Trembling At A High Altitude

Although it wasn't great to go to the set in pajamas, what was the need for a presentable appearance in this Film and Television City?

Preserving one's life was more important.

Moreover, most performances had their costumes provided.

After buying the pajamas, Li Teng first visited the restroom, then he went to the nearby bathing center.

In the bathing center, he also received a free bathing ticket that allowed him an entire hour for his bath.

Li Teng thoroughly washed off the rotten stench of decay from his body, the waistband of his pants, and inside his socks and shoes, and then he stepped out of the bathing center.

Having washed his trousers and socks, Li Teng had nothing to wear and didn't want to waste his points to buy new ones at the clothing store.

He simply hung them up in the small square and hid in a nearby shop, waiting for them to dry.

The wristwatch could access the simulation terminal APP, which included a live broadcast of the ongoing advancement performance. The performance wasn't over yet, and a few unfortunate souls were still struggling amidst zombies.

So, Li Teng had plenty of time to waste here.

The Film and Television City was eerily quiet everywhere, with no one around, so he wasn't worried about being seen semi-naked.

After setting the wristwatch to remind him when the performance ended, Li Teng lay down on the floor of the deserted shop and fell into a deep sleep.

Eating too much had made him uncomfortable.

A good sleep would aid in digestion.

...

As nightfall approached, the advancement performance officially ended.

From the broadcast's camera view, a few people failed to make it into the safe house by the time the performance ended.

For those who didn't enter the safe house, their rankings were determined based on the distance between them and the safe house at the end of the performance.

Two of them were still in the safe house of the teahouse where they were initially resurrected, their distance from the target safe house across the shore was the same; their rankings were then decided based on the remaining time they had left for resurrection.

The one with the shortest remaining time ranked 7th, while the one with the longest remaining time was ranked 8th.

The 8th place couldn't advance, and a hundred points were lost in vain.

In the end, Number 8 received the dubious honor of 8th place.

But these matters no longer concerned Li Teng.

He had successfully advanced in first place and had also won the first prize.

This advancement performance ended perfectly.

Li Teng put on his nearly dry trousers and still slightly damp shoes and socks, and hummed a tune as he hurried back to the café.

The other actors were all waiting there.

Director Liu Shiyuan was also waiting at the entrance of the café.

After rushing over, Li Teng apologized to everyone for making them wait, but it seemed that nobody really minded. On ordinary days, if the extras couldn't stay in the Film and Television City, they would have to stay on the stone pillars. Sitting next to the coffee tables in the Film and Television City and watching the live broadcast while sipping coffee was anyway much better than being alone on the stone pillars.

Director Liu Shiyuan led the way to congratulate Li Teng, and the others also congratulated him.

Seeing Director Liu Shiyuan, who had always been polite, humble, seemingly amicable, and favorably inclined towards himself, Li Teng was perplexed how such a person could be associated with the word 'perverted'.

You can know a person's face but not their heart; merely by looking at someone's appearance, it's difficult to discover the dark side of their inner self.

If this person really was difficult to get along with, it didn't matter; he'd only be under his guidance for one presentation, and if it felt wrong in the next, he could refresh the cast and leave.

"The next performance will be very interesting."

"New technological methods will appear in the film."

"The plot is very exciting, stimulating, and requires strong resilience, will, and an indomitable spirit to ultimately complete the shoot."

"I guarantee, it will be an unforgettable experience for all of you."

"We will also have three new colleagues joining us."

"You all can return to your respective habitats now, and we will meet again in the next performance!"

After congratulating Li Teng, Liu Shiyuan announced a few things to everyone.

The airport bus stopped in front of the café on the main street, and everyone boarded the bus, which then headed to the airport.

After going through security, everyone took their respective helicopters back to their individual stone pillars.

...

By the time he descended from the helicopter onto the stone pillar, the sky had turned completely dark.

Yao Xue was no longer there, leaving only the down suit they had once shared, tied to one of the bed legs by Yao Xue.

Reflecting on the days spent with her, the fragrance and softness of lying on her thighs, the warmth from embracing her, and the excitement of sharing the same clothes seemed like a distant memory from another lifetime.

It was like a dream of spring.

When he awoke, the loneliness remained.

"Lonely stone pillar, a heart torn inch by inch with endless sorrow. Mourning the spring as it departs, countless tears urging the flowers to bloom. Leaning on every bed leg, yet feeling nothing. Where is she, under the endless decayed grass, gazing hopelessly at the return path." Li Teng recited an impromptu poem to express his sentiments.

Unfortunately, there was no one to appreciate it.

Li Teng sighed deeply.

Sleep then.

…

The next day was very hot.

Fortunately, there was enough food in his stomach to keep him from being too hungry.

By evening, Li Teng called for special rescue.

Once up, Li Teng quickly finished off cookies, bread, and drank two bottles of beverages, consumed a copious amount of water under the shower, and spent the remaining minutes lying in the healing pod; then, when it was time, he was asked to leave.

Indeed, special rescue made a difference.

His fatigue and thirst levels were almost entirely reset, and his hunger was slightly alleviated.

If he could call for special rescue every day, life on the stone pillar wouldn't have been so grueling.

Unfortunately, it was only possible every three days.

Tomorrow, he could return to Film and Television City.

What would the next performance involve?

He would find out tomorrow.

…

It was quite rare.

This time, Li Teng's return to Film and Television City wasn't from a hospital.

But from the familiar beach and sea.

Li Teng hurried toward the café.

Unfortunately, the table by the café's door was already full.

Occupied by seven people, just missing Li Teng.

The plates on the table were also long emptied.

Li Teng guessed that it must have been because he ate too much during the qualifying performance, and Film and Television City punished him by making him arrive late, missing out on any snacks.

Moreover, there wasn't even enough time to eat at a restaurant.

Of course, if Li Teng passed by a restaurant, he could still casually buy a few steamed buns or dumplings.

Having participated in the qualifying performance, he now had only 1 point remaining in his account.

Just enough to buy three steamed buns.

Forget it, let himself starve. Perhaps the character he was going to play was in a banquet scene?

The free biscuits and bread in the helicopter were too meager to satisfy him anyway.

Feeling hungry every day really wasn't pleasant.

"Is everyone here?"

"Yes, good, today we will be shooting a very special type of film..."

"Related to time."

"The shooting method will also be quite unique."

Director Liu Shiyuan stepped forward and announced to everyone.