Chapter 33: Disemboweled at the Start

The heat was stifling, and Liu Jing had no interest in lingering on the film set. His scenes were not scheduled until the day after tomorrow, so once work broke for the day, he dragged Sister Li back to the hotel to "study."

Study what? The script, of course. With the air conditioning running and a variety of teas on hand, who would want to bake under the sun?

"Woody, there aren't many action sequences this time, and we shouldn't take on so many in the future. I heard from Wenqiong that you were covered in bruises after filming 'Tai Chi Master.' The members of the Cheng and Hung stunt teams, along with all those martial arts actors—they treat filming as if their lives don't matter. After a single scene, some are injured, some have broken bones, and the worst even lose their lives. I worry that decades from now, you might have the money you earned but no life left to spend it. You like martial arts, and it's good for building strength and confidence, but you must remember that once you hold a sharp weapon, a murderous intent can easily arise. You must keep your heart pure. We live in a society governed by law; bullying the weak and being overly combative..."

*Ding-dong...*

Liu Jing tossed the script aside and cheered, "That must be Sister Sharla!"

Sister Li was perfect in every way, except for her habit of lecturing him on politics, which he found unbearable. Even Teacher An, a professor, wasn't as prone to preaching as she was.

He opened the door to find Sharla laden with bags—she had just returned from shopping. Instead of going to her own room, she had come straight to theirs. Seeing Liu Jing, she dropped her bags and scooped him up in a hug. "Little one, did you miss your big sister?"

"Big Sister, it’s sweltering, and you’re drenched in sweat," Liu Jing complained, pulling away. Naturally, after hauling those bags in this heat, she was dripping.

"Haha! I’m going to shower. Want to join me?" Sharla laughed. Seeing Liu Jing always relieved half of her worries.

Sister Li shook her head. "Sharla, I have an appointment to meet a friend shortly, so I'll leave Woody in your care."

"Is it a man or a woman?" Liu Jing asked suddenly; he hadn't known about this.

"A woman," Sister Li replied, annoyed. His surveillance was truly professional.

"Fine! Come back early tonight. No clubs, no staying out overnight, no—"

*Bang.*

The door slammed shut before he could finish. Sister Li was already gone.

"Hey! That woman is so disobedient; her husband will divorce her sooner or later," Liu Jing grumbled, deeply dissatisfied.

"You really do worry about everything, old man," Sharla teased, tapping him on the nose. The little guy seemed to have grown taller again.

"You don't understand. If it weren't for me, this household would fall apart." Liu Jing looked wistful. Before they arrived, the couple had already had a massive row at home. It had been intense, with the sounds of crashing and throwing things. Sister Li had taken on several roles without telling Teacher An.

Teacher An had been enjoying his television programs when his wife suddenly appeared on screen, revealing the secret. Once he started questioning her at home, he discovered there were two more films yet to be released, one of which was "Beijingers in New York."

A new round of arguing ensued, and they didn't even bother to hide it from the two children. If not for Teacher An’s work transfer requiring him to study at the French consulate, he certainly would have followed them here to keep an eye on his wife. A wife that beautiful was hard to stop worrying about.

Thinking of this, Liu Jing glanced at Sharla. He wondered if her partner had also planted spies? With such a beautiful sister, she really should worry about others trying to whisk her away.

"Alright, alright, you're the boss, okay? Come to my room, and we'll run through your lines later. I don't have many scenes this time, so I can give you some pointers. By the way, carry these bags for me; I bought you some clothes." Sharla chattered on, the dissatisfaction in her tone evident to anyone.

"Sister Sharla, have you not been filming for a while?" Liu Jing opened a bag at random and his face darkened. *Are these colorful little outfits for me? Modern people really have strange tastes.*

"I haven't felt like filming lately. I went back to my hometown a while ago to invest in some property." Sharla led the way, with Liu Jing trailing behind with the bags.

