I Conquer the Entertainment Industry with My Medical Skills - Chapter 39

An Ningqing and Xi Jingya were the first to return. Over half an hour later, after night had completely fallen, the others trickled back. Their first question to each other wasn’t “Have you eaten?” but “How much did you earn today?”

An Ningqing found this amusing. She cradled her glass, leisurely sipping her stomach-warming tea.

Chen Cheng, still stinging from her earlier sarcasm, couldn’t help but feel intimidated. He took a few quick steps toward her, then abruptly veered toward Xi Jingya. “Sister Ya, you two came back so early. You must have made a lot! How did you do it?”

Xi Jingya smiled at him. “We were able to rest so early thanks to An An. I didn’t contribute much.”

The earnings will be announced later anyway. Why the rush?

Chen Cheng exclaimed, “That’s impossible!”

Xi Jingya took another sip of her tea, the subtle sweetness lingering on her tongue and the warmth soothing her empty stomach. “Why is it impossible? Do you really know An An that well?”

Of course she understood.

No one understood better than she did.

Hmph.

An Ningqing was a complete waste of space, a useless pretty face who relied entirely on her innocent looks. Her sudden rise to fame through a web drama was pure dumb luck.

No one knew the true face beneath An Ningqing’s facade better than she did.

As for how An Ningqing had seduced Xie Anran, it was undoubtedly thanks to her looks.

Chen Cheng’s face twisted with jealousy and resentment at these thoughts. Forcing a smile, she said, “Sister Ya, you’re far too modest. No wonder everyone loves you so much.”

Xi Jingya looked puzzled but didn’t bother explaining further.

After hitting a dead end with Xi Jingya, Chen Cheng turned to the others to liven up the atmosphere. Lu Lu and Ji Yang didn’t hold back, admitting they’d only earned three hundred yuan, a sum earned through hard work and bitter tears. One sang and danced, while the other twirled his staff with impressive ferocity, but few people showed up to watch. Most of their earnings came from a few mischievous kids who tossed them tips, making the online viewers laugh until they nearly cried.

Zhao Hui and Ni Hao, the two burly men, helped the fishermen process a boatload of fish, earning a labor fee of 200 yuan each.

Jiang Tian sang a few songs, earning a modest 300 yuan, while Chen Cheng tutored two children, earning 260 yuan.

After surveying the group, Chen Cheng whispered to Jiang Tian, “I think we’re in first place. Sister Ya and An An came back early, so I doubt they earned more than 300 yuan. We have 560 yuan, and no one else has more than us.”

When the staff announced that An Ningqing and Xi Jingya’s group had won first place, Chen Cheng’s smile nearly faltered. “How is that possible? They were only gone for half an hour!”

She had been closely monitoring their movements.

The staff member smiled. “That’s because their group earned 800 yuan, far surpassing everyone else. Teacher An and Teacher Xi, you may now select your supplies.”

As An Ningqing stepped forward to choose supplies, she suddenly asked, “For our upcoming wilderness expedition, will we remain in the same groups? Or will you be assigning new teams?”

This question voiced what everyone was thinking.

Their subsequent supply choices would depend on the answer.

If An Ningqing and Xi Jingya remained in the same group, they could each choose ten different supplies. However, if they were split up, they would have to carefully consider their choices independently.

The staff didn’t keep them in suspense, immediately providing the answer: “We’ll be reassigning groups through a lottery draw.”

“Ah, so there’s no way to confirm who has the heavier supplies?”

“Exactly! Should we draw for groups first?”

“Heavenly Father, please let me be in Sister An’s group! Please, let me cling to a strong ally!” Lu Lu began pleading to the heavens and earth, his antics nearly killing the fans with laughter. They flooded the public chat with prayers on his behalf.

An Ningqing and Xi Jingya exchanged a glance before stepping forward to select their supplies.

An Ningqing chose five items: a tent, flashlight, knife, lighter, and water bottle. The others stared in disbelief, realizing that many supplies were single-quantity items—there was only one knife, for example.

Xi Jingya selected a tent, mosquito repellent spray, a night light, a frying pan, and an umbrella.

The remaining participants quickly divided the remaining supplies. By the time it was Lu Lu and Ji Yang’s turn, only a few items remained on the table. Lu Lu looked like he was about to cry.

The staff were delighted. “Now that the supplies have been distributed, it’s time for the most nerve-wracking part: the lottery draw.”

The lottery draw didn’t follow the previous order, and Lu Lu’s face lit up immediately. She rubbed her hands together, muttering, “Bless me, bless me, heaven bless me.”

Poor kid, just give our Lu Lu a powerful teammate already!

LOL, what’s the rich kid’s dumb son going to do now?

So tense!

Ooh-hoo!

In no time, all eight participants had drawn their lots. Lu Lu sidled up to An Ningqing, wagging her tail like a puppy. “Sister An, Sister An, what did you draw?”

An Ningqing simply opened her palm to reveal her lot.

“Ahhh! I got a strong teammate!”

“Hahahaha!”

Chen Cheng and Zhao Hui were paired together, Jiang Tian and Xi Jingya formed another team, and the remaining Ni Hao and Ji Yang made up the last group.

After the lottery draw, the director prepared a lavish dinner featuring local specialties: wheat cakes, wheat shrimp, seaweed pancakes… An Ningqing’s eyes lit up at the sight of these delicacies, none of which she had ever tasted before.

Red wine and candles.

