David Redington’s eyes, deep as the ocean, were sprinkled with star-like dots of light.

For some reason, when Leslie Howard saw those eyes, three words flashed in her mind unconsciously—seeking praise.

"Ahem..." Leslie lowered her head and cleared her throat, "Not bad, keep it up."

"Hmm." David hummed lightly, his expression seemed indifferent from an outsider’s perspective, but Leslie had a different feeling.

She had the sense that there was a trace of unnoticeable pleasure in that light hum from the man.

The man turned a page of the script, as if rehearsing a scene with Leslie.

But what he said was—"Tonight, come up to my room, I’ll be waiting."

Leslie instantly looked up, her crystal-clear eyes flashed with a hint of astonishment: "No, we just did it last night. I’ve done everything I should, tonight I need to rest."

Clearly, she had just made a deal with him last night, and each transaction should be separate, right?

Even though she agreed to maintain such a relationship with him, she couldn’t always be at his beck and call; she needed rest too.

David’s eyes darkened: "...Alright, then have a good rest."

The man didn’t push further, nor did he force Leslie.

At this point, the topic ended, and they began seriously rehearsing the script.

This surprised Leslie.

In a certain sense, David was now her ’benefactor.’

Though not a benefactor who gave money, he provided resources and suppressed the other female lead in the same production for her.

Therefore, if he insisted, she might really have to accompany him.

But David didn’t continue to push, which made Leslie breathe a sigh of relief.

The two quickly got into their roles, and the scenes requiring both in front of the camera, which didn’t affect the plot, were shot very smoothly.

Later, Winona Wallace’s ’illness’ still hadn’t improved.

After Leslie and David finished the afternoon scenes, the evening scenes were filled in by other actors.

...

*

"Daddy... they’re all bullying me, really, especially that Leslie Howard. You know I’ve been targeted by the director and the screenwriter, and she didn’t speak up for me, but instead took the chance to shine when I went on strike. Hmm... I’ve heard that after I left, she was the one who replaced me. I’ve heard people say she slept with the screenwriter and director..."

In the hotel suite, Winona Wallace was acting coy with her father, Bruce Wallace.

On the other end of the line, Bruce Wallace’s voice came through, steady and serious: "Winona, don’t speak recklessly. No matter what, Leslie is your Auntie’s daughter; she counts as half a Wallace family member. Such rumors would only disgrace the Wallace family."

"But what people are saying is true, otherwise, why would the director and screenwriter target me and cut my scenes after our company invested so much? Daddy, you know I would never flatter such people. Leslie Howard is indiscreet, trading her body for camera time; you must punish her properly, or this incident will make the Wallace family lose face!"

Winona didn’t care much. She knew her running away from the set just now would surely bring her negative impacts.

To prevent her strike from being spread around and tarnishing her image.

The most important thing now was to find someone to take the blame and divert the netizens’ attention.

Listening to Winona’s words, Bruce Wallace’s voice was colder than before.

"Alright, I’ve got it. You focus on acting while you’re out there, and don’t worry about Leslie Howard. Regardless, I won’t let her disgrace the Wallace family."

[Backend did not update, unsure if visible? Next Chapter around 8 o’clock]