Free Web NovelChapter 73: Chapter 72
The lead actress and the famous visiting photographer were both sitting here, so everyone else naturally treated this as the main table.
In no time, the director, the lead actor, the producer, and other important members of the crew all came and sat down.
Joanna Kennedy, who had just wanted to eat in peace: "..."
’Thomas Warren, that punk, must be here to jinx me.’
This certain someone, oblivious to being silently resented, kept tactlessly trying to make conversation, leaning in so close his face was practically in Joanna Kennedy’s.
"Why did you suddenly drop out of school back then? I called and texted you, but you never responded. I looked for you for a long time. Where were you hiding?"
Joanna Kennedy hadn’t expected Thomas Warren to have looked for her, too. She vaguely recalled a strange number that kept sending her messages back then. They always started with a sarcastic "Miss Kennedy." She’d found it annoying and blocked the number immediately. She never imagined it had been Thomas Warren.
"What did you want with me?" Joanna Kennedy picked up a strip of lotus root and bit into it with a loud CRUNCH.
Thomas Warren smirked sleazily and lowered his voice. "Classmates for a day, classmates for life."
’Ptooey. Disgusting.’
Joanna Kennedy rolled her eyes. "Thanks, but it was only for half a day."
Thomas Warren went with it smoothly. "You remember it so clearly. Looks like you miss our youth together too."
Joanna Kennedy: "..."
’What the hell is this "our youth" crap?’
She turned her head, speechless, to look at the man with the handsome, unrestrained smile. A curse was on the tip of her tongue, but she forced it back down.
’Patience is silver, endurance is gold.’
The others at the table were all chatting, and not many noticed the strange atmosphere between the two of them—except for Shirley Shepherd, who had been secretly watching Thomas Warren.
Brian Lynch placed some vegetables on Shirley Shepherd’s plate. Noticing a camera capturing them from a distance, he made his smile even more dashing and asked in a low voice, "What are you looking at?"
Creating some romantic behind-the-scenes moments during filming to make it easier to ship the couple when the show aired was an unspoken rule.
Shirley Shepherd tore her gaze away, trying her best to look happy. She poked at a few green vegetables with her chopsticks, but her tone couldn’t hide her disappointment. "Nothing..."
They hadn’t been eating for long when people started making toasts and some began to smoke. Thomas Warren took a call and stepped out, and a moment later, Shirley Shepherd followed him.
The air was thick with smoke and smelled awful. Joanna Kennedy frowned. With Thomas Warren no longer pestering her, she decided to step out for some fresh air.
Outside the third-floor hall was a connecting balcony. From there, you could hear the thumping music from the second-floor bar and see the night view of the first-floor garden.
Behind the rockery, Thomas Warren impatiently flung Shirley Shepherd’s hand away. Joanna didn’t know what Shirley said, but she then saw him suddenly grab Shirley by the neck.
Joanna Kennedy’s brows knitted tightly.
They were too far away for her to see the expressions on their faces. She figured they must have been arguing about something, but no matter the argument, she never expected Thomas Warren to get physical.
Her impression of this "punk" had always been that he was overly enthusiastic, wild, and unrestrained.
She had no interest in prying into others’ business. She turned and went back into the hall. A moment later, Thomas Warren also returned.
Joanna Kennedy glanced behind him. There was no one there.
Thomas Warren noticed her gaze and curled his lip into a smirk. "Shirley Shepherd went back."
Joanna Kennedy frowned.
Thomas Warren deliberately moved closer to her and blew a light breath in her direction. Joanna Kennedy dodged in disgust as she heard him say, "I know you saw everything just now..."
"Don’t get the wrong idea. I have nothing to do with her."
"You don’t need to tell me," Joanna Kennedy said, her face cold.
Thomas Warren was still smiling. "I was just afraid you’d get jealous."
If Joanna Kennedy had been indifferent to him before, she was now starting to feel disgusted after witnessing that scene.
"Have some shame," she said impatiently.
