Vase cannon fodder is pampered by the group again

Chapter 80.1

Editor: Princess

On the filming set, cameras positioned near and far around the actors were quietly shooting, the entire set shrouded in silence.

This scene had already been repeated six times, with Min Shoubei finding fault with every department, but it had nothing to do with the actors. Both had consistently been performing at an exceptional level.

Shen Ci still sat in his original position, his gaze quiet and weary, all his muscles loosely relaxed and drooping.

Too exhausted to hold himself up anymore, he simply lay down, his legs tangled awkwardly in a strange position that stretched his tendons painfully, but the person lying on the ground was too tired to adjust, slowly closing his eyes.

Min Shoubei folded his arms, staring intently at Shen Ci on the monitor screen, his knuckles unconsciously curling up to press against his lips, slowly and heavily rubbing his dry, peeling lower lip.

Afraid of affecting the filming state, all unnecessary communication in the crew was forbidden, making the atmosphere even more tense.

With a “bang”, Lu An, sweating profusely and anxious, pushed through the door onto the rooftop, the cameraman behind him silently and swiftly running past Lu An, precisely stepping onto the sliding track and retreating as he rolled back.

Lu An stood stunned as the composed face quietly moved away, the lens sweeping across the empty rooftop and blue sky, framing the lying Shen Ci in the shot, then slowly rotating the angle by remote control, the camera being lifted and gradually ascending into the sky above the rooftop, the lens gradually pulling back vertically—

This complex moving shot had been rehearsed a hundred times, finally presenting perfectly in the final take.

Other cameras immediately took over, continuing to film the two actors’ interaction.

In Ah Sheng’s eyes was disbelief. He had once thought he’d saved Wen Yu, but actually Wen Yu had always been sealed in his own world, pretending to accept everyone’s visits while silently rejecting them.

Because only by accepting could he avoid more trouble.

On the slightly shabby, faded rooftop, Ah Sheng had been persuading for a long time, but even the most gorgeous and moving words were pale and powerless to someone trapped in depression. Wen Yu hadn’t understood a single word.

Finding it annoying, he quietly stood up and walked calmly toward the edge of the rooftop.

“Wen Yu!”

Wen Yu’s arm was suddenly yanked backward, Ah Sheng pulling him to the ground, eyes reddening as he pressed him down firmly.

“Even if you give up on yourself, you should think about the people around you!”

Wen Yu’s gaze showed no emotion, one corner of his mouth lifting slightly in impatience, but he remained silent.

He couldn’t be bothered to explain. Dying was just a choice.

Like some people choosing to study abroad, some choosing to marry and have children, some people felt they’d lived just the right amount.

Others didn’t need to pity or grieve, nor did they need to intervene forcefully. He just felt helpless and annoyed.

Why wouldn’t they let him leave happily?

Ah Sheng continued to roar angrily, and seeing Wen Yu’s complete lack of response, he gritted his teeth and forcefully knocked Wen Yu unconscious, carrying him away on his shoulder.

“Cut! That’s a wrap!”

Min Shoubei announced through the megaphone, the set immediately erupting in a few claps as everyone began packing up.

Lu An gently set Shen Ci back down on the ground, rubbing his neck: “Didn’t hurt you, did I?”

Shen Ci weakly shook his head, lacking the energy to speak.

Knowing that Shen Ci had gotten too deep into character, Lu An patiently sat beside him, gently patting his back.

Shen Ci lowered his head and took deep breaths, reaching up to gently rub the corners of his eyes and between his brows, his heart feeling completely empty.

Every time they were about to film emotionally complex scenes, Min Shoubei would always find Shen Ci and Lu An the night before, the three of them sitting on the hotel terrace while Min Shoubei smoked and reminisced, telling stories about him and his wife in a hoarse voice.

“I’ve actually forgotten most of it, but seeing Shen Ci, it all slowly comes back.”

Min Shoubei exhaled a puff of smoke that dispersed like silk in the wind, vanishing completely, just like all of yesterday’s memories.

Throughout the entire script, although Shen Ci still didn’t know his mother’s name, he had already entered her life with his father, experiencing her inner world as “mother.”

Every time he acted, Shen Ci viewed the world from his mother’s perspective, at least becoming one with her in his heart.

There was no intense grief, just a heart full of calm despair, leaving Shen Ci feeling lost and melancholy after each performance.

“Xiao Ci.”

The familiar voice seemed like a hallucination, and Shen Ci’s hand froze.

That person called again, the ending note rising ambiguously and carelessly.

Shen Ci finally slowly raised his head in astonishment. His big brother was standing not far away, hands in his pockets, looking at him.

