Chapter 537: Chapter 537: Making Comparisons
The moonlight seemed capable of illuminating the minute dust particles in the air, but it could never penetrate the human heart.
Jackie Qualls let out a bitter smile, retracting his hand to rest loosely at his side, feeling somewhat drained.
"I..."
He was interrupted by sudden footsteps.
The girls casually gossiping were startled by the sight of two people within the stairwell.
In the moonlight, the man’s usually warm gaze was veiled with a hint of chill.
"Mr.Qualls... why are you here?"
The girls looked at each other in confusion, unsure whether to stay or go.
Who would guess that they would run into the Best Actor Qualls and...while going out for a late-night snack?
Jackie turned his body, effectively blocking the curiosity-filled stares, revealing only a slender figure.
Maybe...it was a girl?
Once the people left, the stairwell once again regained its quietude.
Turning his head, Jackie saw the girl smiling at him, her bright and captivating eyes sparkling with an innocent charm.
"Mr. Qualls, may I leave now?"
She waved, laughing.
*
Early the next day, whispers started circulating the crew - someone had reportedly seen Qualls in a secret meeting in the stairwell the previous night.
The gossip fell on Tiffany Lynch’s ears. Knowing that Tiffany knew Jackie from before, some people approached her for information.
Inwardly, Tiffany was certain that the person was Hannah Winter and felt fury rising. But she answered their questions with a shy smile, her voice coy.
"Actually, Jackie and I have indeed known each other for quite a while, but it’s not what you all think."
Her words were somewhat vague, but everyone took it as confirmation that it was Tiffany with Jackie that night, even speculating that Tiffany was invited to join the crew under Jackie’s recommendation.
There was no shortage of those who were envious, and they began to flatter Tiffany even more.
But there are things you can deceive others with, yet they merely leave you uncomfortable.
As a result, she was quite distracted during the day’s shooting and got scolded by the director several times.
Her agent could only advise her, "You chose to take on this script yourself. Since you’re already here, regardless of what’s happening, try to cooperate more. At the very least, keep people from laughing at you."
Unable to stand the heat, Tiffany swiftly retreated to the break room, "Can’t I be any more cooperative? I’ve been acting all scenes myself, close-ups and long shots, with no substitutes. How come everyone only praises Hannah Winter!"
Following behind, her agent could only shake his head, "But Hannah Winter’s acting ..."
"What about her acting?" Tiffany turned around abruptly, her eyes sharp as knives, "Do you also think that Hannah Winter’s acting is better than mine?"
She had already endured enough. Ever since the group’s formation night, she couldn’t escape Hannah’s shadow no matter where she went.
Everyone compared her to Hannah, always saying how she paled in comparison, and how everything she had was snatched from Hannah.
Especially when the production officially announced her as the leading actress, people compared it to the earlier announcement of Hannah’s casting, the situations forming a stark contrast.
Jeers and mockery!
All were jeers and mockery!
Seeing Tiffany like this, her agent hurriedly closed the break room door, "I’m your agent so I’ll naturally side with you. But just because I think you’re a good actress doesn’t mean the director will agree!"
After speaking, she looked at Tiffany again, "Hannah Winter took leave today. Use this opportunity to shine. With your past credential as a child star and a little bit of persona branding by marketing accounts, there’s still a chance to outshine Hannah."
