Chapter 74
Work in Paris was nearing its end, and the air was filled with a restless exhaustion of impending release. Ling Yao's final shoot took place in a stylish, retro drive-in theater. A black-and-white silent film played silently on the giant screen. He leaned against a sleek vintage sports car. At the photographer's request, the shifting light and shadows perfectly captured an atmosphere of languid luxury.
Everything went smoothly. The last look, the last shot. The director stared at the monitor, a look of satisfaction on his face, ready to call out the final "Cut."
At this moment, the accident happened without warning.
A large fill light hanging above Ling Yao's side made a "creaking" sound on the fixing frame due to the high-intensity movement and installation in recent days. It tilted and broke suddenly, and the heavy metal lamp body fell down with a terrifying momentum!
"careful--!"
There were exclamations and explosions at the scene! Ling Yao's pupils suddenly shrank, and almost instinctively, his body suddenly dodged to the side and back.
“Bang!!!!”
A deafening roar echoed across the filming location. The heavy lamp slammed down hard where he had just been standing, its glass shade shattering instantly, sending shards and metal parts flying like shrapnel, even leaving a sharp scratch on the hood of the old sports car.
Greater chaos and panic ensued. Staff, assistants, and agent Sister Yang all rushed forward with pale faces.
"Ling Yao!" "Are you okay?! Are you hurt?!" "Quick! Call the accompanying doctor! Check him out!"
Ling Yao was helped to his feet by the others. His face was frighteningly pale, his breathing was rapid, and a fine layer of cold sweat was beading on his forehead. His heart was pounding wildly in his chest, pounding against his ribs, bringing with it waves of belated fear. He waved his hands, his voice trembling slightly, "No...it's okay...I didn't get hit..."
He subconsciously moved his arm and felt a sharp pain on the back of his hand. Looking down, he saw a bloody wound caused by flying glass shards, slowly oozing blood. Fortunately, it was only a superficial wound.
The director rushed over, apologizing profusely, still in shock. The manager quickly took control of the situation, checking on Ling Yao's condition while sternly instructing everyone to keep the news secret and clean up the scene.
After confirming it was just a false alarm and the final shot had been perfectly filmed, all scheduled work was finally complete. Back in the nanny car, the accompanying doctor disinfected and bandaged the shallow but glaring wound on the back of Ling Yao's hand.
Ling Yao leaned back in the spacious chair, eyes closed, his thick lashes casting a faint shadow beneath his lids. As the adrenaline faded, a deep, almost overwhelming exhaustion washed over him. Months of relentless, high-pressure work were like a taut, almost snapping string, gently touched by this unexpected incident. The subtle pain on the back of his hand and the thrilling moment just now replayed over and over in his mind.
Her agent was on the phone nearby, handling follow-up matters quickly and calmly, trying to minimize the impact. After hanging up, she turned to Ling Yao, her tone businesslike yet also concerned, "Thankfully, it's just a minor injury. My flight to Country J will be as scheduled tomorrow, and afterward, I have two media interviews and a brand meeting. Everything's pretty easy, so it can be considered a wrap-up..."
"Sister," Ling Yao suddenly spoke, his voice low and hoarse, carrying a hint of barely concealed fatigue and the fragility of a frightened man. He opened his eyes and looked at his agent. Those eyes, usually either arrogant or affectionate, were now filled with fear and pleading. "Isn't the work... almost finished? These are the only ones left. Can... can you help me cancel them or postpone them for a few days?"
Sister Yang was stunned for a moment, as if she hadn't expected him to make such a request: "Ling Yao, these itineraries have already been planned, and it's not too much trouble..."
"I know," Ling Yao interrupted her, his tone softening, even to the point of a subtle pleading. He raised his bandaged hand, his fingertips trembling slightly, "But I really... Sister Yang, I was really scared just now. My hands are still shaking, and I'm terrified. I've been going on for so long, I really can't hold on any longer."
He lowered his eyelashes slightly, looking particularly tired and pitiful. "Just half a month, sister, please. Just give me some time to catch my breath, to relax. Just think of it as... letting me deal with this 'accidental shock' and adjust my state of mind, okay? Otherwise, I'm worried that in my current state, I won't be able to do the next work well."
He showed a rare sign of weakness, arguing his need for psychological adjustment with a compelling and reasonable tone, his tone closer to a plea than a command. He knew Sister Yang could handle both soft and hard calls, but given the job was essentially complete, this soft plea, tinged with genuine fear, might be more effective.
The agent looked at his pale face, his bandaged hands, and the lingering panic in his eyes, and remained silent for a few seconds. She weighed the pros and cons—the itinerary was indeed non-essential, and Ling Yao's condition was also true. Forcing it would be counterproductive if it actually affected his subsequent condition.
Finally, she sighed and softened her tone, "...Alright. I'll try to coordinate. But you must keep a low profile during this time. There can't be any mistakes, and your phone must be accessible."
"Thank you, sister! I will definitely not cause any trouble!" Ling Yao immediately promised, with a glimmer of relief and success in his eyes.
The agent got out of the car to make a phone call. Ling Yao was the only one left in the car. He immediately pulled out his personal phone and opened a chat with Su Rui. The work in Paris was almost over, and Su Rui should have just finished.
He thought about it and sent a photo first - it was a corner of the gray sky of Paris outside the nanny car window, and the focus was on the back of his hand wrapped in white gauze placed on the windowsill.
"The final battle just now was a bit exciting. I almost got hit on the head. Luckily, it was just a scratch, but I was pretty scared." His tone carried a hint of fear and a need for comfort.
Sure enough, almost immediately, Su Rui called, the anxiety and worry in her voice almost overflowing from the receiver: "What's going on? Is it serious? Why are you telling me now?!"
Hearing the other person's anxious voice, Ling Yao's lips curled up slightly, a warm feeling of being cared for dispelling some of his fear. He briefly explained the accident, repeatedly emphasizing that it was only a minor injury, but emphasized his shock and exhaustion. Then, he mentioned the vacation that had grown rapidly after the shock and that he had carefully fought for.
"I'm really fine, don't worry. It's just... I'm still a little panicked, and I'm really exhausted." He lowered his voice, with a hint of subtle fragility and temptation. "Work is almost done, and I... I asked my agent for two weeks' leave."
He paused, slid his fingertips across the screen, and sent a picture of a secluded village in the Provence region of southern France that he had long favored - ancient stone houses, winding alleys with flowers, and outside the window was an endless olive grove that shone silver in the sun. It was as peaceful as an isolated dream.
"Let's go here, Ruirui." Ling Yao's voice came through the electricity, low and full of temptation, with cautious expectation. "No flash, no itinerary, no one knows us. Just sunshine, wind, and... us. Just think of it as... accompanying me to calm my nerves, and also as a reward for not seeing each other properly for so long. Okay?"
He described the imagined scene, his tone full of desire and anticipation for the briefly stolen freedom, and cleverly transformed the shock and vulnerability brought about by the accident into a tempting, almost pleading proposal for a joint escape.
On the other end of the line, Su Rui's breathing noticeably hitched. The risk was obvious, but the weariness in Ling Yao's voice, the vulnerability after the recent shock, and his undisguised dependence on and expectation of her, woven together into an irresistible web.
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