Thomas Warren let out a low laugh, the playful interest in his eyes completely unconcealed.
「The next day」
Filming began. Thomas Warren was gone, and Shirley Shepherd arrived late. Joanna Kennedy’s gaze subconsciously drifted to her neck. It was clean and fair, with no marks, or perhaps they were covered up by foundation.
It was a scene between the male and female leads. For the third time, Director Miller yelled "Cut!" Even the crew could tell that Shirley Shepherd wasn’t in good form today.
Director Miller chuckled, not at all angry. "Let’s shoot the next scene first. Shirley, go take a break. We’ll film this again later."
"I’m sorry, Director Miller..." Shirley Shepherd was mortified, her face flushing red.
Director Miller waved his hand, telling her it was fine.
The next scene happened to be Joanna Kennedy’s. After she finished filming, she hesitated for a moment before grabbing a bottle of mineral water and walking toward a sun umbrella.
They were filming a Republican-era drama. Shirley Shepherd, dressed in a simple and elegant qipao, was sitting on a stool in a daze.
Joanna Kennedy handed her the mineral water. Shirley Shepherd finally noticed her, smiled, and took the water. "Oh, thanks."
She tried to twist the cap and realized it had already been loosened. Shirley Shepherd paused, a complex feeling welling up inside her.
"You don’t have to worry. I’m not going to hold anything against you because of... Thomas Warren," Shirley Shepherd said.
Joanna Kennedy was surprised by her directness, but also found it amusing. "I wasn’t worried about that. What makes you think so?"
"Then why did you..."
"You just looked like you were in a bad mood, so I came to check on you. Besides, we still have a scene together today," Joanna Kennedy said. "I only met him once, and that was many years ago. If you were going to hold a grudge against me over him, you’d have to be a real fool."
"Pfft." Shirley Shepherd couldn’t help but let out a laugh, and her gloomy mood lightened considerably. "Don’t worry, I’ll get myself together soon. I won’t keep you from clocking out on time."
Joanna Kennedy raised an eyebrow.
’This is the best possible outcome. It avoids unnecessary trouble.’
During the break, Joanna Kennedy held a small fan to her face. Shirley Shepherd watched her for a moment and thought that maybe the rumors weren’t credible after all.
Before filming started, Shirley Shepherd had heard that Joanna Kennedy had been shoehorned into the cast by her financial backers. From the director’s attitude toward her, it was also clear that Joanna definitely had someone powerful supporting her.
But after spending time with her, she found that Joanna Kennedy was serious, a good actress, and didn’t cause drama or try to steal the spotlight.
She couldn’t help but pat Joanna Kennedy’s leg. "From now on, we’re good friends."
Joanna Kennedy was taken aback for a second, then her eyes curved into a smile as she readily agreed. "Alright."
Brian Lynch, who was nearby, leaned in. "What are you talking about? Making friends without me?"
"You’re included, you’re included..." Shirley Shepherd said perfunctorily.
Amid the laughter, she pulled out her phone in a flurry, opened the camera, and even dragged the quiet Todd Crowe from the side into a group photo.
"Everyone has to post this on Weibo, okay?" Brian Lynch said.
Joanna Kennedy took out her phone, opened Weibo, and after refreshing, she saw the posts that Brian Lynch and Shirley Shepherd had just made.
Brian Lynch: Thanks to Shirley for helping me make friends. So happy. [Group Photo]
Shirley Shepherd: Hahaha, a friendship pact has been forged. [Group Photo] fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
Brian Lynch’s caption was ambiguous, clearly meant for the fans who shipped them as a couple. But Shirley Shepherd’s "friendship pact" directly refuted any romantic relationship between them.
Joanna Kennedy thought for a moment and decided it was best to keep things conventional. She reposted Shirley Shepherd’s Weibo post with the caption: Endorsed.
Todd Crowe immediately followed by reposting her post, with an even simpler caption: two thumbs-up emojis.
