Cecilia gave a cold snort from the side. Because they were very close, she didn't hold back from joking around."How dare you compare yourself to Penny? She's been attending classes every day for the past three months, figuring out how to act, and carefully selecting roles that suit her."But you've always been so busy with everything else. If you can still be as good as her, then you must be born for this industry."Bubbles scratched his head. "That's true."The class instructor also laughed and praised Penny while also reminding Bubbles to stay diligent.He said, "The entertainment industry nowadays is fickle, unlike in the past when actors were grounded in their work."Nowadays, people join this line of work just to gain fame. Popularity is the key, and acting skills have become secondary."Bubbles, although you're popular now, at least you have the heart to learn. You need to work hard in the future."You all need to remember that popularity is temporary. There will always
Of course, Penny did not get caught up in it. She still knew what she was doing.Compared to the dream-like world of acting, Penny had no complaints about her current situation.She had chosen a new family for herself, and they got along really well.In the past, her family considered her a jinx and couldn't even be bothered to stay in touch. She used to receive nothing but sarcasm and mockery from them.Now that they weren't in contact with one another, it was actually quite nice.For Penny, this kind of life was pleasant.A week after having that meal with Bubbles, Penny received a new script.There were quite a few scripts handed to her, but none of them were for high-profile projects. They were all low-budget productions, which meant her pay wouldn't be very high.However, compared to an average person working a nine-to-five job, it was still much better.Aside from winning the lottery, Penny couldn't think of any way for an ordinary person to become wealthy overnight.An
Penny was rational.She wasn't as pessimistic as Cecilia about having fewer scenes and lower pay. She thought the character she was playing was genuinely well-designed.She was also well aware of the shortcomings of her physical appearance.Even though everyone said she was beautiful, her striking appearance also attracted criticism.In the industry, there was a saying that appearance should immediately appeal to the audience.Even if someone was extremely attractive, they were destined not to become very popular if they didn't make a good first impression. It was especially so if people had to make an effort to get to know them better.Some celebrities may not be particularly attractive, but they could gain many fans as soon as they made a public appearance, all because they were dressed in cute and sunny ways.It was similar to Jessica Brown, a rising star who had recently become very popular.Although she had the influential Winston family's support, she wouldn't have skyroc
The large amount of attention brought both positive and negative consequences.The good news was that Penny's name had quickly become known by most people.But the bad news was that most of the comments about Penny came from Bubbles' female fans, so one could imagine the amount of criticism.Although Bubbles was not an idol, he debuted through a talent show and carried some of that idol vibe.For fans like these, an idol dating someone was almost like a crime. If it got exposed, it would become an unforgivable offense.There were also some onlookers just there for entertainment. Some praised Penny for being beautiful, saying she would definitely become popular in the future.On the other hand, some were malicious, accusing her of excessive photo editing and saying she looked artificial.Their comments suggested she had undergone a lot of plastic surgery, and they wondered how many procedures she must have had.Bubbles also received a lot of criticism, but it was more out of fru
Of course, Penny and Bubbles had nothing to worry about on their end, either. There was absolutely nothing going on between the two of them, after all.Even if the worst-case scenario happened, so what?Of course, for celebrities, especially those still rising in their careers, having their romantic relationships exposed could still have a certain impact.Especially if both celebrities were quite good-looking and aimed to build popularity, they were bound to attract fans who either saw them as potential romantic partners or admired their career achievements.Dating wasn't illegal, but for someone whose career was on the rise and another who was just starting out, it clearly wasn't the best time to go public right now.Even if celebrities in their 30s were at the age where they might settle down and have children, fans would often not be happy to see them in relationships or getting married.That is, unless the person in question was themselves.In this world, there would never b
Naturally, she first studied the script from the significant project, though she only had a minor role in it. Penny really liked that character, after all.Bubbles had mentioned that the second female lead's character suited her quite well, and the character was beautiful but a villain.Penny liked playing villains. Her face didn't fit the innocent, sweet, or sunny protagonist type, anyway.However, it was clear that the second female lead's role was not something a newcomer like her could handle, so Penny didn't put much thought into it.She skimmed through the script first, then devoted about 80 percent of her attention to studying the minor role. She spent the rest of the time reviewing the scenes involving the second female lead.It wasn't that she was being unrealistic. It was just that the second female lead's role was very closely tied to the minor character whose role she wanted.Simply put, the role she had her eye on was more like the second female lead's lackey.Aside
