hapter 83
The silence followed Merryâs outburst eerie.
Cordelia looked on, completely baffled, wondering what Merry was rambling about.
Even Bland, usually so composed, seemed stunned. His expression was frozen, and the mole under his seemed to betray his surprise. After a fiveâsecond pause, as Merry started to regret her words, Bland smiled. âOr, you want to help me with that?â
Cordelia was speechless.
Merryâs eyes widened in shock, her mind screaming. âOh my god! Oh my god, my idol noticed me. My idol spoke to mellâ She was flustered and stuttered, âI, I, I canât help you!â
Cordelia gave up on her, sidestepping into the restroom and leaving the two alone.
Bland eyed Merry. âNot going â
Merry gazed at him dreamily. âI can hold it!â
She didnât care about the bathroom! Going to the restroom was nothing compared to staring at her idol,
Bland finally couldnât keep a straight face, and his lips twitched. âGo on. Donât hurt yourself holding it in.â
Oblivious to the bizarreness of the conversation, Merry blurted out, âThen, honey, are you going, â
Bland nodded. âYeah.â
Merryâs heart fluttered. âYou can do it!â
Blandâs fine features suddenly relaxed into a smile, his charm glowing in the dim light outside the restroom, âAdd my contact?â
Merry was stupefied, unable to believe that her idol had just made such a proposall
But then she saw Bland pulling out his phone, opening the app, and âOkay?
Merry felt like she was losing her mind. After adding her idol on WhatsApp, she was still in a daze as Bland tapped on his phone, raising an eyebrow. âIf you run into trouble, or if Lia has any issues, just message me.â
With that, he headed into the restroom.
Merry had lost herself. She clutched her phone, on the verge of shrieking with excitement.
She got her idolâs contact!
âSquee, Iâm dying!â
When Cordelia emerged from the restroom, she found Merry staring at her phone with a lovestruck look. almost droolâworthy.
Cordelia glanced over and saw Merry was browsing through Blandâs social feed.
As she approached, Merry snapped out of it. âWhy hasnât Bland come out yet? He couldnât possibly be having some sort of urinary issue, could he?â
Bland, who had been hiding in the restroom waiting for Cordella to leave, was bewildered.
Merry continued to speculate wildly. âOr, maybe heâs got the runs?â
Cordelia turned to leave. With Jonging eyes toward the menâs restroom, Merry hesitated before following Cordelia. âLia, do you think Bland caught a chill? Heâs been in there so long. Heâs not avoiding me, is he?â
Her voice trailed off until it was gone, and only then did Bland step out, sighing with resignation. He picked up his phone and messaged Nolnterruptions in the Pioneers Group.
On the internet, Blandâs tone was very different from in real life, soft and cute. [Boss, I must confess something Lia is incredible. She got picked by the director for a cameo in my TV show. The character she plays is just someone Iâm secretly crushing on, but sheâs always just out of reach. Boss, youâre cool with that, right?]
In the Midnight Scent, Everardâs mood darkened as saw the forum post forwarded by Calvert.
Staring at the avatar of someone in Pioneers Group, his deep eyes shimmered with a chill. Just then, ho received Blandâs message.
After reading the text, Everardâs lips curved slightly, and he leisurely typed a few words in response.
After sending the message, Bland waited anxiously for a reply. When none came, he headed toward the classroom.
Just as he reached the door, his phone buzzed.
Nolnterruptions replied, I donât mind.]
Bland felt like heâd just been granted a reprieve, but came the second message, saying. [But stay away from her.]
Bland got nervous .
About to enter the music room, Bland halted at the and then turned to leave.
His manager asked, âWhatâs wrong, Bland?â
Bland responded, âThe shootâs wrapped up. Why stick around? Letâs go!â
He felt his days would be numbered if he didnât rush to leave!
Cordelia hoisted her backpack inside the music room, her hair cascading down she hadnât a comb to tie it back. Instead, she casually pressed a white cap over her head, the soft locks spilling down her back.
The extras from the firstâyear class lingered, curious to see what would happen.
Hanley was there, too, his gaze fixed on Cordelia, not bothering to hide his intent. Suddenly, he wanted to speak, to say something as he approached, but Hanley did, Cordelia turned and walked away, ignoring him as if he didnât exist.
Her long hair brushed against his hand as she passed, leaving a silken sensation, and he stood paralyzed. realizing for the first time the gulf between them.
She was supposed to be his fiancee. Had he not betrayed her or scorned her orphanage background, she probably wouldnât have called off their engagement.
âCordelia!â called the director just as she was leaving.
She stopped and turned, .
The director explained, âThe show airs this weekend, and weâll tag you on Twitter. Hope you can retweet it
Twitter?
Cordelia nodded in acknowledgment
The director probed again, âCordelia, are you by any chance interested in showbiz? Iâve got this amazing script. and Iâm looking for a leading lady. How about giving acting a whirl?â
As Cordelia was about to decline, the director added. âI heard youâve been fast tracked to Superiority College You donât have to worry about SATS and will have plenty of free time, right? Why not consider having a bit of fun on set?
2/3
Cordelia still shook her head. Was studying not the sweetest deal? What fun was he talking about?
Puzzled, the director asked, âWhy not?â
Cordelia sighed, answering earnestly, âBecause I canât be away from my boyfriend. My heart aches if I canât see him.â
Everyone around was stunned. What kind of wild declaration that?
When Cordelia got home, Lorna approached and whispered, âWeâve found the mastermind behind leaking your story to the press!
Chapter