Chapter 31: Chapter 31: You Can’t Keep This Kind of Person Around
The photoshoot went exceptionally smoothly. It was rare to encounter such a talented newcomer, so the photographer couldn’t help but take a few extra sets of photos. Even the agent, who was in a hurry, didn’t stop them.
It wasn’t until the photography assistant raised a hand to signal they were done that Lily Sterling snapped out of her performance. She bowed to the crew and thanked them, "Thank you for all your hard work!"
Then she turned and ran to Hannah Warner, her pretty face flushed. At that moment, her heart began to pound uncontrollably.
’This was the first time in her life she’d had such intimate contact with the opposite sex—an arm around her waist, bodies pressed close, a chin lift, a deep, soulful gaze. Thankfully, her belief in the role was strong enough that she completely became "Flora" while doing all of it.’
It was only after she stepped out of character that she couldn’t stop her cheeks from burning.
Hannah Warner’s eyes were sparkling, and she was so excited she was on the verge of tears. "Oh my god, honey, the chemistry is off the charts! The show hasn’t even started filming, and I’m already shipping you two. Thanks for letting me come and witness this today."
"How was it? Did it look okay?" Lily Sterling asked in a low voice.
Hannah Warner nodded furiously. It was more than just okay—the two of them were basically Flora and Evan in the flesh.
"The way the photographer was looking at you, his eyes were practically shining."
Hearing Hannah Warner say that, Lily Sterling couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief. It was her first time doing a promotional photoshoot, and with no experience, she had relied entirely on her own instincts.
Meanwhile, Andrew Sutton had already been led away to have his makeup removed. Just then, the sharp, capable-looking female agent strode quickly over to Lily Sterling’s side.
"You’re Lily Sterling, right?"
Lily Sterling was taken aback but quickly nodded. "Hello, ma’am."
"Let me introduce myself. I’m Iris Underwood, an agent with Dawnbreaker Entertainment. Here’s my card."
As she spoke, Iris Underwood handed over a red business card.
Lily Sterling took it and smiled apologetically. "I’m sorry, ma’am. I don’t have a business card."
"That’s all right. You’re a newcomer, aren’t you?" Iris Underwood asked.
"Yes, I’m a freshman at The Film Academy. This is my first role."
Iris Underwood’s eyes gleamed, her admiration undisguised. "You’re very talented. If you haven’t signed with an agency yet, I’d like to talk with you."
Hearing this, Hannah Warner, who was standing nearby, wanted to scream for Lily Sterling and instinctively clapped a hand over her own mouth. "Mmph—"
’I’m not even officially in the business yet, and an agent from an agency is already approaching me to sign a contract?’ Lily Sterling was, of course, flattered and amazed.
"You can think it over, or go back and ask your professors at school. It’s much easier for a newcomer to have an agency’s support. If you’re willing to join us, I can personally manage you."
With that, Iris Underwood glanced at the time. "I have to go now. Contact me when you’ve made a decision."
Lily Sterling nodded vigorously, her eyes turning red with emotion as she watched Iris Underwood leave.
"Oh my god, Lily Sterling, you’re a miracle worker," Hannah Warner said, grabbing Lily Sterling’s hands, her own voice trembling with excitement. "You’re going to make it big. You’re absolutely going to be famous!"
Lily Sterling had been a little lost after just starting her acting studies at the university, but now, clutching Iris Underwood’s business card, she saw hope for her future and her dreams.
「Ashford Goldgate Men’s Private Hospital.」
Inpatient Ward, VIP private room.
Shawn Lane was propped up in his hospital bed, a look of utter despair on his face. Two days had passed, and the area where Cecilia Sterling had dealt the heavy blow was still throbbing with a dull ache.
The door to his room swung open, and a female doctor in a white coat walked in, holding a medical chart.
Shawn Lane snapped back to his senses and realized it was a female doctor. He instinctively glanced behind her. "Where’s Dr. Sanders?"
"Dr. Sanders is seeing patients in the clinic. From now on, I’ll be in charge of your daily condition monitoring." The female doctor didn’t look very old, maybe twenty-seven or twenty-eight.
She walked to the bedside and gestured with her chin. "Drop your pants. I need to take a look."
Shawn Lane’s eyes widened abruptly, his face twisting into an expression of extreme resistance.
’Are you kidding me? He was a virile twenty-year-old man. He was supposed to drop his pants in front of a woman for an inspection?’
’Ever since he’d grown up, not even his mother had seen *that place*. Only Cecilia Sterling had!’
Seeing his expression, the female doctor frowned impatiently. "What’s a big guy like you so shy about? There’s no gender in front of a doctor. Hurry up and let me see."
"No way. Get Dr. Sanders, or any other male doctor." Shawn Lane clutched the waistband of his hospital pants, his attitude resolute, as if protecting his last shred of dignity.
The female doctor obviously wasn’t going to forcibly pull down a patient’s pants. She could only sigh and ask, "Well, does it still hurt?"
Shawn Lane nodded. "A little. It’s a dull ache."
"Is it swollen?"
Shawn Lane hesitated. "Turn around first."
The female doctor rolled her eyes in exasperation and turned to face the window. In the reflection on the glass, she saw Shawn Lane lift his pants to look down and inspect himself.
"It doesn’t seem to be swollen," Shawn Lane said.
The doctor turned back around, jotting down the results in the chart as she spoke. "The scans didn’t show any major issues, but if the pain doesn’t subside in three days, you’ll need further tests. I’ll be back tomorrow."
Hearing that, Shawn Lane panicked. "Wait, Doctor, what do you mean, ’further tests’? I’m not going to be..."
"No," the doctor said, not wanting to frighten him. "The reproductive organs aren’t as fragile as you think, but external trauma can cause internal inflammation, so we still need to keep it under observation."
The doctor’s words allowed Shawn Lane to let out a sigh of relief.
Just then, Mrs. Lane entered the room carrying nutritional supplements, with Beatrice Lynn trailing behind her.
The moment he saw Beatrice Lynn, the anger in Shawn Lane’s chest flared up. If it weren’t for her, he wouldn’t be lying here today, and he certainly wouldn’t have had such a huge misunderstanding and conflict with Cecilia Sterling.
"What are you doing here?" Shawn Lane glared at her, his voice sharp with displeasure.
"Why can’t she be here?" Mrs. Lane’s expression was grim. She casually dropped the supplements on the table and looked at Shawn Lane. "That Cecilia Sterling did this to you. Don’t you dare take your misplaced anger out on Beatrice!"
Shawn Lane’s expression froze at her words. He then whipped his head around to yell at Beatrice Lynn, "Why are you always involved? Who told you to tell my mom?!"
Beatrice Lynn immediately burst into tears from his harsh tone, looking at Shawn Lane with a mix of anger and hurt. "Shawn, you’re only lying here because of Cecilia Sterling! How can you still be defending her at a time like this? What kind of spell has she put on you?"
"I’ll say it again, my business with Cecilia Sterling is none of your concern!"
"Shawn!" Seeing her son was still so obstinate, Mrs. Lane slammed her hand on the table in anger. "Why are you yelling at Beatrice? That Cecilia Sterling claimed over and over that she agreed to break up with you, but now she’s still tangled up with you. I really underestimated that girl. To think she has the means to make you so devoted to her."
"This afternoon, I’m taking your medical report to your university’s president. You can’t have someone like that around you. She has to leave Lorcain Tech, leave Lorcain!"
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