When was the most painful for her?Before starting, Penny took a moment to reflect, not on the second female lead's experiences described in that half-page, but on her own past experiences.It wasn't her parents' neglect or being called a jinx by them at every turn that caused her pain.It wasn't the fact that they hit or scolded her that made it painful. It was the even colder disdain and indifference she faced after desperately trying to please them.At that time, she was too young, and her actions were merely a form of self-protection, like that of a young animal.When did the real pain start?It was when she started understanding things, gradually distancing herself from the Lowes' control, and taking steps toward her own planned path.However, in the end, she was forcefully held back by Spencer and brutally pushed into the abyss.Even if she wasn't thrown to her death, she genuinely experienced the moment when darkness descended.What kind of despair was that? It was a de
The role of the second female lead in this drama naturally went to Penny.When Penny and Cecilia walked out of the performance room, they both felt like they were floating on air.They were stunned by their unexpected good fortune.It was an SS-level project's second female lead role!It was originally an S-level project, but because the investment amount had increased, it got bumped up another level.Penny's usual acting fee wasn't high, but because her role was significant in this project, she was paid the standard market rate.Three million was already a huge amount for her. It was a substantial leap compared to her first film. She could even buy a new house with it!She had never developed the habit of saving money since childhood. Perhaps because of that, even though her payment hadn't even arrived yet, Penny was already thinking about how to spend it.She was incredibly grateful.Penny acted reserved outside, almost as if the audition didn't go well for her. But the mome
Penny didn't have much free time over the past three years.As she had envisioned, during the first year, she honed her acting skills amidst criticism while also working as a translator.Later on, she felt that acting didn't hold much appeal anymore. Moreover, realizing that there weren't any roles left for her, she gradually gave up and moved toward working behind the scenes.She had some work during this period.It seemed that a daring reality show, not caring about potential risks, decided to capitalize on her controversial popularity and invited her to participate in one of their programs.The reason Penny agreed to participate was because the show's first season had a good reputation, and the payment offered was reasonable.Continuously doing translations could be quite tiring. After discussing with Cecilia and weighing the pros and cons, she eventually signed up for this TV show.Unfortunately, she had underestimated the darker side of human nature.The show's production
"Really?" Zane blurted out, staring incredulously at Sam, who nodded calmly. His unruly and carefree demeanor was restrained, and his composed attitude showed that he wasn't joking.Zane fell silent again, furrowing his brow as he intently observed Sam.It was as if he thought everything through in an instant, giving up without hesitation. He didn't even remind Zane of the request from years ago to take care of Penny. Instead, he said this would be the last time he would help out.Logically speaking, this should be a satisfactory outcome for Zane. After all, from any perspective, the Lowe family's scion would only be a burden to Sam.Looking again at Sam's attitude, it seemed he didn't want Penny to know he was the one quietly spending money to handle things behind the scenes.Since there was no plan to meet her, he didn't need to worry about anything after that. If that was the case, it would be better to just end it early.That way, if Sam saw Penny falling in love, getting mar
All those old scoundrels from the Lowe family undoubtedly ranked the highest. Then there was Jessica, the entertainment industry's national goddess, who also played a significant role.Besides them, there were a few minor celebrities who didn't really make the cut.However, as Sam's partner and someone who watched him grow up, Zane privately hoped Sam could find a better girl.So, he advised, "There are plenty of socialites in Riverwood, and Amdale has no shortage of beautiful young ladies, either, and Rookfort isn't much different."You and the Lowe family's daughter haven't even officially met…""Who said I haven't met her?" Sam interrupted him without a second thought.He had even seen her twice. How could Zane say they hadn't even met yet?The first time, she gave him all the money she had. The second time, he spoke up to help her get that role.After these interactions, they could be considered acquaintances.Zane choked up and couldn't find the words to refute.He was s
