Chapter 624: Chapter 624: Is It Really That Good?
Some events occurred so long ago that she could hardly recall them if not prompted by others.
Had those people been willing to leave her alone, she’d have been content to give them a bit more time to walk the path to their destruction.
The night was profoundly dark.
Though the sky was devoid of any clouds, moonlight of pure brilliance fell like the white body of a beautiful woman, spreading a chilly glow like white frost that provoked a cold sensation.
Only after standing on the balcony for a long time did Hannah pull her coat tight around her and return to her room.
*
Hannah spent two days at home resting, all the while Louis Snyder since waited at the doorstep until the second night before finally leaving.
His growth trajectory was positive. While he wasn’t as popular as Hannah and Hayes Edwards, he did garner a fan base of his own.
Especially after the airing of the show where he co-starred with Hayes, Louis’s acting skills were praised sky-high, presumably owing to having Hayes in the leading role.
He was good-looking and always conveyed a gentle and harmless sense of youth, which earned him considerable popularity among young girls. Some even started comparing him to Jackie Qualls and started calling him "Little Jackie".
This new title, for a beginner in the industry, could be seen as a form of praise - at least it indicated that the general public recognized his acting skills.
Lately, Louis had been trying to terminate his contract with his former agency. A promising talent management company decided to take him on board and paid his breach of contract penalty on his behalf.
The company quickly assembled a new team of agents for Louis. While he was far from becoming a superstar, it was a significant improvement compared to the support he had previously.
The newly assigned agent, Brother Davis, was fairly satisfied with Louis - he was well-behaved, good at acting, and showed promise for the future.
Upon Louis’s return to his hotel, he stared vacantly into the empty room. His cellphone screen happened to be displaying news of the rumored relationship between Jackie and Hannah.
Though the click rate was not as high as two days ago, Donna Ward was still among the top five trending topics, along with many related discussions.
Ironically, the article that had bestowed upon him the title "Little Jackie" was also trending, irritatingly visible.
The young man’s face grew gradually gloomier.
Brother Davis happened to come by for some business and, assuming Louis was bothered by the "Little Jackie" matter, gave him some advice: "Don’t overthink it. You’ve just started to gain some recognition. Being linked with an award-winning actor serves as praise from others. Hurrying to disassociate yourself will only backfire."
Louis didn’t react. Instead, he hugged his knees, buried his face in his arms, and spoke in a comparatively weak voice, borne out of subtle restraint and endurance: "Brother Davis, is Jackie really that great?"
Brother Davis furrowed his brows and pondered earnestly: "Jackie is just twenty-six this year. Given the norms of our industry, his achievements at this age are indeed impressive. Although his popularity over the years has slightly dipped, it hasn’t changed much. Furthermore, for established actors like him who have won awards, popularity is simply icing on the cake."
Louis remained silent. His expression was obscured by his bowed head, leaving only a messy mop of black hair visible.
Unaware of Louis’s discomfort, Brother Davis continued: "If you don’t believe it, just consider the recent rumors involving Jackie and Hannah Winter. Despite Jackie being less trendy over the years, considering his national fame, most people are more inclined to believe that Hannah is trying to hitch a ride on his popularity. These days, the popularity of pop idols rests solely on the support from their fans. Apart from their own circle, who else recognizes them?"
