CHAPTER 32: CHAPTER 32: YOU’RE AFRAID BECAUSE YOU’RE TOO WEAK

Lin Yuanyang saw that Ji Ning didn’t take his words to heart at all, and couldn’t help but feel a bit anxious: "I’m serious. As long as you can cure me, whatever conditions, feel free to name them. If you don’t believe me, ask silly... Sister Xiaotang, is what I’m saying credible or not?"

Lin Yuanyang anxiously tugged at Bai Xiaotang’s sleeve beside him, "Sister Xiaotang, please say something..."

Bai Xiaotang’s mind hadn’t caught up yet, but she instinctively nodded.

"See, Sister Xiaotang wouldn’t lie."

At this moment, Lin Yuanyang changed from his usual calm and mature demeanor, anxious like an ordinary child eager to prove himself, furrowing his brows and frequently glancing back and forth between Ji Ning and Bai Xiaotang, his gaze tense and uneasy.

Ji Ning’s lips curved up playfully: "Sure, but the treatment fee..."

"I have it."

Lin Yuanyang eagerly lowered his head to make the transfer.

When Ji Ning heard the notification of the received amount on her phone, she was momentarily stunned. Upon seeing the message, her gaze immediately changed, and she looked him over seriously from head to toe.

Lin Yuanyang’s anxiety grew: "Is it enough? If not, I’ll think of more ways. My dad’s account still has..."

He was ready to hack into his dad’s account and prematurely exercise his right as a son.

"It’s enough." Ji Ning uncomfortably put away her phone.

Lin Yuanyang breathed a sigh of relief, but he held even more expectation for Ji Ning, "So when do we start the treatment?"

"No rush, some preparation is needed."

This guy turned out to be even wealthier than Bai Xiaotang.

Ji Ning thought about the sudden eight-figure increase in her account and silently clicked her tongue.

"What preparation? Do I need to do anything?"

Before he finished speaking, Bai Xiaotang, who had just come to her senses, suddenly grabbed Lin Yuanyang’s shoulder, nervously examining his body, worriedly asking, "Oh my, Xiao Yang, have you been poisoned?"

"Sister Ning, is it easy to cure him? How much will it cost? I still have some money here."

Ji Ning thought for a moment and replied, "Money isn’t the main issue. We need to acquire herbs and the necessary treatment equipment."

Lin Yuanyang’s mind worked quickly, and he immediately said to Bai Xiaotang, "I remember the Bai Family and the Ye Family have business dealings. Sister Xiaotang, could you ask Brother Yu Sen to help purchase the herbs Sister Ning needs?"

Bai Xiaotang didn’t think twice, directly agreeing: "No problem, I’ll contact my brother right away."

"No rush." Ji Ning pressed both of them with a slight headache, "Wait until I list everything."

"Alright... go ahead and list it."

"..."

Next to them, Ye Tong simply couldn’t bear to watch these two, especially Lin Yuanyang, whom she originally thought was a calm and mature little adult.

But now, she just couldn’t look at him...

Finally, Ji Ning couldn’t stand it any longer and flicked each of them on the forehead, "Go do some Body Refinement now. We’ll discuss the treatment later."

Lin Yuanyang couldn’t help but feel a bit down, but he also understood that haste makes waste—now wasn’t the best time for treatment, so he held his patience and stayed quiet.

Bai Xiaotang rubbed her head where she had been hit, looking at Ji Ning with teary eyes, only to face even harsher training.

The three of them spent their morning exercise time being "tormented" by Ji Ning. Even Lin Yuanyang, an injured person, wasn’t spared; his uninjured arm was tied with a weight bag removed by Bai Xiaotang.

***

On the bus.

"Ah... why do we have to film the scene with lines today?" Ye Tong glanced pitifully to the side, arms crossed, at Ji Ning, who looked calm and relaxed.

"You don’t have to go."

Just go home and catch up on sleep instead.

Ye Tong shook her head immediately, "No, no, today I finally have a scene with lines and on-screen time, even if I break a leg, I’ll have someone drag me to the set."

Ji Ning’s lips curved up as she looked out the bus window.

It was already late autumn, the weather turning cold, and the trees appeared bleak and desolate.

