Harold continued walking until they reached the studio's car park. He leaned against the side of the car Clifford was driving as he started smoking a cigarette.
The silence was unbearable for Lilia. She crossed her arms and demanded, "Okay, I've been following you. Now, what happened?"
Harold lit his cigarette before asking, "Has Louis given you the full version of the manuscript?"
Lilia nodded confidently, "He gave me the complete script yesterday. What's wrong?"
"Have you seen the contents?" Harold continued as he exhaled his cigarette smoke.
"Yes." Lilia answered firmly.
That answer shocked Harold. Who would've thought that the woman didn't stop acting after reading the full script.
"Are you still going to continue shooting this?"
Hearing that question, Lilia finally understood why Harold was so angry after reading the full script. However, Lilia smiled casually, "Why not?" Her reply was calm.
Harold was so shocked and nearly choked on his own cigarette. The man threw away his cigarette before protesting, "If you've read the script, you know how much people will hate your character in the final period of the film!"
Lilia nodded. She also had the same thoughts as Harold about this.
"Indeed, this side character is described as a perfect woman at the beginning of the story. But!" Harold confirmed, "That character will turn evil and reverse the character by one hundred and eighty degrees! And you still want to play it?!"
Instead of answering, Lilia just smiled confidently. But that smile only made Harold even more worried.
"This is your first time entering the movie industry, so I don't blame you. You don't know how dangerous this industry is. Do you know that there are actually a lot of actors with extraordinary acting skills, but they are hated by everyone?" Harold explained patiently.
"It's because they are stuck permanently with the first character they play. You also have to think about this matter carefully. What would you do if the entire virtual world hated you for the role you played?" The man tried to convince her.
Lilia was silent for a moment, as if she was thinking about this matter. Then she sighed, as if Harold was asking something stupid. Lilia stared at the man intently before asking, "Before I answer, answer my question first. What is my job?"
Harold looked at Lilia in confusion, but he answered anyway, "A model, right?"
Lilia nodded, "You're right, I am a model." She said, agreeing, "Since I am a model, if this character is hated by everyone, doesn't that mean I managed to portray the evil female character who is currently popular?"
The manager was stunned by Lilia's argument. After he thought it through, Lilia's argument sounded reasonable!
Lilia grinned when she saw Harold's expression. She continued, "I've read the entire script. When this side female character turns evil, even I hate her myself. But if I become hated by netizens because of my role, won't that prove that my acting is very convincing?"
Harold was silent listening to Lilia's words. His forehead frowned, as if he didn't want to agree to that argument, but he couldn't refute Lilia's logic.
Lilia took her cellphone out of her bag and fiddled with it for a moment. Then she showed Harold a photo of herself while attending Milan Fashion Week.
"In the end, as long as people's hatred comes from the script's plot and not from my acting skills, I have no problem with that." Lilia said nonchalantly, shrugging her shoulders. She continued, "Besides, even if it turns out that my acting skills are so bad that it makes everyone insult me, I just need to go back to modeling. You don't have to think of ways to push me into the industry yourself. What do you think, Harold?"
At this point, Harold could only keep his mouth shut. Lilia had a point too!
But the feelings of Lilia's manager were now mixed. He had taken the trouble to order the earliest plane to Jakarta to cancel this shooting contract, but his efforts were in vain!
Lilia looked at Harold's conflicted expression and laughed, "I've read the entire script and I'm sure that I can handle this role. You don't have to worry about that."
She knew that Harold was trying to cancel this contract for her own good. But Lilia had decided that she wanted to try this challenge. Whether she would succeed or fail, she could only know after she tried.
Whatever end that had been prepared for the character she played later, this side female character was just one woman in general. She was described as a woman who's trapped and blinded by love. Lilia felt sympathetic towards the character, so she was sure that she could play her well.
Harold finally let out a deep breath. He knew how stubborn Lilia was. If that woman had decided something, no one could change her mind. Well… almost nothing, to be precise. Harold secretly felt that only Jean could change Lilia's mind.
Then Harold remembered something else that made him want to cancel this shooting contract, "By the way, I should have said this earlier. I heard that William also played a role in this film. Is it true?" Harold asked.
Lilia nodded calmly, "It is true. I met him yesterday."
"Damn it!" Harold cursed in a harsh voice, "Louis didn't tell me anything about William! He must have known about your past relationship, but he kept it hidden from us on purpose!"
After grumbling at length, Harold turned his head back to Lilia.
"Lilia, think again about canceling this contract! We may have to pay compensation fees worth tens of millions of Rupiah, but our agency can afford it! You don't have to worry about that!" Harold insisted.
Lilia looked at Harold with her eyebrows raised high, "You told me to cancel this shoot just because of William Anggara? Do you think I'm that weak, Harold? Do you think I'll hide every time I see him?" Lilia's voice grew louder and louder, expressing her annoyance.
"No… that's not what I mean…" Harold frantically tried to explain, but Lilia refused to listen.
"Harold, we all have careers in the same industry! I might be able to dodge this time, but what about next time? Are you telling me to hide for the rest of my life?" Lilia crossed her arms and laughed sarcastically, "You don't sound like a manager!"
Harold glared at the model and snapped back, "You know that I didn't mean it that way. I'm just worried about you! I don't want you to be humiliated in front of everyone!"
The man was annoyed that Lilia seemed to ignore and trample his good intentions to help the model.
Lilia noticed Harold's annoyed expression, "...Sorry, I know you are worried about me." She said in a soft tone, "But I can handle this. I will not allow myself to be humiliated, be it William, Shirley, or anyone else."
"Shirley?" Harold raised his eyebrows suspiciously, "What else is there between you and Shirley Pierre, the film queen from Berlin?"
"Nothing, just ignore my words." Lilia said quickly. She put back her cell phone in her bag and tapped Harold on the shoulder, "The point is, I know you are doing all this for my good. But I'm not a professional actress. Louis also knows that, so if he tries to knock me out through this film, he's only going to destroy his own reputation."
Lilia's words distracted Harold from Shirley's troubles. Her manager then let out a long sigh. He came all the way to Jakarta determined to cancel Lilia's filming contract and take her home. But in just a few minutes, Lilia had succeeded in convincing him to cancel his intention.
Harold massaged his dizzy head. This model sometimes was so thoughtful that it felt pointless to worry about her.
In the end, Harold gave up and the two of them got into the car.. Lilia asked Clifford to take them to a restaurant that sold Peking duck dishes. She intended to calm her manager by treating him to a delicious meal!
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