Trembling At A High Altitude

"Lurking War Wolf" officially wrapped up filming.

The time for everyone to go their separate ways had arrived.

"Big brother, this is for you," Daisy said as she placed a bag of roast chicken in front of Li Teng.

And a raincoat too.

"What's this for? Don't waste your points like this; you'll need them for yourself," Li Teng felt something was off about Daisy.

"It's okay, I have enough points," Daisy said and then ran off.

"She's acting weird, huh? Fallen for you? You really have a way with all ages," Anna walked over, watching Daisy's retreating figure, and commented.

"She is a bit strange, but not in the way you're suggesting," Li Teng furrowed his brow.

"Over there, I have something to tell you," Anna walked towards a street corner.

Li Teng followed her.

She was probably going to knock on his forehead again, wasn't she? To tell him the interval between the next performances?

"Just to let you know, I won't be in this troupe for the next show. I called you over here to say goodbye," Anna said to Li Teng as they stopped.

"Why?"

"Before joining this troupe, before I met you, my so-called 'acting career' here in Film and Television City was very stable. I'd slowly earn points, slowly level up, gradually lower the height of the columns, slowly hoping to live and escape from here. I rarely encountered storylines as intense as the life and death situations with you."

"Being around you is too dangerous, the closer to you, the more dangerous, I almost lost my life. So, I've decided to leave the troupe, to keep my distance and take a stable path," Anna replied to Li Teng.

"To each their own, I wish you a smooth journey ahead," Li Teng had no intention of asking her to stay.

Their paths had merely crossed and his saving her last time was because she had given him roast chicken; he owed her and wanted to return the favor.

"Anyway, remember my words, if you want to survive in Film and Television City, you can only rely on yourself. No one else is worth trusting," Anna added a few words and then tapped on Li Teng's forehead four times.

"Alright, I'll remember that," Li Teng didn't want to say much else.

"Take care of yourself! Thanks for not giving up on me in Hell Mode, otherwise, I wouldn't be able to stand here now. I owe you my life, and I'll repay it if I get the chance! But who knows if we'll ever meet again? Maybe I won't be here anymore, or maybe you won't. If that's the case, the debt dies with the person," Anna added a few more words.

She had seen on the terminal the scene of Li Teng persevering through excruciating pain to save her, firmly administering chest compressions and artificial respiration, and even when staff arrived, he didn't give up.

She knew that the fact she was still not completely dead when put into the Medical Pod was entirely thanks to his persistence.

But, Film and Television City isn't a place for love and affection.

Better to keep her distance now before real feelings set in, it wouldn't be good for either of them.

"You take care of yourself too," Li Teng still didn't have much to say.

"I'm off!" Anna stood on her toes, quickly pecked Li Teng's cheek, then turned and ran away.

"What's that supposed to mean? Is this harassment? Damn it! I'm going to report you! How can you kiss my cheek without permission instead of... my mouth?" Li Teng was very displeased as he looked at Anna's receding figure.

Li Teng quickly finished the roast chicken Daisy gave him, put on the raincoat she had bought him, and boarded the bus at the curb that was to take them to the airport.

Soon, the bus reached the airport.

Security check, all items not suitable for taking back to the columns were confiscated; don't even think of bringing a plastic bag.

Then, aboard the plane.

After boarding the helicopter, it took off swiftly into the clouds, heading for their respective columns.

With nothing to do in the pitch-black helicopter cabin,

Li Teng could only sleep.

By the time he was jolted awake, the helicopter was already hovering above his column.

Today, the weather atop his column was clear, neither cold nor hot.

This made Li Teng feel it wasn't as miserable as the times before.

Of course, his mindset had also changed slightly.

Li Teng climbed down the rope ladder to his tattered bed.

Then he watched as the helicopter disappeared into the horizon.

Four days.

He had to endure.

With Anna gone, there would be no one to tell him the interval between performances next time.

The raincoat Daisy gave him was a good item.

Li Teng certainly wasn't going to use it to keep the rain off.

Rather, he planned to use it to collect rainwater.

But soon, Li Teng gave up on that idea.

Upon inspecting the material of the raincoat, Li Teng felt like cursing.

It turned out to be made in a scale-like pattern.

The raincoat had countless tiny holes, covered by downward plastic layers like scales. It would definitely keep the rain off when worn, but to use it to hold water? Absolutely not.

It seemed that Film and Television City had anticipated the actors' cheating.

The beverage bottle given by the person in the hot air balloon was more reliable.

Li Teng hurriedly checked the beverage bottle he had tied to the bed rail with strips of cloth torn from the bedsheet.

It was still there.

Unfortunately, it was empty, not a drop of water inside.

Thankfully, the weather was good today, neither hot nor cold, so he wouldn't quickly feel thirsty.

Moreover, before leaving, he had eaten a leftover sesame bun and also the roasted chicken given by Daisy. If he sat still, he could last until tomorrow night without feeling too hungry.

"Little Daisy, you're not giving up, are you?" Li Teng faintly sensed that something was off.

He remembered the question Daisy had asked Anna during the Q&A session.

And her trembling body after being tortured.

"It's better for her to have left; this place isn't suited for her. Scenes like torture and interrogation were too damaging for her; she couldn't possibly endure. Better a short pain than a long one; her leaving is a release for her," Li Teng was rather philosophical about it.

It was just that Daisy's favor of two roasted chickens was definitely not repayable.

If repayable, it would be as the refined old lady had said, the day he became a savior, rescuing all the wax figures, and by the way, saving them as well.

In such matters, Li Teng didn't even believe in himself.

He knew he wasn't a savior; he was just an ant struggling to stay alive.

Keeping himself alive was what mattered most.

He didn't have time to mourn, nor the time to feel sad for these people he had met by chance.

He had no heart to begin with.

Heartless.

Li Teng lay down on the bed board.

His mentality now, compared to when he first arrived at the stone pillar, had changed significantly.

Be it parting in life or in death, he viewed it all very lightly.

Heartlessness might be the most fitting way to survive here.

Just sleep.

Though he couldn't.

Still, try to sleep.

An hour later, Li Teng actually fell asleep.

...

When he woke up, it was already dark.

He was awoken by a sudden clap of thunder.

Soon, the rain poured down heavily.

Then it intensified, pouring like from a bucket.

Li Teng sat quietly in the thunderstorm, wearing his raincoat.

Listening to the peals of thunder around him, watching the streaks of lightning split the night sky.

He was neither fearful nor angry, nor did he complain.

He just sat in silence.

Of course, he had drunk enough rainwater, and the beverage bottle had been filled.

He had done everything he could to the best of his ability; whether he could survive was entirely up to fate.

Or rather, the will of Film and Television City.

After a while, drowsiness crept up on him again.

His body swayed, and he collapsed onto the rain-soaked bed.

Letting the torrential rain and howling wind rage, letting the lightning flash and thunder roar.

He, fell asleep.