The man gave him a knowing look, smiled, and patted his shoulder, "Bro, I know you're different from us. Go back and make great movies, and don't forget to sign one for me!"Handing his gun to Zane, the man said, "I'll take a quick look around and be right back."Before Zane could respond, the man disappeared into the woods, quickly swallowed by the darkness.Zane felt a twinge of regret. He didn't even know the man's name; It seemed to be Tim.The man's parting words, heartfelt yet futile, lingered in his mind.After about twenty minutes, the rustle of footsteps startled Zane. Peering cautiously, he spotted a figure in camouflage, face obscured by a black cloth, advancing stealthily with a gun in hand.Zane inched back, not daring to make a move, his mind racing with the thought, "Could this really be a terrorist group?"On the side, Tim was inching back, and Zane's heart skipped a beat, realizing they were on a collision course.Clutching the pistol in his hand, Zane knew standing up
After three consecutive days of relentless work with the crew, it was finally confirmed that Zane had fully immersed himself into the character of Gideon. Only then did Aurora leave, feeling utterly exhausted. She felt like an old mother hen, fussing and bustling around for Zane's sake."The artist you choose, you have to support, even through tears…" she mused.Zane was diligently filming, occasionally taking breaks to dine with Aurora, but Chery was nowhere to be seen. Zane was growing impatient. Ever since he sensed that faint spark between him and Chery, he had been nothing but dedicated. However, Chery seemed indifferent, avoiding him altogether."Now, I can't even catch a glimpse of her," he complained to Aurora.Aurora shook her head helplessly. "Chery's deep into her role for the movie. She's closed off from the world.""Closed off for a movie?" Zane asked, puzzled."She's playing a character with depression. She's immersing herself, so don't expect her to hang out with us for
Evelyn sneered coldly. "If it weren't for those dirty dealings in the past, would you be sitting so securely as the legitimate heir of the Pendleton family? And now you want to disassociate from the family? Isn't it a bit late for that?"Maxwell looked at Evelyn with icy eyes and warned, "Don't test my patience. If you keep this up, I won't bother with your studio anymore!"Evelyn's media studio, although technically a subsidiary of the Pendleton Corp, heavily relied on Maxwell's influence. Without his approval, the Pendleton Corp wouldn't make things easy for her. Many things required Maxwell's name to be thrown in the mix. If Maxwell decided to wash his hands off it, her small studio wouldn't stand a chance in the fiercely competitive city.Evelyn panicked at Maxwell's threat. "I'm your own sister! If not me, who else would you care for? Aurora? Has Aurora even acknowledged you? If you don't help me take her down, once she takes over the Pendleton family, we'll both end up as the sh
Aurora snatched a cushion nearby and hurled it at Zane’s head, scolding, "Quit scheming on Chery!"Zane caught the cushion, scratching his head, and retorted, "What's so bad about me that you have to interfere?"Aurora glanced at him helplessly, "It's not about you being good or bad. It's about Chery's career, which could be ruined in an instant. This isn't just about you. I can't use Chery as a shield for you."Standing up and ruffling his hair, Zane suggested, "Then I'll go and talk to Chery directly, clear things up, okay?"Aurora was speechless.She grabbed him abruptly, "Stop right there! Don"t be reckless!"Zane, currently surrounded by rumors, seemed utterly unbothered, his mind preoccupied with thoughts of Chery. However, Chery's true feelings on the matter were a mystery.Aurora was equally frustrated. The dilemma was tricky; ignoring the situation could severely impact Zane's public image, but mishandling it could jeopardize his future career prospects even more.Moreover, s
But Aurora couldn't finish her sentence, the thought of parting with Heath was unimaginable, let alone coping if that day ever came.Vespera, busy dabbing at her tears and touching up her smeared makeup, managed a messy yet composed look. After tidying herself up, she forced a smile at Aurora, "It's okay! It's over!"Aurora mirrored her smile, reassuring, "It will pass."With her eyes still red, Vespera nodded. Aurora first dropped Vespera off at her home before returning to the Pendleton residence to have dinner with her grandfather.During the meal, her grandfather inquired, "Sweetheart, how are things progressing with Heath?"Caught off guard, Aurora responded, "There's no progress."Frowning, Grandpa pressed, "He hasn't mentioned marriage? You've been staying with him for so long, and he hasn't talked about marrying you?"Aurora's cheeks flushed as she protested, "Grandpa! What are you saying? I'm just staying there temporarily; nothing has happened...""That's not acceptable!" he
Aurora, with measured tones, addressed Chery, 'You know, Zane might have something he wants to discuss with you. Maybe you should have a heart-to-heart with him?'"Chery shook her head, "I'd rather not. If he's alright, then I'm heading back. With his temper, I'm not about to walk into the line of fire!"Aurora felt helpless. With Chery unwilling to budge, she couldn't assist Zane any further.Left with no choice, Aurora contacted Zane's assistant, urging him to keep Zane out of trouble. She even went as far as to change Zane's Twitter password, imposing a temporary ban on his social media activities.The storm seemed to pass, and not long afterward, Zane's The Pianist and Chery's Dual Facades were released consecutively.Dual Facades broke the year's box office record on its premiere. Chery's portrayal of a character with depression was hauntingly vivid, pulling audiences into an empathetic whirlwind.Her performance was so immersive, one could almost feel her internal struggle—her f
Heath packed up his luggage, descended the stairs, and dug out a set of fishing gear, dragging Aurora along for a fishing adventure.Aurora was baffled again, "Where are we going fishing?""You'll see when we get there." Heath, carrying the fishing gear, led Aurora on a walk that lasted about twenty minutes, ending up beside a lake.Heath picked a spot to sit down, took out a fishing rod and bait, and looked at Aurora, "Do you know how to fish?""Of course!" Aurora responded immediately.How hard could fishing be? Just sit and wait for the fish to bite.Heath handed Aurora a fishing rod and suggested, "How about a little competition?"Aurora's interest was piqued instantly. She squatted next to Heath, mimicking his actions to fix the bait onto the hook.Taking a few steps back, Heath swung his arm, sending the hook flying far into the water, where the bobber steadied with a gentle sway. He then turned to watch Aurora cast her line.Aurora, attempting to emulate Heath, swung her rod, b
Concerned Aurora might overindulge, Heath kept pouring her juice, and she contentedly sipped it without complaint.Lysander, observing the couple, inquired, "You two have been together for more than a minute. When are you going to make it official?"Caught off guard, Aurora lowered her head in silence, while Heath, busy serving her food, retorted, "Mind your own business."Lysander: "…"Alaric declared, "I don't care; I've already called dibs on the best man role. No one's taking that from me!"Heath glanced at him, teasing, "Are you sure you won't be the one getting married first?"Alaric's face fell as he lamented, "I wish! But who would marry me?"Lysander, taking a sip of wine, chided, "I don't mean to be harsh, but what's so great about Elowen? Just because you grew up together? I've grown up with plenty of girls, and I'm not hung up like you are!"Zane chimed in, siding with Lysander, "I'm with Lysander on this. Elowen is nothing but trouble. I don't know what my brother sees in