she smiled with sharp, ruthless malice.