"You bought more houses?" Liu Jing was speechless. Ever since they bought that courtyard house, Sharla had entered a "buy, buy, buy" mode. Judging by this, she had gone back to her hometown in Shanghai to buy more. Sharla grew up in Shanghai before her family moved to Hong Kong when she was eleven. As she got older, her nostalgia for her hometown had grown.

Liu Jing understood why she hadn't been taking movie roles lately—she and her partner were having problems. The concept of Feng Shui was very popular in Hong Kong, and while Liu Jing had only read about it, experiencing it firsthand revealed that the reality was far more intense than the reports suggested.

"Shanghai property is so cheap, even cheaper than Beijing. I bought an old Western-style villa and two commercial units. The villa needs work, though; renovating a courtyard house feels much more meaningful," Sharla said, stripping off her clothes without a hint of modesty. Liu Jing was used to it; she and his aunt didn't really treat him like a man. Still, she kept some boundaries, stopping at her undergarments.

"Why buy so many houses? Isn't one enough to live in?" Liu Jing didn't quite grasp it.

"I had dinner with Boss Chen earlier this year, and I listened to his analysis of national policies. Property prices are bound to skyrocket in the future. Think about it: if ordinary housing goes up, courtyard houses and old villas are scarce resources—they'll appreciate significantly. They don't just have residential value; they have historical value. That’s what makes them powerful," Sharla explained.

"I’ve saved up three million. I'll have Sister Li transfer it to you. Whether you want to buy more courtyard houses or villas, just take it and use it."

"I'm not short on cash right now; you keep it for yourself. It's easier for me to make money than you. I pick up one film and the salary is in the millions. A few endorsements and some business appearances, and that’s another three million right there."

"No, borrowing and returning makes it easier to borrow again in the future."

"Hey! You little brat, still thinking about borrowing money from me?"

"Go take your shower." Liu Jing looked at the semi-nude woman standing at the bathroom door and lost all interest in continuing the conversation.

"Woody, I bought a Nikon FM2 camera while I was in Japan recently. It's a gift for you. Stop asking them for photos—you can take them yourself now." Sharla pushed open the bathroom door, and the sound of running water soon followed.

At that, Liu Jing scrambled to find it. He was always curious about electronic gadgets. At that moment, even a bathing beauty couldn't compete with the allure of a new camera.

Half an hour later, Sharla emerged wrapped in a bath towel. The beauty, fresh from the water, looked as pure as a lotus blossom. Despite the alluring sight, Liu Jing, being just a boy, didn't even spare her a glance.

"How's the gift?" Sharla asked, drying her hair as she walked toward him.

*Click.*

The shutter fired, and Sharla gasped, "You little brat, don't take pictures of me!" She wasn't afraid of being photographed, but she didn't want him taking pictures of her in this state. If the photos leaked, it would be a scandal; who knew what people would think?

"Haha! I'm a photographer now!" Liu Jing said, triumphant. This was better than any toy.

"Hey! Don't take any weird pictures," Sharla warned.

Liu Jing didn't care. *What kind of weird pictures could I possibly take? She's making a fuss over nothing.*

"Bring the script over; let's run your lines." Sharla huffed, deciding not to dwell on it. A six-year-old child—what could he really do?

"Sister Sharla, what role are you playing this time? Is it the lead?" Liu Jing put down the camera and opened the script. He was serious about acting; it was linked to the 'Energy of Entertainment,' the foundation of his system's upgrades and his reason for being in this world. In such a magical era, without the system, even with the memories of a wealthy heir, he wouldn't get very far.

"I get gutted at the very beginning—do you think I'm the lead?" Sharla’s expression shifted; her good mood vanished instantly.

How could she not be annoyed? In "God of Gamblers I," she and Joey Wong were the female leads, and she had plenty of screen time—more than Joey, in fact. During the planning of "God of Gamblers II," she had a substantial role, but as the script evolved, her part was whittled down while Chingmy Yau’s grew. By the time the final script was finished, her character was killed off in the opening scene.

If she hadn't been busy with her property investments and focused on other things, she would have already had it out with Wong Jing. *What is going on? We aren't even broken up yet, and you're already trying to sideline me?*