Free Web NovelChapter 31: Chapter 31: Perhaps Likes Repel?
Maybe he was just tired of putting on an act all the time, because Edward Pierce’s private account was completely unhinged. He dared to say anything and everything.
"I have no idea what he was thinking. He’s just some young idol from a talent show with no formal training. If the company wasn’t heavily promoting him, and if he hadn’t happened to land at the entertainment company owned by the original author’s brother, how could he have ever landed such a juicy role? But the moment he got some hype, he let it go to his head. The other day, Mr. Rhodes came to see Hector. When he saw that, he was so red-eyed with jealousy he looked like he wanted to kill someone."
Arabella looked surprised when she heard this. "So he stirred up all this trouble just because Mr. Rhodes came to see my brother and not him?"
"Exactly! I don’t know who gave him the courage to think he could even be compared to Hector. What league is he in? What league is Hector in? Even if Hector were just cameoing as a supporting character, the production would have to credit him with a ’special appearance’ in all the promotions."
The more Sheldon Webb thought about it, the angrier he got. "And he actually thought that playing the lead put him a level above Hector, that investors seeking out Hector instead of him was some kind of insult. He should take a good look at himself and ask if he’s even worthy! He’s not worthy of shit!"
"AHEM, AHEM, AHEM..." As soon as Sheldon Webb finished speaking, Hector shot him a death glare, as if to say, ’Don’t use such vulgar language. You’ll be a bad influence on my little sister.’
Sheldon Webb: "..." ’Nope, can’t mess with him.’
Arabella, however, didn’t seem to mind. "Is that all? That’s why his career crashed and burned?"
While Edward Pierce’s actions were certainly disgusting, they only proved he was petty and two-faced, a person of questionable character. There was still a slight gap between that and being completely blacklisted for a criminal offense, which is what Arabella had been expecting.
"Of course it’s not just that. Let me tell you, don’t be fooled because he looks all gentle and innocent like a little brother. His private life is an absolute mess..."
Arabella already knew Edward Pierce had a messy private life, but she didn’t know he was such a misogynistic loser, lapping up his fans’ praise while verbally tearing them down behind their backs.
"He even assigned numbers to the women he’d been with. Every time he slept with one of them, he’d write a whole essay about his ’feelings.’" Even as a fellow man, Sheldon Webb found him... beyond words. "Does he think he’s an emperor, holding a casting call for his concubines?" freeweɓnovel.cøm
Arabella was silent for a long moment before finally reaching a conclusion.
"It’s a shame Mr. Jennings never took an interest in him. They’d probably have a lot to talk about."
Sheldon Webb froze for a second, then burst out laughing. "Right? Right? One’s picking ’concubines’ and the other’s picking ’husbands.’ How come they never got together and been locked away?"
"...Perhaps like poles repel?"
Thanks to Arabella’s diversion, the mood lifted slightly for Sheldon Webb and the others. But one person couldn’t bring himself to smile.
Arabella glanced sympathetically at Grant, whose face was ashen. After a moment’s thought, she offered some comfort. "Hang in there, Grant. Actually, if you look at it from another angle, it’s not entirely a bad thing that this blew up now. At least you have a chance to salvage the situation. Besides, you haven’t been shooting for very long. If you really have to recast and reshoot, the losses will be relatively small. But if this had come out after the show was all finished, edited, and just waiting for release... now that would have been a real..."
Grant looked like he wanted to cry but had no tears left. That might be true, but the constant stream of disasters on set had already attracted the investors’ attention.
Hector’s situation before was manageable. Even though public opinion was against him at first, we knew the full story and that the tables would turn, so we could explain it to the investors.
But this time, the evidence was irrefutable. There was no way to deny it.
Just now, while Arabella was in the restroom, several investors had already called to discuss pulling their funding, adding insult to injury for the already cash-strapped production.
Grant was so worried that the few remaining hairs on his head seemed to be in mortal danger.
Hearing this, however, the assistant director seemed to think of something. He asked tentatively, "Arabella, did you... happen to know something about this beforehand?"
This reminded Grant of something, and he recalled the words Arabella had given him just a few moments ago. His eyes lit up slightly. "Dark clouds looming overhead... that’s what you meant, right? So what about ’good fortune is on its way’..."
When Arabella had said it, she hadn’t expected her casual prediction to come true so quickly. She glanced again at the dark clouds over Grant’s head, which were gradually being dispersed by purple qi and sunlight, and said uncertainly, "Don’t be too anxious yet. Maybe a benefactor will appear soon to help you turn this misfortune into good fortune?"
"Really?"
"Really... I think?"
Grant was about to press for more, but Hector had already stepped in front of his sister. "Grant, some things are better left unsaid."
Grant sheepishly pulled his hand back, a sliver of hope blooming in his heart. "Hector’s right. I was being too impatient. In any case, with what’s happened, filming will have to be suspended for now. I’ll just wait a few more days. Maybe, just as the master said, things will turn around when they hit rock bottom, and a benefactor will appear. When that happens, I’ll be sure to give you a huge red envelope."
Arabella: "..." ’That’s really not necessary.’
Because of Arabella’s words, Grant managed to recover some of his spirit, and the matter was temporarily put to rest.
On the way back, Arabella finally relaxed and had time to ponder all the things she had recently seen.
’So, that flash of light I saw on my brother’s forehead... it wasn’t my imagination?’
The hearts of the Donovan family members leaped into their throats. They too were intensely curious about this "dark qi" and "bright light" Arabella mentioned. Could it have an effect on her health?
’But why? This has never happened before. Could this be what Master meant when he said the time has come?’
At the mention of Arabella’s master, Mr. and Mrs. Donovan’s expressions became a little complicated.
The day they met Arabella at the foot of the mountain, carrying her small bundle as she descended, they had wanted to take her back up to visit the Temple Master and thank him for raising her all those years.
At the time, Arabella had mentioned that her master had sent her down the mountain to gain worldly experience. She couldn’t go back without his permission, and even if she did, she wouldn’t be able to find him.
Back then, Mr. and Mrs. Donovan had assumed the child was just spouting nonsense, her mind in turmoil from suddenly learning the truth of her birth, and they insisted on taking her up the mountain.
As a result, the family of three ran into what felt like a spirit wall. They wandered in the mountains for half a day but were completely unable to find the entrance gate.
They could clearly see the Sacred Temple just a short distance ahead, but every time they walked toward it, they would inexplicably find themselves right back where they started.
After this happened several times, the couple finally had to accept that something supernatural was at play. With complicated feelings, they left the mountain with Arabella. freёwebnovel.com
After returning to Stroven City, it wasn’t that they didn’t try to investigate the identity of the Sacred Temple’s master. But after all this time, the only thing they could find out was that the temple itself seemed to have a history of a hundred years.
As for who built it, who had lived there, who had inherited it before, or whether any worshippers ever visited for daily prayers—they knew nothing at all.
It was as if it had appeared out of thin air—isolated from the world, ethereal and elusive, making one feel that even trying to pry would be a transgression.
Now, hearing Arabella mention him again, Mr. and Mrs. Donovan exchanged a subtle glance, the same guess simultaneously forming in both their minds.
’Could it be? The master who had raised their Serena... was he truly a reclusive expert with genuine abilities?’
