Li Ling didn't sleep well all night. The female lead, playing two roles by herself. She didn't even have that kind of confidence in herself, so how could Jin Jingyao be so blindly confident in her? She suspected that he had burned his brain during his last fever. That night, Li Ling had many bizarre dreams. She was entangled by wet vines, which climbed higher and higher, lifting her to the top of the tree canopy. Her vision pierced through the entire forest, allowing her to gaze directly at the full moon in the sky. The moonlight soaked her. So vast, so silent. But the tranquility lasted only a moment. The vines began to tighten inch by inch, making it almost impossible for her to breathe. Sharp thorns pierced her skin, greedily drinking her blood. Ascending came at a price, and the price was herself. The moon was compressed into a thin layer of skin, brutally torn apart. The entire sky turned into a pair of eyes, a face, an indefinable gaze. —The young man across the interrogation table. —He watched her all night until the sun rose again. Li Ling woke from the nightmare, the window wide open, sunlight pouring in, and she was drenched in cold sweat. Her laptop beside her was still playing Jin Jingyao's movie, looping all night. She shuddered in fright and immediately hit pause. Since his debut, this great director had only acted in one film, his self-directed and self-acted debut. It was said that at the time, he was an unknown student who couldn't afford better actors. It sounded very inspirational until the director mentioned that to save costs, the entire movie was shot in his own home. And his home was a massive mountain villa with 13 bedrooms, two swimming pools, and a private zoo. Simply put, even in The Sims, Li Ling wouldn't build such a large house; it was too much work. In the film, Jin Jingyao played a schizophrenic murderer. After watching the movie, most people would agree that he was a genius actor, able to effortlessly switch between the two personalities of the character: a gentle and kind rich young man, and a naturally emotionless demon. Especially his portrayal of the latter, which was not only cold and perfect but also had a sense of pure martyrdom. The frame on Li Ling's laptop was frozen on a scene after the murderer had killed. A gloved, slender hand slowly caressed the pale body of the victim, fingers lingering on the dark red wounds. The broken light flickered, creating an oddly seductive atmosphere. Like a dim light spitting out a snake's tongue, licking the dried blood. In the commentary track, a critic said, "I noticed a detail: the killer always wears white gloves when he kills. Is there a special meaning behind this design?" "No special meaning," Jin Jingyao said. "I just can't really touch others." Li Ling inexplicably felt that his tone when saying this was eerily calm, like a psychopath. Perhaps the reason this great director couldn't find anyone else to star in his new film was because his image as a psychopathic killer was too deeply ingrained in people's minds. Li Ling recalled their first meeting when she had shaken his hand—looking back now, it seemed a bit too reckless. Fortunately, Jin Jingyao hadn't shown much aversion at the time. He should have already overcome this issue. She glanced at the script again—there was indeed a lot of physical contact, touching, hugging, even kissing. Li Ling reluctantly looked away. - From the day she received the script, Li Ling began preparing for the role. She planned to write a character biography for A-Ling and went to the set specifically to find Jin Jingyao. The staff told him that the director was in "Zhou Jing's basement." This scene was converted from a storage room backstage at the theater. Li Ling was stunned as soon as she entered; she hadn't expected to have been here before. On a recent rainy day, it was here that Li Ling had run into the young director, who was running a high fever, and had taken care of him for half the night. She had originally thought the director had some peculiar habit of liking to write in a pile of junk. Now it seemed that his peculiarities were even more severe. He actually lived on the set. Compared to before, the storage room looked even more chaotic. Tracks were laid on the floor, cameras and light stands were placed in the corners, and the staff moving back and forth tried to sidestep everything, afraid of bumping into something. Jin Jingyao was sitting by the iron-framed bed, with a very old toolbox beside him, intently fixing a broken drone. His knuckles were broad, but his fingers were exceptionally nimble. This wasn't the first time Li Ling had seen him in this seemingly professional repairman state. A somewhat strange thought entered her mind: this person, though young, seemed to be always obsessed with fixing broken things. Just like Zhou Jing in the script with A-Ling. Jin Jingyao looked up and glanced at her indifferently. Having just watched his movie, facing these emotionless, overly indifferent amber eyes up close, Li Ling still felt a bit nervous. She nervously but politely explained her purpose. "Oh," Jin Jingyao said, "and then?" Li Ling, even more reserved, said, "Well, Director, I wanted to ask, why did Zhou Jing and A-Ling break up?" She thought she had asked a very reasonable and pertinent question. However, Jin Jingyao glanced at her and impolitely retorted, "You don't know?" Li Ling was completely baffled: "Huh? Director, how would I know?" She wasn't the one who wrote the script. Jin Jingyao: "If you don't know, then leave." Then he continued to lower his head and fix his broken drone. Li Ling: "..." "Alright, Director, I'll be going then. Good luck," she said through gritted teeth, smiling, and even helped him close the door. This was their last meeting before the official start of filming. To closely observe amputee patients, Li Ling was arranged to volunteer at a nearby hospital for more than two weeks. Unexpectedly, she fit in perfectly here, not only getting along well with the patients in the ward but also attracting the attention of a wealthy family member, Miss Wang, who wanted to hire her as a private caregiver for her father at a high salary. Calculating the annual salary, it was actually more than what she earned from acting. Li Ling: "..." Honestly, it was a bit hard to refuse. Just as she was still struggling with the moral dilemma, a voice suddenly called her: "Li Ling?" Li Ling looked up in confusion and saw a well-dressed unfamiliar woman who had somehow appeared beside her. "Are you Li Ling?" the woman asked uncertainly, "Are you working as a caregiver now?" "No way," the man in a suit beside her clicked his tongue in wonder, "Isn't she supposed to be a big star?" Li Ling suddenly realized and gave them a friendly professional smile: "Hello, would you like an autograph or a photo?" "You don't recognize my wife?" The man's face changed. Li Ling smiled apologetically: "Sorry, have we met?" She had really forgotten. She had always had a poor memory. However, the man's expression became very serious, and he even started to touch his wife's face. "That's impossible, honey. Didn't you just have Thermage and ultrasound treatments two months ago?" Li Ling kindly reminded, "The implant in your nose is very fragile. You can't pinch it like that." The woman's face immediately changed, and with a "slap," she knocked her husband's hand away. She carefully checked the condition of her nose, then turned her head and said to Li Ling with a pleasant expression, "Li Ling, do you really not remember me? Nine years ago, we auditioned for that film together." "Yes, if my wife hadn't dropped out, you wouldn't have gotten the role," the man interjected proudly. The woman pushed him and said awkwardly, "Honey, don't talk nonsense. It had nothing to do with me. The director always had his eye on Li Ling from the start." She gave Li Ling an unnatural smile. "Li Ling, I don't mean anything by it. I just wanted to thank you. We attended the training class together, and you helped me a lot. I always remember the director saying you were a very talented actress. It's just a pity that you..." "That's why, honey, I've told you many times that dropping out back then was the right decision," the man interrupted again. "Look at that so-called big director and big movie. What's the big deal? The film was made, but now she's here working as a caregiver." He laughed triumphantly, his white porcelain teeth gleaming in the sunlight. The woman explained to Li Ling, "Yes, my husband is the director of this hospital... If you have any difficulties, feel free to tell us." Li Ling didn't respond for a long time. The atmosphere suddenly became a bit awkward. The man said unhappily, "What's wrong with you? We're talking to you nicely..." Li Ling took off her left earphone and said, a bit confused, "Hmm? Were you talking to me just now?" Man: ? "Sorry, I just took a call," she said apologetically with a smile. Then she spoke into the phone, "Mm-hmm, it's nothing. Just some strangers who suddenly started telling me their life story. They seem particularly hung up on some failed audition from nine years ago. My goodness, it's really scary..." Man: "..." He was stunned at first, then his neck veins bulged with anger, looking like he was about to explode. Li Ling continued speaking into the phone, "No, don't get me wrong. The director is actually very polite and would never lose his temper..." The man's expression paused, and he suddenly coughed into his fist, straightening his back and showing a reserved smile. "...It's just that there's a piece of vegetable stuck in his teeth." The reserved smile cracked. The director's eyes were filled with disbelief, looking as if he was about to shatter. Amidst the sounds of "Honey, why didn't you tell me?" and "I didn't know how to bring it up," Li Ling turned and walked back to her ward. She finally felt a slight pain. At some point, her nails had dug deeply into her palm, drawing blood. - In the afternoon, while accompanying Uncle Wang for rehabilitation, Li Ling was called out again. This time, the director's wife was not present, only the director in his suit and tie. He suppressed his anger and smiled with a strange tone, "Li Ling, later on, I have a friend I want to introduce to you. Given your previous status..." He paused meaningfully, "You probably haven't had the chance to meet such a big shot, right?" Li Ling didn't really listen to what he was saying. Instead, she noticed how shiny the back of his head was under the light and couldn't help but keep staring at the top of his head. This action might be misunderstood by the other party. The director's face changed: "Why don't you dare to look at my face? Is there another vegetable leaf?" Li Ling said kindly, "Yes, you should check." The director actually took out a small mirror to check, then said angrily, "Stop talking nonsense!" Li Ling: "Your pants zipper is not done up." "I told you to stop talking nonse—" The director's voice suddenly halted, and he bent down awkwardly in a somewhat indecent posture. "Sigh." Li Ling sighed. In the distance, a burst of laughter floated over. The director's wife laughed crisply, "So that's it, Director Jin. You specifically let the actors come to our hospital to experience life? What a good actor, it's really rare to see such hardworking actors nowadays. Speaking of which, I was almost chosen by a famous director before, Director He Wei, do you know him? If your new work has any vacancies..." The director whispered a warning to Li Ling, "Don't say anything, they definitely won't be interested in you." Li Ling ignored him and waved to the young director opposite. "No vacancies," Jin Jingyao said, walking straight towards Li Ling. He asked her coldly, "What happened to your hand?" Li Ling was stunned for a moment, mainly because she didn't expect him to be so sharp, noticing the injury on her hand from such a distance. Not missing the opportunity, she immediately said righteously, "It's nothing, Director. It's nothing for an actor to get hurt for a role..." Jin Jingyao: "Stop acting." Li Ling: "..." Contrary to his cold tone, the young director lowered his head, held her hand, and carefully examined the almost invisible wound on her palm. Li Ling felt the warmth of his palm, the strength and heat of a young man, continuously transmitted. His gaze moved inch by inch, like a warm, tangible thing. The wound suddenly felt a bit itchy. ...If he kept looking, it might really heal. The director and his wife were left aside for a long time, exchanging uneasy glances. After a moment, the director's wife asked suspiciously, "Do you know each other?" "Yes," Li Ling said reservedly, "Thank you for your recognition. You're right, there really aren't many hardworking actors like this nowadays.""