Chapter 2007


    Cicely had always thought that Seth''s "a while" meant just a few days, but three days had passed


    since her arrival, and there was no talk of going home.


    Emiliana, busy with hertest acting role, hadn''t been on set recently, but she was still keeping up


    with her shifts at the restaurant.


    Sometimes, during the lunch rush, she''d y a couple of tunes on the piano, filling in for Cicely.


    Cicely would treat her to lunch in return.


    Today, upon entering the restaurant at midday, Cicely noticed the waitstaff looked unusually grim.


    Knowing Cicely had been getting along with Emiliana, they approached her with hushed voices:


    "Cicely, Emiliana''s been with the manager for a while now. Looks like she might be getting the


    boot."


    Cicely frowned, confused. "What happened?"


    The waiters shook their heads. "Not sure, but Emiliana seemed off from the moment she walked in.


    She missed a few notes while ying, and some patronsined. Our clientele is pretty


    particr, and a mistake here and there is forgiven, but repeatedints? The manager was


    livid."d2


    Another server, who had been at the same get-together a few days earlier, joined the conversation


    with a worried look. "I heard that Emiliana''s role got snatched by someone else."


    Cicely''s brows knitted together. It was clear to everyone that Emiliana had pinned all her hopes on


    this role.


    "Weren''t the roles already cast? Did some bigwig step in?"


    The servers exchanged nces, a mix of anger and sympathy in their eyes. "In showbiz, what''s


    abnormal has be the norm. Now, anyone can act, and if they''re terrible, it''s because some


    women have sugar daddies backing them. Poor Emiliana, even a minor role in the background isn''t


    safe. With all the money those people have, why not fight for the lead roles? Just bad luck."


    Cicely''s expression darkened. "What''s the name of Emiliana''s production, and her character?"


    "Don’t you remember? We talked about it at the party – ''Era of Elegance,'' a period drama.


    Emiliana''s character is named Sue, a clever maid close to the female lead''s strategist. Though a


    servant, her intelligence is unmatched, and she meets a tragic end at the hands of the viin. It''s the


    kind of role that wins audience''s hearts and leaves them grieving."


    Era of Elegance? Sue?


    "I see." Cicely murmured thoughtfully, then headed towards the dressing room.


    Upon opening the door, she found Emiliana sitting on the floor, leaning against the locker, lost in


    thought.


    Hearing Cicely enter, Emiliana quickly stood up. "You''re here."


    Cicely walked straight up to her, stopping only inches away. She lifted Emiliana''s chin, examining


    her face closely.


    Emiliana, caught off guard by her sudden move, stammered, "Cicely, you—"


    "Have you been crying?"


    At Cicely''s question, Emiliana pursed her lips tightly, barely holding back her tears.


    "This face is still marketable. How about I be your provider?"


    Emiliana''s expression froze in surprise. "What?"


    Cicely withdrew her hand and tossed her bag onto a nearby chair. "If it''s really about money, I can


    get that role for you."


    Emiliana was even more shocked.


    Cicely smiled slightly, "Don''t want to be with me? Then how about you consider me your ''fairy


    godmother''?"


    Emiliana was still stunned. "Ci... Cicely? What are you talking about?"


    "I''m saying I''m loaded. If this role truly hinges on financial backing, I might just sponsor you."


    Emiliana paused, her eyes widening in astonishment. "You... no... that''s not possible!"


    "What''s not possible? You think I can''t do it?"


    Emiliana shook her head. "Even if you could, it''s not right. I can''t repay you. I don''t dare to take on


    too much. I live within my means and I don''t want to be in debt. Being in debt feels terrible,


    especially when it''s such arge amount."


    "No investment, no return. In this business, financial intervention is the norm. Without backing,


    you''re just waiting to be pushed out. Are you really going to let go of a role you worked so hard to


    get?


    “Emiliana, no one''s going to pity you. Roles aren''t irreceable – if not you, then someone else. But


    miss this chance, and it won''te back. You won''t find another me. Each choice is a crossroads in


    life; ambition is necessary."


