The crew members felt that this evening was particularly dreamlike.
Jiang Lingxi, the famous yet unpleasant Jiang Lingxi with her beautiful face and disagreeable temperament, actually apologized publicly to Director Zhao and the crew members!
Although they had only drunk some local rough tea tonight, they felt as if they had consumed quite a bit of alcohol.
Otherwise, why would they be so dizzy and even hear hallucinations?
After returning, Zhao Hengsheng's heart was in turmoil.
On one hand, he thought Jiang Lingxi was pretending, and the public apology was just a compromise. On the other hand, he couldn't help repeatedly recalling her appearance when she apologized with a cup in hand, which didn't seem like an act.
After all, he was a director; whether an actor was pretending or sincere should be instantly recognizable.
But Jiang Lingxi had left him with a very poor impression previously.
In the past few days, he regretted more than once why he had invited such a troublemaker to his variety show!
"Anyway, the next three days will all be under the camera. Whether she's human or ghost, it will be clear sooner or later."
On the other side,
Jiang Lingxi returned to the countryside villa with a few temporary roommates.
After saying goodnight, she walked towards her bedroom.
Sensing several glances behind her with complex meanings, Jiang Lingxi calmly opened the door in front of her.
She didn't feel embarrassed at all about apologizing to those behind-the-scenes crew members, even if it was just a lowly equipment handler.
In her previous life, she dared to ascend to the throne despite great risks. Apart from possessing absolute strength and power, what made her respected and revered by her courtiers in later years was a bit of humility and respect for others.
To be a wise monarch who was respected by both officials and subjects, one couldn't lack personal charisma.
She slept soundly that night, leaving many people tossing and turning.
The night in the countryside was exceptionally quiet.
Away from the hustle and bustle of the city, even sleep seemed deeper than usual.
Until the faint light of dawn, when a rooster from a nearby household started crowing, followed by a chorus of bird calls outside the window, completely breaking the night's silence.
Jiang Lingxi sat up in bed, wrapped in a blanket, listening to the sounds coming in from the window. She murmured, "The early bird catches the worm," then got out of bed to freshen up.
In the living room of the countryside villa, the crew members who woke up earlier were busy setting up recording equipment. Someone heard footsteps coming from the bedroom corridor and subconsciously turned around, temporarily stopping their work.
"Jiang, Jiang Teacher?"
He almost couldn't resist turning his head to look at the sun outside the window. Did the sun rise from the west today?
It's only a little after six in the morning!
If it were She Man or Xu Yin, he wouldn't be too surprised, and he could even accept it if it were Lin Xuefei. But he never expected the first one to wake up to be Jiang Lingxi!
In the past, Jiang Lingxi and Jiang Kaiyuan were known as the two biggest "difficult to wake up" guests. One was a gaming addict, and the other was a troublemaker. They could even have a competition on "who can wake up the latest."
First, there was the public apology yesterday, and now she completely changed her style of not waking up early. The contrast between before and after completely baffled him!
Jiang Lingxi adjusted the zipper of her top as she walked, raising her eyebrows slightly at the young man who was staring at her with his mouth slightly open. "Good morning."
"Uh, good morning, Teacher Jiang."
"You guys carry on. I'll be back in a while." Just as she was about to step over the threshold at the doorway, Jiang Lingxi suddenly turned back, "I hope my going out won't delay the program recording?"
"No, not at all. The recording won't start until eight."
This was the normal time for guests to wake up.
As she watched the figure in sportswear disappear from sight, the people in the living room exchanged glances and started whispering to each other.
"Is Jiang Lingxi really awakened and ready to change her ways? She even greeted us just now!"
This was unimaginable in the past.
"I was nearby when she fell off the cliff. It was indeed thrilling. She almost didn't make it, and when she was rescued, she had fainted. I heard she was in the hospital for two days and nights before waking up. Maybe she really wants to change."
"Indeed, I also find her more pleasant this time. Previously, I could only judge her from screens and photos, and she was difficult to deal with in person. But just now, she seemed okay."
"Forget it, I don't believe she can change. She has caused such a big loss to the crew. If she doesn't humble herself and behave, I bet her true colors will show once the program ends."
Upon hearing this, others suddenly remembered the increased workload they now had because of her actions, and fell silent.
"Well, let's wait and see."
There were only five guests staying in the countryside villa, while the others, whether directors or behind-the-scenes crew, and the assistants brought by the guests, stayed in nearby villagers' homes.
Tong Yue stayed with Lu Zhengzheng last night and heard the homeowner already up, so the two quickly got up.
Tong Yue had packed her luggage before going to bed last night, just a small suitcase. After having breakfast warmly offered by the homeowner, she hurried to the countryside villa with her luggage.
After greeting the busy staff in the living room, she was about to walk towards Jiang Lingxi's room when one of them stopped her.
"Miss Tong, are you looking for Teacher Jiang? She's not here."
"Not here?" Tong Yue's voice unintentionally raised, "So early, where did she go?"
"She didn't say when she left, but we saw her in sportswear and running shoes, so she probably went out for exercise."
"Exercise?" Tong Yue repeated to herself, "She actually knows to exercise?"
The person beside her wanted to laugh but restrained himself.
Even the manager found it unbelievable, so their surprise just now was quite normal.
On the country road, Jiang Lingxi adjusted her breathing as she jogged slowly.
At this moment, she deeply felt the poor quality of the original body's physical condition.
She couldn't keep up after running just a short distance.
But giving up was not an option.
She thought about seeing a doctor after finishing the program to get herself checked out.
Or maybe she should learn to cook some nourishing food herself.
Both internal and external training would show quick results. She couldn't stand having a body so weak that her previous self could have slapped away with a single hand!
Lost in thought, a hearty laughter came from ahead.
"Girl, why up so early!"
Jiang Lingxi snapped out of her reverie, recognizing the elderly lady who had warmly invited her to the table last night. "Just came out for a run, Auntie, you're up early too."
"Hey, we country folks wake up with the rooster's crow. We go to bed and rise early every day. See, I'm off to weed the field before the sun rises completely, then I'll have breakfast. Haven't had breakfast yet? Look at your pale face, why don't you come over to my place?"
"Thank you for your kindness, Auntie, but I shouldn't trouble you for breakfast. The crew should be preparing my meal."
"That's fine. Come over when you have time. We're the first house at the village entrance. And I think you shouldn't run anymore. I'm a bit worried you might faint with that complexion of yours."
Jiang Lingxi chuckled at the aunt's frankness, nodding somewhat self-deprecatingly, "My body is indeed a bit weak. I'll stop running and walk back."
"Not just weak but skinny too. Yesterday, I saw your colleagues, are they colleagues? Except for that young man, all you girls are so thin, like little birds."
"Yes, but I had two bowls of rice with your chicken and mushroom stew yesterday."
"Tasty, isn't it?"
"Delicious, Auntie, you're a great cook."
"If it's good, eat more. Try to gain some weight; your complexion is really too pale. Oh, I just remembered someone. I heard he's an old Chinese doctor from the capital, retired and came here for his old age. Everyone with headaches or fevers goes to him. Girl, why don't you go see him and hear what the old doctor has to say?"
She was afraid Jiang Lingxi wouldn't believe her. "Girl, I'm not making this up. Our place is a bit remote, but the feng shui here really nurtures people. Otherwise, why would an old doctor from the big city come here to retire?"
Jiang Lingxi looked at the kind aunt in front of her, who was genuinely considering her well-being, and smiled and nodded, "Alright."
What goes around comes around. Let's see what this old doctor can do, regardless of whether he's truly skilled or not.