Chapter Fifteen: The Faux Heiress Flower Vase Actress in Modern Society (15)

“Mountain Trace” is a low-budget web drama that tells the story of Huang Yueliang, an urban white-collar worker who, overwhelmed by the fast pace of city life, resigns and retreats to the countryside to relax. However, after a series of eerie incidents, she gradually uncovers the secrets hidden within this rural village.

This kind of suspense drama is indeed unpopular in today’s market, which is dominated by sweet romantic comedies. Moreover, this is an original script, unlike “Xi Yan,” which was adapted from a novel and thus had the strong backing of established fans. Added to that, the script had yet to be market-tested and required shooting in a remote mountain area, so many were pessimistic about its prospects.

That’s why the script ended up in Huo Ying’s hands and eventually came to Xian Du.

Huo Ying initially suspected that Xian Du had been bewitched; she had almost given up on the project but suddenly clung to the script with unwavering determination.

Frightened, Huo Ying grabbed Xian Du’s head, inspecting it closely from every angle, but found nothing amiss.

In the end?

Of course, the smaller force could not overcome the larger one. Xian Du successfully took on “Mountain Trace” and pocketed 10 points for it.

Actually, Xian Du didn’t want to, but there was no other choice—the main system was offering too much.

It was understandable why Huo Ying thought Xian Du was under a spell; the production crew resembled a human trafficking den: located deep in the mountains, lacking heating due to insufficient funds, requiring actors and staff to gather firewood together.

Initially, there was enough budget to establish the crew, but since it was a suspense film, the originally agreed filming locations were canceled—the holiday village feared that airing the show would drive away tourists.

Therefore, the crew had no choice but to use their own money to build a resort, which quickly drained funds and led to budget cuts everywhere.

Xian Du didn’t mind these hardships but was troubled by the lack of signal deep in the mountains, making it impossible to contact Gu Qianxi promptly.

She asked the director if they could install a signal booster. The director showed her his empty pockets and said that if she could install one, the entire crew would be grateful.

Xian Du immediately replied that her head was too small to wear such a big hat and showed the director her pitiful bank balance.

Both fell silent.

With no scenes to shoot, Xian Du roamed the mountains in search of a signal, but it remained unstable, requiring her to keep relocating.

“Mountain Trace” mainly revolves around the female lead Huang Yueliang, and since Xian Du plays her, her screen time was heavy, leaving her little free time.

Yet, Xian Du was unaware that someone in City A was desperately searching for her.

...

At the private hospital established by Jiang Technology, a special patient was on the top floor—Zhao Huimin, the wife of Jiang Lei, chairman of Jiang Technology, and the matriarch of the Jiang family.

Seven years ago, Mrs. Jiang fell into a coma from a severe illness that current medical science could not cure.

Jiang Lei commercialized the N-39 compound, gaining enormous profits, placing his wife in the best hospital ward, and hiring the world’s top medical team to care for her.

Apart from business dealings and overseeing research progress in the lab, Jiang Lei spent all his remaining time at the hospital caring for his comatose wife.

One might say Jiang Lei was not a good father, but no one could deny he was a devoted husband.

Everyone advised him to give up hope, but he stubbornly persisted.

He believed that if the N-39 were developed to perfection, it could cure his wife.

Therefore, whether it was the kidnapping five years ago or the one six months prior, regardless of whether Jiang Xian Du was his biological daughter, when faced with choosing between his wife and daughter, he chose to save his wife.

He knew he had wronged Jiang Xian Du because, after all...

She was the one who originally developed N-39.

At that time, she was indeed a prodigious girl, but after the first kidnapping, she lost all her previous memories and never regained her original talents.

It was a pity; if those incidents hadn’t occurred, the development of N-39 should have progressed much further, and China’s biological research should have been at the forefront of the world...

But if given another chance, he would still do the same.

Jiang Lei flicked his cigarette butt to the ground, crushed it with his foot, and stood by the window to catch some air.

Both he and his wife had been researchers and did not smoke. But since Mrs. Jiang fell ill, he had taken up smoking. However, whenever he visited her, he would clean up thoroughly, leaving no trace of smoke scent.

Because before, Mrs. Jiang was very sensitive to smoke and would cough uncontrollably upon smelling it.

Jiang Lei had just changed into fresh clothes for this visit when a sudden call informed him that several products under Jiang Technology were encountering problems, and the Gu Group was seizing these projects.

He had initially ignored these issues, but these projects were about to become vital arteries for Jiang Technology.

Jiang Lei grew restless. By the time he realized it, he had a half-smoked cigarette between his fingers.

He wondered why the Gu Group kept attacking the businesses of the Bo and Jiang families relentlessly, disregarding costs. The Gu Group had no interest in the biotechnology sector.

Such behavior didn’t seem like business development but rather... an act of vengeance aimed at ruining the Bo and Jiang families.

The biting cold wind of midwinter was piercing as Jiang Lei stood in the hospital corridor, finally feeling the chill.

After ensuring his clothes were free of smoke scent, he straightened himself and entered the ward.

“Huimin,” Jiang Lei warmed his hands with his breath before holding his wife’s hand, “I went to bed early last night, but I dreamed of you. You said I was too harsh on Xian Du, but to me, you are the most important…”

Usually stern and reserved, Jiang Lei wept quietly by his wife’s bedside, exposing his most vulnerable side.

“…Please wake up, will you? As long as you wake up, I’ll do anything, even if it means making amends to Xian Du, I’m willing.”

“…Amends?” A faint, weak voice barely audible, so light Jiang Lei thought it was a hallucination.

He suddenly looked up, seeing his wife, who had been unconscious for seven years, open her eyes.

“Hui... Huimin,” Jiang Lei’s lips trembled as he reached out to touch her face but quickly withdrew, fearing this was just a dream that would shatter with a light touch. “Is it really you? Or am I dreaming again?”

Mrs. Jiang smiled and gently squeezed his hand. The pressure was light but enough to fill Jiang Lei with boundless joy.

He hurriedly pressed the call button to summon the doctors, but Mrs. Jiang’s words stopped him in his tracks:

“Where are the children? Bring them here.”

A smile spread across Jiang Lei’s face. “Our son is out of town and can’t come back immediately. I’ll bring our daughter first.”

“Good.” Mrs. Jiang watched Jiang Lei make the call but wondered how much Xian Du had grown. They say a girl changes a lot as she grows; she wondered if she would even recognize her daughter when she arrived.

After the call, Jiang Lei shared all the good news from the past seven years, carefully omitting any bad tidings.

Half an hour later, Jiang You’an came to visit Mrs. Jiang.

“Xian Du is here! Come let Mom see you!” Mrs. Jiang reached out to Jiang You’an, beckoning her closer.

Indeed, she had grown up, though she no longer resembled her childhood self, faint traces remained.

Jiang You’an froze, silently seeking help from Jiang Lei with her eyes, but he signaled her to play along.

Obediently, Jiang You’an sat beside Mrs. Jiang.

“...Mom.”

Mrs. Jiang held Jiang You’an’s hand, stroking it repeatedly, but noticed the small scar was missing from her hand.