Under the trees lay piles of fallen branches and leaves, ready to turn into dust, contributing their last bit of value.

Ji Ning suddenly thought of some plant that seemed about to mature and fall off, saying to Ye Tong, "In a week, go with me to Nanling."

"What? Cough cough..." Ye Tong was so shocked she choked on her own saliva, looking at Ji Ning in disbelief.

"One of the herbs required for Lin Yuanyang’s antidote needs to be gathered from there."

Ji Ning’s tone was calm, as if discussing the pleasant weather. Ye Tong instinctively wanted to shake her head in refusal, but the gaze reflected in the bus window was too oppressive, leaving her unable to voice her reluctance.

"You’ve been to Nanling, right?" Ji Ning asked.

Ye Tong’s shocked expression turned bitter, lowering her head and taking a long time to respond, only speaking softly after sensing Ji Ning looking at her, "How did you know?"

"You told me."

"When did I..." Halfway through her sentence, Ye Tong suddenly recalled her first private conversation with Ji Ning and instantly understood.

"You don’t want to go?" Ji Ning asked again.

Ye Tong looked disheartened, raising her head, "Sister Ning, I’m not strong enough; I’d just hold you back if I go there."

If possible, she never wanted to set foot in that place again in her lifetime.

Ji Ning looked at her for a moment, then slightly nodded without forcing her, "Okay."

During the tumultuous times, there was a large heavily polluted area surrounding Nanling, with an extremely high danger level. After establishing the base, she designated Nanling as a buffer zone between the safe and polluted areas, had a defense line built, and stationed people there as a base to gradually advance into the polluted area and expand the safe zone.

Her impression of that place remained frozen in wartime memories, which was why she wanted to find someone familiar with it to lead the way. She just didn’t expect Ye Tong would be unwilling to go.

Looks like she would need to ask that kid.

Next to her, Ye Tong, seeing Ji Ning deep in thought, recalled a past memory and broke out in a cold sweat, anxiously grabbing Ji Ning’s sleeve, trying to stop her from going: "Sister Ning, what herb are you looking for? Let Tangtang and Xiao Yang spend money to buy it, no need to dig it up yourself."

Ji Ning saw her face turn pale with nervousness, her fingers gripping tightly onto Ji Ning’s sleeve, and asked back, "Is someone over there bullying you?"

Ye Tong’s body stiffened, growing even more tense. Ji Ning flicked the back of her hand, saying casually, "Train well, and eventually hit back."

The words were ordinary, but they suddenly had a calming effect, warming Ye Tong’s fearful heart, making her feel incredibly safe.

"Sister Ning, you’re really nice."

Ji Ning snorted, "You’re scared because you’re too weak!."

"..."

***

Just before arriving at the film base, Ye Tong received the script sent by Li Tao.

It had two lines, making Ye Tong so happy she wanted to do a split right there to celebrate.

She handed her phone to Ji Ning, "Sister Ning, this time I’m going to act alongside the third female lead, with an action scene and two lines."

Ji Ning glanced at Ye Tong’s script on the phone, asking, "Another wartime drama?"

Ye Tong nodded, her eyes sparkling, "This time it’s a turf war scene, needing 20 extras total. I’ve also signed you up. We’re mainly playing lackeys of the bandit leader; you’ll stand beside me, and maybe you’ll get a few seconds of screen time."

Ji Ning slightly nodded.

Street fights and turf wars were things she knew all too well.

The Anhe Base’s territory back then was acquired through turf wars with her lackeys fighting alongside her.

Otherwise, Anhe City wouldn’t be this large today.

A testimony to the merits of her wartime actions.

Beside her, Ye Tong suddenly had a thought, hugging Ji Ning’s arm, giggling foolishly, "This time Brother Tao took the initiative to apply for an action scene for me, definitely related to the last fight scene with Ye Shaochen. Thanks for the guidance, Sister Ning..."

Ji Ning glanced at her, looking out the window again, "The wall hasn’t been compensated for, are you sure about this?"

Ye Tong stiffened, but it didn’t stop her from continuing to talk to Ji Ning, "Whether or not, no matter. This time’s action scene, Sister Ning..."

"10 large meat buns."

"No problem, I’ll buy the meat filling right when I get home."