“How did you—”

Shen Ci choked up, tears immediately streaming down, his arms weakly supporting him against the ground, disheveled hair hanging down in dejection.

“Holy shit, why are you crying?” Shen Bie was startled and couldn’t wait for his little brother to pounce on him like a silly dog, hurrying over to check the situation.

Shen Bie knelt on one knee and hugged his little brother, frantically using his sleeve to wipe away the tears: “What’s going on here? Who bullied you? Tell your big brother.”

Shen Ci said nothing, just kept shedding tears, tightening his arms around his big brother and refusing to let go, clinging tightly to Shen Bie’s neck and nearly strangling him.

“…” Shen Bie suppressed his eyes that were about to roll from being choked, gently and skillfully patting Shen Ci’s thin back, thinking this little brat was surprisingly strong.

Brother Zhang also hurried over, crouching down to observe for a moment before saying: “Maybe he hasn’t recovered from the emotions during filming? Let’s go rest first.”

“So dedicated? Alright, alright.”

Shen Bie placed his hands under Shen Ci’s armpits, easily lifting him up, half-carrying half-supporting him on his shoulder as he strode away.

“Is that Shen Ci’s brother? How did he get here?” Lu An stood up.

Brother Zhang looked worried: “Sigh… there was some trouble earlier, so I called both him and Boss Lu. Shen Bie seems to have come on his own. I don’t know if he can handle it…”

---

After crying, Shen Ci’s terrible mood improved considerably, and he sniffled while hugging Shen Bie’s neck.

“Big brother how did you get here?”

Shen Ci’s voice was thick with nasal congestion as he asked, lying on his shoulder.

Shen Bie raised an eyebrow: “Brother Zhang didn’t tell you? That idiot Wen Ran came looking for you again.”

“Huh?” Shen Ci immediately sobered up in fright: “No way? What’s he here for?”

Shen Bie laughed: “Probably his skin’s itching again and needs another good beating.”

Shen Ci quickly tried to dissuade him: “Don’t, big brother don’t get into fights…”

“It’s fine, today your big brother brought a healer!”

Shen Ci was confused: “Huh?”

Shen Bie opened the rear car door, and there sat Dr. Mo, who looked up at the sound and gave Shen Ci a gentle, warm smile.

“Xiao Ci, long time no see.”

Shen Ci: “…”

You two are really something. One’s the damage dealer, and one’s the support healer, the perfect combo for collecting heads in the wild.

---

The three returned to the hotel to see seven to eight identical black cars parked at the entrance, most likely brought by Wen Ran.

Brother Zhang and Lu An had also returned, and they all went to the top floor suite together. As soon as the elevator opened, sure enough, a large group of people were guarding the door, with Wen Ran standing at the front, his eyes lighting up when he saw Shen Ci.

“Shen Ci, I need to talk to you.”

Wen Ran anxiously stepped forward several paces, abandoning his usual casual attitude, his tone seeming very serious.

Shen Bie sneered and protected his little brother behind him: “You have nothing to discuss with my little brother. Please leave.”

Wen Ran glanced at him angrily, the bruises on his skin beginning to ache again: “You’d better not meddle again! See the people behind me? They’re all retired professional boxers! I’m going to get revenge for last time!”

Behind him stood at least a dozen people, all tall and muscular with muscles nearly bursting through their T-shirts.

Shen Bie raised his eyebrows nonchalantly: “Oh, impressive, but I didn’t come alone either.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the elevator opened again, and a large group of men in black suits and sunglasses flooded into the hallway, standing behind Shen Bie with uniform posture, hands behind their backs, a mix of ethnicities, all tall and imposing with overwhelming presence.

A relatively thin man politely addressed Shen Bie: “Boss, everyone’s here.”

It was his big brother’s secretary, Xiao Liu, whom Shen Ci recognized.

Shen Ci was shocked, wondering when his big brother had acquired the persona of a mafia prince!

Wen Ran was clearly also startled, and Shen Bie helpfully explained: “Mr. Lu Xiao lent me these people. They’re ex-mercenaries. I think one of them could take on ten of yours, don’t you think?”

Shen Ci was shocked again, realizing it wasn’t his big brother but Lu Xiao who had suddenly acquired the persona of a mafia godfather…

“I don’t care what the hell you are, everyone attack!” Wen Ran stopped wasting words and shouted fiercely.

Immediately, fighters from both sides charged out, the dull thuds of fists hitting flesh and the creaking of bones mixing with the rapid heavy stomping of dress shoes in dense succession.

Shen Bie immediately pushed his little brother and the others aside, focusing intently on Wen Ran to capture the king.