[+2 Public Perception. Hate comments deflected. Increase in followers.]
[+2 Job and Income. Trailer reached 3 million views in less than 24 hours. 10 million viewership.]
[Fame Meter: 26%]
He knew he wasn’t dead; his system was still intact.
But those around him acted like he was.
“What are we going to do now? Should we tell his parents to come here?”
“Funeral services are very expensive, but I will pay for it.”
“He doesn’t have a last will and testament. Where will his money go?”
Zeno opened his eyes. “You’re already thinking of acquiring my money” he asked, causing everyone to turn to him.
Their eyes widened as Zeno sat up in the hospital bed after much struggle. It was painful, but it was nothing compared to the Pain Trial.
“Zeno!” Minji exclaimed, and they all rushed to his bedside.
Moby covered his mouth. “So, you didn’t die.”
Zeno clicked his tongue. “It would take a lot more than glass shards to kill me,” he said.
“Besides, the sweet potato saved me, right?”
“Huh?” they all muttered.
Just then, the doctor came in, a small smile on his face, holding a bag of squished sweet potato with a sharp glass shard on it.
“Mr. Zeno Han,” he began. “You have sustained multiple superficial cuts and two deep ones. The one on your abdomen needed to be stitched, so we did just that. We thought your heart was stabbed because of your severe pain, but this guy saved you,” he said, pointing to the sweet potato.
Zeno nodded, recalling how he placed the roasted sweet potato in his chest pocket as the clown burglar entered.
No wonder these root crops were his greatest love. A sweet potato had even saved him from death!
“That means I can proceed with the filming, right?” Zeno asked the doctor, whose expression fell slightly.
Bobby turned to Zeno. “Should you be asking that when you’re still injured?”
“I have to go to the set tomorrow,” he insisted. “Please provide me with the antibiotics and pain relievers.”
“Zeno,” Eli muttered. “That’s not safe.”
“It’s a live production,” Zeno continued. “We have filmed the first half, but we need to continue filming the latter half while it’s already airing.”
“It cannot be delayed.”
With that, he turned to Bobby and Moby. “Make sure no one knows about it. Report the burglar, though, but don’t include me on it.”
Bobby opened his mouth to speak, but Zeno beat him to it.
“Don’t tell Daeshim PD and the crew, too. They’re under a lot of stress.”
“What? That’s insane!” Doha exclaimed. “What if they make you do stunts and stuff?”
Zeno turned to the doctor once more. “The others are superficial cuts.”
The doctor pursed his lips. “That is true,” he said. “The one on your chest barely grazed you, too. I am concerned about your abdomen. It did not hit any internal organs, but it was deep enough to require stitches.”
“This means it could still reopen if strenuous activity is done,” he explained, but Zeno already knew it.
“Then,” he continued, “can you provide me with sutures, too?”
***
“I can’t believe you were stabbed just yesterday,” Moby whispered, turning to Zeno, who still appeared a little pale.
Zeno shrugged. “You know we can’t delay the filming. It will compromise the quality and hype of the drama.”
“Aside from that, the public will not let me have it if they knew I was the reason it was delayed. I’m fine. My body is young, and it will heal pretty soon.”
“But why can’t we tell the crew?” Moby exclaimed.
“Because they would feel wary,” Zeno said. “The human mind is very interesting. It will compromise. If someone is not in their best condition, the expectation to perform well is slightly skewed. That small margin might lead to a decrease in production quality.”
“But the doctor said your sutures might come out and that you’re more prone to infection Do you remember your first scene when you get back? It might worsen your condition.”
“Yes,” Zeno answered. “It’s fitting, isn’t it?”
Moby gave him a deadpan look. Meanwhile, Zeno just smirked. “The doctor didn’t give me any sutures, but someone else did. Don’t worry.”
Moby tilted his head in confusion. “Whatever you say. I’ll trust your word.”
***
The two finally arrived at the set, and fortunately, Oska and Daniel were out of his sight.
Daeshim PD greeted him enthusiastically. “Zeno!” he exclaimed. “It’s nice to see you. Congratulations on the feat for Code Black.”
“It’s not on me,” he said, glancing at Risa, who waved at him shyly. “It’s because of Risa and Ian.”
“I’m sure you had a part,” he nudged Zeno’s side, causing him to purse his lips. It was right at his wound. Still, it didn’t appear obvious.
“Have you seen the second teaser?” Daeshim PD asked.
Zeno nodded. “The response is still good.”
Daeshim chuckled, appearing elated. “Ah, I can’t wait for it to air by Thursday. For now, though, let’s start right away with your scene, shall we? Our schedule is tight, and we need to send the scenes over to our editing team as soon as possible.”
Zeno nodded and immediately got dressed. The stylist tried to help him, but he shook his head. “Thank you. I have mastered it now. I can do it myself.”
That much was true, but it was also because Zeno didn’t want her to see his stab wound. After hair and makeup, he finally arrived at their set, where the others were already waiting.
Oska and Daniel were also there and they weren’t delighted by his presence. Zeno ignored them and focused on the next scene to be filmed.
Another emotional rollercoaster.
A murder attempt for King Jum himself.
Ryeo Wang smiled at Zeno as he stood next to him, and the other actors and staff turned to each other.
“They’re close?”
“Ryeo Wang never smiled at me like that.”
Daniel pursed his lips. He had been trying to vie for the old man’s attention, but it never worked. He had never seen Zeno and Ryeo interact on set except for their scenes, so why was it that Ryeo was treating Zeno so warmly?
“Are you ready to get stabbed?” Daeshim PD asked.
Zeno turned to all of them, beads of sweat already forming on his forehead—a side effect of his antibiotics and pain relievers—before nodding.
With the murder attempt, only Hajin would show his royalty, covering his grandfather with his own body, unconsciously protecting him.
It seemed like Zeno was going to be stabbed twice this week.