Chapter 41: Applying medicine to her. [Can you hate someone this much if you've never loved them?]

Yu Jintang was outside in the cold wind.

Qin Lan didn't want to talk to her and tried to leave quickly. But this person sensed something was wrong with an almost supernatural intuition. Her eyes lit up and she jumped over, lowering her voice: "No way, Qin, you didn't get pushed over by someone who has a fever and a limp, did you?"

"What nonsense are you spouting!" Qin Lan turned around and glared at her.

Yu Jintang pointed to her legs: "Uh...you're shaking a bit too much."

"Who said leg shaking means you did it?" Qin Lan continued to glare at her. "I was teaching Jiang Yan martial arts! That's tiring!"

Yu Jintang gave him a knowing look: "Oh, I know? Fighting in bed, you young couples love to do that."

"Who's in a relationship with her?" Qin Lan reacted even more strongly: "She's my ex-girlfriend!"

"Yeah, yeah, the ex-girlfriend I ended up in bed with." Yu Jintang nodded perfunctorily. "So, who is this ex-girlfriend rushing off to see?"

"Go see a doctor, but this is a hospital, who else can I go to?"

"Oh, Jiang Yan's fever has gone down? Shall we go get some medicine?"

"..."

Yu Jintang immediately became interested: "No way, Lao Qin, you're speechless? Tell me, tell me, why did you go to see a doctor? Did you go to get medicine for yourself? Is Jiang Yan really that strong—"

"Shut up!" Qin Lan hissed angrily, "Shut up!"

She absolutely refused to say anything, but Yu Jintang had eyes and legs of her own. After finding the doctor, she followed them back to the ward, and then she stared wide-eyed at Qin Lan in horror: "She...she...she fainted?"

The word that was omitted in the middle and was not convenient for the doctor to hear was shown by mouthing.

Qin Lan felt utterly devastated.

＊

Tonight, the Chinese entertainment industry is buzzing with trending topics, leaving Jiang Yan's fan club in a state of chaos.

The supertopic was flooded with messages praying for Jiang Yan's safety. Bystanders were frantic, asking around but still couldn't figure out what had happened, only knowing that Jiang Yan had apparently been attacked by extremist fans and was currently in the hospital.

The fan club immediately contacted Jiangyan Company and the production crew, demanding an explanation.

Jiang Yan was still unconscious when Yu Jintang issued an urgent apology. She acknowledged that the incident occurred on set and therefore she bore some responsibility. The production team promised to provide Jiang Yan with sufficient bodyguards to ensure her safety. She also stated that she would not be required to return to any work until Jiang Yan had fully recovered.

The company's production crew forwarded the message to each other, displaying a very humble attitude.

Yu Jintang was well aware that his production team was rife with controversy, and few people were willing to act in it to begin with. Even without a strike, this incident would affect everyone's morale. He was even more worried that this incident would set a precedent and lead to more disturbances.

She logged onto eNet and posted a message urging everyone to spread positive content online and protect the crew of "Red Era".

Many people on eNet responded enthusiastically.

While various parties were engaged in a fierce online battle, another strange topic was being hotly debated in its own world.

In the Qin Jiang Super Topic, the moderator [Qin1Jiang0] posted: Did anyone notice Teacher Qin's strange behavior when Teacher Jiang had the incident tonight? Right after Teacher Jiang was attacked, Teacher Qin got out of the car, seemingly trying to walk in that direction, but then, realizing he couldn't get through, suddenly announced an autograph session and photo opportunity.

【momo】: I have the video!

A video recorded by a Qin fan at the time of the incident, although very shaky, still shows Qin Lan's changing expressions.

[Sentenced to a lifetime of loneliness by love]: Teacher Qin's expression is strange, she seems a little anxious [doge emoji]

[Jiang1Qin0]: Notice how everyone went over after Teacher Qin announced the autograph session, and fewer people were gathered around Teacher Jiang.

[Darkness＊Crawling＊Spasm＊Schizophrenia]: Why the sudden signature? It's so hard to guess!

[I say Qin Jiang, you say 99]: Hehehehehehe, Qin Jiang is real.

[Eating plaster on the wall in the middle of the night] posted two pictures: Look closely at the bodyguard who saved Teacher Jiang!!!

The first picture shows Ye Wei pushing Qin Lan's suitcase and walking behind Qin Lan. The second picture shows Ye Wei catching a baseball bat with both hands.

