Asher’s Weibo post was essentially an acknowledgment that he had assigned the role of the second female lead to Elisa. Asher’s reputation within the industry wasn’t great; he was as stubborn as an ox and not particularly smooth in his dealings, once he decided on something, no one could change his mind.
His fans were perplexed by his recent behavior. Drama fans, haters, novel fans, and Filippa’s supporters all changed their profile pictures to “Jointly Resist Elisa.” This was the first large-scale boycott of a female artist in the entertainment industry in recent years.
However, for Elisa, this was neither here nor there. Could they really harm her through a computer screen?
As for the response in the trending topic #Ariadne, it was because Ariadne posted that she had seen Elisa during the audition, so the rumor about Elisa auditioning for the role in “Revenge and Love” had become true. How could Elisa, who was originally auditioning for the third female lead, end up taking Filippa’s role as the second female lead? It was said that auditions typically lasted no more than 20 minutes, yet Elisa took over 40 minutes alone. This naturally led to all sorts of speculations.
Elisa wasn’t involved with just the director, but also with the entire production team. She opened some comments and, despite her strong will, was disgusted. After finishing breakfast, she sent an apology message on Facebook to Mr. Kentala.
“Sorry for putting you in a difficult position.”
Asher quickly responded to her message.
“Were you up this early? Or did you not sleep at all? Don’t worry about the trending topics on Twitter; they are just minor scenes. But for you, I’ve staked my reputation for the next half of my life. You better make it worth my while.”
Elisa couldn’t help but smile. She never liked to shirk responsibility. Whenever trouble arose, she dealt with it.
“Mr. Kentala, I signed up for the ‘Weekend Show’ variety show.”
“Okay. Do I need to inform the director over there?”
“No need for you to say anything. They will also seize this opportunity for publicity.”
Indeed, Elisa alone sparked six trending topics due to the questioning of her acting abilities. If she signed up for the “Weekend Show,” it would surely cause a sensation. The production team wouldn’t miss the chance to trend.
At noon, Thomas called Elisa. “The production team has agreed to your participation. Come to the company in the afternoon to sign the contract.”
“Okay, I got it.” Elisa no longer needed to be polite with Thomas. After she finished speaking, she hung up.
Thomas stared at his phone, alone and frustrated. Elisa’s acting skills were undeniable. Maybe her participation in the variety show would significantly improve her reputation.
There had been no good news recently, just a string of bad ones, making him feel increasingly disheartened. Thomas clenched his phone tightly: “Elisa, you better not give me any leverage against you, or I’ll ruin you.”
Unfortunately, luck was always on Elisa’s side. All he could do was curse her silently for potentially ruining her chance on the day of the show.
“Weekend Show” was the first domestic competitive variety show created by XX Video, focusing on the entire process of the film and television industry from casting to the finished product. The show aimed to discover and cultivate talented actors who were dedicated to creating quality works.
The show had four mentors: Louis, Amelia, Roman, and Elowen, who provided a real platform for talented actors to hone their skills. Each aspiring actor had the opportunity to impress the mentors with their abilities and win a chance to collaborate with them.
The show publicly announced Louis as one of the mentors. Initially, not many people paid attention to the variety show, but with Louis joining, it gained widespread attention on Twitter.
Even before the show aired, it trended several times. However, the buzz escalated when gossip leaked that Elisa would join, instantly boosting the show’s popularity.
“Damn, Elisa is causing trouble again. First in the TV drama, now in the variety show. I really don’t want to see her!”
“Has this lady struck it rich lately? She’s been trending first for a while.”
“I’m not expecting anything now. I just hope Louis doesn’t even look at Elisa. I’m afraid she’ll taint the eyes of the acting god.”
“What kind of actress is Elisa? She’s just a drama queen. Can she act? The program team must be crazy to invite her.”
“If she competes, I’ll live stream myself eating two pounds of s***!”
“I’ve taken a screenshot.”
…
Elisa had already turned off her Twitter notifications. The production team informed her that the recording location would be in Bankshire and asked her to prepare in advance.
Elisa didn’t have much luggage; the production team had arranged her stay at the hotel, so she only needed to bring three or four sets of clothes for changing. Bankshire was a place she had lived in for over twenty years, so she was quite familiar with it and could easily buy anything she needed.
With the weather turning cooler recently, the flu had become more prevalent. Elisa went to the pharmacy downstairs and bought several bags of masks as a precaution. She also prepared some cold medicine. Fortunately, it was summer, and the weather was warm, so her clothes were light, and everything fit perfectly in her 24-inch suitcase.