    Just like there wouldn''t be another Seth. She wanted to secure her ce by his side. Every step


    she took was aimed at that turning point. People always need to have ambitions, just like her now,


    getting what she desired.


    Emiliana''s eyes filled with tears. "Cicely, I love acting, but I''m starting to despise this industry."


    Her voice broke with emotion, tears streaming down her face.


    "This production was obviously aiming for the awards next year. How could they allow such


    interference? Cicely, you get what I''m saying? The investors aren''t short of cash, unless... unless


    it''s the investors themselves who want this. You can''t fight a production''s backers with your own


    money, it''s not right, and I''m not worth it."


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    Cicely understood. The person recing Emiliana wasn''t just anyone; it was the investors behind


    the show.


    She frowned, asking, "Do you know who the investors are?"


    Emiliana shook her head. "Not a clue. The promos only mention C&P Entertainment, apany


    I''ve never heard of before. Must be a new media firm."


    Cicely''s eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "A newpany?"


    Emiliana nodded. "Yeah."


    *


    The two had agreed to have dinner together at home.


    For the past few days, Seth had been cooking dinner. The dishes were simple but enough for both


    their appetites.


    Today, Cicely got home early and headed straight for the kitchen. She swung open the fridge,


    scrutinized the contents, and, after a bit of picking and choosing, gathered an assortment of


    ingredients.


    She then pulled out her phone, scrolled through a few recipes, and methodically began prepping the


    food. Once everything was ready, Cicely ced the pan on the gas stove, crossed her arms, and


    stood watching over it, motionless.


    After what seemed like an eternity, she sidled over to the microwave, slipped on some oven mitts,


    then finally reached out to turn on the burner.


    When the mes leapt up, she took two pale-faced steps back, but then, holding her breath and


    bracing herself, she moved closer and sprinkled in some salt.


    Without much regard for the proper order, she dumped in all the seasonings followed by the


    vegetables.


    After all, it was all going to be stir-fried together; when they went in didn''t really matter – or so Cicely


    thought.


    She wasn''t a gourmet chef; if the food was edible and went down the hatch, she''d consider it a


    resounding sess.


    The moment Seth opened the door, a smoky haze and an inexplicable mishmash of cooking smells


    greeted him in the apartment. He frowned, changed his shoes, and walked in to find three barely


    recognizable dishes on the dining table, with a soup so clear that only a few sprigs of parsley were


    visible.


    Raising an eyebrow, he looked towards the kitchen, only to hear a voice from behind, "You''re


    back?"


    Turning around, there was Cicely, fresh from a shower, in her pajamas, toweling her hair, standing


    at the dining room entrance.


    Seth went around opening every window in the apartment he could find. "You''re banned from the


    kitchen." One of these days, he was sure, the ce would go up in mes along with her culinary


    experiments.


    "Here I am, ving away to make you dinner, and you''reining before you even taste it?"


    Seth looked at her, "You think I shouldn''t?"


    "Not going to eat?" Cicely wrapped her hair in the towel, securing it on top of her head, andzily


    leaned against the table, watching him.


    Shedding his jacket, Seth sat down and noticed the rice was actually fluffy and fragrant. Rice was


    easy. Just follow the smart cooker''s instructions, measure the water as the inte says, and it''s a


    no-brainer.


    As Cicely watched him pick up his fork, she couldn''t help but smirk from across the table.


    Seth took a bite and his expression froze momentarily. He managed to swallow and Cicely watched,


    amused, but kept silent.


    Halfway through the meal, Seth looked up, "Aren''t you eating?"


    Cicely nced at the dishes on the table, her eyes betraying unmistakable disdain. "They don''t look


    appetizing, so they probably don''t taste great either."


    He stopped eating and looked at her. "And you let me eat this?"


    Cicely quirked an eyebrow, picking up her fork. "If you''re feeling lonely, I can keep youpany."


    Seth''s fork paused mid-air, hovering over Cicely''s. "Is this your way of throwing a tantrum?"