[Qin1Jian0]: Sister, you've discovered the key point!

[Continuing to exert force and repeatedly jumping]: So, was this bodyguard sent by Teacher Qin to protect Teacher Jiang?

[The Alluring Stepmother's Fierce Love]: Case solved! It must be that Teacher Qin was worried about Teacher Jiang.

The analysis here is so vivid and detailed that die-hard fans are calling it a cult.

The host only gave a dismissive response: "[Dirty fans only break down when it comes to the real sister-in-law.]"

The Qin Lan fan page is in an uproar, with people claiming they want to expel all those who ship the Qin Jiang couple from their fandom and refusing to acknowledge that the bodyguard in black in the picture is Qin Lan's bodyguard.

Jiang Yan's fan club felt extremely unlucky and even threatened to sue the moderator of Qin Jiang's fan club for spreading rumors. The whole world knows that Qin Lan and Jiang Yan are mortal enemies; what is this if not spreading rumors in your fan club?

And those who produce grain are simply spreading false rumors!!!

The fans of both sides were so angry that their hands trembled when they saw the fanfiction in Qin Jiang's super topic.

They were especially furious that Jiang Yan from their family was actually the victim!

As a result, some of Jiang Yan's die-hard fans went to Qin Jiang's super topic to hurl insults and question why their sister was the one below.

Qin Lan's fans are also angry. Jiang Yan's pretentious and manipulative behavior is what it is if not a bottom? Our Lanlan is full of masculine energy, of course she should be the top.

Jiang Yan's fans were furious. With your artist's arrogant attitude, who would like someone like that?

Qin Lan's fans are furious: Our Qin Lan doesn't even care about your artists!

The crowd in Qin Jiang's fan community was gossiping and celebrating enthusiastically.

The host, [I said Qin Jiang, you said 99], stepped in to smooth things over: "Stop arguing! As long as the two teachers are together, that's better than anything else!"

Both fan groups simultaneously cursed at her: "Get out!!"

【Charming Little Jiang】: ... Don't bring Jiang Yan along, for Jiang Yan will suffer an undeserved disaster.

【Love is Cherishing Lan】: Stop trying to flatter me, we're not on the same level.

【Fireworks Fade Easily, Icy Shackles】: Absolutely! After all, one is a seasoned actor and the other a popular idol. It's amazing that a perfectly good campus romance drama could be reduced to a 2.4 rating.

[The Walking Dead]: Silly* Super Topic - Stop acting crazy, Lanlan is going solo.

[Running away with cigarettes on his back]: LOL, you're so ridiculous!

[Only for Lan's Heart]: Jiang Yan's family, please stop trying to piggyback on this, don't bring trouble to yourselves. I could smell your master's green tea vibe even abroad.

[Thumbs up for you]: Can you guys please stop being so misogynistic? You can ship two guys no matter how outrageous they are, but when two women stand together, you start comparing them in every way.

[Fleeting Innocence]: Lezi Super Topic

【All! Is! Foam!】: Hey, don't fight the cook!

The solo fans are furious: [Is this food? Why are you putting it on the table like this? Come on, tell me why Qin Lan and Jiang Yan have been enemies for so many years!]

[Qin1Jian0]: Because of love

Solo fans: ??

The Qin Jiang supertopic was flooded with harmonious comments: "[Can you hate someone this much if you've never loved them?]"

The solo fans went berserk: [That's hatred!!!]

CP fans chanted a sacred song: 【That's clearly love~】

In the early hours of the morning, a marketing account published an article analyzing the incident, arguing that "The Age of Red" is a script that violates human nature and should be immediately removed from online platforms. As a public television drama, it should not promote homosexual content.

Many people in the comments section expressed the same opinion, but were immediately overwhelmed by criticism and condemnation from the crowd.

The company asked Yu Jintang if she needed to cancel her account.

Yu Jintang sat in the hospital corridor, typing furiously on his laptop: "Account banned? Letting him be drowned in spittle is more appropriate."

Fifteen minutes later, Yu Jintang posted a counterattack, listing everything from national policies to biological sciences, and then to the natural world and the diverse development needs of humanity in the new era, writing more than three thousand words.

She fought through the night with shining eyes, and when she looked into the ward in the early hours of the morning, she found Qin Lan also looking energetic. Then she looked down and saw that Qin Lan had followed suit by posting a message to support the crew.

At 6:21 a.m., Song Man typed a question mark in the group chat 【Human Wealthy Sisters (5)】.

