Chapter 15: The Weaver Girl Can Save Lives

When Li Sui entered, she could already hear Director Gao cursing.

He wasn't cursing anyone else—it was Zhou Jiao.

Zhou Jiao was dressed in her armor costume, her expression looking somewhat grim, as if she were upset by Director Gao's reprimand.

The rest of the crew watched in silence, everyone too afraid to even breathe loudly.

The conflict between Zhou Jiao and Director Gao had been brewing for a long time. One relied on investment to get into the crew and failed to cherish the opportunity; the other was meticulous and intolerant of even the slightest error, yet unable to defy the investors.

He had already been quite tolerant of Zhou Jiao.

As Li Sui entered, she heard a sentence: "Think about it carefully yourself! Don't waste everyone's time!"

Hearing this, Zhou Jiao withdrew in silence.

Li Sui noticed that her steps were unsteady and her face was pale as she walked away; she was clearly unwell.

Zhou Jiao didn't notice Li Sui either, heading straight into the air-conditioned lounge.

Director Gao was still giving orders for other matters; he didn't pay much mind to a stunt double like Li Sui.

However, perhaps due to yesterday's events combined with the recent scolding of Zhou Jiao, Li Sui felt that Director Gao wasn't giving her much of a pleasant look either. She quickly kept a low profile and went in to change her costume.

The film set was noisy, especially with the hot weather; if anything was delayed, everyone's tempers flared.

Li Sui didn't know what had happened, but it had nothing to do with her.

That was until the martial arts instructor came over and said, "Go find Teacher Zhou. You need to coordinate with her. I'll tell you which movements and facial expressions she needs to make, but you should go discuss it with her first."

Zhou Jiao wasn't completely absent from the scenes; she was the one who had to show her face, so she naturally had to coordinate with Li Sui.

Li Sui was very wary: "Then why don't you go tell her yourself?"

The martial arts instructor gave a fake smile: "Just go when I tell you to go!"

Zhou Jiao had just been scolded by Director Gao; anyone with half a brain could tell she was in a bad mood. He was just a martial arts instructor—could he really rush in to get scolded too?

Of course, he was sending the stunt double to take the brunt of it first!

In any case, Zhou Jiao's scenes had to be filmed, and as long as someone had a target to vent their anger on, it was fine.

In a film crew, such things were not uncommon.

Power is delegated in layers. A big director like Gao sits above everyone.

The famous actors and those brought in by investors are the second layer.

Next are the actors with less fame, and martial arts instructors like him are even lower.

That left only the extras with even lower status to go and take the scolding.

Li Sui naturally understood these unwritten rules, but since she wasn't trying to climb the social ladder and was only here for a part-time job, she merely curled her lip and didn't argue with the instructor, turning around to find Zhou Jiao instead.

Entering the room, Li Sui saw Zhou Jiao lying on the sofa. Her assistant looked troubled: "Sister, if it's really too much, why don't we just take a leave of absence? It's so hot today, how can your body handle it?"

Zhou Jiao's weak voice rang out: "Forget it, it's an old problem. I just need to rest for an hour or two. Go boil some brown sugar water for me."

It was precisely because of the heat that taking leave would delay the entire crew.

She wasn't a top-tier actress, and she had been pushed into this role by her older sister, but she didn't want to see so many people's progress delayed because of her.

It turned out Zhou Jiao really was unwell.

Li Sui walked in and called out cautiously, "Teacher Zhou, are you feeling unwell?"

Zhou Jiao's assistant turned around, showing no expression toward Li Sui: "Do you have business with Teacher Zhou?"

Li Sui nodded: "The martial arts instructor said there are a few choreographed moves that I need to coordinate with Teacher Zhou."

The assistant grew angry: "Can't you see that Teacher Zhou is unwell right now?"

Zhou Jiao barked a command: "Xiao Yuan, it's nothing to do with her. Go boil the water."

Xiao Yuan sighed and went to find things to boil the water.

Zhou Jiao didn't get up, nor did she look at Li Sui. Her voice was listless: "You saw it yourself, I really am not feeling well. I can't hold on right now. Wait an hour or two."

She lay on the sofa with her eyes closed and her brow furrowed; she hadn't even changed out of her costume, likely because she truly lacked the strength.

Recalling the brown sugar water, Li Sui asked tentatively, "Teacher Zhou, is it your period pain?"

Li Sui had always had a strong constitution and never suffered from it, but her mother did.

When Li Ping was in pain, it was exceptionally terrifying, though it had become less severe as she aged and focused on health preservation.

Although Li Sui had never experienced it herself, she had witnessed it and knew that for some, the pain was life-threatening.

She thought Zhou Jiao wouldn't answer, but unexpectedly, Zhou Jiao gave a faint "Mm": "It came a week early this month. I didn't expect it; I drank an iced coffee this morning."

That was like stepping directly into a thunderstorm.

When she felt the throbbing, twitching pain in her thighs while filming earlier, she knew she was doomed.

Female celebrities often had irregular eating habits and various diets, so menstrual irregularities were common.

She didn't know if the painkillers she had taken would work this time; by now, it felt as if someone were hammering nails into her lower abdomen.

After being scolded by the director, she had been forcing herself to stay upright. Gao Tingzhong didn't understand; he likely just thought she was feeling unwell from the heat and was making frequent mistakes.

Li Sui hesitated.

She wanted to say that Zhiniang could actually relieve this, but Zhiniang wasn't here right now.

Because as martial artists, they could use internal energy to soothe people; Li Sui had seen Zhiniang and A-Shu do this back in the Demonic Cult.

However, it only treated the symptoms, not the root cause. Period pain had many causes, most of which required regulating and strengthening the body.

Looking at Zhou Jiao's lifestyle, it was clearly irregular and would be hard to improve.

With this in mind, she remained silent.

Because when Li Ping was in pain, she hated Li Sui talking beside her; the pain was so intense she had no strength to respond to anyone.

Seeing Zhou Jiao's pale, closed eyes and the cold sweat breaking out on her face even in the air-conditioned room, Li Sui maintained her silence.

—She hoped Zhou Jiao wouldn't notice her intention to sneak some air conditioning.

After playing secretly on her phone for about ten minutes, Li Sui suddenly saw Zhou Jiao shudder, then force her head to tilt.

With a sudden "Gag," she vomited all over the floor.

She had eaten nothing this morning except an iced coffee, so what she vomited was entirely coffee-colored liquid.

Startled, Li Sui immediately stood up, grabbed some tissues to cover the mess on the floor, and called out, "Teacher Zhou?"

At the same time, she placed her hand on Zhou Jiao's lower abdomen and began to rub it.

—Why was that assistant taking so long to boil the brown sugar water!

When she was little, she would do this whenever Li Ping was in pain, though she didn't know if it helped.

Zhou Jiao was in no state to care about her disheveled appearance; feeling the strange sensation in her abdomen, she could only manage to force her eyelids open slightly.

Li Sui's hand was very warm. Zhou Jiao's lips trembled, but she still didn't speak.

She was on the verge of fainting from the pain.

Just then, Li Sui heard Zhiniang's voice from outside: "Li Sui?"

Zhiniang possessed internal energy and could sense Li Sui's aura, so she had come directly.

Li Sui was overjoyed: "Zhiniang, come quickly! Help!!"