Chapter 109 - 108: All Wrong
[I support this! Couldn’t agree more!]
Someone even tagged both artists’ official fan clubs, telling them to follow each other.
.........
Joanna Kennedy was already back at her hotel when she saw the trending topic. When she saw that some netizens had created a shipping forum for "OJ," she felt as disgusted as if she’d eaten shit.
At the same time, a different kind of anxiety crept into her heart.
’Simon Lockwood won’t see this, will he?’
The man was petty and sensitive. If he saw it, he would definitely brood in silence and then, out of nowhere, find some excuse to pick on her.
Joanna Kennedy had learned this lesson the hard way too many times. She couldn’t help but worry.
’Then again,’ she thought, ’Simon Lockwood is a top CEO, making and losing hundreds of millions in minutes. How would he have time to read entertainment news? Maybe the topic will be gone from the trending list before he even sees it.’
Joanna Kennedy comforted herself with that thought.
She called her agent, and though it pained her wallet, asked if she could pay to have the topic taken off the trending list.
Her agent, Walter Young: "???"
"...Owen Jennings has a lot of ’girlfriend’ fans, but his status is high. Being associated with him has countless benefits and zero downsides."
"I don’t really want that," Joanna Kennedy said, finding the words difficult. "I still want to make it on my own."
Walter Young: "..."
He always gave his artists reasonable advice, but he also respected their decisions. "Alright, I’ll make some calls."
Joanna Kennedy breathed a sigh of relief. ’Now Simon Lockwood will never know.’
But she had breathed her sigh of relief too soon.
Inside a villa, before a dark floor-to-ceiling window, the faint glow of a phone screen illuminated a man’s face, making it look strangely cold and grim.
Simon Lockwood stared blankly at the 99+ notifications on his phone, all of them tags from other users.
Owen Jennings. The only son of Theodore Jennings, the current director of Aethelburg’s Bureau of Education, and the younger cousin of Charles Jennings of the Jennings Company.
Another message came in. Simon Lockwood closed the app and opened his texts.
The message was an image: a full page of math problems, covered in writing.
Joanie: [Simon Lockwood, I’m all done. Quick, check my work.]
Simon Lockwood could just imagine her tone: proud and smug, yet feigning casualness.
His eyes darkened slightly as he slowly typed out two words and hit send.
At a desk in her hotel room, Joanna Kennedy was chewing on a black pen. Her phone went DING, and she immediately opened it.
A_LockwoodDoggy: [All wrong.]
???!!!
CLATTER. The black pen fell to the floor. Joanna Kennedy’s eyes flew wide, and she furiously initiated a video call.
The moment he picked up, she demanded furiously, "Did you even look at them before telling me they’re all wrong? I was being serious, you know!"
On the other end of the video, the man was leaning slightly against the floor-to-ceiling window. Behind him, a full moon floated silently in the sky, serene and bright.
Joanna Kennedy couldn’t quite make out the emotion in his eyes, but she heard a soft, almost imperceptible chuckle.
His low, deep voice came through the phone. "How serious were you?"
"I worked on them all afternoon!" Joanna Kennedy huffed.
"No filming? No interruptions? You spent the whole afternoon doing math problems all by yourself?" he asked, his tone casual.
Joanna Kennedy was suddenly reminded of the afternoon’s events and that ridiculous trending topic. She felt a pang of guilt, but she steeled herself and said, "Yup."
Simon Lockwood nodded. "Mm."
Mm?!
’That’s it?’
Her confidence surged back. Joanna Kennedy gritted her teeth and said, "So, did you actually check them or not?!"
"I haven’t," the man said matter-of-factly. The corners of his lips, hidden in the shadows, tightened slightly. As he watched her shocked and angry expression, he explained, "I have something I need to take care of. We can discuss right and wrong after I’m finished."
............
A second passed, then two. The video call was still connected.
Joanna Kennedy couldn’t help but ask, "Then why don’t you go take care of it?"
Simon Lockwood frowned. "You haven’t ended the call."
Joanna Kennedy: "..."
’So I’m the only one with a hang-up button on my phone? What is this weird fixation of his!’
Resigned, she pressed the end call button.
The next day, Joanna Kennedy arrived on set and ran through a scene with her co-stars, only to belatedly realize that Owen Jennings wasn’t there.
Julie leaned in and whispered in her ear, "I heard Owen Jennings’s car broke down on the main road last night. Some fans recognized him, and he was completely swarmed."
"?" Joanna Kennedy was confused. "So what does that have to do with him not being on set today?"
"Some fan took advantage of the chaos to rush up and kiss him. When Owen Jennings dodged, he hit his head. He’s still in the hospital." After speaking, Julie clucked her tongue in pity.
Joanna Kennedy: "..."
She was stunned speechless.
’I never would have expected such a dramatic turn of events.’
*
The awards ceremony was that evening, so Joanna Kennedy left the film set in the morning for Aethelburg. She first went back to Fullstar for her hair and makeup.
Fullstar had excellent connections for clothing. The gown they sent over was a haute couture piece from a major luxury brand—a long, black, form-fitting dress with a stylish fishtail hem that swayed gently with every step. It was simple yet unique.
Her long black hair was styled in an updo, revealing a long, slender neck that glowed under the lights.
The stylist put a pearl necklace on her, looked from side to side, then frowned and took it off again.
The young woman’s natural features were exceptional. Her eyes were exquisite and bright, and even with light makeup, she looked fresh and ethereal. Adding jewelry would only make her look gaudy.
The bright green bracelet on her wrist was the only accessory needed, a perfect complement to her look.
"Jojo, which brand did you borrow this bracelet from?" the stylist couldn’t help but ask.
It was common knowledge that when celebrities walked the red carpet or attended banquets and award ceremonies, their gowns and jewelry were all sponsored by brands.
Joanna Kennedy subconsciously touched the bracelet on her left wrist and smiled. "It’s not borrowed. It was a gift."
"Oh, I see, a gift from a friend..." The stylist understood, a complicated look in her eyes.
’What kind of friend could afford—and be willing to give away—a Green Sea Agarwood?’
The most important thing when working in the entertainment industry was to be perceptive—to know what to ask and what not to ask.
The stylist carefully inspected her work one last time, undisguised admiration in her eyes. "Jojo," she praised, "once you walk that red carpet, you’re definitely going to cause a stir."
"Hahahaha, thank you, Ms. Lawson. It’s all because of your amazing skills," Joanna Kennedy said, thanking her modestly while returning the compliment.
The stylist’s face instantly broke into a wide smile.
At five in the afternoon, a procession of cars began stopping at the entrance to the awards ceremony. Both sides of the red carpet were flanked by a crowd of media reporters shouldering cameras.
The scene was familiar, yet it felt like a lifetime ago. As Joanna Kennedy lifted her dress and stepped out of the car, the feeling of her high heels sinking into the soft red carpet finally made it feel real.
The late autumn air was cool. She had a navy blue shawl draped over her shoulders, which she subconsciously tightened as she exited the car.
The green bracelet on her pale wrist created a stark contrast with the navy shawl, making her skin look as white as snow.
She exuded a relaxed elegance, completely unfazed by the stage. The surroundings fell silent for a moment, then erupted in a frenzy of CLICK-CLICK-CLICKING shutters, with cameras practically shoved in her face.
Through it all, the young woman maintained a gentle smile, her beautiful, almond-shaped eyes clear and bright.