"How is your leg?" Jiang Ling ignored her question and looked at her ankle. She was wearing a pair of white flats.
Her skin was fair, and the startling knife scar looked like an ugly centipede coiled around her ankle. The bright red color was ghastly.
Rong Dai nodded, "I can walk, just can't jump or run. I'm still doing rehab."
"That's good. I'll take you to a few studios to have a look. You won't have to do much walking," Jiang Ling nodded and then went inside to change clothes. Rong Dai sat quietly in the yard waiting.
She watched the morning light filter through the leaves, casting delicate shadows on the ground. Her heart felt empty, as if it had been hollowed out overnight.
"Let's go," Jiang Ling had changed into clothes and was wearing a black hat on his head.
Rong Dai nodded, and the two of them got into the car one after the other. On the way, Rong Dai's thoughts were not on visiting the studio set, but on watching the soaring skyscrapers speeding by outside, her heart filled with melancholy.
When they arrived at the studio, the director was already there waiting for Jiang Ling.
"Old Jiang! Rare of you to come to Shengjing!"
Rong Dai stood quietly to the side watching their small talk. Jiang Ling beckoned her over and introduced her to Director Jiang Haijiang.
After chatting for a while, they got right to business and Jiang Ling took her around the studio set.
It was a martial arts film, and the lead actress was an up-and-coming ingenue.
Rong Dai watched them flying through the air suspended by wires, and she couldn't help but feel terrified.
"To be an actor you have to observe and comprehend a lot yourself. Nothing comes without willingness to put in effort. Do you know what that brat went through to get me to come out of retirement and help you?" Jiang Ling sat on a small stool next to her, eyes on the actors in the scene, and asked her.
Rong Dai was startled, somewhat apprehensively asked: "What did he give up?"
"A pocket watch left to him by his father. I just wanted the brat to give up, since I've already retired from the industry and didn't want to get involved again."
Jiang Ling explained. He glanced over at Rong Dai, "Who knew the brat just straight up handed it over. That thing might be worthless junk to others, but to him it held tremendous meaning. I didn't expect he would actually be willing to part with it."
"So I wanted to come take a look, just what kind of character could make him give up something so dear to his heart to ask me for help. That watch was the only thing left intact on the scene when his father died."
Rong Dai was dumbstruck, her face pale with disbelief as she looked at Jiang Ling, rendered speechless for a long time.
Why would he do this?
"Hard to believe right? I couldn't believe it either, but he did give it to me." Jiang Ling smiled meaningfully.
"These eyes of mine, I won't boast that they can compete with celestial eyes, but I can still discern what kind of person someone is."
He turned to look at Rong Dai again. The two of them were sitting far apart with few people around, so Rong Dai could hear him clearly.
"That brat has a sincere heart, that's a good thing. I used to think he would stay a lifelong bachelor, didn't expect he would get married."
"His attention is on you, but your heart is not on him. You don't trust him."
"I..."
"Don't rush to refute me. I can see people decently with these eyes of mine. Can you honestly say you can truly face him?"
Rong Dai was about to defend herself when Jiang Ling raised his hand signaling her not to speak.
"If you just want to use him as a stepping stone, then I advise you don't overdo it. The Huo and He families are currently like water and fire. You don't understand what you went through with the Huo family. Although the Wen family is no match for that brat, he still has an uncle watching for any weaknesses."
Jiang Ling spoke heavily. He admired this girl, but a person's eyes could reveal many things.
Rong Dai's eyes were pretty, but they contained too many things, not pure.
"I brought you to visit the studio set today to tell you, things that come easy often have greater costs down the line. I didn't attend your wedding banquet and don't know about your matters."
"But now it's sensational news online. He's busy handling things for you upfront, while you're listless and dejected in the back like a wronged child wanting mommy's comfort. Do you think you've lived up to his efforts?"
Jiang Ling asked sharply. Rong Dai was rendered speechless.
Huo Shaoting had indeed done a lot for her. On careful reflection, she really hadn't done anything.
"If you want to learn from me, you'll need to have the right attitude. Don't think making me a few breakfasts will win me over. And regardless if you want to make it in the industry or not, if you weren't his wife, you wouldn't even get into this studio set today."
Jiang Ling's words were extremely sharp and blunt. For most people this would be hard to take.
But Rong Dai was unusually quiet, without any rebuttal.
"I understand, thank you Uncle Jiang."
Seconds later, she raised her head to look steadily at Jiang Ling, not avoiding his piercing gaze.
"Good that you understand. Watch closely today, there are still many scenes to watch. Summarize your thoughts when you get back and turn in your homework to me tomorrow." Jiang Ling said, then got up and strolled around the set with his hands behind his back.
Rong Dai secretly let out a breath. To avoid drawing too much attention, she took out a white cap from her bag and put it on, then brought out a notebook to take diligent notes.
Jiang's words had reminded her.
No matter her relationship with Huo Shaoting, she couldn't let his efforts go to waste.
Rong Dai spent the whole day immersed in the studio set, watching closely and taking meticulous notes.
Not until the sky grew dark did Jiang, somewhat tired, take her back.
"Uncle Jiang, will we come again tomorrow?" Rong Dai couldn't help asking on the ride back.
When focused on a task, she could forget all troubles.
"Want to come again?" Jiang couldn't help laughing.
Rong Dai nodded earnestly, "Reading ten thousand books cannot compare to traveling ten thousand miles. Visiting the studio set and observing in person is very beneficial."
She had gained insights from the day.
"We'll see after you turn in your homework tomorrow. You'll have to come early too. That brat hired me, but I'm still charging tuition. Letting you just make breakfast is already very reasonable," Jiang said laughing.
Rong Dai nodded, "I will."
"Go back and rest." Jiang waved his hand. The driver brought Rong Dai back to the Huo residence. Perhaps exhausted from the studio, she fell asleep in the car.
When she awoke, they had arrived.
She got out of the car and went in to find the house cold and empty, with only Auntie Wang busy in the kitchen.
After changing shoes, she went into the kitchen and asked Auntie Wang, "Auntie Wang, do you need help with anything?"
In her past life she would never have asked this. But now things were different. She didn't have seven or eight maids waiting on her, so she could only rely on herself.
