Trembling At A High Altitude

"Sir Cao's 'Ode to the White Begonia'?" How could a female literature enthusiast like herself not know of this poem?

"I couldn't remember where it was from, but when I saw you just now, it suddenly came to mind, and I thought it described you under the moonlight very fittingly." Li Teng had a very earnest expression on his face.

"It's a fine poem, but pity the surroundings aren't right—it robs one of the mood for poetry." The director sighed, yet from the expression on her face, she was clearly pleased to be described with this poem by Li Teng.

Even if a woman knows a man is deliberately flattering her or even telling lies, as long as she's complimented on her beauty or the like, deep down she is always pleased.

Especially when the man complimenting her can recite poetry—and is handsome to boot.

"The environment is indeed a bit harsh." Li Teng also felt some regret; the setting not only dampened the poetic spirit but also one's amorous interests.

Change the setting, and if he were trapped in a comfortably warm hotel room with the director right now...

An extra line or two of poetry and the beauty would likely go take a shower.

And then the exchange and balance of genes would begin.

Such a pity!

Fate plays tricks on people.

"Do you want to sleep for a while? I can sleep right next to you and make sure you don't fall off." The potent genes within Li Teng hadn't given up, manipulating his actions and words with various hormones.

"No, thanks." The director hesitated for a moment but then shook her head.

It seemed she too noticed Li Teng's genes were restless.

"Leaving a delicate woman here as a punishment, Film and Television City is too cruel!" Unable to have his way, Li Teng sighed deeply.

"It's nothing; just three days to get a taste of your lifestyle," the director glanced at Li Teng.

"What's your name? After these three days, we'll go our separate ways, and it might be hard to meet again. You don't have to hide it from me. I have no ulterior motives; I just want to remember the name of a kind woman." Li Teng spoke again to the director.

"Yao Xue." This time the director didn't hesitate much before telling Li Teng her name.

The her who has now removed her mask seemed somewhat different from the previous masked her.

Maybe it was because she had let go of the shackles of Film and Television City's rules and returned to being an ordinary person.

The rules of Film and Television City were too harsh and strict, turning many people into robots.

Like those bodyguards, security guards, and staff members, they must have undergone extremely stringent rule training; at least in Li Teng's eyes, they were no different from robots.

The earlier version of the director also seemed like a robot to Li Teng. It was only in the process of getting to know her better that he gradually perceived her humanity.

Now, atop the pillar, her robotic nature had faded further, and her humanity had been restored quite a bit.

"Hmm, that name fits the overall vibe of you quite well," Li Teng nodded.

"Do you really not fall off when you sleep up there every day?" Yao Xue mustered the courage to glance over the edge of the pillar, then quickly turned her gaze back. She was indeed very sleepy now, barely holding on.

The space on top of the pillar was too small, wasn't it? Even turning over could lead to falling off!

How could one not turn over while sleeping?

Especially now that two people are on top of the stone pillar.

"Several times I nearly fell off, clinging to the headboard and bedpost before crawling back up. It's a pity the bed is gone; next time, it won't be so easy," Li Teng was indeed worried now. At least before, the head and foot of the bed had railings, but now there was nothing.

"There's just no safety assurance!" Yao Xue furrowed her brows.

"I've signed up for a promotional performance. After advancing, earning points will be much quicker. I'll try my best to lower the pillar to a safe zone. Once we get a small house, things should be a lot safer," Li Teng could only comfort himself this way now.

"Your current plight reminds me of those struggling drifters in the real world. They all start with a bed in a tiny youth hostel, barely two square meters, always just a part of the background, extras, earning less than enough for a meal. Once they offend the director or slip up in their performance, it's social death. Beyond scheming, standing out also requires one's personal charm," Yao Xue contemplated.

"Your job in the real world had to do with directors, right?" Li Teng picked up on something from her words.

"My father is a director, quite a successful one at that," Yao Xue confessed to Li Teng this time.

Li Teng pondered... a director with the surname Yao in the real world... it seemed...

"Don't guess, his last name isn't Yao. You won't guess it," Yao Xue smiled.

"You finally smiled," Li Teng took another glance at Yao Xue.

Life on top of the stone pillar, with a beauty by your side, felt different.

"I used to smile behind the mask, but you couldn't see it," Yao Xue also glanced at Li Teng and then looked away.

"Didn't you say your father left you early on? If you weren't by his side and he worked as a director, how would you know about the life of those drifters? Your own work must be related to directors, right?" Li Teng returned to his earlier question, eager to know the standards Film and Television City used to select directors.

"Even though he was heartless, abandoned and betrayed us, my mother and me, and despite my hatred for him, I still think of him. I know he often appears there, so I also pursued work in that area..." Yao Xue's emotions were stirred again, and tears welled in her eyes.

"I believe a father wouldn't just abandon his daughter, especially one who once loved her so much. I think... he must have had his reasons," Li Teng consoled Yao Xue with a few words.

"What do you usually do on the stone pillar?" Yao Xue changed the subject.

"Other than those incidents, it's sleep, sleep, unconsciousness, sleep, unconsciousness..." Li Teng answered Yao Xue.

"Unconsciousness?"

"Yeah, dehydrated from the sun, frozen stiff by blizzards, I can hardly tell the difference between sleep and unconsciousness anymore."

"So..." Yao Xue was about to say something, thought better of it, and didn't know what else to say.

Staying alone on this stone pillar, with nothing at all, just sleeping or fainting, it's truly pitiful.

"It's really nice to have you here, it won't be so boring anymore," Li Teng smiled at Yao Xue.

"I hope you can earn enough points to lower the height soon; otherwise... these conditions are just too harsh." Yao Xue now felt even more that Li Teng was a man of profound inner strength. The hardships he endured on that stone pillar were not something average extras could withstand.

"I'll work hard," Li Teng nodded.

"I'm getting sleepy," Yao Xue yawned several times, covering her mouth. She really couldn't hold on any longer.

"Then take a nap. I'll use my arm as a pillow for you," Li Teng laid down and extended his arm.