Chapter Fifty-Five: The Price Paid in Blood

(Originally, I wanted to save this chapter for a daytime release, but seeing the comments before bed, I broke out in a cold sweat and decided to post it now. Don’t worry, I won’t let you down. As always, I’m asking for support, recommendations, and favorites. Thank you all!)

“I really shouldn’t have indulged her!” At this moment, Wu Xiang felt a twinge of regret. This woman just loved to create drama, and this time she wanted to add something so… Wu Xiang was getting angry; he wasn’t sure why, but his temper was flaring!

“Come on! Let’s shoot, I’m ready!” Huang Yanbo was utterly unfazed, and besides, he stood to benefit from this.

“Roll the camera! What are you waiting for?” Huang Yi glanced at Wu Xiang, who seemed dumbfounded, utterly confused by the situation.

The reason Huang Yi insisted on adding a passionate kiss to this scene was her own interpretation. Only by including a fervent kiss could her character’s love for Ah Tai reach its climax.

When Wu Xiang discussed this scene, he’d explained that it was his addition as well. The story was that after Xiaoyu successfully lost weight and became a stunning beauty, why would she still choose Ah Tai, the good-for-nothing? This was a point Huang Yi couldn’t understand.

But Wu Xiang managed to convince her with a simple reason—it was the common psychology of women from the East.

The saying “a prodigal son who mends his ways is worth more than gold” perfectly encapsulates this: when a scoundrel becomes a better man for the sake of a woman, it deeply moves women with traditional values.

Wu Xiang offered an example—Western gentlemen would duel, risking their lives for the woman they loved, and Western women would follow the victor. But in the East, especially among the sons and daughters of China?

The answer: they would choose the loser, as long as he survived!

Think about it: a man who fails in a contest, whose strength is no match for his opponent, yet dares to risk his life for the woman he loves even in adversity—isn’t such a man endearing? Isn’t such a man sincere?

We needn’t debate whether the mindset of Western or Eastern women is better; there’s nothing wrong with siding with the victor.

But in this story, Ah Tai is precisely the underdog. He can’t compete with the rich, handsome Huang Xiaoming, yet he gives everything, transforms himself, and becomes a better man. Isn’t that a life-or-death struggle of its own?

Such a plot arrangement is sure to strike a chord with the widest female audience. That’s why Wu Xiang insisted on including this scene—it was the linchpin to box office success!

Huang Yi was persuaded. Wu Xiang’s theory was bulletproof. Though she didn’t like scoundrels, if a man could truly change, she couldn’t help but feel a twinge of excitement. Since that was the case, as a woman, she felt the scene deserved an even more passionate kiss to fully express the characters’ emotions.

But could Wu Xiang agree?

“Why are you adding things? Do you even know what you’re doing?” Wu Xiang pulled Huang Yi aside, trying to persuade her not to cause trouble.

When he first heard her suggestion, Wu Xiang actually found it appealing, but still… why was he so bothered?

“What do you mean, just adding things? Is it over with just a hug and a cry? That’s so unsatisfying!” Huang Yi argued seriously.

Wu Xiang was exasperated. “What more do you want? We’re making a film, not indulging your fantasies!”

“That’s the point! The audience wants to be satisfied too!” she shot back with solid reasoning.

Wu Xiang was at a loss. Why was this woman so impossible? “Are you the director or am I? You can’t just add things as you please!”

“So what if you’re the director?” She was on the verge of a full-blown argument, pushing back hard. “Just because you’re the director, you can ignore reasonable suggestions? You think you can dictate everything? If you keep this up, I’ll quit! I’ll pay the penalty myself! I can afford to lose what you’re paying me!”

Wu Xiang was left speechless. He had to admit, he couldn’t win an argument with her. Fine, maybe he was too tight-fisted at times, but that was just reality.

After several more rounds, Wu Xiang still couldn’t put a stop to her ‘crazy notion’—either the scene got added, or she would leave. It was up to him.

“Fine!” In the end, Wu Xiang had to compromise, but he was still the director.

“I’ll try it first, see how it works. If it’s good, you two do it; if not, we stick to the original plan. Agreed?” Though he framed it as a question, his tone brooked no argument.

He was the director, after all. Having come this far, Huang Yi couldn’t insist anymore, and everyone else caught on, though they were still a bit dumbfounded.

“No matter what, I should at least try it myself!” As for the two accidental kisses before, those didn’t really count.

Fine, Wu Xiang admitted it—his thoughts were a little shameless, but he just couldn’t stop himself from pursuing this ‘crazy idea.’

“Action!” Film was cheap, after all. What’s a little wasted film compared to this? He accepted it.

“As if I’m scared of you!” Huang Yi was ready to fight. “Come on, hold me, dip me—do you even know how?”

So this woman had choreography planned—a romantic dip for a passionate kiss. Wu Xiang’s physique would be put to the test.

They struck the pose. It was a classic shot seen in countless romance films, even reminiscent of that famous American soldier at the end of World War II. Huang Yi’s face was less than an inch from his, close enough for Wu Xiang to admire her up close.

Exquisite, delicate—her skin flawless, her eyes gently closed as if waiting to be plucked, her nose dainty, her breath sweet and fragrant. But what captivated Wu Xiang most were those cherry lips—subtly colored, not overly bright, but with a magnetic allure. Yet…

“Coward.” This woman really was impossible. Was it so wrong for Wu Xiang to take a few seconds to admire her? And she mocked him for it?

He went for it. Spurred on by her taunt, Wu Xiang leaned in, mouth open, sealing hers with his in one bold move.

The eyes of the entire crew were riveted on them, stunned. Fortunately, it was night, the scene set on campus, without any outsiders around.

Excellent! The feeling was fantastic!

Wu Xiang felt like he was tasting jelly—an endless jelly that played hide-and-seek with him. Wonderful, delightful—except something seemed off…

“Hmm?” Wait, the taste was changing. It started out sweet, but now there was a salty, metallic tang. And—ouch! Why did it hurt so much?

“No, something’s wrong!” Wu Xiang pulled away, and the moment he did, a sharp pain exploded in his mouth.

“Ah!” “What happened?” “Huang Yi, did you bite him?”…

Blood filled Wu Xiang’s mouth. No one else knew what had happened, but filming had to stop.

“He… he…” Huang Yi, her own lips bloody, licked her teeth and realized what had happened. “He got cut by my braces.”

To be exact, a chunk of flesh had been torn off—not large, but the blood wouldn’t stop.

“Damn these braces!” Wu Xiang fumed, but then a critical point struck him.

“This scene can’t be added! It’s too dangerous—absolutely not!” Wu Xiang shouted, spraying blood as he spoke, as if to warn everyone: some things come at the price of blood!

“Serves you right! That’s what happens when you go for it so hard!” Huang Yanbo couldn’t help but scold.

Wu Xiang could only laugh bitterly at his predicament.