It looked like a candlelight dinner.

The netizens preferred to call this meal their ‘Last Supper,’ knowing that after finishing, they would embark on their expedition. There would be no hot meals or fresh dishes; finding food would depend entirely on their luck.

As An Ningqing sipped her red wine, Xie Anran poured herself a glass and savored it. Raising her glass across the screen, she teased, “Little glutton, you actually like seaweed snacks?”

An Ningqing had already eaten three seaweed crackers. She reminded herself to exercise restraint, knowing that overindulgence would likely upset her recently stabilized digestive system. After tasting a few bites of each dish, she stopped eating and listened to their casual conversation.

“I never realized being a stunt performer was so dangerous,” someone remarked.

“Brother Ji, could your back problems have started from that fall?”

“Yeah, it aches whenever it’s cloudy.”

Ji Yang had been a stunt performer for over a decade. Whenever a scene required physical action, he was the one who stepped in, accumulating a lifetime of injuries. He poured himself another glass of wine.

“You should get your back treated sooner rather than later,” An Ningqing suddenly advised. Many hidden injuries appear harmless at first but can become critically dangerous if left untreated, eventually erupting into serious health issues. Li Xianzong, for example, had neglected numerous hidden injuries in his youth, which ultimately shortened his lifespan, even with his later efforts to maintain his health.

Xi Jingya asked curiously, “An An, can you tell how many injuries Brother Ji has?”

“How can you tell?”

“Only Brother Ji knows for sure.”

An Ningqing glanced at him. “He has many injuries, the most severe being to his lumbar spine and hip. He’s also fractured his arm and sustained minor knee injuries. Rainy days must bring him excruciating pain.”

To have such severe internal injuries and still act like nothing’s wrong… he’s truly remarkable.

Ji Yang stared in disbelief. “You… how do you know all this?”

It was as if she had witnessed every stage of his injuries firsthand. The lumbar injury was indeed the most serious; any heavy lifting or strenuous activity would trigger a relapse. The other injuries occasionally caused intermittent discomfort.

Decades of stunt work had left him with a body riddled with pain.

It’s quite heartbreaking when you think about it.

Xi Jingya abandoned any remaining skepticism and patted her fisherman’s hat. “An An has some medical knowledge, Brother Ji. Why don’t you let her take a look? She earned our dinner today with her skills—she’s really good.”

Chen Cheng scoffed. “When did Sister An learn medicine? We’ve never heard about this.”

An Ningqing gave her a puzzled look. Does she know me? I don’t recall ever meeting her, and our lives have never crossed paths. She smiled at Chen Cheng. “I met a legendary physician in a dream who imparted all his knowledge to me. That’s how I learned a little medicine.”

Isn’t this the kind of cool origin story you’d find for a female protagonist in a novel?

Everyone couldn’t help but laugh.

Chen Cheng, however, couldn’t bring himself to smile. How could an orphan raised in an orphanage possibly know medicine? Is she trying to play the saintly savior card?

A plan formed in Chen Cheng’s mind. “Wow, Sister An, you’ve inherited the Holy Physician’s entire legacy? Then you should be able to heal Brother Ji’s injuries, right?”

The others had been ready to drop the subject, treating it as a joke. But Chen Cheng’s insistence made them turn to An Ningqing with lingering smiles. To their surprise, she nodded. “I can.”

Chen Cheng smirked inwardly. “No time like the present! Why not now? I’m sure our viewers would be thrilled to witness Sister An’s medical skills.”

The atmosphere instantly turned awkward.

Jiang Tian tugged at Chen Cheng’s sleeve under the table.

Exactly! I’m dying to see it right now.

Am I the only one who thinks Chen Cheng is targeting An An?

This influencer is like a grasshopper, hopping around and being so annoying. Who does she think she is?

Hmm, I remember her saying before that she and An An came from the same place and that she idolized An An, even looking forward to this collaboration. But An An doesn’t seem to recognize her at all.

Anyone can chase clout. Let’s protect An An!

Actually, I’m kind of curious too.

Chen Cheng, still smiling, urged the hesitant Ji Yang, “Brother Ji, let Sister An give it a try. If her medical skills are truly remarkable, she might be able to cure your minor ailments. Wouldn’t that be a win-win?”

Lu Lu finally sensed the awkward atmosphere and forced himself to yawn twice. “I’m so tired. Can we go back to our rooms and sleep now? Right, Brother Ji?”

Ji Yang immediately stood up. “Yeah, yeah, Lu Lu and I played too hard today. We should head back to bed early.”

Chen Cheng glared at them both, frustrated that his carefully laid plans were about to slip away.

Before he could speak, An Ningqing had already spoken. “Brother Ji, my master taught me a set of acupuncture techniques that can alleviate your pain. It won’t take up too much of your time. If it’s convenient, I can start the treatment now.”

Ji Yang scratched his head. “Actually, I’m fine with whatever. It’s more about what’s convenient for you, An An. Don’t worry about me too much—these are chronic issues that can’t be cured.”

Even the best doctors at the top hospitals in the city couldn’t guarantee these chronic issues wouldn’t recur. How could he put that kind of pressure on a young girl? It would be too much to ask.

An Ningqing stood up. “Please wait a moment.”

The needles were on her person, but considering they were her means of self-defense—relying on the element of surprise—it wasn’t appropriate to display them in front of everyone.

An Ningqing returned to her room and retrieved her acupuncture kit.