Su Ding rested at home for a day before proactively returning to work at the film set.
She believed that if she didn't show up on her own, no one would dare to urge her.
Upon arriving at the set, many people looked at her differently. There was envy, curiosity, jealousy, and disdain.
For the scene where she had fallen into the water, the director had Su Qing Mu reshoot it.
With the scene synthesized through technical means, the subsequent plot could proceed.
Su Ding walked into the makeup room, first retrieving her costume and putting it on.
After the makeup artist finished, she pushed the door open, intending to find a quiet corner to memorize her lines.
The moment the door opened, she saw Su Qing Mu walking in.
Su Qing Mu, with her chin held high arrogantly, swept Su Ding with a disdainful gaze and said to an actress behind her, "Oh my, we should make way for the future Mrs. Jin."
The other actress snorted, "I heard the Jin family matriarch is Miss Shao. I've never heard of a 'Su Ding'."
"Oh dear, girls nowadays think that a few flowers from a man make them the primary wife. They should really look in the mirror to see their own faces..."
Su Ding ignored their back-and-forth banter.
She grabbed her agent, Xiao Yuan, who was about to argue, and left.
Outside, Xiao Yuan fumed, "What do they think they are, big stars? Just wait until next year, and we'll see who has the bigger star power!"
Su Ding quickly covered her mouth.
Xiao Yuan was still indignant and couldn't help but whisper, "Ding Ding, President Jin has provided us with excellent resources. When we were negotiating, President Jin actually said he didn't want you to play the little maidservant in this drama and wanted you to directly play the lead role for Director Zheng."
Su Ding's headache intensified.
She truly didn't want to be so high-profile; the more high-profile she was, the faster she would fall.
Xiao Yuan continued, "But I know your character, you always see things through. So, I still let you finish this drama before joining the next. This drama is almost done; I heard from the director's assistant that it might wrap up this week..."
Su Ding could only nod helplessly, "Mhm, yes."
Soon, the director called for her.
This time, Su Ding's scenes were minimal. She only needed to kneel on the ground and be reprimanded by the Empress Dowager.
Action!
After delivering her lines, Su Ding immediately knelt down.
As her knees touched the ground, a piercing pain spread from her knees throughout her body, as if countless needles were pricking her.
Tears welled up instantly, her face ashen.
The pain was so intense that she could barely speak, tears streaming down her face, her body curled into a ball, "It hurts..."
"Cut! Su Ding, what's wrong?"
Seeing Su Ding's complexion change drastically, the director immediately called a halt, and Xiao Yuan rushed over.
Seeing Su Ding collapsed on the ground, veins bulging on her face from the pain, she was terrified.
She shouted, "Ambulance! Ambulance!"
Staff members present quickly made calls, and other actors gathered around, looking confused.
Su Ding, enduring the pain, almost dug her fingernails into her palms, saying with difficulty, "Scissors... my knee... there are needles..."
Xiao Yuan heard clearly and yelled, "Get the scissors quickly!"
Medical personnel on site rushed over and hastily cut open the knee area of Su Ding's costume. Fresh blood had already soaked through the fabric.
Everyone watching changed their expressions.
These weren't props for the drama; these were needles actually embedded in flesh.
Even watching it made their knees ache.
Soon, the ambulance arrived and took Su Ding away.
After being given anesthesia and undergoing external trauma surgery, with the wound bandaged, Su Ding lay on the hospital bed, asleep.
Her face remained pale.
Xiao Yuan had gone to coordinate with the production crew, checking surveillance footage, investigating who had access to the costume room, and who had entered.
Because of the Jin family's influence, the director dared not be careless.
However, the actors' costumes were stored together, and everyone had touched them. It would be difficult to identify the culprit.
At this moment, Su Ding woke up in the hospital room.
"Want some water?"
A familiar male voice sounded. She looked up and saw Jin Ye's tall and slender figure standing there.
Under the dim light, he appeared captivating and charming.
One had to admit, Jin Ye's appearance was practically perfect.
She stared for a few more moments. Seeing Jin Ye look at her with a questioning gaze, she shyly lowered her head.
"Yes, thank you."
Recalling yesterday's events, Su Ding still felt a little uneasy.
Jin Ye handed her the water, then quietly sat back on the stool beside the bed, his solemn expression appearing rather imposing.
He hadn't expected anyone would dare to harm his person.
The ostentatious display of roses previously was akin to announcing that Su Ding was under the protection of Huang Qi Group, signaling others to treat her with respect.
He hadn't anticipated that this would actually bring her trouble.
"I will have someone investigate this matter," Jin Ye said solemnly.
Su Ding glanced at Jin Ye. Seeing his dark expression, like the calm before a storm, a trace of warmth bloomed in her heart.
"Thank you," she said softly.
At that moment, the phone beside the bed rang.
Su Ding glanced at it, a thoughtful glint in her eyes. She hung up, but the call came again.
Seeing this, Jin Ye looked over, "Why aren't you answering?"