Chapter 25: Sitting at Home, a Role Falls from the Sky

The next day.

Early morning, the hour hand stopped at 6 o'clock, the sky was already bright, and the orange-yellow warm sun shone on the glass window.

A strand of light sneaked in through the gap in the curtains that hadn't been drawn properly.

Still asleep, Elliana Lyle was quickly called up by Lana.

After washing up, she groggily drank the shrimp porridge Lana prepared while listening to Norman Bennett talk about today's schedule, feeling more and more uneasy the more she listened.

"Wait! Why am I going to the film crew?" Elliana finally realized, staring at the man strangely.

"Eleanor Llyod and Joy Lyle are both artists under Roland, but due to Roland's breach of contract, neither can continue to perform. However, the female lead role is yours."

Norman sipped his coffee, speaking casually, as if it wasn't a big deal to him.

But for Elliana, it was completely different. She had never acted before, not even as an extra, how could she play the female lead!

She hurriedly thought of Luna and got a bit excited, saying, "Norman, I can't do it. I'm telling you, there's someone named Luna who suits the female lead role. Go find her."

"The entire film crew is waiting for you. If you don't go for a day, they'll wait a day. If you don't go for a month, they'll wait a month."

Norman's meaning was clear, he wanted her and only her.

"But... Norman, I can't act. Besides, if I play the female lead, I'm afraid people will criticize me to death." Elliana looked at Norman with grievance, hoping he would give up.

Norman finally looked at her and spoke indifferently, "Aren't you in your senior year internship? It's good to find something to do. If you can't, learn it. I'll support you."

Elliana: "..."

The porridge suddenly lost its flavor. She felt like she was being forced into something and Norman didn't seem to be joking.

After thinking for a while, she figured it wasn't bad either—she hadn't decided on an internship yet, and working under Norman as an artist didn't seem too bad.

So she smiled and asked, "Will you pay me a salary?"

Norman didn't speak, but his eyes gestured for her to look at the table.

Only then did she notice a credit card on the corner of her side of the table, suggesting she could use it at will.

Playing the female lead was just playing the female lead, she can learn if she can't do it, what's the big deal.

"Alright then, I'll try it first. If it doesn't work, you can find Luna, okay?" Elliana took a step back, agreeing, and quickly pocketed the credit card.

"Mm."

Seeing Norman agree, Elliana continued to drink her porridge with a bright smile.

It seemed she had to postpone a lot of things today; she had transferred ten thousand yuan to Luna yesterday. Money was really burning a hole in her pocket.

Originally planned to meet Luna today, she probably wouldn't have time today and would have to set another date.

―――North City, Central Hospital.

"Son, your father has no heart, seeing you get beaten up like this and not caring. Tell your mom, who did this to you?"

A plump woman sat by Shane Southwell's hospital bed, exuding a worldly air, the typical rich woman.

If not for the eyes and nose resembling Shane Southwell's, judging by the chubby face, it would be hard to say she was Shane's mother.

The woman was called Baozhu Yi, and she hated being called Lady Southwell, so Cari could only address her as Lady Yi usually.

Seeing Shane full of annoyance, Cari spoke up, "Lady Yi, the deputy director still needs rest. You're also tired from caring for the deputy director, why not let me assist you to take a rest?"

"Tell me, who made my son like this? I must settle accounts with him!" Lady Yi was relentless, her gaze fierce.

Two tall bodyguards stood behind her, giving Lady Yi great confidence.

"This... I don't know either." Cari had to say, or Lady Yi might cause another problem.

This Southwell Family was really something she had to worry about. If it weren't for the money and Shane treating her well, Cari would have quit long ago.

She couldn't get the funds transferred even until midnight, and Cameron Southwell scolded her for hours.

"You don't know? What are you even doing that you don't know?" Lady Yi couldn't stand people fobbing her off; hearing Cari's words, she flew into a rage.

Ring, ring, ring~~~

It was Cari's phone ringing, like clutching a life-saving straw, she quickly nodded at Lady Yi, apologetically, "Lady Yi, I'll take a call, it's about work."

With that, she covered the phone and hurried outside, hearing a wail from inside as she exited the ward.

"Oh, my son~ how could you be bullied like this!"

This cry made Cari think Shane Southwell had passed on, time to order a coffin.

"Hello, Little Zhang." Cari answered the phone in the hospital corridor.

Little Zhang: "Sister Cari, there's bad news, check the headlines quickly."

"Alright!" Cari's heart sank; what could be worse than Roland's breach of contract and two artists being kicked out by the crew?

Shock! The long-missing national husband Shane Southwell violently attacked a staff member in a café!

Seeing this headline, Cari knew she was busy again, another wave when the previous hasn't ended.

But it was a small matter, as Shane Southwell had been overshadowed by a celebrity named Yates Zander recently.

There hadn't been any paparazzi following him for a long time.

Plus, the video wasn't clear, very haphazardly shot, and the surveillance was far away, making the footage even blurrier.

In this case, she had a way.

She had previously shot some backup material for Shane Southwell, which could come in handy now.

Cari drafted a message and sent it to Little Zhang.

Solemn Statement

At 5:20 PM on August 2, 2019, a netizen maliciously fabricated and publicly spread a false video claiming "Mr. Shane Southwell attacked a staff member in a café."

This untrue message spread, causing Mr. Shane Southwell to suffer doubt and misunderstanding from all sides, with extremely negative impacts.

In response, Roland Group stated: Regarding this malicious slander incident, Roland Group has hired Moran Law Firm in North City to seriously handle it and pursue legal accountability!

South City Roland Entertainment Management Co., Ltd.

Writing these things was easy for Cari. After spreading it through internet trolls, at the same time releasing a fake surveillance video where Shane Southwell got injured saving a kitten by the riverbank, the matter would be settled.

After arranging everything, Cari opened the ward door to find Shane Southwell now completely stunned.

"Oh, my son~"

...

―――South City, Roland Group.

This breach of contract incident prompted Roland to convene an emergency shareholders' meeting.

Sitting at the head, Cameron Southwell wore a worried expression, saying nothing, just listening to the shareholders arguing.

Then, among the other shareholders, the one with the largest share, Matthew Lee, looked at Cameron and questioned, "President, wasn't this matter originally handed to the deputy director? He assured us everything was in place. Now that it's this way, we need an explanation."

"What exactly happened here, the deputy director should give us a proper explanation!" another shareholder said coldly.

Cameron Southwell finally began to speak: "Everyone, the deputy director is young and inexperienced, which led to this loss. Therefore, the penalty will be paid from my personal account."

"What do you mean by that?" one person asked.

"President, if you don't give us a clear explanation, we'll proceed with legal action." Matthew Lee's expression was solemn, not appearing to be joking.

Cameron's brow tensed; if they proceeded legally, Shane Southwell might end up in jail.

These shareholders, who usually talked fairly, were now cornering him.

Left with no choice, Cameron said, "Everyone, please be patient. Within three days, I'll thoroughly investigate and give you an explanation."

Cameron spoke calmly, although inside he was furious. This three-day promise was just to buy time.

These old foxes were now biting him and wouldn't let go for even a second. Their righteous words were all for their own benefits.

After the meeting adjourned, his assistant anxiously looked at Cameron, asking, "President, what should we do now?"

"How could I have such a son!" Cameron slammed the table, wishing he could drag Shane and whip him with a belt right then and there.