After parting ways with Terry, L decided to head back to the hotel instead of going to the film set.


    She spotted Dorian waiting outside her door as she turned the corner of the hallway on her way upstairs.


    She pursed her lip, considering whether to go to the reception and request a room change. But he had already seen her and was walking toward her.


    "L."


    She looked up with a faint and distant gaze. "Is there something you need?"


    Even though Dorian had repeatedly reassured himself that L''s coldness was expected, seeing her like this still unsettled him.


    He opened his mouth, wanting to ask her not to speak to him that way.


    But after a moment, he changed his approach. "L, I came to exin what happened with Zara today."


    She regarded him with a neutral expression. "That''s your business. There''s no need to exin it to me."


    He grew anxious. "My business is your business. Didn''t you say that before? L, I really just nned to have her stay with me for a few days. She''s definitely going to pursue an acting career. She''s not suited to being an assistant, and there''s no future in that job."


    Lughed at his words. "You''re right. There''s no future in that job, so why would I agree to it?"


    He was stunned. "That''s not what I meant! Besides, you''re my agent. This way, you can stay by my side. Don''t you want that?"


    "I don''t want it," she replied bluntly. L didn''t want to give him even a glimmer of hope. In truth, they should have cut ties cleanly by now.


    Dorian pressed his lips together and said, "Right, your dream is to be a great director. Staying by my side all the time wouldn''t work."


    He calmed himself. "I-I also mentioned I won''t assign you a lot of work. You can be the director, and I''ll be the male lead. This way, it works out perfectly. You have such a great eye for scripts, so I''m sure the ones you pick will be fantastic. And this way, I get to stay by your side. It''s just the same."


    L was rendered speechless.


    After he became a screen legend, his workload only increased.


    She had been removed as his agent and now had more free time to relearn the ropes and work on small productions.


    She had once suggested that he act as her male lead. At that time, he had responded that he had no time and that small productions wouldn''t benefit his career. Working on them would be a waste of time, he''d said.


    He had never once considered supporting L. He kept giving Zara leading roles but couldn''t find a decent script for her to direct.


    These tasks shouldn''t have beenplex for someone with his fame and resources. Now that they were broken up, he suddenly had time to find resources and work with her.


    As she pondered this, a trace of sarcasm crossed her eyes. After a moment, she looked up and gently shook her head. "I don''t have time."


    Dorian clenched his hands at his sides. He once used those words to respond to her, and now he realized how hurtful they could be.


    His gaze dimmed slightly, but he said softly, "It''s alright. In the future, you—"


    "Dorian." L met his eyes, her tone as t as her gaze. "You keep saying you won''t pressure me, yet you won''t even leave me a moment to breathe. It''s exhausting."


    Seeing her distant demeanor, he felt utterly drained. "L, can you really not forgive me?"