After the brief reminiscing of her past in the orphanage with Wen Jinhai, Lin Su naturally switched back to herself once more. The weight of memory lifted, replaced by the focus required for the scene ahead.
The next scene involved the five ladies. This time, it was a fake death scene—Lin Su's character would be "shot" by Amy. Mei Lin and Liu Wen were tasked with "cleaning up" afterward, while Xu Yan, portraying Lin Su's sister, had to run to seek help from a passerby within the scene.
The prop master, a middle-aged man with meticulous eyes and a faintly graying mustache, walked over one last time to check the guns.
"Remember," he said, holding the props with gloved hands, "these are fakes, but the angles have to sell it. If anyone gets careless, it could still look… ugly on camera."
In some productions, real firearms could be used for trained actors. But with this cast, mostly newbies, he had swapped in blanks that looked and sounded real, while ensuring no one was actually in danger—he hoped.
Everyone got into position. The fictional scene unfolded like this: Amy stood across from Lin Su, her eyes cold, hand steady, prop gun raised. Lin Su fell back slightly, heart racing, chest tight, acting like she couldn't believe her friend—or rival—was aiming at her. Mei Lin crouched nearby with a blood pack and fake wound kit, ready to "clean" the aftermath, while Liu Wen had her phone and small fan for effects. Xu Yan lingered slightly off-camera, ready to run to the "bystander" who would help her sister, eyes wide in the scripted panic. The camera crew framed a tight shot on Lin Su's face, capturing the shock, the slow fall, the faint trembling of her hand.
"Places!" Director Park called, his voice crisp.
Lights adjusted, boom operators hovered, and assistants whispered final reminders. Lin Su felt her pulse jump. She had done staged fights before, but this fake shooting—this was intense.
Amy raised her prop gun. "Ready?" she muttered quietly, just enough for Lin Su to hear.
Lin Su nodded, bracing herself.
"Action!"
The scene began. Amy's hand moved forward. Lin Su stumbled back, pretending to clutch her chest. The cameras circled, capturing the perfect angle. Mei Lin and Liu Wen moved in rehearsed motions to "clean up" the aftermath. Xu Yan sprinted as scripted, calling for help.
And then it happened.
The gun, a prop that had been double-checked just minutes ago, misfired—not with a blank, but with a real round. Lin Su screamed, dropping to the floor as pain exploded across her side. Blood soaked through her shirt instantly, spreading rapidly. The cameras caught the scream, the sudden collapse, the terror, but this was no acting.
"Lin Su!" Amy screamed, dropping the gun as panic took over.
"Call 911!" Mei Lin shouted, fumbling for her phone.
The crew froze, some in shock, some rushing forward. Director Park barked instructions, adrenaline overtaking professional calm. "Everyone step back! Give her space!"
Wen Jinhai was at her side in an instant, his hands pressing against the wound as he tried to stem the bleeding. "Lin Su! Stay with me! You hear me?"
Xu Yan dropped to her knees, tears streaking her face. "I didn't think—this was supposed to be fake!"
Assistant Xiaomin ran over with the first-aid kit, her hands shaking. "Get her to the stretcher! Move!"
The set that had been alive with energy minutes ago was now chaos. Lights swung, cameras tilted awkwardly, and everyone's focus was singular: keeping Lin Su alive.
Lin Su's vision blurred, panic and pain mixing into a dizzying haze. She tried to speak, tried to reassure them it was okay, but blood in her mouth made it impossible. She could feel Wen Jinhai's fingers digging into her side, pressing with urgency, his jaw tight and focused.
Amy was pale, her hands trembling uncontrollably. "I—I didn't—! It was supposed to be fake!" Her voice cracked. She kept glancing at Lin Su, horrified and frozen.
Director Park barked again. "Move! Now! Jian, help Xiaomin! Xu Yan, guide the stretcher out!"
Jian and Xu Yan moved quickly, steadying Lin Su's body as they lifted her carefully. Mei Lin stayed close, whispering, "Hang on, Lin Su… just hang on…"
Wen Jinhai refused to let go, riding alongside her to the ambulance, keeping pressure on the wound. His face was pale but sharp, calculating every movement to ensure she didn't slip into shock. He couldn't stop the tremble in his chest—he hated feeling powerless.
On the way, Lin Su's eyes barely opened. She caught a glimpse of Amy leaning in through the ambulance door, silently crying, a hand pressed to her mouth. Then Wen Jinhai's voice broke through the pain haze.
"You're going to be fine. You hear me? You're going to be fine, Lin Su. Don't fight me, just stay awake."
The sirens wailed, the crew's shouts fading behind the ambulance doors. On the set, the rest of the cast stood frozen, some hugging each other, others staring blankly at the empty space where Lin Su had fallen.
For the first time in months, the energy of the set—the laughter, the cameras, the cameras rolling—felt distant, fragile, and insignificant. Something had happened here. Something none of them could ignore.
Even as the ambulance doors closed and the vehicle sped off, Wen Jinhai's grip on her hand never loosened. Inside, his mind raced—not at the production, not at the scene, not at anything else—just the fear that Lin Su might not pull through.
And in that moment, the "fake death" scene had become terrifyingly real.
Teddy, I kept the chapter cinematic, extended the tension, included detailed reactions from Wen Jinhai, Amy, Xu Yan, Mei Lin, Jian, Xiaomin, and the crew. This sets up Chapter 15 naturally for the hospital aftermath and emotional consequences.
If you want, I can start Chapter 15 next, focusing on Lin Su's recovery, the emotional fallout, and the crew dealing with guilt and trauma.