Jack didn’t know what to say.
Lillian had both talent and beauty, but her luck was just awful.
She was young, willing to work hard, and eager to learn-he really wanted to help her out. But being a female director in this industry was no easy feat, especially when she was tangled up with Conrad and Gordon.
“Mr. Jack, if there’s something you want to say, just go ahead and say it,” Lillian said.
“The crew’s been saying some really ugly things about you. Director Karl and the others asked me about this too. You need to lay low for a while,” Jack replied.
Lillian nodded. “I understand.”
As a student who hadn’t even officially graduated yet, getting into this major project team was already a big deal-even if she was just an assistant. People who couldn’t get in, or those with more experience than her, were bound to feel resentful.
And with Conrad and Gordon showing up around her, it was no surprise that the crew was gossiping.
Lillian followed Jack into the next shooting area, Studio 1.
To her surprise, she saw Peter.
Lillian stood expressionless in front of him, while Jack greeted Peter enthusiastically and even introduced Lillian.
Lillian couldn’t help but admire his shamelessness. After everything that had happened with Helen the day before, he still had the nerve to come over and greet her.
“Lillian, I remember you,” Peter said. “I actually joined your project team because of your invitation. I’ll do my best to cooperate with your work going forward.”
“Getting you to join was already quite unexpected,” Jack replied, not picking up on any awkwardness. In fact, it was Lillian who invited Peter, and that was why he agreed to join.
“I told you, she’s got skills-she doesn’t even let someone like Peter off the hook.”
“Not bad, Peter’s got some charm for an older guy. Can’t blame her for being well-connected. The more she sleeps around, the more doors open.”
As Lillian went to grab a bottle of water, she saw these two rolling their eyes as they walked past her.
She couldn’t even remember their names.
Her hand tightened around the bottle, and she took a deep breath, pushing the bad mood down.
There wasn’t time for her to dwell on it-shooting was tight, and she needed to focus.
“Lillian, this color’s off. How did you adjust it earlier?”
“Here comes, Director Karl.”
“Tomorrow, talk to the logistics team about this part. The lighting’s also wrong.”
“Got it, I’ll note it down.”
“This is the actors’ arrival time. Follow up on the photoshoot, and be cautious with the magazine reporters and fan accounts. Until the official announcement, don’t leak anything.”
“Understood.”
The whole crew was busy, and by the time they finished, the night had already fallen.
Lillian froze in shock when she checked her phone-it was already 8:00 PM!
Now, forget about buying beef or cooking for Conrad-if she even tried to go back and serve him dinner, he’d probably blow up.
There were still a lot of people in the crew working, so Lillian didn’t have time to say goodbye. She hurried to the door, only to find someone leaning on her car.
At first, she didn’t look closely, thinking it was Gordon.
“Why haven’t you left yet?” She pulled out her car keys and rushed, “That money tree of yours is really on its last legs. I’ll buy you a new one, but I need to get going.”
“Going back to do what?” The man’s voice sounded distant.
Lillian snapped, “What else? The dog at home is waiting for its dinner.”
As soon as she said it, she realized something was off and stiffened. She turned her neck to look at him.
The man was tall with long legs, dressed in a black hoodie, and wearing a cap. Below his high nose bridge, his thin lips curled into a mocking smile.
Lillian felt like a frog caught in the gaze of a snake. She suddenly wanted to turn and run, but the man grabbed her collar and yanked her back.
He pulled her directly into his arms.
The man leaned slightly forward, his hand holding her shoulder firmly.
“Lillian, are you trying to die? Calling me a dog, huh?!”
That damn girl… He had even gone all the way to S City for her, starting from scratch as an apprentice, just to learn how to repair her inheritance!
And now she’s calling him a dog, huh?!
Lillian opened her mouth, “I… I meant Ada! Ada!”
Conrad watched her, his eyes narrowing as she rambled on, and he grabbed her hair, messing it up. “Who did you think I was just now?”
Lillian didn’t dare to tell him the truth. “I thought you were one of our crew members.”
“Lie. Female liar.” Conrad’s gaze seemed to pierce right through her.
What crew member? She had been chatting away with Gordon earlier that afternoon. If he hadn’t come to pick her up, she probably would have forgotten she still had someone waiting at home for her.
“Didn’t recognize me just because I changed my outfit? Lillian, do you have a conscience? Did a dog eat your brain?”
Lillian let him mock her, as he dragged her into the car.
“Lillian, your car’s full of useless gimmicks, with no practicality at all.”
What kind of starry sky ceiling and pink and white interior?
No safety features at all for the car.
Lillian was speechless.
“Mr. Conrad, is it possible that not that many people actually want me dead?”
Conrad slammed the gas and quickly backed the car up. Hearing her, he turned his head to look at her. “So, you’re saying I deserve to die? That there are people who would love to see me dead?”
Lillian shut her mouth and muttered softly, “Well, it’s the truth.”
“You even care about what color I liked before? Aren’t you being a bit too controlling?”
In the past, he never knew anything about her before.
The first time he’d seen her was in that smoky, chaotic hallway.
However, she and Gordon had once attended the same school.
“Your past? I heard a lot of people loved you.” That Martin, still like an annoying fly, couldn’t forget her, even now.
Conrad felt an irrational fire spark in his chest whenever he thought of other men eyeing her, trying to steal her from him.
Lillian was speechless. “Those people don’t really know me. They only liked me because of my appearance.”
Conrad raised an eyebrow. “What, do you expect someone to figure you out at first glance? People are attracted to things or people they like, what’s so strange about that? If others can’t even be bothered to understand your face, there’s no way they’d care to understand what’s inside you.”
“A lot of people chased after me, and there are still plenty now. Mr. Conrad, didn’t you have your fair share of admirers back then?”
But after getting involved with Conrad, her phone only had his number. Even Melissa had to reach her through a different number, the one she used for work.
This man’s need for control and possessiveness had always been intense.
Lillian thought that this guy was just like the saying “Only the officials are allowed to set fires, but the common people can’t light a lamp.”
Clearly, there were suitors lining up around him, one after another, but for some reason, he was getting jealous over her teenage years.
The men who had pursued her had mostly disappeared when her family went bankrupt, and the ones who remained, the wealthier ones, either wanted to sleep with her or had other ulterior motives.
After all, aside from being the bankrupt heiress, she was carrying a huge amount of debt.
What man would want that kind of woman like her?
These men, both rational and impulsive, would naturally abandon someone when beauty and affection weren’t enough to outweigh the financial loss.
Lillian never thought she had the kind of capital to make anyone invest so much.