Elisa had booked a first-class ticket for Friday afternoon at 5 o’clock. She arrived at the airport an hour early, still wearing a plain face with only a mask on. At the security checkpoint, she had to remove her mask. The staff unconsciously glanced at her name a few more times. Recently, the name “Elisa” had been trending, and it was hard to ignore. However, the person in front of them seemed to be a different Elisa from the heavily made-up celebrity on the trending topics, and she was much more attractive.
Once inside, Elisa put her mask back on and waited in the lounge for over ten minutes until the announcement for boarding. There were only four people in the first-class cabin, including Elisa. She found her seat and asked a flight attendant for a glass of warm water and a blanket.
The flight from Chiwood to Bankshire would take at most three hours, so she would arrive around 8 o’clock.
Using the priority lane, Elisa was the first to board the first-class cabin. After lying down for a while, she took out her phone and checked Twitter. Her name was still trending, alongside #WeekendShow and #Louis. She absentmindedly clicked into Louis’ trending topic, which was about his recent schedule.
“Today, Louis is flying from Chiwood to Bankshire to record ‘Weekend Show.'”
Before she could react, she heard a commotion behind her and, glancing back, her gaze locked onto something unexpected.
…
Louis’ schedule had always been very secretive. Fans only knew he was flying to Bankshire today but didn’t know the specific time. Yet, even with this limited information, it still caused quite a stir. Fans were waiting at the airport even before dawn. Unfortunately, Louis was adept at disguising himself and had boarded the plane through the priority lane without attracting any attention.
He didn’t like traveling with a large entourage; only his manager accompanied him. Louis had entered the entertainment industry just two and a half years ago and immediately achieved great success with his debut film, gaining numerous fans with his exceptional acting skills and handsome looks. While other stars were still struggling to hone their acting skills at the beginning of their careers, Louis had already reached the peak of his. Within just two years, he had starred in three films, all of which had received ratings of 8. 8 or higher.
When people assumed he relied solely on his looks, he proved them wrong by showcasing his outstanding talent. A reputation had formed that “Louis’ appearance guarantees quality.” His first low-budget film grossed $2 billion, the second, riding on the success of the first, grossed $4 billion, and his latest release had already reached $5 billion with the box office still climbing, dominating the summer season.
His family background remained a mystery, and the more it remained undisclosed, the stronger the speculation about its grandeur. It was rumored that if he ever failed in the entertainment industry, he could return home to inherit a multimillion-dollar fortune as a scion of a wealthy family.
Louis, a man of extraordinary talent and seemingly destined for greatness, was the kind of protagonist one would find in a novel. His agent scurried to take a seat behind him and began, “White, Mr. Riggie has been preparing for a new movie. He even approached me last night, reserving the lead role for you. After glancing at the script, I found it quite impressive, and the pay is quite substantial. Would you like to take a look?”
“What genre is it?” Louis inquired.
“Xianxia,” the agent replied.
“I’ll pass,” Louis stated firmly.
“Why not?” the agent asked, puzzled.
“Domestic xianxia scripts are fine, but the special effects are subpar. The end product ends up looking like a PowerPoint presentation. Besides, Mr. Riggie isn’t suited for xianxia,” Louis explained.
This was a common critique in the domestic film industry. All the money went to hiring actors, leaving only a small portion for investment. With the major expenses allocated elsewhere, what little money remained couldn’t produce decent special effects. It was all a half-hearted effort, ultimately exploiting the fans’ affections.
“Are you saying it’s unsuitable without even giving it a chance? Mr. Riggie is in the spotlight this year, having recently won an award. Many are eager to collaborate with him. Do you even know how much the film’s producers are offering?” the agent asked, holding up three fingers.
Louis sneered, “I’ve seen Mr. Riggie’s films. They are too rigid, relying solely on the contrast with his peers to win awards. You should stop advocating for him. When it comes to accepting film roles, I, Louis, never consider the pay.”
The agent sighed in frustration, “Half the year has already passed. If you don’t take on any projects soon, you won’t have any films released next year. Do you want your fans to wait for one or two years with nothing from you?”
It would be false not to complain. Which agent wouldn’t prefer to have a compliant artist? Louis’s high pay brought the agent a substantial commission.
Other agents envied him for having such a lucrative client, but only Louis knew that he was merely a messenger. He couldn’t influence Louis’s thoughts, and he fared worse than Louis’s assistants.
Muttering to himself, the agent said, “I don’t know why you bother with those variety shows. It’s a waste of time.”
In the entertainment industry, there existed a hierarchy of discrimination; stage actors looked down on film actors, film actors looked down on TV drama actors, and TV drama actors looked down on variety show celebrities.
Louis raised his eyes, casting a fleeting glance at the agent. His lips curled into what seemed like a smile, but inexplicably carried a sense of menace. The agent instantly fell silent and sat up straight, as if on pins and needles.
Louis was not accustomed to having his life controlled by others, yet he found himself tightly under the thumb of the White family.