Chapter 101: A Hero Rescues a Beauty

Three days had passed since the crew officially began filming. Those three days were a blend of pain and joy for Chen Zhe, despite occasional mistakes that earned him reprimands.

After realizing that he needed better control over his emotions, Chen Zhe had paid close attention to maintaining a stable mindset and adjusting his feelings accordingly.

After greeting Lin Xiuhao, who was leaning against the car, Chen Zhe immediately slipped into the van. Watching his swift movement, Lin Xiuhao shook his head with a hint of helplessness, stubbed out his cigarette, and climbed into the driver's seat.

The van left the film set, heading toward Chen Zhe’s apartment. Before they knew it, it was already past eight in the evening.

Thanks to the smooth progress of today's shoot, they had quickly completed the scheduled scenes, allowing everyone to finish work early.

“Hey, isn’t that—Xiuhao, stop the car!” Chen Zhe, who had been watching the greenery outside the window, suddenly spotted something that caught his attention. He tapped urgently on the driver's seat, signaling Lin Xiuhao to pull over quickly.

“What’s the matter, A Zhe?” Lin Xiuhao asked, puzzled by Chen Zhe’s genuine anxiety. He promptly stopped the vehicle by the roadside and turned to look at the back seat.

Chen Zhe didn’t respond to his question but instead scanned the surroundings from the rear seat, as if searching for something.

Finally, he grabbed a black long umbrella lying nearby, feeling its weight and grip, as if testing its balance. Then, he pressed the door open button.

The door slid open slowly, barely wide enough for an adult to slip through. Without hesitation, Chen Zhe burst out of the van, holding the umbrella tightly.

Lin Xiuhao was momentarily stunned by this sudden move but quickly regained his composure and looked in the direction Chen Zhe was running.

What caught Lin Xiuhao’s eye was a snarling black dog baring its teeth, facing off against a petite young woman. Due to the distance, Lin Xiuhao couldn’t clearly discern her features or age.

Faced with the snarling black dog, with drool dripping from its lips, Pei Zhuyun’s legs trembled uncontrollably, gripped by fear.

She regretted coming out tonight to buy something instead of staying quietly in the company dormitory. If she hadn’t ventured out, she wouldn’t have attracted the attention of this massive dog.

But now it was too late. She was locked in a standoff with the dog. According to what elders had told her before, in such situations, one must never turn and run.

Running away could cause the dog to pounce from behind, risking attacks to the head. It could also embolden the dog, making it feel more dominant and aggressive.

“Someone, please help me! Anyone, please come chase this dog away!” Pei Zhuyun silently prayed as she looked at the unusually quiet street tonight, hoping for rescue.

Just as she finished her prayer, a stone thudded onto the ground near the black dog, startling it so much that its fur bristled and it turned sharply, barking furiously in one direction.

“You are—!” Seeing the dog’s reaction, Pei Zhuyun quickly looked toward its focus and recognized a familiar young man.

In his right hand was a large black umbrella; his left hand was poised mid-throw, explaining the stone’s sudden appearance.

From inside the van, Lin Xiuhao was genuinely shocked. He hadn’t expected Chen Zhe to be so bold as to provoke the black dog, drawing its attention onto himself.

But he understood the urgency of the moment and had no time to dwell on it. Hastily unbuckling his seatbelt, he moved to the back seat, searching for anything suitable to use as a weapon.

“Hey, you stupid dog, stay away from her!” Chen Zhe stood upright, raising the black umbrella pointed toward the snarling dog.

His gaze locked on the dog, his body tense and ready to strike at a moment’s notice. The dog’s constant drooling and menacing demeanor made it clear this was no ordinary animal.

“Pei Zhuyun, can you still move? If you can, slowly make your way toward me!” Chen Zhe said, aware that the dog’s aggression meant he might have to resort to force to drive it off.

Still, he worried that the dog might target Pei Zhuyun first since she seemed easier prey. If he couldn’t rescue her in time, things could get dangerous.

With that in mind, Chen Zhe anxiously asked about her condition, urging her to move toward him if she was able.

“Chen Zhe, I can still walk!” Pei Zhuyun understood his meaning instantly, though fear still gripped her heart.

Summoning her courage, she cautiously edged toward Chen Zhe, keeping an eye on the dog while moving slowly in his direction.

“Good, Pei Zhuyun, keep coming this way. Don’t rush or be afraid. I’ll protect you,” Chen Zhe encouraged gently.

Though speaking calmly to Pei Zhuyun, his attention remained mostly on the dog, who showed no interest in her and kept its bloodshot eyes fixed on him, baring sharp teeth.

Seeing this, Chen Zhe realized the dog had chosen him as its primary target. He focused intently on the animal’s every move.

“Ah Zhe, I’m coming!” Lin Xiuhao’s unexpectedly loud shout seemed aimed at bolstering morale—or perhaps intimidating the dog—and caught Chen Zhe’s attention.

Wielding a crowbar, Lin Xiuhao charged forward with fierce determination, prompting a wry smile from Chen Zhe.

“Chen Zhe, watch out!” At that moment, Pei Zhuyun’s urgent shout pierced the air, snapping Chen Zhe back to full awareness.

Turning his gaze just in time, Chen Zhe saw the black dog lunging at him, its mouth open wide with saliva flying.

He caught the cruel, bloodthirsty gleam in the dog’s eyes. It was too late to wield the umbrella in defense. His mind raced as time seemed to slow around him.