Song Man: [@Old Lady Qin Lan, how's your ex-girlfriend doing?]

Qin Lan: [Still not awake? Hurry up and log in to support our production team!]

Qin Lan was focused on surfing when she looked down and noticed Jiang Yan staring at her intently. She didn't know how long Jiang Yan had been awake.

She was startled and reached out to check her forehead temperature: "You're awake?"

"The fever should have gone down." Qin Lan stood up to get the thermometer. "It doesn't feel too hot."

Jiang Yan remained silent, letting Qin Lan do as she pleased. Qin Lan pulled open Jiang Yan's collar, her face suddenly turning red. There were three bright red fingernail marks on Jiang Yan's shoulder, scratches she had made the previous night when she was intensely agitated.

Jiang Yan also looked down and glanced at Qin Lan without saying a word, staring at him with pitiful eyes.

"You...you...you..." Qin Lan stammered, shaking the thermometer awkwardly, feeling a rush of blood to her head: "Couldn't you have just checked it yourself..."

Then Jiang Yan crossed her legs in front of her.

Qin Lan was so angry that she threw the thermometer at her on the spot.

"It hurts so much..." Jiang Yan coughed, looking weak and powerless.

Qin Lan's heart tightened, and she quickly went to look at her again. She had been quite strong during her fight with Jiang Yan last night: "Where does it hurt?"

Jiang Yan slowly reached out, placed her hand on the back of her hand, and slowly guided it towards the thermometer on her chest: "Ah, here..."

Qin Lan looked like she really wanted to slap her: "Jiang Yan!!"

“I thought you wouldn’t stay.” Jiang Yan sniffed, wrinkled her eyes, and her usually alluring face now looked very lonely: “When I opened my eyes this morning, I thought I would be all alone.”

Qin Lan forgot what she was going to say: "..."

After a long pause, she slowly swallowed and guiltily looked away, saying, "Stop overthinking. How are you feeling now? You don't need to go to the set these next few days. Yu Guaiguai has postponed your scenes, so you can get some rest."

"I feel fine," Jiang Yan said, half-jokingly. "Oh, it's just that my right hand is a little sore..."

She was pleased to see Qin Lan's popularity return. Before the woman could unleash her fury, Jiang Yan quickly interjected, "How's things online now?"

Qin Lan glared at her, still angry, and handed her the phone: "Just post a Weibo to let me know you're safe later. What do you want to eat? I'll have Xiao Qing buy it."

"I want to drink black rice porridge." Jiang Yan wrinkled her nose. "When I was little, I was a little anemic, and my grandma often cooked black rice porridge for me. It was especially delicious."

"OK."

Qin Lan nodded, and a message popped up on her phone.

She clicked on it, and Jiang Yan posted: [I'm fine, everyone don't worry. I'll be discharged soon and can go back to filming tomorrow. I'm so looking forward to my upcoming scenes; Princess Taiping is starting to show her talent, I can't wait!]

This silenced all the fans' doubts, making it impossible to say that the unscrupulous production team forced the actors to work while injured.

Qin Lan frowned: "This week is your sick leave. Your foot isn't healed yet, what are you going back for?"

"I know what I'm doing." Jiang Yan took out the thermometer and glanced at it: "37 degrees Celsius, the fever has subsided."

She gently moved her ankle and felt no major discomfort: "My foot is fine, I can walk."

Yu Jintang knocked and came in: "I saw you posted on Weibo that you're coming back to film tomorrow, you don't need to..."

"Oh, yes, Teacher Yu," Jiang Yan said. "Don't worry, I'm really fine."

“No, you have to stay and be observed.” Yu Jintang was about to speak when Jiang Yan interrupted him: “The crew is in a state of disarray right now. It will be much better if I go back. This script has special significance for us. As long as I have a breath left, I won’t hold the crew back.”

Yu Jintang moved her lips, but in the end, she just patted Qin Lan earnestly and said, "Old Qin, you're so ungrateful, how could you lose such a good girlfriend..."

Qin Lan: "..."

Yu Jintang sighed and left, expressing his gratitude to Jiang Yan on behalf of the crew before he left.

"If you ever need my help in the future, just let me know. I'll go through fire and water for you without hesitation." She clasped her hands in a very chivalrous manner: "The presidential suite at the Tulip Hotel is free, just like the one Lao Qin and the others are staying in."

Jiang Yan smiled and nodded.

