Sometimes, I really feel sorry for these young girls. If they themselves are the ones getting hurt, they might not even fight back or resist, but as long as it’s for someone they like, they become strong and persistent.

Suddenly, the ringtone sounded, and Brian Foster was so startled he almost threw his phone.

“Hello?”

“Ethan? Why does your voice sound so weak? Are you sleeping in the dorm?” It was Emily Thompson on the other end.

Brian Foster gave a hum in response, and Emily Thompson’s tone on the other side was filled with barely concealed excitement.

“Don’t sleep, get up now!”

“I have good news for you—David Parker was rejected by Director Brooks and the other investors!”

He was just trending on Weibo a moment ago, how did things fall through so quickly?

While he was still pondering, Brian Foster’s phone chimed. He looked at it—it was a new friend request on WeChat.

He tapped it open.

The profile picture was a tree.

The verification message was just four characters.

I am Adam Bennett.

Chapter 7: The Ultimate Showdown of Beauty and Acting (Part Seven)

Adam Bennett...

Adam Bennett!?

Brian Foster stared at those words, his fingers unconsciously starting to tremble. Suddenly, the word “congratulations” appeared before his eyes, sparkling with blue light.

“Congratulations! You have received an extra reward of 500 points!”

Extra points?

Brian Foster stared blankly at the notification until he heard Emily Thompson shouting through the receiver, snapping him back to reality. He hurriedly put away the points and quickly brought the phone back to his ear.

“Hello! Hello!”

“Hey, I’m listening, Sister Emily. The signal was bad just now…”

Only then did Emily Thompson’s tone slow down. “I was wondering why you were silent for so long.”

“Sister Emily, did you just say David Parker was rejected?”

“Yeah, I’m still looking into the exact reason. It seems to be an issue between a few of the investors. After all, even among investors, there’s a pecking order—whoever puts in the most money gets the biggest say.”

“None of that matters now. You have to come eat with me. Let me be clear: Director Brooks and Editor King will both be there. It’s not just an investors’ dinner. Hurry up and change your clothes, I’m already on my way—will be there in fifteen minutes.”

This was so sudden. He had already resigned himself to not making it into the cast, but now things had taken a dramatic turn.

If both the director and screenwriter would be there, there shouldn’t be any major issues.

Brian Foster found a suit in his wardrobe and changed into it. Looking at himself in the mirror, he couldn’t help but sigh—this face really was good-looking. No wonder so many girls were utterly smitten.

Emily Thompson had the makeup artist Little Bolton give him a quick touch-up in the car. After all, it was a dinner, so he had to look sharp.

“Is this dinner just for us, or are there other actors they’re interested in?”

Emily Thompson replied to a WeChat message: “Not sure. The call was from Director Brooks’s assistant, and they didn’t say, so I didn’t ask. There might be others. Either way, you need to make a good impression.” That’s what she said, but as Emily Thompson knew best, her own artist was naturally a quiet and reserved type.

Only his face was truly a gift from the heavens.

“The key figures at this dinner, besides Director Brooks, are Sheng Huafeng, the president of Shengda Guanghua. I’m guessing Shengda Guanghua is the biggest investor.”

Shengda Guanghua?

So, Dingming Century wants to promote Ethan Carter, and after rejecting David Parker, Shengda’s boss is attending the dinner, which means David Parker is being pushed by Xinyao.

After figuring out the camps among the investors, Brian Foster thought of what happened on Weibo earlier: “If he’s been rejected, why is his team still hyping things up on Weibo?”

Emily Thompson snorted coldly. “He’s just riding the wave for attention. The costume drama he wrapped up earlier this year is now in its promo period, so he needs the buzz. Even if he doesn’t get to act in ‘Nan Ke,’ as long as his name is tied to the project, he’s already achieved his goal.”

“But, if I were an investor, unless it was for the bedroom, I wouldn’t pick David Parker either.”

Brian Foster: “Why’s that?”

“It’s simple. This kind of art film is a classic case of losing money for prestige. The director wants awards, but the investors don’t. Of course, the capitalists want to make a killing. Adam Bennett’s box office appeal is already the best among the young actors, but for them, it’s still not enough. Businessmen are never satisfied.”

“For a dual male lead drama like this, they naturally want the other lead to have comparable box office pull. But David Parker has been in the industry for four or five years. His acting is decent, but to put it bluntly, he just doesn’t have that star quality. He can’t attract fans, and no fans means no money.”

Emily Thompson looked into Brian Foster’s eyes. “That’s why you’re at this dinner.”

Brian Foster smiled, not sure whether to feel lucky or sad.

The industry had become completely commercialized, with a set of rules totally different from the past.

“Of course, I also asked around. Mark King is very satisfied with you. She thinks your overall image fits the character she wrote best.”

Brian Foster had just remembered something he wanted to ask Emily Thompson, but her comforting words made him forget. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t recall it.

What was it he wanted to ask just now?