Chapter 37: Chapter 37: If You Want It, Take It
’Next time?’
’Will there even be a next time?’
After Dr. Sanders left the hospital room, Shawn Lane leaned back on the bed, looking dejected. His mind began to flash back to his time with Cecilia Sterling. Her every smile and frown was etched into his memory, every detail remembered with exceptional clarity.
He tried to search his memories for his mistakes, but no matter how hard he thought, he still couldn’t figure out what unforgivable error he had committed to make Cecilia Sterling so determined to break up with him.
The more he thought, the sadder he became, and even his wound seemed to ache faintly in response. Shawn Lane sighed in frustration and lay down to go back to sleep.
After a grueling week, the freshmen’s military training was finally over. Cecilia Sterling had her sister invite a few of her roommates out for a big meal, her treat.
The place they chose was Phoenix Pavilion, a suggestion from Estelle Goodman. It was said to be a century-old establishment in Lorcain, known for its especially authentic Chinese cuisine, with dedicated head chefs for each major regional style.
In the private room, the six girls were as lively as one would expect. Aside from Lily Sterling, who was slightly more introverted, the others were all extremely outgoing. They would frequently burst into roaring laughter together, creating a boisterous scene.
"You have no idea, sis. After Lily’s role was snatched by that pay-to-play actress, Suzanne Sawyer, she was unbelievably arrogant. She deliberately flaunted it and provoked Lily several times. Anyone who didn’t know better would’ve thought *she* was playing the female lead."
As the topic shifted to Lily Sterling, Hannah Warner thought back on the recent events, still feeling indignant on Lily’s behalf.
Anna Sanders and Nina Zimmer both nodded in agreement. Nina said, "I heard her family spent five million yuan. Five million for a maid role? I don’t know what she’s so proud of. Just thinking about it, I feel like it was a huge waste of money for her."
Anna Sanders looked at Lily Sterling and said, "That Suzanne Sawyer just sees you as her imaginary rival. She looks down on you, but you’re the one who proved her wrong."
But Lily Sterling seemed a bit distracted at that moment. She paused for a second before finally cracking a smile.
"Lily, what’s wrong?" Cecilia Sterling had also noticed her sister wasn’t herself today, constantly zoning out. "Is something on your mind?"
Estelle Goodman, who had been focused on stuffing her face, heard this and looked at Lily Sterling in surprise. She put down her chopsticks and asked, "I hear filming is about to start. Are you feeling nervous?"
Seeing everyone looking at her, Lily Sterling shook her head gently, then looked at Cecilia Sterling and said, "Sis, an agent wants to sign me. I’ve been thinking about it for days but can’t make up my mind. The press conference is tomorrow, and I’ll definitely see her again. I don’t know how to answer her then."
Before Cecilia Sterling could react, Hannah Warner let out a loud gasp. "What? You haven’t given her an answer yet? I thought you’d already sealed the deal!"
Anna Sanders was also surprised. "Is there even anything to consider? She’s Andrew Sutton’s agent! Look how famous Andrew Sutton is now, and how great his opportunities are!"
Nina Zimmer, however, analyzed the situation calmly. "For students like us who are still in school, having an agency and an agent definitely has more pros than cons. It can open up a lot more opportunities."
"Agencies have tons of resources at their disposal. Where would we find those on our own? At most, we can just wait at school for casting crews to show up and pick people. If we’re lucky, we might land a small role with a few lines, and that’s already considered good."
Estelle Goodman looked at Lily Sterling, confused, and asked, "So, do *you* want to sign or not?"
"I kind of want to, but I’m also a little scared," Lily Sterling said honestly. "I want to sign because, like Nina said, I might get access to other resources. But I’m scared that once I sign, my life won’t be my own anymore. I know that in this industry, you can’t always have things your way, especially since I’m just a newcomer. But I just feel... like I’m not completely ready to have my life arranged by someone else."
"Sigh, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer!" Hannah Warner pouted with envy. "If an agency wanted to sign me right now, I’d do it in a heartbeat. I wouldn’t think twice."
Cecilia Sterling looked at her sister. She could understand her anxiety. It was normal for people to be flooded with thoughts when facing a major life choice.
Last time, she couldn’t help her sister, but this time, she could be her safety net, anytime, anywhere, regardless of the consequences.
She smiled slightly and said, "Don’t overthink it. If you want it, go for it. If you don’t, then don’t. Ask yourself what you truly want."
"But... what if I make the wrong choice?" Lily Sterling asked.
Cecilia Sterling’s smile widened. "Then you’ve made the wrong choice. Who hasn’t made a mistake before? Don’t burn yourself out worrying about things that haven’t even happened. It’s pointless."
"Your sister’s right. You’re at this stage now, so just think about this stage. Don’t worry about the future," Estelle Goodman agreed.
Lily Sterling nodded lightly. "Okay, I’ll sign then. I’ll have to sign with someone sooner or later anyway."
She seemed to have made up her mind, and her roommates all spoke up in support. After all, for an actor, signing with an agency was an inevitable step. Whether it turned out good or bad was a matter of doing one’s best and leaving the rest to fate.
The press conference for *Heavenly Destiny as Phoenix* was held the next day on the top floor of the Lorcain International Hotel. The event attracted all the major domestic media outlets. The IP’s national popularity and buzz had remained high ever since the news of its screen adaptation was released. Fans of the book were eagerly anticipating it, so much so that when the livestream for the press conference began, it attracted over a million viewers in less than five minutes.
"Final checks on the sound system, microphones, and lighting!"
"Why isn’t Yuna Sutton here yet? Get in touch with her team, now! It’s almost time. Is this really the moment to be pulling a diva act?"
"Have the host go over the questions on the teleprompter again. Make sure they don’t mispronounce any of the actors’ names. That’s a huge taboo these days."
"Stage control, in a minute, make sure everyone lines up according to their billing order, from the center outwards. Don’t mess it up, or the fans will crucify us!"
The person in charge of the press conference was running around like a headless chicken, the walkie-talkie in their hand never falling silent. The entire venue, from the front of the house to the backstage area, was a whirlwind of activity. Everyone seemed to have an endless list of things to do.
Feeling small and helpless, Lily Sterling sat in a corner backstage. To avoid being late, she had arrived two hours early, only to end up watching the chaos for two hours straight.
In addition, she saw quite a few celebrities, like Sophie Grant, Aaron Sanders, and Faith White. They all had their own teams and assistants with them. She had seen their shows before, and seeing them in person felt a little surreal.
’If I sign with an agency in the future, will I have my own team too?’ Lily Sterling couldn’t help but wonder.
Just then, the already chaotic backstage atmosphere was thrown into another noticeable commotion. She could faintly hear a staff member shouting, "Yuna Sutton’s here! Yuna Sutton is here!"
Hearing Yuna Sutton’s name, Lily Sterling’s eyes lit up. She quickly got up and ran towards the sound.
Yuna Sutton was one of the most popular young actresses in the entertainment industry today. She had the nickname "Queen of Strong Female Leads," as she exclusively starred in shows featuring powerful heroines. Her fan base was enormous and incredibly loyal.
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