After she left, Xiaoqing came in again, carrying a huge takeout bag: "Sister Qin, Teacher Jiang, breakfast is ready!"

She laid out the breakfast items on the table one by one, like opening a shop, complete with audio descriptions. Qin Lan washed her hands and instructed, "Go buy some more medicine for sprains and bruises."

Jiang Yan sipped the black rice porridge slowly.

Qin Lan asked her, "How is it?"

"It's very soft and chewy, and delicious." Jiang Yan squinted her eyes: "Thank you for your trouble, Teacher Qin."

"It definitely won't taste like your grandma's cooking." Qin Lan pouted. "Just make do with it."

"It was bought by Teacher Qin, so it's not a compromise."

"How about letting Ye Wei follow you from now on?"

"Ye Wei is very capable, so Teacher Qin is willing to give her to me?"

Qin Lan stirred her porridge with the tips of her chopsticks. Before she could speak, Xiao Qing brought in the medicine: "Sister Qin, the medicine is here!"

"Go and let Ye Wei rest for a while. Come back at noon to process her discharge."

Qin Lan waved her hand, and Xiao Qing rushed out again.

She opened the medicine box and gestured for her to lift her shirt: "Apply the medicine first."

Jiang Yan lifted her shirt up to the top.

Qin Lan's face flushed again, and she glared at her: "Jiang Yan!"

Jiang Yan looked down at herself innocently, her eyes conveying a meaning that left Qin Lan speechless for a moment: "Oh..."

She slowly put down her clothes. Qin Lan gritted her teeth and leaned closer, applying medicine to the bruise: "Do your fans know you have absolutely no self-respect in private?"

"Wouldn't my image collapse then?" Jiang Yan chuckled, then hissed as Qin Lan pressed on her wound in retaliation.

"Does it hurt?" Qin Lan asked her with a dark expression.

"It hurts," Jiang Yan said, feeling wronged.

"Remember the pain. No matter how bad your mood is in the future, you must be alert when you encounter danger!"

Jiang Yan gave a soft "hmm," and the room fell silent for a moment.

Qin Lan's fingertips were warm from rubbing the medicine together, and she could feel the trembling and moans that accompanied each movement, which she had to suppress in her throat. Her face was flushed as she whispered to her, "Be gentle." This was a huge challenge to her self-control, and it was hard for Qin Lan not to have wild thoughts.

After a while, she suddenly spoke in a calm tone: "Once your foot is healed, you can learn jujitsu and basic self-defense techniques from me and Ye Wei."

Jiang Yan was surprised for a moment, then thought for a while: "I'm afraid I don't have time."

"If not, then let's make time." Qin Lan didn't even lift her eyelids: "Reducing the workload will give us more time."

She cut Jiang Yan off in time: "Situations like yesterday will happen again. It may not be extreme fans, but as long as you're in the entertainment industry, you'll be in danger. If you want to survive, you either need to have capital backing you, or you have to put in effort that others can't match."

"Ye Wei can't be with you all the time. You need to learn to protect yourself. Not to avoid making others worry, but for your own sake."

"Do you understand?" The woman's tone was a little impatient, but her gentle movements revealed her concern.

Jiang Yan stared silently at the bruise, then recalled Qin Lan's almost violent rage last night. She had hit her hard, and that disappointed look in her eyes showed that she would rather wake her up than let her wallow in self-pity.

A strange feeling welled up inside her, and she couldn't help but gaze deeply at Qin Lan. This once aloof and revered figure had truly appeared in her life, still powerful, proud, and radiant. She was rich and powerful, but she wouldn't offer to quit her job and support her, or promise that no one would dare touch her. She was proud and arrogant, but she made Jiang Yan feel more equal and dignified than those who were humble and gentle. Qin Lan never denied her efforts; in fact, she would urge her to work even harder. She admired her decisive breakup when faced with pain, respected every choice she made, and told her to protect herself. Not for others, but for herself.

Love means considering the other person's entire life, not just the time spent together.

She seemed to understand more about love, but in life, it was Qin Lan who consistently taught her to be strong. From the moment Qin Lan passionately entered her life, every work and every statement she made showed her that a person could be so strong, so confident and independent, without needing to care about anyone else's opinions. Even if Qin Lan were to fall on hard times one day, she would still be that strong and confident princess; her outlook on life would not change because of her family background.

She was initially drawn to the most unique and beautiful soul in the world, and thus she has always been following in that person's footsteps.