Trembling At A High Altitude

"Extra number 3972395 has repeatedly protested during the Supervisor's speeches, questioning the authority of the Film and Television City Inspection Department, and has not reformed despite repeated instructions! Such behavior is extremely reprehensible and absolutely cannot be condoned! According to the regulations of the Supervision Department, she is to be punished after this performance by being thrown into the Hell Mode crew to participate in a Hell Mode performance!" Supervisor number 1365 announced further.

"I..." Anna wanted to say something but ultimately held back.

"Damn!" Li Teng cursed softly.

No wonder the director always tried so hard to stop Anna from interrupting, it was for her good!

"The new director will take over at the next performance, the work for these two days will still be handled by director number 65302."

"Director number 65302, please continue to arrange the upcoming matters," said Supervisor number 1365 before heading back to his black SUV surrounded by a group of bodyguards, the SUV started and quickly disappeared around the corner.

"Hmph! Fantastic! Plot to kill me together, now go to hell together! If I must die, dragging two others down with me, it's worth it!" Liu Huang cursed out loud.

"Don't be too happy just yet, Feng Dahai thought the same last time, and look what happened..." Huang Xun smirked.

"You son of a..." Liu Huang always felt an urge to beat Huang Xun whenever he saw him.

"Don't curse, this performance is your own damn fault, it has nothing to do with me. Four pieces of evidence against you, even if three were revealed, you would not be dead if you didn't confess. Now you've played yourself, don't blame fate or others, pushing your faults onto others," Huang Xun retorted preemptively when he heard Liu Huang about to curse him.

"Damn you, I'm done, no point in getting angry with someone like you, you're not even human," Liu Huang turned away.

"Look who's talking, I'm not human, and you are? Look at the things you've done, what part of that is humane? You are nothing but trash, I was blind to seek your support, almost got me killed, luckily I was smart enough and revealed your crimes in time, or else I'd face serious consequences," Huang Xun snapped back after being insulted.

"Fuck you!" Liu Huang, unable to bear it any longer, punched Huang Xun in the nose, making him scream loudly as blood gushed out, followed by a flurry of violent punches to Huang Xun's head.

Having lost the competition, punished to become a wax statue and having to stay conscious for fifty years, Liu Huang was utterly desperate. He had just convinced himself not to get angry with Huang Xun, even showing some signs of yielding in his words, but Huang Xun was relentless, stepping over the line, insulting him!

Liu Huang, who was already in a break-all attitude, didn't care about the consequences anymore and started pummeling Huang Xun.

The security personnel on the scene quickly intervened, subdued Liu Huang, and handcuffed his hands behind his back.

Huang Xun was urgently taken to the hospital for treatment.

...

Because the penalties for the confrontational performance were canceled, and the results voided, plus the director being punished with a replacement set for the next show, there was no point in discussing or summarizing the performance afterward.

The ceremony to wax-seal Liu Huang was not held immediately.

Li Teng and Anna had to participate in the punitive Hell Mode performance organized by the Film and Television City the next day. When a production's actors are involved in a Hell Mode performance, the wax-sealing ceremony is postponed until after the Hell Mode performance concludes. Any actor from the same production who dies as a punishment in Hell Mode will be wax-sealed together.

With some crew members participating in the Hell Mode performance, other actors from the same production will remain in the Film and Television City during this period and watch the live stream of the Hell Mode performance until it is over.

During this period, the Film and Television City will provide free accommodation, but food will be self-catered.

This meant that all members of the production crew did not have to return to their residences in the stone pillars today and could relax in the Film and Television City for the day.

Li Teng originally had 53 points in his account, and the performance today did not deduct any points, rather, it added a salary of 10 points, and he no longer had to repay any loans, bringing his account to 63 points.

Li Teng no longer had to worry about dinner.

He had packed a lot of food at noon and stored it in the café, enough for several meals.

Of course, he had to share some with Bunny Girl.

After the performance, other people also received varying rewards according to their ranks, even the lowest-scoring Huang Xun had enough points now to exchange for food.

Liu Huang, having attacked Huang Xun and being detained, plus he had no points left, would have to go hungry for the next few days.

...

After dinner, the members of the production crew wandered around the hotel vicinity.

They could only dream of more.

As people strolled the streets, they saw the director enter the hotel with two bodyguards, just like last time.

Li Teng, who had been strolling with the group, followed the director once more.

"Do you think the director will let him into the room?" Anna asked the people she was with, watching Li Teng's retreating figure.

"He didn't last time, but maybe he will this time," Gao Fei thought for a moment before responding to Anna.

"Do you think the two of them might... It's clear as day now, the director is in love with Li Teng. He even risked punishment from Film and Television City for him, which is really unexpected!" Elsa sighed.

"Yeah, I guess he won't be coming back to spend the night with Gao Fei tonight. He'll have to repay the director's kindness well," Anna said as she watched Li Teng disappear into the hotel.

"Anna, are you jealous?" Elsa laughed.

"What I have with him is pure friendship, or rather, it's like the camaraderie of comrades who have faced death together. Don't make wild guesses," Anna shook her head.

"Who'd believe that?" Elsa laughed again.

"Whether you believe it or not doesn't matter, but I'm afraid of him now. If I survive this Hell Mode, I won't be coming back to this crew no matter what," Anna shook her head again.

"You're leaving?" Gao Fei sounded reluctant.

"I shouldn't even be here this time, but the new crew I was switched to had problems and the show got canceled. Film and Television City forced me to return to the original crew. I wouldn't have come back if I could help it. And now, here I am, headed for Hell again," Anna sighed.

"Don't worry, you guys are tough, you won't die. And he will surely come to your rescue," Elsa comforted Anna.

"Luck can't always be on our side. I have a feeling I won't survive this Hell Mode. My life was saved by him, and I might have to give it back this time," Anna looked up at the sky.

"Don't jinx yourself," Gao Fei advised Anna.

"You will come back alive together. Make sure you both strive to come back alive. We are all waiting for you!" Elsa also comforted Anna.

Bunny Girl listened to everyone talking, saying nothing. Being new, she didn't understand much and had nothing to add.

...

At the hotel room door.

Just like last time, when they were five meters away from the door, the two bodyguards at the door gestured for Li Teng to stop.

"Director! It's Li Teng!" Li Teng called out to the director who was unlocking the door.

"What do you want?" the director, wearing a mask, asked Li Teng coldly.

"Won't you invite me in to sit?" Li Teng asked the director.

"Throw him in the elevator and keep him from coming to this floor again," the director instructed the two bodyguards.

"No! I just wanted to say thank you, to thank you for everything you've done for me, nothing more," Li Teng quickly explained.

"No need, don't flatter yourself. I haven't given you any special treatment," the director rejected Li Teng and opened the door.

"If those two words hadn't trembled, I wouldn't have realized how hard this is, no way to say it except as a goodbye. If there were no expectations for tomorrow, holding hands would be like traveling, thousands of thresholds, always one person has to go first..." Li Teng hesitated for a moment, then began to sing in the corridor.

His voice was deep and husky, tinged with a hint of melancholy, and he captured the emotions perfectly.

The director, who was about to enter the room, stopped.

She stood there, quietly listening to Li Teng sing the whole song.

"Sorry for the disturbance," Li Teng said after finishing the song, turning to head downstairs.

"Come in," the director said as she walked into the room, leaving the door open.