Because Penny declined his offer, Zane didn't insist. After a bit of small talk, he ended the call.He politely mentioned that if she needed any help, she could call this number again. If he could assist in any way, he certainly would.However, Zanw knew very well that, given Penny's temperament, she would rather give up what she had than actively seek help from a stranger.Yes, to Penny, Zane was just a stranger. He was a person she had met once but didn't really know.This time, Penny didn't respond as coldly as she did when she was 18. Instead, she exchanged a couple of polite pleasantries, mentioned that she would reach out if needed, and then hung up the phone.After that, she let out a long sigh of relief and lay on the lounge chair on the balcony, gazing at the view outside the window.There were fluffy white clouds in the azure sky and the greenery visible in the neighborhood. Sparrows were chirping persistently as they darted through the forest, and the cicadas loudly bu
Although the other person said only one word, Penny could still tell he didn't have any ill intentions.Because of that faint sense of familiarity, Penny didn't hang up the phone immediately. "Hello? May I ask what this is about?"The unfamiliar and distant tone probably made the man on the other end of the phone pause for a moment. It was only after a brief silence that he responded."Young lady, don't you remember me? It's Zane Moran."His voice carried a laugh, with a hint of teasing.Only then did Penny remember who he was, but she wasn't happy at all.Zane meant no harm when that incident happened back then. But despite that, over the years that had passed, he became one of the people and things Penny would rather not recall.Whether it was the exam she missed, the incident where Spencer took her to the hotel against her will, or Zane, who gave her 30 dollars for a taxi ride.She just wanted to hide all of them deep in her memories.The recent events had particularly made
"I'm fine. You all don't have to look so worried. You're making it seem as if something bad is going to happen to me."Penny looked at the two people at the door who were showing a range of expressions, feeling speechless.Cecilia was provoked by her words, and her eyes turned red."We're worried about you. You have no idea what you look like right now. You're almost like one of those disheartened protagonists in novels who hated the world."Penny clicked her tongue twice and said, "Aren't you exaggerating?"She didn't believe it. She was just worried about money. It wasn't like she had become disillusioned with life.Besides, she didn't dislike this world at all. On the contrary, she really liked it.Whenever Penny came across posts online suggesting that all humans should just die, she always felt like rolling her eyes. If they wanted to die, they shouldn't drag others with them.When searching for her own role in movies, TV dramas, and novels, Penny particularly preferred re
Penny's way of clarifying things was to simply tell the truth.Sometimes, trying to cover things up would just lead to needing 100 more lies to continue the cover-up. That would often end up making things worse and more ridiculous.It was better to tell the truth about the situation.To answer the question of why she lashed out at the Lowe family, she briefly explained her experiences over the years.Why didn't she attend the final paper of the college entrance examinations? She personally reopened that old wound.As for that man in the hotel, Penny didn't have much of an impression of him anymore. She only remembered not taking his business card and accepting 30 dollars from him.Why did she show up at that man's hotel room? She wrote it down truthfully—it was her father who personally took her and left her at the hotel, wanting to trade her like a commodity.Every single word was carefully considered and written by Penny.She didn't share much of these things with Cecilia. Th
Once the official statements were released, Penny's career being ruined became a certainty.The only surprising thing was probably that after the film crew issued their statement, the largest investor also requested to withdraw.The film crew was completely shocked, but there was nothing they could do. The scion was willing to lose money just to withdraw his investment, so what could they do?The amount of money in the compensation was nothing compared to the amount that the scion planned to invest. The production team would incur a significant loss.With one less investor, the project's status was essentially downgraded. They had much less room to manipulate their gains now, too.One would understand why the scion was doing this if they used their brain a little.However, the protests from the audience couldn't be ignored, and compared to the investors, it was clearly more important to keep the show going.After all, they could always attract more sponsors, even if the amount o
In addition to the widespread backlash caused by the phone recording, Penny's academic credentials were also scrutinized and exposed.Before the college entrance exam, she had always been the top student in her school and had never ranked anything else.However, in the college entrance exam, she barely passed the minimum mark for key institutions, far below her usual performance.Some people speculated that she had been cheating during regular exams and that her actual abilities were much worse.However, the exam results could be checked online, and the fact that Penny scored zero on the last exam was surprising.It was even more shocking that she was admitted to a top-tier university despite missing an exam. It was truly exceptional.But few people paid attention to this information.After all, the achievements attained through hard work couldn't be faked. Even if the results weren't as expected, it was undeniable that she was stronger than many others.Regarding this topic, t